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Today I’m showing off another beautiful piece of clothing from Shop Stevie, specifically from the shop of Rhonda Hess! I’m wearing the Ashbury Printed Dress in size large and it truly is the quintessential spring frock with its floral pattern and midi length.

Also, this dress is SO soft, which is a major plus in my book I added my favorite pair of cutout shoes and a light denim jacket to complete the look.

If you’re interested in this dress, Rhonda still has it available in size small.  Unfortunately, the other sizes are sold out

Ashbury Printed Dress   |  Sonoma Jean Jacket (Poshmark)  |  Qupid Cutout Booties (Poshmark)

Thanks for reading!

The post Workwear Wednesday ft. Shop Stevie appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

The EcoWash ($59.99)

According to the website description, “the EcoWash is a hand crank powered mini washing machine, capable of washing 5 lbs of laundry in minutes.”

The EcoWash employs a pressurized cleaning technology that “thoroughly but gently cleans the toughest stains on your fabrics using smart tech, not force.” 

Why I love the EcoWash:

• I’m saving a lot of money! No more hoarding quarters for the machines
• I’m saving water. The most water I’ve used per load is 4.5 quarts. That’s a far cry from the 15 to 30 gallons that high-efficiency washers use to the 29 to 45 gallons for older washers.
• Zero electricity required. So not only is the EcoWash wonderful for any residence, it’s perfect for camping, RVs, off-grid living AND for when the power goes out!
• It’s a time-saver. 2 minutes to wash, 2 minutes to rinse and then a few minutes in the EcoSpin to wring out water and my laundry is ready to hang dry.
• The convenience. I can do my laundry literally anytime.
• It’s a fantastic arm workout

I place my EcoWash next to my kitchen sink. After you’ve finished a wash or rinse cycle, simply stick in the drain. Tip: unscrew the top to really let the water drain out (this releases the pressure built up during washing).

I’m using Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lavender Laundry Detergent and a mixture of vinegar, water and Young Living Lavender essential oil in a squeeze bottle as fabric softener.

The EcoSpin ($69.99) 

Touted as a “hand-cranked mini spin dryer,” the EcoSpin can dry up to 4.5 pounds of clothes in just a few minutes. Basically, it’s a giant salad spinner for your clothes!

Why I love the EcoSpin:

• Just as with the EcoWash, I’m saving money and electricity, it’s convenient, requires no electricity AND is a great arm workout!
• It just works. If you’re considering buying the EcoWash, you should absolutely pair it with the EcoSpin. Hand-wringing out sopping clothes is no fun, so do yourself a favor and take your clothes for a quick spin in this.  Just like the EcoWash, I set the EcoSpin near my kitchen sink to let the water drain.
• Did I mention you can also wash your clothes in the EcoSpin? Though it lacks the pressurized technology of the EcoWash, I could totally picture myself bringing just the EcoSpin camping to do laundry.

Overall, I’m thrilled with both the EcoWash and EcoSpin. Both are lightweight, cost-effective, easy to use and environmentally-friendly.

If you’re interested in purchasing both, Amazon offers 10% off when you buy the EcoWash and EcoSpin.  I’m not being sponsored to write this post, I just really love both of these appliances!

The post How I Do Non-Electric Laundry Right in my Apartment (Avalon Bay EcoWash and EcoSpin Review) appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

So far, I’ve purchased reusable cotton rounds and produce bags and made DIY eyeliner. Another ridiculously easy swap I chose was heavy duty, reusable sandwich and snack bags!

I selected a set of four bags of various sizes for around $23 from Amazon and I LOVE them. The zipper and fabric are durable, making these bags feel much more expensive than they actually cost.

And speaking of the cost, yes, $23 may sound crazy to spend on food storage bags. However, these can be reused over and over, so I never have to spend money on plastic bags again. Making zero waste swaps like this might be more “expensive” initially, but in the long run, I will save money AND not contribute to plastic waste. That’s a win-win

And cleaning? Flip inside outside out, rinse after each use, and you’re done. You can even throw these in the dishwasher!

These fit seamlessly into my lunch packing routine, with easy storage for my sandwiches, snacks and fruit for work.

I’m also thinking of purchasing Stasher bags that function more like a traditional plastic bag and can be placed in the freezer. Overall, I’m really impressed with these bags!

The post Zero Waste Swap: Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

I knew there had to be a more wallet and earth-friendly alternative and I found the answer: reusable facial rounds!

While you could make your own, I opted to support a small business on Etsy, Marleys Monsters. I chose a 20-pack of facial rounds in different shades of black and gray for $16. I always gravitate toward neutrals, but on her Etsy shop, you’ll find beautiful patterns of facial rounds, “un”paper towels and more!

I have been using these facial rounds for 2 weeks and I love them! I’ve also washed a dirty batch (in one of these reusable produce bags) and they shrink a bit in the dryer (which was included in the Etsy description) and they absorb my witch hazel and tea tree oil even better.

If you’re looking for an easy switch to your skincare routine that will save your some serious bucks, I highly recommend the Marleys Monsters facial rounds!

The post Zero Waste Swap: Reusable Facial Rounds from Marleys Monsters appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

If you missed Monday’s post, I am working toward a more zero waste lifestyle!

One of the first and easiest switches I’ve made is purchasing reusable produce bags. I selected a set of 12 for $14.97 from Amazon and I’m super pleased with them so far!

Quick tip– did you know you can email Amazon customer service and let them know  you’d like your orders sent with as little packaging as possible? Here’s a template:

Hi,

My name is _____ and I have a Amazon account under the email ____________. If possible, I would like to add a note to my account to make anyone packaging my orders aware that I would like as little packaging as possible and to avoid additional plastic wrapping and bubble wrap at all costs. Thanks so much!

Stash these reusable produce bags in your car (with your reusable grocery bags!) and you’ll never forget them. The bags are sturdy and include the weight (so that you can tare your bags on the grocery store’s scale). They’re also washable.

Pro tip: if life gives you lemons, don’t drop them in the snow

Click here to buy these bags. This is not a referral link, I’m just a big fan of these reusable bags!

ro waste

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Becoming vegan nearly a year ago has opened my eyes to so much – including the immense impact our reliance on/demand for convenient, disposable and new products has on the environment.

So, I’ve decided to add maintaining a more zero waste lifestyle to my list of goals. YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram have served as my primary resources for tips and advice on transitioning to a less wasteful life, and that’s how I stumbled across a video on three-ingredient eyeliner!

Ela Gale has a beautiful YouTube channel, full of vegan, DIY and minimalist inspiration, including this short video with her recipe for charcoal eyeliner.

The ingredients are:

• 3 activated charcoal capsules (I ended up added 5 capsules to achieve the deep color I wanted)
• 1 vitamin E capsule (I used a Vitamin E oil I already had)
• 1/2 teaspoon of aloe vera gel

I stirred up a batch this weekend, and I must say, I’m impressed! Below are photos of the eyeliner applied with an e.l.f. angled brush. I got 8 hours of wear with minimal smudging, but admittedly, some noticeable smudging near the outer corners of my eyes. However, I do plan on testing it with a matte black eyeshadow on top, too.

It’s so reassuring to know exactly what ingredients are in my makeup, especially makeup that goes near my eyes. I upcycled an old Lush sample jar as the new home for the liner

I plan on trying more beauty zero waste DIYs as my current makeup runs out, so stay tuned!

The post DIY Zero Waste Gel Eyeliner appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

It screams “flapper” but I like to think I transformed it into something work-appropriate and professional. I wrote last week about how you should aim for each piece in your wardrobe to be as versatile as possible, but I also mentioned that you are entitled to a few “fun” pieces as well. This is one of my fun pieces

J.Crew Cardigan (Savers)  |  Forever 21 Top (from my sister)  |  Skirt (Goodwill)  |  Tights (Target)  |  Earrings (gift)  |  Rag & Bone Booties (thredUP) 

The post Modern Day Flapper | Workwear Wednesday appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

This outfit is one of my favorite comfy-yet-professional work outfits as well as a combination I’ve never worn together before!

One of the tips I shared in yesterday’s blog post about how to minimize and simplify your wardrobe is to appreciate what you do own and find new ways to wear the clothing you already love.

So I grabbed my trusty Sam Edelman boots, my maroon pants and my newly thrifted Banana Republic sweater. And I am a big fan of the finished look!

Banana Republic Sweater (Savers)  |  Maroon Pants (Old Navy)  |  Sam Edelman Penny 2 Boots (eBay)

The post Winter Colors | Workwear Wednesday appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

Over the past six years, I’ve transitioned from a sweatpants-and-hoodie-wearing college student to a working professional with a small but versatile closet full of clothes I truly love.

How?

Keep reading for my best tips for minimizing and simplifying your wardrobe.

In November 2017, I was a panelist speaker at a Rochester Minimalists Meeting about this same topic. I encourage you to listen to the entire recording of that evening by clicking here (my speaking starts at around  25:00 minutes in) for even more tips and advice.

Below is a summary of what I recommend if you want to create a curated closet:

The most important and time-consuming step! Set aside time to look through and try on everything you currently own.

Keep only what you love.

Too big or too small? You don’t need it taking up space. A special occasion dress for no particular upcoming occasion? I’d sell it on a site like Poshmark, thredUP or ebay. Thirty cardigans, when you know you always gravitate toward the same three? Why not donate the rest to your local thrift store?

The general rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in a year, you really don’t need it.

Now that your closet is full of items you love, examine what’s left and make a list of what you need to buy. You may have eliminated all but one of your blazers, for example, so perhaps you need a tan blazer in addition to the black blazer in your closet.

Did you keep clothing that you indeed truly love, but that may be a bit worn out and need replacing soon? Keep that in mind as you begin shopping.

These next steps are so crucial if you want to maintain your minimal, versatile wardrobe.

You must buy only what you LOVE. 

In my case, I know that if I’m in a store trying on clothes, a faux fur vest, for example, and I look up “faux fur vest outfit” on Pinterest because I’m not quite sure how this vest will fit into my wardrobe, that’s a signal that I should not be buying it!

Pay attention to the items you are selecting. Does that skirt just have a really cute pattern but in reality, you’d never actually wear it because it’s too short? Do those heels make you feel like a million bucks during the first ten seconds or trying them on but you quickly realize they are so painful you’d never really wear them?

Another important tip is to try to avoid looking at the price of an item, initially. Since the majority of my shopping is second-hand at thrift stores and consignment shops, it’s a lot easier to not pay attention to price at first. But if you’re only shopping the clearance racks and picking out pieces simply because they’re at a deep discount and not because you actually love them, you’re actually only wasting your hard-earned money.

Be sure to take your time when shopping. Don’t expect to rebuild your wardrobe overnight. Feel comfortable walking out of a store without buying anything. If you’re shopping online, don’t add a few random items to your cart just to get free shipping.

Versatility is everything.

This is why I’m a big fan of neutrals (black and gray) and small patterns that can be combined. Your goal should be to be able to mix and match your wardrobe as much as possible.

Don’t buy the skirt that will require you to purchase a top in a specific shade of blue and shoes to match. To me, if you can only wear that skirt in “one way”, what’s the point? I’d personally rather have a black skirt that I can wear with literally any top or sweater in my closet.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t have a few “fun” pieces in your wardrobe, but the more versatile every piece is, the more outfits you have to wear and the more you resist buying new items!

Yes, there will absolutely come a day when you become bored with your current wardrobe. My advice is to seek inspiration – find new ways to combine clothing you already own! This is a case in which I do recommend Pinterest, where there are endless ideas for what to wear.

Try a sweater over a dress. Or a skirt over a dress. Add a belt over that long cardigan.

Another classic case of wardrobe fatigue occurs when the seasons are changing. You just want a few new pieces! I am all for buying a few new pieces, as long as your stick to the tips above. Make sure your purchases are intentional and versatile that you can wear beyond the current season.

My go-to example for this tip is ironing: I can’t stand it. It’s my least favorite chore, by far. So, I am careful to purchase items that do not require ironing (but I do have a handheld steamer for emergencies ). I’ve bought countless 100% cotton items and similar wrinkle-prone items before that I ultimately have donated or sold. I just know that I will not wear them, so now I don’t buy them!

Be careful with trends. Over the years, I’ve bought a handful of puffer vests to wear in the fall and winter, and I’ve even shared vest photos on the blog before, but I’ve come to accept that I am just not a vest person. So, I don’t spend my money on them, and my wallet and closet are happier for it.

Aim for quality over quantity. I used to have close to twelve pairs of booties, but now I own only three pairs of comfortable, durable, quality booties that go with literally everything in my work wardrobe. Until these wear out, I don’t need more. It’s as simple as that.

I hope these tips are helpful to minimizing and simplifying your wardrobe. They are derived from my real experiences (and failures) in creating a beautiful, versatile closet.

If you have more tips, please share them below!

The post How To Minimize and Simplify Your Wardrobe appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.

I really, really love this pink dress I found at Savers a few months ago, so I’m trying to find ways to style it in the winter so I can wear it as much as possible I belted it with a cardigan in this post, and I belted it with a longer sweater today!

American Living Dress (Savers)  |  Loft Cardigan (Clothes Mentor)  |  Tights (Kohl’s)  |  Kork Ease Boots (thredUP)

If you have any other ideas for how to wear this dress in the colder weather, please let me know!

The post Thinking Pink | Workwear Wednesday appeared first on The Thrifty Girl's Guide.