If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now. 101 Truths Every Woman Must Know

blog by: kim

I stand, clutching a diet coke and crunch on the ice.  I watch my little girl happily running around like a crazed sugar junkie up and down the sidewalk. I wonder how I got here.  I spit the ice back in the cup. Like most dreamers, I was told to pay attention or I wouldn’t amount to much. I didn’t pay attention to that.

I have a confession to make: I don’t know everything. Close, but not quite. In my teens and twenties I thought I did. After falling on my face a few too many times (divorce, moving and stumbling through mommyhood) I realized that I needed to slow down and listen to the advice of women who have graced these halls before me.  There is no running through flower-filled fields to The Sound of Music like I thought as a wide-eyed child.  Where is Julie Andrews when we need her? 

We live in a day and age where therapy and antidepressants are as commonplace as eating Cheerios. It’s so easy is to become isolated and to believe we are the only ones experiencing hardship, grief or stress. True, some experiences have to really be lived to be learned, but the sage advice of our fellow sisters is priceless if you listen to the bits of wisdom they have to offer us.

I asked women of all age groups what they wished they knew when they were in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and beyond. What would have helped them avoid troubles along the way? Their answers are authentic and honest. Some are also reminders for us to not take ourselves so seriously all the time, and not sit around waiting for Mr. Perfect to sweep us off our feet. Guess what? He’s not coming girls.  Time to get real.

There's a big world out there with lots to explore and experience. We can learn from each other and the women before us. We women are both strong and vulnerable. A blend of old and new. Both parts valuable, both parts worth holding on to. We need to look at ourselves as honestly as we can, seeing the truths-both the good and bad-within our experiences so that we can pass them on to our daughters, nieces, friends and other women who will nod and say “Yes, I have been there, too.”

1- 51 of the 101 Truths Every Woman Must Know

1. Know what you want in a relationship, but more importantly, know what you absolutely do not want; and don't waiver from that. That one thing on the "do not want list" will ultimately kill the relationship. Don't waste valuable time in life. It is very short. Don’t compromise who you are! ~Dr. B. Kelly, Ph.d

2. Women need to be kinder to nature and animals and lose the fur and excessive use of leather. Men don't care if you are wrapped in a fur coat. They really don't, I came to learn. ~Martha

3. Be educated - not just book learning (which is important too), but educated on everything - politics, religion, cultures, history, etc. The more you know about things, the more open you will be to other people. People fear what they don't know. If we know more about other's views, faiths and cultures we won't have to fear them ~Suzanne

4. Have kick ass credit- You need it in life. It’s not a concern when we are younger, but it will be when you want to buy your first car or home. So pay your bills on time and don’t borrow more than you can pay back.

 ~Gretchen/ wife & mom

5. Make peace with the past. Let go of painful memories. Clinging to them stunts  your growth. You are not your parents. Have a bad childhood? Join the club. Break the cycle. Your past does not define you! ~Anonymous

6. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what . Instead, cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. ~ Erma Bombeck

7. She should never think of her spouse as her "Better Half"...in fact she should always think of herself as an individual in a marriage...not a person who needs to be completed by that spouse or significant other.  ~Jillian

8. Support other women and celebrate their achievements. ~ Sarah

  

9. Stand up for yourself. Each person has their own journey in life, and you'd rather make your own mistakes than follow someone else's path. ~Robin

10. Yes, you WILL survive without a man/husband/boyfriend. Your oxygen has not been cut off! ~ Patti

11. If you are single, use protection when having sex. It is your body. You’re the only one that can protect it! ~ Gwen/ artist

12. Do not obsess over your body if it isn’t perfect. Nobody’s is. Work on what you can, keep it fit and healthy and let go of the rest or you’ll worry yourself to death. ~ Donna

13. Find your spirituality, whatever form it comes in. Believe in a higher power than yourself ~ Carrie

14. Avoid toxic people. Ditch toxic relationships. They are all over. Energy vampires. Drama queens, people who pick fights and complain endlessly. Do not engage them. Back away, then run! Surround yourself with the good ones. ~ Alana

15. She should always have the right to choose and to change her mind. ~Jillian

16. Don’t be cruel to other women or judge their path (or people in general) then justify it in your own head. Karma will come back to bite you in the ass one day when you least expect it! ~ Jen

17. Spend a whole weekend in bed ~ Pam

18. Learn how to entertain easily & simply ~ Laurie

19. Live and let live. There will always be people who are different than you, with differences of opinion. The sooner you accept it, the better” ~ Your grandma

20. Be  empathetic with yourself so that you can empathize with others. ~Anonymous

21. Treat your best girlfriends like family, because no one gets it like girlfriends do. ~ Karen/ spa owner

22. Never make someone else a priority when you are simply an option.

~ Carolyn

23. Avoid extreme fad diets, they are unhealthy, unbalanced and impossible to maintain over the course of a lifetime.  ~ Tina

24. Great sex! It keeps you young! ~ Anonymous

25. Truly befriend another woman. Sometimes we can be so catty and jealous. Layoff the passive/aggressive competitive vibe ~ Cheryl

26. She should LOVE herself in all ways. She should get therapy if she needs to. Everyone needs it and it is a great gift to give to ourselves. ~ Anonymous

27. Trust your intuition. Listen to warning bells!  My intuition has never been wrong! I just didn't listen because I wanted what I wanted. But my sister, I Have Learned! ~Cheryl

28. Know how to buy a good car without being taken for a ride. ~Amber

29. Wear sexy underwear! Even if you are single! Even if no one will see it. ~ Anonymous

30. Never act your age. Acting “adult” all the time is over rated. Laugh and have fun. ~Corinna

31. Try to be ok with what life throws your way. There’s many bumps and up’s and down’s. The better you can roll with the punches, the easier time you will have  over the long run. ~Leslie/business owner

32. If you have a calling follow your calling. Your dream. Your heart. You have a brain, use it . Do not fear your own creative genius. It is genuinely yours. Don't let anyone try to tell you how to think or to feel, you know.  ~Deb/Music Therapist

33. Maintain a stable, comfortable body weight. You don’t have to be stick thin. Your body has it’s own natural weight. Obesity and being underweight are not healthy over the long term of your lifetime. Women’s weight tends to fluctuate over the years with having children and different life stages. Try to maintain a stable weight within a five to ten pound range without going under or over that range. ~Beth

34. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Easier said then done. ~Sarah H.

35. Know when to cling to something, and when to let it go ~Carolyn

36. Let it go. Begin again. Follow your heart. ~ Deborah

 37. Invest in assets, something that puts money in your pocket every month. ~ Tracy

 38. Don't let other people decide who you are and what you should do. Know yourself and follow your heart. If you believe in yourself, nothing can stop you from achieving what YOU want. I wish someone had told me that... and that I had believed them! ~ Suzanne

39. I wish I could tell my 24 year-old self that what I needed most at that time, when it came to men. To learn how to "just say no" vs. the "just do it" approach I followed from ages 17-23-ish. Instead, I made a pact with God that I wouldn't pursue a relationship until I understood myself more and was able to express myself better. ~Pauline

40. Your true “calling” has the ability to change the world. Follow that calling to the ends of the earth ~Alisa

 41. Life is all about LOVE ... of self and others. That's ALL that really matters. Look for the best in others (including yourself) and focus on that. Don't worry about what other people think about you. Follow your heart and trust your "gut-instinct" ALWAYS.  ~Lisa

42. Don't be a victim. You are the master of your own destiny. Make your time here the best you can because nobody is going to hand it to you, you have to do it for yourself. And ALWAYS be kind to people. ~Anonymous

 43. To relax and enjoy life while you're young! Not that I've never enjoyed it, but  I'd have been more aware. ~Crissy

44. If you can be ok in your own company and be self reliant, you can really do anything. ~ Grace

 45. Nourish you body with healthy foods. Excessive smoking, drinking and eating fatty fried foods and lots of red meat will kill you. Fuel yourself with better choices. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there at your fingertips, use it. None of it makes a difference unless you apply it. ~ Rena

46. Never show 'em all your cards. Took time to learn that. ~Melanie

47. Don't ever be an "expert". That's the minute you stop learning. ~Rise

48. Join some sort of exercise class early, like dancing, or some sport that you just love. And...there's always going to be someone prettier, richer, or smarter than you, so don't try to compete in a losing battle. Just be the best you can be. ~Jackie

49. Because sometimes I like what I see, and sometimes I don't:

“Accept everything about yourself – I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end – no apologies, no regrets”  ~ Rise

50. Without the heart there can be no understanding between the hand and mind.  ~Celeste

51. Don't try to be someone you are not- to impress anyone! Instincts are the internal compass that influence us to become who we were created to be. In the younger years, I talked myself out of things because I was trying to be what was expected of me. Now I am living in my authentic self with all its quirks. ~ Cheryl

 ~

All the good advice in the world won’t do you a lick of good until you ultimately choose to make up your own mind and apply it. Take it all with a grain of salt, chew on it, mull it over and then decide for yourself what works best for you and the path you are on. For those of you with daughters, do what I did: I printed these out and taped them to my child's forehead. Now she will never forget.

What the Frack is Hydraulic Fracturing?

(and why you should be very concerned)

blog by: Alisa

Clean, natural gas: it’s the stuff of energy independent dreams. It’s also the stuff of land, water, and health contamination nightmares. Natural gas has been touted for decades as the solution to American dependence on foreign oil. You wouldn’t get any argument from me; we’ve sucked ravenously at the teat of Middle Eastern oil long enough. The U.S. spends an average $700 billion ($700,000,000,000 – that’s a lot of zeros) annually on foreign oil, which equates to roughly 70% of the annual oil consumption in America. Yes, by all means, let’s find a way to break that cycle and keep that money here at home. Doing so would create jobs and stimulate the national economy, two things we desperately need to pull away from the slump.

This woman sure seems convinced that natural gas is our salvation. 
Click to watch her have a Natural Gas 'Eureka!' moment.

However, this solution isn’t as clean and natural as some folks would like us to believe.

About 60 years ago, the process of hydraulic fracturing (also known as ‘fracking’)  was developed to open up the land deep underground in order to gain access to oil and gas reservoirs trapped under rock formations, like shale and coal beds. These formations are typically anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 feet below the surface where the earth is not permeable enough to cost-effectively extract the deposits.  Enter the dawn of hydraulic fracturing. The process is fairly straight-forward: a wellbore is drilled down vertically and then horizontally into the rock bed. A casing (a tube as long as the well) is inserted into this opening, and then cement is pumped through the end of the casing until it is forced back up the wellbore, around the casing, forming a barrier which is supposed to keep gas and fracturing fluids from seeping out into the rock around the wellbore and into aquifers. Any residents or businesses who rely on water from wells would have their wells fed from underground aquifers, so it makes perfect sense that land and aquifers must be kept free of contamination. After the well has been formed and cemented, millions of gallons of water, proppants (either small ceramic beads or sand), and a chemical mixture is injected into the well at a very high pressure. This pressure breaks through the end of the well and is forced out into the rock, fracturing the rock open, pushing the sand and chemicals into the cracks to keep the fractures open, and allowing the trapped oil or gas deposits to flow into the well and up to the surface for collection. Simple and efficient, right?

So what’s the big deal? Why are so many people up in arms about the gas & oil companies that are setting up their rigs all across America (and around the globe)? It isn’t just about the trucks that take over their roads. It takes about 200 tanker trucks to bring the water used to fracture a single well. (In the county where I live, there are 7, 825 wells.) It isn’t just about how close a drilling outfit can set up a rig near a residence. They typically maintain a 500 foot distance from living quarters, but, technically, they can come as close as 150 feet away from a home if they wanted to do so. The 150 foot distance is a safety precaution; in case their 150 foot tall well rig falls over, it won’t crush the house. No, the major complaint that residents living in a drilled area have is the chemical cocktail that is fed down the well during the fracturing process.  These chemicals are considered to be ‘proprietary secrets,’ protected from being disclosed.  These chemical ingredients contain KNOWN CARCINOGENS and are injected into the ground, and sometimes they make their way into the local aquifers, and they are protected secrets.

The people who live around the wells are not afforded this same protection. If their domestic water wells become mysteriously contaminated and unfit to drink or bathe from, the burden of proof is on them to prove that the contamination is connected to the nearby drilling operations. However, and here is the insidious genius of protecting those chemical cocktails, no one can prove that their wells became contaminated by fracking solutions because there is no one outside the drilling company who has the right to know what was injected into the ground. The unfortunate humans and animals who drank contaminated well water have a myriad of illnesses ranging from rashes, nosebleeds, organ failures, respiratory system failures, and brain tumors. Livestock farmers have awakened to find their cattle lying dead around their fields. Goats give birth to young that cannot stand because their joints are full of toxins. Sheep give birth to gruesome-looking, malformed lamb heads.

Don’t believe this is happening right here in America? Look it up. Oil and gas are the only two industries which are allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inject hazardous materials either directly into or near drinking water supplies. Unchecked.  No monitoring by the EPA. At all. How did this happen? Do you remember Vice President Dick Cheney? Before he took office, he was the CEO of Halliburton, the company which patented the hydraulic fracturing process and is today one of the top three manufacturers of hydraulic fracturing fluids. In 2004, the EPA did a study on the effects of hydraulic fracturing fluid, and concluded that it posed little or no threat to drinking water supplies. Would you be surprised to learn that Halliburton staff were actively involved in the review of that study?

The conclusion that fracturing fluids posed no threat to life or land led to the 2005 national energy bill exemption of fracturing fluids from the Safe Drinking Water Act.  What does that mean? It means the drilling companies can inject anything and everything they want (except for diesel fuel) into the ground, and no one can ask them what it is or if it’s safe. The reason they aren’t allowed to use diesel fuel is because one of its components is benzene. Benzene is produced both naturally and by human activity, and was determined by the Department of Health and Human Services to cause cancer. Definitely should not put that stuff into the ground. And yet in January of 2011, it was revealed that 12 drilling companies injected 10.2 million gallons of straight diesel fuel into wells in 19 states over the last five years. Go back and read that last line again. If it doesn’t scare the hell out of you, read it again. Still not scared? On top of the straight diesel fuel, they also injected 21.8 million gallons of fracking fluids containing not less than 30% diesel fuel. Not one of those 12 companies applied for a permit to use diesel fuel. And no regulators seemed to be aware that this was happening every day.

While drilling companies do recover some of the fracking fluids once the wells become operational, roughly 50% to 75% of those fluids remain underground. Meanwhile, the toxic fluids which are recovered are are considered to be ‘produced water,’ and is disposed of in a few different ways. Some of the produced water is trucked away to be treated or cleaned and reused, some of the water is injected into what is known as an underground disposal well, and the rest is left to evaporate in collection ponds. Often, these ponds have liners which are damaged, allowing the fluid to seep through cracks and holes. Some ponds have had no liners at all. Even with a liner in pristine condition, the method here is to allow the toxic water to evaporate directly into the air. Think about that for just a moment. Yes, it’s true, and yes, it’s as scary as you think. Residents who live near these evaporation ponds have reported becoming ill with respiratory illnesses. They also suffer excruciating headaches and sometimes blackouts.

Another unintended consequence of fracking the land is the release of flammable gases, such as methane. Basements can fill up with methane gas seeping up from underground, and some people can light their domestic well water on fire. Seriously. Sure, they could invest in bottled water for themselves and their pets, but what if they have livestock or crops to water? What should they do when they want to take a bath or shower? More than one home owner has been told that methane is a naturally occurring gas and that there’s no way to prove the methane that is making them sick was released by the fracking process.

What is the solution? It’s simple. Repeal the exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act and force the drilling companies to disclose every single component of their fracturing fluid liquids. If it’s toxic, ban it. They can find something else to use, but they won’t spend the money to find or produce it until they are forced to do so. What else can be done? Hold the drilling companies liable for spills and contaminations. Spills happen much more frequently than the public hears about. In just my county alone, there were 420 spills between the years of 2004 and 2010. Three of those spills affected groundwater sources, and six other spills affected groundwater and surface water (ponds, creeks, lakes, rivers, etc).

But it gets worse. The drilling companies haven’t limited themselves to only the destruction of American land and water. Hydraulic fracturing is used around the world: Canada, Poland, Russia, France, Australia, Sweden, Britain, Italy, New Zealand. It has pretty much gone global.

Oh, and I almost forgot…. there are a growing number of people who suspect that this underground shifting (the fracturing) is causing earthquakes. The state of Arkansas is a prime example of this suspicion. Fracking is being used in a number of places around the state, and their seismic activity has spiked quite a bit in the past five years. It could be a coincidence, but it could also be yet another unintended consequence of an industry gone amuck.

CLICK HERE to watch an excerpt

from Josh Fox's Oscar nominated documentary, GASLAND

Life as we know it: Musings from a semi-tamed chick

blog by: Kim

When are we supposed to grow up? According to my watch, I should be an adult by now. Every detail of life should fit into a nice little box. Husband, home, kids, career, spirituality and dazzling style to top it off.  Well don't be fooled. Life is never perfect and try as we may, some of us struggle against the grain more than others. Don't get me wrong, I think I am much better now than I was at 21, but each decade seems to have a different feel to it. I personally try to strike a balance between being a domesticated housewife to also being my own woman. I never wanted to be too domesticated.

I find the more authentic I am, the better I feel and I'm better to be around. I also see that there are so many differing personalities and opinions out there. Some I appreciate and like, and others I most certainly do not. Marriage and mommyhood are parts of domesticated life that can give you a run for your money, but if you step back from the chatter and find your center, you will eventually find your truth and happiness. Good female friends who "get it" are also an amazing thing to have in your back pocket through life's journey.

above: 2011 Bonnie and me (R)

I read this recently and loved it. The following excerpt is written by Kyran Pittman, Author of Planting Dandelions:

"We live in an age that exalts lifestyle over life. “Gurus” tell us how every aspect of living is to be arranged and displayed as our perfect offering. It’s not enough that our homes, gardens, tables, and wardrobes are styled to the last detail. Our beliefs must be fashionable, too—the more exotic, the better. But most people can only afford the extract of imported spirituality—they get some of the flavor, but not the substance. It’s the new truffle oil.

I believe in seeking. I believe ardently that you should drop everything and run toward your true self, as far as you have to go. But I want to put in a word for the path that winds through the backyard, because it can be just as meaningful and wondrous as the one that goes up the mountaintop, if it’s your path (hint: your path is the one dead in front of you). You want a spiritual discipline? Try staying vitally connected to the same person year in, year out, through surprise pregnancies, late mortgage payments, toilet seat battles, and the occasionally strong temptation to walk away and make a living tending bar somewhere on the coast of Maine. Domestic life is full of moments of truth, if you stay awake to them."

The Paper Bag Lunch Girl

blog by: kim

School Cafeteria

Me: “what did your mom make you for lunch?”

Little girl next to me: “peanut butter and jelly on wonder bread, fritos, a twinkie with soda. why are you staring at my food kimmy? what do you have in your paper bag?”

“uh…a sprout sandwich, an apple for dessert and some warm apple juice. raisons for snack. wanna  trade?”

“no weird paper bag girl!”

And so it was my cafeteria life in grade school. A few times it was Triscuits with raw veggies. Whaa? No wonder why I can’t get enough peanut butter as an adult.

When I was really little, I’d dream about those crunchy greasy things that kids called potato chips and secretly wish my mother didn’t sprinkle wheat germ on my food. What  was that anyway? 

As a kid I wanted  junk food and I was not pleased that I couldn’t just have a normal lunch like the rest of the kids. The friday pizza looked so good. If I was given a little money to buy white milk in the school cafeteria, I’d sneak and buy some sort of chocolate hostess cake instead and then lick my little fingers clean. Yummy.

It’s funny how our eating habits as kids makes a difference on how we eat as adults. Even though I didn’t grow up with both parents, years later I remember my father being  good about eating healthy. I was utterly horrified by this. He and my step mom would juice things, fruit, veggies, you name it- it went down that little tube and came out in liquid form. I’d stand there and shake my head and scowl. "Pffft… how odd" I’d say. 

What little I knew. But to this day, I still stick to my coffee as you can see... 

And why oh why did dad work out almost daily? I understand it now, but the time it made no sense. Talk about discipline. I was more interested in boys.

Nowadays I have finally settled into a happy medium. I’m not overboard with the healthy stuff,  you still have to live and enjoy life! But I  also choose whole wheat over white, virtually no greasy fried foods,  chips only on occasion and so on and so forth. I am not disciplined enough to eat all non fat /gluten free/sugar free foods that I cannot pronounce. One must live a little now and then, yes? 

Which brings me to the issue of dieting. I have heard of some of the funniest fad diets. No matter what, even if you take off the weight- if you don’t figure out how to eat healthy and moderate the calories over the long term, it’ll just creep back on. Losing weight AND maintaining it, is about lifestyle. Healthy eating habits and routine exercise are the only way to go. I know. Don't look at me that way. I didn’t write the rules.

Check out these funny fad diets:

The Twinkie Diet- Eat junk food and lose weight? By sticking to 1,800 calories a day - around 600-800 fewer than needed to maintain weight – the guy lost 10 lbs in the first three weeks of his "diet". It shouldn't come as such as surprise. After all, you could lose weight eating two candy bars a day: it's the calories-in verses calories-out that matter.

Eat Backwards and Lose Weight- The Reverse Diet has you reversing the order of what you eat: a heavy dinner for breakfast, regular meal for lunch, then a light breakfast for dinner.

The Lemon and Lime Diet-
According to this diet's rules, you are allowed to only ingest two things (besides water): lemons and limes. The diet's creator believed that this diet would promote health. However, the smarter people out there realize that only eating lemons and limes will cause a serious diet imbalance. No, really?

The Master Cleanse
- It’s has become famous due to the variety of celebs that swear by it. This diet involves drinking water along with maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and lemons. While you'll certainly lose weight by just ingesting these four things, you're looking at a serious imbalance in your body. Just thinking about it makes me very grumpy.

The Toddler Diet - Just eat toddlers. Oh my, that is funny.

But focus back over here. Fad diets don’t offer a healthy, long-term weight control plan. They are so very restrictive. They aren’t a healthy form of dieting that can be incorporated into life for the long haul.

Many diets buy into “yo-yo dieting". Yo-yo dieting is the back and forth gain and loss of weight from excessive dieting. Real weight loss is slow when it is finally done from a healthy perspective.

People who go on fad diets are putting their body at risk for disease and illness. Most fad diets restrict you from eating foods that are packed with the vitamins and nutrients the human body needs to protect itself from fatigue and sickness.

 So maybe, just maybe those people that raised me were actually onto something. Perhaps now I’m a little more thankful for my embarrassing, sprout- filled cafeteria days after all. 

love, the weird paper bag girl

Confessions of a Thrifty Fashionista

blog by: kim

Oh how I love clothes shopping for a good deal and being eco friendly at the same time. Being good to the environment doesn’t mean that you have to do without comfort, style or nice clothes. Thanks to vintage & thrift stores, it means being kind to your environment while you shop.

Upscale resale boutiques are great. These places accept newer, gently used clothing that is current. Thrift stores require more sleuthing, but it can be well worth it.

Me in my $4 BeBe White Hoodie. . .

I think BeBe is a bit over priced in the malls if you are paying full retail, so I was happy to find this.

Me in my American Eagle T shirt today...$3.00 

...and the American Eagle T shirts retail for $24.95!
Cute jeans were $9. Name brand.

My new cotton sun dress with embroidered flowers. Too cute to pass up! I won't even tell you what a great price this was.

Plato’s Closet offers American Eagle, Hollister, Aeropostale, Gap, Juicy and other top name brands.

Once Upon a Child for little ones. You’ll find Limited Two, Justice and other hot brands that are otherwise over priced.

I found these black knee-high boots that would have been over $100 retail at the mall. Got them for $8. Yes really!

Being environmentally savvy or "green" involves renewal, regeneration and giving back.  Here’s ideas that are eco-chic and high on style:

Reused Clothing-

All reused clothing is green, since – by being salvaged – it doesn't find itself piling up in a landfill for all of eternity. It may take a little time and patience to hunt for individual items, but when you uncover those truly one-of-a-kind pieces that rival many of today's mass produced fashions, second-hand shopping is totally worth the work. So go ahead and shop with wild abandon in your local thrift or vintage clothing store.

Thrift, Consignment & Vintage Shopping Tips-

Every fashionista knows that clothing made prior to the mid 1960s was usually top quality, which is why much of it is still in excellent condition at the local thrift or vintage shop.  

Thrift Stores versus Consignment Shops versus Vintage Boutiques-

Consignment stores –  where the original owner retains some of the revenue from the sale, as opposed to making a straight donation to the shop – will often have equal quality to vintage boutiques, however thrift stores – with their hodgepodge collection and crammed racks of donated clothes – are where you must truly become a fashion sleuth.

Vintage shops will more consistently yield the best selection and the highest quality but prices will be higher than consignment shops or thrift stores. You are paying for a knowledgeable staff and a selection that is usually grouped by decade.

Until the 1960's most clothing was made to measure by major fashion houses, local seamstresses and even department stores, so definitely do not overlook unfamiliar labels. With this garments made prior to the sixties, higher quality is a given, especially if the label is woven and has been completely sewn down.

Another indicator of a high quality garment is the buttons: jet, brass, bone, pearl and the button holes themselves are a sign of good craftsmanship. Look for details such as quality lining and well-sewn seams, it will set excellent garments apart from the rest.


Thrift stores and resale stores are basically shops that sell resused items, in this case clothing, shoes and accessories.

Of course the cutest accessories that are a combination of vintage, handmade and upcycled costume jewelry are in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Studio50

I have a handful of new items. I also keep the prices LOW so everyone can afford to look good. Here's a few....


This cute silver clutch

This Rocker Chic multi colored stone bracelet

These pink glass bead silver earrings. 

And for Hello Kitty Collectors, this change purse.

Recycling Vintage Fashions = “preloved”


Ciao