The Most Mentionable Unmentionables

So I have another confession to make and this may seem a little bit strange, but I have recently become completely obsessed with buying pretty lingerie.  Is that weird?  Or do most girls obsess over having perfectly matched bras and panties (blech I hate that word) like I do?  


Anyways, after having worn the same five ugly, worn-out bras over and over again for the past year straight (ya know, because I'm a backpacker and didn't exactly have the luggage space pack a bra for every occasion), I decided that it was time to invest in some new ones.  Given that I currently live in a rather remote location, and also that the closest physical shops selling lingerie are either Target or ones that cater to teenagers, I opted for a little online shopping.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Target, I think Target is great.  I was just after something with a little more sex appeal.  


Also, out of curiosity, I tried to use the internet to find out what kind of lingerie guys actually like since I know that a lot of the times the things that I think are sexy may not actually be all that sexy.  It turns out that every guy is different (go figure).  Some guys like little lacy things, some like basic cotton, some prefer garters and stockings, and some guys prefer you to wear nothing at all.  The conclusion that I finally came to after all of this intensive research is that, ladies, you should just wear whatever the hell makes you feel good because there is no way you can possibly please 'em all.


Now I guess you're probably hoping that I'll eventually get to the point of this post.  Ok, here it is:  I love La Senza lingerie.  Now I bet you are thinking "why the %$&*# couldn't you have just said that and saved me the trouble of reading all that other crap?"  Because that's just not how I roll.  So get over it.  


La Senza is an Australian lingerie line that has physical shops all over the country, but also has a pretty nifty online store that you can visit by clicking here.  I know that it can be pretty intimidating trying to buy bras that you can't actually try on but I guarantee you that if you use La Senza's bra measuring guide and fitting chart, you will end up with a perfect fit every time.  Their lingerie is super sexy, high quality, great fitting, and most importantly, AFFORDABLE!  


Check out some of these super mentionable unmentionables that you can score at La Senza:

 

    

Like 'em?  Here're some more:

 

 



I highly recommend the No-Show Brazilian, the black lace one pictured underneath the aqua blue bra.  It's comfortable, sexy, and definitely lives up to its no-show promise.  I definitely recommend investing in some pretty underpinnings.  As frivolous as it may sound, wearing something fierce underneath your work clothes can make a woman feel a little bit more fierce all that way through.


In other news, it was nice and sunny today in Dingo Beach but it was still cold.  I don't particularly like the cold weather because it severely limits my choice of activities to do on my days off.  But I guess it's good practice for the chilliness that I'm in for when I head over to New Zealand in a couple weeks, right?  Optimism is good.


I hope you all are having a lovely day, where ever in the world you are!


Cheers,


Amanda

Nifty Thrifty (A Few Recent Thrift Finds)

Hello lovelies!


Just popping in to share some of my favorite recent thrift finds.  I have been pleasantly surprised by some of  the thrift stores around here and a bit let down by others.  The Salvation Army stores tend to carry mostly mall brands and so far I haven't had the best of luck there but you can find more unique things at the Bloomhill Op Shops, which are my personal favorites.  Now that I know the best places to shop, I can make the most of my little thrifting adventures.


1. A sunny yellow cotton tank for $3.00  I have already thought up so many different ways to wear it!

2. These super-gorgeous beige and silver heels for $5.00  A classic shoe with a shiny twist.

3. This light and airy white burnout blouse for $4.00  Perfect for the hot Sunshine Coast summer.

4. This pretty and functional wooden mortar and pestle for $5.00  This one, I bought for Tim to use for grinding herbs and things.

5. This pretty little ceramic sugar dish for $3.50  It has no markings on it but looks like it could have been hand made.  I use it to store little knick knacks like rings and loose buttons.  

I collected those straw-colored puff ball things at the beach a couple of days ago.  I'm planning on using them for a decorative DIY some time soon.


6. These fun and silly flexible heart-shaped ice cube trays for $1.00  They were originally from Ikea.  Ice water is so much more enjoyable when your ice is shaped like hearts :)

7. This cute and sexy mini-skirt for $4.00  It looks like tweed but it's actually made of polyester and viscose.

8. These super sparkly gold sandals for $8.00  That's a bit expensive for thrift store prices, but I think it's because they had never been worn before.

Yep, this photo is sideways.  I tried a couple of times but just couldn't get my computer to turn it around the right way.  So you will just have to look at a sideways photo.  Deal with it.


As you can see, thrifting has become a new addiction for me.  It's fun, gives me an excuse to get out of the house, and it's cheap!  But wait, I've already done a post on why I love to thrift.  I try to go at least once a week now so next week I'm sure I will have some more new goodies to share with you.  I have yet to find any rare vintage treasures but I'm not about to give up on looking any time soon. 


Happy thrifting!


Love,

Amanda

5 Reasons Why I Love to Thrift

It's no secret that most bloggers are also frequent thrifters.  I, myself, have just recently discovered the joys of thrifting.  I never had the chance to hit the Good Wills and Salvation Armies of NC before departure to Australia but since my arrival, I have searched out the best Op Shops on the Coast and already made a list of my personal favorites.  Just in case you have yet to be converted to 'thriftianity' (don't you like my made up word?), maybe the following list will help change your mind.


1.  I love the thrill of the hunt.

I hope I find some cute and functional vintage containers like these.

The best thing about thrifting is that you never, ever know what you will find.  When I walk into a thrift store, I feel just like a kid on Christmas who walks downstairs to see a pile of unopened gifts under the tree.  Until you start digging, you will never know what treasures are in store.  Some days, you may walk away with nothing and other days you could leave with a whole bag of goodies.  Lucky for me, the thrift stores in Australia all have dressing rooms so that I always know for sure whether I will like an article of clothing before I buy it.


2.  I love that it's budget friendly.

This leather wallet from the '70s is pretty darn cute.  Plus it's relevant to this blurb about budgets.

Of course most of the things you will find in thrift stores are previously loved and you certainly can't expect everything to look brand new.  But I would much rather pay $4 for a dress that's been worn once or twice than $50 or more for a dress that I will only wear once or twice.  Also, if you are like me, and get tired of your clothes after just a couple of wears, it makes sense to shop at the Op Shops because it limits your wardrobe expenditure and you can just re-donate things when you are done with them.


3.  I love that it's environmentally friendly

This Sad Surreal Tree print set is so pretty.  And it has to do with the environment.  Because It's a tree.

The more popular thrifting becomes, the more often people will forego purchasing something brand new in favor of saving a few pennies at the local Op Shop.  Each time a second-hand item is purchased, it makes one less piece of garbage to be thrown into the garbage dumps.  It also discourages the endless manufacture of new garments.  Also, most thrift shops re-use shopping bags collected from other sources rather than purchasing their own.  This saves plastic from being used to create new bags and saves inks from being used to print them.  Don't take this to mean that I am against buying new things.  I love buying new things.  This is just my way of saying that thrifting is also a good thing.


4.  I love that it encourages creativity

This Creativity Necklace is one of the coolest things I have come across on Etsy in a long time.  The charms are ball and stick models of the three neurotransmitters that are critical to creativity.  I am geeking out big time over this necklace!

I, for one, am much more likely to buy something that is not exactly "my style" if it only costs 4 or 5 dollars.  When I'm in a thrift store and I come across something that is pretty or interesting or unique, I will think to myself, "how can I wear this?" or "what kinds of DIY's could I do with this?"  This is another one of my absolute favorite things about shopping at thrift stores.


5.  I love that it supports a good cause

This Breast Cancer Awareness Print is hilarious and supports a good cause.  You can get it printed on a short-sleeved or long-sleeved tee in your size.

Most thrift shops are run by charities who rely on their thrift shops to keep their organizations afloat.  One of my favorite local shops here on the Sunshine Coast is run by Bloomhill Cancer Help, an organization which offers support to people struggling with cancer.  By shopping at stores like this, you are helping to keep these organizations alive.


Hopefully I have been able to convince you that thrifting is AWESOME!!!  I hope you have fun on your next thrift adventure.


Love,


Amanda


P.S. I just threw in some pictures of items that are for sale on Etsy so this post didn't seem so naked and because I'm too shy to go around taking pictures while I'm shopping and I don't have a thrifting buddy to do it for me.  Click the included link to learn more about each item.  Also, stay tuned to see some of my own recent thrift finds... coming soon to a blog near you (a.k.a. this blog).

A Nice Surprise

Last week, I purchased this beautiful necklace from the Etsy shop of the lovely lady behind the blog Bayou Bohemian.  Last night, as I was catching up on my blog reading, I stumbled across a post on her equally lovely blog, thanking me for the purchase and even including a link to my blog!  It was such a nice surprise and totally made my night!  This type of  interaction is one of the many, many reasons why I love shopping vintage and handmade, especially on Etsy.  It is always nice to know that your purchase is truly appreciated.

I encourage you to take the time to stop by Bayou Bohemian to check out her amazing collection of vintage and handmade treasures and then stop by her blog for a quick hello.


Love,


Amanda

Fair Ivy

Hello lovelies!


I am here to share with you a really neat concept that I recently came across online.  It's called Fair Ivy.  The whole idea is that you can pay a flat price and receive one package full of mostly handmade goodies or you can pay a monthly fee and receive a subscription to Fair Ivy which will get you a new goody bag each month. 

You can also buy surprise packages for your man, dog, cat, or teen.  Click the one of the links above to find out more!

Neat!

CuteAbility: a fab Etsy find

I recently found the most amazingly adorable Etsy shop and I wanted to take this opportunity to share it with you all.  The shop is called CuteAbility (I'm sure that's obvious by the title of this post).  They sell amazingly detailed and creative hand made jewelry.  Here are a few of my absolute favorite pieces from this incredible little shop:


1. Cat in the Fish Bowl Necklace

This one combines some of my absolute favorite pets; cats and goldfish!  I had a gorgeous fantail goldfish named Bailey but he died from some mysterious fish disease shortly before my move to Australia.

2. Tulip Tea Cup and Saucer Ring

3. The Sleepy Owl Bracelet

4. Drink Me Alice in Wonderland Necklace

5. The Hot Air Balloon Necklace

This is just a tip of the super cute ice berg of the CuteAbility shop.  Check it out for yourself!  Have a super cute day!

Ciao,

Amanda