Under $10 Tuesday- #2

This is my first post since Friday...yikes! I've just been super busy because since Friday I've been visiting my boyfriend. He lives roughly 5 hours away, so its always a treat to go and see him :) His birthday was Sunday, so we've been doing lots of celebrating and visiting with his family, which is always fun, but also always hectic. Thankfully, I remembered to bring my computer to update you guys on everything, even if I've been kind of bad at it. Sorry! I promise I'll get better at updating, really! 

Dress, yard sale- $2

Shoes, Urban Outfitters Outlet- $5

Vest, Goodwill- $2

Cuffs, H&M- $1 each

I kind of feel like Full House threw up on me in his outfit with the light wash denim vest and the flower print dress. It came with shoulder pads that I cut out, because I have really wide shoulder to begin with anyway. I wish that the vest was a size or so smaller because I believe it's a size large, so it swamps me a little bit because of the men's sizing.

Also, has anyone else noticed the weird thumb-finger circle I make with my hand when I'm taking pictures? If my arm is hanging down, in just about every picture, there it is! Maybe I'm making some sort of unconscious gang sign...except for the last picture I'm doing some sort of peace sign throw up on the wall. Honestly, I really should pay more attention to what I'm doing with my hands while these pictures are being taken. I would make a terrible model, haha.

PS- If you haven't yet, make sure that you enter the giveaway! It's on the bottom of the post right below this one, and it's super easy. Hurry, because it ends on Friday :)

(Almost) Chambray Shirt + {GIVEAWAY}

It's offically 12:01 on July 27th, so that means happy one month anniversary to the duckling! *cue music and dancing* This seems like a pretty big milestone to me, and though I'm not sure if it really is in the blogging world, I feel like this first month is something crucial. It's the start of something new. It's the very beginning where everything is fresh and undiscovered. It's when all the ideas come climbing in through your window at night and plop into your dreams with a big loud crash. It's also a time when people become discouraged, lost, and unsure. Thoughts float around saying "this is pointless" or "give up before you look like an idiot". Thankfully, I have a very supportive family, boyfriend, and set of friends who are always encouraging me. I also have a very supportive group of readers! Small though you may be, you are really what makes me think I might have found something I'm good at after trying on dozens of different things (and taking a lot of time to figure them out).

So, I have an outfit before we get on to the giveaway!

Ralph Lauren denim button up, Goodwill Outlet- 25 cents

American Apparel Disco Pants, online- $75

Jewelry, H&M- cuff, $1  necklace, $5

Ring, yard sale- 25 cents

One big thing I've seen throughout the Spring/Summer is the reappearance of the "chambray" shirt, which is basically a denim shirt, haha. Now, most of the ones that I've seen around actually have two breast pockets. Mine doesn't (which is why I included "almost" in the title), but I snagged it at the Goodwill Outlet back in January or so. If it qualifies or not, I'm not entirely sure, but it's super comfortable and a really easy way to look casually cute. Throw on a pair of white shorts/pants, leggings, or even a pair of jeans if you're feeling daring. I've not been able to work up the courage to try out the double denim look yet, but I think that's because I'm secretly holding out to be able to try it with a pair of boyfriend jeans I've been eyeing lately...

The disco pants have made a reappearance! A testament to their versitility again. The loafers I have on have some studding on the front of them, and I love them to death, but they're just a wee bit too small so they keep rubbing the backs of my feet :( I've only been able to wear them twice. I might end up selling them, so if you're interested, shoot me an email. (Please oh please excuse my weird facial expression in the close up. For some reason I was having MAJOR issues keeping my eyes open whenever the camera went off. I looked so drugged up in half of the pictures that they were totally un-usable, haha)

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate our one month birthday, I've got two prizes to giveaway! The first is this super cool cocktail ring that is so unique, and I am jealous of whoever ends up getting it. Great conversation starter, and a really great way to add interest to an otherwise everyday outfit. The second is this pair of very pretty mint/blue feather earrings. I have a pair of dark pink ones that ended up matching perfectly to my pink shoes, so I can't wait to pair them together!

Now, it's super easy to enter and there are up to 8 chances to enter! Just follow any or all of the instructions below, and bada-bing-bada-boom, you're entered! This will run until Friday, August 3rd, and two (random) winners will be chosen! The first will have their pick of the prize, and the second winner will get the second one. Best of luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#1 Under $10 Tuesday

Welcome to the first installment of Under $10 Tuesday! If you have ever been shopping with me, you know that I love to find deals. I love to get the most for my money, and I love to show it off when I do, haha. I'm a huge fan of Goodwill, thrift stores, and especially yard sales. Whenever I can, I love to go with my aunt who goes every Saturday and starts at the crack of dawn to find the best stuff. It's so much fun!

So that is what inspired this new weekly post idea. Every Tuesday I'm going to challenge myself to put together an outfit for $10 or less, and then show it to you guys! I saw another one of my favorite bloggers doing something very similar to this, and I fell in love with the idea (thanks so much, Kavita!). Some of the rules are:

1. There must be four items includes (bottoms, top, dress, jacket, bag, bracelets, etc.)

2. The total price of the outfit cannot exceed $10

3. Using items that were gifts is allowed from friends and family is allowed, but items given from companies is not.

High waisted Levi's- Goodwill- $2

Floral Spaghetti Strap Tank- $5

Flight Bag- Yard Sale- $1

Bracelets- Yards Sales- 25 cents a piece

Earrings- Gift 

I challenge you guys to try this too, because it really was fun to come up with different ideas and outfits! I'd love to see what you guys could come up with. Let me know what you guys think of this new idea, and hopefully *crosses fingers* I will be able to keep up with it!

Ivy League

Hey all, I know I made a post yesterday, but I just couldn't wait anymore to talk to everyone. I've got a couple things to say before I post a new outfit.

1) The Style Duckling now has a Facebook page! That's where I'm going to be making announcements in between posts (giveaway updates, shop updates, etc), so to be up-to-date you're going to want to go like that page.  Here's the lovely link, so click it!

2) I've been playing around with the idea of opening up an online shop (either on Etsy or eBay) of some pretty awesome things I've found, or even some things that I've made. Dyed, studded, ombré-d, laced, things like that. Let me know if you'd be interested, and I'll try and give you guys a look at some things later on this week. I've got to figure out a way to pay for gas during school when my summer job expires! Not much need for a lifeguard in the winter, haha

So just let me know by email or comments, and now on to the outfit!

 Shorts: Goodwill

Shoes: eBay

Necklace: Forever21

Ring: H&M

More great photos by Brooke! I'm being overly critical of myself because I think my legs look stubby in the first photo, and my hands look like monkey hands in the last one, but I'm trying to work on that, haha. The lighting was a little weird because it was so bright in some places and shaded in other, but I think they still managed to turn out pretty well. The shorts were a great find, because they're a pair of Ralph Lauren "Saturday Jeans". I honestly have no clue what that means but they're super comfy and I'm in love with the fit. The sweater I've had for a few years, because I found a picture of me in it all the way back in my sophomore year in high school. Of course you know how much I love my shoes ;)

Be on the lookout for a new "segment" that I'll be posting weekly. It will be on the same day each week (I'm not sure which day yet) and will be a "outfit on a budget" sort of post. Can't wait to get that going! Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, even if tomorrow has to be Monday...yuck!