New Decade, Same Bettie With a Twist

Well, hello there!

It certainly has been some time since I've been in the blog-o-sphere.  I'm not completely sure what's compelling me to come back after all this time, but, HERE I AM!

It's now officially 2020, a new decade and a new year.  Around this time last year I remember writing out a long list for myself of ways to "live better".  I can't even tell you where that list is now, but I can guarantee that the majority of those things didn't stick for the long haul.

Looking into this year, this new decade, and now being in my thirties, I see a real opportunity to start fresh. I've decided to keep things a bit more simple, with three main goals:

1.) DRINK MORE WATER

2.) Focus more on doing what makes me happy, not just going with the motions, and 

3.) Buy exclusively second hand 

The first one is pretty simple, but to provide some backstory; the past few weeks have been a wake-up call to how I feel in my body and how I've been taking care of myself.  Rather than another long list of new healthy habits, I thought it would be best to start small, and just try to keep myself freaking hydrated.  Baby steps people, baby steps.

#2 was actually something that struck me recently.  Recently I've been forced to keep things very low key, sometimes not really moving from the couch at all.  It resulted in me reading a TON the past few days, and I didn't realize how much I had missed it! Growing up I used to move through books like crazy, but now as an adult I feel like I've gotten too comfortable in the routine of coming home and plopping in front of the TV.  Realizing how much reading sparks joy inspired me to get back to it more regularly, and also intentionally choosing to do other things I love that maybe I recently have abandoned. I guess we'll see throughout the year what those other things may be!

....and number three.  I think this definitely ties to #2 - as you've seen from my previous adventures, shopping it something I absolutely love.  It's therapy, it's fun, and it's a way to bond with people I love!  However, I think this past year I definitely was a little reckless.  I actually started off 2019 with the resolution of no new clothes at all - who was I kidding?  I made it about 5 months (way longer than I thought), but ended up essentially going on a binge to make up for the time of not getting my fix.  I think making every effort to buy only second hand will be a fun challenge for a few reasons:

• I'll need to be more creative!  I'm looking forward to new shops/websites/ways of shopping that I haven't been exposed to before.
• I'll get back to my true bargaining roots - ready to dig back into my favorite thrift and vintage stores!  I'm also hoping that this has a nice effect on my bank account.
• I foresee buying second hand resulting in more thoughtful purchases. Without the opportunity of return policies in most cases,  I'm hoping this drives me to purchase items that I truly love, not just piles of fast fashion I get for cheap.  I want to curate a wardrobe I absolutely adore.
• You can't deny the benefits of shopping second-hand:
• Second-hand shopping can keep money local and supports local businesses and organizations
• Helping with sustainability
• Reducing business to companies that exploit workers in third world countries

I think there will definitely be exceptions here and there with this one (for example, we got tons of gift cards for the holidays, buying handmade stuff from local artisans, definitely not buying secondhand underwear..... etc.), but I think it's a fun and exciting challenge to start the new year.

I'm looking forward to bringing Bettie back in 2020, and can't wait to see what we find!

Until next time!

Summer Sundays in New Hope - Night Bird Vintage

Obviously I have a love of all things vintage, and you better believe that includes vintage cars.  Since I was a little girl I've always loved car shows or cruise nights, admiring cars from the past that have been kept or refurbished to look like new again.  My sweetheart is a big fan as well, and we have a summer tradition of attending the New Hope Auto Show that takes place every August in New Hope, PA.  We love to spend the day together perusing the show, and then walk around town, grab a bite to eat, and, of course, do a little shopping!

This year we had the absolute greatest time!  There were so many great cars - foreign and American, modern and vintage.  Everyone was in great spirits - we had so many pleasant conversations with owners who were happy to point out features of their cars and explain some history.  One owner was so generous - he invited us to sit in the driver's seat of his gorgeous 1960 Corvette!  I think the grin on my boyfriend's face perfectly portrays how excited we were.

My other favorite car of the day was this 1957 Chevy Nomad (can you tell I'm a Chevy girl?).  The color is called "Canyon Coral".  Talk about swoon!

My sweetie and I always talk about wanting to own a vintage car one day.  Who knows, maybe there will eventually be a Bargain Bettie post about a new ride!

If you've never been, New Hope is an adorable town that sits right on the Delaware River.  It's an eclectic, welcoming town with tons of great little restaurants and shops.  On Tuesdays and Saturdays nearby there is a Flea Market my friends and I have gone to since we were in high school.  Between that and the stores right in town you can easily spend an entire day shopping New Hope!

One store I always pop into is Night Bird Vintage.  The store is off of a side street, and you need to walk down an alleyway with steps to get in the door on the side of the building.  The shop is small in size, but packed wall to wall with vintage.  It's organized by clothing type (jackets, dresses, women's tops, men's tops, etc.), but that's about where the order stops, so get ready to dig!

I always enjoy perusing Night Bird because of the fun patterns.  Even though I'm more of a 1950's girl when it comes to cut and style, I'm a huge sucker for the bold, colorful 70's plaids and patterns.  Night Bird carries a good range of items from all decades 50's-90's, so there's bound to be something for everyone.

My find of the day was this fun dress, which I'm really excited to wear when it gets to fall and winter!  I'm loving that retro plaid is in for this fall, and this dress fits the bill.

Overall Night Bird is a worthwhile stop when visiting New Hope, but I will say that prices are a little higher than some of my other favorite stores.  Also, be prepared that there is only one dressing room.  For a store with minimal space it's not surprising, but on a busy Sunday there was a line of people waiting to try on while I was taking my turn.  I was interested in a bunch of items, but ended up not trying them on because I didn't want to take everyone's time, or didn't want to wait in line again.  Either be prepared to be in this position on a fair weathered weekend day, or try to hit up Night Bird on a weekday!

This shop is just the tip of the iceberg of all of the fun you can have in New Hope.  Definitely be on the lookout for a post on some of my other favorite spots in the area!

Until the next adventure!

xoxo, Bettie

National Lipstick Day!

Happy Monday darlings!

As I'm sure you know, Saturday was National Lipstick Day, and to celebrate, our beloved MAC was giving away FREE lipstick.  That's right, FREE.  Leading up to Saturday I'm sure everyone did a double take when they saw those words; Free?  Without purchase?  No strings attached?  The answer (or so we thought) was yes, and knowing me, you better believe I was not missing out on free lipstick!  I'm sure there are lots of stories floating around the internet about how Free Lipstick Day at MAC went for them, so I thought you lovelies would like to hear some details about how it went for me (also, some tips on how to prepare for next time - hopefully there is one!)

My target was the MAC station I regularly visit at my local Macy's. When it comes to free items, especially irregular giveaways, I always get a little antsy that I'll miss out, so I planned to get there ahead of opening time anticipating a line.  I arrived about an hour before the doors were supposed to open, and there were already four other women waiting at the gate.

Yes I know, waiting over an hour for free lipstick on a Saturday afternoon may sound a little crazy, but it was absolutely worth it!  For starters, the four women who were there early with me were SO nice; we all got to chatting about makeup, which color we were going to pick, other things we have waited in line for, etc.  You can really bond quickly over makeup!  We all ended up following each other on Instagram, and I can't wait to see them rocking their new colors!

If you went to get your free lipstick, or if you are on social media and had friends who did, I'm sure you know that it wasn't exactly how it was advertised.  It was a free lipstick giveaway, no strings attached, however- you picked from a select group of colors, and each location had a limited quantity. Luckily for us, one of the fanatics in line, Sofi, had gone to MAC the day before and had taken a picture of their swatch sheet:

 According to the staff at our location, each store was given an amount based off of how busy their mall/store was.  Even though we were there so early, by the time they let the other doors in we were probably 20-30 people back or so.  When we got to the cashier the associates said they were already halfway through their stock!  The majority of people in the long snaking line behind us were definitely not going to get one.  It paid to get there early!

I ended up with two colors: Evening Buzz (cool lavender, matte finish) and Cyber (deep, dark reddened purple with satin finish).  A lot of people were disappointed (some even outraged) that the colors were kinda crazy - but I liked it!  What better way to try a color that may normally be out of your comfort zone than to get it for free?  If you're a true MAC-er you already have your Ruby-Woos, Candy Yum-Yums and Velvet Teddys, so getting a crazy color was fun!  Plus, it was free - beggars can't be choosers!

Overall it was worth a few hours of my time, and was such a fun start to my Saturday morning.  Since there was such a huge response, I hope MAC expands on it next year.  I think it would be worth it for them to make a limited edition color that they give out rather than a range of options, and specify how many each location will have.  Either way, you'll be seeing me in line next time!

Until the next adventure!

xoxo, Bettie

Bettie's Bargain Beauty Buys!

 After 26 years of being a gal, I finally feel like I'm settling into a beauty routine and am finding my Holy Grail products; products that I depend on and will never live without!  I've been beyond happy to find that lots of my favorites have been from the drugstore, or I'm able to get them from Harmon's (I am the QUEEN of that $5 off of $10 coupon!).  These products are just so divine and are at the perfect prices that I'd figure I'd share them all with you, and about how I use them!  Keep in mind I am NOT a professional by any means, but I think every woman should feel beautiful and healthy, and these products make me feel that way!

1.) Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover ($5.99) I've come to find that my face reacts much better to simple products, preferably organic or natural.  I'm a huge fan of face products at Lush, but this Bargain Bettie only splurges so often!  I tried this product on a whim, literally because it was on the only thing in the store aside from Burts Bees and Yes to Carrots that had the least amount of crappola in it. Since I've been using it every day, I can't tell you how much my face has cleared up!  It also does truly thoroughly remove makeup.  Who doesn't love killing two birds with one stone?
2.) St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub ($3.19) I've been using some version of this scrub for the past 8 years; I started using the Acne Clear version in college, and this product has been a bathroom staple since.  I just love how gritty it is!  It's on the rougher side, which I like- just under being too much for my face.  I also like using it all over my body (again with the 2-for-1!).
3.) Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($9.79 for 16oz.) Not going to lie, I'm still not sure how to pronounce this guy! (Seht- a- fil?  Seat-ah-fil? I give up!) However, after trying DOZENS of lotions (both drugstore and not), this has been my hands down favorite.  Simple, scentless, affordable, lightweight....I could go on and on!  I use this every day underneath my primer before makeup.  Also, a little bit goes a LONG way.  The bottle in the picture is the travel size, and I've had it for at least two months!
4.) Laura Geller Spackle Under Make-Up Primer ($30.00) Okay ladies, have you been keeping this from me?!  Where has this primer been all my life!? I recently stumbled upon a primer display at Ulta, and saw this one featured.  I did some recon online and saw rave reviews, so I decided to give it a try with my Birchbox points (I essentially got it for free!).  Oh my heavens!  I love this primer!  My makeup goes on smooth, and stays all day.  No matter which foundation of mine I use, the are no patchy areas, pores are minimized, and my makeup just stays looking great!  The price itself is on the higher side, but I decided to include it because of what and how much you get for that price.  The bottle is 2oz; around the same price point Benefit's Porefessional is .75oz, and Smashbox's Photo Finish is 1oz.  You're getting double the product!  Definitely worth the investment.
5.) Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder ($3.99) When it comes to my face makeup I usually prefer a dewy look; matte tends to look too flat and dried out on me (or maybe I'm doing it wrong!).  However, if I ever want to purposely mattify a particular area or if I'm feeling kinda oily, I grab this fella.  I also use it to set my eye shadow primer.
6.)  Revlon ColorStay Makeup (not pictured -  $12.99) I have a confession to make - I'm a little obsessed with foundation!  I wish I could easily try every single foundation out there; I'm always looking for the perfect coverage with the perfect finish for my skin type.  Even though I'm always dabbling in new brands and types, I always have this foundation on hand.  It has amazing staying power, gives me the buildable medium coverage I like, and leaves my skin looking natural.  Not to mention, it comes in tons of shades!
7.) NYX HD Eye Shadow Base ($6.99)  Before I was obsessed with foundation, I was obsessed with my oddly greasy eyelids and how no matter what, my eye shadow always creased. I tried all of the reputable primers, but none seemed to do the trick.  I read about NYX's Eye Shadow Base, and figured for that price, why not give it a whirl?  When I set it with the Matte Pressed Powder, my shadow stays better than with anything else!  I've got my mom hooked to; I'm already looking forward to one being tucked in my stocking this Christmas (momma if you're reading this- hint hint!)
8.) Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara ($8.99) My gorgeous momma also happens to love playing with makeup, and she introduced me to this mascara a few years ago.  I feel like whenever I may wander off to different mascaras, I always end up back with this one.  It gives great volume without getting clumpy and I never have fallout or smudges throughout the day.  My mom uses this in tandem with their lengthening formula for extra umph!
9.) Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub ($9.95) & Smith's Rosebud Salve ($6.00) These two are a must-have combo for soft, moisturized, flake-free lips.  I'll scrub my lips before I put on my foundation, then put on the salve while I complete the rest of my makeup.  By the time I'm ready to do my lips - voila!  The perfect canvas for any type of lipstick!
10.) Colourpop Cosmetics Lippie Stix ($5.00) These lipsticks and liners are seriously like winning the lottery.  If you don't know about Colourpop yet, go check them out right now!  They have so many colors, and for each Lippie Stick there is an exact liner to match.  Did I mention they were just $5 each?  Since I've bought these, Colourpop has also branched out into more shadows, blushes & highlighters, eyeliner, and now an ultra matte creme lip color.  Can I have them all please!?

There are always new products to try, and I'm always scouring the internet for other suggestions!  What are your favorite beauty products?  Are any of them bargain buys?  Share with all of us in the comments below!

Until next time!

xoxo, Bettie 

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween darlings! I hope your day is full of fun, sweets, and a few scares for good measure!   I celebrated at work yesterday by adding a $5 witch hat to some items I already had in my closet.  What are you dressing up as this year?  I'd love to hear about your DIY and/or bargain costume - let me know in the comments below!

xoxo, Bettie 

Bargain Bettie Sets Off!

Hi there!  My name's Sarah (your Bargain Bettie on here!) and I figured I'd use this post to introduce myself and explain what you can expect from my adventures!  I'm a twenty-something gal born, raised, and living in New Jersey.  I'm the older sister to three knucklehead brothers (a.k.a my best buddies), have the biggest sweet tooth there is, and love all things retro.  I have multiple hobbies; I like DIY projects and love reading and baking, but one stands out among them all: SHOPPING.  (If you ask those close to me, they'd say it's more like an addiction than a hobby!) Not only do I love shopping, but I love shopping SMART.  I literally will do almost anything to make the perfect "Find"; an amazing item (or items) for a price that makes you feel like a kid walking downstairs on Christmas morning.  I love spending hours sifting through racks at a thrift store, getting my boots muddy at a rummage sale in the rain, and getting up at the crack of dawn to be first in line at a sample sale.  My goal is to visit all of the consignment shops, vintage and thrift stores, and rummage sales I can in New Jersey, and report back to you!  

Some things I want to mention before I start my adventures:

·         I am not an extreme couponer, and will not buy crappy things or things I don’t want/need just because they are amazingly cheap.  Part of making a smart purchase is that I’ll actually make use of it, and it actually fits into my life (unlike 2,000 packs of tic-tacs cause they’re free).  

·         This blog will cover my finds in every category! Clothes, makeup, furniture, knick-knacks, kitchenware, you name it!  I’m always down for a good buy!

·         Online is not off-limits!  If I know of an awesome online sale, coupon, or deal with some of my favorite places to shop, I’ll be sure to spread the love and let you know!

·         Sometimes my “Finds” will not necessarily be cheap or inexpensive.  One thing I’ve learned from my mama is that you get what you pay for.  Sure, who doesn’t want to find a vintage designer bag for a few bucks?  But the reality is, finding an amazing vintage piece for $100, or a few $100, could still be considered a steal.  Even if it’s not, it could still be worth the big bucks to you. 

·         I LOVE RECOMMENDATIONS! If you have a go-to store where you buy all of your vintage, if you know of a place where the owner becomes your best friend, if you haven’t found good deals anywhere else, LET ME KNOW!  My list of places to visit is always growing.

With that being said, let the adventures begin…..