I was ecstatic to catch up with Hilary of Peppermint Vintage this week. She's the first Beauty and the Budget Elite Insider as an online boutique entrepreneur driven by thrift bargains and unique vintage finds.

Hilary's online boutique began in August of 2005. Originally her boutique began through eBay, until she realized she wanted a more personal environment to showcase her merchandise. Since launching her boutique online, she's experienced a great amount of success with her vintage finds appearing often in
popular magazines like Neet and Bust. Hilary says her greatest success was when Peppermint Vintage was selected as one of the Top 10 Vintage Websites in Bust Magazine.

Her site caters to those who want something original at a great price, which is why she began Peppermint Vintage. "I have always loved going to thrift stores and estate sales," says Hilary. "I would constantly find great treasures that weren’t necessarily my size and think well, someone would love this."

All of the merchandise is hand-selected by Hilary and a few of her close friends. They each have their own unique taste, which is why there is such a diverse selection of goods. Hilary knows it important to pick out items that have vintage qualities but are also fashionable today.

Her advice to women who want to be fashionable on a budget is to have patience with shopping. "That amazing piece will probably take some time to find," she says. "Also, use your imagination. A lot of the items we sell at Peppermint Vintage are reconstructed from something that wasn’t originally so cute, but there was definite potential."

Be sure to check out Peppermint Vintage in September as they host a giveaway. One lucky lady will win a new outfit from Peppermint Vintage! You can connect with Hilary through the Peppermint Vintage Facebook fan page or on her Twitter @PeppermintVint.