DIY Bookmarks

Genius!

Recycle your old paint chips to make a super cute bookmark!

I found this idea on Care2.com.

I'll be doing this with all of the paint chips I've collected over the years for colors that the HH vetoed, like purple for the living room and lime green for the bedroom.

Maybe he was right about that, but now I can enjoy the colors on a much smaller scale.

Swirl, Tap & Buff for Less

A girl can't live without make up.

So when, I ran out of concealer, foundation, bronzer and mineral veil all at the same time, I knew I needed to act fast.

Only I wore Bare Escentuals, and buying what I needed was going to cost more than $100. And I was out of fun money for the month.

So, I decided to try the next best thing, which was the drug-store version of mineral make up: L'Oreal Bare Naturale.

It took me two trips to Ulta to get the right shade. (Fortunately, Ulta takes returns.) But once I did, I was pleasantly surprised! It worked just a well, and was half the price.

The only drawback is that the brush is built in to the lid, so when you dip the brush directly into the jar, too much powder gets on your brush.

To solve this problem, I used an old lid from one of my Bare Escentual jars, to tap the powder out, then I used my original brushes to buff it on to my face.

It was well worth it to me, because I love saving money in places where no one can tell!

Muffin Top No More

Even the skinniest of girls can fall victim to the "muffin-top" effect when wearing a too-tight clothing. (As you can see with Ms. Spears in the picture.)

But as my friend, the PolkaDot chick, showed me, there is an easy way to
smooth your tummy with something you probably already have in your closet.

Simply slip on a tank top or cami under your top to smooth out your stomach and hide the crease from your belly button.

You can even tuck the cami into your pants, so that it doesn't show.

It's important to buy clothes that fit properly, but this is a great trick if you're carrying a couple of extra pounds or are bloated. Cheap and easy.

Puh-lease Say "Please"

There are two words you can say with ease; one is "thank you." The other is "please."

This must have been one of my mom's lessons for her kindergartners. But it wasn't until I entered the working world as an lowly PR intern that I truly appreciated the simplest of courtesies.

The manners we learned as children, still apply today.

It helps to be remind myself sometimes.

As I explained in yesterday's blog, the HH loves saving money.

One of his slickest tricks is comparing offers for electric companies and switching our providers to get the best deal.

Thepowertochoose.org, is an excellent Web site to help Texans review and compare energy plans.
Here are some of the HH's suggestions on how to be a savvy switcher:

1. If you're currently on a month-to-month plan, check the site every three months to check for new offers. If you don't know what your plan is, then this is likely what you have.

2. If you're currently locked in to a six or 12-month contract, beware of penalties for switching too soon.

3. Allow 30 days to switch from one provider to the next. This gives plenty of notice to your old and new providers, and can help you avoid a household black out.

4. Watch out for metering fees; some have them, some don't.

5. Right now, $.09/kilowatt hour is inexpensive. If you find a good deal, signing a six or 12-month contract locks in the rate can, and can protect you from rate hikes.

The best way to save on electricity is to go green, limit your use, and make your home energy efficient.

The Happy Husband's Guide to Saving Money

As a financial advisor, it's the HH's job to think about money all day long. That's a good thing because I don't ever want to think about money--unless its saving money.

Fortunately, he's taught me a lot.

I heard someone say that if you always spend less than you make, you'll always be rich. I like that idea.

Priority #1 - Know what you're spending.
Believe me, you would be surprised. I keep an excel grid to balance my checking account. I update it with the items listed on my online checking account.

Priority #2 - Pay off your credit cards.
You can prioritize them by paying off the ones with the highest interest rate first, while paying the minimum balance on the rest. Once you pay off one, choose the next one with the highest interest rate. Consolidate to one card with a low interest rate, if possible.

Priority #3 - Set aside money for emergencies.

Ideally, you should have 3-6 months worth, but until your credit cards are paid off, any amount will help in case you get sick or your car breaks down.

Priority #4 - Cut back.
Before we got married, and I lived alone, he looked at my bills to see where I could scale back, and discovered that I was paying for home phone services that I didn't even know I had, like three-way calling. Eventually, I got rid of the home phone altogether.

Priority # 5 - Save energy.
It's a happy accident that changes that protect the environment can also save you money, such as changing your lightbulbs to flourescents, installing a programmable thermostat, and making your own household cleaners with vinegar, baking soda and Borax. (You can find recipes for this online.) Also, bundle your errands in one trip to save gas.

Check back tomorrow to learn how the HH saves us money by staying on top of the electrical rates.

Celebritweets

No matter how conscientious I may feel or my concern about the crises in the world, I still must admit that I loooove celebrities.

I've been on Twitter for a while, but haven't been that interested in it--until now.

Did you know that you can follow celebrities' tweets--or as I like to call them, celebritweets?

It's not some lame publicist pushing out promotions for the celeb's latest project--although there is some of that--it's the real thing; the actual celebrities tweeting about random things.

Beware of impostors, of course, because there are plenty, but to find the real deal start by looking at CelebrityTweet.com. This site even has an iPhone app, which you know I immediately downloaded.

Here are some of my favorites celebritweeters:

Tina Fey: "It's so nice out. It almost makes me want to go for a walk. Almost."

Kathy Griffin: "Yes, I took my hot bikini body to the no on prop 8 rally. And yes, I do say to the anti gay marraige folks, 'What the f* is it to you?'"

John Mayer: "I want a pair of Crocs made from the same material as UGGs. They would be the most comfortable and offensive shoe ever."

Perez Hilton: "P.S. Yes, I'm kidding. Thanks for your concern. I'm just a swine without the flu. Can I get the swine flu from having too much bacon?"

Oprah: "No, I'm not wearing a weave." (Who dared to ask? LOL!")

Happy tweeting! And don't forget to follow me.

Is it okay to wear white to a wedding?

Here’s what’s up. I’ve got two weddings coming up, and I wanted to buy something special to wear.

Being a recessionista, I thought it would be best to buy one dress that I could wear to both. (The crowds of friends are different, so no one will know the difference.)
After watching an episode of the Real Housewives of NYC, I loved Jill’s white dress with chunky turquoise jewelry. I thought I could recreate the look on a recessionista’s budget.

My mom has amassed an admirable collection of vintage turquoise, so I knew I had the accessories covered.

Then, I found this classic white dress at Banana Republic (although the length was longer on me since I lack supermodel height), and I loved it --especially the pleating around the neckline.

But doubts started creeping up in the back of my mind; what if people think I’m trying to upstage the bride? Eeeeek! I imagined catty people whispering snidely about my wedding faux pas.

Despite one of the brides’ insistence that she did not mind me wearing white on her day, I decided to go with my gut, and return the dress.

Instead I got this silk, navy blue dress which will look just as nice with the turquoise baubles.

What do you think? Is it okay to wear white to a wedding?

Visualize It to Realize It

The most powerful way to think positively is to visualize what you want.

Using your imagination, you can create a crystal-clear image of your ideal situation. The more detail the better. Be free and have fun with it. Don't hold back. It's okay to feel excited about the possibilities.

Some people (like the HH) think that if you allow yourself dream too much that you'll somehow be jinxed.

That's not the case at all.

Visualizing your ideal life does not mean that you are careless, make poor decisions, or are ill prepared for the worst.

It just means that you are open to all the good things that life has to offer.

To help you visualize, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, recommends making a vision board.

Collect photos representing the things that you want in life. You can do this with a magazine and poster board or do a search in Google images. (That’s how I did it.) Then, cut/paste the images into a Word doc.

Then, place your vision board where you can see it every day.

Your vision board does not have to be all about material possessions.

For example, for my idea of having a “long, happy marriage” I found a photo of a playful older couple.

But what’s life without a few fun, material goodies, so I put a picture of a new tricked-out Zodiac boat for the HH. (Partly, because I'm trying to prove to him that this process works.)

When you look at your vision board, it will help you imagine what you want your life to be – and according to every positive-thinking/motivational book in the world, it will happen just as you imagined – or even better.

When I created this vision board about a year ago, I added an image about writing a blog, but I had no idea what my topic would be or how I’d ever find the time.

And here I am.

Vote with Your Dollars

In the movie, Milk, Harvey Milk organized the San-Francisco gay movement by encouraging gay people to only patron businesses that were friendly to them.

Businesses that were nice to gay people flourished. While those that weren’t floundered.

The same can be applied to today; when you spend money, you’re sending a message.

Corporations have a lot of influence in this country, so its important to buy from those that support your values and give back to the community in a valuable way.

Frame Your Fortune

The other night the HH talked me in to Chinese take out, and I’ll be darned (hey, I’m from Texas) if his fortune cookie didn’t hit him and his recession obsession a little too close to home!

So I framed it.

Its tiny art sprinkled with luck!

As for me, I make my own luck, but I’ll never turn down a charm when I receive one.

Institution Blue No More

Let's just say the Happy Husband (HH) was "not so happy" when I announced my intentions to completely re-decorate the guest bedroom/my new home office all over again only two weeks after the original re-decoration.

But he's used to my antics by now.

But I'm pleased to say that after seven days of hard labor (meticulous painting, fabric fetching, and sewing), my guest bedroom/home office is now finished!

I originally decorated the room around Granmary's bluebonnet paintings, but it didn't feel right. They were just too country for my taste.

Don't get me wrong; I still love them! They'll just have to live in another room in the house.

Granmary's still around in the antique photos on the shelf (she's the one in the fabulous pink dress below) along with photos of some other people she'd recognize. She would have wanted it that way.

It's kind of like the time I dreamed that she was coming back to life because there wasn't anyone she knew in heaven.

If there was anyone who wanted things just the way she wanted them, it was her. I'm sure she'd understand.

So, the room still needs a few things here and there. I plan to sew a bolster pillow for the bed. I hope you agree that it's much better than institutional blue.

You Better Belize It

I've you've cut back on your vacation budget, you're not alone. Fortunately, there's one destination that you can probably still afford: San Pedro, Belize.

Located in Central America, this island destination was the setting for Madonna's La Isla Bonita.

The people are friendly, the streets are safe, and the food is good.

You can snorkel, visit Mayan ruins, or just kick back and read. Just remember to wear your sunscreen!

We stayed at the Blue Tang Inn. It had clean, simple accommodations, A/C, and excellent service. The Ritz it is not, but it's a good bargain for a relaxing vacation in a beautiful location.

Pencil In Some Thanks

We should count our blessings every day. But who can remember to do that?

If you sit at a desk all day like I do, then you live and die by your calendar. I use my Outlook alarms and alerts to remind me of everything from important meetings to birthdays to to-do-list tasks. And it can help you count your blessings, too.
Set a daily alarm in your Outlook calendar that says “gratitude.”

Mark the time as “free and “private,” because it’s no one’s business. I set mine for 2:00 every day.

When the alert pops up, force yourself to think of one thing you are thankful for – no matter how busy or stressed you are. Then, get back to work.

It's an good way to put life into perspective while you work and build good positive-thinking habits with a mini prayer.

Hair Must Haves

My two favorite hair products are not meant for hair at all: Static Guard and baby powder.

Baby Powder

Just like clothes, your hair can get damaged if you wash it too often. So, between washings, sprinkle some baby powered on your scalp and rub it in. The powder absorbs the extra oil.

Just don’t sprinkle too generously, or you’ll have powdery gray hair!

Static Guard
Nothing gets rid of static in your hair like Static Guard. Simply spray it on your hair brush before brushing to get rid of staticy flyaways. I even spray a light mist all over to keep the electricity under control.

Try not to breathe in the fumes.

Payless for Style

Smart shoppers always say that you should invest in classic items for your wardrobe, like a trench coat and a well-made pencil skirt, and spend less on trendy items, like this season’s fringe.

Payless is always great for this. Check out these sandals that are on trend for spring.

Steam to Save Time in the Morning

I hate ironing. I never allow time for it when getting ready in the morning, and ironing clothes right after laundering? Well, that’s just never going to happen.

Fortunately, I learned a quick trick to avoid ironing in the morning: steaming clothes in the dryer.

Wet a wash cloth or dish towel. Squeeze out the excess water. And toss it in the dryer on high heat with your clothes. After five or ten minutes, your garments are smooth and ready to wear.

This especially works well on knits or items that need a light press. As for linen and some fabrics, well, you’ll just have to do that the hard way.

Bottle Your Change

What do you do when you find a penny in the dryer or a quarter in the couch?

If you're smart, you collect all your spare change and drop it into a change jar. All that change adds up.

The HH and I collected change in this triangular-shaped bottle and cashed it in for $50. Who would have thought you could fit all that change into one small bottle!

Our change jar resides in our kitchen. Find a cute bottle or jar that you don't mind having out, and place it in a central location.

Never underestimate the power of pennies in large numbers!

Recessionistas Shop at Nordstrom Rack

I think I heard angels singing when I learned that a Nordstrom Rack was opening within a mile of my work.

If you prefer designer jeans, Nordstrom Rack should be your first destination: Joe's $79; Seven for all Mankind $100; and Rock & Republic $109

Here's the catch; all of the jeans are rediculously long. Now, that's great if you are long 'n' leggy like my BFF at work, but for the rest of us, that means you should get a good tailor.

If you're a craftress, you can hem them yourself, like I did, using the original hem.

Also, I saw a really cute navy Theory shift dress for $80 something and a fabulosly gaudy nautical-themed cuff bracelet by Betsy Johnson for $35, which was later purchased by one of my friends. Fortunately, she says "finders rights" means I can borrow it.

Gotta loooooove Nordstrom Rack!

What's Your Best Price?

Did you know that four simple words can save you money: what's your best price.

That's the thing about the current economic environment. Even retailers are willing to cut you a deal, if you ask.

My dad is the king at this. He can wheel and deal to finagle the best price out of anyone, most recently the store manager at Bed Bath and Beyond. The box was a little banged up, so he asked for a discount. And he got it.

Granted, you might have the store clerk rolling their eyes at you, but who cares? You deserve a fair deal--no, a better than fair deal.

So, the next time find a flaw in something you like, but want to buy it anyway, ask for their best price. If the clerk tells you they can't, ask her to ask the manager. They'll usually say yes.

And it doesn't just apply to shopping. Negotiating is an important in your career as well.

They say that the reason the women typically get paid less than men is not because of the glass ceiling. It's simply because we don't ask for more. I believe it, and it pisses me off.

Always be fair, but never sell yourself short. For more on how to negotiate, see this article.