Holiday shopping on a budget!

Because I've spent most my life working in the retail world and giving into my addiction of buying things I can't afford. I've figured out some tricks of the trade to shopping on a budget, I hope it helps.

#1 Make a list and stick to it: Weather it's grocery shopping or going to the mall if you make yourself a list and stick to it. You won't come home with that stuff they stick on the ends of the aisle and at the front of the store.

#2 No over clearance shopping: Stop buying stuff just because it was a "good deal". That's how you always end up with those items that don't match anything you own, so you never wear it, or worse nothing ever fits you right because you bought a large when your a medium because "it was $9.99 and the mediums were gone". Think if you held onto the money you would spend on that stuff and then bought the jacket that looks great on you, but is more then you wanted to spend. Think of the three sixty your wardrobe would take in no time.

#3 Can you afford to save any more money?: Stop thinking of what you saved and start thinking of what you spent.

#4 Buddy up with BOGO sales: The best way to beat the system with buy one get one sales is to grab a buddy, say it's buy one pair of jeans full price get on free, go with your friend and do one transaction, split the cost, after all is said and done you both got 50% off!

#5 Read the fine print: If it seems to good to be true it probably is. Always read the fine print of every deal and coupon, it will save you time and heartache when there's no surprises.

#6 Buy things that are worth it: Do the math Buy the item once at $60 and have a good product that works well and looks good, or buy the $39.99 thing over and over because it keeps wearing down plus you hate the color. Some things are worth the doe, coats, car seats, flat irons, coloring your hair, mattresses, computers..... you get the jist. 

*Remember stores are desperate, they'll do anything to get you in their doors and get you spending that hard earned money of yours. This is fine just be smart about it and use deals and sales to your advantage. 

Halloween Party 2008!

My sis and I through a party for Halloween with soup, bread, chocolates, cookies and much more.

Angie did a witch hunt that ended in treats and we also had the kids decorate their own Halloween posters with stickers and such. Everything turned out so cute and fun, thanks to Angie's efforts all while doing school and many jobs. Check it out yourself.

1st Business Trip!

Last friday I was informed that I was going to go to Portland to help the big important stores get nice and pretty for big important people to come walk through the store and talk about it.... we call it a walk through, go figure. Anywho after many e-mails, phone calls and feelings  of throwing up I found myself on a plane to Portland Monday morning with a bunch of businessmen and a fashion mag. ( I stood out like a sore thumb) It was just three nights and three days, but they worked us to the bone, twelve hour shifts and little time for sleeping and eating. I am now totally reliant on coffee. I also took my first ride in a town car it was very posh. Overall it was hard work but a good experience. I'll have to talk about Portland more in another blog but for now I should go. 

Dance, sleep , eat, work , dance, work

I've had a couple of people ask me about my new job as a dance teacher, so here is the low down.

I found out through my instructor at the adult dance studio that I was taking Hip Hop and Jazz classes at that Julie Moffett school of Ballet was looking for a Jazz teacher. That night I went home and gave her a call 15 mins. later I was at the studio getting an interview and the next day I started teaching. Wow! It was amazing because I was feeling like I needed to teach again and create and she was just hoping that the right person would to come around. Just like that I am teaching an adult jazz class on wed. nights and on thursday I teach from 4:00-9:30 ages 10 through 18. Needless to say I get my work out every week, but it's been great to be back doing the things I love and the students are great!

Dancing again!

Due to taking on a second job as a dance teacher, teaching jazz I'm not going to have alot of time on my hands. (not that I did before) Anywho that is the meaning behind not being updated as much, don't give up though there still will be plenty of amusings  and talk of fashion.

Ode to Utah hair

Oh Utah hair how you puzzle me so. Are you claiming your pride to the state you live in by shaping you exactly like the state it's self? Sometimes I wonder if there is a small animal hiding in untamed mess in the back. It's been teased, sprayed, teased again then one smooth layer over the top of it all, forming a perfect square. Is it a formal do matched with curls for a wedding, or is it casual with a pony tail met for playing sports? I've seen both. I guess the biggest question of all is where it came from? Fashion mags. ? No! Hollywood? NO! I think it's a mutation of cheerleader hair and the faux hawk mixed to make what I liked to call UTHA HAIR.

No more PJ's in public!

I'm putting my foot down right now. Unless you are recovering from surgery , doing laundry, in public before 8:00 a.m. , or have simply given up on life, you should never wear your PJ's as normal every day clothes in public. Nobody wants to see the sleep wrinkles in your worn out cotton tee that reads Anderson family reunion 1995, nor do we want to smell the stench of your night time sleep funk. With all that being said it goes without saying no sweat pants at work. Does nobody dress accordingly anymore? Maybe it's just one of the signs of the times. 

Stepping off my soap box I did wear sweat pants once to eat at Chuck-a-rama and  I was not alone, I also ended up leaving early do to the crowds and children, way to many children. Anywho hate me if you like I'm just saying what everyones thinking, or should be thinking.

Birthday Fun!

I had my birthday not to long ago and it was great. We went to the DoDoe in the Gateway mall (which is one of my favorite places to eat). Then we saw Sex and the City, which if you love fashion and you haven't seen it yet, GO!!!!!!! Best movie so for this year, for me at least. Anywho I also got a digital SLR camera and gift cards, which the gift of shopping is the best gift of them all. So here are some pictures I took with my new camera. 

SPRING TIME!

Raise your hand if you like spring....... I do! I'm so excited for spring, I'm ready to wear casual dresses, shorts and heals and not have to worry about getting them stained in dirty snow & rain! The other day I was so excited about the good weather that I put my big floppy beach hat on and worked in my garden. Life was good that day. 

Challenge for the day: GO ON A WALK! Like the good old days.  

Organic alert!

Watch out for fakes! 

Beware some shirts, handbags etc. will say organic or have earth friendly lines on them, but are not made out of organic materials. So read your tags and support good causes not just a company that's trying to make a buck on a trend.

There is fashion life in Utah!

On friday I went to an event in Salt lake City called the fashion walk. Let me say I was delighted to see so many different person styles people were sporting. GO TEAM! Great little booths purchased a killer screen tee from a guy named Ben, he does his own art and screen prints  it on to totes and shirts. Very killer, you can shop his stuff at enferno.bigcartel.com, check it out. Anywho overall the night was filled with fun booths and fashion shows, all had plenty of charm and originality. I just might have trust in my fellow Utahins after all. 

My style saves me money

I didn't think that my style would stand out in NYC, but it did. It got us discounts on tour tickets, a very nice free dinner when we were asked to be filmed to promote their restaurant, a table at a booked restaurant & my husband says I was the reason we got taxis.  I know it sounds like I'm bragging, but I kinda am. It's all good though right? Still I should give some credit to my hubby he's not with out his charm.

Biggest Macy's ever

Went to Macy's on herald square, and holly crap! Nine floors so many options ,something I'm not used to in Utah. Not to mention all of the wonderful visual hits. Being a visual member for Macy's myself I could really appreciate the amount of work it must take to keep that store looking great.

I'm back, and with a lot to talk about!

What can I say New York was every thing I thought it would be and more. From the Pizza (which I had plenty of) to Starbucks on every corner, to the energy of the city it's self. All I can really say is wow! It was one NYC stereotype after another, like business men running down the street eating a hot dog and talking on his blackberry or a woman in a pencil skirt with running shoes on catching the subway. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. If that was my first date with New York City I'll be going on a second date for sure.

LOOK OUT NEW YORK!

After lots of time and planning, I'm finally going to New York City! I leave in 5 days and I'm still having a hard time deciding what to bring,because I'll be doing a lot of walking and what not but still be shopping so I need to look fab as well. I don't know I'll probably end up wear the same outfit every day. Anywho that's all for now I must go, but I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about when I get back . Bye for now.

Fall fashion heads up!

Just browsed at some fall 2008 fashions and here are some names that are worth checking out: Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and of course Balenciage. 

Alexander McQueen is very royal and romantic. On the opposite side of the spectrome is Yves Saint Laurent with very straight (and I mean straight) masculine pants  and jacket sets. Of course Balenciage is just what it is with the whole charm of "I've never seen that before, but I must have it know!"  I take a fancy to these designers and with good reasoning, if you don't know what I'm talking about check out style.com you'll see.

No money, still fabulous

While watching highlights of fall 2008 fashion shows and seeing the lux and rich looks come full force it makes me think about how much trouble we're in with the economy and how many people have extreme money troubles. We want to forget the fact that we're broke, so we hide it with our big sunglasses, faux furs, tailored clothes and leather heals. This makes you feel like you're the one that's making it, you're the one that's figured out a way to do it all and have it all. They just might buy it, even if they don't it comforts you to think they do. This is all fine just make sure you don't lose yourself in this game of money, no money!

Oscars 2008

Can I just say yawn! The fashions at this years oscars left me wanting more and not getting more. Between matching one strap, basic sheath with train, red dresses and the only thing setting them apart is some flower embellishment....... Don't even get me started on the strapless mermaid shaped dresses with little color differences, and Camron Diaz please the next time you're wearing an evening gown do something else with your hair other then a ponytail. She looked unfinished, like maybe she had to do her own hair last minute. Yikes! The only ladies that took a risk were the ones that were pregnant. (Stepping off my soap box now.) The men looked great, but of course all men look good in tuxes. Who was my favorite? As the stars would say, "no comment". 

Hats off to Porenza Schouler!

I know it seems early to start talking about fall, but it was fashion week in New York and can I just say My hat is off to Porenza Schouler. Between the colors, shapes, draping and how they make their clothes teeter on the edge of feminine and masculine with out being ridiculous makes me swoon. It's for the business minded woman who's strong and independent and still loves to look lovely. Porenza Schouler gets my vote!

Yes I'm still alive!

You probably thought I was dead, or at least my blog was. Anywho I'm not dead, just trying to fit more projects in then there is time in a day. For instants I'm redecorating my office it will be fabulous w/ crown molding half way up(white) w/ black on bottom and a black and white grand floranteine wall paper on the top half. (maybe a black chandelier if I can find one.) Black, white and inspiring! So that on top of work(very crazy getting ready for spring) and work at home, not to mention trying to squeeze in a social life, means my blog gets bumped. I promise I'll make up for it.

So I got my hair cut and I love it. People say things like "cute hair I wish I dared to do my hair like that." etc. etc. and so on. They say the same thing about my outfits. Here is what I say to that.... you get away with what you allow yourself to get away with. Now take it this is with in means, say you're very hippy on bottom and small on top you probably should not wear skinny jeans, but you could put on a pair of trouser cut pants, a nice heel and fitted vest and still look nice and "trendy". Also make sure that your fashions and trends are age appropriate, if you're forty and still wearing screen print tees that say things like I'm not ugly you are or what ever you should probably give it to your thirteen year old, and maybe just go with a fun print or slight embellishment.So go out there and portray the fashiony side of you!

What do I have something in my teeth?

So the other day I went to a restaurant by myself during my lunch break at work, & you should have seen the looks I got. "Oh honey look she eating lunch alone how sad". Looks of pity and confusion. Sense when did everybody need a second party to eat lunch? I guess it would be another story if I was sitting alone on a friday night crying with a bottle  of half empty wine or something, but lunch on a thursday with a project and everything. Guess what everybody it's alright and I promise once you start doing stuff independently by yourself  you'll wonder why you pretended to like someone so they'll go to lunch with you.

Challenge of the day: Go to a restaurant alone! You'll be surprised how relaxing it is!

Here's another one for you!

So... tomorrow all those who live in Iowa will go out and vote,(maybe) and then wait for the results. Who is going to be in the lead? And I still don't know what I'm going to wear for work tomorrow, perhaps a dress with tights and leg warmers. (For heaven sakes it's 18 degrees outside) Well that's all for now. 

Fashion Belts! Fashion Belts! Fashion Belts!

Calling all ladies don't go throwing your belts for belting your shirts away  yet. I see no sign of them going away any time soon, the styles might be a little different but the look is the same. So if you still find yourself snickering at the lady who "forgot to put her belt in the the belt loops " stop chomp'n  at the gib and go out and get yourself a fashion belt before people start snickering at you!