Holiday Gifts on the cheap! ways to save

As we gear up for the holiday season, tis the time to shop till we drop.  For some of us who's budgets are tight, we are always on the lookout for good deals.  I recently purchased some Pashmina scarfs through an on-line buying company called Nomorerack  They were 3 for $20.00 and no shipping.

 They came packaged in plastic sheets (Pink, Blue and Black).  I have to admit that the quality is good and while my intent was to give them as gifts I've already worn the blue one :).  I've found a few small items for stocking stuffers for my husband and son on this site as well and can say that what I've ordered/received so far has been true and accurate as depicted on the site. 

For handmade gifts this year I've been looking at YouTube video's from how to make bathbombs to re-using sweaters to make beanies.  All of these ideas are just great and I'll be using many of these ideas for friends and family this year.  What are you doing to keep your budget in-line this holiday season? Happy Holidays!

Shopping your Closet, Restyle old favorites!

Today I used pieces already showcased on my blog to re-imagine a look. 

I used the Red turtle neck dress from last week and the floral print dress from last month and combined them for a bit more coverage.

 

I added a brown leather belt purchased in Mexico in my teen years, brown tights and brown suade shoes from Mudd, layered on the jewelry and called it good.

 

Baby, its cold outside so took the look to a new level by adding a smart looking suade Jacket in a yummy green shade that matches to thedress and an animal print scarf that goes with everything.

 

Want someone else to pay for College? Here are some ways to find the Dough to Go!

Your student is preparing to go off to college in the Fall, has the school picked out and acceptance in hand. Now the questions looms, how to pay for it??

The first thing you need to do is complete the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov The application for the 2014-2015 year will be available starting January 1st. The application is the Department of Education's site and has a nifty tool to pull your IRS tax information into the application. You need to have already filed your taxes for it to work, but you can use estimates based on last year and once you file your taxes go back onto the site and update.

The next thing you need to do it find out what additional steps need to be completed at the school your student is going to. Check with the aid office, they typically have a website dedicated to spelling out the steps or you can always call.

Once you know what additional forms need to be completed, DO IT. Don't wait on submitting, you could miss out on some opportunities if your student isn't "complete".

Check with your local librarian, guidance counselor or State website (I suggest all 3) to find private scholarship sources to apply for. If your student writes a really strong essay, they can use it again and again to apply for scholarships if it fits what they are asking for.

Check a search engine for scholarships like www.fastweb.com cast your net wide to find obscure little scholarships that your student would be eligible for. I received in my undergraduate program a scholarship for Brown Eyed girls ~ legitimate scholarship that provided $500 a year that added up to a whole lot of books by the end of my degree!

Make sure that your student applied for any scholarship available through the school of choice and look over all paperwork that comes in for deadlines.

Once you have your award offer in hand, remember ~ it's not a bill, it's an award and not all awards are equal.

If your student is applying to more than 1 school and you are deciding which school offered the "best" $$ you have to look at total cost for the year and then scholarship offered. What looks like a huge scholarship may only cover 10% while a small offer and a low cost school could be covering 75%. You also have to take into consideration Fit. If the school is not right for your student and is not going to offer the degree they want, services they need or climate they are used too (climate can be cultural, size of school and Temperature) then sending them off because they offered more scholarship funds is spending good money after bad. You want your students’ college experience to be a positive one. If you pay out of pocket even $500 a semester to find out after a year it's not a good fit and your student is going to transfer you have just wasted your money.

All things to keep in mind when navigating the financial aid waters ~

Jazzing up basic pieces in your wardrobe to create a new look, Outfit of the Day

Hello fello fashionistas! Today my outfit started out very bland.  Black wool wrap skirt and crispy white blouse.  We all have these staples in our work wardrobe and they work well as a basic outfit.

I added some statement necklaces, bracelets and suade shoes with animal print detail to jazz the outfit up. 

 

I then added an additional layer for warmth and structure in a purple wool jacket from Jones New York and a Large belt from Guess.  I added a colorful scarf in purples, pinks  and blues that don't match with my shoe pattern but it goes well.

 

How do you take your basic work staples to the next level? post and share

Gray is the new black, Outfit of the Day

The most amount of color I have on today is in my chapped lips and nose.  I've been battling a cold for over a week now and it's clearly showing in my outfit. 

Today I am wearing a gray skirt by Dress Barn and a cream blouse picked up a few years back at the Salvation army that I found a similiar look at H & M.   

On my feet I have grey suade kitten heals that I picked up at Dress Barn on clearance last year. They have a nice rosette detail on the toe and they are very comfortable to wear throughout the day.

 

I have on tights in gray and did also have on a sweater for warmth but the heat is cranking in the office so I took the sweater off. 

 

On my neck I am wearing a necklace picked up a SWIRL my favorite consignment store in Putney VT.

 

 

Im also wearing to match a pair of earings called Kohl from Lia Sophia and a discontinued bracelet from Lia sopia with a heart accent as well as my charm bracelet.

 

I felt the need to really look polished and professional today coming off a long weekend and a sick day.  How do you like to present yourself at work Monday Mornings?  Make a comment below and don't forget to subscribe to my blog and share my link with your friends.

 

Happy Shopping!

 

Print, an animal flair Outfit of the Day

Today I am embracing my animal nature and the need to be comfortable at the same time. 

 

Top, is a silk print with lace detail on the bottom hem and cuffs.  Jacket is black with complimentary lining to the shirt.  Black skinny dress pants with leather detail and flats.

 

 

Lia sophia leaf design necklace "effloressence" and a long strand of pearls from my Aunt Jan's jewelry collection.

 

 

stacked pearl bracelets from Kiam Collection Lia Sophia with "branch out" also from Lia Sophia and peeking through is a black hair tie with gold accents from goody.

 

 

 

Flats are deep burgandy with gold accents. So comfortable!

 

Can you feel the roar?

Lady with a Red Dress, Outfit of the Day

Todays outfit includes a red turtleneck dress from Landsend and Animal print cardigan from Allie & Rob .  I've added gray tights for warmth and my gray suade flats.

On my wrist I have stacked pearl bracelets from Lia Sophia with a silver charm bracelet

Around my neck I've added two necklaces, the longer moon necklace was a gift and the shorter chain necklace with pendant is from Lia Sophia

on my ears you will see the match to the necklace also from Lia Sophia

 

Believe it or not, I typically pull together my outfits Sundays for the week ahead based on the weather channels prediction as well as what is on my work schedule.  I also throw together a more professional look (just in case ) for a meeting that gets put on my schedule with say the president and another more casual outfit for Saturday/Sunday.  Many think that this is crazy or time consuming, but instead of spending 10-15 minutes each morning trying to figure out what to wear, I spend 2-3 hours on Sunday while doing my laundry.  I figure that I am already hanging the clothes up, might as well match them to other pieces and get myself a headstart on the week. 

 

What do you do to start your week off strong?

Purple Passion Outfit of the Day!

Today’s outfit consists of the most amazing pair of shoes I have in my winter wardrobe.  The color in the picture does not do it justice.  The suede pump is a lovely burgundy with leather purple piping.  The shoes are from Pink studio but you can find a similar pair here Similar .  My pants are Dress Barn stretch black skinny dress pantsDress Barn  My T-shirt is a cowl neck, purple top from fashion bug on clearance years ago but you can get a similar look at   LaneBryant and my jacket is from Merona by way of Label shopper which I found on-line for you here E-Bay  I accented the outfit with a pair of small drop pearl earrings and pearl bracelets from Lia Sophia collection.