Category — On a Budget

Next Sunday, the hubby and I will board a plane for Israel (SO excited.)  For weeks now (months even) I’ve carefully planned what I would bring, what I would need, the outfits I’d wear, and so on.  Trouble is, I haven’t actually organized the things to bring, shopped for the items I want, laid out the picture-perfect outfits; instead, we’re a little over a week away from our 10-day jaunt and I have nada.

Perhaps most importantly, I’m nervous about the right-sized carryall.  I always bring a carry-on that tight-rope-walks the line of being “too big for the overhead compartment” and I usually have to make sad eyes at the flight attendants to allow me to “carry on” my body bag. But I can’t stand a small carry-on.  Truth be told, I don’t even carry all that much on, it’s all of the shopping and bringing-back that requires the extra baggage room.  #necessary

I’ve been in love with the Kate Spade Westward Runaway Duffle* for months now, but it is woefully out of my price range and sold out.  I spotted the Deux Lux sequin-dipped duffel a few months back as well, and I’m admittedly pretty smitten!

1.  Kate Spade Westward Runaway Duffle; marked down from $1,295 to $647

2.  Deux Lux Felix Weekender Duffle; $137 (Medium duffle here)

3.  Deux Lux Ipanema Canvas Large Sequin Duffle; $78 (Ipanema tote here)

I actually have this crazy idea that I could DIY a sparkly duffle with a bit of painter’s tape, lots of glue, a paint brush, and a whole lot of glitter.  Too risky?

Second Image here

*The word “duffle” is driving me crazy … is it “duffle” or “duffel”?  I googled and got both!  Even the brands seem to be having a spelling identity crisis.  Deux Lux on varying websites is sometimes “duffel” and sometimes “duffle.” #EnglishMajorProblems

For the next few months I’m going to talk about my budget-friendly “beauty cheats,” as I like to call them.  I love beauty.  I’m a product junkie.  I have creams cluttering my bedside table like they’re going out of style.  I buy nail polish with every grocery shop.  I LIVE for Chanel rouge.  But all of these splurges are just that – splurges.  Splurges I so cannot afford.  But there’s a bare confidence that comes from getting gussied up, from pampering away, and feeling beautiful.

So in keeping with a budget-friendly beauty spirit in the coming months, and without further ado, The Ultimate DIY At-Home Manicure + Pedicure (because I change my nail polish almost every other day and I’m not sure I’ll ever afford that many manicures):

1. I like to set up everything I need first:  polish remover, nail file, nail clippers, cuticle stick, polish corrector, clear base + top coat, and color of choice (today’s pick: the perfect shade of nude.)
2. I remove any previous polish, then cut and file all of my nails, fingers and toes, so that they look relatively even.  I also tend to keep my finger nails fairly short because I am forever typing/baking/chewing-on-my nails.
3. After filing and buffing (optional) my nails, I like to run a scrub over my hands and feet to exfoliate and remove any excess nail/skin.
4. Next up, I wash and dry my hands and feet really well, creating that clean surface to work on.
5. Paint base coat, two coats of color polish, and top coat, then let dry completely (I stress this because I totally empathize with the need to do 42 other things, including text, laundry, a quick trip to the store, etc., etc.  Just chill.  You deserve it.  And your pretty polish job deserves it too.)

What are some of your at-home beauty routines?

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Yep, it’s that simple (and cheap).  And I’m stealing (doing “research” at Home Depot) paint color samples ASAP.

What you’ll need:  stacks of free paper paint samples, paper punch of your choice, needle and thread OR glue/tape and thread/yarn

For more, check out Oh Crafts and Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!

I have an utter inability to spend money on accessories. My cheapness began some years ago when my mom, sister, and I discovered the Miami Mart. ‘The Mart’ (a fashion mecca in South Florida) used to be an exclusive market attached to a major Miami Airport hotel that sold product exclusively to shop owners. You had to show proof of store ownership and everything … they meant business. And then, like magic, ‘The Mart’ opened it’s doors to the rest of us. And then we couldn’t walk out of The Mart without emptying our wallets.

While The Mart remains close to my heart, I like to diversify … it’s good for the economy. Thus my affinity for stores like Forever 21. Sometimes the clothes from F21 fall apart after three washes, and sometimes the heels rub in all of the wrong places, but the jewelry at Forever 21 is solid (inexpensive) gold.

This is love …

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!

{image a la apartment therapy; via design studio}

Design Studio, a.k.a., D/S, is the latest of flash sale sites with a twist – D/S features modern home design, exclusively.

Each of their sales events last a week.  Ds now is where you can see what’s currently on sale and get a preview of upcoming sales events.

And perhaps taking a nod from my world’s most favorite shopping site, Shopbop, by clicking on the hearts anywhere on the D/S site you may add items, designers and your favorite images to your wishlist.

Click here to become a member and receive an instant $10 credit.

{image a la Refinery 29}

I heart Matte everything.  First it was nail polish, and now gloss, er, lipstick. 

NYX just launched Soft Matte Lip Creams that deliver a shine-free lip in one easy swipe, and the liquid formula is lightweight, like a gloss, but creamy enough (think liquid lipstick) to create an easy, plush matte finish.

The collection of eleven shades has it all— from a bright fuchsia (Addis Ababa, anyone?) to a bold red (aptly titled, Amsterdam) —even their nude (called Stockholm) is uber glamorous.

If you have been wary to venture into the land of lipstick (and by all means, do), then try out one of these slick lip creams – not quite a lipstick, not quite a gloss = practically perfect.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, $6 each, available at NYX Cosmetics.

{image a la photographyblog.com}

The hubby and I are considering taking the plunge and purchasing an actual grown-up camera.  My days of, fit only the necessities into my party girl clutch (a.k.a., teeny-tiny digital camera), are over (I have become nearly ingenious at deftly hiding a lip gloss, ID, and powder in my outfit – bra, boots, tights – I am good.)  And now we want actual pictures.  Pictures that eliminate blur, or maintain neato-streaky lines of color blur, as ART only.  Pictures that look – dare I say it, professional (or at least we would be working up to that.)

Having grainy pictures of the Eiffel Tower (Honeymoon Eiffel Tower) is a real bummer.  I mean, yes, there are 10 million gorgeous pictures of the Eiffel Tower online, but I want to take the credit.  I am somewhat concerned that this has something to do with repressed feelings of angst at 13 – when every little girl takes photographs of feet and horses – but I will simply pawn the artsy desire off on my husband and claim to the internet world, “It’s not me, it’s him.”  And so the camera hunt begins…

My sister raves about the Canon EOS Rebel as the most user-friendly (camera-for-dummies – much appreciated) – but this one comes in all range of expensive, so which is it?

Then there is the Nikon D3100.  Every fancy photographer has a Nikon, should I?

And I simply cannot resist a good deal.  Panasonic Lumix?

Seriously crushing on these sweet cotton maxi skirts – pleats and all.  And at $29.99 NOW $19.99, survey says “heck yeah.”

a la fashionista.com

How cool is this?  Rent the Runway, the online source for renting designer duds, is launching Rent the Runway Weddings this upcoming Tuesday, January 18th!

You can now rent designer bridesmaid dresses. How amazing is that?  Because in truth, you only wear that dress ONCE.  You can find bridesmaid dresses designed exclusively for Rent the Runway by top designers Badgley Mischka, Robert Rodriguez and Nicole Miller.  Bridesmaid dress rentals will start at $65 and include a one-day fitting in addition to an 8-day rental period.

“Bridesmaids dresses are the quintessential dress women only wear once,” Rent the Runway president and co-founder Jenny Fleiss said in a release, “with Rent the Runway Weddings, we’ll finally solve the ’27 Dresses’ problem.”

FYI:  The site will also carry dresses for the bride too (but not the dress), to outfit her for all the events surrounding the wedding–rehearsal dinner, reception dress (yes, they even have a category for the “little white dress” for the bride who wants to change into something sexier after the ceremony), bridal shower etc.