The Cheap Diva

Look Cool in Trendy Tank Tops

How do you know if a tank top is on trend or tackey? The signs of a tacky tank top include flimsy fabric and slim cut that clings to and emphasizes every bulge like Saran wrap, narrow straps that  reveal your bra straps (exposed bra straps always look tacky, never sexy) and a gaudy graphic design that has all the subtlety of of an ice cream truck. A trendy and tasteful tank on the other hand, skims the body gracefully without clinging, is wide enough on top to possibly cover bra straps and uses timeless colors and patterns that you won't get tired of after 10 minutes. A good place to look for stylish tank tops is Kohls.

The crochet look is hot for summer, but this Jennifer Lopez Eyelet Tank takes a modern approach to the crafty material with a fresh juicy color and sleek and simple design.

 

A macrame neckline and loose silhouette gives this stylish ELLE Macrame Shirred Tank a relaxed vibe designed to look cool during the hot summer months.

Look casual yet well dressed in a Croft & Barrow Printed Bib-Front Tank, which looks like it is designed for the country club crowd. In a sea of fashion victims wearing tacky tank tops, you will stand out of the crowd look polished and chic in this top.

http://cheapdiva.typepad.com/the_cheap_diva/2013/06/the-white-dress-has-bridal-fashion-for-everyone.html

Take Your Patio on a Magic Carpet Ride

 

Is your patio passe? Give it an instant makeover with stylish weather resistant rugs that turn a plain patio into a chic living space.  A well designed rug lays the foundation for a stylish environment. A Mainstays Overscale Palm Nylon Patio Rug introduces a lush tropical vibe to your space while the attractive shades of green cleverly disguise grass stains and dirt.

It's a jungle out there!  Take your patio on an exotic safari, simply lay this Equus Indoor Outdoor Rug on your patio, park a few leafy plants around, add wild home decor accents with animal motifs on top and play jungle noises in the background. On second thought, you might want to skip the jungle music, it could scare the pets.

A covered patio is the perfect place to indulge your greenhouse fantasies. This Safavieh Courtyard Blue/Beige Rug is a contemporary take on an elegant floral look. Expand on the floral theme by bringing in live plants or floral bouquets and set out some tea cups for an English garden effect.

 

 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Safavieh-Courtyard-Blue-Beige-Outdoor-Rug/17692081?_mm=

Don't Get Burned by High Priced Sunscreens

I don't expect a consumer magazine like Shop Smart to endorse a fancy $50.00 sunscreen, but I was surprised by their findings that bargain priced store brands are just as good as more famous brands. The July issue of Shop Smart magazine included a review of popular sunscreens and named 3 store brands in their favorite buys. A store brand is a generic brand that stores like Target create to be sold exclusively in their stores as a cheaper substitute to more famous brands like Coppertone.  Here is the Shop Smart list of best store brand sunscreens.

Up & Up Sport SPF 50+ spray, sold at Target is described as having a thin and slightly oily texture that doesn't leave much residue.

 

 

 

 

 

Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50, sold by Walmart is mention as a bargain buy. Shop Smart mentioned that it takes a little longer to rub in than other sunscreens and it's a bit oily, but if you have more patience than money this could be a good buy.

 

 

 

Wallgreens Continuous Sport SPF 50+, sold by Wallgreens is the only sunscreen tested by Shop Smart that did not leave a residue. This is good news for beach babes who prefer their sunscreen stick to their skin, not their clothes.

 

 

 

 

The White Dress for the High Fashion Bride

From exotic looks inspired by opulent costumes from various cultures, to simply elegant looks that so timeless  a modern bride could wear them today, The White Dress by Harriet Worsley has enough fashion ideas to satisfy even the most demanding bridezilla. The White Dress by Harriet Worsley chronicles the popularity of traditional and high fashion style in bridal wear.  The book contains a rich collection of images from sophisticated and opulent dresses and accessories appropriate for religious ceremonies to bikini-clad brides on the beach to playful brides in simple mini dresses. The candid shots of happy couples make the book feel more fun and intimate. like I was looking at someones personal photo album.

The book includes plenty of celebrity images of famous brides such as Bianca Jagger in a white trouser suit and Princess Grace in a demure white lace number and plenty of staged movie stills showing glamorous wedding dresses. Paparazzi pictures of dresses worn on the red carpet and the runway include a generous selection of ultra glam outfits that look more like something a fashionista would wear to an expensive gala than a traditional wedding dress.  Photographs from leading fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent, and Vera Wang add an element of high fashion to the book. Many images of the happy couples go back decades, and yet those dresses are so timeless they are sure to inspire both the modern bride and fashion enthusiasts.

Raise Your Glass to Budget Friendly Style

Does your tabletop have dandruff? Decorating personality Christopher Lowell refers to little stuff scattered around as room dandruff.  To prevent room dandruff look for practical pieces that are also decorative, like these stylish pieces from Pier 1 Imports.

Turn your table into a garden of brilliant color with this clever Red Poppy Drinkware. The green stem of the glass (no pun intended) enhances the illusion of holding a blooming flower in your hand.

Heavy melamine or earthenware dishes in bright colors can overwhelm dainty drinkware when they share the same table.  This big and bold Colorful Stem Goblet is the perfect complement to eye catching dishes. The hand crafted glasses elevate casual dining to fine dining instantly. 

Drink dispensers are like Christmas ornaments, they take up storage space most of the year and are only dragged out on a special occassion. This Birdcage Drink Dispenser is attractive enough to display when not in use, so you don't have to wait for a party to celebrate your terrific sense of taste!

Have Fun Shopping at the Just for Her Expo

The internet allows you to buy virtually anything online, so why do thousands of women attend the Kansas City Just for Her Expo which is basically a glorified shopping event?  I am guessing women flock to this event every year for the same reasons women all over the country attend these types of expos. Expos typically offer the following benefits:

• An opportunity to collect coupons and sign up for special deals and prizes.
• An opportunity to sample various foods and services. Vendors may charge a small fee for services such as a mini massage, basic manicure, hair styling and more, but many samples are free.
• Free entertainment, such as a fashion show and a variety of presentations. are often included in the expo experience.
• It's a great networking opportunity if you have a small business. I avoid long conversations with vendors that distract them from customers. I simply ask for a business card and move on so I can make contact with that potential business connections later. 

A Gem of a Sale on Stylish Jewelry

New York and Company makes it easy to adorn yourself like the Diva you are with their Buy 1 get 1 Free sale on jewelry.

Go for all out glamour by wearing these Glittering Stackable Rings all at once, mix things up by stacking them with other rings in solid silver to create a new look, or select few rings to wear for a simply elegant look.  

 

Like some exotic tropical flower, these White Flower-Shell Drop Earrings bring a bit of natural beauty to your summer style. The simplicity and lightness of the earrings complements the easy and relaxed attitude of summer clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

It's time to stop wearing boring watches! This Beaded Bracelet Watch blends the richness of gold and the dazzling appeal of bling with the practicality of a watch.

Create a Colorful Table Display with Melamine

More attractive than flimsy paper plates, more practical for casual dining than your "nice" dishes, melamine is the stuff that summer dining is made of, literally! Look around and you will see a wide assortment of summer dining items made out of this durable and dishwasher safe plastic. Designed for casual dining, melamine often comes in a rainbow of  festive colors to brighten any meal.

Take a more colorful approach to serving up food toppings, condiments and other small goodies with a Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow for $29.99.

Style and vibrant hues are always in full bloom with this Garden Series Rose-shaped Trivet - Raspberry Set for $17.97.

Casual dining calls for a more relaxed approach, so go ahead and mix things up with a set of Assorted Appetizer Plates (4-piece Set) for $21.98.

Assorted Appetizer Plates (4-piece Set)

Garden Series Rose-shaped Trivet - Raspberry

 

Garden Series Rose-shaped Trivet - Raspberry

7-piece Table Art Melamine Appetizer Plate Set

7-piece Table Art Melamine Appetizer Plate Set

Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow

Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow

Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow

7-piece Table Art Melamine Appetizer Plate Set

- See more at: http://www.zak.com/table_art_assorted_rainbow_melamine_appetizer_plate_1797-5835#sthash.AuzVFYtV.dpuf

Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow

7-piece Table Art Melamine Appetizer Plate Set

- See more at: http://www.zak.com/table_art_assorted_rainbow_melamine_appetizer_plate_1797-5835#sthash.AuzVFYtV.dpuf

Petal Table Art Serving Set - Rainbow

7-piece Table Art Melamine Appetizer Plate Set

- See more at: http://www.zak.com/table_art_assorted_rainbow_melamine_appetizer_plate_1797-5835#sthash.AuzVFYtV.dpuf

Learn Something New this Summer

In his book Trump 101: The Way to Success, Donald Trump promotes the importance of learning, almost as much as he promotes himself! If constantly learning new things works for the Donald, it's worth a shot for us wanting to enrich our own lives.  There are about a zillion ways to learn on the web, but stepping away from the computer and actually going to a class has it's own rewards. In a classroom setting you can get personalized attention, meet people with similar interests and enjoy the kind of spontaneous interaction that brings learning to life.

 Even if your budget is a bit smaller than the Donald, you can still learn many fun and useful things over the summer. Community colleges, parks and recreation centers, and community centers offer a world of opportunities to learn new things on topics ranging from finances, business strategies, to hobbies, to exercise and classes that are just for fun.

Looking for new ideas for your next girl's night out? Look into taking a jewelry class at your local bead shop or get crafty at a paint you own pottery place. The latest trend in D.I.Y entertainment are paint and sip parties where attendees enjoy glasses of wine while learning how to paint a simple still life. From expressing your creative side to creating a working financial strategy, chances are you can find a class for that will be a fun and rewarding experience. To find catalogs of classes near you, check you local library.

Take Your Style Outdoors with Solar Lights

One of the hottest trends under the sun is decorative solar powered lights. Stylish solar powered lights are perfect for outdoor leisure and entertaining where electrical outlets are few and and the potential for people tripping over electrical cords is high.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add a touch of sophistication to your patio with a Threshold Ceramic Tabletop lantern for $24.99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This deceptively elegant Nature Power Solar Outdoor Table Lamp is made of durable weather resistant materials designed to stand up to the outdoors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Threshold Mission Solar Deck Light (2-pack) for $12.99 is designed to create an ambiance, similar to a softly glowing candle.