The Cheap Diva

Exercising Your Options

Between the baggy sweat pants and bulky white tennis shoes it's no wonder sports wear often turns into frumpy wear.  It is possible to look sporty and chic if you pick the right pieces.

A thin band of white trim placed strategically around this Fila Sport Fleeced Hood Jacket for $28.00 turns this basic black jacket into a sporty style statement.  Thin stripes tend to look more chic than wide conspicuous stripes.

 

For bright ideas in workout tops check out this Converse One Star Summerset Tank for $16.99.  The silhouette flares out just enough at the bottom to give you some breathing room but it's not so loose you end up with your tank top wrapped around your head when bending over or doing vigorous exercises. 

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Skip the bulky shoes and sport a pair of Champion Prima Mary Jane Sport shoes for $19.49 instead.  This open top flat has a lighter look than an enclosed tennis shoe while the silver adds a little shine but still isn't as loud as a pair of white tennis shoes.

Save Money on Massages

Massage therapists who work in fancy salons all have one thing in common.  They had to get many hours of hands on training before getting their hands on a job at a reputable salon.  To help students get the required hours they need to become a licensed massage therapist many schools of massage therapy make massage services available to the public.  You can often get a throughly relaxing massage for a lot less than you would pay at a salon.

What you won't get is a long list of choices in the type of massage you get.  While there are many different types of massage,  a massage provided by a student in training is most likely to be a very basic massage.  Don't expect a lot of additional elements like hot stones or other special treatments you might find in a fancy salon.  Of course it couldn't hurt to ask the massage school operator what services are available when you call for an appointment.  To find a massage school in your area just look them up in the phone book or google the name of the state you live in alongside the words "massage school".

If you are simply dying for some serious pampering  with all the fancy effects you can only find at a high end salon, check the web sites of local salon's for specials and package deals for multiple services or visits.  Also check local newspapers and magazines around gift giving holidays like Mother's day for advertised massage specials and coupons.  

Online Verses In Store Shopping

There are pros and cons to shopping for clothes online.  One of the biggest pros is that you can shop in your pajamas and fuzzy slippers without getting strange looks from sales clerks.  The biggest con is that you can't see the merchandise up close and feel the fabric to see what you are really getting.  For fashion lovers who shop regularly at stores that are a bit more upscale and involve more cash than picking up a $6.00 T-shirt at Target, perhaps one of the most strategic approach to shopping is to combine online shopping with in store shopping.

Ann Taylor Dip Dyed Crewneck Sweater for $29.99

If your preferred approach to shopping is to hit the stores in person to see the merchandise up close and personal so to speak, it's still worth checking out your favorite store's web site to see if there are any unadvertised in-store sales or offers you need to be aware of.  Some stores feature special sales and promotions that are only good for online purchases which could save you a shopping trip as well as money.  Online promotions may include printable coupons that you can take with you for in store purchases.

Shopping in stores reveals what an online photograph can't.  You can feel the weight of the fabric, hold the piece up next to you to check out length and see the true color of the item.  Every computer screen shows color a little differently, so that "spice" colored shirt that looks so chic on the computer screen may actually be pumpkin orange in real life!  Shopping in stores also takes the guesswork out of which size to buy since you have an opportunity to try it on or at least eyeball it and make an educated guess at the size.     

Before whipping out your wallet, check out the price tag.  Is it on sale?  If it is on sale is it a real sale or was the original price so inflated that the so called sale price just drops the price to one a customer would realistically be willing to pay?  If the price doesn't impress you as being a good deal write down the garment information on a small notepad for future reference for shopping for that item online.  A small notepad is a shopping essential.  The information you need to include in your notepad is the name of the store, the original price, the name of the collection (stores will often assign names like "City Style Pant" to a pair of simple black pants to make them seem more like a style statement than a wardrobe basic) and the fiber content.  You will be happy to have this information when you find yourself staring at a store web site that has multiple styles of black pants.  As you go through you favorite stores keep making notes of anything you would seriously consider purchasing.

So why hit the web after taking the time to hit the mall?  To save money and get the right size.  Cute clothes tend to disappear quickly when they go on sale.  By the time the items you want  go on sale the retail store might be out of your size while the online store should have a more in depth stock of different sizes.  To be notified of store sales in general you can sign up to get email notices from that store.  To be notified only of specific items you can sign up with shopittome.com 

The time between when you are in the store and when you are shopping online also provides a cooling off period that reduces the impulse to buy something immediately.  You can take some time to see what you already have in your closet compare it against your shopping wish list and see if the pieces you are thinking about buying are filling wardrobe gaps in your closet or if they are repeats of things you already have in multiples.    

Making a list of things you want to buy and taking a look inside your closet also helps you prioritize.  Without the pressure of having to make a shopping decision right now you can calmly look at your list and see which pieces within your budget stand out as being a must have.  You might end up buying one of the more expensive pieces but you have put enough time and thought into it to know that you are buying the right pieces.

Light Up the Night

Darkness falls early while energy costs rise.  It's almost enough to make you want to set your shrubs on fire just so you and your guests can see your way to your front door at night.  A less drastic and more foliage friendly approach would be to invest in a few outdoor solar lights.  Outdoor solar lights soak up the suns' rays all day so they can provide light at night without relying on an electrical outlet.

The Solar Powered Wall Light for $20.00 from Walmart looks like a traditional wall light.  What separates it from traditional lights is that it requires no plugs, wires or outlets so you can attach it to a wall wherever you need light.   

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Sometimes what you need is a more down to earth solution to seeing more clearly at night.  The Stone Solar Spot Light for $15.99 charges up all day and turns on automatically at night.  This is ideal for pathways leading up to your front door where visibility is crucial.

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For a light that brightens up dark winter nights as easily as it does spring patio parties, check out this Decorative Accent Light for $14.50.  It charges all day so it can shine at night.  This decorative light would be handy to have on hand during winter months when  the electricity occasionallygoes out.

A Gem of a Sale at Banana Republic

Banana Republic used to be known for its safari themed clothing.  Nowadays the sophisticated styles are more appropriate for the concrete jungles of metropolitan cities.  Proof of this transformation can be found in these baubles that definetely aren't designed for the outback. 

Skip the barely there earrings and go for these Bold Chandelier Earrings for $29.99 instead.  The earrings are dazzling enough to make necklaces and other statement pieces unnessary. 

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For something polished yet not predictable, try the Lariat Necklace for $34.99.  A lariat necklace adds pizazz to plain tops without the bulk of large beaded necklaces.  The elongated Y shape provides a nice visual illusion of height.  This visual trick is especially helpful in winter when you end up wearing things like turtlenecks that can make you look like you have no neck.

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Certain occassions call for a more discreet form of sparkle.  In situations where over the top bling looks more silly than stylish, you can still shine with these Metal Disc Earrings for $19.99.  The small ring of stones around the hole are chic enough to infuse your informal evening and your everday attire with a touch of glamour.

Get Your Beauty Sleep

If there was one time of year to stockup on your beauty sleep winter would be it.  It gets dark out early, the cold weather makes a warm bed all the more inviting and the freezing temperatures give you the perfect excuse not to get up at the crack of dawn to jog, bike, or do some other form of physical excersise that doesn't involve shopping. 

Even with so many incentives to spend more time perfecting your sleeping beauty routine, sleep does not always come easy.   For all the light sleepers out there Earth Therapeutics  has created the Slumber Party Sweet Dreams Package on sale for $18.74  at ULTA.  The set includes Dream Silk Comfort Cream, Elixir of Dreams Pillow Mist, Herba-Gel Eye Compress and Dream Zone Sleep mask.  The pillow mist is an aromatherapy blend especially created to support relaxation.  The eye compress is helpful around the holidays when late nights result in puffy eyes in the morning.  The sleep zone mask will probably be more useful in later months when the sun shining through your windows at early hours does not exactly encourage a sunny disposition.

City Chic at Super Cheap Prices

One of the benefits of having a bad economy is that some retailers simply go crazy with sales, real sales, not the laughable 20% type sales.  New York & Company is currently having a 50% off everything online sale.  You heard right, pick anything your bargain loving heart desires on the New York & Company web site and it will be 50% off.  What makes the deal especially appealing is that the simply chic pieces from New York & Company weren't that expensive to begin with.    

I personally went wild for this City Style Animal cardigan on sale for $22.47.  The sweater is fun and it is styled well in this picture.  The white pants, while a stain magnate, do look fresh with the sweater.  If you look closely you will notice that the necklace has a few large colored beads that add a bit of unexpected color.   Outfits for photo shoots are often put together by a professional stylist so they are worth paying attention to and taking inspiration from even if you are only looking for one specific piece.

Give Your Clothes Some Breathing Room

Whether you are strutting around in Bloomindales' best or Kmart couture you want your clothes to last.  One way to make clothes last and look better longer is to give them a little breathing room.  Certain essential wardrobe pieces need regular breaks if they are going to last at all. 

Sweater Air Dryer Clothes Rack Extra Large Stackable Set of 3 for $16.97

Bras for example typically include stretchy fibers that help the bra keep its shape and support your curves.  These fibers are sensitive to heat which is why you should never put bras in the dryer.  In the same way the heat from the dryer can make fibers like Lycra lose their elasticity, constant exposure to your body heat for days on end can take its toll on your everyday bras.  After a bra has been stretched across your body all day long it needs some time to breath and return to it's orginal shape.  If you alternate bras every day, never wearing the same bra for two days in a row, your bras will stay in shape a lot longer.  Hanging a bra on a hanger in your closet after a day of wear allows moisture to evaporate.

Moisture is also a big issue with shoes.  Shoes should be left in an open area for several hours after being worn giving moisture a change to evaporate before the shoes are put away in any kind of enclosed container.  Wearing one pair of shoes every day wears them out a lot faster since they don't have a chance to recover and return to their original shape after the previous days use.  So when you think about it building a fabulous shoe wardrobe is just being practical.      

Some hand wash and dry clean only items don't need to be cleaned they just need to be aired out.  If the sweater or jacket was layered over another piece of clothing and didn't come in contact with your natural body oils or sprayed on perfumes etc. and it didn't get stained then hanging it overnight on a dry shower rod or door handle to release any smells, like cigarette smell that it may have accumulated.  Giving it plenty of time to air out before putting it in your closet prevents the garment from transferring smells to other pieces of clothing in your closet.   

Friction in the dryer can cause premature fading and pilling so turn nice garments inside out before tossing them in the dryer and remove them from the dryer before they are completely dry.  Over drying pieces can set in wrinkles.  Removing pieces from the dryer when they are slightly damp and letting them hang dry allows you to gently tug on and manipulate certain pieces, like knit tops, into hanging straight without wrinkling. 

Some things shouldn't go in the dryer period.  Anything with Lycra or elastic bands in it. like lingerie, leggings or elastic waist gym shorts etc, should be hung to dry.  The heat from the dryer destroys the elasticity.  Sweaters should be laid flat on a simple drying rack with a mesh panel. 

The downside of being so conscientious about air drying clothes is that their comes a time when you need to wear that garment you just washed now, not after a couple hours of leisurely air drying time, now.  To eliminated the final traces of dampness hang the garment on a hanger and use a hand held hair dryer to dry the piece.  With the hair dryer on a cool setting, put one hand inside garment to separate layers of fabric while pulling the garment towards you slightly.  Slowly pass the dryer back and forth about 6 inches over the damp spots until the garment is dry enough to wear.   

Take a Step Toward Saving Money with Famous Footwear

As any savvy shopper knows, it's not always how good of a deal you get that counts, it's how many deals you can can get on the same purchase that count.

Take these Etienne Aigner Women's Vincent boots on sale for $39.99 for example.  First there is the sale price of course.  In addition to that Famous Footwear is having a buy one get one half off sale.  In a separate promotion you can take $5.00 off a purchase of $25.00 or more by using the code SHOP2008 when you check out.  I don't know if you can use the $5.00 off in conjunction with the buy one get one half off sale but it's certainly worth a shot. 

On top of all of that Famous Footwear has a rewards program where you get 10 points for every dollar you spend which you can cash in later on future purchases.  Right now they are offering a $10.00 coupon just for joining.  I had to click through pages of some pretty ugly shoes to find some diva worthy ones among the glamour don'ts, but with all these deals it's definitely worth the trouble.

   

Frugal and Fabulous Last Minute Gifts

The Christmas countdown is drawing dangerously close to the big day and some of you last minute shoppers are probably feeling the pressure to not only come up with a gift, but to come with a great gift that doesn't cost a great amount of money. 

The Stiletto Door Stop for $12.00 from Chiasso allows you to put your best foot forward as a clever gift giver.  The weighted vinyl shoe is perfect for the fashionista on your holiday list.

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For the gift giver with more taste than money the ideal gift is one that looks much more expensive than it really is.  These lovely artistic glass vases sell for the starving artist prices of $24.95 for the gourd vase and $29.95 for the taller bow vase.  The Celine Vases from Zgallerie.com would look stunning by themselves or filled with white flowers that added shape and texture instead of a lot of distracting color.

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In terms of value per dollar a set of six chocolate penguins for $12.99 aren't the best bargain I have ever come across but they are just to darn cute to resist.  These hand dipped bittersweet and white chocolate confections from williamsonoma.com are the perfect give for people you want to treat to something special and a little unexpected.   

Pajama Party

Curling up in a pair of cozy pajamas with a good book and a hot drink on a chilly winters day is such a delightful indulgence it's tempting to call in sick just to enjoy this cozy experience more often.  A stylish pair of pajamas makes the experience even more pleasurable.  

Prints for flannel pajamas range from the quaint, like teacups, to the bizarre, like sock monkeys.  It's a rare treat to find attractive looking pajamas suitable for sophisticated chics.  The Girlfriend Pajama in Flannel with Silk Trim for $39.50 from Victoria's Secret features the kind of elegant print you would find on a summer dress.  It's also a lot more feminine than, oh I don't know, those baggy sweats women wear that announces to the world that they care more about comfort than style.  

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The apt. 9 Lace Pajamas Separates for $13.00a piece from Kohls bring a certain relaxed elegance to the lounge wear scene.  The fabric drapes beautifully, the gray color is a soft neutral that will mix with just about anything and the lace panels across the front of the top add a subtle touch of glamour that is rarely seen in knit pajamas.  

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For those days when you want to wrap yourself in something as plush as a stuffed animal and warm as a blanket try Charter Club Supersoft Two Piece V Neck Pajama Set for $33.99 by Macys.  This polyester fleece set chases away the winter chill better than a hot cup of cocoa. 

Get Your Glam On

The holiday season is the one time of year that glamour gals really take a shine to, literally.  Between the glitter, the gold and subtlety be damned dramatic makeup, the holidays present a treasure trove of opportunities to transform your beauty routine from drab to fab.  

When it comes to making respectable beauty products at affordable prices Sonia Kashuk has always had the golden touch.  This Sonia Kashuk Glamified Brush Set for $17.99 delivers the posh without the high price.  The 7 piece set includes all the brushes you need to create just about any eye look  and a chic little cosmetic case to hold it all. 

Shimmer your way through your holiday soirees with a little help from Soap & Glory Easy Glistening Body Spray for $12.99.  The subtle shimmer acts as a highlighter for areas such as the shoulders, cleavage area and nape of the neck.  If you are lucky enough to live in warmer climates and don't want to wear pantyhose you can lightly spray your exposed legs for a dressy effect. 

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Make your hair shine like the crowning glory it is with Frederic Fekkai Spray on Hair Crystals for $18.50.  To deliver the shimmer that suits you the best, these shimmering hair sprays come in Bronze, Copper and Champagne.  The price for these limited time only hair products isn't cheap but they are designed to make your hair shine while making the hair softer.  The effect looks even richer if you don't wear a lot of shimmer on your body or your clothes.  Too much shine and you end up looking more like a highly polished trophy than a highly glamorous social butterfly.

Drive Less and Save Money

Now that winter is officially upon us when I run my errands are dictated more by the weather report than whether I really need to buy groceries on a certain day.  I look ahead at the weekly weather report and pick the days that have the highest temperature to run errands.  The colder and more snowed over the roads are the more time I know I am going to spend running my heater in the car and wasting gas in extremely slow traffic.  On a slightly warmer day I can hit the grocery store on the way home and be home in the same amount of time it takes me to get home from work underless favorable weather conditions.  

Another way to save gas in bad weather is to leave work a little earlier if possible.  If you can make your work day end earlier by getting to work a little earlier or taking a shorter lunch then you can beat some of the traffic on the way home and spend less time in traffic.   When driving in bad weather is unavoidable consider different possible routes to take.  The flatter route with fewer hills for example, would have fewer cars stuck trying to get up the hill holding up traffic. 

If a weekend day is decent weather wise I can turn the warmer weekend day into a shopping and errand running marathon with errands arranged in clusters.  For example, on Sunday I went to my favorite cosmetics store to take advantage of some sales and use a coupon.  The store was a few stores down from Marshalls discount store where I picked up a Christmas gift.  The strip mall was across the street from a used book store which I popped into to sell some used books and magazines, using part of the cash I received to spend a whopping $2.00 on a magazine and a book from their clearance rack.  When you think of a destination think of other possible errands that are on the way to the destination or near it so you can save gas and time.

A total waste of gas is driving to a destination and not getting what you want.  If you are going to a store to buy a certain item that you saw in an advertisement for example, call the store ahead of time to make sure they have the item and request that they set it aside for you.  If they won't set it aside ask how many are left in stock and hit the road immediately if it is something you want. 

In some cases you may be able to skip an errand altogether.  You may be able to arrange for your preferred delivery service to pick up you packages by visiting their web sites, printing your own labels and having your packages ready to go.

Macy's Parade of Sales

In addition to the expected holiday sales Macys is having a deal where you get an extra 20% off or 15% off and free shipping on orders over $100.00.  As you would expect there are tons of designer good excluded from the promotion and a bunch of other fine print you absolutely should read before proceeding to the checkout page, but it's still worth a look.

Martha Stewart Radiant Reflections Wreath $33.99

Serving up Holiday Cheer

As much as I try to avoid dishes that are so holiday oriented they practically expired the minute the holiday is over, I believe their should be some room in the holiday budget and your cupboards for a few fun items.

The Winter Sleigh serving dishes priced from $19.98 to $29.98 caught my eye because of their versatility.  They could just as easily hold candy or small decorative ornaments as they hold the healthy food pictured that no one really wants to eat around the holidays anyway.

These "Fur" Trimmed Flatware and Treat Stockings for $4.98  for a set of four are perfect for buffet situation where people grab their own flatware.  You can easily turn the emptied stockings into party favors by leaving a large bowl of various small goodies like candies by the door and tell everyone to feel free to fill their stocking whenever they leave.

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Setting up a buffet is terrific for larger gatherings where you don't want to spend all night playing waitress.  Instead of making your guests take wild guesses at what exactly it is they are about to eat, why not buy some blank business cards at an office supply store and write out use your computer to print the names of dishes on each card.  Put labeled cards in these Silver Ornament Place card Holders ($14.99 for a set of 6) next to the dishes they are describing.  This provides an elegant solution to avoid having to answer the question "What's in this dish?" all night long.

Three Dresses Under $30.00

As a self proclaimed Cheap Diva I know that it's possible to look fab without spending a fortune, but the super cheap prices on these chic holidays looks had me doing a double take.  At less than $30.00 a piece you'll have some cash left over for some equally chic accessories.

For me the big suprise is that Walmart, known more for its cheap than its chic produced not one but two eveningwear looks that I would not be embarrassed to be seen in public in.  The Women's Ferrara Cocktail Dress for $29.88 is sophisticated enough to blend into more posh settings and the flared bottom is perfect for dancing the night away.

I saw this George ME Satin Shift dress for $16.00 and trust me, it looks better on the hanger than it does in this horribly unflattering picture.  The color is a beautiful teal which is rich but a little less predictable than traditional dark green for the holidays.  The satin fabric is heavy enough to skim the body nicely without clinging but not too heavy, and oh yeah, it's under $20.00!

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When I am not in the mood to surf the net for hours looking for something attractive and cheap I just click on over to the Kohls web site for attractive clothes at attractive prices.  This AB Studio Pleated Shift Dress for $27.60 is one of those grab and go dresses.  With the jeweled neckline all you have to do is throw on a pair of stylish earrings slip into just about any pair of shoes, grab a small bag and your ready.  It's about as close as you can get to hassle free foolproof dressing as you can get.  And during the holidays isn't it nice to know you can look good with less effort?    

Facing the Camera

The non stop photo op holiday season is upon us, are you ready for your close up?  Unless you have the photogenic features of a supermodel the camera can tend to magnify flaws to the point where pictures look more like your hideous drivers license photo than a Kodak moment.  To avoid having unflattering images of you being memorialized in photo albums for years to come, a few photo friendly precautions are in order.

Avon Mark Invisible Touch Perfecting Concealer for $5.00

Having the time to do full on glamour makeup and get every hair in place before social gatherings is about as realistic as Santa depositing a professional makeup artist at your door.  Instead try looking back on photos that have been taken in the past and try to think of there is anything that stands out as a something you would love to have airbrushed out of the picture?  It may be dark circles under your eyes that make you look like a walking zombie, a red nose that comes from having a cold or justing stepping in from the cold, or a minor bump or scar that gets maximized by the camera lense.  Whatever it is take an extra minute or two to apply a discreet amount of foundation or concealer to the problem area.  From there apply as much makeup as you feel is appropriate and have time to apply.  A light dusting of powder across areas that tend to get oily can also help you save face in front of flash cameras during the holidays.

Lipstick is another important consideration when choosing camera ready makeup.  A high maintenance lipstick in a dramatic shade like red will be extremely obvious when it fades.  Either wear a lipstick that can outwear and outlast hours of drinking, eating and shameless gossip or try a shade close to your own natural lip color that won't be as obvious when it fades. 

After arriving at your destination and exchanging proper hellos with the host, make a bee line for the nearest bathroom to freshen up.  This gives you a chance to touch up your makeup and brush out and fluff up you hair before the picture taking begins.  After all, the only thing worse than having a bad hair day is having it immortalized in pictures.     

Holiday Shopping Time Saving Tips

If shopping mall parking lots are any indication online shopping will not replace shopping in physical store anytime soon.  The biggest advantage to shopping in a store verses online shopping is that you walk away with your merchandise instead of pouncing on your postman looking for overdue packages every time they approach your mailbox. 

Before you hit the stores take a moment to develop a strategy that is going to make the most of your time and money.  Think in terms of shopping for gifts and things you need at the same stores.  For example, you simply have to have a new cocktail outfit for the holiday festivities.  Through experience you have narrowed down the department stores and women's clothing stores that are good bets for finding exactly what you need.  Pull out your holiday gift list and make a small mark next to the types of items you might find in the stores where you buy you holiday outfits.  Specialty stores that sell womens clothing often expand their selection of merchandise during the holiday season to include gift appropriate items, some of which have nothing to do with women's clothing.  Things to keep your eyes out for while shopping for holiday outfits include attractive scarves, candles and fun girly girl type gifts like beauty products.  Buying an outfit for yourself and checking off stuff on your holiday list at the same time is doubly satisfying.

If someone on your gift list is a member of your household think of what types of things you would end up buying for them sooner or later.  A pair of socks may not sound like a great kids gift unless of course you get socks with some sort of clever cartoon design that relates to one of their interests.  If they love cats, or dogs look for socks with those designs as a stocking stuffer or small additional gift.  Cute pajamas are another option.  If the gift is for your significant other try something like a solar powered flashlight or car safety kit with a personal note along the lines of  "You light up my life" or "I love you, drive safe". 

Of course if you are hitting a Walmart or Target superstore you can get gifts and grocery shop for as long as your stamina holds out.  Happy Shopping!

  

15% off is a Shoe in of a Deal

First of all let me say that I am  not affiliated with ebates.com and I do not receive any compensation from them when I repeatedly mention their web site.  It's just that getting cash back from ebates.com on top of the deals they promote is hard to ignore.  Take their shoes.com promotion for example.  You could go probably go directly to shoes.com and buy shoes like these LifeStride Women's Status shoes for $40.00 before discounts and get 15% off using the coupon code HOLIDAY08 and get free shipping to boot (no pun intended).  Or you could sweeten the deal by going through ebates.com and getting an extra 8% off your purchase which adds up to a couple of bucks off.

In case you are wondering why I am showing these rather subdued champagne colored shoes while the rest of the fashion world is pushing sky high heels, it's because complaining about how much your feet hurt does not make for engaging party conversation.  These neutral colored shoes will work in just about any season with just about any color.  Neutral shoes with a bit of shimmer or shine are perfect for those outfits that simply don't match anything and don't work with black shoes.  Buying a versatile pair of neutral colored shoes with a comfortable heel gives your feet and your bank account a break.   

Dazzling Cocktail Rings

For an unapologetically glamorous piece of jewelry it's hard to beat a cocktail ring.  Even the name sounds glamorously suggests your evening plans include wrapping you bejeweled hand around a sparkling cocktail while engaging in witty party conversation.  

Before adorning your digits with sparkling gems like this Women's Young Line Multicolor Color Cubic Zirconia Ring for $22.50 , be sure you have the right ring and the right look to go with it.  First of all a decent manicure is a must.  Chipped nail polish or even worse, dirty nails, will make even the most dazzling diamond look cheap.  Nails should be reasonably short and gently rounded at the edges.  A shimmery nail polish in a subtle shade of pink is an elegant look that complements the elegant look of the cocktail ring without competing for attention. 

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The best way to showcase a cocktail ring like this Women's Cubic Zirconia Ring for $22.95, is to give it as little competition as possible.  One dramatic cocktail ring is more than enough adornment for one hand.  Bracelets and other rings on the same hand tend to distract more from the cocktail ring than complement it.  

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A cocktail ring like this Women's Stone Band Rose Color Cubic Zirconia Two-Tone ring for $21.38should always complement the size and shape of your hand.  Delicate fingers that would be overwhelmed by huge statement pieces can easily carry of more scaled down versions with small to medium size stones about the size of a pea.  Hands with long fingers can get away with wide ring bands that visually shorten the fingers while hands with shorter fingers will find narrower bands more flattering.  A ring band with an open lacy design that shows some skin  doesn't visually shorten the finger the way a solid band does and is universally flattering.  To elongate the look of fingers try a stone that is parallel to the finger.  As far as color goes the stones of the ring should either relate to the outfit by mirroring the colors or the intensity of the colors in the outfit, or provide a pop of color to an otherwise subdued outfit.

Chic Calendars for Fashionable Women

In an age where managing your schedule often includes advanced electronics that can be programmed to organize you down to the second, there is something quaint and appealing about simply glancing at an attractive calendar to look at the date.  Some decorative calendars are more than eye candy.  The are designed to provide you with useful style tips so you can look your best every day of the week.

If you ever wanted to own an Andy Warhol here is your chance.  The Taming of the Shoe calendar features illustrations of shoes and clever fashionable quotes by the famous artist. 

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The problem with a fashion book is that you can easily forget most what you read by the time you are done with it.  The Tim Gunn:A Guide to Quality,Taste and Style Boxed Calendar for $10.39 , based on his book of the same name includes 365 style related tips.  What I love about boxed calendars like this one is that you can remove the pages that are of interest to you after you read them and assemble your own abbreviated style guide as the year progresses. 

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Just because Santa isn't dropping a diamond necklace in my stocking anytime soon doesn't mean I can't enjoy the beauty of expensive baubles.  The Jewels: 2009 Mini Wall calendar for $7.99 packs some seriously glamorous rocks into its mini size.   Every month you will be treated to a stunning photograph of major bling worthy of a true (and truly well financed) diva. 

Budget Friendly Gifts for Beauty Addicts

If you have someone on your Holiday list who is a budding beauty junkie, you're in luck because these lovers of all thing cosmetic and pampering related are some of the cheapest and easiest to shop for.

Any beauty queen worth her lip gloss would love a subscription to Allure magazine for $12.00 if she doesn't already have one.  Allure covers many beauty related topics, such as health and hair, but the clear emphasis of the magazine is on makeup trends and beauty treatments and products. 

The beauty of gift certificates is that the recipient doesn't get stuck with beauty products so wrong for her she wonders if you were shopping under the influence of too much egg nog when you bought them.   A gift certificate to a cosmetics store/web site like Ulta.com is nice because many of the products are cheap enough that you don't have to give someone a huge gift certificate for them to indulge in buying new products.

You could give out gift certificates to expensive salons, but your beauty bucks will go a lot farther if you give them a gift certificate to a local beauty school.  Lucky gift certificate recipients can often get facials and other beauty treatments for less than half the cost of a facial at an upscale salon. 

Simply handing someone an envelope with a gift certificate or subscription might lack the excitement of opening a wrapped gift.  If you want to have more fun with the gift try something clever like putting the certificate in a cosmetics bag and wrap it up that way.

Reviewing the Reviewers

The great thing about shopping online is that you can get a second opinion about your purchase by people who have used the product.  Amazon.com for example has a five star rating review system that I make a point of looking at before buying books.  When I look at the reviews I look at more than how many stars the book or product has rated.  I look at how many people have rate the item.  An average of four stars from dozens of people carries more weight with me than a five star review from one person.

If an item has overall positive ratings but a few extremely negative ratings I look at the negative ratings.  By looking at negative reviews you can decide whether to take them into consideration or not.  In more than one case I have found someone giving a one star rating because they are mad that they never received the book they ordered.  That's right, they are giving a bad rating to a book they never even read!

Reviews are pretty evenly split between positive and negative reviews arouse my curiosity, so I read them.  In reviewing an appliance the negative reviews were from people who had owned the product for more than six months.  The good reviews came from people who owned the product for less than six months.  That tells me all I need to know about the quality of the product right there. 

Another benefit of taking the time to read some reviews, especially of books, is that sometimes the reviewers will go into more detail about what is included in the book or how the product works that the regular product description.  I also love reading negative reviews because sometimes reviewers will go off on tangents about books they hate that are far more entertaining than the book probably is.