The Cheap Diva

Negotiating for eBay Items

As a recovering eBay addict, I now do more browsing than actual buying, I have noticed that a common mistake eBay sellers make is to set the minimum price for their items way too high.  The items don't sell because with just a few clicks a buyer can find out the book I'm looking at on eBay is selling for less on amazon.com or if the decorative  collectible I'm looking at usually sells for a lot less.   When the rare object you are swooning over is fabulous, but the price is inflated, that's when it's time to negotiate.  

Ebay allows you to watch the item without bidding on it by going into My Ebay and selecting the Watching function.  Keep an eye on the item right up until about 24 hours before the bidding is set to expire.  After the overpriced item has been on eBay for days with nobody bidding on it, the seller might start to realize that greed doesn't pay and not only aren't they going to get the price they wanted, they might not sell the item at all.  This is the time to email the seller and start negotiating for a lower price.

To learn what that item typically sells for type in a few keywords into the search box and then click on the Completed Listings link on the left hand side of the page.  The Completed Listings show me what a certain item has actually sold for in the past.  This gives you a better idea of what people are actually willing to pay for an item, not the price sellers are hoping to get.

Contact the seller about 24 hours before bidding ends and let them know you would be interested in buying the item if they would consider selling it for a lower price.    In your email you can let the seller know that what they are selling typically sells for $100.00,  not $200.00 and you would be willing to buy the item if it was closer to the $100.00 price.  Don't get cocky and suggest the seller might as well sell it to you since no one else is buying it.  Irritating sellers is no way to negotiate. 

By the time you are done emailing the seller back and forth to work out the details, the eBay auction may be over, leaving you dealing directly with the seller.  Try to get the seller to agree to payment through Paypal since, Paypal doesn't give your credit card information to the seller.  The next best payment option would probably be a credit card since credit card companies do offer some forms of protection if the seller doesn't deliver what they promised.

If the item is a bit pricey even after you've negotiated the price down, ask the seller to email you a tracking number for the shipped package to make sure your fabulous find doesn't get lost in transit.  After receiving the goods it's good buyer etiquette to leave a positive review of the seller on eBay.  If you ended up purchasing the items outside of eBay you can simply send them an email telling them how much you like the item and thanking them for sending the item in such a timely manner.  Showing some appreciation is always good business no matter how big or small your purchase is.

Making Your Wardrobe Work

Countless fashion experts obsessed with building the "perfect" wardrobe agree that if a piece doesn't fit and doesn't make you feel fabulous get rid of it.  Great, there goes half my wardrobe.  For us frugal fashionistas the reality is that no matter how style savvy we are, there are pieces lurking in the closet that work pretty well but aren't fabulous enough to be considered "perfect".  Learning how to make those less than fabulous pieces work for you is a lot cheaper and easier than constantly scouring stores looking for those "perfect" pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Color and patterns are tricky.  Colors and patterns that are too subtle make you look washed out.  If the colors and patterns are too bold for your figure and natural coloring, your clothes upstage you.  The key to wearing a color or pattern that is too something is to pair it with it's opposite.  A pastel colored pink shirt that looks more at home in a retirement home than a fashion runway can look chic when paired with a rich raspberry colored cardigan or jacket.  The richness of the raspberry color complements and compensates for the subtlety of the pastel pink. 

The same strategy works for bold patterns.  If you have a blouse or dress in a print that's a bit overwhelming for your figure, tone it down a bit by layering a neutral colored cardigan or jacket over it.  If you somehow missed the fashion memo that horizontal stripes will make you look fat faster than downing a quart of ice cream and you have a horizontal striped top in your closet, a cardigan or jacket that tapers at the waist breaks up the horizontal pattern nicely.  Another way to break up horizontal stripes on a top is to wear a scarf or chunky necklace that drapes down the front of top.  The scarf or necklace creates a strong vertical line that breaks up the horizontal lines.

One of the frumpiest fashions to hit the fashion scene in recent years is the grandpa sweater.  This unflattering long shapeless cardigan sweater proved that perhaps grandpa's closet wasn't the best source for style inspiration.  To make shapeless sad sack garments look less frumpy, pair them with streamlined fitted pieces.  A long cardigan looks better when worn over tailored trousers, slim jeans or a pencil skirt and a fitted shirt.  To add some definition to a shapeless cardigan or dress, cinch the waist with a narrow belt and add discrete should pads that help the sweater drape in a more flattering way.   

Sometimes clothing comes up short, literally.  To make shirt  sleeves that are slightly too short wearable you can exaggerate the shortness or disguise it.  Roll up your sleeves for a more casual effect and no one will suspect that your sleeves were too short to begin with.  To make the shortness of your sleeves look deliberate pile on the baubles and bangles.  Adorning your wrists with layers of bangles on one hand and a boldly designed watch on the other gives the appearance that the shirt was designed to showcase your jewelry.  Jeans or pants that barely cover your ankles can appear to be the right length if you pair them with the right shoes.  Wear boots that cover the ankle under pants it makes it harder to figure out exactly where the hem is supposed to be.  

Basically, the secret to making less than perfect pieces work is to create an outfit that looks deliberate.  As if you intentionally chose that frumpy fashion don't of a sweater because you knew it would provide an unexpected twist to your sexy jeans and vintage rock concert T-shirt ensemble. 

 

          

Stylish Tank Tops are a Top Summer Trend

Tank tops originated as men's underwear and have evolved into a real style statement for women.  Sure there are a lot of skimpy tank tops that look like the wearer was in such a hurry to get dressed that she threw on her guy's underwear and ran out the door, but this season there are plenty of chic tank tops worth showing off. 

What makes a tank top stylish is the details, like the gold lurex thread and pleating of the ANA Lurex Tank for $14.99 to $17.99.  The gold thread contrasted against a vivid color adds a touch of glam to an otherwise casual tank.

The most flattering and forgiving tank tops are the ones that fit around the chest and gently flare out over the tummy and hips.  This Daisy Fuentes Draped Front Tank for $25.20 looks like one of those designer tops you find in fancy schmancy boutiques, until you look at the price of course.  Top off anything from a pair of tailored shorts to slim jeans to a pencil skirt with this tank and you have an effortlessly chic look that is cool and comfortable.

For legs that appear to go on for miles, wear a pair of wedge heels for lift, a pair of streamlined shorts (no pleats) a few inches above the knee in a shade of brown that practically blends in with your skin tone,  and top it off with a long body skimming tank top in a dramatic pattern like the Apt 9 Tile Shirred Top for $19.99.  The shorts will virtually disappear giving tyhe impression that you are wearing a sexy minidress.

Is a Home Based Franchise Right for You?

From cosmetics to kitchen wares to pet products, there is a home based direct sales, franchise opportunity to suit every interest all trying to recruit you as a marketing representative with the seductive promise that the product line is so fabulous it practically sells itself. The products being sold may do many things but selling themselves isn’t one of them.

Selling lots of product requires a salesperson who is very knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about the line of products they sell, keeps up to date on any new promotions or products, regularly generates sales by meeting new people, hosting parties or doing other types of promotions, as well as maintaining contact with current customers. Being a people person is crucial to the success of your franchise.

The fact that a home based franchise doesn’t come with a set work schedule can be a blessing or a curse depending on how disciplined you are. It’s up to you to create a schedule that includes time for not only talking to customers but also bookkeeping, keeping track of orders and other business related tasks. If you treat your franchise like a hobby, something you get around to when you have time, you won’t make money.

Direct sales companies not only supply you with products and promotional materials, they also supply you with an established system for selling those products. They want you to follow their guidelines and copy their well established formula for success. They are not looking for creative thinkers. Using their prestige cosmetics for painting cartoon characters on children’s faces at the local craft show for example, might not be their idea of creative marketing.

Before committing to work for any direct sales company, read the fine print on anything you sign and ask a lot of questions. For starters, how much does it cost to start? Do you pay for promotional materials like post cards and catalogs after you become a sales rep? Are you required to buy certain minimum quantities of product or promotional materials to maintain your status as a sales rep? Is their a monthly quota of sales you have to meet? What is that quota?

What are your options for marketing besides in home parties? Can you sell merchandise through online sites such as eBay or at craft shows? How many people operating the same home based franchise in your area? You don’t want to be tripping over each other for the same customers.

Spend some time asking yourself and the companies you are considering being a franchisee for some tough questions so you can be confident that you are ultimately investing both your time and money wisely. To see what opportunities are available check out web sites such as directsalescareers.com.

EXPOse yourself to Fashionable Entertainment

The last fashion "event" I attended at a local boutique focused on fashion by having live models standing around dressed in clothes from the boutique  (I could get the same effect looking at a mannequin) and a brief talk by a store employee about blue jeans.  The event was free and I certainly got what I paid for, a shopping trip trying to pass itself off as a fashion event.  I decided the next fashion "event" I attended I would do a little more research to avoid wasting gas attending another glorified shopping "event".

One way to get a cheap fashion fix is to attend women expo shows, like the Just for Her Expoin Kansas May 29th and 30th.  I did my homework and found out the  Just for Her Expo has a fashion show on both days, Friday at 7:15 and Saturday at 1:45.  The fashion show features clothes from several local boutiques.  The more specific information you can get about what the expo sponsor includes in the fashion show the better.  I once attended a women's' expo specifically for the fashion show only to sit through an all too brief show, half of which was children's clothing and the other half was basic sportswear pieces like khaki pants and T-shirts.  I was too big for the children's clothing and too bored by the grown up clothing to consider it a real fashion show. 

A typical women's' expo should cost under $10.00.  Sometimes you get a few bucks off of your ticket price if you buy your tickets online ahead of time instead of at the door.  Women's expos are often advertised in local women's' magazines and newspapers.  To pretty much guarantee you won't miss any great women's' expos, go to web sites for local convention centers and check out their calendars.  A good size women's expo is usually held at a convention center to make room for numerous vendors, a stage and of course style savvy gals looking for frugal and fashionable entertainment.     

Don't Lose Sleep Over the Cost of a New Mattress

Normally it's pressing issues like who is going to be the next American Idol and where I can find a pair of shorts that won't make my but look huge that keep me awake at night, but lately the source of my insomnia has been my mattress.  A spring has poked its way through the mattress padding forming a hole and making its presence felt every time I try to sleep. 

I have been putting off mattress shopping because I don't want to spend a lot, but thanks to Memorial Day sales, I can afford a new mattress and have enough money left over for new sheets as well.  One store I looked at had mattresses on sale for $100.00 less than their regular price.  I plan on hitting another store or two to compare prices and get a feel for how much I should expect to pay for regular beauty sleep.  

From the mattress shopping I have done so far I can tell that the cheapest mattresses aren't always the best deal.  One mattress store I looked at charged extra for shipping and the mattress frame when you bought the cheaper mattress.  With the slightly more expensive mattresses they threw in the shipping and bed frame for free.  After adding in the shipping and bed frame the cheap mattress turned out to be about as expensive as the higher priced mattress.

When shopping for mattresses it's a good idea to lie on the bed for at least 10 minutes and lie in the positions, such as on your side, that you normally sleep in.  As a courtesy it's a good idea to wear slip on shoes since mattress coverings are white and the mattress salespeople would probably like to keep it that way.  Mattress salespeople also tend to frown on you jumping up and down on the mattress to test it's firmness.  Don't ask me how I know this.

  

Decorate Your Nest with Bird Themed Decor

Some people think interior decorating is for the birds.  Those people are right on trend.  Many people are spending more time than ever at home and some designers are taking the whole nesting trend quite literally, using leaves and birds as a design motif.  I for one am delighted to see a summer decorating theme that doesn't involve sea shells and sand. 

It's easy to feather your nest without breaking the bank with these bird themed pieces from Cost Plus World Market like these Metal Wall Hooks for $18.99 a piece for example.

 These Patterned Wood Vases for $29.99 a piece reflect the beauty of nature both in their use of natural materials and in the striking silhouette gracing the front of the vase.  These vases are not waterproof so if you simply must fill them with something try dried branches.

Toss pillows are one of the quickest and easiest ways to update the decor.  When perched on a neutral background, these Towel Stitch Avian Theme Toss Pillows for $19.99 a piece brighten up even the most boring seating areas.

Don't Buy It, Barter for It

The June issue of Real Simple magazine has an excellent article on successful bartering.  Bartering is essentially exchanging goods or services instead of paying money for those goods or services.  You might have to pay some money in taxes depending on the value of what you barter, but in many cases bartering is free.  Some of the examples mentioned in Real Simple, like exchanging website design services for babysitting show how unexpected exchanges can create a win win situation for everyone involved in the barter. 

Bartering has become so popular that there are several web sites devoted to different types of bartering.  Here are just a few.

Barterplanet.com: a variety of goods and services may be exchanged

Bizxchange.com: for business to business trading

Craigslist.org: bartering boards are organized by state

Swapstyle.com: swap clothing and accessories

U-Exchange.com: a free international barter exchange web site

 

Clothes that Go the Distance

Even the most basic wardrobe items can turn into a glamour don't.  After repeated hearing from various fashion experts that a classic cashmere sweater was a "must have" investment that would look chic for years to come I finally gave in and bought a simple black cashmere turtleneck on sale at a great price.  This timeless piece that was supposed to last forever lasted exactly one season in my closet before I donated it to Goodwill.  The sweater was unbearably hot when worn indoors.  Sure I like to wear clothes that are slimming, but sweating the pounds off was not what I had in mind! 

Worthington Sateen Vest $19.99

Ever since that cashmere catastrophe I have ignored the fashion experts and created my own criteria for what's worth adding to my closet.  One of the criteria for buying clothes is that most of the pieces must be seasonless.  I have some easy breezy lightweight pieces for when the heat is on and the occasional bulky sweater, but for the most part my tops are medium to lightweight pieces, like simple knit shirts and sweaters (no cashmere) that can be layered over or under something else.  When the weather turns frosty, I simply layer my medium weight pants over a pair of thin leggings. 

Pieces that lend themselves to layering also create more stylish possibilities.  A classic tailored vest in soft gray worn over a  simple black T-shirt, black knee length shorts and a pair of stylish wedges is chic and simple.  The same vest worn with a crisp blouse and tailored trousers in a traditional menswear fabric and patent penny loafers makes a completely different statement.   A sexy take on vest dressing might be wearing the vest over a skimpy camisole top with a flirty knee length skirt.

A solid investment piece is one that enjoys the fashion spotlight now and then, yet never quite seems to go out of fashion.  The menswear inspired vest is one example.  Another example is animal prints.  I love a fabulous leopard print and I will happily sport my leopard spots in public because unlike neon yellow, leopard prints never really disappear from the fashion spotlight.

A key question to consider when buying something new is how long is this item going to look fabulous?  I have passed on many an artsy woven top because the construction of loosely woven ribbons or loops was a major irreparable snag waiting to happen.  Garments with a bunch of glued on beads that look like they might fall off if I sneeze to hard are also a fashion no no. 

I will happily stock my wardrobe with basic black pieces, as long as those pieces are not made out of cotton.  I have an old cotton T-shirt that started out as deep rich black but eventually faded to a dark gray.  Sure I could dye it back to its original shade, but it's a basic T-shirt for heavens sake, the cost of a bottle of fabric dye probably costs more than a new T-shirt.  For my basic black pieces I prefer blends, as in polyester blended with a fiber than actually breathes, like rayon.

As much as I love my intricate beaded dangly earrings and bold cuff bracelets, the jewelry pieces that I find myself reaching for the most are what I call the no brainer pieces.  For me a pair of simple faux diamond solitaire earrings are a virtually foolproof accessory that works with just about everything.  Every jewelry box should contain at least a few go with anything pieces.  A pair of simple pearl studs or hoop earrings, a classic watch, a gold or silver ring without colored stones are a practically foolproof way to polish up any outfit.

    

Make a Splash in Trendy Tankinis

One piece swimsuits can require acrobat like contortions to get in and out of while a traditional two piece bikini reveals to the world that you have not spent all you time doing waste whittling exercises.   A tankini is a two piece swimsuit that offers the look of a one piece swimsuit with the freedom of a two piece.  Like their bikinis, Newport News tankinis are sometimes sold as a set or as individual pieces. 

When considering the most eye catching way to show off your sexy self, think pink.  This hot pink Beaded Halter Tankinin Top for $29.00 practically sizzles no matter what the temperature is poolside. 

There's something wild prowling the beaches and its bold style is putting boring old swimsuits on the endangered species list.  This Halter Tankini for $29.00 shows off your wild side while showing off just enough skin to look sexy without looking like you are trying too hard to look sexy.

Trim your middle in less time than it takes to do 10 sit ups with the Shape FX Bandeau Tankini for $29.00.  A control panel in the panty portion of the tankini holds you in while your are hanging out at your favorite watering hole.  Rich jewel colored swimsuits are actually preferable to black, which can look more serious than chic during what are supposed to be the carefree summer months.

Picnic Perfect Eco Friendy Dinnerware

For years plastic picnic plates and utensils were thought of as simply cheap and tacky.  Now days we know that all that plastic picnic wear is not only in bad taste, it's bad for the environment.  Resourceful retailers are answering the demand for environmentally friendly dishes by producing durable picnic wear that does your famous potato salad justice. 

With the 30 pack of Earthshell Biodegradable Bowls for $4.50 you can serve up everything from hot chili to ice cream without taking a bite out of your budget.

 The color and texture of these organic Disposable Bambu Veneerware Utensils for $7.99 is as natural as fresh organic food, only cheaper.   

You can take it with you, just about anywhere as a matter of fact.  With a 10 pack of these biodegradable Medium Takeout Containers for $9.00 can attend any event and lighten your load by being able to dispose of containers.  Imagine a post picnic walk in the park where you can pick up the pace because you aren't weighed down like a pack mule or a free outdoor music/theatrical event where you can conveniently  dispose of your now empty containers during intermission leaving your hands free for enthusiastic applause.

A Touch of Powder Offers Sun Protection

Products with sunscreen can lose their effectiveness in as little as a few hours.  This is a big problem for women who wear sunscreen under makeup and don't have time to wash their face and reapply both sunscreen and makeup throughout the day.

The Bare Minerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen for $28.00 offers a clever solution to protecting your face without removing all your makeup.  The face and body powder can be reapplied throughout the day just like a regular face powder.  For you office dwellers who don't think sun protection is important, keep in mind that the bit of sun exposure you get driving your car or walking short distances can really add up.  Better to invest in a little sun protection now than have to invest a lot in antiwrinkle treatments later.

HGTV Design Web Site Eliminates the Need for Cable

On a recent vacation I loved the fact that the TV in my room had cable and I could watch the Home and Garden channel (HGTV).  I loved the makeover shows on HGTV so much may have spent as much time watching HGTV in my room as I did sightseeing in the city I was visiting.  If I wasn't too cheap to pay for cable TV it would be easy for me to become addicted to HGTV. 

Thanks to the internet, I can get my makeover fix without having to pay for cable.  HGTV.com has pictures from my favorites shows, like Divine Design and Ask Genevieve,  as well as brief video clips of their shows.  In under 5 minutes the video clips talk about the design challenge, shows you the before picture and then the after picture with an explanation from the designer as to how they solved the problem.  I am perfectly satisfied with these short video clips because all I really want is to see how so so rooms are transformed into super stylish rooms.  For tons of free design inspiration, check out HGTV.com today. 

A Cool Idea from Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart, the queen of complicated recipes that take ten times as long to prepare as they do to eat, has a shockingly simple idea for a cool granita dessert in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living.  The traditional recipe for granita, involves mixing sugar, flavorings such as fresh fruit, and water then freezing the mix and shaving off bits of ice, for an effect similar to a frozen Snow Cone.  The Martha Stewart version involves simply freezing fruit juice in an ice cube tray, placing the frozen cubes in a food processor/blender and then scooping out the frozen treat and placing it in a nice bowl to serve to guests as a dessert. 

To create a more interesting dessert, use a blended juice drink that combines different juices, like a mango, peach, banana juice.  Look for interesting juice blends at your local supermarket next to the refrigerated orange juice or in the juice aisle.

Summer Reading at Hot Prices

There was a certain mystery book that I have been wanting to read but I couldn't find it at my local library.  Of course I found it on amazon.com, which is no surprise.  What was a surprise is that used copies of the title were selling for as little as 91 cents!  Adding the $3.99 cost of shipping and handling to the cost of a used copy brought my total up to under $5.00, less than half the original cost of the $10.94 Amazon was selling new copies for.  The fact that this title is from 2007 probably accounts for the cheap price of used copies.  Waiting a year or two, or even several months after a book comes out to buy it on Amazon can greatly reduce the price.

Another favorite haunt of mine for fashion and home decor book is Half Price Books, a used book store.  The buy used books, magazines and DVDs, so my strategy is to sell a bunch of magazines and apply the few bucks I got off my sale towards the purchase of a new book.  I don't always find a book worth adding to my style library, but as any smart shopper knows, it takes patience and frequent visits to a preferred retailer to unearth the gems among the junk.

The local library usually has some sort of huge summer sale to get rid of old books and make room for new stuff.  I can snap up anything from my beloved mysteries to home decor books for about $1.00 a piece.  It's like shopping at a thrift store in the sense that you have to look through a lot of outdated home decor books and other books not worth a read before you come across something worth buying, but the excitement of snapping up a vintage copy of a home decorating book by a famous decorator or buying a fiction books so cheap it's practically free, is worth the hunt.

Reading is cheap entertainment, and when you shop smart it's practically free!

If You Love Magazines You'll Love Uma

I subscribe to so many home decorating magazines that if you walked into my home and spotted my magazines you might think an aspiring interior designer lived there.  Nope,  my decorating talents are confined to decorating my own place.  Naturally I want my magazine storage to be just as stylish as the magazines themselves.  Luckily I found some seriously stylish stuff at iloveuma.com.  If you count the top and the triangular space in the middle, this Mimosa Side Table for $119.00 offers four, count em, four places to rest your glossy magazines!

In this Magtable Coffee Table for $178.00 magazines hang down from slots leaving the surface of the table free for you to kick back and put your feet up or plop a few easily moved serving trays filled with whatever pleases the eye.

The Ringo Magazine Holder for $40.00 is perfect for tight spaces and small areas where a big magazine rack would fit.  The minimalist style of the rack almost disappears and lets the magazines take center stage.

Shopping Outside of Your Department

Ever since the slip dress slipped out of the lingerie department and onto the fashion catwalks, stylish women have been drawing on unexpected sources for both casual and dressy looks.   Style savvy women realized that thinking beyond the narrow categories of lingerie, day wear, evening wear etc. and thinking in terms of possibilities gives them more options. 

Xhilaration Dress Black-Red $21.99

Even though the slip dress trend is fashion history, it's still possible to find slip dresses, baby doll dresses, and simple chemises in the lingerie department that would make a lovely day dress worth showing off in public.  While some lingerie is perfectly appropriate for going out on the town, as long as it provides decent coverage and the style doesn't suggest you just rolled out of bed, some skimpy lightweight summer dresses have the potential to make wonderful nightgowns.

Women who haven't seen their teen years for quite some time often avoid the junior department unless they are actually shopping for their daughter.  Women have been told by self proclaimed stylists that dressing like a pop star half your age makes you look older, not younger.  What these style experts fail to mention is that not everything in the junior department is skimpy and/or trendy to the point of being disposable.  Junior T-shirts and sweaters in an array of attractive colors and designs, red carpet worthy dresses and wearable bottoms whose basic design has been tweaked just enough to make them interesting often share retail floor space with the super trendy teen items that are clearly a fashion don't for any woman past prom age.

Shopping completely outside of the women's department and wandering into the mens' or boys' department can increase your options while decreasing your cost.  When I needed a pair of simple black sneakers at a reasonable price I naturally looked at women's shoes only to find the styles were overpriced for even the most basic styles.  I was buying sneakers to run errands, not run a marathon, I didn't see the need to buy overpriced shoes.  Not having any success with women's' shoes, I strolled over to the boys shoe section where I found a very basic, very black pair of sneakers at a very low price.  Of course boys' and men's' shoes are sized differently than women's so you will probably need to try on a few different sizes to figure out what size you should be looking for.

The mens' department is a great source for basics.  If you want sweatpants that don't have a logo or saying emblazoned across the butt, or a relaxed fit T-shirt that doesn't fit like a second skin, the boys' and men's department are full of no nonsense basics at no nonsense prices.  After stocking up on basics in the men's department, check out their more stylish accessories.  A man's watch makes a bolder statement than your traditional woman's watch.  In the summertime when the brims of women's straw hats take on such epic proportions they provide more shade than a beach umbrella, the less conspicuous offerings in the men's department are worth checking out.  At a nice department store it's often possible to find a fedora style hat, like men wore in the 1950's, in a lightweight straw.  Another popular style is the Panama hat which usually has a wider brim than the fedora, but not nearly as wide as a lot of women's straw hats.  In the winter check the men's department for wool newsboy caps or other stylish headgear.    

By shopping outside of the places and department you traditionally shop for certain items, it's easier to create a look that's as original as you are.  When people compliment you on your stylish find you will be able to reply "You will never guess where I found it."

     

Mix Things Up in the Kitchen with Olive Oil

Even if your cooking skills are almost nonexistent, it's still important to stock your kitchen with more than take out menus.  Extra virgin olive oil is an extremely versatile food staple to have on hand whether you are an aspiring chef or can barely boil water. 

What makes olive oil such a terrific food staple is that it blends well with other ingredients.  It lends a subtle flavor that complements and doesn't compete with other flavors in the dish.  For a vegetable stir fry you can simply toss some olive oil into the pan, throw in your vegetables and add a vegetable seasoning.  It doesn't get much simpler or healthier than that.

Of course olive oil makes a fine salad dressing by itself, but it makes a better salad dressing when mixed with other ingredients.  Pour some olive oil in a bowl and add small amounts of mustard until it reaches the level of tanginess you desire.  Various seasonings and a dash of vinegar can increase the tartness of you salad dressing.  Feel free to experiment with different ingredients until you have created an salad dressing that is suited to you taste.  This customized dressing can be used in pastas salads just as easily as it can on green leaf salads.

A high quality extra virgin olive oil mixed with a dash of pepper and topped off with a generous helping of finely grated Parmesan cheese makes a gourmet tasting dipping sauce for artisan breads.  The phrase artisan bread means it's a step above Wonder Bread and can probably be found in the bakery section of your supermarket or Walmart or Target superstore.

For a satisfying appetizer that looks like you went to a lot more trouble than you did, give bruchetta a shot.  There are many variations of bruchetta that can be found on countless recipe web sites, but the basic ingredients usually include grilled bread and olive oil.  What goes on top of this classic combination is entirely up to you.

Stay Financially Fit with Your Local Community Center

After a nasty incident where I became unemployed and called my gym in an attempt to get out of my long term gym contract to save a few bucks, only to have the shockingly insensitive customer service person snap "Well you  are going to get another job aren't you?"  I vowed never to join a gym or sign any long term contracts that I couldn't get out of. 

After giving up gyms I focused on walking and exercise DVDs for my exercise.  The problem was that at home with just me and the T.V. I can end the workout the minute I get tired, bored or decide I'd rather exercise my brain and curl up with a good book.  The one thing a structured exercise class provides that you can't get from any exercise DVD is peer pressure!    To stay motivated through and entire exercise routine I needed the threat of serious embarrassment that would come if I quit in the middle of a class while some gray haired spinster wearing a "World's Greatest Grandma" T-shirt was still keeping pace with the instructor. 

As an alternative to regular gyms with their high pressure sales pitches and iron clad contracts, I take advantage of the exercise classes at my local community center.  For $5.00 I can take one class with no commitment to ever take a class again.  I also have the option of paying for one month of classes, or several months of classes.  A monthly membership allows me the freedom to mix things up and take all kinds of classes and quit any class if I don't like.  One day I can go all Zen and take a Tai Chi class and the next day I can get into the groove and dance (badly) to Latin music or lift weights in a strength and conditioning class.  The variety of different classes is far superior to anything my former gym offered, and the freedom to pick the length of my short term membership means I won't be sweating over money issues.   

The Container Store Makes Organizing Easy

At containerstore.com they have enough organizing merchandise to satisfy even the most disorganized person.  Some of their most useful organizers are the more revealing organizers that allow you to indentify your stuff at a glance. 

These Drop Front Shoe Boxes for $5.99 and $7.99 open at the front of the box instead of the top.  Being able to open it from the front means you won't have to unstack a bunch of shoe boxes to get to the pair of shoes you want which will inevitably be on the bottom of the stack.

Even when you aren't strutting around in your most fabulous jewelry, you can still show off your favorite pieces with the Mosaic Box for $39.99.  The dividers in the removable tray prevent your jewely from rubbing up against each other and possibly scratching each other.  The clear lid allows you to see your jewelry without exposing it to dust or curious pets looking for a new chew toy.

The storage area in my small bathroom consists of one standard medicine cabinet on the wall, a little, and I do mean little, counter space around the sink and the space under the sink which is enclosed by the bathroom cabinet.  You will notice I didn't mention anything about the cabinet area under the sink having any drawers.  If you are in a similar predicament, consider this Acrylic Vanity Tote for $19.99 as a simple solution for keeping your stuff easily accessible when you need it and easy to stow away under the sink when you don't.