A Day of Thanks

I don't know about all of you but today, I bake (and arrange table centerpieces).
Happy Thanksgiving, budgetista's!

DIY Starbucks Glitter Cup

It's almost time for the holidays and I'm getting in the spirit with this very simple DIY project that I have been dying to try. As a year-round iced coffee drinker, I've owned this clear cup for awhile now but I am always looking for a more stylish way to keep my hands warm and carry coffee during those chilly months. When I originally saw a picture of these amazing glitter Starbucks tumblers on Pinterest, I knew I had to make one and I love the way it turned out. If you want to recreate this great project yourself, just follow the easy steps and DIY "necessary items" list below!

{all from Michaels for $12.96} gold flake glitter (similar here) / tacky glue / mini gold glitter for any "fill" areas / brush

{DIY} Glitter Cup in 6 Simple Steps

{Step 1} purchase an acrylic cold cup tumbler from Starbucks (must be the kind with two detachable cups)

{Step 2} add glue around the outer portion of the inside cup & start pouring the glitter around those glued areas
{Step 3} continue the process above until the entire cup is covered

{Step 4} fill in any gaps with the smaller gold glitter so the entire cup is covered

{Step 5} let the cup dry in a place where it won't be bumped our moved

{Step 6} lastly, glue the two cups together by adding tacky glue around the portion where it screws closed

Real vs. Deal: Transport Tote

You have likely already spotted this Madewell transport tote on the blog many times (last seen here) because it's one of my most prized style possessions. I wear this bag everywhere and with everything but purchasing it wasn't easy on a budgetista like myself because of the $168 price tag. That's why when I came across this twin to the Madewell version, I knew I had to share it. Mod Cloth's inside-haute bag is so similar in appearance that you might not even be able to tell them apart and still has the great rustic appeal that the transport tote exudes. For only $59.99, you really can't go wrong and this is a bag you will use forever (or for as long as it lasts)....enjoy!

The Look for Less: Frends Headphones

 

images thanks to Welcome to Legs and Pinterest

If you like music as much as I do, you understand the importance of good headphones and for that reason, I adore these amazing metallic version from Frends. I love how they are bulky and cover the entire ear but most importantly, the gold metallic just makes a huge style statement. I really covet the Taylor gold ones but whether it's those, the Layla rose gold or any other version, for that matter, I would treat them like an expensive dress that garners it's own corner of the closet. They are a simple and attractive way to listen to music but each also comes with a hefty price tag of close to $199. I need to own these and at some point, I might be lucky enough to but until that time, I've managed to uncover a few more affordably chic options that everyone can splurge on....enjoy!

1. Asos $32.04 / 2. Forever 21 $19.80 / 3. Yoox $75

The Look for Less: Leather

{inspiration images from pinterest}

We all love seeing what celebrities are wearing and with their endless budgets to purchase fantastic-looking wardrobes, they manage to always look chic but the truth is, that just isn't realistic for everyone. Leather pleated skirts have become a style staple lately and whether they are worn casually or for a glamorous night out, each option gives a natural edge for your everyday look. The inspiration above gives a great taste to how a leather skirt can be worn while the look for less gets you the fashion you crave for a fraction of the price.

 1.  H&M $29.95 / 2. Sheinside $21.97 / 3. Asos $32.04 / 4. ChicWish $33.92 / 5. H&M $24.95

Real vs. Deal

Plaid is in! I am loving this tartan pant look with a loose blouse for work or more casually for the weekend with a white tshirt and military jacket. Every fashion power house has a version of these pants for fall each with small and subtle differences in look and price for your own personal style. However you wear them, these pants are fantastic and can certainly be a cheap steal if you find the right ones. I've looked through many options and fell in love with the TopShop Tartan Cigarette Pants featured on Polyvore but found a more affordable and almost identical pant from H&M for just $24.95. Will you go for real or the deal?

Mini S'more Pies

Looking for an easy Sunday baking project? Look no further because this is it! I ran into these great like Keebler mini graham pie shells while grocery shopping and couldn't resist the urge to get them despite not having any gathering in the near future to bake them for. I wasn't quite sure what I would use them for until I realized we still had marshmallows from making s'mores over the summer and that's when a light bulb went off. S'more pies, quite simply, are a bakers dream because they are simple to make and they taste fantastic. I followed this simple recipe from Iowa Girl Eats but made a few addendum's including using chocolate chips as opposed to Nestle bars and for the topping, I mixed chocolate syrup with the chips, honey and fall themed sprinkles to add a festive touch.

Real vs. Deal

I fell madly in love with this Combination dress when I saw it online for the Fall at Zara. I loved the light fabric and color blocking not to mention the cobalt and black together. This just isn't an every day dress and it's appeal is that it's a look for all seasons since it can easily be worn in the summer with sandals, fall with flats or the winter with tights and boots. Sadly enough, I ordered a size too small myself and couldn't exchange the dress because it was so popular that it sold out. Not to worry though because my fashion fail is your gain in the form of this almost IDENTICAL Black Contrast Dress from Sheinside that took me months to find. For only $23, this is beyond worth the purchase and the perfect deal!

Falling into Fall

The weather might suggest otherwise but I am still wearing flats and my favorite pink ones at that (last seen here). I paired them with cropped black pants from Jcrew factory to make the perfect fall outfit!

Halloween Inspiration

I really love Halloween. I like thinking of a unique costume to wear but even more than that, I love conceptualizing how to creatively and minimally decorate around me. Sure, the normal pumpkin cutout can be seen hanging from the majority of windows on the street and fake webbing in each of the neighboring trees but I like a more DIY approach with interesting ideas that will have everyone stopping to admire and friends asking "where did you get that?" Here is some great inspiration on how to do Halloween the right way, stylishly and on a budget, of course!

FOR THE HOUSE

     FOR THE OUTSIDE

FOR YOU

Homemade Soft Pretzels

 

After talking about doing this for quite some time, I finally made homemade soft pretzels last night. I didn't believe the hype about how easy they were to make but I followed this easy recipe and it only took 30 minutes to prepare and bake these great snacks. To mix it up, I made mini versions and paired them with a vegetarian curry soup similar to this one as a substitute for naan. They were a huge hit and I will definitely be making them again!

 

warm water, yeast, sugar and salt when mixed together

mixed and kneaded pretzel dough ready for rolling

 one finished roll (should be about 18'' long) about to be dipped in egg and formed into a pretzel shape

 

pretzel dough already formed, sprinkled with sea salt and ready to be cooked

baked soft pretzels right out of the oven

 

paired with a hot bowl of curry soup, perfect for fall, and ready for dipping! 

DIY Boxwood Wreath

I love the look of a boxwood wreath! Whether it's more shaped and proper or rustic and messy looking, they always look chic. Since a preserved or fresh boxwood version can set you back anywhere from $60-$100, I decided to recreate a faux DIY wreath myself using supplies from Hobby Lobby and I only spent $37! Although it might not be the real deal, a fake wreath is more ideal for me since my front door isn't shaded but even more importantly, I won't have to buy another one next year. Here's what you'll need to get the look for less (some items I used were not online so I added a link to similar versions) and a breakdown of what you can expect to pay.

14'' Wreath $4.99/ Faux Boxwood stems $5.99 each/ Burlap Ribbon $4.99/ Floral Wire $2.99

WHAT TO DO

First, get your area ready by putting your wreath down on an old blanket or plastic bag for easy clean up (I used an old blanket at first but the wreath was too messy so I put a bag down underneath it instead) and line your faux boxwood stems up being careful not to get them tangled with each other

  

Next, start threading just the stems of your boxwood into the wreath on each of the four sides aiming for the middle (as much as possible) of the sides of the wreath. You can push the stems as far down as possible but be sure the bottoms aren't sticking out anywhere. If you have a few that are, just keep threading them through

Once each stem is threaded, your wreath should look something like this (above)

        

Next, just use the green floral wire to secure the various boxwood buds around the wreath while working them into the twigs and letting some hang out for that desired "rustic" look. I only really secured the major areas that were the heaviest and a few wispy strands but it all depends on what you want it to look like

This is what my wreath looked like after working the various boxwood strands into the twig form for about 15 minutes. I can't stress enough how EASY it is to make this on your own...all you need is patience!

   

 I couldn't make a decision about the burlap so here my wreath is with and without a bow!

  and finally, the finished product!

Treat Your Feet

Pink isn't just for the summertime and an easy way to transition your wardrobe into fall without feeling dreary is by wearing a pop of color somewhere easy, like your feet! I fell in love with all of the pink-toed shoe inspiration below but I decided to scour online to find some more affordable options to sport before my boots come out of hiding.

 Pop of Pink
The Inspiration

Shoes (all sold out): Anne Taylor/ Kate Spade (similar here)/ Carven

Pop of Pink
The Look for Less

 ThreadSence Sincerely Me Flats - $40

Yosi Samra Two Tone Flat - $49

Put a Ring on It

JewelMint has some fantastic rings available right now. Many are replicas of more expensive versions so as you might imagine, they are right up my alley. Below are a few of my current obsessions and they are running a promotion for 20% off the entire site this week using the code YOUSAVE20. The timing couldn't be better so go add some rings to your collection and dress up those fingers with JewelMint's finest.

Flirty Flare

I fell in love with this sold out Tibi Neoprene Sleeveless Flare Dress the minute I saw it on the oh-so-stylish Blair from Atlantic-Pacific. It can be dressed up when worn separately to a party, dressed down with a simple sweater over top or even worn to work with a blazer and boots in the fall. The budgetista in me had to have it but with a price tag of $681, it not being on Ebay and the fact that I couldn't find it anywhere for less than half price, I decided to look for alternative yet similar options instead. Here's what I found!

{THE INSPIRATION}

one dress, four ways to wear it: style inspiration thanks to Atlantic-Pacific

{THE LOOK FOR LESS}

        Neoprene Dress (sold out but on RTR for $85)                 Jersey Dress                            Sleeveless Dress

Into the Mystic

All great vacations must come to an end and there is nothing like coming home but as we crossed the Maryland state line earlier today, I missed more than ever that lovely something about not being able to predict the day-to-day weather. I knew we would get "muggy" back in Baltimore but unlike other vacation spots, an overcast morning in Maine never makes me feel like reading on the couch all day means missing out on something spectacular. I love almost not being able to see the water because of the thick fog, which means I know I have some time to relax before the sun peeks out and in the meantime, I get to listen to the fog horns of each passing boat. We had a lot of those overcast days during our vacation so this, in a recap, is a tiny portion of what I wore when I wasn't in my most comfortable sweats and over sized sweaters.

{ICED COFFEE RUN}

Jcrew Orange Sweatshirt $45 (old), Old Navy Jean shorts $7.97, Sperry 2-Eye Boat Shoes $59.99, Madewell Transport Tote (seen here), Old Navy Jacket (old but similar here)

foggy morning view

{MIXING IT UP}

1. {WEDDING} LuLu's Chevron Dress $46, Impo Wedges from DSW (old but similar here)

2. {INTO TOWN} Joe's Cropped Jeans $152, SheInside Blouse $30.95, Madewell Transport Tote (seen above), Old Navy Sandals $7.97, Ray Ban Aviators $144.95, G.E.T. Anorak Rain Coat $37.99, Walgreens Headband