Frugal Fridays: Nifty thrifty ideas for 2014

I just read a blog post from a fantastic Budget Blog Teach Me 2 Save all about "Frugal and Fun Ideas For Each Month This Year", that was fantastic, but inspired me to get a little more technical in my own calender, and make plans for around the house goals, and local happenings here in NC for my family this year. If I have a lay out or plan, I can accomplish much more. Even if you don't live in North Carolina, maybe some of these places or ideas correlate to places near you, or your own plans for the year.

January: January is almost over, but this week I will be checking out our local library. I have a feeling that there are still some cold days ahead, and I still have time to pick up a good book, wrap up in a warm blanket,  and sip some (spiked) hot chocolate. The library can save you bundles! Books, for both adults and children, are so expensive, and how many times have you shelled out full price, only to read the book once? The Chatham County Library is a beautiful new addition to central NC, and totally worth checking out! It is a beautiful piece of architecture, and is also a state of the art "green" building.   

February: Valentine's Day plans are to be made this month. I am going to learn a new  recipe to cook for my sweetie, hand make a card, and order any personalized gifts from etsy's handmade market. We will be staying in for the evening and not battling the crowds, but as a special treat I will be picking up one of my husbands favorites, ale in the form of a "growler" at the Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro. 

March: Saint Patrick's day sham-rocks...badumpching! This year we won't be partying it up down in Savannah like years past, and it will be a more family friendly holiday. So why not spend it in the greenest spot near me, the park! There are so many parks near us that I want to visit, but a past favorite that we will visit again this month is Cedar Rock Park . This place offers walking trails, and two disc golf courses, which we greatly enjoy. It is also a historical working farm. This is not a kids park per-say, but our little one is still too small for jungle gyms and the like, so this is perfect for a play, a walk, and a picnic! 

April: The 20th is Easter, and since my little one is still much to small for egg hunting, we will just be observing the other little's on their search at the North Carolina State Zoo in Asheboro. It should be a great time to visit as it is not too cold now, and not super hot either. I will also be focusing on spring cleaning. It will be the perfect time to re-asses the items my son will have outgrown, and get these items ready for our annual yard sale at my mother in law's house in Raleigh. 

May: The flowers should be blooming here in NC and there is no more beautiful place to see this splendor than the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, NC. This is such an amazing display every year of many varieties of plants, and the entire park lay out is like something out of a movie. It is the perfect day to spend on a picnic as a family, and take a zillion pictures. 

June: School is officially over, and with my husband being a teacher, this still makes us feel like kids again! We hope to take our first trip to the ocean as a family this month, and one favorite spot of ours along the NC coast is Kure Beach. It is a family friendly spot where we can get some tasty ice cream, and take a stroll down the pier. If you visit in June there is also significantly less traffic than if you visit this touristy area around Independence day in July. 

July: This year we are going with a large group of family members and getting a beach house down at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. It is a much more private area than other beaches we have visited in the past, and will be a great time for adults and kids alike. Everyone has their own room (and some privacy), it has a large common area and kitchen, and our own little slice of beach heaven. I can't wait! 

August: We will certainly visit more than once, but in the scorching heat of August, Jordan Lake is a fantastic place to play. There are covered pavilions to use, or you can even rent them for the day for a large group if you wish, and it is very affordable. There are plenty of picnic tables and grills in the shade, and many areas to swim or fish (not the same areas though, for safety). The lake itself is very large, and there area many parks and beaches along its shores, depending on what you are up to doing. Check out the link for more info.  

September: Schools starts back up this month, so now is the time to do any last summer activities we may have missed, like visiting the pool, playing some tennis, or a round of golf. I prefer doing any physical activities in the early day or late evening though, so it isn't quite so hot! Since it is a little too hot to go out mid day, we will be visiting an indoor land of wonder called the Greensboro Science Center. This place is a zoo, an aquarium, and museum, all in one! For us, it is perfect, as most of it is inside, in the a/c! 

October: Fall is coming, fall is coming! This month holds our anniversary, and my son's birthday,and one of my favorite act-like-a-kid holiday, all in one. On the first I will pull out all of our Halloween decor, and scatter cute little spookies all over the house, inside and out. I am also looking forward to taking my son to his first pumpkin patch and hay ride! This month is also the time to start pulling out that warm weather gear like our winter coats, hats, gloves, and more. 

November: A month to be thankful! There are so many things I love about November: family, friends, colder weather, baking, eating, and shopping! Let the Christmas shopping begin (though I probably will start a little earlier this year to get the most bang for my buck. We also want to go to an apple orchard for some fresh apples, a pie or three, and some hot cider.

December: I love the cold weather, the hot coco, cookies, the wrapping of presents, the family gathered around, and the excitement in the eyes of little ones. The adults may take a night out to see the Nutcracker in Raleigh sometime this month as well (no link to this year's performance just yet). This month marks the end of a year, and the prospect of what a new year will hold. Don't think about what you will get as gifts, but reflect on the year past (the good and the bad), and set your sites on the future! 

Therapeutic Thursdays: The magic of Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel was a staple in my house growing up, but for a long time I didn't know why. I had no idea until going through massage therapy and then through esthetics school just how many uses there are for this awesome tonic. It grows naturally from Florida all the way up to Canada. It has been used for many years, and even has ties to Native American cultures as a healing agent. You can use it internally (pure only, NOT mixed with isopropyl alcohol), but here I will talk a little about the external benefits. 

Thayers Alcohol Free Witch Hazel

• Top Shelf Toner- I have used many a toner, and this is still one of my favorites. It tightens, clears up oil, and cleans up anything my cleanser may have missed. Just soak a cotton ball and go to town.
• Banisher of Blemishes- If you have a trouble spot...or five, just grab a q-tip and dab it on those spots. Let it dry completely before you move onto your moisturizer. 
• Healer of ...ahem...Hemorrhoids- after having my first child last year I had a bit of a problem in my first week or so home. I used some witch hazel pads (Tucks brand) at first, and then just started using just witch hazel after any "movements".
• Bruise Buster- I have used this many times to help heal bruises, as I am a cluts. Using a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel on a bruise a few times a day will heal it a few days earlier than without.
• Razer Burn Regulator- I use this after every shave on some cotton rounds on my under arm, and bikini area, and it has completely gotten rid of any hint of razer burn, before it even arises!
• Bug Killer...Bug Bites I That Is- This takes the itch right out of any recent bug bite, and it also helps heal it up, and keep it bacteria free in the process. 
• Handy Hand Sanitizer- My massage therapy instructor used her own mixture of witch hazel and essential oils in a spray bottle and used this as her only hand saitizer. Her hands always smelled amazing and were so incredibly soft. 

Working It Out Wednesday: Just starting out

For most people "lose weight" usually makes it onto their new years resolutions list. This is a great idea, but a lot don't even know where to start! Pinterest is a wonderful resource for work out and fitness knowledge these days. They have hundreds of links to YouTube free work outs, daily work out routines, and even weight loss support groups. Even if you can't afford the magazine subscription, you can follow mags on Pinterest such as Women's Health, and Fitness Magazine, or visit their sites directly, for some wonderful tips and tricks. One other fantastic resource that I use A LOT is from Skinny Mom. This site is sheer awesomeness for work out routines, recipes, and other healthy living tips.

Here is a look at my daily work out since having my son 13 weeks ago. I have lost 30 pounds so far, and still have 15 to go, BUT if I can do it with a newborn, you can do it too! I wake up every morning and do this,  to get my blood pumping and get myself motivated. Done right, it will give you more of a jump start than any cup-o-joe!

Stretching
60 second plank (by end of next month I want to be at 90 seconds, and within 2 months, to be at 2 minutes)
50 jumping jacks
40 bicycle crunches
30 bicep curls (sing two 8 lb weights picked up for cheap at Walmart)
20 deep squats
10 push ups (the real ones ladies, you got this!)

This takes me no time at all, it makes me feel fantastic, and gives me a real jump start. I also do the same thing before my shower in the evening.


This is the system I will be starting next month, but the running will be done inside as I have such a small baby that I can't take out to run in this cold weather. I will let you know how it goes!

Trendy Tuesday: Stepping into spring, now and then

Even though we are expecting 6 inches of snow today in central North Carolina, the official first day of spring just around the corner. I thought I would touch on some of this years spring trends, with a bit of a vintage twist. Just because it is trending this year, doesn't mean you can't find great pieces from the past. Spring has in the past meant pastels, and soft colors, but this season it seems to be all about bright and bold, prints and patterns.

The first pictures are from the Pinterest Harpers Bazaar Street Style Spring 2014  board. Below those are some ways of recreating these looks with a vintage fashion twist.




Pictures from Harpers Bazaar:

















Recreate these looks with some of these etsy finds:


Yellow 2 Piece Suit Set $45



Blue and White Stripe Estee Lauder Clutch $22












Red Super-Soft Leather Slouch Jacket $54.99


Black Pleated Skirt $18











1970's Blue Gingham Shirt $28


1960s Avocado Green Wool Pencil Skirt $28.50


Comic Strip Vintage Novelty Fabric Purse $45












Mod White Vintage 60s-70s Dress $25


Vintage 60s Leopard Print Jacket $28












White Collared Blouse $20


Vintage Maglia Fine Leather Skirt $14.99

Work On It Wednesday: Small steps for a woman, giant leaps for organization

This year, one of my goals is to get my house in order. We moved into our new home in early May of 2013, and had our first child in October. Needless to say, I was not super motivated to clean and organize in the middle of summer, as a pregzilla. So I decided to regain some control of my castle, one step at a time. I started with what my husband calls "the spoiled closet" which is the smallest closet in the house and holds my purses, scarves, and shoes.

Thrift and dollar stores are some of my closest friends, and really helped in this project. I spent a total of 8 dollars to kick this project off!

1. I was able to get all of my slip on shoes off the floor with a $5 over the door shoe organizer from the dollar store, BUT instead of hanging the organizer from the back of the door, I hung it from the hang rack itself, which worked perfectly. 

2. Instead of eating up hang bar space with scarves, I used three (awesome pink) hangers that I had on hand, and organized them into three catagories: warm weather, solid colors, and prints/graphic scarves. This helps me accessorize outfits quickly, while holding a squirmy little person on hip.

3. I picked up an awesome hanging organizer from my local thrift shop for $3. It is actually a child clothing organizer from Pottery Barn Kids, but I decided it would work perfectly for my collection of bags. I hung larger bags from shower rings on the hang bar, and smaller bags, or oddly shaped purses tucked into the little cubbies at the bottom of the hanging organizer. All of my wallets are tucked into some pockets at the size of the organizer.

4. As a "for now fix" I organized all of our cold weather hats and gloves into two plastic bags: his and hers. I then hung those bags from shower rings on the hang rack. 

This all took about 30 minutes to do, and opened up A LOT of room on the floor and high shelves.  Now I am on the lookout for a way to get all of my boots up off the floor. 

       Before organizing scarves                                             After organizing scarves

                          

After organizing purses (I got too excited about this project and forgot to take my before shot)

What tips do you have for your closet organizing?

Make-Up Monday: A pretty face, doesn't have to cost a pretty penny

There are SOOOO many make-up products out there. According to an InStyle.com article from 2013, women spend an average of $15,000 on make-up in their lifetime. This estimate doesn't even mention all the other money we spend on the various other beauty products like cleaners, moisturizers, tonics, and more (but we will save that for another post).

A couple of years ago I stumbled upon E.L.F. or Eyes Lips Face products. This label had caught my eye before at discount and big box stores, but to my amazement and delight, those in store products are only the tip of the iceberg of what E.L.F. offers on their website. This company offers not only VERY affordable, but also very nice quality cosmetics, and most of their products are non-comedogenic (meaning they won't clog pores). Side note: they also have fantastic brushes!

As a licensed esthetician and make-up artist some people are surprised to know that the majority of my personal use and even much of my professional use cosmetics are E.L.F. brand. Don't get me wrong, there are many other great cosmetic lines out there that I also love, but this would be a LOOONNNNNGGGG post if we got into all that, so here are some take-it, and leave-it reviews of a few E.L.F. products.

Take-It:

Mineral Face Cleanser
This stuff rocks! It is a powder that you just add water too and it suds right up into a fantastic face cleanser. It is also chock full of fantastic ingredients like aloe, jojoba, green tea, and vitamin E.

Mineral Concealer
I have tried many different mineral brands, and even though this line is a fraction of the cost of most, I actually like it best! It also has an SPF of 15. Sun protection is always a welcome bonus.

Mineral Foundation
Same as above with the concealer. I always recommend using the foundation first, and then the concealer to, well, conceal anything other areas that may need it. This stuff has even helped heal the occasional break out for me. The best way to apply it is with the this kabuki brush...which I use daily and love! Because they are so affordable, I recommend buying two, so you have one when the other is maybe wet from washing.

Flawless Finish Full Coverage Foundation
This stuff is fantastic for a night out on the town, or an event where you may want more of a full coverage than you may get from a mineral make-up. Apply it with this foundation brush and then pat into the skin with clean fingers in hard to reach places like around the eye, in crease of chin, and around the nose.

Eye Shadow Pallet
I can say that I didn't expect much from these pallets because of the $1 price tag, but boy was I wrong. I love all of the e.l.f. brand shadows, but these are great for your everyday wear. Because of the price tag, get one in every color! Not a fan of the applicator, as I prefer to use a brush.

Contouring Blush and Bronzer
I use this on a daily basis along side the mineral foundation and concealer. Use the bronzer just under your cheek bones, and the blush on the apples of your cheek, and cheek bone. Then blend with a large brush (one you only use for blending).

Leave It:

Mineral Natural Volumizing Mascara
This just wasn't a favorite. I didn't think it gave much "volume" to my lashes, and it seemed to flake. Some other users swear by it, and for the price, try it. If you love it, great! If you don't, you aren't out much.

Lotion Wipes
Okay, so these don't fall under the category of "make-up" but honestly there isn't much in their make-up that I wouldn't recommend. These smell great and there are many different kinds to choose from. Maybe if I didn't have desert dry skin they would have worked better for me. These would be great for travel I think, but for daily use, I say pass this one by. Again, just opinions.

What make-up product do you never leave home without?

*all pictures used were from the e.l.f. website