I went in on a Friday, the day of the week that happens to have a 50% off sale on all clothes and jewelry. Woo hoo!

I found a couple of cute pairs of shoes, including the ones above from Carlos Santana and the ones below from Etienne Aigner.  Both were about $17 at full price.

I think my favorite clothing find was this security guard jacket.

And finally, I scoped out their jewelry and accessories.  I was surprised to find some fancy jewelry in addition to the costume jewelry.

Not needing anything fancy, I settled on this brooch for $3.

Pretty cute, huh? If you are in the DC area, definitely check out NAMI’s thrift shop. It’s a non profit grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults living with mental illnesses so you will be shopping for a good cause!

Even when I don’t have any moolah for shopping, it’s fun to walk around and play dress up.

I think H&M has the best selection of affordable accessories.

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Their clothes are really cute too. They had a ton of tutu skirts when I was there. I actually recognized a couple of them from So You Think You Can Dance.

I have been noticing that some of their clothes are getting more expensive though. But here’s a little tip – check out the boys (as in youth) section. You can find some great shirts, hoodies, and jackets for next to nothing.  I found this hoodie for only $15!

You know me, always finding ways to save…even at already affordable stores!

Are you a fan of H&M?

With Black Friday coming up, deal hunting is on the brain and boy, did I find a deal!  I found this site Yoco and I don’t think anything on it costs more that $25. Even I can afford it!

From yocofashion.com

It’s a boho chic collection that is to die for.

From yocofashion.com

The only catch is that the company is based in West Malaysia, so I’m a little weary about ordering from them.  Anyone ever ordered from a company like this?

From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

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From yocofashion.com

Cute or what? Should I risk it and order something (some of this stuff os only $6!)?

From perfectstrap.com

You can get the same result by clipping a safety pin around your straps, which is what I’ve been using for years.

2. The Snuggie

C’ mon people! You have a blanket and a bathrobe. Do you really need a hybrid of the two?

3. Shoes That Get You in Shape

From sketchers.com

Any “quick and easy” fix to get in shape is too good to be true. Instead of spending $100 + on a pair of these, use your regular tennis shoes and play soccer with your friends or go for a run!

4. The Kindle

From mclibrary.duke.edu

Technology is great, but there is something special about holding a real book.  With your stories in a Kindle, you can’t underline your favorite lines, trade with friends, or keep an actual library. Plus at $259, is it really worth it?

5. The Cookie Diet

As I said before, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Losing 10 pounds in a week by eating only cookies may seem great, but you can’t live on those expensive diet cookies forever.  ($60 a week?! That’s a pair of cute shoes!) Sorry to break it to you, but the only way to lose weight and keep it off forever is to make a lifestyle change.  No “magic” $60 cookies needed.  

Here is my “before” picture.  Though I stopped biting my nails, they aren’t completely grown out yet.

I decided to test out these black tipped frenchies.

Since I’m not used to having long nails, I tried the short term stick on adhesive as opposed to the glue, which lasts for up to 10 days.  The adhesive was surprisingly simple to apply. Once I placed the tabs on my nails, I easily pealed off the backing before applying the nails.

And after about 2 minutes, I had a fancy schmancy french manicure!

There were tons of different sizes in the package, so I was able to select the ones that fit seamlessly into my nail plate.

These babies stayed on all day and came off only after I soaked my hands in warm water for about 10 minutes. Best of all, they didn’t cause any damage to my real nails so I can continue to grow them out.

I definitely recommend Fing’rs for girls who like to have fun and fancy nail designs. You can change them around as often as you like and at about $6 a package, they are way cheaper than going to a nail salon!

Ok girls, how many of you have been home on a Friday night with nothing to do? Yes we have all been there but instead of wallowing away in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s why don’t we save the calories from our thighs and put them to good use…on our face!

I have listed some at home beauty remedies that you will do wonders for your skin and taste great too!!!

Egg White Mask (all skin types..soothes and moisturizes the skin)

2 tablespoons of unflavored yogurt (whole milk is best)
2 egg whites (don’t forget to separate from the yolk)

Mix ingredients together and apply to the neck and face. Leave on for 5-10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Avocado Mask (dry skin…moisturizes dehydrated skin)

1 whole avocado
1 tablespoon of olive oil

Combine the 2 ingredients to make a paste and apply to the face. Leave on for 30 minutes and then gently wash off with a warm washcloth

Cleansing Mask (perfect for younger skin..evens skin tone and deep cleans)

1 tablespoon Brewer’s Yeast
½ cup of unflavored Yogurt
1 tablespoon of Honey

Early in the morning mix the yogurt and the yeast and store in the refrigerator. That night mix in the honey and apply to the face. Leave on for 30 minutes and then rinse with warm water and then pat with a washcloth and cool water.

These masks work wonders for the skin and are very friendly on the wallet. You can even make a body scrub by adding sugar to your favorite body wash…it’s that simple!

Now if you have sensitive or problematic skin you might want to talk to your dermatologist before doing any skin care regime. Also if you are prone to allergies it’s probably best to not try these without permission from your doctor.

Let me know how it works out…good luck girls!!!!

If there is a make-up or hair topic you would like to read about on Prom Mafia please let me know!!!

Until next time…

Xoxoxoxoxo

Miss Mascara

I’m a big fan of the glitter shoes. I think they would look fabulous with a fun dress for homecoming!

They are just as cute, only less expensive.  Plus, they are TOMS so every pair you purchase allows a child in need to get pair too.

TOMS also has a line of Tiny TOMS for your little brothers and sisters.

Awwww….so cute! But way too small for you and me.

What do you think of TOMS’ new shoes?

]]> http://prommafia.com/2009/10/toms-kids-shoes/feed/ 9 http://prommafia.com/2009/10/macys-under-30/ http://prommafia.com/2009/10/macys-under-30/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:18:33 +0000 Queen Bee http://prommafia.com/?p=3613 I have a $30 gift certificate to Macy’s burning a hole in my wallet.  That may not sound like an impressive amount, but I’ve found some cute possible purchases.

Betsey Johnson Heart Earrings – $30.00

From macys.com

Rocket Dog “Memories” Flats – $29.99

From macys.com

6 Degrees Ruched Lace Dress – $29.99

From macys.com

American Rag Bias Plaid Dress – $29.40

From macys.com

Style & Co. Dome Clutch – $29.99

From macys.com

I’m leaning toward the Betsey Johnson earrings. Which do you like best?

• My biggest cheap style tip is to buy trendy clothes that you’ll only wear for a season at some place like forever 21, where they are cheap. Invest more on basics that you’ll have forever and accessories that can be worn with everything. Also, shop from the back of the store forward. They hide the good sales in the back. – Kimberly
• One thing that I have learned is to be picky while shopping. Whatever the trendy look may be, it’s not always for you. You’ll feel better about yourself when you only buy thing you genuinely like, and you’ll save money you otherwise would have wasted buying into trends. – Dominique
• My best tip would be to add only items that you can wear with at least 3 items already in your wardrobe, and to spend only small amounts on trends, generally accessories are the most cost effective method to update a look quickly and inexpensively. – Marjorie W.
• I’d say my best budget style idea is shop your own closet! It’s amazing if you look in the deep dark corners of your closet what you might find. And think about different ways you can wear older clothes, or things you can pair them with to make them fresh. – Jessica
• I subscribe to emails from all the stores I like, and that way I receive lots of discounts and notifications about free shipping and things like that. Helps to save some money! – Breadwinner
• Style tip: spend the money on things that you need for a long time, like a jacket. For t-shirts, you can go a lot cheaper. And always try and purchase expensive items that are classic looking rather than trendy. – Catherine
• I search for coupon codes through retailmenot.com as well as using my Lucky Mag Rewards program. Double savings! – Bree
• My favorite tip for shopping on a budget is to buy really basic things, like t-shirts, from places like Target or Forever 21. They are really good quality and you can buy them in bulk! – Lizzie
• Restyle, restyle, restyle. For example, I have a lot of ankle-length skirts that I never wear anymore… Lately, I’ve been hiking them up and wearing them as dresses. Boho chic for free! – Mar
• My best tip is to shop all the final final sales. I get shoes at under $30. By volunteering at a church clothing store I get over 80 percent of my clothes for free for me and my family. That’s the biggest help. – Marion G.

Thanks to everyone who entered! For more budget styling tips, check out the other entries.

You can pair summer dresses with leggings, jeans, and sweaters to warm them up. Same thing goes for your long tanks.

By adding thick knits to your outfit, almost anything can look appropriate for fall.  So before you go out and buy a bunch of new tops for fall, take a look at what you’ve already got hanging in your closet.