Archive for Life - Styles

Gym Clothes For Less – a Lot Less

{ September 9, 2008 @ 11:36 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Slim - Styles }
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If you have eyes for Nike on a Wal-Mart budget, there’s no need to sacrifice your gym style (and comfort) for a little savings in your budget. Browsing through Wal-Mart for a few essentials, I discovered that they carry Danskin, Hanes, and Athletic Works-brand workout attire. These shirts range from $3 dollars to about $10 and fit perfectly, even after washing and drying these shirts. Shoppers have the option of a variety of colors and patterns. 

My top picks?  

 

WalMart.com

Source: WalMart.com $5

 

 

WalMart.com

Source: WalMart.com $6

 

 

WalMart.com $9

Source: WalMart.com $9

 

 

Shopping is fun, once again!

Fashion Should be Fun on Any Budget

{ September 9, 2008 @ 11:24 am } · { Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Nearing 25, that old saying “once one friend gets engaged, it all goes downhill from here,” comes to life. While I’m not exactly sure that’s a real saying, I do believe that it’s true–to an extent. So, in that respect, I have a handful of engagement parties and weddings on my schedule for later this year into 2009. I will of course let you follow me on my journey through the joys of dress and gift shopping on a budget, but following my first rule, I wanted to revisit my last purchase for a wedding I attended in August. 

I’m a big believer in hitting the ‘net before venturing out into the jungles of shopping, especially when it comes to dresses. This gives me a better idea of typical prices and the latest in styles, helping me to be prepared while in the store. I hate not knowing what I’m looking for. This particular dress that I found at Mandee was originally priced for $49 – a black satin, rouched spaghetti-strap dressed. The ideal “little black dress” with flair. I hesitated before making my purchase, but the moment my coworker got engaged, I headed back to the store where it was on sale – half off. Today I’m happy to report that in my search for a new dress, I found the exact dress, but by designer Nicole Miller, selling for $330! Just knowing that I saved that much on a dress I’d probably only wear once or twice anyway, makes this twenty-something very thankful for stores like Mandee!

3 Places Where Loyalty Pays Off in Your 20’s

{ September 8, 2008 @ 8:51 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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In your twenties, judging by our less-than-desirable-budgets, many might overlook themselves as likely candidates to become “regulars” at select establishments (other than local bars) to reap in some added benefits at times when we don’t feel as luxurious as we’d like. Long story short? Being loyal pays off. Here’s what I found:

1. The Local Nail Salon. Sure it may be seen as an unnecessary luxury as we pamper ourselves on a weekly basis, but by contributing our $10 (plus tip) weekly manicure on a regular basis, the salon owner and their dedicated manicurists appreciate it and can offer some convenience and added pampering in their appreciation.

My local salon is within walking distance from my office so we’re pretty much all on a first-name basis, the moment I walk into the door. I typically go during my lunch break on either Thursdays or Fridays, in preparation of the weekend and to help pass the after hours til ‘clockin out. It’s come to the point where they anticipate my arrival. My loyalty has become so predictable that they also pretty much know when I’m due for an eyebrow wax. So…besides being on a first-name basis, how does this help? While it doesn’t pay off financially, it helps save me time. They hate to see their regulars sitting and waiting, so they’ll make sure you get squeezed in and are kept accommodated. What’s more, if you’re a fan of the nail-drying back massages, they will also make sure you have yours. 

2. The Local Deli. There’s a corner deli also located near my office and they, too, appreciate their regulars. While they still have not caught on to my first name, they do remember the way I like my turkey, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato — half meat. Now that they’ve memorized my order, they’re sure not to charge me the extra 50 cents as they would if they didn’t know I wanted half meat. 

3. Your Morning Coffee. In the summers, I’m guilty of stopping by Dunkin Donuts for iced coffees and in the winters I trade my time between Dunkin caramel lite lattes and Starbuck’s chai tea lattes, but for the most part, my loyalty is understood at Dunkies. My obsession got to the point that I’d walk into the door and the sales associate would have my medium iced coffee with skim milk sitting on the counter, simply waiting for me to pay. Again, this may not save great dollars, it does save me time — which, at 24, is sometimes more valuable! 

Where are you taking advantage of our loyal habits?

Generation Broke

{ July 31, 2008 @ 10:31 pm } · { Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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Nearing the end of completing my Masters (in Journalism), I’ve come to a few financial stumbling blocks. While it feels amazing to be 1,000 words shy of my required Capstone article wordcount, it was brought to my attention that I needed to pay tuition…out of my own pocket. While I understand many students typically have leftover financial aid from the previous year to cover the summer, this was not the case. And I have to wonder, am I alone in this struggle? Nearing my mid-twenties now, how will I ever be able to save enough money to own a home? Paying my undergrad loans, for my car, and other expenses, I’m on a mission to stay afloat and get ahead. So, while I had initially planned to include money saving tips in my blog – please look forward to an increased mission to do so! And I want to hear ways that you, too, are struggling and succeeding all at the same time. Because in all reality, while we are a generation of technology and opportunity, we’re also a generation that’s broke. Well, some of us any way! Stay tuned!

Girly Bargains

{ May 2, 2008 @ 1:30 pm } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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I have been using Secret Deodorant for as long as I can remember. Starting out with Powder Fresh, I graduated to Spring Breeze and became a devoted user, even following the scent to its Platinum Protection classification. Well my friends, I can no longer find the scent and after months (seriously) of experimenting with others and even defaulting back to Powder Fresh and Unscented, I’ve found a close second. With its summer fresh scent, I thought I’d spread the word about “Dove Go Fresh” in the Cucumber & Green Tea scent. Averaging at the same cost of my Secret deodorant, you can stay dry without breaking the budget or stressing about white streaks!

 

It Can Be Easy Going Green

{ May 1, 2008 @ 12:37 pm } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles }
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It should be an easy concept. Although we grew up as Kermit the Frog fans, singing along to “It’s not easy being green,” things have changed. Not only is it easy, it’s time. It’s as easy as reconsidering your day-to-day activities.

The grocery store. You have your deli meat, your weekly dose of vegetables, and maybe a bottle of wine or soda. But when you get to the checkout, the answer to paper or plastic should be a given. Neither.

There is an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags consumed worldwide. These non-biodegradable plastic bags end up as litter, wind blown into the ocean, and kill turtles and whales that mistake the bags for food.

The latest in trendy stores like Whole Foods and other organic hot-spots, is to BYOB (a.k.a bring your own bag). Specific websites have even been organized with plenty of Earth-friendly fashions to choose from if khaki just isn’t your color. It only gets better from there—many stores today offer a bonus—cash. A reimbursement for bringing your own bag—and helping to save the planet. 

The gas station…or not. How many times have you stopped to pump gas and while you’re on your way towards ‘full,’ you throw out extraneous water bottles. These are the same water bottles that have been rolling around in your backseat floor for a week now. While I personally believe that there should be a law mandating that for every garbage can, there’s a recycling bin right next to it, it hasn’t come into play yet.  So keep one of those canvas bags in your trunk to organize your recyclables until your next run-in with a recycling bin—most likely at your home.

Greening nine-to-five. Similar to my mandate proposal, there should be the blue pail option near every garbage or paper distributor as well in the office. Copying machine? Recycling bin. Printer? Recycling bin. Or better yet, stop printing. Unless you actually have to bring something somewhere that doesn’t have an accessible computer, there’s no need to waste the paper. Either keep it on your screen or e-mail to whomever you need to show.  It can be easy going green.

Seeing the light. According to CBS, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs. What’s more, you save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each environmentally-friendly bulb’s lifetime.  And hey, you also need to recycle them once they’ve shone their last light at cool places like IKEA.  

Teaming up with Fido. Yes, Fido can help save the planet too! And best of all, it’s good for him! Earth-friendly pet-care products are also pet friendly. Check out alcohol and pesticide-free grooming products and when you’re done attempting to bathe your pooch, treat him to toys made with organically grown cotton or natural dyes. These products also help reduce pet allergies and are biodegradable. 

Although you’re allowed to keep your pal Kermit high up on his pedestal, it’s time to face 2008. Everyone’s talking about it, so it’s time to show them how easy it actually can be.

Please consider the environment before printing this column.

Something to leave out of your ‘budget’ – toilet paper

{ April 11, 2008 @ 2:29 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Wallet - Styles }
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There’s something to be said about a good roll of toilet paper. While I understand many of us are going green and trying to cut back on the paper use, toilet paper quality should NOT be sacrificed. And when you make your detailed grocery list that complies with your budget to the penny, no matter what your budget is, do not spare any expense for the good, soft stuff.

As a woman, I’m sure you can relate to finding yourself in the most compromising situations when it comes to using the restroom and staying lady-like. Ever been camping? To a less-than-classy bar?

Let’s begin with a 1-ply-supplied restroom when you’re paying $20,000 per year to use it. Yes, I’m talking about the restrooms at Quinnipiac University. All semester long, I’ve become aquainted with the mad-dash to the women’s room. After 45 minutes in traffic on the Merrit and a medium hot caramel latte, it catches up with you—only to be disappointed with a rip. Another rip. And a rip again.

Doing a little dance, I rip and rip again trying to get enough toilet paper out of the dispenser to cover the seat. Perhaps, the easiest solution would be to invest in toilet seat covers, although, once we were seated, we women would still need to battle the toilet paper dispenser for other reasons.

And then there’s the restroom at the office. Between 20 or so women, you’d think we’d all have the common decency to not leave the roll empty with a torn slice of toilet paper waiting only for the disappoinment of clearly not being enough.

Or better yet, one of the most aggravating of situations a woman in need of relieving herself can find, yes, herself in is when the preceding woman so gratiously left a new roll of toilet paper, but on top of the existing bare-naked carbboard roll. What’s so hard about changing the roll? You already unwrapped it…are you afraid of not being able to get the expandable dispenser back in it’s slot?

But by far, the best of toilet paper situations I’ve been in will surprise you, especially when I reveal the simple detail that yes, ladies, it was at a bar! Complain no more about bars not considering women’s needs when it comes to the powder room. The Gingerman in South Norwalk, CT got it right. Sure they have just about every beer under the sun on tap. So what happens after those beers catch up with you? Not only is it supplied with quality toilet paper…they went ahead and thought of the true needs of a woman. They conveniently have two dispensers. One up high for when you’re covering the seat to protect your bottom (just in case the squat fails). And the other, waist-high for when your seated (or squatted) and wish to clean up.

Now that’s thinking!

What’s the big deal about hobbies, anyway?

{ April 11, 2008 @ 2:19 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Work - Styles }
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Lately I’ve been having sort of an identity crisis when it comes to my life as a professional. While I’m finishing up my Masters and most people would understand that it takes up a fair amount of “spare” time, I have a hard time finding an answer when someone, dressed in a suit asks, “What are your hobbies?”

For those of you lucky enough to stick to a high school, or even middle school talent or pass-time, I cannot say the same. And so, I’ve given up on thinking “going to the gym” is some sort of hobby.

While I could rephrase it as an “avid runner” or “fitness enthusiast” — let’s be serious. I have no other option than to yes, find a true hobby.

Reading is always fun. I’m a big fan of Fitness magazine, but I’m stumped once someone pries me further to say “You’re a reader, too? Who’s your favorite author?” Great question. I have no idea. Would I still sound ‘professional’ if I divulged that I’m a big fan of Plum Sykes’ Bergdorff Blondes or Emily Griffin’s Something Borrowed (and while I’m at it…) Something Blue? With no intentions of reading Moby Dick for recreational purposes any time soon, I’m again at a loss.

I didn’t stick to Yoga.

Pilates has potential.

But to me, I have to be passionate about a hobby.

Yesterday, it all clicked.

Spinning is all the rage at gyms across the country (or at least in the Northeast) and boy does it kick your butt–literally! But through all my years taking classes at the gym, I’ve never experienced a high like spinning. 

I went with some of my girl friends from work and we had a blast. I can’t tell you the last time I was smiling through an intense workout unless I was laughing at a rerun of a Bravo show while I pass the time away on the cardio machines. I smiled just about the entire ride in all positions…

spinning_1_gallerylargecrop.jpg

Ladies and gentleman, do not fear the leg soreness you will feel the next day. Do not fear the amount of sweat that will drip from your body. Do not reconsider reserving your spot since the classes fill up so quickly. Leave the thong at home, grab a towel or two, and hop on the bike. And yes, do not fear sitting up front near the instructor. He/She will keep you going. (And really, do you have the guts to give up and walk out when you’re sitting in the front of the class?) Between the pumping playlists and feeling of proudness for yourself, you can’t help but to smile. 

And now, I’ve found my hobby! What’s yours?

 

Tales from the Elliptical

{ April 11, 2008 @ 1:57 am } · { All - Styles, Life - Styles, Slim - Styles }
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Preparing myself for a hard-earned cruise in May, I’ve been spending some quality time at the gym, and so, this post is dedicated to the ones who got away with collectively ruining my workout today at the gym.

For anyone who’s ever stepped foot into a local gym or fitness club, it’s a given that a few simple common discourtesies can turn a stress reducing sweat session into a hairs-on-the-neck raising experience. 

Most gyms have their basic sets of rules. Clean off the equipment after use. Do not exceed 30 minutes on cardio machines. Guests must be signed in upon arrival. Apparently these clubs assume the rest of the rules are implied.

It’s time for a new set of universal rules for those who need a friendly reminder.

My daily routine typically begins with the elliptical machine. All of the sudden, the person next to me let out an alarming sound mid-stride. I almost lost my footing. And it continued. After shooting a few bewildered looks in his direction, he was truly that clueless.  He kept on his merry way. 

Another gentleman saddled up on the other side of me. This was a rock-band drummer wannabe, using the elliptical as his drumming apparatus.  He, too, joined in on the sound effects—singing to the beat of his drumming. Lucky for these guys, this wasn’t Planet Fitness, so they didn’t risk getting the boot for extraneous noises. Rule #1 is to keep personal noises to a minimum.

Defeated, I stepped down from the elliptical and of course wiped it off.

The weights area of my gym is fairly big. And while others are just like me in terms of getting in and out of the gym, there’s no need to put the pressure on others to follow suit. An anxious woman proceeded to stand above me. But there I sat, helpless, and rushed through my last set to please the princess.  Rule number 2 – obey personal space.

And men are guilty too, although, they have other intentions rather than trying to hop on the machine.

There’s nothing more awkward than ignoring the fact that you had just been gawked at as you completed your sit-ups. Rule number 3 – please don’t hit on others as they work out.

It’s no surprise, however, that some guys feel women want this. Judging by a few workout outfit choices, that is. I can’t see how it’s really all that comfortable working out in a bra. It makes me cringe thinking about someone letting their sweaty stomach touch the previously sweaty yoga mat below them. Rule number 4 – rethink your wardrobe.

Again, men, too. Sneakers must be warn and, please, leave the cologne at home. We all are sweating. Deodorant should suffice. 

And for one last new rule proposal,  I pride myself on being a regular at the gym, knowing the in’s and out’s of the machines. So don’t assume I need your help. There’s nothing worse than someone coming over and either making a suggestion or fixing weights without your request.  

Wish me luck tomorrow…