Every Budget Socialite knows how important it is to look like a million bucks while only spending a few dollars and part of looking like you’ve spent a ton of money is by picking up those one of a kind pieces that you won’t see other places. There is no better place than getting these amazing deals than with your local street artists, craft shops and flea markets. I love shopping from local street artists because you’re getting handcrafted pieces that you won’t find in most places and when you purchase more than one, you can usually negotiate a great deal. Here are a few tips and tricks.
1. Speak to the street artist and learn as much as you can about their craft and how they make their pieces. Knowing how much time and love goes into making your one-of-a-kind will bring you two closer, and you’ll have a great story to tell when you receive a compliment.
2. If you pay with cash, you can try to negotiate a cheaper price. We love our plastic and with apps such as Square Up, more people are able to accept credit cards. But they usually prefer cash and would be willing to go a few dollars down for that pleasure.
3. Browse. It’s a good idea to walk around a little bit before making your first purchase. These street festivals can seem a bit overwhelming with lots of different tables to stop in. You don’t want to spend all of your money at the first place you see only to not have enough for something you’ve fallen in love with later.
4. Only purchase what you feel like you can’t live without. For me, if I keep thinking about a certain piece, then I know that I have to have it. Especially if I think I may regret not buying it later on.
5. Have fun!
Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.
While I know that none of you would ever engage in any violence over a pair of Christian Louboutin’s because they are 70% off, after watching ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ for the millionth time, and during a sample sale shopping trip (where my sister got her Vera Wang wedding dress for only $250 and I scored 4 bridesmaid dresses for $100 total!), I felt compelled to create some tips for attending a sample sale to help make everyone’s retail therapy a joyous and pleasant one and less of a scene from ‘Gladiator’.
1. Bring Cash. This is a general good rule of thumb so you don’t go through credit card shock when the bill comes in, but also some sample sales only take cash.
2. Maximize your time. One of my favorite sample sales has a strict policy of only allowing 90 people in at a time and for 30 minutes at a time. Have ideas of what you are looking for ahead of time by surveying the room for what they have.
3. Multitask. Pick up many things while keeping an eye on the next one.
4. If you know you don’t want it, put it back for another shopper to discover it. Remember that once it’s out of your hands it becomes community property.
5. Check items for any damage. A true sample sale will have items that were the actual samples shown to buyers and therefore might have a rip or a pen mark so it can’t be sold in the stores. Make sure you can (and will) repair it.
6. Negotiate. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with the cashier. I’ve walked out of sample sales with $200 worth of goodies for only $150, mostly because they need to get everyone out of there and also they’re looking to get rid of items. It’s not guaranteed, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
7. Have fun! Shopping isn’t just for therapy, but also the thrill of the hunt. Finding that perfect dress or bag at a ridiculously low price can be worth standing in line over an hour. Bring a friend or two (just make sure you don’t wear the same size).
Have your own sample sale etiquette tips? Let us know in the comments.
Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.
Hello Socialites! Summer dinners al-fresco, July sunsets over wine…the season is made for elegant entertaining!
When you think of elegant entertaining, is there anything more elegant, decadent, and thoroughly indulgent than a well crafted cheese plate? If you’re a cheese lover like me (see my bio), there can’t possibly be. Always picture perfect at catered affairs, at restaurant dinners, at wine bars in bite size portions for boat sized dollars, there’s something intimidating about recreating the magic at home. Yes? NO!
Socialite, get your notepad and throw away that Velveeta. Your next cocktail/dinner event just got FANCY! We’re going to master the art of the cheese plate! And it’s easier than you think…
Selection
It’s all about the cheese! However, you don’t have to serve ten types of cheese to have an amazing cheese plate.
Easy Elegance:Select three cheeses of varied textures (soft, semi-soft, hard). My favorite go-to cheeses: herbed goat, brie, manchego or an aged cheddar. You can find them all in most supermarkets, usually in an “international cheese” or “gourmet” section.
Fancy Fab: Stop into your local gourmet shop for some Mimolette and the Roquefort of your choice. Most gourmet shops will let you sample before you commit, so definitely do some exploring! With your guestlist in mind, find flavors you like and try cheeses from multiple countries!
The Tools
Kitchen knives will NOT do for your elegant cheese plate, Socialite. You need proper cheese knives and a serving board. I’m partial to a marble serving board, but a ceramic or china tray will do the trick. For large groups, I like to cut everything before setting it out. But for smaller service, feel free to set out whole portions and allow guests to cut their own. One knife per cheese is ideal, but it’s not required.
Easy Elegance:Two knives will easily have your needs covered. For the soft cheeses, such as goat, use a spreader. For firmer cheeses, you’ll want a classic multi-tasking cheese knife, with holes in the middle of the blade (to keep cheese from sticking to it) and prongs at the end for picking up what you’ve just cut. You can find both at any chain home store for under $10: think Marshall’s, HomeGoods, and Target. Fancy Fab: A friend gave me this wonderful set of four knives, which includes the two types above, as well as a wide slicer and an angled knife for hard cheeses. The slicer is great for difficult cheeses like mimolette. Google it. How does one cut a cantelope shaped cheese? Verrry thinly! The angled knife lets you exert pressure needed to get through a harder cheese like manchego with ease and uniform slices.
“What’s This?”
Label your cheeses. Consider adding the type of milk its made from (sheep/goat/cow) or the country of origin under the name. Take your guests around the world on a cheese plate!
Easy Elegance: Affix a label to a toothpick and place one on each cheese you serve. Place setting cards in front of your serving tray work well, too. Just use stiff cardstock paper, write your cheese name, fold it over like a tent, et voila!
Fancy Fab:These porcelain markers were a steal, on clearance, at Murray’s Cheese in Grand Central Station. The set of 6 came with a gold marker, but you can use any dry-erase marker in any shade. Wash and store carefully after each use.
Bonus Yum
Garnish your cheese plate with edible goodies that compliment your cheese selection. Forgo the corporate parsley decor and think tasty tidbits!
Easy Elegance: On the same board, add a small amount of assorted berries, a handful of almonds or walnuts, and a small portion of apricot preserves to your presentation. Not only can you find all these in the supermarket aisles, but they lend themselves to almost ANY cheese selection. Encourage your guests to experiment with the pairings.
Fancy Fab: Drop back into the gourmet shop for some fig and orange jam (my personal pick to pair with manchego!), a bar of 80+% cocoa chocolate, and some oil cured olives.
Cap the entire presentation off with a tray of assorted flavor water crackers, pita crackers and/or crusty baguette slices.
And just like that, your cheese plate is dressed to impress! Serve with your fave wine and enjoy! But don’t reserve your new skills as a cheese master JUST for entertaining. I’ve been known to make a small cheese plate as dinner. And why not? Every Budget Socialite deserves a little elegant indulgence.
But don’t stop there! Have some Master-of-the-Cheesyverse tips to share? Leave a comment below and share the knowledge!
See you next month!
Contributor | Eva Said It Eva is a mother, writer, entertaining doyenne, and snark expert based in New York City. Money can’t buy happiness, but it buys her lots of wine and stinky cheese…which is close enough. Catch more of her stiletto clad sarcasm at www.evasaidit.com.
Hey Socialites! Ever gone into a Target store and asked yourself, “Why did I come in here for bread and walk out with 5 new dresses?”…No??? Is it just me or has Target stores proven to be the “Everything” store that is not worth sleeping on?! Walking through the clothing section for me is like walking through the closets at V Magazine! It is a fashion gold mine! Check out this dress I found! Not only is it sleek and stylish, it’s $25 (purchase here or at your local Target Store), comes in regular and plus size and is full of life and endless fashion possibilities!
Keeping it simple with accessories is the choice of the week. First, I decided to pair it with a cute bead embellished thong sandal from Nine West, to play on the peachy orange color and to add character. Then I chose to bag it up with the awesome shopper from Asos, which gives the outfit a grown up, casual feel. And this “Moroccan” style necklace , courtesy of Banana Republic, is light but packs a style punch with its blue and pink splashes.
So Mavens, you can target your style sense right at your local Target Store and all you need are a couple of pairings to do so.
Have a Target Fashion Experience? Tell us below!
Contributor | Cadian Carter As a lover of fashion, Blogger Cadian Carter got her first job working at indie fashion publication, V Magazine. Now she is a freelance writer helping women embrace their own personal style, one fashion find at a time.
You’ve booked your flights and got the best deal on the hotel. Now, to pack and fight your way to the airport for stress-free travel. Actually, getting to the airport doesn’t have to be so stressful if you follow these simple rules of navigating your way through packing, security and finally waiting for your flight.
Plan ahead:
Maybe a week or so before your trip, start thinking about what you’re going to need. Do you have sunscreen if you’re going to be by the beach? A hat if it’s a ski resort? Also, are you checking in or carrying on? If you’re carrying on, do your liquids follow the FAA guidelines? Once you’ve thought about these things, make a list of what you have and will need to buy, then get to the stores.
Make copies of your credit cards, flight information, travel documents and ID/Passport (especially if you’re traveling overseas). Give a copy to someone back home, keep a copy in the hotel safe and one to keep with you.
If you’re going overseas, call your bank and credit cards to notify them in advance of your travels and the dates. You can also find out if there are any fees associated with using your cards in different countries.
The night before:
Packing your bags using the ‘Rolling Method’ ensures less wrinkles and more room in your suitcase for souvenirs!
How to do the rolling method:
Pants: fold in half and roll from the top-to-bottom
Skirts: fold in half or three depending on how full then roll from top-to-bottom
Shirts: fold in three with arms back, then roll from top to bottom
Bring a blanket and travel pillow. Some airlines now charge for these.
The day of:
Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the airport. Some airports suggest you arrive at the airport two hours before the scheduled boarding time for domestic flights and three hours for International flights. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that easily slip on and off, also wear socks if the idea of walking barefoot through security skeeves you out.
Be prepared. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting behind someone who isn’t ready…don’t be that person. Take off your belt, shoes, jacket/sweater, remove keys and phone from pockets. I try to stay away from wearing belts to the airport just to save on taking off and putting back on. If you’re bringing your laptop, remove it from its bag and lay it out into a tray to go through the X-ray machine. If you have liquids, make sure they are in 3 oz bottles and stored in a quart size clear zip-top bag.
While you’re allowed only a limited amount of liquids through security, you can pack a meal. If you’re not fortunate enough to nab a first-class seat, you’ll want to bring your own food with you. Pack a sandwich, some fruit and bring an empty water bottle. You can fill the bottle at a water fountain once you’ve gone through security.
At the airport:
Since you’ve given yourself time, you’re ready to start your ‘vacation’. Most airports now have more upscale restaurants where you can sit and some offer free wifi. My sister and I once had an eight-hour layover in between flights at the Detroit airport. We ate a delicious meal, split a bottle of wine at Vino and got massages next door at a day spa. We felt fabulous and ready for the seven hour flight that was awaiting us.
Extra Resources
http://www.tsa.gov/311/
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.
Listing of baggage fees
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/3801089/airline-baggage-fees-chart-updated/
More details on how to pack a suitcase
http://www.howtodothings.com/travel/a2318-how-to-pack-a-suitcase.html
What are your tips for stress-free travel?
Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.
Every Budget Socialite knows how important it is to look like a million bucks while only spending a few dollars and part of looking like you’ve spent a ton of money is by picking up those one of a kind pieces that you won’t see other places. There is no better place than getting these amazing deals than with your local street artists, craft shops and flea markets. I love shopping from local street artists because you’re getting handcrafted pieces that you won’t find in most places and when you purchase more than one, you can usually negotiate a great deal. Here are a few tips and tricks.
