Scarlett Rocourt, Author at The Budget SocialiteThe Budget Socialite

02-04-14 {Living}

Custom Chalkboard Paint

Along with the myriad of cute stuff that I’ve come to love, all things chalkboard jumps on top of that list. From chalkboard contact paper to pre-cut labels, I can’t get enough of this stuff and now, I’ve discovered how to make custom color chalkboard paint. That means, almost every wall in my home will be made with chalkboard paint.

The original DIY by the one and only, Martha Stewart can be found here. I found a neat trick to creating an endless amount of custom colors using paint samples! I love that the paint samples come in 8ozs so all you have to do is add your tile grout, no need to ruin a perfectly good plastic jar. Plus, the cost is between $3-$4 per sample.

You’ll need:
8oz Latex Paint
1 Tbsp Unsanded Tile Grout
Sponge brush
Stick for Stirring

I couldn’t decide between these two shades of pink, so I got them both and I picked this lovely teal as a surprise gift for Trinidad, since this represents her brand color.

I bought these adorable untreated wood cutouts from Joann Fabric & Craft Stores.

First, you want to mix well, 1 tbsp unsanded tile grout into your paint sample.
Next, dip the foam brush into your chalkboard paint and paint until your heart’s content.

After they’ve dried completely, you want to use the side of your chalk to ‘condition’ the chalkboard. Conditioning will keep writing from ‘burning’ into your chalkboard and will give it a nice vintage look.

Here are some fun examples of how you can incorporate custom chalkboard paint into your home:

What will you do once you start making your own chalkboard paint?

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.

01-07-14 {Living}

2014 Organization

I love the new year! After all of the gluttony of the holidays, the new year is a time to start shedding those gained pounds on your body and around your home. I like to take the time to go room by room to see what is needed and what I haven’t used in a long time. It’s also the time to organize your closets and cabinets to make the rest of the year easier. (My sisters tell me I have OCD, but I see it as being prepared. Organization makes finding things less stressful)
While some people may fawn over the latest gadgets, I’m all over baskets and mason jars. I’ve also fallen in love with anything chalkboard and these 3 things together create the perfect storm (see what I did there) for organizing everything. Add some bookcases and a few other items here and there and you are on your way to creating extra space throughout your home.

Cabinets: Mason jars are both cute and functional. I love using the wide-mouth jars for storing dried goods such as sugar, flour and nuts. They make scooping easy. Get them in the same size, line them up and add these great chalkboard labels so you will never mistake the salt for sugar again.
Bookcase: These are perfect because they get items off of the floor, get them as tall and you have just added so much extra storage space. I like to store all of my magazines in these holders that I found at Target’s Dollar Spot. I cut chalkboard contact paper and can always make updates to my files as needed.
Closet: This is my pièce de résistance, I added a bookcase for folded jeans and sweaters (I was inspired by retail stores). For hanging, I put like with like: white shirts together organized by arm length, ruffles; skirts are put together by fabric, hem length etc. Getting dressed in the morning works out so much better because there’s no more guesswork as to what is where.
Getting into the groove of organization will save you in aggravation down the road. They say it takes 21 days to create a habit, once you’re organized and in the groove of putting things in their place, it will not only become a habit but automatic.

12-24-13 {Living}

Crochet Coffee Cozy

Whenever the weather gets cold, I inevitably begin to hibernate by curling up on my couch with my crocheting needle, loads of yarn as far as the eye can see and a glass of bourbon. I begin to imagine all of the amazing blankets and hats that I will create with my bare hands and then reality sets in that I can only make square & circle shapes and have perfected 3 different stitches.

Since the holidays have snuck (sneaked?) up on us yet again, I decided to make these easy and fast crochet coffee cozies for my friends and to help keep disposable coffee cups from landfills, I paired them with the Starbucks reusable tumblers that are only $.99 in the stores. Once you get the hang of a certain stitch, you can crank these babies out in less than 20 minutes. It takes me 30 because I’m usually watching TV or doing other things while I crochet.

Never heard of crochet let alone a coffee cozy? Check out this detailed DIY video on YouTube on how you can make your own crochet coffee cozy.

And if you want to get fancy, you can make a Cat Crochet Coffee Cozy

Don’t feel like making it yourself? Buy them from Etsy!

What do you think? Will you be making one of these yourself?

11-19-13 {Living}

Faux Terrarium

I love terrariums. I love the look of them and the idea of having a little island in a bottle seems so cool. Terrariums evoke a very earthy and organic feel when you look at them and that’s why I wanted one of my own.

I always have these lofty ideas of what I’m going to do until I begin to actually do it. Once the research started, the pricing realized and the time needed, laziness began to ensue and I decided I’m going to fake my terrarium for only pennies and minimal effort.

What you’ll need:
Glass bowl
Spanish Moss
River Rocks
Faux Succulents (mine is a candle!)

How you do it:
In the glass bowl, lay the rocks first, place the fake succulents around, add the Spanish moss on top.

Easy peezy! What do you think? Will you make your own?

10-10-13 {Living}

Chalkboard Memo DIY

Are you the type who loves the idea of DIY projects, but when it comes down to it, you never actually do them because they tend to be complicated? Do you have a Pinterest board dedicated to DIY projects that you will get around to? Well, this easy DIY is so simple and clever.

The chalkboard memo board. I love doing this and it’s pretty easy to go overboard with it. That’s okay, because you can always give them away as gifts.

You’ll need: chalkboard contact paper, picture frame, scissors and chalk.

Remove the glass from the frame and wipe off any dust or debris to avoid air pockets, cut the contact paper to size, peel and stick.

Put your chalkboard into the frame and start writing to your heart’s content. What do you think? Will you make this? Let us know in the comments.

09-26-13 {Living}

Start up business

Starting your own business can be very daunting. As entrepreneurs ourselves at the Budget Socialite, we’ve compiled a list of some of the start up business services we use or have come across in our research that are either free or have a small fee. If you know of any, please add them to the comments so others can learn about them as well.

Dropbox
www.dropbox.com/
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!

SohoOs.com
Our vision is to establish a new global micro-economy by empowering micro-businesses and freelancers worldwide with the management tools they need to flourish. First, to help stimulate and increase growth, and second, to provide a supportive environment in which to interact and collaborate with others- free of charge.

Mint.com
http://www.mint.com
Mint is fresh, intelligent online money management. Not only is Mint free, it saves you money. While existing personal finance software packages require hours to set up, a passion for accounting (is that possible?) and hours of weekly maintenance, Mint is virtually effortless.

Get Clicky
http://getclicky.com/. It gives you code to put on your site to track your traffic. It tells you how many people are visiting your site, where they are coming from (facebook, twitter, searches), how long they spent on your site, what the clicked on, where they are from (country, state, town), what provider they use, etc… It’s awesome because you can tell what is working in generating traffic and what isnt. Also if you send a link to someone important, you can tell if they visited your site. My friend sent a link to someone at MTV, and it listed that someone from MTV new york had visited.

Quickbooks Simple Startup – Free trial
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/
QuickBooks from Intuit is the #1 rated and best-selling small business financial software1. Find out why small businesses choose QuickBooks accounting software. Get a 30-day free trial and then, if you need more time, you have another 60 days to decide if you want to keep it.

MailChimp
http://www.mailchimp.com/
The Forever Free Plan
Store up to 500 subscribers
Send up to 3,000 emails per month
No contracts or credit cards required. You can link to your Zoho account to update your contacts as well as other popular CRM solutions through their API exchange.

ZohoCRM Free Edition
http://www.zoho.com/crm/index.html
Great CRM to keep track of your customers & vendors they give you alot for free
Number of Users Three Users Free
CRM Modules:
Leads and Sales Opportunities
Accounts and Contacts
Cases and Solutions
Marketing Campaigns and Email Opt-out
Activities and Calendar
Reports & Dashboards

Survey Monkey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/
Free version gives you up to 10 questions and 100 responses. You can view the responses, but can’t download which means you’d have to do your own copy and pasting.

Square Up
https://squareup.com/
Accept payment cards on any device with an audio input jack, including your mobile phone. After signing up for Square, provide your address on the web and we’ll send your free card reader and Square sticker. It’s not quite ready yet, so sign up and once they’re ready, it will be all systems GO!

The Small Business Web
http://thesmallbusinessweb.com/
These guys have gotten together to help make small business better. They have an online directory of different service providers and you can join to add your own business to their listing.

Do you use any of these services for your start up business or have some not on this list? Let us know about it in the comments.

09-12-13 {Living}

Dining Room Style

I put a loveseat in my dining room! And why not? Most people eat in the living room because the couch is so comfortable. Since the couch in my living room is white, eating in there is out of the question. And after I got done with my dining room loveseat, it quickly became my (and my guests) favorite place.

I found this piece on Craigslist for only $50 and paid an extra $20 to have it delivered by the owner. It doesn’t look like much because of the color, but the shape and size were perfect. The cushions were a bit to be desired and I had to do something about the height.

I used painter’s drop cloth to recover the loveseat. I liked the creamy cotton look that fit perfectly with my Shabby Chic theme and the price was great. I ordered mine online, but a quick online search will get you to a bunch of sites that offer drop cloths. (Tip: You will want to wash it first to remove the chemicals and to soften the fabric.) You can also order a nice slipcover as well. Check out this one for a real country look on Amazon.

I purchased a new cushion from a craft store, added batting and sewed a new cover for it.

Next, just fit the rest of your drop cloth over your slip cushion, tucking in extra pieces.

To raise the height, I used wooden risers so it was tall enough for the table.

This was my inspiration!

Eclectic Dining Room by Arlington Heights Interior Designers & Decorators Cottage Industry

What do you think? Would you put a love seat in your dining room?

07-30-13 {Living}

Shopping Street Artists

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!

07-23-13 {Living}

Sample Sale Etiquette

My Dear Readers,

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.

07-02-13 {Travel}

Stress-free travel

When The Budget Socialite Travels

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?

06-27-13 {Living}

DIY Mason Jar Tea Storage

I am so excited for this DIY project that I’m about to share with you guys – Tea Storage Jars. Okay, I’m excited about every DIY project that I share, but stay with me because it’s pretty awesome. This project combines my 2 obsessions: mason jars and chalkboard paint. Now, aren’t you excited?

I love to drink tea and the different boxes they come in can become a pain to keep. Plus, they don’t keep your tea fresh. The best way to store tea is in an airtight, dark container. You can learn about proper storage here.

I decided to create these great tea storage jars so I will be able to easily label the different tea while keeping them fresh as long as possible.

What you’ll need:

1. Hot Glue Gun

2. Chalkboard spray paint – I used this Valspar version. I didn’t read the label until I got home and saw that it was for plastic and wood. I still used it on the mason jars’ glass and had no problems.

3. Mason Jars – I used the plain ones from Walmart to make it easier for writing with the chalk

4. Gloves + Goggles (optional)

Since we’re working with spray paint, you’ll need to be outdoors or in a well ventilated room.

What you will do:

1. After the glue in your hot glue gun is ready, you can add Tea to your mason jars – if you want to be fancy, you can write the french word for it: thé

(If you’re not happy with your letters, you can easily peel them off and do it again)

2. Place the mason jars upside down and begin to evenly spray the mason jars with your chalkboard spray paint. I did about 2 coats on each jar.

3. Prime the chalkboard with the side of chalk and then wipe off.

You’re done and ready to start storing your tea!

Is this something you will try? Let us know in the comments.