Call Me Cheap….

You may want to be cheap frugal with me when you see all I’ve been up to!  I have been a bit over-the-top honest that this is the year of THE BUDGET in my household.  I’m avoiding situations where I may feel compelled to spend too much and I’m prioritizing my wants far better than I have in years past.  Here are some products that might make you enjoy being on the cheap!:

Frugal Finds

Pssssssst Dry Shampoo: For the past several years I’ve been a fan of Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo, at $35 a can.  I’ve kicked it to the curb in favor of Pssssssst, for $5.99 a can.  An Allure Magazine beauty product winner, this spray-can saved me a couple weeks ago.  After my yard sale I invited some friends for dinner.  I hadn’t showered that day.  I had worn a ball cap all day.  I had just picked up our Zumi sushi appetizers and was headed home with 20 minutes until everyone arrived.  I gave myself three minutes to stop by Walgreens and that is when I discovered Pssssssst.  If you happened to see a crazy lady in the parking lot that day, yes, it was me.  I sprayed my dirty unwashed hair right there, in the middle of the parking lot and headed home.  By the time I arrived, the shampoo had dried, I brushed it through, and my hair was fab.  And it currently has a rebate offer which makes the can FREE.  Just send in your receipt with the rebate sticker on the can.  Talk about a painless purchase.

Gap Jeans: The need for a 36″ inseam (35″ for flip flops) has accustomed me to only looking at high-end jeans.  I had heard some great things about Gap Jeans in the past year and was surprised as I didn’t think they were in the category of favorite jeans, just ok jeans.  My favorite jeans are now Gap Perfect Boot.  They balance my body perfectly (I do not look good in skinny jeans, but gracious I wish I did).  I like the two button closure and the mid-rise. They are just $59.50/69.50 (depending on light or dark wash) and every couple of weeks Gap seems to have a 20% off online sale.  Tip: Order down a size; these jeans do stretch.  I own a pair of 28′s and all the other jeans I own are 29 and 30′s.

Gap Perfect Boot Jeans 58.99, J Crew Outlet white Artist v-neck tee 16.99, Scarf J CREW outlet 29.99, Short Sleeve No-Button Cardigan J CREW Outlet 49.99. (Bracelets is local designer Judith Bright and necklace is local designer GoodmanSpalding.)

Opry Mills: I’ve rediscovered the Opry Mills Mall and if you are a facebook fan, you already know one proud statistic: I, Liza Graves, was the VERY FIRST PERSON to walk into the new J.Crew outlet on Tuesday!  The deals are ok, not great.  But after a huge closet clean out, I was in of need of some basics.  At J.Crew, Banana Republic Factory and Off Fifth, my list of closet gaps was filled.  Now, I need some cork shoes and then I think I’m done.

Forever 21: While I love local jewelry, and in fact a trunk show is going on today includes one of my favorites: Rowanne Designs. Do go, it’s a great show.  Elizabeth’s Dennis’s show is today as well. See April Events Page here for more details, including the addresses. Hitting both shows is entirely possible as they are very close to each other!)  The local trunk shows have good prices, but when I want to TOTALLY LOAD UP with fun jewelry that seriously may not make it a year, I go to one place: Forever 21. I go with my two daughters and we go crazy nuts.  Last time, we walked out with a dozen items, I do not lie, for $77.  The pictures below are some of my favorite online offerings, click on picture to be directed to website.

Gypsy Shell Disc Necklace, $6.80

All Chained In Necklace, $6.80

Pretzel Twist Bracelet, $5.80

Ariel Shell Disc Earrings, $4.80

Target Jemma Kidd Powder: Sheila Curtis did my makeup a couple of weeks ago for a photo session with blog partner Elizabeth.  Sheila is just the bomb and do hire her for your eyebrow and makeup needs as I was blown away.   She worked that day with photographer Ashley Hylbert who also was just such a joy to be around.   Ashley specializes in wedding photography but also has developed quite a following for her portraiture work. I just kept asking questions and one of the biggest tricks I learned is that the Jemma Kidd pressed powder, only available at Target, is really great.   It can be used for touch ups as it doesn’t cake up.   I’m not sure how many times I was powdered that afternoon, but I never looked chalky.    At $20, it’s not cheap for Target, but it’s cheap for getting one of the best powders out there.  If Target is sold out, which they are prone to be, just order online.

Jemma Kidd Powder, one fabulous find.

So, that’s me being cheap.  And, now I have enough money to make it those two great trunk shows I mentioned earlier!

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