Our Love Affair with Boot Socks

So perhaps the stores have already cleared the racks of their winter clothing and replaced them with brightly colored skirts and tank tops, but I live in Wisconsin and winter is far from over.

Do you see these boot socks? How cute are they?!? Sara found these adorable boot socks on Pinterest and immediately fell in love!

Sara: I didn’t purchase any until I was at Maurices a few months ago picking up some end of the season bargains. I saw boot socks for 50% next to the register, and quickly snagged three different pairs for $4-6/each. I absolutely adore them!

I work in a business casual environment (leaning more on the casual end), and will wear boot socks under my rider boots with leggings and a longer dressy top. It is so comfortable that I feel as though I’m in PJs!

Allie: I also am a huge fan of boot socks! I originally started wearing dress socks and tucking my pants into them. Yes, this is a complete fashion disaster, but I hate when you put on boots and your jeans get all bunchy at the top! And no one can see what your pants look like under your boots. Well, until that awkward moment when you go to someone’s house in the middle of February and take off your boots and they see your jeans tucked in to a pair of Halloween socks.

But, then I discovered boot socks. Not only are they fashionable and warm, but they do the trick of keeping your pants from bunching up. And, when I take my boots off it’s not nearly as weird to show these as out of season holiday socks that usually have a hole in the heel. 🙂

DIY Boot Socks

I have even seen people create their own boot socks with old sweaters. I have not tried this yet, but it’s a GREAT idea and it is on my to-do list! All you need to do is cut off the sleeves. You can also add buttons, stitches and other embellishments.

Here is a great tutorial video showing you exactly how to create your own boot socks.

-Sara and Allie

Three Unique Online Gift Stores

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is hard for me to think of presents for friends and family! Either it seems like they already have everything, or that they don’t really like anything. Who wants to be in a situation where you give someone a present, the person says thank you, but you know they don’t really like it and it’ll probably sit in the box/gift bag for a month or two? Who wants to keep giving the same gifts? Tie blankets, gift cards, sweatshirts, socks, ties….are all nice gifts, but they can get a bit repetitive. When you are approaching a holiday, or just want to buy that someone special something special, look no further than these three websites…

Etsy.com

You can find everything and anything on this website. It is based out of Dumbo, Brooklyn (which, if you regularly read, you know I love) and is a marketplace for crafters around the world. This website has a couple of fun features. With it’s over 11 million different items, you can search through key words, in their different category groups, or by their “similar items” feature. You can also sign up for Etsy’s weekly email list and receive Etsy Finds, Etsy Gifts, and Etsy Dudes emails. You can also find items that fit any price range! Here are some unique items I found on Etsy….

Double Infinity Ring- $34

Handmade Leather Wallet- $92

Or…. A cat sweatshirt- $20

Uncommongoods.com

This website is unique because over half of the items listed on the website are handmade or crafted from recycled material. The website is also generous, $1 of every purchase going to support different charities. This website offers Home & Garden, Dining & Entertainment, Office, Leisure, Jewelery & Accessories, and items for Him, Her and Kids. They also have a section (under Leisure) for DIY & Kits! Another part I love about this website is the Uncommon Knowledge section. It lists random facts like how reindeer fly, if Washington really chopped down a cherry tree, and many more. Here are some uncommon goods…

Avocado Salt & Pepper Shakers- $45

Family Glassware- $12

DIY Lip Balm Kit- $40

Perpetualkid.com

This website is for the people who still have a whole bunch of kid inside of them. It is filled with the most random of random gifts. You can find great gag gifts, or presents for people you literally have no idea what to get. Perpetual Kid also does two unique things…it sends an “escaped” plastic finger in every package, and you can have artists draw pictures of your choosing on the package (cupcakes, dinosaurs and zombies are popular). Here are some items for those who are kids at heart…

Bacon Lollipops- $15

Red Cup Koozie- $12

Buff Baby Dumbbell Rattle- $9

What unique websites have you found online?

-Allie

Fun Present Ideas

So last week was my birthday and I was so lucky that my brother and best friend from high school were able to come down for the weekend. It was quite the weekend! They both gave me such cute birthday presents that I just had to share!!

Mustache Mugs

Jackie made me these adorable mustache mugs and gave me coffee to go with! The mugs match the colors of our kitchen, are completely functionable, and are a fun way to add a little decoration. Best part…she used the blog I posted on making these to make her own! 🙂

Representing Wisconsin

My wonderful brother knows how much I love Wisconsin, so this present was perfect! He got me a UW-Madison Alumni car decal and license plate holder, a Russell Wilson jersey for when he played for the Badgers, an Aaron Rodgers Packers jersey, and a 6-pack of Wisconsin’s own Spotted Cow (which did not make it through the weekend). It was such a cute idea and I love to show my home-state pride while living in Viking country!

 

It was a great birthday!

-Allie

2 Places to Buy Swimwear During the Off Season

For the past couple of weeks I have been preparing for my trip to Mexico (which less than 2 weeks away!!!). I was in dire need of a new swimsuit since I may or may not have grown out of the ones I wore in college. Unfortunately, if you live in Wisconsin, you can’t just go down to the mall and buy a bikini in the dead of winter, so I took my search online for a cute, cheap swimsuit.

6pm.com | Swimsuit

I figured I could get a pretty good deal on one online since it’s winter time, but I was worried about buying something without trying it on. (I usually try on EVERYTHING before I buy it.) Alas, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot and low and behold, I love it! I picked this black sequin DKNY bikini from 6pm.com. If you haven’t checked out this website, you need to. They have a ton of designer clothes, bags and accessories at discounted prices. I picked up the swim separates for $21.99 for the top and $24.99 for the bottoms (originally $68.00/ea.).

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Venus.com | Swimsuit Cover-Up

Normally, I just throw on shorts and a tank top over my swimsuit, but I have noticed the increasing popularity of swimsuit cover-ups lately. Recently, I saw a picture of my beautiful roommate from college in this cute swimsuit cover up, and I knew I had to have it. She was kind enough to share with me that she bought it on Venus.com. I hadn’t heard of this website before, but I definitely recommend it. They have really cute clothes for ladies (and gentlemen!) in their 20-somethings.I got this shell detail cardigan in black for $39.00.

Where do you shop for cheap swimwear online?

-Sara

Deals to Steal: Post-Season Christmas Shopping

It’s the most wonderful time of the yyeeeaaarrrrr!

I LOVE shopping for a good deal, and one of my favorite days to shop is the day after Christmas. Prices are slashed on all the pretty garland, wrapping paper and gift sets, and every year… I feel the need to buy it all!

Unfortunately, I had to work the day after Christmas this year (which should be illegal), so I didn’t go shopping until after work. Needless to say, by the time I rolled into Target with my cart at 5:30pm, everything was pretty picked over. I still managed to grab a few essentials, and I spent less than $100!

Post-Season Target and Walmart Shopping:

1 cookie tin
6 packages of tissue paper
9 gift bags
3 packages of bows
10 rolls of wrapping paper
1 package of thank you cards
2 large jar candles
2 Glade holiday candles
3 men’s toiletries gift sets
2 decorative trays
1 package of decorative rocks
1 package of ribbon
1 holiday air freshener
1 scented wax
3 gift card holders
3 packages of gift tags
1 ceramic serving set (included three bowls, 3 spoons & bamboo tray)

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Tip: Save Holiday Coupons for Post-Season Shopping

Admittedly, being a new couponer, I only had a couple of coupons I could use, but from now on I will definitely take advantage of these major money savers! I have noticed coupons circulating since October for Christmas scented products (Glade, Febreeze, etc.) and Christmas gift sets. The day after Christmas these prices slash in half. You can use your coupons on top of these markdowns getting them for super cheap!

One of the Axe gift sets I picked up at Target for my boyfriend was marked down to $6.98 and I had a $3.75 off coupon… So, I paid $3.23 for the set which included deodorant, body wash and two body sprays. Buying one of those separately would have cost him more than I paid for the whole thing!

From now on, I will be keeping an eye out for these kinds of coupons and saving them for after the holiday. Just be sure to check the expiration dates; you usually only have a few days after the holiday to use the coupon!

-Sara

Rent The Runway: Designer Dress For Less

While I’d love to glam myself up in BCBG and Versace every time I leave the house, I cannot afford to be forking out hundreds of dollars for a dress I will wear once or twice. So, how’s a stylish girl supposed to get the threads without breaking the bank?

My wonderful, stylish sister turned me on to the awesome website, Rent The Runway, where you can rent designer dresses for special events and nights out. I have not tried it yet, but she has ordered two different dresses from this website and she stands firm that this is the way to go if you want the labels for less!

Rent The Runway: How It Works

You can rent a designer dress for either three days or seven days (for an additional fee). You can order two different sizes for no additional fee. It comes in a nice black garment bag (which you can keep) and a USPS postage paid envelope and usually some free goodies. (My sister got clear bra straps and garment tape!) When you are done, you just ball the dress up, shove it in the envelope and drop it in the nearest blue box (no need to clean!).

6 Tips for Rent The Runway

My sister has so kindly shared her personal tips for RTR:

1. This site is not only for formal events. They have plenty of casual looks and for the price are worth treating yourself to even a random night out. They also have handbags (gasp) and accessories, so if you want to upgrade your existing look, this is a great way to do it.
2. Pay attention to the size charts. Designers are horribly mean and make your size 6 body wear a size 10 dress.
3. Regarding sizes, pay attention to the reviews (even more so than the size charts). You have to put your height/weight into your profile, so I search for reviews of people around my size, and you can very easily rule out a dress based on that. For example, if someone says this fits my busty body perfectly, I know it will be too big for me in the chest and if a 5 foot 1 person said the length hits them mid-thigh, I know I will have a risk of exposing my lady parts. The reviews will also highlight the fit (big/small).
4. Order 2 sizes even if you are sure of the fit. It is free, so better to be safe.
5. Pay the extra fee ($5?) to have it for 7 days. I like to have it early so I can make sure it fits (and if it doesn’t, I still have time for a back up) and also accessorize.
6. Post a review afterwards. As noted in #3, it is very helpful to others and makes the site more successful.

While some people can’t fathom paying $75 to rent a dress, you need to keep in mind if you were to buy that same dress it would cost around $500 more! If labels aren’t your thing, this isn’t the website for you. For me, I only wear a formal dress once or twice anyways and usually pay more than $100 for it. Plus, the older I get the harder it is to find that perfect dress… This site makes it easy!

Here are a few photos of my beautiful sister in her rented designer dresses:

Mark & James by Badgley Mischka
Teal Draped Dream Dress
Retail Price: $325
RTR Price: $50

Nicole Miller
Kate Lace V Dress
Retail Price: $410
RTR Price: $75

How to Avoid the Holiday Hangover

If you’re anything like me, you are all too familiar with the “Holiday Hangover.” (And I’m not talking about the kind you get from one too many vodka tonics.) I’m talking about the Holiday Hangover that your wallet, credit card, bank account feels after the Christmas season.

Admittedly, I’ve maxed out my credit cards, ate ramen for the first three months of the year, and payed my bills late in order to buy all the gifts my wonderful family deserves. BUT, I’ve gotten a little more responsible throughout the years and have found ways to avoid the Holiday Hangover.

Really, I only have one tip for you: Budget.

For a shopaholic, this is a scary word, but it’s really not that bad! This year I was forced to not only create a tight budget, but I HAD to stick to it since I am going to Mexico in mid-January. It was tough because I always want to buy so many things for my family, but I made it through and I didn’t use my credit card once!!!

Simple Excel Spreadsheet

Normally, I just use an Excel spreadsheet to track my purchases. Here’s what I like to include:

• Person
• Gift
• Estimated Price of Gift: I do online research and see where I can buy the gift for the lowest price. A great mobile app for comparing prices on items is Red Laser which allows you to scan barcodes and search for items to see which store carries it for the lowest price. I also pay special attention to special sales, coupons and free shipping. A mobile app that has helped me look for deals and free shipping at popular stores is Retail Me Not.
• Budget
• Expense: I set up functions, so it automatically updates “Total Spent” and “(+/-) Budget” to show me exactly what I have left to spend.
• Has it been ordered?
• Have I received it?

I’m obviously not going to post my actual tracking sheet, but I made up a mock one to show as an example:

This works well and everything, but as someone who is constantly looking for ways to be more organized, I of course, found an even better solution for next year.

Mobile App: The Christmas List

Warning: I have not tested this app to determine the full potential of it’s functionality!

My co-worker told me about this app she used this year, “The Christmas List,” which helped her stay super organized. I downloaded it, and have been playing with it just for fun. So far, I’m impressed and I really like it! Here’s the deets:

Cost: $.99
Features:

• Sync lists via email…no need to re-enter info
• Shopping list view to get you through the stores quickly
• Enter gift once, assign to multiple recipients
• Track budgets per person
• Optional password protection
• Add your favorite stores to a pick list of popular retailers
• Add people from your iPhone contacts
• Track gifts by status: shipping, received, and wrapped
• Keep photos of people and gifts
• Countdown of shopping days until Christmas
• Share list using Messages or Email
• At-a-glance view of shopping progress
• Custom Christmas backgrounds

Here is a video of how it works: Limbua.com

What other cool mobile apps do you use for shopping and budgeting?

-Sara