Have Fun on a College Student's Budget

If you are a college student or just someone looking for ways to save money on fun outings, spa treatments, or fitness classes in the Bay Area, Trubates.com is the place to search. They have many services and products to buy in advance at a deeply discounted rate. Just today, I tried a new local coffee shop called Coffee Adventure using a coupon that I bought on trubates for $10 and redeemed it for $20 worth of coffee and food. And tonight I am going to Sonoma Chicken Coop with a coupon from trubates that I paid $12 for and is worth $20 of food and drinks. And because I'm a new cutomer I got an extra $5 off just by typing in the promocode: new. Restaurants are not the only places offering discounted services on Trubates, but local spas, fitness clubs and outdoor recreation facilities. If you are ever stuck for an idea of what to do on a Saturday night, browse Trubates and you are sure to find some fun, discounted activity.

Loving the Rain

The bay area has been experiencing rain this past week and as a result, girls are bringing out their cute, patterned rain boots. I own 2 pairs of rain boots myself, and enjoy the rain because of the opportunity to rock my stylish rain boots. I also own an adorable polka dot umbrella but I do not own a rain coat. And further more, I do not see many people wearing rain coats. I suspect that this is because there is a lack of stylish raincoats on the market. However, the Bubble Umbrella is quite stylish now.

Rainy weather tends to drive people indoors. Coffee shops, book stores, libraries, and malls become packed with people trying to escape the wet weather. However, what is the point of having such stylish raingear to wear in your local coffee shop or mall? Here are some ideas of how to embrace the rain: take a walk in the rain with a friend or with your sweetheart (nothing is more romantic than kissing in the rain). Go puddle jumping. Embracing your inner child is good for the soul and the fun activity will chace away those rainy day blues. Play tennis or basketball at your nearby park. The courts are always full in dry weather, now is your chance to play like no one is watching. And everyone's heard that rain is only good weather for ducks; why not take the chance to go feed the ducks?

Sister Pants Night Out: a coupon success story

Tomorrow night the Sister Pants are getting together for a night of nostalgia and fun.  We're heading to our local skating rink with our Groupons that we bought a few months back.  Nothing says "awesome Friday night" better than rented roller skates, a pretzel, and a sugary beverage for just $6. 

We're starting the night off right with a trip to another local favorite:  Sonoma Chicken Coop.  (a Living Social Deal I picked up a couple weeks ago) 

What's better than re-living the dream?  Getting it on sale.  

Anthropologie Announces Wedding Line

OMG.  My deepest apologies for not getting this post up sooner.  I've been thinking about it since I found out on Friday:  Anthropologie announced a wedding line on Valentines Day.  www.BHLDN.com This is the best thing to happen to weddings since Paper Source opened.  The Anthro wedding line will (of course) make it a lot easier to achieve that artistic and ultra-romantic style that we see in so many of the gorgeous weddings on Style Me Pretty, Love and Lavender, and the Knotty Bride.  I kind of wish I could have another wedding right about now…  Shockingly, the Anthro gowns are pretty affordable!  Starting at $600 with the most expensive hitting $3K. 

Here are some shots I borrowed off their page.  

Don't discount your local thrift store

One place I like to browse is my local Goodwill store because if you look around long enough it's amazing what you can find. For instance today I found this gold Fossil purse that was a bit worn but only cost $6.99!I also found this like new Old Navy white and gray striped sweater for $5.49. This past fall I found this green spring time dress for $9.99. My local Goodwill store also gets many items from Target, so I have found new picture frames from Target for half the price at my Goodwill store. It's also possible to search and buy items from Goodwill at shopgoodwill.com. Another great store for retro clothing is MoonZooom in San Jose on West San Carlos Street. They have a vast collection of pieces from the 50's to the 80's. Everything is for a good price too. Another local thrift store to check out while you are bargain hunting for unique pieces is Savers. They have a larger variety of clothing than Goodwill, but Goodwill has a larger assortment of household items. Where ever you decide to look, don't get discouraged if the first trip doesn't bring excellent finds. It can take several trips to find that amazing item.

Valentines Day - in the Office

My favorite day of the year: Valentines Day! (well, if you don't count those other holidays that are also my favorite day of the year) I'm pleased to report there were many in the office who'd been bitten by the love bug. Check out the signs of love that I spotted today!

Heart chocolate chip cookies

Sweets for my Sweetie! This fun twist on the ordinary treat, makes it clear that the secret ingredient is love.

Staycation

While staycations can't compete with a two-week adventure in Maui, they're a great way to get some much-needed R&R for you and your bank account. It's all in your attitude. As a dear friend of mine likes to say, "I'll be a lady of leisure." So thinking to myself - it's the middle of winter in the San Francisco Bay Area and the sun is shining! It's the perfect time to enjoy a little "winter escape" in my own backyard

Before you set out to enjoy your ladyship of leisure, take some time to set yourself up for success with a few tricks:

Start with a clean space - you can't clear your mind of your troubles unless your space is clean. Whether you're staying at home or taking a road trip, make sure your space is tidy.

Set a budget - don't cheat yourself out of indulgences out of a fear of not having enough money. By the same token you don't want to damage your wallet by indulging in everything. Be smart and balance your splurges with some free/low-cost options to get the most out of your staycation.

Write an itinerary - budgeting your time is just as important as budgeting your money. Those PTO days are scarce!

With these tips under your belt you should be set up for success to enjoy your "free" time with the most potential for relaxation.

Bonus: Here are my brainstorms for taking my own staycation.

Budget:

• Enjoy a luxurious breakfast of toast with eggs over-medium and a cup of tea.
• Mix a cocktail/mocktail and lounge in the afternoon sun
• Take a bike ride in the woods and finish it off with a picnic.
• Hike the local trails and get back in touch with God's creation.
• Make a challenging recipe at home and enjoy it for dinner with your loved ones (extravagant meals are a lot less expensive when you do all the labor)

Splurge:

• Visit the (museum/aquarium/touring art exhibit) that you've heard so much about and linger. (Bask in the absence of families with their small children!)
• Make a reservation at that restaurant that you've been dying to try.
• Be a tourist in your own town! Chances are you've lived in your city for years but have never visited Ghiradelli Square, enjoyed the mini donuts at Pier 39, or been to Alcatraz. So go do it now!
• Stay at a hotel in San Francisco, Sonoma or Monterey and enjoy the local culture for an entire weekend.

Valentine's Dinner

Instead of going out to face the restaurant crowds on Valentine's Day evening, I am planning to stay in a cook a yummy dinner for me and my sweetie. The main dish is Garlic Spaghetti with Tuna. I will serve it with a side of garlic bread. Should be delicious here is the recipe:
salt
1 lb Spaghetti
1/2 lb Bread, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cans of tuna, drained
2 tablespoons fresh chives

In a sauce pan, boil 3 quarts of salted water over high heat. Add spaghetti and cook until pasta is tender to bite. (about 12 min)
Meanwhile,Chop bread crumbs until coarse. Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add bread and cook, stirring often, until crumbs are lightly toasted (about 9-10 min). remove from heat and transfer to a plate.
Wipe frying pan clean and return to high heat. Add broth, garlic, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Drain spaghetti is done, drain it well then return it to its cooking pan. Add the broth mixture along with the tuna, toasted bread crumbs, and chives. Mix well then transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.

I thought this recipe was simple enough and sounds so delicious that I had to give it a try and what better day then Valentine's Day right?

Fitness Fashion!

Last night I went to Target because my gift card from my birthday was burning a hole in my pocket. Since I have been trying to make a habit of going to the gym between classes, I wanted to get some new activewear tops. I found the last cute stripy top on the rack and bought it. I think it is very important to have clothes specifically for working out because then I have something to be excited about when thinking "I need to hit the gym."

Obsessed

My Bath & Body Works shipment came today! Last week I bought a $15 for $30 Groupon for Bath & Body Works' online store and spent the entire $30 on White Tea & Ginger soap and body wash. (scented lotion is kind of wasted on me) I've been looking for this scent for over a year since receiving it as an engagement gift. My search was sadly in vain as it is WAY marked up on ebay and you can't get it in the store. Alas after this shipment it will most likely be years before I run out of this glorious scent.

It's a gentle floral scent with ginger as a VIP player. Not sure why it isn't available in the stores, but at our house it will be around for a very long time.

White Nail Polish

Recently I have noticed a growing trend of women wearing white or cream colored nail polish. While some magazines claim that black nail polish is still a "do" I am beginning to suspect that white nail polish is a "do even more". Emily Maynard, on the Bachelor, is the first girl I noticed with striking white finger nails. I also spotted several girls on campus sporting the same white nails. White nail polish is very practical because it will match whatever color you decide to wear. It also has the effect of making your hands look tanner than they are. This is one trend I will definately be giving a try myself.

Shoes I can't afford

I was recently informed that Christian Louboutins are THE ONLY shoes I ought to wear. Apparently they can take all kinds of abuse and are soooo comfortable. They are also famous for the va-va-voom red soles that are best noticed while departing the company of your colleagues and/or that hunk you've been seeing. (in my case that hunk would be my husband) These shoes better be magic given that they start at $600. Unfortunately, at this given moment that price tag is outside my budget. By that I mean that I'd rather use that $600 on axoom Regardless, they are drool-worthy and worth calling out.