Cute Wedding Gift

I went to my cousins bridal shower this weekend. It was nice seeing everyone and seeing her so excited. I ended up wearing something completely different from what I had planned. I wore this black and white dress...

It ended up only paying $10 for it. I'm excited to wear it in the fall/winter with some black tights and tall black boots and a cardigan. It is a really comfortable dress so I will definately get some use out of it.

At the shower somebody gave my cousin a really cute gift. It was a bottle of wine, a bottle of champagne, and a bottle of sparkling cidar. Tied to the bottles were cute little cards.

The one of the wine said "Your Wedding Night- The night you have dreamed of is finally here. The future surrounds you with hope and yet fear. You’ve wanted so long to find your mate. Sip this wine and toast this date. The night is meant for you to share. Enjoy each other, a perfect pair. "

The Champagne bottle said "Your First Anniversary- Tonight you’ve been married a year one wonders where the time goes. No longer are you newlyweds, soon you’ll be pro’s. I hope the days have found you both in good health and spirit. Keep saying I love you one always needs to hear it. Now toast this date known as the first but certainly not the last. And as you build your future don’t ever forget the past."

and finally the sparkling cidar bottle said "The news that a baby will soon share your life will make you a mother not only a wife. You’ll see it through good times and sometimes bad. Nicole the loving mother, and Benjamin the dearest dad. Now instead of wine you will drink cidar in your glass. Sit back and relax nine months they quickly pass! "

I thought it was a cute and very non traditional gift. I was definately more creative than the vacuum that I bought her from her registry!

Wedding Bells, But Not My Own

So my YOUNGER cousin is getting married next month and this weekend is her bridal shower. I'm used to be a big fan of wedding showers. Whats not to love? Getting dressed up, eating cake, and watching somebody open up more household items at one time then they will ever use in their life. That is I used to love wedding showers until I dated a certain guy for 5 years, started living with him, and don't have a ring on MY finger. GASP! A few years ago wedding showers entailed me going and getting the bombardment of "How is college going?" "Getting good grades?" "Having fun?" Etc. Now it is "When are you going to be tying the knot?" or "Maybe you will be next!" and my personal favorite "When is Jason going to make an honest woman of you" Because certainly marriage = honesty. So in order to cope with the barage of questions from nebby old women I have decided that I must look fabulous and chic for the event. That way everybody will be so distracted by my cute outfit that they wouln't be able to form complete sentences or realize that Jason obviously has no intent to propose (at least any time soon).

So the current options for the bridal shower attire are...

This cute dress hails from Newport-News. If only Newport-News had a real life store. But if you can sift through some of the cheesy 80's looking outfits you can find a gold mine of pretty and affordable things on their website. I think this dress would be pretty with some neautral shoes and gold jewelry.

Then there is this little beauty that I've had my eye on for quite some time at Oldnavy. Im afraid it may be a little too casual but could potentially be dressed up with some cute shoes and chunky jewelry.

This dress caught my eye right away. It reminds me of a dress that you would wear to a tea (not that I've ever been to a tea). Its very 1950's! It is from Mod Cloth which I love but have never ordered anything from.

Any idea's, suggestions, warnings? The bridal shower is at a country club and start at around 1. So I don't want to be over dressed, but yet I still want to be appropriatly dressed and not the one everybody says "Oh poor Dawn she is so deperate!"

HELP! I need sound female advice!

Flip Flops and Muffins

My life has been extremely uneventful this week. My typical schedule has been work, come home, eat, sit outside with the dogs for a bit, sleep. What can I say, Im living the high life! However on Wednesday I did manage to break my routine and go out after work for a drink with a few people from work. We went to a place in shadyside that has an awesome rooftop deck. It was beautiful! We went out and walked around Shadyside and window shopped since thats the only shopping in Shadyside that fits my price range. We went into Ann Taylor and I found the most beautiful flip flops that I have ever seen. They were heavenly. I almost cried when I saw the $69 dollar price tag. Who pays 70 bucks for flip flops? I may keep my eyes on them though and if they drop below 40 they're mine! I also found this adorable top which I feel like would make my shoulders look like a line backer but is adorable. I also found a cute dress at Gap which I feel would be perfect for this cook out I am going to on Saturday. Its even on sale for $34 but I passed because I feel like I can find something cheaper at TJ Max. Why am I so cheap? I often see things I love but don't buy them because I feel like I could find it somewhere else for less. Ultimately I never find it and end up with something I just like but don't love. The only plus is that I have a few extra dollars left in my pocket at the end of the day. Ive been thinking lately about buying less items but spending more on quality pieces. This is something I struggle with because I love clothes and I love shopping. Maybe this is just my subconcious telling me to go buy those $69 flip flops. Hmm...

Anyway here's a recipe for some awesome pumpkin muffins that are low fat. These are SO easy to make and they are only 2 weight watchers points per muffin, which means they are about 100 calories per muffin.

Low Fat Pumpkin Muffins

1 vanilla cake mix

1 16 oz can of pumpkin

3 tbsp of ground flax seed (This is optional but it adds more fiber and makes the muffins very moist)

Combine all ingredients thoroughly, however be careful not to over mix. Fill muffin pan 3/4 full with batter and bake according to directions on cake mix for cupcakes. NOTE: I have a hard time finding a 16 oz can of pumpkin so I usually end up buying the big 32 oz can and making a double batch. These muffins freeze really well!

Homemade laundry detergent and frugal fashion finds

Yesterday on my way home from work I was going through the list of thing I needed to accomplish when I actually made it home from my 1 hour commute… 1. devour the first food item I see. 2. make sure my DVR recorded the newest episode of The Real Housewives of NY 3. Attempt to throw random foods together to pass as dinner 4. do laundry. Then it occurred to me that I was out of my beloved drops. This normally wouldnt be a big deal, I would just stop by walmart and get some. But Walmart has apparently decided to punish me for budgeting my grocery bill by refusing to sell drops. So I decided to man up and make my own laundry detergent to save money and have a ton of it on hand. So here is the "recipe",

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Water

1 cup Borax

2/3 bar of Fells Napa Soap

1 cup Washing soda (which I couldnt find so I used generic Oxy Clean)

Bring 12 cups of water to boil. While water is boiling shred the fells napa soup (I used my cheese grater) and dump it in your bucket. Pour the boiling water in your bucket over the fells napa. Once the soap is disolved add the boraz and washing soda (or generic oxy clean, or if your RICH real oxy clean). Once all of the ingrediants are disolved add 44 (yes 44) cups of water to your bucket and voila laundry soap! After it sits for a day or so it congeals on top but word on the street it that its all the same and you can use the congealed parts or the liguid without mixing the 2 every time you do laundry.

Speak of me being a tightwad... While i was at walmart picking up the supplies I took a detour through the clothes on my way to the checkout. What I found both shocked and alarmed me.

* Warning: if you are adverse to buying clothes at walmart don't read any further because the stylishness of these clothes will compell you to buy them.

I found some really cute and stylish clothes. I was shocked because in the past when I think of walmart clothes I think of graphic tee's with phrases like Baby girl and sweet thang. But these clothes were very trendy and good looking.

I didn't buy anything yesterday because it was still full price and like all thing at walmart, if you give it 2 weeks it will be cheaper. But these cute walmart clothes has opened by eye to a whole new world of clothing!