Classics Live Strong. How to Enrich What You Already Have.

We all want to save money these days. When you buy, make sure the item has a classic style. Also, make sure it is built to last and you love it to death. The goal is to hang on to what you buy as long as possible. Blasphemy! (You might say.) We live in a disposable world! So many new gadgets and items are out there for our purchasing! We must stimulate the economy!

Well, doing so does not stimulate your wallet, and unfortunately stimulates another country's economy. Buying is natural to our developed world, just do so conservatively.

I've lived by a mantra for years in that "if you keep something long enough, it usually comes back in style." Also, you never know what kind of afterlife you can develop for the items you hang onto. Here, I've posted many DIY/Cheapskate Tips for items you already own, based off of some of the most popular textiles in fashion this year.

Houndstooth: Shall we thank Lady Gaga for kicking off the houndstooth craze this year?

(image via upscalehype.com)

Liven up your old chair with a new "old" classic print. This enlarged houndstooth pattern breathes fresh life that will beg for that derriere to sink into it. 

(image via decorhacks.com)

Sick of your plain old fingernails? Well not anymore! You will want to show off your hands as much as possible with these easy adhesive nail covers. 

(image via thenailshop.com)

I for one, am about as clumsy as one can get. The evidence is written all over my shoes. Scuff marks, scrapes and gashes are present everywhere. They are still good shoes though. What is a girl to do? Cover them up with houndstooth!

(image and online tutorial at lovemaegan.com)

Lace: Many fashion designers kicked off this classic textile on the runways this year...

(image via millionlooks.com)

Lace trim/ lace fabric/ doilies + fabric stiffener = alter your everyday items at home!

(image via homedit.com)

(image via shelterness.com)

The femininity that lace embodies will naturally create a balanced look when paired with that old, outdated masculine suit that you've had for years. Trim it out! Even though my example below is a $1500 Valentino suit, it is quite easy to carry out a similar look with a suit that you already possess.

(image via farfetch.com)

Is your teenager begging you to buy the same sunglasses that Rihanna was sporting? You can make your own by adhering lace onto safety goggles. A more classic and timeless option is to glue or fit lace over that extra pair of Jackie-O shades you have hiding in your drawer.

(image via styleguru.com)

(images via odettessunglasses.com)

Stripes: Doesn't matter what they say about what's in or what's out, stripes have been the shiz year after year for decades...

(image via oldfashionedpretty.com)

(image via girldir.com)

Make a small room more inviting by adding stripes to the wall(s). Stripes are foolproof--you can decoupage, paint, wallpaper, or tape the stripes on very easily.

(image via pinterest.com)

(image via laurau.com)

Have the winter doldrums? Believe it or not...the dull, dark, solid fall colors in your wardrobe can contribute to seasonal blues. Wear your striped pieces with another classic pattern, such as plaid or polka dots. Cheer up!

(image via stylesymmetry.com)

(image via bjonestyle.com)

It seems that the older appliances lack the good looks as compared to the newer appliance designs, yet they sure as heck are built to last. Hang onto the quality and change the looks yourself. Contact paper or appliance skins are a great alternative to changing the overall look of the tools in your kitchen.

(images via sticviews.com)

Roadside Surprises - Maui, HI

Our honeymoon was amazing in all realms. Definitely one of those trips where you reach a crossroads when boarding the outbound plane back home.

We literally trekked around the entire island and tried out everything possible. No doubt the best and most memorable aspect of traveling is the cuisine and the folks you meet along the way. We ran across a couple of amazing surprises that I recommend to anyone making a trip to Maui.

Surfing Monkey Snack Shack, Kihei, Maui

Hailing from the UK, and owner of this little sidewalk stand, Paul was quite an admiration. We immediately found ourselves as regular patrons the three days we were staying in Kihei. He had the best authentic Hawaiian shaved ice menu in South Maui. Li hing powder on top? Ice cream on bottom? Or would you like a little pep? He also has espresso shaved ice beverages on the menu. My husband ordered the Shivery Mocha the second day we returned. I stole his drink. Not only were the goodies we ordered quite tasty, but the beach view is nearby and Paul (pictured above) is quite a charm to talk with.

Cafe Romantica, Hana, Maui

Cafe Romantica was simply one of the best places I've eaten in a long time. This husband-and-wife team grow their own herbs/veggies, cook and serve amazing four-star cuisine out of this roadside van (pictured above.) As we deliberated over the menu, ordered, and ate, we chatted with both Lori Lee and Hans. They are both extremely amazing people. Lori Lee is a spunky, outgoing and hilarious character, and hails from my husband's home town of San Antonio, TX. Hans is of British descent, born in India, and has had extensive culinary expertise in Sweden and beyond. Both of their powers combined have created gastronomic fusion of "Vegetayurvedic" Euro-Indian delights sealed with love. We ordered the English Cream of Split Pea soup, Veggie Burger Wellington (think european pastry style), South Indian Vegetable Curry, and a Hawaiian Apple Strudel for breakfast. The food soothes the soul with its ayurvedic properties. We chatted with Hans as the sun set and we finished our meal. As we drove off, I coined Hans as the most interesting man in the world.

Time to Slow Down (Finally)

A lot more has happened since our wedding. I accepted a new job--which required that I live in another city--and we finally went on our honeymoon! Yes, in that order! Life really throws some curve balls, doesn't it?

While we are indeed newlyweds living torturously apart at long-distance, this is not something new for us. And moving away again was not something I willingly signed up for, I just needed a good job. That sure is hard to come by these days. Someday the stars will line up for us between love and career. As for the honeymoon--I'll have to divulge more in the next post. It was amazing.

With the quiet nights alone again, (mind you in an apartment without a television) it has very much freed up some time to get "it together". My first project consists of organizing my photos that have been unwillingly neglected for the past five years.

I stumbled across this photo that I completely forgot about, which was taken at around July of last year at sunset. We couldn't get over the visualization of a face forming in the sky. Proclamation: Absolutely no photo manipulation was rendered on this photo.

What do you think, should I say it's Jesus and sell it on eBay? My earnings from the high bids could allow my husband and I to live under one roof again!

Check out this hilarious blog as an homage to the occasional Jesus peek-a-boo.
Other inspiration:
eBay seller nabs $1500 for Jesus-like garage stain
Jesus pierogi sells for $1775 on eBay
And best yet...
Foodie miracles and their happy price tags

(photo via Art & Facts, copyrighted)

A Big..and Small...Bit of Inspiration

I absolutely love short films. There is nothing like trying to satisfy all five elements of telling an interesting story--plot, character, theme, conflict, and setting--all within a short amount of time. To boot, short films jive with my extremely short attention span!

Another love...stop-motion animation. How creative yet patient must one be to create such a work of art? If you haven't heard of the talented studio Aardman, (Wallace & Grommet, Chicken Run, etc.) then you are in for a new treat. This group has several good ones under their belt.

I had to share with you this bit of creative inspiration during the mid-week slump. Without further adieu, I present to you a team called Sumo Science who have paired up with Aardman Studios to bring to you two challenges: The world's smallest stop-motion short animation and the world's largest stop-motion short animation.

Small bit of inspiration, "Dot"--

The making of "Dot"--

Large bit of inspiration, "Gulp"--

The making of "Gulp"--

ENJOY!

Our BIG Day: The Details

This post follows up to my advice in keeping your wedding simple and affordable--and most of all, true to who you are as a couple. Most articles I've read advise to hoard away at least $25,000 for an average wedding. Blasphemy, I say!

Our wedding was budgeted for $5,000. We only went over budget about $800 and there was not any feeling of regret, cheapness or wrong-doing. Simple logistics will cut thousands out of your budget. Vesting the power of your own creativity and utilizing talented friends will help out quite a bit too.

Believe it or not, after we booked our venues, we had three months to seriously plan our wedding. I believe this time crunch is how we were able save money. What? How? Well, when you are restricted on time, you don't buy frivolous items and change your mind a zillion times. You are forced to make a decision and be resourceful with what you have. You also realize what unimportant details you can waste money on and what is really vital to make a wedding come together. I religiously used one of the budgeting spreadsheets that was part of my Apple computer program. This kept me in check with what money I had left to play with.

Dress:
I found my dress upon a serendipitous outing in a small town we stopped into last year. While browsing the boutique, my husband spotted this amazingly unique white tulle, handmade prom dress, circa 1940-50s. I tried it on and it fit. I purchased it for $190. It had several rips and tears, but I was able to devote time to give it a facelift and add a few ornate details to it. No need to spend $1,000+ for a new dress to wear only once. My husband found his vintage western-style suit at a thrift store for $7. (I know, not fair at all!) He had to drop about $100 to get it custom-tailored but again, still spent less than what a new suit or suit rental would cost.

Ceremony:
Our ceremony was officiated by a friend for free, in the morning, at the city's botanical garden. The gardens were cheap because it is a public space. Not one stranger bothered us. (I don't think too many folks wanted to wake up to stroll the gardens in full force around 10:00 am anyway.) It was a standing ceremony, thus, no need  to rent chairs. We wrote our own vows and kept it short. We had a couple of talented friends play the ukulele and acoustic guitar. We did not have a wedding party. Every guest was part of our wedding. We asked that they bless the vintage lock and key that our rings were dangling on before we exchanged vows. Here we are unlocking the lock that belonged to my husband's great-grandfather.

Reception:
The reception was at a popular barbeque restaurant that was located lakeside. We had a completely private area of the restaurant and the grounds outside, for an extremely small fee. Tables and chairs were provided by the restaurant at no extra cost. We were able to rent white tablecloths for $5 per table through the restaurant. We were able to provide food and alcoholic beverages for our guests for approximately $26 per head. We managed this low cost because we chose only beer and wine, purchased the wine by the case and chose the most economical menu item. Since it was a lunch reception, we did not feel the burden to serve a heavy three-course meal. I believe that psychologically, most folks do not drink as much during the mid-day hours as they would at night. Cost savings right there, my friend.

Music:
We had three amazing bands play--two of which are friends, and the third band was a terrific bluegrass band we have befriended at an annual festival we volunteer at. Given the circumstance, we saved thousands of dollars on music.

Decor & Floral:
The decorations were of a simple and minimalist natural style. We saved thousands here too. Through the help of our friends, it all came together. I had purchased a mix of wildflowers and sunflowers at the grocery store and at a wholesale flower shop, totaling only $60. Since flowers can add up, they were watered down (so to speak) with feathers and rosemary and I also made about 60 terrariums of old Mason Jars and reused pasta jars. The terrariums were completely free--I used plants from our back yard and out-of-control succulents that propagate like crazy. The best of the floral bunch were used for my bouquet and my husband's boutonniere. One of our good friends patiently assembled them both around 2 am the night before the wedding.

Cake:
I can't get over how expensive tiered cake can be. I understand the art of cake-making and the cost is completely justified. We just couldn't afford it. We used a local cupcake shop and made our own cupcake towers and cake plates. Our cake topper only cost us $4--we purchased two little warbler birds at the craft store and dressed them up with scrap fabric. We wired them on a decorative twig and were topped on our little 6-inch cutting cake. Cupcakes bring out the nostalgia in most, so how can you go wrong? We saved around $1,000 by going the cupcake route.

Photographer:
Our photographer, Lynne Allan, was a gal I had befriended in my Photography 1 class a few years back. She was just starting out in the field, so she basically shot photos for our wedding at much lower percentage than a seasoned professional photographer. I am extremely pleased with her work! She documented our wedding better than any other work I've seen out there. She had a wonderful, personable angle, and documented our wedding perfectly. I recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer in the San Antonio and Austin area.

Getaway:
We did not need to rent a vehicle for our getaway. My husband is the king of vintage car collecting. We escaped in his 1961 VW Westfalia bus, all in its original glory. We have had several wonderful camping memories in this bus, so it was only natural to drive away in it. My husband also strapped on the vintage luggage for the added touch of the honeymooner look.

Love:
Love is the main reason behind a marriage. Let the wedding be simple. Let it be true. Let what will happen, happen. Don't fuss over the details. Most importantly, have a great time!!!

(all photos courtesy Lynne Allan Photography)

Relief, at last!

I can tell you one thing that is worse than the Las Vegas time warp...wedding planning! The past six months came and went in the blink of an eye. I am now proud to say the BIG DAY happened with success on May 14th. There were many times when my (now) husband and I were wishing we would have escaped to a tiny island to do the deed. I found this imagery to be helpful for you gals and guys undergoing the wedding planning process.

Ironically, just after our wedding ended, my husband and I simultaneously agreed that the planning pain was completely worth it. We had a blast and both the ceremony and reception were meaningful and loving--not just between the both of us, but also between us and our friends and family. 

Don't lose yourself in the planning. There are hundreds of magazines and websites that lure you into trends, services and glamour. Keep yourselves true to your heart when planning. Keep it simple and somewhat spontaneous. And most importantly, keep a low budget! It will mean so much more in the end. I will divulge our wedding details in the next post. Stay tuned...

Location, Location, Location!

It's been almost a year now that my fiance and I have been racking our brains for the perfect location to tie the knot. Little did I realize that I'd be revisiting my statistical problem-solving skills to come up with a venue that is: a) about the two of us, b) beau-ti-ful, c) cheap!, d) close in proximity--unless we elope, e) encompasses our needs, and f) fewer rules.

There are many ideas we've run across that definitely meet criteria a) and b), however, may not satisfy c), d), e), or f).  Or, the venue may satisfy criteria choices a), b), d), and e) but not so much item c) or f).

So here they are--my favorite options devastatingly unable to solve my equation. May they bring answers to yours.

Orchid Greenhouse Wedding at Shelldance Orchid Gardens; Pacifica, CA

(image via Green Wedding Shoes)

Texas and Pacific Railway Station terminal lobby; Ft. Worth, TX

(image via www.dallasnews.com)

Barr Mansion; Austin, TX

(image via Jessica Monnich)

Haiku Mill; Maui, HI

(image via Jana Morgan)

Vista West Ranch; Dripping Springs, TX

(image via Amelia Tarbet)

Hotel St. Cecilia; Austin, TX
(image via Trip Advisor)