What Could You Give Up For a Smile?

If you ask yourself one question today, what could you give up for a smile? It takes as little as $250 to save a child's life and give them the chance to smile with a free cleft surgery.

The idea is simple, give up one small luxury - a cocktail, a trip to Starbucks, a movie, a meal out.

$10 donated by 25 people = a child's smile.

To think that you could give up something so small to create something so big. Please be a part of the 25 that are choosing to make a difference and donate $10. Give today.

Feeling a shade of Tiffany Blue

I am inspired by the color of the "Old House Bookshelf" from Urban Outfitters, I think it will be the perfect shade for my little retro deck in my bedroom. The whole room is in shades of cream and black, the perfect pop of color.


The throat sighs!

Give me strength

The holidays are just around the corner and I've decided I need to put myself on a tighter budget. I am not prowling around stores or looking for trouble. Trouble finds me. I open my email this morning to find that Crate and Barrel is offering me a $50 giftcard if I buy a Cuisinart Food Processor. It's as though they know that I'm dying for a food processor. To make pesto and hummus. My own sauces and breadcrumbs.

The possibilities are endless, but I am deleting the email... it is the right thing to do. I should unsubscribe myself from those amazing marketing emails that cloud my inbox and judgement daily, but I do not have that much self-control.

Thank you Rene Gruau

I have spent a lot of time at home recently. I had my wisdom teeth removed and it has thrown quite a wrench into my routine. If you take food out of my life everything else kind of crumbles. I'm cranky and ready to get back to some normalcy. Being home so much I have been paying closer attention to the art I've surrounded myself with.

Rene Gruau is a fabulous fashion illustrator that was popular in my favorite era the 1950s. His work can be difficult to come across so I have been collecting posters over the years. Most of the posters and giclee prints I have acquired  from Francofolie when they are at local art fairs. 

Right before I moved into my new apartment my mom called me from the Salvation Army and said she thinks she found a picture from the artist I like and would text me a picture (technology is amazing). It was one of his Lido prints framed for $30! I couldn't believe it.  I found similar on ebay for over $200! It is one of my favorite things.

Thank you Rene Gruau for providing a little bit of joy in my everyday life.

I'm Hungry

I'm in the process of building a new website for work and it will include a blog. I have been in the swim industry for over six years and now I finally found a way to incorporate blogging and building a website. I considered pulling the plug on Frugal Decadence, on Dollfacepunk, on my own personal projects. I am so absorbed in my work projects there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day.

My friend Lisa was inspired by the movie Julie and Juila to complete a cookbook in a year. I told her I don't know if I can do one in a year, but I would love to complete one entire cookbook. My boyfriend got me Everyday Food  in Hawaii. I'm glad he didn't get me an ugly shirt that said Hawaii, this was something I will actually use. The book is so good, not requiring a ridiculous amount expensive ingredients and filled with bright colorful pictures. Lisa picked up a copy and we both have been cooking our way through the book. I finally am getting to watch Julie and Julia (on my instant netflix subscription I decided would be a $10 monthly indulgence I could afford) and it made me realize I can't give up my blogs and websites. Even if I can only commit to a few posts a week it is something that is all my own. I am committed to budget conscious self-indulgence.

I'm back

Sometimes we find ourselves completely uninspired. 

I took a break from blogging, because I was burnt out and dedicating all my creative energy to work. I knew I would wake up from the blandness I was feeling...it just took a few months.

Since my last post I have moved into a new apartment, which was exactly what I needed. I am once again obsessed with design, decorating, recipes, entertaining, all on a budget. Recent trips to Maui and Miami have my head spinning with ideas. I prefer to be consumed with ideas, then working with a blank canvas. It is nice to be back. I'm excited to indulge my passions.. frugally of course.

Got 10 Minutes?

I don't want this post to sound like an infomercial, but I have fallen for 10 Minute Solution DVDs! I wanted to get free shipping on something I was buying on Amazon and to make it a $25 order I thought I would give it a try.

I can admit I'm so lazy that the full length of most of the programs are a bit too long for me. So this is perfection. You can mix and match workouts, 10, 20, 30, even make a 50 minute routine. I have never done that, but I'm sure there are others more driven than I am.

I'm really hooked and can't wait to order more. Super cheap and quick. I feel it after ten minutes... that's what she said.