Traffic Zen....

There are approx. 5.5 Trillion people that are in ATL and all 5.5 trillion people tend to be on the road at the same damn time..WHY??? I never understood traffic; if everyone is moving, why aren't we moving? It's not Rocket Science!! Well, I have serious road rage and this evil force takes over me when I see break pupping, slow driving, non-indicator using IDIOTS on the road. And, when I see them, I get stressed out and I start thinking weird things like: If  had a bazooka or a sharp shooter...(NOT, this message is monitored for quality assurance-LOL)...And I hate being stressed because I bring that foolishness home! Especially, after work..you're already on guard to BUSS A CAP (NOT, again.LOL)

The Key to less is stress is ..CHANGE! So, a quick and easy way to avoid traffic is to find a calmer, peaceful, zen route.  I found a route that's very peaceful and park like. It may take you out of way-but if you aren't stopping and going-it's well worth it.  

I tested my theory today and I had the most peaceful ride ever!! If you're faced with traffic you are definitely a candidate for finding an alternate route!!!

 BE SAFE. DON'T TEXT & DRIVE. ARRIVE ALIVE! 

The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.  ~Dudley Moore

Read more »

I've got my EYE on you....

Eyebrow threading that is.... Threading is an ancient method of eyebrow shaping that originated in India. It's so effective because the hair is pulled from the root and causes a more defined eyebrow shape and is gentle to the skin. Eyebrows are such an important part of your face-I think...and I am BIG on eyebrow threading. I had been going to Shapes Eye Bar for a few years now-and the service has totally changed and they are so inconsistent with their Brow Stylists. Each time I went they were not manicured right or one was higher than the other..totally BOLLOCKS! And to top it off-it costs $10 per visit.

Well, if you don't know by now, I have an affinity to the Indian culture-and one Saturday I totally found myself in the Shopping Plaza on Church St. in Decatur, searching for Kajol eyeliner (supposedly the best eyeliner on earth)-but my eyes deceived me..A MIRACLE presented itself right before me...$4 EYEBROW THREADING...UMMM, is this a trick?? What kind of SICK person would do this?? But, sure enough....the best damn $4 I've EVER spent. The women were very professional, attentive and skilled. My eyebrows are now uniformed and look amazing!

They offer an amazing loyalty program! After 9 visit's your 10th is free..that's a pretty awesome deal for  $4, right? And if you refer someone they stamp your card-so, you can potentially save more money just referring!

I know, I know where are they...

DC's Nail's N Beauty
1707 Church St, Suite C2, Decatur, GA 30033
404-299-5666
Located next to the Patel Brothers Grocery Store
Total Annual Savings:
Shapes Brow Bar: $10 per visit for me (monthly)=$120 Per year - No Loyalty Program
DC's Beauty Salon-$4 per visit for me (monthly=$36-Loyalty Program 10th Visit free
Potential Annual Savings=$52 excluding loyalty program (could save more)

Read more »

Namaste.....INDIAN BUFFET...Hoorai..

I totally love to eat..I am such a FOODIE! Clearly..(according to my BFF Vanessa, I hardly eat so how the HELL can I be a foodie)..

I LOVE Indian Cuisine-and I love a good Buffet...Now, it aint no APSARA from Trinidad..BUT it's pretty darn close!! LOVE IT!.

Check out Cafe Bombay Atlanta: India Cuisine ...They offer a Fab $12 + tax buffet that offers a wide selection of Authentic Indian/Tandoor appetizers, desserts, entrees and much more!

Maiṁ bhāratīya sanskr̥ti aura khānā pasanda hai.

मैं भारतीय संस्कृति और खाना पसंद है

I love Indian Culture and Food:-)

PS: Whenever I watch a Bollywood film or eat Indian ...I picture myself looking like her..LOL LOL! Too much?

Read more »

karma police...

Total sidebar from the "budget" topic at hand...Take time to reflect on the blessings, love, and energy that you receive and put out. I am a firm believer in the gift of Karma and how she reminds me of the good, the bad and the neutral that I put out. So, remember with every action, there is a reaction and Karma is waiting patiently to greet you with your gift.

live.love.learn.live.learn.live.live.live.

peace bloggers..

Read more »

Elfanista...The Secret Santa Chronicles...

Secret Santa in the workplace can be a very stressful task...especially in these here perilous times.   Now, I PERSONALLY do not celebrate Christmas, but who the heck doesn't like gifts?? And to top it off...it's a recession people..and $25 can sooo be used to keep something on in my home or a meal on my table, right? However, in this post I am going to share with you a few ways to keep you within that $25 budget and still keep your lights on at home :-) 

1. Most stores have a section/table that's titled "Gifts Under___." Check it out for great gift ideas and I'm sure you can get a bigger bang for your buck.

2. Check out $5 below, Family Dollar and Target...They have really awesome quality products and at a low price!

3. The budget is just that....you don't have to go over it or meet it. If you don't have it like that..then do your best and give from the heart. It's all in fun.

4. Give your "giftee" a smaller gift everyday leading up to the big reveal; that way it keeps your person guessing and allows you buy smaller items and spread that love across a week. 

5. Have FUN-remember you are getting to know more about someone that you probably wouldn't in any other circumstance. 

And to keep you in the spirit of giving..Here are 10 Dirty Secrets of Secret Santa Giving I stumbled on .Will you be the one to contribute to low employee morale?  Or will you be the lazy gift giver?? These are Hilarious...so enjoy...(Courtesy of fellow blogger "Work Place Diva)

1. Someone will go overboard. This employee didn't get the memo about spending $25 maximum. So you get five Hershey's Kisses and a Bic Pen while your co-worker gets a beautiful vase filled with the good candies, a nice note and a $5 coffee gift card. And that's just on Monday. Your co-worker is over the moon, of course, but you feel nothing but cheated even if your gift isn't half bad, which brings me to Dirty Secret #2.

2. Someone will be a cheap bastard. Don't spend more than $25? Hahaha. Get real! This employee isn’t going to spend more than $5. Total. All week. Goodbye World Market and hello dollar store, where the things are cheap and sure to break within a week. The recipient feels the cheapness and suspects this co-worker is simply re-gifting the things he or she got for Christmas last year. A chipped snowman figurine made in China? Wow, thanks.

3. Someone will forget. This overworked employee suddenly remembers that he forgot to leave a gift on your desk and it's almost quitting time. So he walks next door to the 7-Eleven to see what he can find, or he buys something from the vending machine. If he's more on his game, he picks up something at the gas station convenience mart on his way to work or he'll wrap some swag he still has in his desk from last year's conference. And don't get too high and mighty ladies over what a forgetful jerk he is, because we know your Secret Santa gifts were free with purchase.

4. Someone will complain about getting shafted. This employee goes on and on about how this year's Secret Santa is so lame. Last year's Secret Santa was awesome and gave a ton of better bling. And last year's big Friday reveal gift was absolutely to die for! This year's Secret Santa overhears the ingratitude (or hears about it second-hand), promptly gets pissed off, stops trying and that's how we end up with five Hershey’s Kisses and a Bic Pen.

5. Someone will have to buy for someone they hate. An employee draws a name out of the hat and lo and behold, it’s a co-worker this employee hasn’t gotten along with since Day One. Oh man, I have to buy for HER? She’s a total bitch who hung me out to dry on that project and I’m not spending more than I have to on her ass. Secret Santa becomes an opportunity for all-out revenge. Re-gifting never felt so good.

6. Someone will get a little too into it. This employee has an entire collection of appliqued holiday sweatshirts and started celebrating Christmas before Halloween. It goes without saying that she (and it's usually a she) LOVES the Secret Santa tradition and may be the ringleader on this project every year, even if everyone else wishes it would die a quick, merciful death. Other employees might find her eagerness both endearing and cloying at the same time. Everyone assumes this employee has never watched Bad Santa.

7. Someone's Secret Santa won't stay a secret. There’s always a co-worker who can’t keep a secret, isn't there? You didn't know who your Secret Santa was five minutes ago, but -- oopsies! -- now you do. Or maybe you see your Secret Santa leaving a gift on your desk but you pretend you didn't see it happen and play along for the rest of the week. The acting routine is getting old fast, and it's only Monday.

8. Someone will dread buying for the boss. Will you draw the short stick this year? Buying for the boss can be daunting, even if your boss is the coolest person on the planet. In fact, having a cool boss could make selecting gifts even harder because you actually like this person. What if your boss has a fondness for nice (read: expensive) things or has hard-to-target tastes, though? Could your choices result in a pink slip during the next round of layoffs? You know you're being paranoid to think this way, but it's in the back of your mind as you cruise the Target One Spot. Have fun!

9. The boss will dread buying for a subordinate. If you're worried about buying for your manager, your manager might feel like he or she walking through a minefield, too. What should I buy? What message am I sending with these gifts? And what will the other employees think of my choices? Could these chocolate mousse candies lead to lower morale? Of course, if you have an executive assistant, you can just pawn the shopping off on him or her and be done with it.

10. Everyone will be secretly glad when it's over. It's Friday, you've done the final gift exchange, and you finally know who your Secret Santa is. Ah, the sweet sense of relief in no longer having to remember to leave small gifts on someone's desk when you already have enough on your plate! The secret feeling of joy is almost enough to make you pour yourself a second cup of eggnog. At the very least, you'll be ready for a pint of beer after work. From the six pack you bought at the gas station convenience mart along with yesterday's present.

SHOP RESPONSIBLY......

Read more »

How to save money at Starbucks? Is it really possible...

Yep, it sure is. I'm sure it's all in our minds, but the best part of waking up is knowing that I am going to pull up to my neighborhood Starbucks around 8:10am EST and order a " GRANDE NON-FAT TRIPLE CARMEL MACCHIATTO, EXTRA HOT...AHHH YES! Heaven, right? PUMP YOUR BREAKS..That joint costs me $5.01 per cup, multiply that by 5 days per week..That's a whopping $25.05 per week and $100.02 per month! WTH..In coffee...You would think Juan Valdez was straight brewing that coffee himself...LOL...

Well, I've since stopped buying that expensive cup of crack and started ordering a Grande Bold coffee with a toffee and carmel flavor shot (which are $.50 per pump). So, my cup of Joe goes from $5.01 to $2.66 (and if the Cashier loves you-they won't charge and your cup of flavored coffee is now $1.77). That's a whopping $50 annual savings! OMG!

Oh and sign up for the rewards program
Click here to find a Starbucks near you, in case you are one of the 10 people in the U.S. who don’t have one on the corner.
More about the My Starbucks Rewards program:
You earn points based on each transaction, so if you buy one drink, you get one point. To earn two points on two drinks, you have to ring them up on separate transactions.
If you have used your Starbucks Card five times after it’s been registered, you get:

• Free beverage on your birthday (available the first time you use it)
• Free select syrups and milk options such as soy
• Free refills on brewed or iced coffee or tea during the same store visit
• Free tall (12 fl oz) beverage with one pound of whole bean coffee purchase
• Special exclusive offers and coupons (If you want to receive everything, please make sure you opt-in to Starbucks emails)

Pretty cool huh?

Here are a few tips that I stumbled on to make your trip to Starbucks cheaper (check out the article below for more Fab Savings)

1. Bring your own cup. You can save 10 cents on every order.
2. Starbucks makes the most profit on its cold drinks such as the Frappuccino, which costs $3.75 for 12 oz.  That is 31 cents an ounce. To save, you could order a double shot of espresso for $1.95 and a free cup of ice on the side, then add in your own sweetener and milk from the condiment bar. Cost: 16 cents an ounce.
3. Instead of a latte, order a double shot of espresso and put milk in it yourself. Price difference? $1.75 versus $2.75, a savings of 43%.

  How to Save Money at Starbucks.

I hope you enjoyed your daily Savings Sound bite from yours truly!!!

Happy Monday!!

Read more »

Fab Find..Shoxie.com

I am so in love with the site I'm about to share..and prices are fairly reasonable.
Shoxie "The Ultimate Style Destination...has very unique, street style pieces, for less....

Prices range from: $8-$94....You can easily get an outfit under $150 including shoes...WOW WOW Wow!

And you know I'm a sucker for a deal...Free shipping for purchases over $50 (sweet)!

The stylist/CEO of the site is pretty is darn stylish too..Style Pantry: check out her site...

Here's a sample of what the Online Boutique has to offer.

Read more »

Blogging for DUMMIES

I've sat on this laptop for 24 hours trying to figure these templates out..YAAAY! I've made progress!!

Check out the "Foodie" link for the latest fab find for less and I will be updating the fashion link later on tonight..(I should probably eat now).

PEACE!!

Read more »

I Don't Wanna Grow Up.....

I HAVE 99 PROBLEMS AND NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THEM..LOL!

My very 1st instinct was to go to the nearest mall and buy whatever I could to totally take my mind off of the worst day of every month....the 1st. Whose bright idea was it to make everything due the 1st of the month. Uggh! But, then I remembered, I am trying to start fresh and new-and digging a deeper hole to supplement my angst was probably not the best idea.
Financial Freedom..YAAAY [insert sarcasm]!

Yesterday was payday and all funds are already allocated to go to someone else's dream-but it's all good at least I can take care of them right? [insert sarcasm]

I so wish that I listened to my parents, didn't try to grow up so fast and really payed attention to what really mattered.

Total day of reflecting...you know better, you do better! Woo-sahhhh!

Welp, have a Great Day guys! Total rant:)

Read more »

Why am I here?

Thirty-Four years ago my mother and father created this fine specimen of a woman! LOL! Totally vain,  right? I typically make everything about me; good, bad or indifferent-but that's me. So, why are you here? Why am I here? Well, speaking with a friend of mine at work-she said, "You should start a blog." I'm like, WHAT, a blog, who the HELL is going to listen to me, let alone read what I have to say? Well, here I am!! This all stemmed from being tired of being sick and tired of BROKE! As a result, I've had to find ways to supplement my expensive taste and the reality of whats in my purse.

I have an daughter, a husband, bills and vacations-all in that order!! I will share with you best practices on parenting, shopping and vacationing all on a budget. This is a work in progress because I have NO IDEA how to budget, save or anything relative to the topic-so this will be a journey as well. I will also throw in some rants and comedic relief; the stuff that keeps me going! 

This is going to be totally raw and an open forum to share as well!!

I hope you ENJOY! 

Thanks YO-YO For the inspiration!

Read more »