BEST OF 2009!!!

This week I'll feature some of the "best of..." for 2009 (as determined by me, very "official", huh?) of the posts here at good life for less. Then next week I'll be back and of course, better than ever! Enjoy!

~~~

Looking to entertain on a dime? Here's how I pulled together a girls night dinner party table-scape with items I already owned plus some pink napkins! Voila!

~~~


I love to entertain... I don't do it enough! And it's on my list this year... so it feels good to do things I set after at the beginning of the year.

Here's a picture by picture of how I set a table for 10 with things I already had around the house - plus a budget of $25 for some extras as needed. I actually stayed WAY under budget...

Here is my dining table and to that I added my desk - both are from IKEA and I was thrilled to discover that the glass tops were identical in measurements... just different legs.

Earlier in the day I had measured the length and width of the tables combined and stopped by the fabric store for one long piece of muslin.  At $1.49 a yard - I needed 4 yards - this only cost me about $6.00 for the table cloth!  I quickly ironed it, but otherwise left it as is!

Next up I picked up two small pots of Angel's Tears - one of my favs because they are so sweet and have great texture - and added them to pots I already had.  These were the centerpieces.  Each plant cost $2.99 - so only another $6.00 approximately! Oh, and a couple of tea lights... I had those hanging around too!

Next up were the placemats.  When I was coming up with a theme I knew it had to be centered around lime green and brown - because those were the placemats I had!

Next up, I pulled out the silver chargers... (already had those too!)

Then to add some girly whimsy I picked up these pink polka-doted napkins... only $5.00 for these!

Then flatware and glasses....

I thought I was done... but something seemed to be missing.  I found some ribbon and made a "runner" the entire length of the table with it.

That seemed to be just what the table needed!  Here's the finished product... all for about $17.00 and what I already owned!

The night was absolutely fabulous... that due mostly to the tasty food and the amazing guests!

How do you "dinner party"?

Don't forget...

The lovely good life for less newsletter will be delivered right to your desk on the first day of 2010. I know, such great service, huh? Just sign up below!

Kisses!

Jill

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BEST OF 2009!!!

This week I'll feature some of the "best of..." for 2009 (as determined by me, very "official", huh?) of the posts here at good life for less. Then next week I'll be back and of course, better than ever! Enjoy!

~~~

Work it Wednesday has always been one of my favorite features... here is one that I loved at the time and continue to love. The destroyed denim look.

~~~

I am just loving all of the destroyed denim that is popping up on sites and at retailers this spring... I feel like we got a glimpse at this trend earlier this spring and that going through the summer and into fall it will gain speed.

But being 30 and being a mom and being a bit on the conservative side... I have to ask myself: is this trend appropriate for me? If you aren't 19 and have thought about sporting this trend you may ask yourself the same thing. If you are 19... well, just go for it girl!

Here are three conservative and appropriate ways to wear destroyed denim:

destroyed denim three ways by Jill GG featuring Miu Miu bags

Here are a couple of affordable and chic options...

I almost can't believe that cut-off shorts are coming back... I remember how I used to obsess over them in junior high. Ah, what goes around, comes around.

More Arden B...

I absolutely LOVE this pair... the cuffs, the distressing... the price tag! It's all just perfect!

More Charlotte Russe...

I love this skirt... I'm not such a skirt person, but I am seriously contemplating a denim skirt purchase soon.

More Forever 21...

Are you rockin' destroyed denim these days? Do tell!

BEST OF 2009!!!

This week I'll feature some of the "best of..." for 2009 (as determined by me, very "official", huh?) of the posts here at good life for less. Then next week I'll be back and of course, better than ever! Enjoy!

~~~

This is the first EVER good look for less wardrobe consult I ever completed (and posted!). A lot of the items are sold out and the outfits have a definite spring feel to them. But it's fun to take a look back at where it all began. Since then I have posted over almost 50 additional wardrobe consults and completed many more!

~~~

I got a little email recently from a Good Life for Less reader named Angela. It went like this:

"I love following your blogs and posts on Polyvore. I'm a working mom of 2 and find that I have much less time to shop. Have you considered offering personal shopping/wardrobe building? I like your style and would definitely would think about using you for this service."

Well, well, well Angela. Did you ring the right person! If there is one thing I love, that is creating outfits on polyvore and shopstyle - so of course I was up to the challenge of helping this working mom out with updating her wardrobe! (And if there are two things I love, it is working moms - I salute you - and hope to join you! soon!)

So of course I jumped right in to help Angela. This is how she described her desired style:

"I used to work in an environment where I had to wear a suit everyday. That was really easy. Now, I work in a corporate casual environment -- I'm struggling with infusing some style into my look and find myself relying on twinsets and slacks. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not very exciting.

So, I'm interested in both work and casual attire. I would characterize myself as pretty conservative, but I'd like to be more conservative chic. I guess I'd like to have style more like Kelly Ripa, Debra Messing, Reese Witherspoon, Eva Mendes, Christina Applegate or the ultimate, Michelle Obama. I'm 36 years old, so these ladies are probably closer to my reality than the younger personalities and actresses whom I don't even recognize."

Angela had informed me that she had set aside $700 - $800 for her new wardrobe investments. With that knowledge and the details she gave me about her style desires I compiled a suggested shopping list - I call it the good LOOK for less:



Can you believe that we could add 29 (TWENTY NINE) pieces to her wardrobe within that budget! The new wardrobe includes shoes, handbags, tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets, belts... the whole she-bang!

Then the good stuff... armed with that shopping list I was able to compile 10 (TEN) complete LOOKS for her and posted those to shopstyle as well... here are just a few!









With solid basics and some fun and trendy pieces thrown in... the options are truly endless!

Best wishes to you Angela! And happy shopping!

~~~

Interested in learning more about my wardrobe consultation services? Click here or email me at goodlifeforless @ gmail.com!

BEST OF 2009!!!

This week I'll feature some of the "best of..." for 2009 (as determined by me, very "official", huh?) of the posts here at good life for less. Then next week I'll be back and of course, better than ever! Enjoy!

~~~

This is a fun guest post that my husband did almost a year ago... homemade latte's for less! I loved this post... hope you will too! (darn, but I can't get the pictures bigger... sorry!)

~~~

This is my husband's second guest post and I am so excited to have him back! If you missed his first post... here it is.

Today he is giving you internets a lesson on how to make lattes for less than 50 cents a serving. And I wouldn't believe how good they are for so cheap either - except lucky me gets to drink one of these amazing concoctions every morning hand-made by him!

This also kicks off the first in what will be a sporadic series called "this is how we do it."

~~~

It’s a distant memory now…February 10th, sunny skies, 62 glorious degrees, snow melting in waterfall down the driveway. I’m thinking Cuervo Margaritas, chips and salsa verde and that sweet smell of fake coco-nutty sun tan lotion. Not so fast Mr. I-wear-shorts-when-it-gets-above-60-degrees. Michigan smacked me in the face again last week and it’s still battering me about the neck, cheeks, ears and toes.

What better to do when the cold weather and crappy economy are tag teaming your sanity? Make cheap Lattes of course!

OK, I must admit, my wife always had me running to the local Starbucks on Saturday mornings to pick her up a $4.00 Grande Non-Fat Latte with Sugar-Free Vanilla and she always seemed so pleased and smug about drinking it slowly over the next 4 hours.

A couple weeks ago I was digging through one of our long forgotten top shelves in the kitchen and found this little gadget that looked like a teenie weenie coffee pot. It’s called a macchinetta and you can get one for around $30 (the
Bialetti 6-c. Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker, Silver
is a nice one from Starbucks that is a 6 cup model... ours is a single cup model). I did a little research and thought it was high time I take some personal credit for that Saturday smugness that Starbuck’s had previously laid claim to.

It turns out this little Italian invented wonder makes awesome espresso. I’ve found a way to put my wife on cloud 9 for less than 50 cents per serving. Husbands, listen up:

Step 1: Get familiar with the parts.

There’s a bottom reservoir with a removable section where the coffee grounds are placed, and an upper assembly that consists of a “filter”, gasket and a top chamber that the finished espresso eventually fills up.

Step 2: Add water to the lower chamber (up to the little steam release valve) and mound the coffee grounds in a nice plump hill. No tamping or packing needed.



Step 3: Pour 6-8 oz of low fat milk in a saucepan. Low fat milk froths better than the real good stuff. If you don’t have any toddlers, chances are you’re rockin' the watery stuff anyway.

Step 4: Apply high heat to both saucepan of milk and prepped Macchinetta. Whisk milk constantly and be careful not to boil. Froth as much or as little as desired. For my wife, the more froth, the better. Beware, more froth means more insulation for this lava like liquid. It will stay hot under that foam so drink with caution. This heating process will take 2-3 minutes depending on the volumes you’re dealing with.




Step 5: Listen for the hiss of the Macchinetta. Once it hisses, it running close to empty. Most of the water has rapidly boiled and escaped to the area of lowest pressure; the top chamber. In the process it’s made its way through the coffee grounds and extracted awesome flavor and more importantly, high doses of caffeine. If you like some sweetness in the drink, now’s the time to add some sugar, or flavored syrup to your mug.


Step 6: Pour the espresso in the mug, pour the frothed milk over the espresso and enjoy.



Cost Per Serving after purchase of Macchinetta: - $0.47
Coffee - $0.21
Milk - $0.24
Sugar – $0.02
Lip Smacking, Smug Faced Goodness – Priceless

Andrew

January Advertising!

***PLEASE NOTE: UPDATED FOR FEBRUARY 2010***

Looking for an effective and inexpensive way to advertise your business, your blog or your services? Look no further!

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- 3 month minimum

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- advertising on good life for less OR one hundred inspirations

- one "sponsor spotlight" post per 3 month renewal period

- 150 x 50 pixel button on upper right column ("Brought to you by...")

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- 5 instance minimum, dates can be chosen by sponsor

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- this is an exciting new opportunity for one advertiser per month to sponsor my monthly newsletter, will feature a top-level featured article,

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Any and all inquiries should be emailed to goodlifeforless @ gmail.com !!

**Please note that I reserve the right to choose which advertisers may or may not be appropriate for my readers.

Merry Christmas!

(photo card design via announcing you)

shopping guide: {last minute!}

Yikes... the finish line is close (Christmas!) and if you haven't ordered online yet, you're going to have to find some great last minute gifts in your town. These last minute ideas are either found at your local grocer/big box store or will take a few clicks of your mouse to achieve... but don't be alarmed... they are still Santa-approved!

(1)

Who doesn't love a home-spun mix tape?

Dial up iTunes and with a few clicks you have a ultra-personal and ready to go gift!

(2)

Champagne is "in-season"...

Between Christmas and New Year's your gift recipient can surely find the right moment to crack open a bottle of GOOD champagne! Stop by your local grocer and spend a few extra bucks to spoil a friend or loved one!

(3)

A magazine subscription, for the person that has it all!

Quick snag a few mags from your local grocer or big box store... wrap them up in a fun gift bag, but not before snagging the subscription postcards from inside them! You pay for the subscription to land on your friends door each month for a year and they won't stop thanking you!

(4)

TOMS!

E-cards are available for purchase online and your recipient will get an email on Christmas morning with instructions on how to redeem it for a new pair of kicks. I happened to be the recipient of one of these last year and absolutely LOVED it!

(5)

Fresh Orchids...

So glamorous, so elegant and so EASY! My local grocer always has an amazing selection of orchids available year round... and usually they are under $25. They last for about a month when taken home and are perfect for the hard-to-buy for!

my outfit: visions of sugar plums!

With all the holiday hub-bub, I had completely forgotten that I had ordered this amazing MATT & NAT bag from GILT recently! I was THRILLED to say the least to unwrap this little treat for myself. One way to get out of rut with neutrals (which I am a slave to) is fun punches of color in your accessories. I think this purse officially brings me out of my rut for the winter. I was so proud of myself for stepping out of the box and buying a handbag that wasn't brown, black or grey.

Saturday Errands

MATT & NAT Handbag, GILT (Here's the same one...

but I got mine for way cheaper at GILT!)

Velvet Blazer, JCrew

T-shirt, JCrew

Leopard Print Belt, Forever 21 (similar)

Jeans, Gap

Classic Short Uggs, Nordstrom

good LOOK for less: Tonya of Kotori!

A few weeks back Tonya contacted me to do a quick wardrobe consult for her to spruce up her winter wardrobe a bit! Many of you may know Tonya from her lovely blog, Kotori. She's a busy mom from Texas that not only blogs, but has a little jewelry business on the side that is a MUST SEE for moms looking for timeless ways to honor their children in jewelry form.

Tonya had a budget of about $200, including a gift certificate for Nordstrom that she wanted to use for some new boots and two great pairs of Sevens jeans to build on. Here's what her shopping list looked like:

If your wardrobe needs a spruce up this time of year... think tops and fun accessories! You won't believe how far your money can go! Here's some outfits I put together for Tonya...

I can't say enough about the power of metallics this season. They keep your look modern and sophisticated and every shade between silver and gold are perfectly acceptable - so they are easy too! I love this look because it is very simple to wear, but looks great, no?

You know me... I just love scarves! Add them to this casual outfit for a bit of texture and flair. I am loving this casual "mom-friendly" outfit that is chic as well!

Tonya has an creative side. I wanted to reflect that in her clothing as well, but without going overboard. This bold yellow top and floral necklace do the trick, if I do say so myself.

Happy Shopping Tonya!

~~~

Interested in learning more about my wardrobe consultation services? Click here or email me at goodlifeforless @ gmail.com!

yes, please.

American Apparel at GILT FUSE... please tell me you've been there already!?!?!

(I have.)

A ton of funky basics, most at LESS THAN $20 - what a steal!







Use my invite if you need one! Hurry along now...

yea for Old Navy!

I've noticed lately that Old Navy's "Women's Plus" line is really 'bringing it' lately, so to say.

I get a lot of inquiries from women that aren't necessarily in the Plus Size sizes that some stores offer, but still find that the average XS - L offerings that other stores depend on just aren't cutting it for their bodies! Old Navy carries XXL in their women's clothing and then offers additional select items in 1X - 3X. And frankly, this can be especially helpful for women that have larger chests, because it can be hard to dress a larger chest.

I love these modern yet modest cuts, fun embellishments and bold jewel tones.

DRESSES

(from left to right: Embellished Cross Front Dress, $29.50, Applique Jersey Dress, $25, Belted Kimono Sleeve Dress, $19.99, Button Front Dress, $12.99)

TOPS

(from left to right: Ruffled V-Neck, $24.50, Smocked Ruffle Top, $24.50, Rosette Applique Top, $19.50, Pleated Chiffon Top, $24.50)

Lovely, no? Any of these tops would be great with jeans and a black tuxedo blazer - perfect for the holidays!

good LOOK for less: EXPRESS, Holly!

Today's good LOOK for less EXPRESS consult is for Holly... here's a bit about her:

I am a 26 year old who's just moved to San Francisco. I am a house manager. Most of my week is spent running errands, overseeing staff/projects, hanging with the kids, cooking and tidying up. When I look in my closet I see nothing that fits or that is appropriate for the eratic and ever changing weather in the city. Can you suggest some looks that will keep me professionally polished, yet still able to chase after kids and spilt milk while also warm?

Layering seems to be the key here along with some casual and versatile pieces that can be dressed up easily with some nice accessories... so here we go!

Isn't a trench coat mandatory if you live in San Fran... seems like it would be! I love that this one has a touch of sheen to it to snazzy it up a bit. Mixed with some basics it's smoldering, no?

Here a simple t-shirt is dressed up with some fun texture around the neckline and a simple blazer slips on and off for quick changes in the weather. I love the accessories with this one... so modern yet simple.

Again, layers that are easy to shed or add on to at any time are key. Here I paired them with some bright corduroy's that "make" the entire outfit! I love these fun and youthful accessories!

Happy Shopping Holly!

~~~

If you would like to get on the "list" for one of my good LOOK for less EXPRESS (free) consults, email me at goodlifeforless @ gmail.com - or click here for more info on my wardrobe consultation services!