Sunday, September 30, 2012

WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE

 
 "BE HAPPY FOR THIS MOMENT, THIS MOMENT IS YOUR LIFE"

 
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your Partner or best friend, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take lots of pictures, make wonderful memories, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, and no second chances. Each morning we wake up is a gift. You just have to live life to the fullest. Tell someone what they mean to you or how much you love them or tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone’s hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be sweet and smile until your face hurts. Always be true to yourself and be the best you can be. Don’t be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all; live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness in your life you can never get back again. 

"LIVE YOUR DREAM.
CREATE YOUR LIFE.
LEAD WITH INTENTION."
 ~BY: AQUA BLUTOPIA ~


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 

Saturday, September 29, 2012

How to Dress Like a Fashionable Fashionista on a Non-Expensive Low Budget


By: Aqua Blutopia NYC



 It is so easy to get carried away on a fashion shopping spree. However, if you are on a tight budget, you may end up paying dearly if you are not wise with your choices and buying habits.

Dressing fashionably does not necessarily mean spending a fortune. By learning a little fashion shopping know-how, you'll be able to come up with a terrific wardrobe at budget saving prices. By taking advantage of what you already have, considering on-line auctions and consignment stores, rent or borrowing clothes for a special occasion. You can come up with incredible outfits at incredibly low prices. Once you've spent some time looking through fashion magazines to determine what "look" you want to achieve through your clothing choices, take advantage of the following steps to shop for fashionable clothes on a budget.  Dressing Fashionable on a non-expensive budget is possible; this article offers some advice and tips that can help:

Advice & Tips:

Know your budget and stick to it. Decide on how much money you are willing to spend without breaking the bank. When budgeting your money, set aside portions that you would use for your basic needs like food, shelter and other bills to pay. Yes, clothing is also a necessity, but if you can hold off on buying a new dress until you have saved enough money, you will not feel guilty about it.
 
1)    Take advantage of clothes you already have in your closet. For example, if you have a great skirt but nothing to go with it, a whole new outfit is an unnecessary expense when all it will take is a new jacket or blouse. A plain dress that you are tired of wearing might be perked up by a fabulous new scarf. Make a list of the fashion pieces you need before you head out to shop. In addition, you might carry along a shopping bag filled with anything that needs to be matched.
 
2)    Use accessories to give your outfit a fresh look. Buy a couple of nice belts and scarves that you can use as accessories that can change the look of your outfit. People would think you are wearing a different outfit even if what you added is only a scarf or a belt. Wear a necklace or a choker; put a brooch that you can pin on your V-neckline dress.  Other accessories you can use to update your outfit: handbags, hats, hair pins, gloves, corsages and jewelries.

 
3)     Avoid high-end stores as much as possible. Never get tempted to buy a brand name that would cost as much as your paycheck. You can window shop and check out the latest trends, then go to a lower-end department store that carry clothing that maybe similar in fashion but cheaper in price. You can put together an outfit for a fraction of what it would cost to buy at a high-end store.

 
4)    Make your computer your shopping companion. Consider online auction sites for all of your clothing needs. Hundreds of bargains are available every day. Look for sellers with a solid record of positive feedback. Comparison shop for online bargains using sites such as that listed in the sources below. For buying shoes, you can't beat some of the online sources for great prices on footwear, especially those that allow you free postage---both for your order and for items that need to be returned.


5)    Try wearing vintage clothes. Rummage through your parents' and your grandparents' closets; you'll never know what treasure may be hiding in them. There are also discount and thrift shops that sell vintage clothes. Fashion comes around after every few years or decades. A 60's style mini dress has gone back and forth several times through the years. Imagine Audrey Hepburn at the beginning of the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" wearing a black classic dress. That dress had been copied by designers several times and it doesn't go out of style. Some vintage clothes become such a classic that you would want to hang on to them a lot longer as they do several more rounds throughout the years. Your next generation would appreciate you for doing so.

 

6)    Borrow or rent clothes. There is nothing wrong about borrowing or renting clothes if it can save you a lot of money if you are going to a party and you need to dress up, try borrowing or renting clothes. Chances are, you may not need to wear similar clothes again, and so investing your hard earned money on these clothes is something you would want to avoid. Borrow a dress that you would wear for an office formal dinner from your parents, siblings, relatives and friends since they would not be at the same party as you are.  . If you are going to attend a wedding or any formal gathering where you need to wear a very nice outfit, borrowing or renting it is not a bad idea. Chances are, you'll never wear that same outfit again, and so it would give you the look for very little money compared to buying one.



7)    Take advantage of the incredible buys at consignment shops. These stores are full of nearly new items that women have turned over to the store to sell, giving the sellers a percentage of the profit. This is a particularly good source for dressy clothes, as the women who bring clothes in have often purchased a special occasion dress that they would not want to wear again. And you might consider bringing in some of your own clothes to be put up on consignment; in this case you might be given a discount or "trade-in" for an item you would like to purchase.


8)    Wait for a sale. If you are eyeing a very nice dress that just came out and the price is somewhat hard to stomach, wait for it to go on sale. Department stores are known to slash prices on almost a weekly basis. Wait until your item goes on sale before you buy it. Never buy full price if you know that department store will put it on sale a month later. You would feel bad afterwards knowing you could have gotten it at a much lower price. Trends stay a lot longer than that so don't worry, your favorite dress will not go out of style right away.

a.   When going to a department store, check out the clearance racks first. There are items being discontinued that are priced between 50-75% lower than the original price. You may be able to pick up a couple of good ones and still have money left over for a new pair of shoes and some accessories.

b.   Buy at the end of the season. Look for sales, especially at large department stores, where the season's merchandise is hugely discounted. In addition to the 75 percent off , Sometimes these stores eventually offer coupons for an additional percentage off--for as much as an additional 40 percent--in the local newspaper during the days of the sale. A $100 dress, under such circumstances, would sell for $15.

9)    Don't wait to find a special occasion dress at the last minute. Buy a couple of dressy outfits whenever you see them at bargain prices; they'll be waiting in your closet for you when you need them.
 
10)                       Always check all clothes you buy at bargain prices for flaws before you pay for them---they may not be returnable.

Must Follow Tip: 
Buy quality not quantity. Instead of buying a dozen cheap dresses, save your money on a couple or more really nice ones that are made of quality materials. Oftentimes, people think if they buy cheaper clothes they are saving money. Though it may seem at first glance, since your money bought more pieces, it does not always mean that you are saving a lot. There are clothes that get worn out after only being used a couple times.
Cheap clothing materials sometimes shrink when you wash, so you would end up buying new clothes again if you see they do not fit you anymore. Buying quality over quantity will save you more money in the long run since they tend to last longer.



Thursday, September 27, 2012

Options on How to Create the Perfect Date on a Low cost Budget.


Options on How to Create the Perfect Date on a Low cost Budget.

By: Aqua Blutopia

Date night doesn't have to mean shelling out more cash than you're comfortable with. If you're currently in saving mode and your credit cards need time to breathe after a serious bout of spending, there are a few low-cost options to consider. But cutting back on spending doesn't have to mean boring. We've put together some fun, frisky yet frugal ideas for your next date night. Here are some options on how to create a perfect date on a low cost budget.

 

1 Romantic dinner

Forgo a fancy (and expensive) restaurant for a candlelit dinner at home. Choose a recipe you both want to try, pick up some wine and cook up a storm. Cooking together can be very sexy and often take you from behind the counter to under the covers, if you know what we mean...

Delicious and simple dinner ideas:

Wine and cheese. Visit a local cheese shop and pick up a variety of cheeses to try. When you buy the wine, ask for help choosing some wines to pair with your purchases, or ask the cheese monger for suggestions. Round out your romantic dinner with fresh fruit, olives, fresh bread and a variety of spreads and chutneys.

Picnic. If it's nice out, you can do this outdoors, but if you both live in apartment buildings or the weather isn't ideal for outdoor eating, enjoy your tasty spread inside on a quilt laid out on the ground. Think simple yet flavorful fare that's easy to eat such as tea sandwiches, pasta salad with seasonal veggies, roasted potatoes with creamy aioli for dipping and brownies for dessert.

Make something totally new. Have you always wanted to try your hand at Korean BBQ or tackle something Mexican? Now's your chance to really do something different while having fun in the kitchen together.

2 Sexy spa night

Giving each other massages is a great way to spend a romantic night in together. Set the mood with scented candles, soft music and low lighting and take turns working out the kinks and making each other feel great.

If you're going to try this option for a low-cost, romantic date night, it's worth putting in the effort to really create a relaxing atmosphere. This means cleaning the house, getting rid of clutter (spas are known for their minimalist decor, after all) and brightening up the space with fresh cut flowers and other nature-inspired accents.

3 Fresh air fun

Depending on the weather where you are, heading outdoors for a hike, nature walk or even to do something sporty is a fun and cheap date idea. You'll get fresh air, exercise and get to spend time having fun together without spending much (or any) money. Some fun and active ideas include:

  • Playing tennis
  • Heading to the park to toss around a frisbee or baseball
  • Exploring a neighborhood you've never spent time in
  • Checking out local attractions in your town or city that you usually bypass
  • Making it a double or even triple date by planning a game of touch football or capture the flag with other couples