Black Friday - A Shopper's Delight

My favorite time of the year is finally here - Holiday Season! Cool weather, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spiced lattes, cashmere scarves, carolers, family time... You name it, I love it! But the part that truly warms my heart and what is by far the most important thing to me is that this is the time to give, never expecting anything in return, just to share joy. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the face of my loved ones light up when they open my awesome, well thought out, sentimental and unexpected gift. It's delightful! Gift. Yes. I said GIFT. Not a gift card. It's a cop out. To all of you who swear by gift cards, I say to you, "You're a lazy bum. Step your game up!" Okay, I'm off my anti-gift card soap box. Back to our normally scheduled message.

Since we're all penny pinching these days, getting that special someone the greatest gift ever all of the sudden becomes the stress of a lifetime instead of a joyful act of love an appreciation. Shopping becomes torturous. But it doesn't have to be. A little research and planning goes a long way, especially when navigating the plethora of Black Friday deals.

Black Friday can be a shopper's paradise, if well prepared. For one, the most wanted gifts will most likely be at the lowest prices of the year. Secondly, it's a chance to not only get gifts for a great bargain, but also stock your home with the appliances and electronics you've been eying for months. Flat screen television, anyone? But with prices so low, you may get sucked into buying more than you expected just to "take advantage of the deal" and consequently burning a massive hole into your budget. However, if you follow a few of my Budgetista tips, holiday shopping will be a cake walk - and your wallet will thank you for it.

1. Get your friends and family's wish list. Once you know what they want, you can split their lists up in categories, just like you would when you go grocery shopping. Think of each category as an aisle in the grocery store. If you're like me, you shop for dry goods first, then get the cold items last. The same applies to holiday shopping. You want to save the easy filler gifts for last. You know, the things that are going to be at the store regardless of the holiday hooplah, that really haven't been marked down too much, etc. The "cold" items. What you want to get first are the "hot" items, the ones that you know are at a great deal and are going to go fast. DVDs and BluRays are a popular doorbuster deal and a great gift for your movie buff BFF. Even full seasons of television series are going to be listed at next to nothing. So prioritize your day by knowing what's going to be on sale that weekend.

2. Pick up the Sunday Paper... NOW! Aside from being chock full of money saving coupons, stores will be including their Black Friday circulars (FYI, if you can't get the paper most circulars are going to be listed online). From those circulars, you'll learn a few things:

• when the stores will open on Friday morning
• how much the most anticipated items will cost that day 
• how long the sale will last (doorbuster deals, weekend deals, etc)
• if items are going to be in limited quantities

With this information, you'll be able to plan your shopping trip. Will you have to be up at 3:00am? Can you just wait until Saturday and still get a good deal? What stores do you need to hit first? What on your list can be put in the "cold" category? Once you've gotten an idea of what stores are a must on your shopping trip, move on to step three.

3. Set your budget and stick to it. You may be a pleaser who feels the need to get everything on your loved ones' lists. STOP IT RIGHT NOW! Be honest with yourself. How much can you truly afford to spend this holiday season? Have you been saving up for this? If you're thinking about relying on credit cards to get you through the season, slap yourself. One day of joy is not worth a year of debt. Once you've set your budget, the best way to stick to it is by hitting the bank. Pull out the exact amount of cash you've planned on spending and leave the plastic at home. Trust me, it's a lot harder to part with a stack of twenties than it is to bust out the debit or credit card.

4. Go forth and shop! Enjoy your shopping day. It should not be stressful at all. Don't feel bad if something on your shopping list isn't available anymore. They gave you lists, right? Then pick something else. Or go your own way and pick something completely unexpected, but totally appropriate. It's not about giving the most expensive gift. It's about sharing joy.

Take the rest of the week and not only prepare yourself for the biggest shopping day of they year, but also some wonderful quality time with your friends and family. I know I am! Have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving, lovies!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Fusion Fashion for the Financially Fit Fashionista

It should come of no surprise that I love fashion. One day I WILL own a pair of Christian Louboutins. Preferably in the year 2011. But that's neither here nor there. I know my fellow fashion addicts lust for the looks on the runway, but since few of us are celebutants, A-listers, or a Trump, the prospect of having a closet full of Chanel, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, and the likes any time soon is not yet in the cards. How does a budgetista make due in the meantime while working on on becoming their own CEO?

The fashion dieties have heard our pleas and created affordable lines for the masses, available at our neighborhood H&M, Payless, Target and Kohl's. With price points that fit everyone's budget, the financially savvy fashionista in all of us is finally satiated.

I remember being in elementary school and watching Cindy Crawford report on the latest and greatest fashion trends by designers like Isaac Mizrahi on MTV's House of Style. Yes, I've been in love with fashion since then. By the time I got to high school, I heard about his line at Target and felt like a little kid on Christmas morning! I could finally own something with Isaac Mizrahi's name on it! And so, my love affair with diffusion lines was born.

These days, high-end designers have taken diffusion lines to a whole new level. Today, H&M will have a sneak preview in select stores of it's newest collaboration line and will be available in more stores on November 23rd. The Parisian designer Lanvin has collaborated with the brand to create gorgeous dresses, with hints of vintage flair. Ruffles and bright hues make these looks perfect for any holiday soiree you have on your planner. And you know if it's at H&M, it's going not going to cost an arm and a leg. Lanvin is just the newest addition to H&M's designer collaborations. Over the years, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Madonna and even Jimmy Choo have worked with the brand, and the buzz over Lanvin Heart H&M is proving to be as anticipated as its predecessors.




Target has long been known for teaming up with designers to give us fashion hungry shoppers access to the hottest looks for less. Their latest partnership with handbag designer Mulberry is truly delightful. Together with the retailer, Mulberry has put together a collection of satchels and crossbody pocketbooks that are closely resemble their original handbags for a fraction of a fraction of the cost!

Mulberry Satchel - $1,250

Mulberry for Target Satchel - $49.99

In January of 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama looked stunning in a mint green dress by Cuban-born designer Isabel Toledo. Now we can all partake in her delicate and highly feminine designs for Payless Shoesource. Yes, I said PAYLESS! And it doesn't stop there. Project Runway's Christian Siriano is also contributing his fierce styles to the discount shoe store. With chunky heels and bold accents, we can all make the sidewalk our runway. Can we say "Vicious"?

Isabel Toledo for Payless, Toreador Pump - $44.99

Christian Siriano for Payless, Mena Dress Boot - $59.00

With that said, if you hunger for high-end fashion, you can finally satiate yourself on a low-end budget. Designers all around the world have heard your plight. Go forth and be fabulous... Budgetista style!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Pretty Boy (or Girl) Swag, FancyLo Style

They say "Don't judge a book by it's cover," but let's be real. When you're walking through Barnes & Noble, what makes you stop and browse through a novel you've never heard of before? The cover! The same same applies to people and their appearances. A well dressed person is more likely to spark the interest of those around them than someone who takes no pride in the way they look. "But it's the weekend... Why should I dress up on my day off?" Because you never know you're going to run in to.

Many of us have our normal nine to five, to which we give 110% Monday through Friday. But once it hits 5:01pm, our focus turns to our own pursuit of success. Since the world's down time is our grind time, we are constantly at work, but during those off hours, we get to be the boss. To those of you who morph into Super-CEO the minute you clock out, ask yourself "What does my weekend wardrobe say about me?"

I have a colleague who I love dearly. She has a vibrant spirit and a killer work ethic. But, up until recently, I would see her at the office looking like she had given up on herself. She's so exhausted by the daytime job, her MBA, and her own grind that she opts to hide from the world behind frumpy garb rather than take the time to unleash her inner diva. "I set out something fabulous the night before, but when I wake up in the morning, I just don't feel like making that effort anymore," she told me. With a closet full of Cole Haans, Stuart Weitzmans, and Michael Kors, she defaults to cheap flip flops and oversized sweaters that do nothing for her. She would swear up and down that she was what she likes to call FancyLo - low maintenance, but still put together. But unfortunately, her look was taking "Lo" to a whole new level. Borderline "Sloppy", actually. The more we got into our conversation, the more I realized that I wasn't seeing the half of it. If this is how she presented herself during the work week, then how on earth was she carrying herself on the weekends?

This got me thinking. How do you pull off "low maintenance" without looking like a hot mess? First, we have to start by putting your sweats where they belong - next to your gym bag and/or your cleaning supplies. Next work on your closet and make it easy to navigate. Section it off in three parts - Daytime (work), Evening (play) and Weekend (relax). Each section should make one cohesive statement about who you are, where you're going, and what you're going to do when you get there. Since weekends are normally a time to kick back and relax at your local coffee shop and work on your boss status (assuming you're like the rest of us), stock your closet with über comfortable basic pieces that say "I care about myself and my work and so should you." Skip the tailored shirts and slacks you wear all week and opt for well fitting tees in a natural material (both long and short sleeved), laid back oxford shirts, comfy sweaters, relaxed cargos, breathable leggings (for the ladies, of course), and a great pair of jeans. Stick to neutral colors to you can grab and go without having to put much thought into how things go together. The great thing is that a lot of these essential pieces are not expensive at all and you can stock up without breaking the bank. Ladies, finish off the look with a pair of adorable ballet flats, gladiator sandals or riding boots. Gentlemen, depending on your personal style, go for boat shoes, casual sneakers that show off your personal style (like Pumas or Nike SBs), or just stick with a classic and throw on a pair of Chuck Taylors. Bottom line, your weekend wear should be chic, simple, but always put together. Sometimes, less really is more.

In the great debate about the definition of FancyLo, my colleague argued that I was far to Fancy and I didn't have a Lo bone in my body. I couldn't disagree with her more. Just because I like the finer things in life doesn't mean I won't go grab brunch in a sweater and leggings (à la modern Flashdance) with little, if any, makeup. I just want my exterior to always reflect my interior. And until this conversation, she wasn't letting her amazing personality and talent shine through her wardrobe. The next day, when I saw her at the office, she looked adorably laid back - hair done in a chic pony tail, a simple but well fitting black sweater, and a printed A-line skirt. And now I know her weekend wear was equally as sophisticated. I couldn't have been more proud. She finally understood what I had been fussing with her about for weeks. If you look good on the outside, you'll feel good on the inside.

Everyone has a little FancyLo in them. I do it city style. She's all California girl. Midwesterners add their own flavor to it, etc. The point is that FancyLo should never be just Lo. There should always be some effort put into your effortless look.

So as we kick off the weekend think about what you're about to throw on to run your errands. If you were to meet who could become your best client, would you feel good about the impression you made when you handed him or her your business card? Marinate on it and have an awesome weekend!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Portrait of a Hustler: Shawntel O. Asemota of SOA Event Concepts, LLC

T.G.I.M.! Thank God it’s Monday! Most folks dread this day, as it marks the start of another torturous work week at the office. But there are few individuals in this world who smile at the mere mention of Monday. To them Monday indicates not just the beginning of the work week, but the chance to create new opportunities for success. It’s grind time!

As many of you know, I’m quite the late bloomer. Though I have a job that provides me a comfortable living, I’m not in love with it. It’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. And to be 100% honest, I’m still not sure what I want to do with my life. But now, I at least have an idea, all thanks to my best friend and entrepreneurial mentor, Shawntel O. Asemota.

I met Shawntel in the summer of 2007 at the University of Georgia in a step aerobics class. She has a certain je ne sais quoi about her that instantly drew me to her and made us fast friends. Shawntel initially starter her college career thinking she was going to become a lawyer, then retire as an event planner. She soon realized that law just wasn’t for her and switched to advertising that helped her creative juices flow freely. With her advertising degree she got a job right out of college with a direct marketing firm. Realizing that corporate America wasn’t for her she quite to pursue her passion, and reach success as an event planner. And so, SOA Event Concepts, LLC was born.

Let’s face it. Being an entrepreneur takes hard work, determination, discipline and faith. I’ve always admired Shawntel’s drive and work ethic. She is a master time manager and multi-tasker, juggling building her brand, blogging about her experiences as the Unemployed [but Empowered] Entrepreneur, freelancing as a relationship columnist, working as an event coordinator at her new job with Event Design Group, rubbing elbows with fellow grinders in her industry, and still finding time to balance and build on a successful relationship with an equally ambitious “boyfriancé”. There is nothing this woman can’t do, and yet she still finds time to be an amazing friend to me.

So in the spirit of Mondays, I encourage all of you to stop looking at today like the plague, take a  page right out of Shawntel’s proverbial book, and start seeing the world through SOA colored glasses – it’s a new beginning full of networking opportunities, business ventures, and the chance to build your own personal empire. Now, as my lovie/BFF always says, "go forth and conquer your dreams" even when everyone else is having a bad case of the Mondays.

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista