The Budget Fashionista

My friend Barb is brilliant, beautiful, and beyond practical. I mean, she develops SQL databases for fun. She also refuses to pay more than $10 for any piece of clothing (I called her the budget-budget fashionista). At a size 4, she can actually do this without looking like a K-Mart Paris Hilton. The frugalness has paid off, for she and her partner Rob, are the proud owners of a house. Now her ultra frugalness has transferred from mini-skirts to budget …

From my girls over at Portland Picks . . . There’s a sample sale at the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams showroom on W. Burnside Ave in Portland, Oregon. I’m posting this because I’m a huge fan of MG+BW. The furniture, sold at stores like Crate ‘n’ Barrel, is pricey, but well worth it.  My yellow MG+BW chaise lounge has suffered through three major moves and is still in amazing shape (more than I can say for my IKEA furniture). Sample …

Q:I was reading Lucky Mag’s online site, and one of their websites of the week was cb2.com, crate and barrel 2.  The website says it has modern styles . . . What’s the deal with 2 Crate and Barrels, and does this mean there will be two different types of Crate and Barrel stores, or that this new portion will be coming into the old ones? Target.com

A: Cb2 is Crate and Barrel’s hipper, more design focused, store that targets a young audience than the main store. Think Ikea, but more pricey.  Right now it’s only a website and two brick and mortar stores in Chicago and there isn’t a great deal of buzz about the store in the shopping community. Don’t expect to see these designs in the main C&B stores anytime soon.

So I’m reading my issue of House Beautiful (which I got for free because Budget Living Magazine tanked) and I found these great tips on how to make your own duvet cover and shower curtain using a old table cloths. Here’s how to do it: Duvet Cover: Find an oversize old tablecloth. Measure a queen duvet cover. Take a white linen (or any white sheet) and mark it off with the measurements. Pin the tablecloth to it. Cut off excess fabric. …

There’s nothing like signing the lease to your first apartment. Now instead of sharing a bathroom with 10 people you do not know, you get to share a bathroom with 10 of your closest friends. Hopefully, you got more space than your dinky dorm room, but how do you tastefully furnish (bed, desk, dresser, chair, possibly a couch?) a space on less than $100? Here are some places I used to furnish my first apartment: ~ Grandparents/parents—Grandparents always have way too …

Get the latest budget home decor scoop from our stylish sister blog, The Budget Casa: ~ The Cuteness: it’s a new series at The Budget Casa, featuring the cutest home pieces you can pick up for less—like this totally adorable Mini Bear Smile Skillet. ~ Sweater pillows -- sounds cuddly, right? And easy to, with this step-by-step DIY project, recycle that tired old sweater into something you can use. ~ Love Smartbargains.com for fashion items? Well, your home style can …