Curl Up With A Good Book…

My best friend, Mitchell, loves the rare nights she gets to spend in hotels by herself. She adores her husband and daughter but every now and then, a night away is a gift.  She buys cheese and special crackers, wine and fruit and settles in for a night to take care of herself and only herself. Unfortunately, not many of us, including Mitchell, can afford a night at a hotel very often. So, we need to find a way to have a night out while staying in.

Last time, we talked about changing into our pretties for no one but ourselves. This time, we’re going to take it one step further. It takes some planning but it’s worth it. You’re worth it. Your champagne life is worth it.

Pick up a favorite snack. Depending on your budget, it can be a small wedge of good cheese, a few special chocolates, or even just cheddar and Hershey’s kisses. Then, once you’ve changed into your nightclothes, fed the dog, made the kids’ lunches, whatever, take your drink and your snack to your favorite place in the house. Dim the lights or light a candle or two and…relax.

Really go the extra step and turn off the television. Instead, put on some music, do a crossword, write a letter, or read a book. Take thirty minutes and wind down. Savor every bite. Engage all your senses. Don’t just sit mindlessly in front of the computer or with the remote. That can wait for other nights. Tonight is about this moment, your night away in your own home – and your Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.

Enjoy,

Pauline

According to Victoria, Frederick, Lulu and even Mr. Macy, one of the most special things a woman can do for her spouse is make a little effort and wear something slinky before bed. Quite honestly, I’m in total agreement with all four of them. I, however, am a fan of taking it a step further. If you’re going to put that kind of effort forth for someone else, why not do it for yourself, as well.

At some point in the evening, life slows down a bit. You take a deep breath, possibly for the first time since the alarm went off that morning. This is the time you get to be fabulous for yourself. Just like you don’t have to wear pretty undergarments when someone special is going to see them, you don’t have to only wear your lingerie when someone else is going to see it.

Right before you take that deep breath, go change your clothes. Now, I’m not talking about your old sweats and the extra-large t-shirt with the tear at the seam. No, I’m talking about the floor length satin gown, the silky men’s cut pajamas, the lacy baby doll. Whatever makes you feel sensual and gorgeous.

Pour yourself a glass of wine or brew a cup of tea. Now take the deep breath. Even if you still have to feed the dog and make the kids’ lunches, that’s okay. Seriously. You may even feel silly the first few evenings. That’s okay, too. Eventually though, the everyday events start feeling a little silkier, a little more elegant. Because who says every day has to equal frumpy? Certainly not anyone living a Champagne Life, even on a Beer Budget.

Enjoy,

Pauline

Last time, we looked at where to shop. The answer was consignment and anywhere with a good sale. Great. Now what? Well, now is what to shop for and how to shop. While this may seem easy enough – what to shop for is whatever we need and how to shop is by going to a store – let me explain. On the one hand, it is that easy. On the other hand, shopping like that is, for me anyway, a guaranteed way to blow both my champagne life and my beer budget. Here’s what I mean…

It’s easy to buy something simply because it fits and it’s functional. But how much was in your donation bag that fit and was functional and yet you still avoided wearing it? We’ve just gotten rid of everything we didn’t love wearing. It makes no sense to go replace it with clothing that is nothing more than well-fitting and functional. How many pairs of jeans and pull-overs (or hoodies or sweatshirts or sweater sets) do you really need anyway? Set yourself a higher standard than “fits and is functional.” After all, living a champagne life is more than about saving money; it’s a commitment to yourself and treating yourself well.

Yes, look for clothes that fit, but also for clothes you love and will feel good wearing. For clothes that match the style you have or the one you want to have. If you have a favorite summer outfit, try to find its winter equivalent. For example, when I gave this piece of advice to my mother regarding her favorite summer outfit – culottes and a flowy tank top – she found thick palazzo pants and lovely long-sleeved t-shirts to wear during winter. The same outfit? No. A seasonally appropriate choice that makes her feel as good as her summer outfit? Absolutely! Because as we have said so often, when you feel confident and beautiful, you look confident and beautiful. And that’s a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget!

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline

Wow. We’ve been standing in front of a cleared out closet for a long time now. Too long. Sorry about that. I think it’s time to restock, don’t you? And you know what that means…Shopping!  However, since we’re talking about shopping, it also means smart, champagne life on a beer budget shopping. Even better. This week, let’s discuss where to shop. After that, we can discuss what to shop for and how to shop. But for now, where!

For many of us, this may be a no-brainer. We have our favorite places; we have our budget; we have our style. For other of us, it’s not that easy, as much as we wish it was.

Perhaps the one good thing about the months (holy cow, months!) between clearing out the closet and now is the holidays are here. With the holidays come the holiday sales. BOGOs, coupons, special hours, special days – you name it, it’s out there. Take advantage. Who cares that it’s for your closet and not someone’s present? It’s still a gift – just to you in instead of someone else! And don’t be embarrassed to use a coupon, inquire about free shipping or ask about the timing on the next sale.

No need to disregard department stores and mall stores but do also pay close attention to places like Target and Kohls, places that have good quality and reasonable prices year-round. Any of their holiday sales can save you big bucks.  While you’re looking around, remember places like Goodwill (http://www.goodwill.org/), Savers (http://www.savers.com/) and thrift shops. The best part of these places is you get new-to-you clothing, reuse resources and help people, all at the same time. Plus, remember all those clothes you just (months ago, good grief!) cleared out of your closet? Many of these places will give you store credit in exchange for your donations. New outfits for nothing more than your old outfits? I do love a champagne life.

My one warning to you – remember the difference between inexpensive and cheap. Inexpensive is great. We’re all about inexpensive here. Cheap, not so much. Remember, it’s better to pay $10 for a sweater and be able to wear it all winter than $5 for one and have it disintigrate after one washing. Stylish and smart. That’s a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline

If making sure our “unmentionables” are nice makes us feel better, imagine what knowing our outer layers will do for us!  Which means it’s time to tackle the closet.  Many people have many suggestions around this.  To be honest, I’m lazier and less organized than most of these suggestions require.  My personal champagne life is pretty low-maintenance.  I’m not going to take pictures of each outfit to ensure it looks good.  I’m not going to hang compete outfits on the same hanger.  In fact, I’m lucky if my clothes get put away and not just stacked in a pile mentally labelled “clean.”  Still, maybe that’s just me.  If you are more ambitious than that, absolutely take pictures.  Hang outfits together.  And more power to you and your personal champagne life.  Either way, start here:

Make sure every piece in your closet works for you.  Does it still fit? Is it missing buttons or zippers?  Will you ever really replace the button or mend the zipper (and be honest with yourself here, regardless of how hard it is or how good your intentions)?

Some people have a one year rule  If you haven’t worn it in a year, throw it out.  But what if it was a mild winter?  Or a rainy summer?  I extend it to three years because, well, things sometimes happen.  My other rule? Don’t keep it if you don’t absolutely love it.  So what if it fits?  So what if it’s practically new?  Odds are good that if you don’t love it, it shows when you wear it.  If you don’t love it, why own it?  The opposite of this is true as well ~ if you love it (and it fits and all that), keep it.  Who cares if it’s out of style or you only have few occasions to wear it?  If you really love something, it shows when you wear it.  You feel better, more confident, more attractive, more you. And it’s your champagne life so keep it!  Just be honest about the fit and condition.

This doesn’t need to be a long, painful process.  Simply put your hands on each item of clothing once.  If it’s a keeper, move on.  If it’s not, throw it on the floor and move on.  And there.  You’re done. Probably with a large pile of clothing to get rid of and a little (a lot?) of space in your closet.  Which is full of clothes you love, you feel good in, and that make you happy to wear.  You know what that is, right?  It’s a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget!

Enjoy ~
~ Pauline

Everyone knows how we feel about how we look, how we’re dressed, how we’re put together, has an impact on us.  That’s why makeover shows are so popular.  When we feel as if we look good, we have more confidence in ourselves ~ which makes us look good.  It’s a lovely little circle.  We don’t, however, have to only care about what other people see.

In spite of the title of this posting, I’m going to tell you a secret rather than keeping it: I care about my underwear.  Even before I met my husband, when I was single and there was no one to see what I had on under my clothes but me, I took care with my lingerie.  As a result, I have fun underwear; I have silky underwear; I have sexy underwear.  And it’s my little secret.  After all, if I’m going to wear fun, silky, sexy things for someone else, why shouldn’t I wear them just for me?

The nice thing is nice things don’t have to cost a fortune.  Sure, if you want to, go ahead and drop $20, $25 or more on a single pair of panties.  And more power to you, if you can afford it.  For me, the whole champagne life on a beer budget thing means I need to be a little more frugal than that.  Luckily, that’s not impossible!  First, go through your drawer.  If it’s got rips or holes, please throw it out.  If it’s too big or too small, please throw it out.  If your bras aren’t the right size, please get fitted. An absurd number of women wear the wrong size bra and trust me, as a full-figured woman, nothing makes you feel better than when you finally put on the right sized one and the girls look that good.  Once you’ve been fitted, if the bras are the wrong size, throw them out.

But now what? Now it’s time to replace.  Something I’ve learned about underwear: someone is always having a sale somewhere. My favorite bras were on sale 50% off at two different stores last week.  I don’t remember the last time I spent more than $3.99 on a pair of panties.   Even our favorite secret keeper, Victoria, regularly has panties on sale for 4 for $20.  Sure, that’s more than $3.99 but if shopping there is part of your champagne life, it’s still a bargain.

Are your underclothes hugely important?  Nope.  If we’re honest, not really.  But why shouldn’t we be as good to ourselves when it’s just us, as we are to whomever is lucky enough to see what’s underneath the clothes?  It’s one of those little touches that can bring a little ~ albeit secret ~ smile and that make it a champagne life even on a beer budget!

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline