Curl Up With A Good Book…

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

Have you noticed I’ve been posting less regularly recently?  That’s because I am considering making some changes with the website and was looking at options.  Now that I have basically decided what I want to do, I feel it’s time to fill you in on the plan.

First, I will continue to post Champagne Life on a Beer Budget tips here on the blog.  It’s too much fun to give up.  However, I will now be posting every other Monday rather than even pretending to post every week.  Life is just getting in the way of that particular plan.

Second, I’m going to have an announcement and news page.  For those of you who have written saying you want to know more about the books and my writing, you’ve been heard.  I don’t have a schedule for that particular page.  As there are announcements and news to share, I will share!

Third, I’m hoping to run more contests come autumn so be sure to check back regularly!

There you have it ~ the few changes I wanted to tell you about.  Thanks for hanging in during a busy season.  Hopefully your summer has been as delightfully interesting as mine has been and you have lived a champagne life on a beer budget.

~ Pauline