The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Off the Rack: TJ Maxx and Marshalls September Finds


Just before the Fashion Week madness struck, I paid a quick visit to both my nearest TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores to check out their summer clearance shoes and see what was new for fall. Here are some highlights: The Cube at Marshalls has all the edgy teen must-haves that grown ups can wear on the weekends, too, like cargos, distressed jeans, tons of plaid shirts and chambray ones, too. Most items are priced under $30. I'm addicted to ruffle tops, tees, tanks, cardigans, you name it, so I wanted to see if Marshalls had this current trend in-stock, and they definitely did! My favorite piece was a black ruffle front tank by MICHAEL Michael Kors, priced under $30 - why pay more at a department store, right? At TJ Maxx, I was pleased to find a couple pairs of shoes from DV by Dolce Vita as well as Kelsi Dagger - two cool brands that are very on-trend at the moment, nice to see current styles at a substantial discount. Finally, my TJ Maxx had a ton of new handbags, including some designer names like Cynthia Rowley, Hype, Lucky Brand and B. Makowsky. Yes, you have to dig, but if you know what to look for, there are some serious savings to be had.

More photos after the jump!

Shown above: BCBGeneration swoopback pumps, $39.99 (compare at $75). Lauren Conrad wore a similar pair here.

Beauty Review: Colgate WISP Plus Whitening


The Budget Beauty Babe finds a convenient, affordable way to get that just-brushed-teeth feeling on the go. —BB



by The Budget Beauty Babe
So, I'm going to be totally honest here. When I first saw the Colgate WISP ($7.79 per 4 packs x 4 brushes box) on the market I thought it was a dumb idea, and I said to myself, "Why would I ever need a tiny toothbrush?!"

Boy, was I wrong.

After receiving several complimentary samples of Colgate WISP to test, I have had to eat my words. To my surprise, I absolutely love having these mini mouth refreshers in my purse or bag whenever I need them. They are the perfect thing to keep in your purse when you are out and about as they require no water, no rinsing and they are disposable (which is the one eco-unfriendly downside). Meeting friends right after work and don't have time to get to real toothbrush? Use a Wisp! Eat something freaky before an important meeting? Use a Wisp! Traveling (need I say more)? Use a Wisp!