The Budget Babe

The two pairs of chic ankle boots shown below look nearly identical, but one pair costs 3 times as much as the other. Can you guess which is which? Scroll down to examine both, then click on either image to check your guess!

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.

Continue reading "Off the Rack: TJ Maxx and ... »

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! Continue reading "Beauty Review: Colgate WISP ... »

Hilary Duff pairs a chunky sweater with sleek leggings and over-the-knee boots for a laid-back glam look. Recreate her ensemble with affordable fashions from Old Navy, JCPenney, Kohl's and more.



[1] Earrings - 'Cheryl' earrings, $26, chicos.com
[2] Sweater - V-neck sweater, $24.50, oldnavy.com (order one size up for a relaxed fit)
[3] Bag - Upper Eastside Leatherette Bag, $27.80, forever21.com
[4] Leggings - Elle leggings, sale $12.99, kohls.com
[5] Boots - Worthington 'Vivian' Over The Knee Boot, sale $69.99, jcp.com