DIY Show stopping scarves!

With the new year and recently becoming engaged, I have found myself putting my budget at the top of my priority list and it being even more strict than before. However, a tight budget doesn’t always mix well with a shopaholic. I have managed to stay under my budget with all of the help from my internet BFF, Pinterest! I’ve been in need for a new scarf for awhile but I haven’t allowed myself to spend the money on the $45.00 scarf I saw at Macy’s.  So, I decided to make my own! For how much you ask? FREE!   Here’s how:

You need:

• Old tee-shirt
• scissors
• glue

1. Lay the t-shirt flat on the ground. Use your scissors to cut about 1″ rows of fabric all the way to the armpit of the shirt.

(The dog is optional ha. )

2. Pull each strand so it is stretched out and each piece is around the same length.

Photo Courtesy of Ette Studios

• Gather all of the pieces together. I looped them on the palm of my hand so they were all hanging from my hand at full length. Since I used a shirt that had a seam in it, i put all of the seams together so they were easier to hide.
  

  Photo Courtesy Ette Studios

  3. Cut an additional piece of fabric from the shirt to use to wrap around the seams to cover them and also add some design to your scarf. Glue the end of the additional fabric down so it doesn’t come loose.

  

4. You can play around with what you want to add to your scarf, or just leave it plain, but I wanted to add some subtle “bling” to mine.  I had an old necklace from Forever 21 laying around that was perfect.  It was added simply by mixing the chain in with my fabric and braiding it in. I wrapped the additional fabric around the top of the chain where the seams of the shirt were being covered to make sure the chain would be secure.

5.  You’re finished! Best part of these is that they are totally custom and so easy to make! You can dress them up or wear them with your favorite casual outfit as well for a little added flare!

I’d love to see what you all come up with!

Lose weight all day? Sure!

While I was recently browsing through my daily morning Yahoo articles, I came across one that instantly caught my eye. “How to lose weight all day long.” Uh, Hello! Of course I’m going to read that! I was expecting the same old “don’t do this, run a lot, don’t eat this” sort of thing, but I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised. I read the article about a week ago and I have been following it’s guidelines along with my fellow blogger, Sandi’s tips and 100 workout. So far, only in a week I have lost 2 pounds and I feel so much better already! Amazing? I know. Who knew what a little bit of advice and self-discipline could do !  So let me share these awesome tips with you!

You should try as best you can to keep your body on the same schedule.  Within an hour of waking up and before you eat breakfast, squeeze in 20 minutes of cardio. If  you can do this outside, even better. Research has shown that early morning sunlight can help your body set itself on a healthier sleep and wake schedule.

Photo Courtesy motiveweight.tumblr.com/

Before and after every meal drink 8 ounces of water.  This will help you get filled up faster and help your metabolism speed up.  After your cardio, don’t keep your body’s “feed me” scream hanging on for too long.  Make sure you eat within an hour of waking up and after your cardio.  If you put off eating breakfast for too long, it will make you even more hungry as time ticks by.

Photo Courtesy motiveweight.tumblr.com

I was not a believer in this next one until I finally did it right.  Eat every 3-4 hours.  That hunger scream comes back once you really get into the swing of the cardio in the morning because your metabolism will be faster. Keep the hunger suppressed and have a snack every few hours. I have found that snacking on things with a texture to them psycologically is better to me. Things like carrots, celery and green peppers have been my snack of choice due to the “crunch factor”.

Photo Courtesy motiveweight.tumblr.com

Around 3:30 pm is the time where if you feel you need a boost, now is the time to drink your last cup of joe!Drinking coffee after 4:00 PM disturbs your sleep cycle and can keep you from falling asleep.

From 4:00PM -8:00 PM is the best time to do your strength training. This is because it’s when your body temperature is the highest, so you’re ready for your best performance in the gym yet!

Photo Courtesy Les Mills Body Pump

To make sure you don’t have those late night cravings, eat dinner somewhere between 5:00PM and 7:00PM.

It’s crucial for your body to stay on a regular sleep schedule. Of course, we have later nights than others, but you should try to limit the number of those nights.  Your body feels more refreshed and energized when it’s on a regular sleep schedule.  So around 10:00 each night, stop texting,  turn off Jersey Shore and go to sleep!

Stick to this plan, and I can guarantee you will see results!

Ride away with this amazing bargain on boots.

I’ve been shopping all my life, and I feel like I still have nothing to wear! If you’re anything like me, I’m constantly trying to keep up with the latest trends that seemingly change over night, especially when it comes to shoes.  One of the hottest trends this fall/winter has been the “riding boot.”  You can catch all of the exclusive celebrities wearing these “fashion casual” boots everywhere.  But unlike most celebrities, we don’t have limitless wallets.  Some of the top brands such as Michael Kors or Frye can run anywhere from $250 up and past $500 per pair!

Photo courtesy of endless.com

Those numbers don’t fit into most of our wallets who are on a frugal budget.  After being on the hunt for the perfect boot, I stumbled upon Urbanog.com, which now has become my online shopping BFF.  Urbanog.com has every style of shoe imaginable with prices that cannot be beat.  I was a bit skeptical about buying the boots from an online website with such low prices and not being able to see the boots until they arrived at my doorstep.  I have been very pleasantly surprised!

The quality of the material (leatherette) is great. The zipper, which I was most worried about, is sturdy and the boot itself is one of the most comfortable pair of boots I own.  Without a doubt, these have been the best $40.00 (free shipping!) that I have spent on a pair of boots.

Sign up for the mailing list and receive $5 promo code, a promo code will be emailed to you shortly after you sign up.  I recommend Urbanog.com to anyone! Your wallet, style and feet will thank you.

Directly from the Broke Girls

We are the Broke Girls.  We assume there are many others out there just like us.  Regardless of your gender, orientation, color, smell, height, weight, shoe size, job, or favorite color, we all have something in common…betches are broke!  We all have a certain style, flair, and swagger. Whether it be an outlet of food, clothing, crafts, or home accessories, we all have an inner trendster and “budget” doesn’t have to limit it!

We want to create the Broke Girl community where we share our ideas, plans, great finds, and anything else that can help a sister (or brother) out especially when we are feeling broke as a joke.

We are just a few regular ladies hoping to share our ideas and experiences with you.  Stay tuned for exciting updates!