September

The nights are much cooler while the days are starting to get a certain chill in the air that are all crumbs letting us know that the days of dining al fresco are slowly coming to an end. Back-to-school sales are happening everywhere as we begin the mad dash of getting the kiddies ready for school, saying good-bye to summer vacation and getting back to our daily grind.

Fall is a time of change. The leaves change, the weather changes and we must also change. This issue is all about being budget friendly because sometimes change can come at a cost.

Beauty can be found in the aisles of your neighborhood drugstore, mixing up old products to create new ones can help you save money for hair and body. Working together with your kids to create healthy lunch meals that your kids will want to eat. Working out doesn’t have to break the bank and don’t be afraid of thrift stores, there’s a treasure trove of greatness that is waiting to be discovered.

Being resourceful can be fun and this issue gets you well on your way to doing it in style.

Creator of Wonder Curl Editor of Health, Hair & Happiness I love makeup. I wear it almost everyday not because I feel like I need to wear makeup, but simply because I love the way I look when I have it on. Valana Minerals is my go to for my mineral powder foundation. They come in shades that will suit the lightest to the darkest complexions, all while leaving you with a beautiful, natural glow. Not sure what shade to get? You can order samples for only $2 to try at home.

Natural and vegan, plus affordable which keeps it in line with our budget friendly issue! ValanaMinerals.com

Contributors is a wife, mother, and nationally-qualified fitness competitor. She seeks to motivate and inspire women to achieve their fitness goals, no matter where they are on their journey.

Find Maya at: mayafitgirl.wordpress.com Instagram- @maya_fitgirl Twitter- @maya_fitgirl

AKA Naturally Kish, Natural Hair/Healthy Living Blogger and Events Host from Baltimore MD. She’s been Loving her curls since '02 when she returned to Natural.

Find Lakisha at: Passionistas.me/category/naturally-kish/ Instagram: @naturallykish Twitter: @naturallykish

planned her life out in 2nd grade. Two Psychology degrees later she realized she was insane, unhappy, and unrealistic. She got out of her head and began her happy.

Find Jasmine at: http://www.eyecheated.blogspot.com/ Instagram @lyrical_prodigi

aka Tootieboots has been natural for 5 years. She is a natural hair enthusiast with a passion for encouraging others to explore their natural mane. She is by no means a professional natural hair expert but she enjoys sharing and exchanging healthy hair tips.

Find Dayo at: free2bnaturelle.blogspot.com Instagram: @tootas_25

is founder of Fountain of Life Health & Wellness that helps its clients maintain a healthy lifestyle. She also works in a private rheumatologist office and cherishes her 5 beautiful children & happily married life.

Find Jasmine at: Facebook.com/NaturalBkBeauty Instagram: @NaturalBkBeauty

, owner of Makeup By Holly is a 15 year makeup artistry veteran. Located in Richmond, VA her services include Bridal, TV, Runway, Fashion shows and Photo shoots. Holly also freelances for Giorgio Armani and is a Certified Makeup Instructor.

Find Holly at: http://www.makeupbyhollyb.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MakeupByHolly Instagram: @makeupbyholly

The Best and Worst Birthday

September 1, 2011 was the best and worst birthday I had ever experienced. I was pregnant, miserable, anxious, and scared to DEATH that I would go into labor on my birthday. The good news is that I did not. I gave birth 6 days later. The bad news is that was the last day I celebrated my birthday. Well, at least celebrating it the way I was used to.

From the day she was born I fantasized about how her first birthday would be. I mean I literally had her entire day planned out in my head. There were going to be balloons, bounce houses, a clown, tons of food, and lots of gifts! Unfortunately, my grandiose ideas did not match my budget, which was everything, but able to support my ideas. How could I celebrate my child's very first birthday without this elaborate party? Would she forever remember that day as the day she ate hot dogs and simply ran around the around with her Uncle G? It took my mother to point out how silly I was being. I still remember the conversation as if it were yesterday. She had listened quietly to me rant, cry, and whine. When I was finished she said, "Jas! Lauryn will have an awesome birthday. All she needs is the people who love her". With that, Lauryn ate hot dogs and ran around with her Uncle G. She had so much fun she fell asleep in the middle of her party!

Often times we neglect to appreciate the simple things, myself included. For instance before my daughter, I spent the months prior to my birthday budgeting for alcohol, the club, or a trip. Not that any of that is bad but my purpose had changed. It is not enough to acknowledge you have lived to see another year. There should be reflection on what you have learned, how people who entered OR left your life brought value and lessons, and on what you did with the time you were gifted. For me, I reflected on my purpose as a mother. That purpose was not to spend money I did not have on a party she would never remember but to provide for her the best thing I have to give, love, patience, and time.

My purpose is to carry the torch my mother has passed on to me.

Jasmine Price www.eyecheated.blogspot.com www.instagram.com/lyrical_prodigi

Get Fit for Less Now, for the music. I don’t know about you, but I cannot workout without having great music pumping through my headphones. It’s the difference between struggling through my last set of reps and pushing through like a champ.

My favorite music app Most of us use our smartphones as our mp3 player, so all we really need is the music. I used to use a free subscription from Pandora, but the commercials really started getting on my nerves. One day I stumbled across a new free music app called Songza while reading an article one day.

Once we decide we are ready to get fit, there are a few things we usually do to prepare for our new fitness journey. Through lots of trial and error I have found great ways to save money when trying to get fit on a budget. Here are four ways you can save too!

Finding an affordable gym The best way that I have found to identify the right gym for me was through free trials. After I narrowed down my option to the gyms that were either somewhere near my job, between my job and home or simply in my neighborhood, I took advantage of the seven day free trial that most gyms offer to new customers.

The great thing about free trials is that I can test the waters and determine if the gym is convenient for me to go to, has all of the equipment or classes I want and has a friendly staff. It also helps me to decide if I will actually go to the gym. If in those seven days I only end up going once or twice, then I probably need to re-evaluate my need for a gym and start working out at home. At-home workouts are the most budget-friendly you can get!

After I figure out where I will work out, I then determine in what I will be working out.

Choosing workout clothes that don’t bust the bank I have found that what I wear can really motivate me to go workout. If I have a cute outfit to wear, I will look good and feel good while working out! Depending on your size, you can get some really cute fitness apparel from the girls section of the store in size large or extra large, but if that’s not an option, the clearance rack is my friend.

Whether it’s at Target, Kohl’s or a random department store, I can usually find some really cute workout gear from $5 on up. It pays to take the time to rummage through those racks to find a few great outfits to keep you looking good and motivated.

Songza is similar to Pandora in that you can search for playlists by music genre, artists, album, etc., but Songza is even better.

You can choose playlists based upon what you doing, for instance, there is a playlist for waking up in the morning, gardening, and even stripping! My favorite playlist is “Today’s Club Bangers.” That one really gets be amped up during my workouts. The best thing about Songza is that there are no commercials to get you out of your zone when you’re trying to finish up a five-minute sprint.

Speaking of sprinting, you’re going to need some shoes.

My go-to places for shoes I’m not the type of person who pays more than $40 for a pair of gym shoes, so finding a bargain on shoes is my forte. I can always find great shoes at TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Ross for under $30. Brands like Asics, New Balance, Nikes, etc. are some examples of what I have found.

6pm.com and puma.com are always having special promotions or sales on their sites. I’ve found deals under $40 for all different kinds of shoes, from mid tops to cross trainers and yoga shoes. I sometimes have to stop myself from visiting these sites because I always end up buying something.

You can be very creative when on a budget. All you need is time and patience to find exactly what you’re looking for at the price you want.

Be sure to check me out at www.FitGirlbyMaya.com for free workouts, recipes, inspiration and workout apparel to keep motivated and informed on all things fitness. www.FitGirlbyMaya.com www.instagram.com/maya_fitgirl www.twitter.com/maya_fitgirl www.facebook.com/FitGirlbyMaya

Photo by: www.everydaypolish.com

Happy Meals

It’s that time of the year when children are returning back to school. Homework assignments, projects, reading and packing lunch all resume for both parents and children. It can get tiring having to make sure lunch and snacks are packed everyday for school, but with a few tips lunch time can be fun for both parent and child. If your children are anything like mine, you probably hear every day, that school lunch is disgusting. I would like to share a few tips that I use when preparing lunch for my children that will bring some excitement back to packing lunch. Getting your child involved in the process of lunch making is key to getting him or her onboard. It is also important to explain the health benefits of eating a healthy meal.

Here are my tips for successful lunchtime everytime!

Get nice containers and cool lunch bags for my children that they like. I gear purchases to whatever they are interested in. Since my son enjoys playing Super Mario, so his lunch bag and container would be Super Mario Brother themed. That usually gets him excited to both carry his lunch and eat out of a cool container.

I take my children with me to the grocery store and have them participate with choosing their snacks. I find that when I include them with the decision of picking out their snacks, they are more likely to eat what they pack.

As most children, my children always lean toward certain junk foods for their snacks, so I discuss with them what their options are. I tell them this week the choices are fruit, (apples, grapes, pears, or oranges) cold cuts (turkey or chicken breast) salad, or any baked potato chip that they like. When I am able to narrow the choices for my children, it makes it easier for them to make a decision. It is important to allow your children to be a part of the decision making, as much as possible. That way they feel excited about lunch time.

Let them prepare their own lunch. My children are not big on eating bread, so they make turkey rolls, which consist of turkey, cheese, lettuce and onions. They usually make 2 rolls and it fills them up. They prepare their lunch the night before so in the morning all they have to do is grab their bag. Snacks will either consist of whatever fruit they choose a pickle and their bottle of water. It is important for me that my children drink ½ their body weight of water daily, so I bought them a 32oz re-usable bottle, which they fill up at home and they can drink water throughout the day.

It is important when meal planning for your children that you avoid processed snacks such as chips, cookies or even store bought granola bars. There have been studies that showed that eliminating processed foods can help reduce some symptoms of ADHD. Build lunches around whole foods instead. Trail mix is also another tasty option that your children will enjoy. You can even add a few chocolate chips in the mix to help satisfy that urge for something sweet.

If you are concerned about your child’s food choices at school, try reviewing the school lunch menu with your child each week. Discuss which days he or she would like to eat lunch at school and which food he or she will choose. When you allow them to bring lunch from home, along with eating lunch in school, it makes them feel they have the best of both worlds. It is our job as parents to ensure that our children are getting only the best and creating a healthy meal plan from day to day activity optimizes their ability to think clearly and function at their best in school.

By Jasmin Kearse

Recipes Turkey Salad Rolls Combine diced smoked turkey, toasted almonds, halved seedless red grapes, thinly sliced celery and mayonnaise. Transfer to an airtight container; pack with a whole wheat hot dog bun for your talented kid to assemble. Or not.

Asparagus and Gruyere Panini Top a large whole wheat tortilla with slices of Gruyere cheese and season with black pepper. Arrange a layer of asparagus (roasted or steamed the night before, or shave raw into thin ribbons using a vegetable peeler) on one half, drizzle with lemon juice, and fold to enclose. Cook using a panini press or on a hot skillet until the tortilla is golden and the cheese melts.

Chips and Dips Combine chopped fresh tomatoes, lime juice, finely chopped white onion and chopped fresh cilantro.

Pack flaxseed tortilla chips with small containers of the salsa, avocados mashed with lemon juice, and Greek yogurt.

For more recipes visit Bon Appetit

Beauty

Whoever said you can’t look like a million bucks, when you shop on a budget was wrong. And, the best part, you only have to travel as far as your neighborhood drugstore to find what you need. The drugstore has a growing number of beauty brands that are delivering high quality at low price points. The quality is good enough, they can be found within many professional and celebrity makeup artist kits.

Most drugstores have Rewards Programs that allow you to accumulate points and redeem those points for products and discounts…bonus! If that wasn’t enough, a lot of them will even allow you to return items that do not meet your needs or if you have changed your mind, even after they have been opened…double bonus!

Eyes: My favorite drugstore brand products are: Eye shadow - Maybelline New York Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Eyeshadow. It is extremely pigmented and literally last until you take it off, even if it’s the next day. It has real staying power and the color selections are really beautiful.

Mascara- L'oreal Voluminous Mascara. This mascara rivals some of the premium brands. It does not clump and it does not flake.

Eyeliners- L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner. This is a favorite because it is wonderfully smoldering and creates a beautiful, sultry look. Tip: it can smudge a little, so it is best if you apply a black eyeshadow on top of it to set it and minimize smudging. My other favorite is Pixi Eye Bright Liner. I like this liner because it really does a beautiful job brightening the eyes which is particularly great when you are tired and want to appear well rested. (When buying eyeliner, make sure it’s from Germany, that’s where all the designer brands have their eyeliner made and you will get the same quality for less.)

Brows – Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara. It has dual purposes for lengthening eyelashes and for setting the brows, so the hairs do not move.

Eyelashes – Ardell lashes. They look really natural and they can be used multiple times.

Beauty con’t Lips: There are so many lipsticks to choose from and they are equally good, I could not decide on a few to suggest, so I am recommending the following brands and you can decide for yourself. They are equally moisture-rich and last for up to 4 hours with little to no reapplication.

Lip liner - L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipliner because it looks good on just about every skin tone and it lasts for numerous hours.

Lip gloss - NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss. The pigment is vibrant, the shine is beautiful and it creates a sexy, kissable pout.

Face: E.L.F. High Definition Powder works well to set foundation. The color is translucent and therefore, it looks good on all skin tones. It blurs fine lines and wrinkles and looks good in photos and on TV. Tip: a little goes a long way, so do not apply excessively.

Foundation – Revlon PhotoReady. It makes the skin appear smooth and luminous without making it look shiny or oily. It photographs beautifully.

Blush -Maybelline New York Fit Me! It looks very natural, and therefore, it hardly looks like you are wearing anything.

Bronzer - Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer. It does a beautiful job mimicking the natural glow of your skin.

The next time you are in your local drug store, take some time to explore the makeup section. You never know, you might see one of your favorite celebrity makeup artists doing the same thingJ Give these brands a try and let me know how they work for you.

By Holly Byrd Miller www.makeupbyhollyb.com

Product Junkies In 2008, I got so tired of paying tons of money for someone to do my hair, only for my hair to never grow past shoulder length, that I decided it was time to save my strands and my money.

However, neither of that happened in my first year of being natural.

Not only were all the ‘natural’ hair products expensive, compared to what I was used to when I was relaxed, I couldn’t find any products that worked for me. So here I was, a newly natural in the lonely ‘natural’ world at the time, replacing products on a weekly basis. Buying products that said “Moisturizing”, “Soft and Manageable”, Defined curls” etc. It became an addiction; I was officially a product junkie (PJ) by the end of year 1. This wasn’t only BAD for my hair it was KILLING my wallet. The rehab came after marriage when my husband gave me the look and a budget to go with it.

So if you are a college student, stay-at-home mom, or you are just looking to spend wisely, here are a couple of ways to do that and still have your hair looking good. Now remember, budgeting is a challenge and for it to work it requires dedication, patience and time.

Do It Yourself (DIY) – Your money or your time? You choose. Make your own ‘products’ with ingredients that are already in your kitchen.

Shampoo –Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Mud Wash.

Deep-conditioner (DC) – Avocado, Banana mixed with honey, Aloe Vera juice and oils of choice or with a cheap conditioner.

Leave-in – Aloe Vera Juice or mix your conditioner with water, Aloe Vera-juice and oil of choice.

Shea Butter Mix as a styler and sealant.

Flax seed gel.

Stretch your products – Mix products to make them last longer. Like adding a little water to your shampoo, mixing your defining crème with a cheap gel, adding a little oil and Aloe Vera juice to your leave-in or adding oils to your cheap rinse out conditioner and using as a deep conditioner.

Keep It Simple Sista (KISS) – Keep your regimen simple. The simpler it is, the fewer products you need.

Buy what you NEED, not what you want – We all know how easy it is to get caught up in new products, labels, etc.

With a solid regimen you should have an idea of what ingredients work for you. So lean towards products with those ingredients.

Timing & Location - Take advantage of sales by stocking up on products that work for you. You can use this time to try new products. Check different vendors, Sally’s, Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, Marshalls, Ross and online stores for different prices, especially during a holiday. Don’t forget to sign up to receive coupons.

Sample Kit – Try their sample/travel/trial size product before buying a full size product.

Trade – Don’t throw away your products. You may find it works for you at a later time, mixing it with something else or using it a different way. If you really don’t like it, take it back to the store, visit online hair forums and ask to trade with others or you can trade at a hair event.

In my experience, the price tag doesn’t mean the product is better. Instead of buying an expensive rinse out conditioner to co-wash, detangle etc., opt for a cheap conditioner like VO5, Herbal Essences or Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle. You don’t have to buy expensive oils like argan oil.

Pure coconut oil or Jojoba oil is just fine.

It’s ok to keep shopping at your local beauty supply store, just remember to keep an eye on the ingredients.

How do you shop on a budget? Let us know at Tootieboots@me.com or at WonderCurl.com.

Dayo Lewis Free2bnaturelle.blogspot.com Instagram.com/tootas_25 Tootieboots@me.com Photo Source: http://www.letmeletyouknow.com/

Shopping Thrift Stores Thrift Store Shopping: An Ever-Growing Trend I’ll be the first to admit that there was a time when you could not PAY me to step foot in a thrift store. I am a very picky person and I suffer from indecisiveness – blame it on my Libra scales. Add that to the fact that I felt creepy wearing strangers’ clothes. Plus as an asthmatic, the scent of those stores sent my asthma into overdrive.

When did this change you ask? It was 2011. I was going on vacation to Las Vegas and needed some vacation attire. I knew that I didn’t want to invest a lot of money because most of these clothes would only be worn while on vacation. So, I went to a Value Village store that is in my neighborhood. I wasn’t pleased with the smell or the clutter but I toughed it out anyway. I was able to find a pair of Dockers shorts that were brand new and just my size! I felt like I struck gold. This would begin my love affair with thrift store shopping.

With each visit, I became more skilled in the art of thrift store shopping. While I have limited those $80 a pop visits, there is never a time that I go when I come out empty-handed unless I’m just window shopping. I’m not the Thrift Store Guru but I would love to share a few tips that have worked for me: Shopping takes time. Make sure you have time in your schedule to leisurely peruse the store as to not miss any good finds.

Dress properly. There are some stores that don’t have dressing rooms. I would suggest wearing leggings and a fitted tank under a sweater or oversized shirt.

Leave the credit cards home. It is very easy to go way over budget. Establish your budget ahead of time and only take that amount of cash in the store with you.

Know the discount schedule. Most thrift stores have days when you can get almost 50% off your purchases. You just have to know the schedule of your favorite store. Also pay attention because there may be color coded discounts as well. For example, on Tuesday they may offer 40% off all items with yellow tags.

Contrary to popular belief, size doesn’t matter. What I mean by this is that just because an item isn’t in your “size”, does not mean it will not fit. Be a more visual shopper and rely less on what size the rack says. I have skirts that range from a size 10 to 24 in my closet.

Try on everything. Make sure before leaving the store that your finds fit. Most thrift stores do not allow returns.

Be willing to make repairs/alterations. Most items I have found are in great condition. But there may be an item where the hem is loose or there is a slight tear in the seam. I wouldn’t mind doing a little patchwork if the price is right. Also, don’t pass on a hot item just because it’s too big. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can make that item the right size in no time. *Be careful though - I purchased a men’s suit for my son and the alterations cost more than what I paid for the suit.

Know when new inventory comes out. Ask when the store restocks its shelves. Some stores are putting out new merchandise daily while others have set days.

Wash everything. When I thrift shop, I take the tags off the clothes and leave them in the bag until they have been washed. If there is an item that requires dry cleaning, I normally drop that item off at the cleaners that same day.

Get on the mailing/email list. Some stores offer pre-sales and/or special discounts for their email subscribers or reward card holders.

And finally……. Be creative. Try to pick up items that you can easily match with items already in your closet to create a fashion forward look. Have fun with your finds. Try color blocking and pattern mixing.

HAPPY THRIFTING!!!

By Lakisha Hill Website www.Facebook.com/naturallykish www.Twitter.com/naturallykish94 www.instagram.com/naturallykish www.youtube.com/naturallykish