Lifestyle – Page 16 – shemakescents

{Money & Relationships} Who Should Pay for the First Date?

Published on November 5, 2013December 1, 2013 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

You just met this guy. He appears to be as nice, intelligent, and handsome as your friend said he would be… and did I mention he is a gentleman too. After sort of getting to know each other as best you can over casual first date, the bill comes….

Who Picks Up the Check?

I have always adopted that paradigm that planning and paying for the first date is apart of the courting package. However, my parents didn’t raise a fool. Regardless of my expectation of the bill being taken care of, at least for the first few dates, I would never leave the house without cash tucked sweetly away in my clutch. Offer to pay the tip at least by the third date and surprise him by planning and paying for a date on your own. So for those of you who believe that the man should take care of the first date, does that include everything…valet tip to parking or does it end at the table?

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{Wise Words} XOXO, Your Future Self

Published on November 4, 2013November 4, 2013 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

{Friday Fashion} Smart Investments in Style- One Dress 5 Ways

Published on November 1, 2013January 19, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

I was cleaning out my closet the other day. You know that seasonal purge of clothes that no longer fits my style, clothes I have outgrown, and fads that frankly may be tipping the scales of age appropriateness. As Denia, a SMC contributing writer would put it, “I’m approaching the stage in life where shopping at trendy places like Forever21 should feel…well…awkward”. Don’t get me wrong, I never miss a chance to stop in a Forever21, but I wouldn’t build a wardrobe around it. While I consider trendy clothing essential to an eclectic closet like mine, I know it is better to have a foundation of well-made classics as opposed to a closet full of cheap and cheerful pieces that constantly needs replacing.
Sure, every stylish woman’s closet should include staples such as the LBD and a classic trench; however, I am here to introduce you to a versatile piece of clothing that has become my favorite new investment piece – the Nikki 5-Way Dress. When I first tried on this convertible dress, by designer Abi Ferrin, I have to admit that I had a “get it girl” moment in the mirror, similar to how I felt in my first DVF wrap dress back in the day. This multi-functional dress flatters in five different ways; as a one-shoulder Grecian style (my favorite, by the way), as a one-shoulder with a peplum accent, as an asymmetrical tunic, tied to the side, or crossed tied for a belt effect. My favorite thing about the versatility of this dress is that it is good to my wallet because you can get five distinctively timeless looks for the price of one dress.

Check Out All FIVE looks!

There isn’t a SINGLE reason white this signature Nikki dress belongs in every jetsetters, power-players, party girl, and busy bee’s wardrobe, but FIVE reasons. Starting at $155.00, that’s only $31.00 per look, you can’t afford not to add this to the list of foundational must-haves of well-made classics. Cha Ching… that’s the sound of me investing in quality and quantity at the same time. Want to invest in your style? Check out Ferrin’s others style staples on her site.

Thank you to the sponsors of this post, Brandstyle Communications on behalf of Abi Ferrin.

Which Look is Your Favorite?

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{Every Woman Should Know} How Much You Should Tip

Published on October 21, 2013February 27, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

pizza-margherita-2 Everyone has a different tipping policy, which was clear from the vibrant discussion on the SMC Facebook page. I for one will always tip, even if the service is terrible. When going out, always try to remember to keep cash on hand and your budget in mind. What does that mean? It means you need to consider the tip, parking fees, and any other areas where you will come out-of-pocket when you consider treating yourself and/or others. It may sound severe, but if you cannot afford to properly tip, then you probably cannot afford to eat at that restaurant or upgrade that massage.

Tipping Cheat Sheet

{Lifestyle} Tipping at a Restaurant: a minimum of 15% pre tax

{Lifestyle} Valet Parking: $2- $5 once your car is returned. Even if valet service is complimentary, you should still tip.

{Style Cents} Manicurist, Aestheticians (for facials), Masseuse, & Waxer : 15%.

Anna Sui - Backstage - Fall 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

{Style Cents} Hair Stylist: 15-20%. You should ask for the tip to be split among those who served you.

{Travel Cents} Hotel Staff: $1 per bag for bringing luggage to your room (but a $2 minimum if you have just one bag).

{Travel Cents} Uber: Uber drivers don’t expect the customer to tip them because there’s 20% gratuity included in the fare. However, if you want to tip on top of the 20%, by all means.

Do You Tip Even If the Service is Bad?

{Business Cents} Public Resignations- Bad Business Move Or Branding Opportunity

Published on October 2, 2013October 2, 2013 by Danielle YB Vason7 Comments

If you haven’t heard of Marina Shifrin yet, you won’t be able to forget her after seeing her video that has gone viral since it was posted last week. Forget the two weeks notice, Shifrin, 25, quit her job while “dancing” to the song Gone by Kanye West. “For almost two years I’ve sacrificed my relationships, time and energy for this job, in which my bosses only cared about the quantity and views of the videos they made,” explains Shifrin, former employee of a New Media Animation. Some may consider it a bad business move to make a major career decision so publicly, but believe it or not, she has received several job offers based off her creativity. In some ways, the video will help to “brand” her. Her chances of being hired are greater if she choses an innovative career path like social media, but for the more traditional of companies, this could signal what many people refer to as “Millennial Entitlement”. I would never have the guts to do something like this, but I she is on my rock star list at the moment. Life is too short to waste doing something that makes you want to quit your job at 4:30am…alone in the office… via youtube. Time is the only form of currency that you can’t get back, so spend your time doing something that makes you feel awesome!

…. and of course her former bosses have a responded with… another video.

Do You Think This Was A Bad Business Move?

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{Wise Words} Today Is A Good Day to Be Better!

Published on September 24, 2013 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

{Dirty Dozen Clean 15} 15 Foods That Aren’t Worth the Higher Price for Organic

Published on September 23, 2013 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

A while back, I got a couple of questions from my some readers who are trying to eat healthier on a budget, especially in regards to organic food. Yes, organic food is pricey but when you factor in the benefits such as more nutrients, no pesticides, and better taste, it’s worth the extra cost, in my opinion. However, not all fruits and veggies are created equal and not all are worth of the higher price tag. Let me introduce to you, the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, an annual list created by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that lists the fruits and veggies with the most and least pesticides. This list will let you know which are the most important to eat organic and which are OK to eat even when conventionally grown.

According to EWG, they analyze pesticide residue testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration to come up with rankings for these popular fresh produce items. All 48 foods are listed below from worst to best (lower numbers = more pesticides).

Which Fruit or Veggie Surprises You The Most?

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If You Could Call Yourself 5 Years Ago, What Would You Say?

Published on July 8, 2013 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

If you could call yourself 5 years ago and you only had 30 seconds, what would you say?

I saw this question the other day on AOL and posed it to our CENTsational followers in our Facebook group! The response was so interesting that I wanted to ask ALL of our CENTsational readers like you. I’ve heard everything from quit your job, to marry him, watch your spending, to spend more time with people who are no longer with us. Please leave your comments below. We can wait to hear!

{Shopping Confession} I Spent More Because It Was On Sale

Published on June 18, 2013July 2, 2020 by Danielle YB Vason6 Comments

So Good…It’s a Steal

It was last Wednesday, the hottest day of the year thus far in Atlanta. I had just completed FREE yoga in the park with some of my girlfriends from work when I decided to see if H&M still had a swimsuit I saw just two weeks ago. I walked in and didn’t really notice anything out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, before I could even get to the swimsuits, I walked pass a rack of collar shirts in the front of the store, that would be perfect for summer. I picked up three. They are on sale for $7.00 a pop… that’s a steal, I thought to myself. Then I proceeded to the middle of the store where I was ~~flooded~~…no… completely overwhelmed with red sale signs. My cousin, who witnessed this too, saw me transform from She Makes Cents… back to Danielle who gets a high from shopping. Sometimes I forget we are one and the same. Thirty minutes and fourteen hangers worth of clothes later, I was on the way to the dressing room. For so long, I have done such a great job controlling my spending that I forgot just how good it felt to shop.
Thank goodness for bad fits and wrong sizes because I ended up putting back practically everything, except two pairs of flats and a white sequin blazer. I got to the checkout, opening my wallet knowing that this purchase would max out last week’s shopping/entertainment category for my envelope system, and I swiped my debit card anyway. It’s okay….I thought to myself…I saved money because I decided against all those other outfits I tried on.

The Morning After

I woke up the next morning with a major hangover…a shopping hangover, that is. You know, when you are hit with the remembrance of last night’s out of control shopping escapade. All of the warm and fuzzies have worn off and I am left trying to recall what exactly I spent my money on. Things became clearer in the light of day and I realized that the left ballet flat was a size 6 (my size) and the right flat was a size 8 (not my size). Not so cute anymore, huh? And how about that blazer? I was forced to ask myself the same question that my cousin asked me in the midst of my excitement the night before. Where in the hell are you going to wear a white sequin blazer? That night I swore I would wear it in Vegas, but in reality, it will be over 110° when I am there. Yes, outside of the pink iridescent ballet flats that remind me of my old pointe shoes, my trip to H&M was an epic fail. They didn’t even have the bikini I walked in there for.

Can You Relate?

Tell Me About YOUR last “Hangover”.

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{Financial Cents} Are You Broke on Payday?

Published on June 6, 2013January 20, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

broke-on-payday It’s the weekend baby (or close enough) and for some of you that also means PAYDAY! A joyous day that, in theory, represents the culmination of your hard work. Regardless of your income, this is the day when you get the funds to take care of all the things in your life that need funding. So what happens when you get paid and you are already broke? Not broke, as in oh I have a hundred-dollar bill in the back pocket of that pair of skinny jeans, but more like, how I am going to afford the gas to get to work and eat once I’m there? For some of you this is a baffling predicament to be in and for others, this may very well be your reality. I know a woman, Carrie*, who just got paid today and is already broke. Having past due bills is her norm, she is struggling to stay afloat, and her zero balance checking account doesn’t help. From talking to her, I gathered that she is overwhelmed with her situation, feels alone, and wonders how something that is supposed to represent the culmination of your hard work is worth nothing. I often find in situations like this that it is very difficult for people to truly see how their actions may have an effect on their current situation. For those of you that are underpaid that is one thing, but for those of you who overspend, that’s another. Carrie wants the fab life but refuses to take some necessary steps to get it by overspending on wants and needs.

Naked, Bossy, & Freaky = Better Money Management!

Get Financially Naked: Being honest about your financial situation is like being naked in a crowd of strangers. You can’t fake it until they make in this situation if you are stripped down. You have to acknowledge that your financial situation represents more than money. It could be the manifestation of your mental state. Carrie feels alone and is overwhelmed. Maybe there is extra baggage/clutter in her life that is cluttering her thoughts and behaviors? Is this true for you too? Being honest with yourself will help you to recognize the problem so you can begin to create a solution. Are you complacent in your current job situation? Is it keeping you from finding your calling or a better income? It is scary and uncomfortable, but if you are serious about getting back on track, it’s time to strip and understand how a change in mindset can help improve your financial situation.

Get Bossy: Tell Your Money Where to Go. I believe the reason that people don’t like to hear the word “budget” is because they associate it with “sacrifice”. I, on the other hand, associate the same word with being financially empowered. My favorite financial quote comes from John Maxwell who maintains, “a budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went”. In one of my earlier posts, How to Make A Budget, I suggested you start by listing your sources of income and then create a list of your monthly Fixed Expenses ( i.e. Mortgage/Rent, Car Payments, Insurance, Emergency Fund) and your Variable Expenses (Utilities, Groceries, Gas, Food, Entertainment). If your expenses are more than your income, then it is time to make a realistic budget and decide if you would rather make a temporary sacrifice of luxuries say cable or weekly salon visits, or the comfort of knowing that you won’t be broke next pay-day.

Get Freaky: Neat freaks are the new cool… think Martha Stewart, not Mommy Dearest. It’s easy to forget about a bill when you never opened it in the first place, throw it in your purse, or simply ignore it. I stay organized in a few ways. For one, I keep a record of all of my service providers and current balance on the due date in the monthly view page of my calendar. If I need to check on a bill, I look there first. It is a way to see if my bills are increasing or decreasing and paid for the month. It also helps me figure out how I can best schedule payment. I also keep online records to stay organize and paper copies of any bill that requires disputing. For those documents that need paper copies, I have designated ONE place for them.

What is your best tip for Carrie*? Share below.

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