{Honesty is Free} What Does the “Fab Life” Mean to You?

So I took a little hiatus…okay, well a longer one than expected, but I am back with a vengeance. I needed some time to have new experiences so that I can have something exciting yet honest to write about. To be honest, the original idea behind this site was to inform and inspire ways to use your “cents” to live a fab life. Along the way, I believe I got off target.  So as we prepare for our upcoming one year mark (March 1stJ), I want to take things back to basics.  To do so, I’ll start with a simple question; what is the fab lifeMy answer could be ever-changing, but at the moment, great people, great food, great fashions, great adventures, great love, great leaps of faith, and a greatly styled place to come home to.

Fab People


Fab Fashions


Fab Adventures


Fab Love


Fab Faith


Fab Home

 So that is what I’m going to write about…how to get the fab life without breaking the bank, my budget, or my financial integrity. I hope you join me along the way and learn from both my successes and my failures. That’s life and sometimes, you don’t learn the lesson until you fall on your face and have to get back up.

Talk to me! What is the “fab life” to you?

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{When Is The Best Time to…?} Buy International Plane Tickets

Travel- InternationalIn a post last year, I researched the best day of the week to get the best deals on plane tickets. Based on my research, I concluded that Tuesday at 3pm is the best time to buy. A few weeks ago, I tested out this theory with the Mr. as we were stalking international flights to Europe. While I know the savings rules can be a tad bit different for international flights, we still went with the tried and true paradigm that Tuesday was the best day to buy and fly. We waited and waited and researched stalked travel sites and airlines for weeks and then picked the “perfect” Tuesday to make our move with airline of choice- Delta. Perfect Tuesday came and (insert cricket sounds here) nothing. In fact, the price of the ticket went up almost $200 since the last time we checked and then consistently stayed there. So we waited a week for the next Tuesday…same price.

Did we make a mistake and miss our savings fate?

No. Like most companies, several factors influence the price of goods. The state of the economy, international relations, and my favorite…good ole competition. My Mr. called on a Wednesday to tell me that another airline was offering deals to Europe and to check it out. My first thought was oh well and my second was bye-bye frequent flyer miles. Instead of giving up, I gave myself to the end of the day to find a great deal; but being the impatient person that I can be, I hit the refresh button on the computer about ten minutes after the call. I mean, if one airline lowered their prices, others are sure to follow, right? ABSOLUTELY!
The moral of the story is that good things come to those who wait and research. If you have the luxury of time, it is worth the extra effort to comparison shop. This method helped us save money and it can help you save too. I still believe Tuesdays and Wednesday s are the cheapest days to buy international tickets, but if something is out of your budget, stop….breath…and press refresh.

If You Could Travel Anywhere in the World…

Where Would You Go?

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{Watching for Spring Update} Good Things Come to Those Who Wait…& Save!

In the post, Watching for Spring, I discussed how to make money from cleaning out your closet. Beyond getting my closet neat for spring, I was inspired by this picture.

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 Not only am I very much into the layered look, I love me some Michael Kors!  I am slowly learning that a watch is a good investment and while we have been conditioned to check out cell phones, I’m sort of drawn to the idea of a watch.  S/N, I couldn’t really tell you the last time I even wore a watch, so this is very much a “big girl” move.  So, after much searching, saving,and purging, I am glad to introduce you to MK31311!

Let’s Connect!

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{SMC Experiment} Wall Stencils Instead of Wallpaper

I have been waiting until I completed my stencil project to show you the results. If it wasn’t my VERY FIRST post, it was one of my early ones, Buy vs. DIY: Wallpaper vs. Stencils, where I decided to take on the challenge… and I do mean challenge of stenciling my entire guest bathroom. It almost took me an entire year to do it, partly because I was super busy doing other things like planning other renovations and updates in the house, working, and actively NOT working on the wall. I will say it definitely takes patience but I am happy to announce that I am more than pleased with the results.   

Check out the Guest Bath!!


This was an in progress picture, hence the green Frog tape and blue painter’s tape to keep my pattern in line.

Now that the project is complete I can truly answer the question, Buy v. DIY. The answer may surprise you, though. If you are trying to make this decision on a purely financial basis, you might break even. I spent more money than expected on paint and adhesive. I didn’t realize that the Flash Bronze came pint size, so I found myself going back and forth purchasing small things of paint. Expenses really add up quickly since you have to purchase or make the stencil, base coat paint, paint to be stenciled, brushes, trays, tape, and adhesive spray. I would suggest comparing ALL of those costs to the price of wallpaper.   Would I make the same decision knowing what I know now?  Maybe!  Check back next week to learn my tricks I learned along the way that would make a second stencil project a breeze.

What do you think?  I’d Love to Hear!

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{Health & Beauty} How to Save Broken Makeup

This is an awesome and FREE beauty tip from the lovely girls over at The Beauty Department( TBD ) Lauren Conrad, Kristin Ess and Amy Nadine; who if you are not currently following, you should be .  I love The Beauty Department  because they have tons of great tips and tricks. Just the other day, I broke one of my favorite eyeshadow and was looking for a way to save it before having to replace it. Since it was brand new, I didn’t see myself going into my money envelope for yet another shade of purple eyeshadow, so I went on a hunt to find an easy fix… and voila, this is what I found.  This reminds me of when Denia taught us how to save broken lipstick.

Check it out!

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Do you have beauty tricks you’d love to share?

Let’s Conncet!

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{Holiday Express} Love is Free. How Much Can You Afford to Give?

A Little Note from Danielle:

Hey guys, We are closely approaching Father’s Day Weekend.  Starting today, I am asking you to send in a picture of you and your Dad or a story about why your Dad is great!  If you like to participate, please send all submissions to shemakescents@gmail.com,  subject line: Father’s Day.

Let’s Connect!

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{Wise Words} Love What You Do…

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This quote, from the late Steve Jobs, rings true on many levels.  It is also a little something to think about before our newest series, Women at Work.  You can’t be a she who makes cents if you don’t work for it.  Just my two cents.  Stay tuned….

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Vintage Hair Styles at Home

I love vintage style and I especially love the Veronica Lake wave look for my hair. Here is another simpler way to recreate the look at home….

{via The Beauty Department}

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{Update} Confession of my New Year Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions???  That’s so January… Save more money. Eat right. Exercise more. I remember having to try at my goals again after an epic fail the first time around. I think the problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that people set either too many goals or a couple of unrealistic goals. This is why after a couple of days, resolutions seem impossible. Throughout the year, I promised to share my game plan to accomplish some of my goals and resolutions for the year- so here you go!

Check out some of my favs!

Start Putting Money Away for Emergencies

She Makes Cents

January 24, 2012: Since I’m being honest, I might as well go all in. Currently, my emergency fund looks like the sad little piggy pictured above. That’s right, even She Makes Cents, has to get her own finances together sometimes. I almost depleted my fund when… an emergency came up. I am so glad that I got myself into the habit of saving for the unexpected because life would have been so much harder without one.

April 4, 2012:  I have started my emergency fund again and I must say it feels good.  I really hope it will be a long time before I have to tap into it since there isn’t much in there and two, no one likes emergencies.

Cook More, Eat Out Less

January 24, 2012:The Mr. and I love trying new restaurant spots; consequently, we have gotten in the habit of going to restaurants multiple times a week. Sometimes, I even eat out multiple times a day. While examining our finances, we both concluded that we can’t save if we are constantly spending on dinners out every night, plus tips for the servers, plus parking. Do you see how quickly it can add up? Not only are we spending too much, but it is counteracting to my bangin’ body goal.

April 4, 2012: Well….we still eat out, but we are now more conscious of it.  Using the envelope system has really helped with this one.  I set aside a certain amount of money per check for non-grocery food expenses.  For example, I stopped at Smoothie King this morning for a Pineapple Surf and used my “restaurant fund” to essentially…fund it.  The envelope system, regarding eating out, has also forced me to really think about my motivation.  Am I really hungry?  Am I going to be social?  Now, I need to work on the “cook more” portion of this resolution.


Bangin’ Body 2012

January 24, 2012:I think this one is a little self-explanatory. I will just let these swimsuits be my inspiration. I say show it while you got it…so I have to get mine tight. Get it right, get it tight 2012!!!

April 4 2012:  I am pleased to announce that I am actually starting to see a difference in my tummy. I started jogging, stretching, and taking the dog out for longer walks.  I am also trying to eat a little better, so once swimsuit season officially begins, I hope to have accomplished my goal of losing 2 to 3 inches.  As of yesterday, I’m already down an inch.

She Makes Cents get abs

She Makes Cents


Reduce Impulse Shopping


See the World

She Makes Cents svae money
April 4 2012: So my Dad and I are getting our passports updated this week.  This is very necessary since I will be celebrating the Mr.’s 30th birthday in Germany among other places. 

Overall, I’d say that I’m not too far off of my goals for 2012.  While I could be doing better in some areas, I could also be doing A LOT worse.  In fact, as I accomplish my goals, I will start replacing them with new goals.

Let’s Connect!

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inform and inspire ways to use your “cents” to live a fab life