SMC Giveaway | Travel Bag for Your Next Island Adventure

Published on June 1, 2017June 2, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Wheels up and I am and off to the first trip of 5 trips every woman should take every year. First up…. the couple’s trip to St. Lucia where the plan is a mix of relaxation by the beach and excursions through the rain forest. As a reformed over-packer, I had to review my go-to tips for packing light to ensure I wouldn’t be a victim of extra fees for heavy checked luggage. Coming in at exactly 38lbs in my is my pink DVF luggage. Mission accomplished and money saved!

I received a free bag from Mato Naturals in exchange for sharing it with She Makes Cents readers like you.

Travel Bag For My Island Excursion

When I was packing, I was inspired by all of the vibrant colors of the island so I packed colorful accessories that correspond to the activities that we have planned. Sneak Peek Alert: Follow @shemakescents and @sheslivingthefablife on Instagram for OOTD, travel hacks, and behind the scenes videos. For the off non-resort activities like a rainforest ATV tour, I knew I needed durable crossbody that would survive my extreme tourist behaviors but I knew I wanted something with a pop of color or print. That’s where the Mato Boho Crossbody from Mato Natural comes in handy. This handmade bag is made from eco-friendly canvas and unique handwoven Aztec patterns by local women from Nepal. It features every island color that I was looking for AND it’s the right size to ensure that I am not taking unnecessary items off of the resort, although it is smaller than I expected. Mato Natural is a sustainable lifestyle brand founded with the main goal to make available Eco- friendly products at very affordable prices so it is right with me!

She Makes Cents Giveaway

To kick off summer, She Makes Cents is hosting a giveaway to one lucky reader from the United States. To enter, follow @shemakescents and @sheslivingthefablife on Instagram and leave a comment with the hashtag #SMCtravelcontest. Entries will be accepted until July 15, 2017 at noon (EST). The winner will be announced via a Instagram story on the She Makes Cent Instagram page. Retail value $49.99.

{Beauty Cents} HairspirationThat Saves Your Strands & Money

Published on April 30, 2013May 17, 2013 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

I have recently been introduced to the curling wand and while I love the results, I’m not sure my hair is loving the amount of heat that it requires to keep up the look. I don’t see a problem using it now and then, but when I first got the wand, I was using it up to three times a week….and we all know that overexposure to heat based styling tools can lead to brittle hair and split ends. I’m trying to maintain healthy hair, especially in between salon visits, with hair styles that will save my strands, money, and time. I have found myself lacking hairspiration and it shows. Lately, I have rocked straight hair, a bun, or wash and go, which reveals my natural curls, but I’m looking forward to switching it up a bit.

Check out these braided upgrades on my favorite hairstyles:

Which Hair Style Do You Like Best?

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Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

{Broke is the New Black} Are You Paying for the Fake Life with Real Money?

Published on January 21, 2013December 22, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason9 Comments

Welcome to the Good Life!

Over the past few years, social media has become a game changer. Its created jobs that did not exist even ten years ago, helped people connect who may not have had access to each other, and became a major catalyst for our cultural need to document everything. But what exactly are we documenting? – The life we live or the life we want people to think we live? All too often, I see people around me going into debt trying to rock the same fashion piece that they saw on one of the Kardashians. I asked this question a few months ago and I will ask it again, whose lifestyle are you funding? They can afford it, can you?
Fashion writer, Suzy Menkes called 2009 the “end of the statement bag” in a blurb for the 2009 autumn edition of H&M Magazine. She adds, “Insane shoes that mangle your feet, laughably expensive bags that no-one can afford; who can afford such extravagances in times of [financial] crisis?” If 2009 was the end of the expensive statement bag, then this must be the year of the appearance of luxury, where people are funding a fake life with real money. The reality is, even four years after the “fall of the statement bag”, we are still in a financial crisis.
Don’t get me wrong, I love fashion and will spend money when I have it, but I refuse to waste money staging a lifestyle for the world to see. I’m am not one of those people who are offended by the finer things in life, rather I feel sorry for those who mishandle their responsibilities in hopes of material possessions. This is not just a twenty-something problem either, as I witness people of all ages spending in excess to portray the good life…and for what? Public validation? Likes from Facebook, Twitter, and most notoriously Instagram from people you don’t even know in real life? Be yourself, rock what you love, but don’t go into debt doing so. Trust me, none of the people who “liked” your photo of those oh-so-fly out of your budget shoes, will help you save for that house you have on your vision board.

Let’s Connect!

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

Are You Wasting Your Money on a Deal?

Published on July 3, 2012April 30, 2013 by Danielle YB Vason6 Comments

I got an email from Birchbox the other day announcing Glamour magazine’s collaboration for the July 2012 Birchbox. I found myself getting excited thinking about all of the goodies I will soon be getting my hands on. Then I looked over on my dresser and saw my June Birchbox basically untouched. Last month, I rushed home to see what beauty goodies were waiting for me. Once opened, I tried everything and didn’t touch my package for weeks; thus, realizing three things. Firstly, I love getting mail that isn’t a bill. Secondly, I like the idea of being surprised by what products were chosen for my box and finally (and probably the most important), if I continued this pattern, no matter how good the deal is, I am wasting my money.

Making the Deal Work for You
After coming to the realization that paying $10 a month for a deal that I wasn’t taking advantage of is wasting $10 a month( $120 a year). So what did I do? I used or am actively using ALL of the products. I ate my Luna bar, which by the way was both yummy and healthy. I took a long bubble bath, while catching up on Kardashians, with the BORGHESE Body Soak and I came to the conclusion that as long as I was using the products, that Birchbox still ROCKS!