New Year, New Attitude.

By Lidia Ferreira
Photos: Gabriel Ferreira

1) Golden dress: Old Navy 97 Cents; 2) Hat by Bebe $ 8.97; 3) Belt by Charlotte Russe 99 Cents.

    All of excitement through these few first days of New Year comes with lot expectations for many of people. If you like me you are trying to avoid the “new resolution list” that is so hard to accomplish. Instead develop a new attitude. Reflecting what you have done reinvent yourself because you want to do much better than ever. Accepting your past mistakes, learn how to create a new way to reach your goals and do not think that you are going to be happier getting staffs just to impress other.

I want to invite you to follow me through this year into this journey in fashion adventure. I am really looking forward to write and to learn many things about budgeting and fashion industry.

I hope the best for you.

Have an extraordinary new year!

Last Minutes Holiday Shopping Tips

As Christmas day is around the corner, are you done with your shopping?

As of today there are ten days until Christmas Day. Even for non Christian people who live in America, people might participate in the “holiday shopping season”, exchanging gifts or getting a great shopping deal. But Thirty-five percent of people haven’t started Christmas shopping yet.  Stores are crowded and many holiday events are happening like: holiday office parties and kid’s school winter concerts. How can last minute shoppers get a great deal avoiding the holiday stressed time?

Here are some last minutes shopping tips

1.     Free Shipping Day

If you are desperately trying to avoid the crowded stores, purchase your gifts online, there are many options to shopping online. Tomorrow, Friday December 16 is Free Shipping Day. More than 3,000 merchants are offering free shipping and they guarantee they will ship by Christmas.  You might find a requirement of minimum order. I found some web sites and blogs that you can find free shipping day for last minute holiday tips. You can get a look for merchants and their datelines for Christmas shipping.

                 http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/shipping-deadlines/

2.     Do your shopping checking list

Be smart making a list before you start to shop and save time and money. Knowing your budget and having a list of those you want to give a gift might help you make a better decision before you purchase. Think that during these tough economic times you do not need to give a gift to everyone that you know.

3.      Pre-shopping

Imagine how many hours you waist looking for a gift? How about going to the store that you need knowing that the store has the best prices and the exactly what you are looking for?

Pre-shopping is searching online for merchandise or services, comparing and choosing the best prices before doing your purchase. If you find a dress that you are crazy about, make a call to the store and ask a seller if the store has your dress size and if so ask to hold your item. (Remember that the store usually holds an item for only 24 hours).

4.     Avoid the busiest shopping time.

Even though Christmas is known by the “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” like a popular Christmas song this holiday season could be the “most stressful time of the year”. Crowded department stores and long lines might cause stress even for those you love shopping.  The best time to shop is in the morning just after the store opens, also during the weekdays when many people are working. Avoid lunch time and right before closing.

5.     Kids free shopping

As a mother of three children I know how hard it is to find someone to baby sit for you while you go shopping. But it is harder to enjoy shopping with them. If you don’t have someone to baby sit for you, here are some tips for you that can help you shop more comfortably

-Let the kids take a nap before you leave to shop

-Bring snacks

-Let them know your shopping schedule

-Kids tend to be more comfortable when they know exactly what they’re going to do that day

-Tell them your rules previously like “we are only going to buy what we agreed to buy”, they will be rewarded if they behave.

-Keep track of time that you had scheduled to shop.

Enjoy your shopping season remembering the true meaning of Christmas and that spending money on gifts is never more important than reuniting your family and showing that you love them.

Happy Holidays .

Madeline.

The bravest and the smallest girl from the Catholic boarding school in Paris it is the title character from one of my favorite children’s book, written by Ludwig Bemelmans, 1939. Madeline was about 8 years old, a very outgoing girl that had had many adventurous experiences, and was known by a sweetest trouble maker character. I looked at myself with this blue coat and I thought about Paris fashion and Madeline. Adapting to my daily life style I decided to use jeans with a beige hat with bow, simplify expecting to someday to have a chance to walk through the historical Paris and to go to Paris fashion week.

For fashionistas only: Today I found a fanny fashion game called Dress up. You can choose a doll and you can dress her up. It is absolutely free.

www.dressup.com

Blue coat: Forever 21; scarf and hat: H&M