Blog Archives

Prom Dresses and Parents

1/29/2018

Encourage your daughters to be unique.

Prom Night will be here before you know it.

One important aspect of surviving prom this year is preparation. It is never too early to start shopping. You don't want to wait until the last minute and have your daughter endure the feeling of "settling" for whatever dress you can find.

When shopping for the perfect dress, encourage your daughter to be unique. Memories last a lifetime. Buy a special dress that displays personality and also shows strength.

With all that is going on in the world concerning women, self-importance is something that each parent is responsible for promoting within their daughters. I'm not saying that an expensive dress is the way to achieve it, but preparation and planning will ensure that she looks her best and feels appreciated in the process.

Have fun and enjoy the amazing selections of dresses available this year.

Click to Shop Dresses

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Cashmere

1/25/2018

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Check your Quiz answers by visiting the Cashmere FAQ link in the footer under Help.

"Cashmere Boutique sells the softest cashmere on the planet."

Do you have a favorite scarf or wrap and what is it made of?

I love different fabrics. I strongly believe having a large selection of fabrics is essential to daily outfit selection. I was once asked if I have ever repeated an outfit. Well, of course I have! I love comfort so I am very creative at mixing and matching things in my closet. When someone says "soft" that definitely gets my attention.

What do you know about Cashmere?
Cashmere is timeless. Each generation can love its texture and durability more and more. Cashmere has many uses, yet it remains elegant and classy. Let's test what you know about Cashmere.

The Cashmere Quiz

True or False

Cashmere is made of goat fur.
Cashmere and Pashmina are the same things.
A goat can produce about 3 pounds of Cashmere per year.
You should use very hot water and your hair shampoo when washing cashmere.
You can use your hair conditioner to keep your cashmere soft.

Please share how you did in the comments.

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Make It A Date Night

1/25/2018

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For years, my husband and I spent more time figuring out the perfect moment to go on a date than actually going. Managing our busy lives led to us having maybe two or three date nights every four to five years - absolutely pathetic! Now, with a young adult in college and a junior in high school, we take advantage of being able to enjoy a night out without the previous worries. We both said was how much we regret not making date nights a priority. I totally get how easy it is for spending time together to be at the bottom of the totem pole when you have lots of other things to do - but the key to having a successful marriage and family unit is for parents to have time to themselves without the kids. Try it!

Date Night Ideas:

Go to a Movie
Visit a Museum
Go to a Comedy Show
Stay at home and send the kids over to grandma's.

Need ideas on what to wear?
WRAPS are in. This one is casual but classy and gives me a look like I'm ready to have a great time!
Links:
Embroidered Wrap - bit.ly/2F0TEcI
Beige Tank Top - bit.ly/2Dr8Hfn
Distressed Jeans - bit.ly/2mWxXTG

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Credit Cards

1/23/2018

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via GIPHY

Are you throwing money out of the window?

You are in the middle of the ocean and all of a sudden a vinyl raft appears. You grab it, but before you climb in, you realize there is a small hole in the center. Do you get in anyways and risk getting tangled up in the sinking boat or do you bypass it and continue to swim on your own?
We make this decision each time we decide whether or not to put an expense on a credit card. There are so many ways to throw money out of the window, but credit card use/management seems to be one that is overlooked often until it is too late.

Common Problems - Does any of these "I" statements apply to you?

I WILL PAY IT OFF BY THE END OF THE MONTH! Yeah right, most people say this when making a credit card purchase. It rarely happens. The purpose of credit cards is to make you feel comfortable about making a purchase that you most likely do not have the money to pay for. Think about it - why would a credit card statement contain paragraph after paragraph explaining the penalties and interest charges for when you don't pay it off. "Your balance is due at the end of each billing period to avoid paying interest. If the entire balance is not paid then...[pages of explaining your consequences]." Yep! They are counting on you not paying it off.
I KEEP A CREDIT CARD AS AN EMERGENCY BACKUP! If a credit card is your emergency fund, then you are definitely in trouble! Let's think about this. You are going to have an expense that you cannot afford so you will put it on a credit card and pay extra (interest) on what you cannot afford to buy more time to not be able to afford it. Additionally, we then know emergencies never ever happen soon after each other, so in the 20 years it takes you to pay off that $1000 (which turned into $5000 due to interest), no other emergencies will occur. Yep, that scenario does not work out so well.
I USE A CREDIT CARD FOR MY VACATION SO I CAN PAY ON IT ALL YEAR AND NOT AFFECT MY BUDGET! Well, if you are going to pay on it and the extra interest charges all year, it is going to affect your budget ALL YEAR. Enough said!

If you really are going to pay off your credit card each month, then use only a credit card that offers a "cash back" option with no annual fee. Use it all the time even for simple things like groceries, gas, and car insurance. The key is actually paying it off. I made $1051.36 last year doing this (see my rewards balance above) and I did not pay one drop of interest! I simply used my credit card like a debit card for things I was going to pay cash for anyway and then turn around and send the money in. I use online banking so with a click the bill is paid from my checking account each payday. At first my husband laughed, "2% of $100 is only $2". Yeah! I get $2 each time I go to my neighborhood grocery store and I go a lot! I get about $6 each time I pay my Internet/Cell/Cable bills. You get the picture. I get paid to pay my bills, eat out, and get gas. Imagine if I would have done this all of my adult years. My cash back earnings would have been over 20K by now! Yes it is CASH -- most cards allow you to transfer your rewards to your checking account or use it to pay on your bill. The key is having the discipline to pay your card off monthly!
Focus on your emergency fund. Experts suggest that you have at the minimum $1000 in an emergency fund and eventually enough saved to pay 3-5 months of bills just in case you lose your job or something else happens. What is your plan? If you are having financial struggles, you are not going to wake up one day and be able to put $5,000 in savings. Be realistic and plan. You can literally build a fund without much effort. I'm not asking you to give up your cell phone, turn off the heat in the winter, or never splurge on your favorite smoothie. All I ask is that you treat deposits into your savings account like any other bill. Pay it regularly. Consider setting up a recurring deposit of $10-100 weekly or monthly whichever you can afford, With 52 weeks in a year, saving $50 a week can be $2600/yr. That definitely beats having a balance on a credit card and making the minimum payment.
Save for a vacation, before you take one! Decide a year in advance what you want to do or where you want to go. Take the estimated cost of your vacation and divide it by 12 to get the monthly amount you need to set aside to meet your goal.

As you plan your 2018 budget, keep some of this in mind. Don't throw your hard-earned money out of the window!

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Confidence

1/22/2018

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Confidence starts on the inside and works it way out...

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T-shirt and Leggings

1/21/2018

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No matter who you are or what you've done (LOL), you need comfort in your life. Yes, I sound like a 90's song, but I've found some of the best fitting INSPIRATIONAL t-shirts and the most STRETCHY AND SOFT leggings. I want to sing! Miraculously, the leggings fit most from short to tall and curvy to not so curvy! The high-waisted fit allows for extra room just in case you have a little junk in the trunk. Cuddle with your honey in leggings and a t-shirt in front of a warm fire. This outfit choice is so LIT - great for long car rides or flights - so comfortable - PLUS SIZE PERFECTION. And [drum roll please...] Free shipping on leggings Order Below. Available Colors: Black, Coffee, Charcoal Gray, Wine Red, Navy, Olive, Purple, and Camouflage. Shop T-shirts at Grown Folk Motto.