Second String Dog, Please Stand Up

I am sick of all the press the beloved American hamburger gets on all these food blogs I satiate over. When is their grill BFF going to get to shine in the light? The hot dog deserves its comeback. Well in a little nook in Chicago you can get your dog on at Franks 'n' Dawgs.   These Dawgs range from your Classic weighing in at 1/4 of a pound to, to Dawgs infused with global flavors to the Hawt Dawgs which take 5-star dinning dishes and slap them on a bun.  From the Global corner the Lamb Keema with English peas, cucumber salad, pearl onions & Socca sounds like a trip to the Mediterranean.  Don't worry veg heads, you can partake in this Dawg craze too by ordering up the FU which is marinated tofu, grilled eggplant relish & portabello with salsa verde.  You no longer have to feel left out of this meat fest.  Each month a local, celebrity chef will whip up a gourmet dog which is available for just that month.  There is also a monthly charity, where the sale of the featured Hot Dog has 25% of its proceeds donated to the specific charity.  Now step up to the plate, and give that patty's friend a chance to be the shinning star.  You will soon be saying hamburger who?

Greek Goddess Eyes

Once upon a summer of 2008 I went to Greece, bought a ton of stuff. Of that stuff I thought I was buying make up from a brand I could not find stateside. Then I went to Sephora to replenish some cosmetics. Staring me right in the face is the Korres section. Korres just happens to be the eye liner I bought at a Grecian pharmacy. I love it, goes on smoothly and stays put all day long.  The pigment is rich which makes your eyes pop.  Now at Sephora you can get the Korres Vitamin E Color Pencil Kit which is 10 eye pencils for just $32. One retails for 16, so this is basically the deal of the century.  You are getting a $160 value at an 80% savings.  The colors range from your must own black to the fun green.  The pencils are full size and this kit is a limited edition.  Do not wait around to buy it.  This will complete your day and night make up needs.  Every girl needs gold eye liner.  The variety is endless and you can play with all the combinations. This is the best pencil kit to get this back to school season.

Want This Need That

They're back.  Yes the cargo pant is back.  It started this Spring.  This time around they have been made more feminine, with a skinny leg that does not add bulk to your sillouette.  And ladies are going crazy for the J. Brand Houlihan Cargos (Left).  I mean they are great; they have a skinny leg, and stretch that makes them feel like leggings.  Love them, need them, have to have them.  Then there is the sticker shock.  These pants will set you trendy girls back $230.  Do you know what I could do with $230?  A lot of damage.  Then this past weekend doing some preemptive fall shopping (eek) at Anthropologie I tried on the Simply Sketched Pants just to accompany the plethora of shirts I was interested in.  Then you know what happened.  I feel in love with these pants.  I only wear jeans so these pants are the perfect stand in for when I need a break from the dog days of denim.  They are a great transitional pant seasonally any time of day.  I will be wearing these today with a tank and some gladiators.  Come the colder days, wedge boots and a chunky sweater.  Yes I just said the S word.  These pants are just as flattering and won't set you back what feels like a month's rent.  These are in the normal range, setting you back less than $100.  I love these so much I foresee a problem developing.  Come fall, if you see me in these every day, it is okay to stage an intervention.  

Milk Your Muscles

This time of year gets me sentimental.  I feel like I should be sorting through my closet and packing all my costumes for theme parties.  You know what I am talking about, you miss college as much as the next bloke.  There are somethings you can enjoy even though you are not studying at the student center.  Well this tip is probably more for your boyfriend, brother, crazy dude at the gym.  Guys love their muscles, but they love their protein even more.  Have you ever gone into GNC and looked at the price tag.  Holy money pit!  What your man is paying for this he could be taking you out for a nice night on the town.  So next time he is talking about his workout regimen, suggest your man check out Campus Protein.  Geared towards the cash strapped college kid and based on campuses across the country the site offers you supplements, protein, vitamins and everything else the big box stores offer for a fraction of the price.  These are not second tier brands, this is the real deal.  Shipping is affordable; 7 bucks and you get it in 2 days.  Ladies, check it out, there may even be products for you.  Now if you need inspiration, there are some videos on the web that will get you in the gym, pumping iron.     

Merkin Me Happy

There are some sample sales that you go to where you wait for hours, bump into everyone like its a game of bumper cars and you leave empty handed. So why would you want to go to the Lauren Merkin sale starting next Tuesday. Well because its Lauren Merkin. You have been coveting her bags for years and have tried to save up for one of those Louise Clutches.  So starting Tuesday head down to the Lauren Merkin showroom which is at 231 W 29th Street where  bags, clutches and accessories are 70% off.  Doors open at 11 AM and the sale runs through Saturday the 14th.  You will not be able to find one of her bags for $90 anywhere else.  Known for her clutches, Merkin constantly produces some of the sleekest hand bags that go from day to night, jeans to black tie.    Like any sample sale come during the begining of the week and go with a game plan.  If you don't know exactly what you want chances are you will come out with 3 bags you don't even love.  If you are no where near the city, check Gilt, Haute Look, or one of the 30 other sample sale sites out there, because I am sure that Lauren Merkin bags will be featured very soon.

16 Handles, A Million Options

With the hot weather you need something to cool yourself down with. Frozen yogurt seems like the best option. Last night over a hot spicy Mexican meal my friends and I were reminiscing about the sundae bars we used to indulge in at sorority parties. After salivating, we headed straight to 16 Handles. Taking a note on the fro yo trend, 16 gives the customer endless options. So there are 16 self serve flavors flavors (duh) and a fully loaded toppings bar. You choose your dessert destiny from having a dab of yogurt with Cap'n Crunch and lychee or a rainbow of flavors with chocolate sprinkles. You pay for what you buy, so every ounce costs 49 cents. In the realm of overpriced under flavored yogurt (I am talking to you tasti delight) this has value. Currently there is the East Village and Garden State Plaza locations in operations, but wait because this place is expanding down the eastern seaboard. The yogurts actually taste like their names and you get however much will fill you up. So head to the East Village and pretend you are at a bat mitzvah when dessert is served.
Image via Steve Snodgrass

I Found the Wedge and A Giveaway for You! Enter Now

If you know me, I have been on the eternal hunt for the perfect sandal this summer. Trying to find them is driving me up a wall. However, I think I found a pair to fit my bill. I am instantly drawn to the Carlos Mohican Sandal. They have my name all over it. To begin with they are so reasonable, so on trend, and so what I need to finish out this hot, hot summer. What is great, is I can get a great piece of luggage from the same site to keep my new shoe find protected while traveling. Buying a protector will keep your clothes clean and your shoes in good shape. To make this find even better I have great little something for my loyal readers. I am so excited to announce that Living the Life on a Budget has its first giveaway. Now all our readers will get the chance to Live that Life I have been telling y'all about for a long time. CSN stores is your one stop shop for all your needs on the Internet. They have everything from luggage, to furniture to anything else you can imagine. It is basically your virtual mall. So with this giveaway you have the chance to win $40 to shop on any of their 200+ sites. I know what I would get, but what are you thinking about buying if you are the lucky one? Contest runs until 7/22, 11:59 EST, so get your entries in.

Ways you can Win big:

1) Must post a comment on this post

2) Become a Facebook Fan

3) Follow Me on Twitter: @LTLoBudget

4) Tweet this Contest To Your Friends

You can do one or all of them, just leave a comment letting me know you did it.

Contest Rules:

Must be a resident of The United States or Canada

Winner will be picked at random via Random.org

I am pleased to announce that a winner has been choosen:

Fashion Tree

Doesn't it seem like it is constantly in our faces to purchase products that have an ulterior motive? I am going to say yes. Are you really buying these products because you support the cause or are they a fashion statement. Ask a girl on the street why she is holding a Feed Bag, and I am sure the answers are overwhelmingly varied. Then there are sometimes when us fashionistas do not want to rub our contributions in your face. People Tree is an unassuming clothing company based in the United Kingdom that is taking note of the latter. A sustainable and Fair Trade fashion company that does not slap you in the face with their mission. Producing on trend, wearable clothing, you know that you are promoting an idea that all should adopt. Each item created promotes the World Fair Trade Organization's Fair trade principles. The sale of a garment helps to bring benefits to people in 15 countries so they can continue growing cotton, weaving, dying and stitching fabric; ultimately alleviating poverty across the world. People Tree works effortlessly to make sure all processes leave a minimal impact on the environment. Fabrics use certified organic cotton which are colored using natural and safe dyes. These are not your mother's eco friendly clothing. I am sure if you went out in the bright stripe skirt your friends are going to ask which priecy boutique you got it at. Haven't gotten on the jumpsuit trend yet? Snatch up the Emma Watson for People Tree Organic Cotton Jersey Playsuit for pennies, or about 30 bucks. You will not be wearing your cause on your sleeve, but thats because it seems like everything is sleevless. With that being said, your quiet crusade will benefit more than just your rank among the fashionistas.

Upkeep Beauty on the Cheap

At the beginning of this little bligity blog I have been meaning to broadcast to the world the merits of getting your wig cut and colored at a styling school. However there have been so many deals and steals that have gotten in between these 200+ posts. So practicing what I preach, the weekend I made a desperate appointment to get freshened up. Let me tell you it has been ages, and I have not been wanting to dole the 50+ bucks out for a new haircut. So in a recent Time Out New York article they told me to make the 1st appointment available at The Carsten Aveda Institute. And I did; my wig could not handle another day looking like it did. So I check in and my stylist in training (SIT) picks me up and is ten times more professional than some of my other experiences. We had our consultation, she started snipping away, I read about the happenings of the Bachellorette, and she consulted with her teacher to make sure everything was going according to plan. Let's just say the teacher took scissors to my hair only once. The SIT knew what she was doing. She blew my new wig out and I was ready for my Saturday night. At the end of the day, I got a faboosh hair cut for $25 including tipo. In addition to a cut you can get a facial, conditioning treatment with their aromatic products, have your make up done, and get highlights. Ladies and gents this is not a NYC specific phenomenon. Just go to any outstanding, cutting edge salon in your neck of the woods and find out if they need models. Yes models, hair models. The SITs will be at the end of their training and the teacher will be watching every snip so there really is not much to worry about. You are getting a service from a professional who is invested in doing their best job. Prices for these services are always reduced. The only problem is with your new fab do is the next time you go to get a cut your SIT prob will just be a stylist, aka prices quadruple. If you are loyal start saving, if your like me fresh start fresh style.
Image via Stevendepolo

Bringing Home the Nail Salon.

Summer months call for perfectly manicured nails and toes. They just make your tan look that much better. But you do not have the time or the money between your summer parties and planned vacations. So somethings need to take a back seat. Well next time you are in your neighborhood drug store, add a bottle of Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in your basket. Available in a rainbow of colors (pun intended) for under $8 a bottle you can stock up on all the trendy colors and classic ones for when you grow up. All 5 steps to a manicure are in the bottle. When applying, the brush fans out and one stroke covers the nail. The polish goes on smooth and dries instantly. Your mani will last the test of time. If it happens to chip, you can always fix it up. That never happens when you pay for a mani, which is often twice the price of this bottle. Added bonus, you do not have to get all paranoid that everyone is talking about you as they paint your nails.