Caffeinaddicts, Spare Some Time, Save Money

Are you a coffee lover that can't leave the house without your eye-opening essential?
I think it is a nobrainer to say that it is quite unreasonable to spend 3 on a coffee on a daily, even weekly basis, in today's economy.
I am not trying to steer people away from the big name chains but think about what you could be saving by taking an extra 5 minutes at home to make your own.
I went out and bought a $2.69 canister of International Coffee's Suisse Mocha (among many other flavors), boiled some water and added it to a few teaspoons of the coffee mix. Simple, tasty, and certainly not spending big bucks on a single cup of my morning ritual!
I also invested in a $2.99 milk frother from IKEA that I adore.
I brew some fresh coffee or espresso and heat some milk in a separate mug in the microwave, then froth away with my battery operated, little frother. Mix together coffee and milk and voila, a latte. Add sweetener, or for a special treat, buy a bottle of your favorite Torani Syrup (Vanilla, Hazelnut, Raspberry etc.) and you will have a coffee that tastes like you spent that ridiculous amount of money without actually spending it!
So if you don't already have one, invest in a good, reusable, travel mug and spare yourself a little bit of extra time in the morning, not your child's college fund (or whatever is left of that), to enjoy a cup of your own delicious, caffienated beverage!

Estate House Wins Us Over

Do you live in the Phoenix, AZ area or are planning to visit? If so, make sure to stop in to the Estate House on Stetson and Scottsdale in beautiful Old Town.

A good friend and myself were recommended to try this beautiful, 3 story restaurant/lounge with a sprawling outdoor patio on the second floor and VIP patio with indoor lounge on the third floor. Not to mention, the Estate House has gorgeous views of Old Town Scottsdale.
Decorated with contemporary, elegant and a modern style combination, this establishment is both classy and comfortable, attracting a diverse range of clientele. We noticed many couples dining casually, a hosted party for NBA All-Star Weekend, individuals and groups enjoying their Friday night out!
We lounged on the second floor, ordering from an extensive wine/cocktail menu and indulging in a wonderful heirloom tomato appetizer, complete with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella and a sweet and spicy shrimp dish, sized beautifully and filled with gourmet flavors to give your taste buds a zing! The first floor offers a separate, more extensive, menu which includes entrees and desserts. We also toured the VIP patio on the third floor which offers a private outdoor atmosphere, beautifully decorated for comfort and style. This area also included an enclosed indoor private lounge area with a large flat screen and private bar service available (call for VIP bookings).
Not only was the food very good but the staff was very impressive. We were constantly attended to and had prompt, extremely friendly and professional service the entire evening. We did not feel like we were in a stuffy, aloof atmosphere like many an upscale Scottsdale establishment. The comfort level was wonderful, prices within reason for the excellent quality and taste and I would highly recommend the Estate House for any evening of the week.
Click here to visit their website for pictures, menus and event information.

Quick Dress Shopping Tip

Alright ladies...
Dress shopping for an event isn't always the best experience so I thought I would offer a shopping tip that works for me.
Think of the stores that you would like to visit and go online to their website. Many stores like Forever 21 (that offer one-stop clothing/accessory/shoe shopping) have their clothing online now and many of the same styles can be found in-store as well.
I like to pick out a handful of looks with accessories and shoes, make a collage from the thumbnails and print it out then go to the store and see if they offer the same styles. If this is done, I know exactly what I need before going into the store, thus saving time browsing. If things catch your eye, great! Grab them and add to the trying on!
You should find a look that will suit your event and in half the time!!!
Good luck!

Mending with MIGHTY MENDIT

My husband decided to clean out his closet one day and try on all of the "maybe" clothes.
He enlisted me to help decide on which ones to keep and we came across a gorgeous silk shirt and a cashmere knit that had tiny holes around the collar, right on the seam.
I thought we would have to get rid of the shirts as they could not be sewn because of the way the seams had come apart...
I thought and thought and remembered a really obnoxiously loud Billy Mays shouting about some new product called "Mighty Mendit". I am definitely one for easy fixing so I decided to head down to Target and see if they had it in store.
They did. I took a chance, bought it and pulled it out of the box.
For about $10 bucks, you can get a large bottle of the Mighty Mendit as well as a small bottle of Gemit and a little bag of rhinestones to "Gem" to your phone, t-shirt or something else. Mighty Mendit is a flexible bonding agent that claims to be great at fixing cuffs and hems, upholstery, leather, denim, scrapbooking and crafting, seams, plush, toys and more. It dries clear, is machine washable and is safe for most fabric.
I carefully used a toothpick to spread the "Mighty Mendit" into the small holes that needed to be fixed. I then took a clean toothpick and tucked the exposed seam stitching into the whole thus mending it. This stringy, quick drying substance is said to dry super quick so be aware of this. Make sure you read the directions carefully before using too.
I really think this product works well. I have since repaired my son's toys, a pillow a pair of jeans and 2 of my husbands shirts.
On the commercial it claims to withstand the washer several times over after mending something...that I have yet to test and see but will do so when the time comes. For now I am satisfied.

Here is the before shot of my husband's silk shirt with a rip on the seam of the collar.

Here is a picture of the same shirt after using
"Mighty Mendit".I would recommend this product so get out and MEND IT!