{Living}

Start up business

Starting your own business can be very daunting. As entrepreneurs ourselves at the Budget Socialite, we’ve compiled a list of some of the start up business services we use or have come across in our research that are either free or have a small fee. If you know of any, please add them to the comments so others can learn about them as well.

Dropbox
www.dropbox.com/
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!

SohoOs.com
Our vision is to establish a new global micro-economy by empowering micro-businesses and freelancers worldwide with the management tools they need to flourish. First, to help stimulate and increase growth, and second, to provide a supportive environment in which to interact and collaborate with others- free of charge.

Mint.com
http://www.mint.com
Mint is fresh, intelligent online money management. Not only is Mint free, it saves you money. While existing personal finance software packages require hours to set up, a passion for accounting (is that possible?) and hours of weekly maintenance, Mint is virtually effortless.

Get Clicky
http://getclicky.com/. It gives you code to put on your site to track your traffic. It tells you how many people are visiting your site, where they are coming from (facebook, twitter, searches), how long they spent on your site, what the clicked on, where they are from (country, state, town), what provider they use, etc… It’s awesome because you can tell what is working in generating traffic and what isnt. Also if you send a link to someone important, you can tell if they visited your site. My friend sent a link to someone at MTV, and it listed that someone from MTV new york had visited.

Quickbooks Simple Startup – Free trial
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/
QuickBooks from Intuit is the #1 rated and best-selling small business financial software1. Find out why small businesses choose QuickBooks accounting software. Get a 30-day free trial and then, if you need more time, you have another 60 days to decide if you want to keep it.

MailChimp
http://www.mailchimp.com/
The Forever Free Plan
Store up to 500 subscribers
Send up to 3,000 emails per month
No contracts or credit cards required. You can link to your Zoho account to update your contacts as well as other popular CRM solutions through their API exchange.

ZohoCRM Free Edition
http://www.zoho.com/crm/index.html
Great CRM to keep track of your customers & vendors they give you alot for free
Number of Users Three Users Free
CRM Modules:
Leads and Sales Opportunities
Accounts and Contacts
Cases and Solutions
Marketing Campaigns and Email Opt-out
Activities and Calendar
Reports & Dashboards

Survey Monkey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/
Free version gives you up to 10 questions and 100 responses. You can view the responses, but can’t download which means you’d have to do your own copy and pasting.
 
Square Up
https://squareup.com/
Accept payment cards on any device with an audio input jack, including your mobile phone. After signing up for Square, provide your address on the web and we’ll send your free card reader and Square sticker. It’s not quite ready yet, so sign up and once they’re ready, it will be all systems GO!

The Small Business Web
http://thesmallbusinessweb.com/
These guys have gotten together to help make small business better. They have an online directory of different service providers and you can join to add your own business to their listing.

Do you use any of these services for your start up business or have some not on this list? Let us know about it in the comments.

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Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt
Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.

{Beauty}

Ooh La La…Look at Those Brows

TheBudgetSocialite.comSometimes the difference between a polished look and a not so polished look is as simple as the shape of the brows. Brows are the frame for the face. Overgrown eyebrows can cast a shadow on the brow bone or between the eyes.  Overly tweezed eyebrows can make a face look puffy or protruding, and eyes can look surprised.

When brows are shaped to compliment your face shape, they can make a vast difference in your appearance. To minimize confusion about which brow shape to choose, here are some tips:

Brow shapes to compliment any face shape:

Round face:  arch the brows high to make the face appear narrower; start on a line directly above the inside corner of the eye and extend toward the cheekbone.

round face shape

round face shape

Long face: make the eyebrows almost straight which will create the illusion of a shorter face; don’t extend the eyebrow lines further than the outside corner of the eyes; create a slight arch.

long face shape

long face shape

Square face: arch the brows high on the ends; begin the lines directly above the corners of the eyes and extend them outward; can create the appearance of an oval face (ideal face shape).

square face shape

square face shape

Oval face:  create soft angled shaped brows.

oval face shape

oval face shape

Heart face: Create rounded brows. The curve of the brow is soft, feminine and attractive and also creates the heart like look of the face.

heart face shape

heart face shape

Diamond face:  Soften the angles; this makes the widest portion of the face appear less wide. Curves will soften your look and make the widest portion of your face look less wide.

diamond face shape

diamond face shape

To Create an Ideal Eyebrow Shape (Tip: draw 3 lines with a white eyeliner pencil):

  • 1st line: vertical from the inner corner of the eye upward; this is where the eyebrow should begin.
  • 2nd line: drawn at an angle, from the outer corner of the nose to the outer corner of the eye; this is where the eyebrow should end.
  • 3rd line: draw a vertical line from the outer circle of the iris upward; this is where the arch should ideally be located.
  • After the lines are drawn, tweeze, trim or use a razor to shape the brows.

Conversely, if you have sparse eyebrows (spaces in your eyebrow hairs):

  • Fill in with hairline strokes using an eyebrow pencil or shadow and apply with angled brush. Note: choose two shades of eyebrow pencil (one close to the color of your hair and another a shade or two lighter, than the darker pencil).
  • Use the darker pencil to make short hair-like strokes from the beginning of the eyebrow to the arch. After the arch, switch to your lighter pencil.
  • With soft strokes, finish the ends of the brow; use eyebrow brush to soften the pencil or shadow (to soften any noticeable pencil lines).

Eyebrow Products:

  • Brow pencils- fill in sparse areas: brown and black hair – 1-2 shades lighter; blonde and red heads – 1-2 shades darker; gray hair – 1-2 shades darker.
  • Brow shadow/powder – create soft-looking eyebrows.
  • Brow cream- filling in sparse eyebrows (heavier coverage).
  • Brow stencils – shape the brows.
  • Brow gel – holds eyebrows in position.

 Suggested brands and products:

Anastasia

Ardell

Dior

There you have it…full-proof tips for brows that wow!

{Style}

Casual Piece

BoomHey Socialites! My newest obsession is dressing up casual pieces, like tees and sneakers. There’s something about a Fashionista that screams FABULOUS when she can work a graphic shirt and a bodycon skirt. Here’s some of our fave new pieces that can help you accomplish that look and speak volumes!

Ok, so let’s start off with *takes deep breath* this AMAZINGLY, SENSATIONAL, casual piece, courtesy of Designer, Phillip Lim’s collaboration with Target (purchase here or at your local Target). It says so much… while saying so much! Of course, a great way to make a “Pop” piece stand on its own, is to pair it with an understated garment. Hence, why we chose to go with a simple bodycon skirt, like this one by Dorothy Perkins (purchase here). We also love the idea of dressing up a casual piece with a little blingery, so we opted for a statement necklace, like this one from Oasis Stores (purchase here), and added a little bit of simplicity with these Givenchy pearl earrings (purchase here). Who doesn’t love a good clutch? This Michael Kors, studded number (purchase here), brings that edge and makes an impact, especially when paired with these hot shades from Amazon.com (purchase here). And we can’t forget about the shoes. Sure it’s easy to pair this outfit with a pair of pumps or a bootie, but why not swap it out for a sneaker wedge. Sneaker wedges are not slowing down in fashion, so you might as well jump in with both feet, whatever your size is. These are from Urban Outfitters (and they’re only $22.49 annnnnnnnnnnnd they come in all different colors) (purchase here).

So loves, play up those casual pieces and make a statement that speaks for itself! Happy Findings!

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Contributor | Cadian Carter
As a lover of fashion, Blogger Cadian Carter got her first job working at indie fashion publication, V Magazine. Now she is a freelance writer helping women embrace their own personal style, one fashion find at a time.

{Living}

Dining Room Style

TheBudgetSocialite.comI put a loveseat in my dining room! And why not? Most people eat in the living room because the couch is so comfortable. Since the couch in my living room is white, eating in there is out of the question. And after I got done with my dining room loveseat, it quickly became my (and my guests) favorite place.

I found this piece on Craigslist for only $50 and paid an extra $20 to have it delivered by the owner. It doesn’t look like much because of the color, but the shape and size were perfect. The cushions were a bit to be desired and I had to do something about the height.

TheBudgetSocialite.comI used painter’s drop cloth to recover the loveseat. I liked the creamy cotton look that fit perfectly with my Shabby Chic theme and the price was great. I ordered mine online, but a quick online search will get you to a bunch of sites that offer drop cloths. (Tip: You will want to wash it first to remove the chemicals and to soften the fabric.) You can  also order a nice slipcover as well. Check out this one for a real country look on Amazon.

I purchased a new cushion from a craft store, added batting and sewed a new cover for it.

TheBudgetSocialite.comNext, just fit the rest of your drop cloth over your slip cushion, tucking in extra pieces.

TheBudgetSocialite.comTo raise the height, I used wooden risers so it was tall enough for the table.

TheBudgetSocialite.comThis was my inspiration!

Eclectic Dining Room by Arlington Heights Interior Designers & Decorators Cottage Industry

What do you think? Would you put a love seat in your dining room?

 

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Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt
Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.

{Beauty}

Concealer Confusion!

concealer_picConcealer has mystified people from inception…what’s the right color? when should it be applied? what’s the difference between concealing and correcting? can concealer be used as a highlighter? can it be used as foundation? There are many different variables that have to be considered before deciding the answers to these questions. I’ve outlined them here, in hopes of clearing up the confusion.

Concealers cover up problem spots (i.e. dark circles). They also serve as color correctors which neutralize unwanted colors in the skin (i.e. hyperpigmentation). You can apply one or the other in most cases.

Pot concealers provide the heaviest coverage. Pencil concealers provide sheer to medium coverage and contain some moisture. Wand concealers are a fluid consistency and can be used as highlighter to brighten and illuminate. Tube/stick concealers provide medium to sheer coverage and may double as foundation.

Tip: Concealer is best removed from the container with a spatula, to minimize bacteria. It is best applied with a concealer brush or sponge. The shelf life is 6-12 months.

 Concealer for dark circles

Tip: apply eye cream to the under eye area so the concealer goes on smooth and doesn’t look cakey. Match the concealer to your skin tone (exact match or 1 shade lighter).  Apply concealer over the dark area. Blend with ring finger and smooth it into the area. Typically, do not apply foundation on top of the concealer. Set with a translucent powder that matches the concealer. Tip: Never overdo concealer – too much will look rough and add years to your face!

Tip: If you are using concealer as a highlighter, it can be 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone.

Color Correctors

Concealer can be used to color correct the skin. Color correctors target areas of discoloration to balance skin tone. Tip:  Only place color corrector exactly where needed.

Color Corrector for dark circles

If you are using a color corrector, for example, and you have a yellow skin tone and dark under eye circles, gently brushing an orange color corrector under the eye area will help neutralize the dark circles and you can add exact match foundation OR exact match concealer on top, as needed. Be careful because adding too much product can lead to quick creasing and caking. Using a color corrector can greatly reduce the amount of product and time it takes to cover discoloration.

 Skin tones

  • Pale skin – choose bisque or light pink color correctors.
  • Light to Medium skin tones – choose yellow, light peach, lavender and light green color correctors.
  • Darker skin tones – choose orange or darker peach color correctors.

Skin types

Ruddy skin (skin that’s red, wind-burned, or Rosacea):  apply yellow or green color corrector to the affected areas.
Sallow Skin (skin that has a yellowish hue, i.e. Jaundice):  apply purple (mauve) color corrector to the face.

Applying Color Theory to correct discolored areas

  • Orange neutralizes blue veins and brown spots also known as hyperpigmentation.
  • Green neutralizes redness in lighter skin tones.
  • Mauve or light pink brightens and conceals dull skin.
  • Light yellow corrects under eye circles and purplish/blue discoloration.

Tip:  You can make your own color corrector by mixing a lipstick or pigment with your concealer.

There you have it, concealer confusion demystified! Below are some of the best concealers to hit any price point. Go forth and be flawless!

Top rated concealers:

L’Oreal Paris True Match concealer, $9.

MAC Studio Finish, $18.

Cover FX Cream concealer, $27.

Giorgio Armani Precision concealer, $37.

Make Up Forever Camouflage cream pallette, $38.

YSL  Touche Eclat (highlighter) concealer, $40.

 

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Contributor | Holly Miller
Holly Byrd Miller, owner of Makeup By Holly is a 15 year makeup artistry veteran. Located in Richmond, VA her services include Bridal, TV, Runway, Fashion shows and Photo shoots. Holly also freelances for Giorgio Armani and is a Certified Makeup Instructor
{Food & Entertaining}

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bar Recipe | www.thebudgetsocialite.com

Fall is almost upon us, but that doesn’t mean we have to leave all our summer treasures behind. One such treasure is lemon bars! This is tangy goodness on top of a buttery crust. This all that is good in the world. This is highly addictive. You have been warned.

Consider this my farewell to summer. If I were you, I’d make these bad boys, crank up the heat and lounge in your bikini just for old time’s sake.

And, lemons are good for you… They are cleansing and alkanzing, right? Plus it’s fruit. Fruit can’t be bad. Shhh… Just go with it. It’ll be worth it. I promise.

Lemon Bars for the Win

For the Crust

  • 1 ¼ cups flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ⅓  cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

For the filling

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • ¼  cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅔  cup lemon juice (About 4 juiced lemons)
  • 1 lemon zested

Lemon Bar ingredients | www.thebudgetsocialite.com

I keep wheat berries on hand and mill flour as needed in my VitaMix. If that’s your thing too, 1 cup of wheat berries will yield the 1 ½ cups of flour you need for this recipe.

  1. Put all the dry ingredients for your crust in a food processor. Process for a few seconds to get the sugar, salt and flour mixed up. Add the small pieces of butter and process until moist crumbs form (this may take up to 1 minute).
  2. Sprinkle mixture into a prepared pan (either line the pan or use cooking spray). Press the dough firmly into the pan.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Freeze crust until firm, 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Check after about 10 minutes if your crust starts to puff up prick it with a fork to let the air out.
    Note: if you are using a ceramic or glass pan, DO NOT put the pan into the oven straight from the freezer. Let the pan come to room temperature before putting it into the oven. Instead preheat your oven after you take it out of the freezer instead of before.
  5. In bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups sugar and ¼ cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice.
  6. Pour the filling onto the warm crust (not hot but still warm) and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
  7. Bake for about 18-20 minutes until the filling is slightly firm.
  8. Let it cool to room temperature. The bars will firm up as they cool.
  9. Optional but awesome: Sprinkle with powdered sugar
  10. Cut those babies into bars, Instagram your greatness and enjoy!

Lemon Bars | www.thebudgetsocialite.com

My go-to crust recipe comes via Martha Stewart. You can’t go wrong with Martha. I use this crust for everything. I’ve even made it for a vegan friend using vegan butter and it’s still pretty tasty. The filling is adapted from this recipe. I made it a bit more lemon-y because I’m crazy like that.

 What’s your favorite summer dessert? Let us know in the comments!

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Co-founder | Trinidad Pena
Trinidad Pena is a blogger, foodie, and design superhero bent on helping others kick-ass online, world domination and convincing the world that wine belongs in the fruit food group since it’s made from grapes.

 

{Style}

Fashion Find: Faux Leather

FauxHey Socialites! For the past few weeks, I have been anxiously awaiting the Fall season so that I can pull out my blazers and start pairing them with some of my newest fave trends for the season. Faux Leather (or Vegan styles, as some like to call it) are all the rage for Fall 2013! But then again, this is one trend that gets better with each year, in my opinion! Check out some of these awesome Faux leather finds that are available online and near you.

Ok, so first we start off with this ahhhhh-mazing midi skirt from Miss Selfridge (purchase here). You can never go wrong with a midi because you can easily transition them from season to season. Next, I found this gorgeous Faux leather crop top with bead detailing from Nordstrom (purchase here). Now, a little tip, in case you’re wondering “Did she just throw ANOTHER Faux leather piece in this outfit?”. I know… faux leather can look luxe, can be dressed up or down and, yes, can easily become overkill if too many “like” textures are put together. However, little tip: a way to break it up is to add another piece in a different color, hence the top. Which also brings me to the blazer. Adding a pop of color in a different material as another “focal” piece will help attract the eye to the overall look. This one is from Forever21 (purchase here). As you all may have noticed, I am a fan of Zara, so I had to add in these KILLER, MAJOR GLAMAGE, shoes to kick it up a notch (purchase here)! You also can never go wrong with a set of pearl earrings. Here’s a slight spin on a classic, courtesy ASOS (purchase here). Of course, now that it is Fall, I wanted to add an element of “unique chic”, by throwing in this wider brimmed fedora from Miss Selfridge (purchase here). And no Fashion Maven is complete without a gorgeous bag, like this one from River Island (purchase here).

The Wrap Up: Don’t be afraid to experiment with Vegan pieces and add a little element of some of the amazing finds in your very own closet. Happy Findings!

Purchase Sneakers Here, Here and Here.

Purchase Sneakers Here, Here and Here. Some Sneakers may been made of Genuine Leather. Please refer to Manufacturers notes on linked sites.

Sneaker Wedges are another great way to add a causal edge for this Fall Season. Which would you opt for?

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Contributor | Cadian Carter
As a lover of fashion, Blogger Cadian Carter got her first job working at indie fashion publication, V Magazine. Now she is a freelance writer helping women embrace their own personal style, one fashion find at a time.