A swimmingly perfect pet for busy people with small budgets & apartments

Love animals but have little space, money and/or time for a companion of your very own? How about the ever popular betta fish? Part pet, part intriguing wall decor, and zero counter space necessary! Talk about a great, low-cost, multi-tasking addition to your nest.


Here's a list of everything you'll need:
Betta bubble - Target.com $24 (available online only)
Betta fish - Petsmart about $3
7-day self feeding betta pellets - Petsmart $2.49
Fish net - Petsmart $3
Some fun decorative rocks (fun punchy colors or flat smooth natural stones for a zen look) - Petsmart 2 small bags at $4/each
Water dechlorinator - Petsmart $3.49
Betta food - Petsmart $2.49 - this will last about a year
1 drywall anchor - Home Depot - 6 pack $1.69 - to ensure your new friend doesn't fall off the wall and meet a sad, suffocating fate
3 lucky bamboo stalks - $1-2/each at Lowe's Hardware or your local supermarket. My fish Zeus likes to sleep in his curly bamboo.
Total Cost: About $54

Lessons I learned the hard way:
1. NEVER clean your fish bowl with soap! Water and a paper towel will work just fine. Soap residue will kill your fish.

2. If you can dedicate a turkey baster to your fishbowl, it will buy you a few extra days between fish bowl cleanings (think underwater vacuum)

3. If you travel, just drop a self-feeding pellet in the bowl and you're good to go (available in 3,7 and 10 day)

4. When cleaning your fish bowl... don't discount the jumping power of a betta fish. Keep a lid on wherever you temporarily place your gilled friend. I don't think fish realize that jumping out of a cup spells possible suicide.

5. Because I'm on the overly-cautious side, to ensure that my water doesn't disagree with my fish, I buy a gallon of spring water at the supermarket about 3 times per month to refresh his bowl (.98/gallon)

This blog was inspired by Renee Redaelli and Scarlett

Eco Chic ... for your teeth!

Because what you brush with should be as eco chic as the rest of your persona... I introduce you to my latest fabulous find... a very sleek, and very environmentally conscious toothbrush. This little gem literally stopped me in my tracks at Whole Foods last week. I love everything about it, starting with the fact that it's made out of recycled yogurt cups. The angle makes it a breeze to get to those chompers in the back the dentist is always telling you to pay more attention to, it's dentist approved and has tiered bristles to ensure that your pearlies stay brilliantly white. It comes in 5 cool colors and is available in either a breathable hard travel case or a soft mailer. 'Why a mailer', you ask? Because when it wears out, you're not going to throw it out! Quelle Horreur!! you're going to mail it back... so it can be recycled again... into picnic tables, park benches, and boardwalks! (And yes, the postage is prepaid) What's not to love?

Find it at Whole Foods or www.preserveproducts.com for about $3.

Gap got you down?

If a visible gap at the back of your jeans is killing that whole svelte, sleek look you were trying so hard to achieve, don't toss them in the goodwill heap quite yet! What I find adds insult to injury when you spend a pretty penny on a pair of jeans, is finding a suddenly stretched waistband (which the salesgirl told you absolutely wouldn't happen) and in order to wear them, you find yourself weighing the severity of a serious belt-buckle-bulge vs (god forbid) the possible muffin-topping of your silhouette. Kathy Kramer and her brilliant Invisibelt to the rescue! This little invention will not only save your (possibly rather expensive) jeans from moving on to a new owner, but it'll save your peace of mind too... noone will see your knickers or anything else that would make you look unsophisticated! This little piece of wonderful is available for $20 at www.invisibelt.com.

Frugal Chic Deal of the Week!

Sweet sparkly ballet flats for $30

I love and appreciate a gorgeous pair of shoes. Admittedly, I have a bit of a penchant for shoes, as anyone who's seen my custom built shoe closet, will tell you. And if it's a fabulously comfortable, lovely little ballet flat that can work double duty day or night, all the better. However, I still find it unconscionable to spend $200 for for a ballet flat, my love for Tory Burch and French Sole aside. So... when I saw the latest ballet flat from the Lela Rose for Payless collection, my heart skipped a beat! They're perfectly, well, perfect. Low sides, chic bow detail, and they're available in
perfect-with-everything sparkling silver or a great punchy limeade hue, perfect for summer, or brightening up a gray day. Run to pick these up and smile slyly when you wear them, knowing you saved a bundle and look smashing.

What's a wallet-conscious corporate gal to do?

A friend/co-worker recently came to me asking for some office-appropriate (business casual), wallet friendly, spring wardrobe help. "My clothes are so boring and I'm so tired of wearing the same thing!" exclaimed my exasperated compadre... "I need some fun, and some color. Help me!" My favorite answer to this question is usually"Rely on the always amazing power of the LBD" (Little Black Dress) which can literally be worn a different way every day of the year with a little help from accessories. Check out Sheena Matheiken's amazing proof http://theuniformproject.com/.

Black is a fabulous wardrobe staple, however, this young professional was looking for something new - an injection of fun and a fresh, new look. Since my friend tends to wear a lot of gray, black and muted blues and greens, my first recommendation was to start mixing in a flash of bright color, even if it's just one element of the outfit.

Next, to mix things up a bit and introduce a different look, I suggested she trade in her reliable pant-based outfits for some dresses and skirts. Dresses are fabulous staples because you can layer over and under them and it's easier than you think to completely change the look of one dress (see aforementioned Uniform Project). Since we live in Palm Beach and it's nearing summer, cool fabrics were a must. My favorite summer fabrics are jersey (aka: wrinkle me-not), linen (aka: my wrinkles are so in), cotton-lycra blends that fall and move nicely, and anything light and airy.

Since our lovely subject is budget-conscious, I turn to my favorite places to find chic but low-priced basics - H&M, Target, Old Navy, and Forever 21. Little known secret: even my haute-couture-clad, fabulously styled (at all times) mom buys her basics here.

So... here are a few outfits I put together that won't cause her to forgo groceries this week:

Old Navy:
Tie Front Flutter Sleeve Dress in Tie Front Flutter Sleeve Dress in Maritime Blue $15

Peep Toe Wedges
in taupe $20




Gold Metal Bangles
$9.50

Grand Total: $44.50


Target:
Merona Collection
Kate Shift Dress
in Dynamo Violet
$39.99


Beaded Cluster Necklace
$39.99





Mossimo
Virginia Pumps
in Taupe
$20.98


Grand Total: $100.96


Forever 21:

Shantung Pleated Skirt in Mint $22.80

Marie Jeweled Ring $4.80


Gold Leaf Earrings $4.80


Blair Ruffle Cardigan
in Cream
$17.80






Grand Total: $50.20