Making Dinner With What You Got Tonight.

http://www.myfridgefood.com/index.php

I don't cook, I would if I could figure out how to...I guess...but I am starving and need to use the food I have and don't know what I could possibly make with only a handful of random ingredients. Nothing?...NOT. This is the best site ever. You go down the list, click on what you have and BAM! It gives you little recipes for the ingredients you have right now. No need to run to the store and it can help you clear out some of those random items you've been keeping around. And it even gives you calorie counts for each. For sure going on my top 10 best new website discovery of the year.

My Fridge Food

Contigo Mugs Figured it Out Again!

Contigo- they just know what they are doing! Look at this very-much-worth-it water bottle for the gym! It holds all your little personal items that you carry with you while you work out- locker key, cards or money. And don't forget about the other model I raved about- the coffee mug, NO SPILL. Brilliant.

Minnesota Happy Hours List and Times!

To all my Minnesota friends, I wanted to take this time to let you know (if you don't already) about a site I use all the time to find local Happy Hour and Daily Restaurant deals. It's not the most well-developed site, but its functional use is why it stands out.

ThriftyHipster.com

Hopefully they'll get a mobile site up ASAP and then when you're out you can find the best deals closest to you.

Herbergers Goodwill Sale Fall 2011

It's here again- and always in time for fall cleaning. Although I still need to try and sell some the clothes I've chosen to get rid of at the local consignment shops, I have a stack that I know will not sell- and those items are all going to Herbergers for their fall Goodwill Sale.

You can also make an account and receive another 25% off coupons to Herbergers, and play their little "spin the wheel" game to possibly win free prizes. I did it- but if you're not a big Herbergers shopper may not be worth giving you info out. We'll see, I'll spin the wheel thing each day (it goes on as long as the sale does) and let you know if I win.

Either way-this is the best time of the year to clean out your fall and winter wardrobe and donate the items you know you will not be wearing this year (but save your winter jackets, lots of charities will need those in the coming months!).

The Importance of Branding Yourself, Part 2

Part 2 of 2

The Process- Building the Brand

A big part of having a good brand is to be easily recognizable. So make yourself easily recognizable. Who's easily recognizable? Steve Jobs, Vera Wang, Andrea Jung; these are extremely successful people who have a well-developed company brand and also their own personal brand. They are known for their distinguished image-which is essentially wearing almost the same thing all the time. These are people that have taken this concept to an intense level. But think about it in terms of shopping; especially deciding on outfits and value of the things you purchase.

1. Everything you buy will match what you already have
2. Each new item you buy will create multiples of new outfits

3. Each new item is worth much more for its versatility and you can afford to spend more on each new addition.

So here's what I'm going to do-throw out almost everything I have. The sweatshirts, pants, t-shirts and also everything that does not reflect an image I want to be recognized for. For me, that means I will cut my closet down to less than half of what I have now. Why am I willing to do this? I will be wearing almost the same outfits every week...but to me, at this point in my life, I rather be easily recognizable for wearing quality clothing than in multiple outfits of mediocre value. Also, I’ll spend less time finding the right outfit in the morning, and time is money!

If this seems obvious to some of you- then where were you when I was over-dosing on buying new things every week!? I used to spend about $30 a week and get several new pieces. Now I'm seeing the importance of spending $30 on one shirt.

Coming to this conclusion has shook me to my core! I am left with this wardrobe I spend four years building up during college. I have so many different looks for so many different places. I could look anyway I wanted for any day and fit in anywhere. Guess I need to grow up? Decide who I am, who I want to be, what I want to be known for and just brand myself.