Broke to Ballin'

So... I'm sure many of you have heard about or read "the secret". Oooo so mysterious so powerful...
Seriously though, I think there is some merit to it now matter how cheesy the video, the book is motivational. The main take-away for me was to think positive and visualize what you want. The title and focus on Broke doesn't really do that now does it? NO. So moving forward we will refer to this section of the blog as BALLIN' aka, where I'm gonna be.

And now, BALLIN'

Winter is fast approaching or should I say, is here (in Boston we've had snow 2xs already this season, YIPES)
So, if you're like me and have been putting it off it's finally time to pack all those gorgeous spring dresses and break out the cashmere.

WHAT cashmere on a budget, hell yeah, there'll be no plain wool upon my delicate skin.
But how can I afford it...
Here's how
1) discount shopping
2) consignment shops

1) Look for the sales!!! Now is a great time to find'em. BUT before you go, make a list of what you want. Don't just show up and go crazy. AFTER you've pulled out last year's winter wardrobe decide what's missing or needs updating say, red cardigan, black blazer and wool skirt. Good you got your list, shop with it and stick to it. NEXT, ask for an extra 20% off, you can make up the reason why you deserve it, chances are you won't get the 20% but you may get at least 10%, so that an extra $10 in your pocket for every $100 spent. You can put it away for a rainy day or a new pair of shoes.

2) Somethings in your closet may just seem boring to you. That's fine, out with the old... But before you go donating to goodwill, see if you can make a buck. Take those clothes (and bags and shoes) to your local consignment shop to find out what they are worth. What's old and boring to you can be fun and exciting to someone else. Use those bucks to update your wardrobe. And don't forget to checkout what the shop is offering in your size.

I hope it's clear that these principals don't just apply to your cashmere acquisitions, they apply to ALL your clothing purchases.

One last thought, BUY for QUALITY not QUANTITY ( on most things, everyone needs a few throw-away walk o' shame shirts) .
Why Quality?
1, it feels nice
2, it last longer
3, your trade in value (consignment shop) will be higher

What's the best clothing deal you've scored?
Me:
What: Bulgari hand bag $50, previously $850
Where: the original Filene's Basement (RIP).

Fit and Happy: Sexy Foods

Fit and Happy:
It feels good to feel good about yourself.... and somehow some foods make me feel sexy. Which is a WHOLE lot better than feeling fat or guilty. So I've decided to indulge more in the sexier foods in life. Maybe they're aphrodisiacs maybe not, but what I do know is I enjoy them down to the last bite (or slurp).

My List of Sexy but Good For You Foods.

Oysters
yeah baby... need I say more?

Ceviche
it reminds me of being a teenager on the beaches of Venezuela

Champagne
Sipped slowly by the glass full so refined so sophisticated so good it makes everything more fun (take note I've been known to pop a bottle while doing laundry)

Sashimi
or anything eaten calmly with chopsticks; something about this seems so exotic and in control (which = sexy to me)

Anything Ethiopian
So, this is NOT so fit but damn if eating with your hands isn't even sexier than eating with chopsticks

A bowl of berries
Eaten with the hand is so refreshing and enticing..begs for you to feed someone and be fed and we all know where that can lead... (yipes mom forget what you just read)

Anything extra spicy
A punch of cayenne can get me rolling. When it's that perfect hot where your arm hairs stand up, your eyes water, your body tingles and you can STILL actually taste the food well...sign me up, twice

Shabu Shabu

Goes along with the chopstick rule

What's on your list?

Get With It!!!!!

Fit:
Alright I'm kickin my own ass now. Time to hop back on the wagon and get it in gear. I was on cruise control for a while but somehow I slowed down. Cheat meals went from 3/week to umm.. EVERYDAY This week?!?!?! Ok not that bad...but damn near close. So it's time to step back in line...here's how.

Starting tomorrow...ha ha ha JK STARTING NOW... people seriously, when you want something, anything, (like say, to loose 5 lbs, learn to drive or start your own gym) START NOW in this moment not tomorrow or the day after or it will NEVER happen...

SO, STEP 1, starting NOW if I bite it I write it. Uh-huh I'm writing everything that touches these lips down on paper. I cannot tell you the accountability and control this brings.

STEP 2, taking BABY STEPS. I tend to be an all or nuthin' kinda girl but really that's not the way to go when it comes to altering or maintaining a lifestyle and it's not how I've come this far. So, while I am TEMPTED to say I'ma a start 2-a-day workouts and only eat chicken breast and broccoli. I won't (I'm drinking a glass of wine as I write*). INSTEAD I will commit to going to CrossFit workouts 3 times this week and WRITING DOWN WHAT I EAT (see step 1)

So, that's it, that's how I'll be moving forward. Are you happy with where you're at? If not what are YOU gonna do about you?
Whatever it is DO IT NOW

* Cut me a break, it's Saturday night and I'm keepin' it real. That glass of wine has been written down and accounted for.

My Free Vacation

Alright I'm BACK!!! Only what, 2 weeks to recover from NOLA?!?! What you say? Yes sad but true and against everything that is me, it wasn't even the alcohol that slowed me down it was the math.

Yipes WHAT HUH you say again?!?!?

Well, to "push" myself I signed up for a bunch of finance courses this semester and let me tell you, my brain just cain't thank thata way. Well let me not say can't. It PREFERS not to. But really if I don't leave Business School with the ability to do businessy kinda things I'm only cheating myself. So, now that I back on the path of retraining my brain to think cash flows and valuations, ratios and EBITDA (don't you worry about what any of this means, just know that I know and that's the whole point). I'm ready to write.

Broke: Soooo. I bet your wondering how I paid for a trip to New Orleans on my budget. Well, the answer is I DIDN'T!!!! I used the old fashioned bartering system, evoked f my rights as a friend and kept an eye out for free food. As you may know I worked for American Airlines over the summer as an intern. (Big ups to their internship program, loved it). How did I find this internship you may ask, at the National Black MBA Conference (NBMBA) last year. SO, when the time came around for this year's NBMBA I gladly volunteered my services to come and help them recruit. They accepted and gave me a plane ticket. So a few hours of work = my plane ticket.
Transportation Cost- CHECK

Originally I had planned to reduce my hotel costs by finding someone to split a room with. Well guess what: Even better I found one of my friend's was going and her school was paying for her room. So um guess where I crashed.
Hotel Cost: CHECK (THANK YOU VERY MUCH H-DAWG)

The conference lasted 2 days. Every major brand you can think of was there including General Mills, Hershey's Wrigley's, Agra... I think you know where I am going with this... FREE SAMPLES. So I chose not to eat most of them (was saving room for oysters) but you could easily fill-up on these at no cost.

The way I got some free grub and booze was company "receptions". So, major companies held "receptions" for MBA students they are interested in. At these receptions you can do some good "networking" (in quotes cuz I'm still not sure I know what that means) and enjoy the appetizers and open bars :)

AA was also kind enough to take me dinner one night and my school sponsored dinner another.

So- majority of food costs- CHECK

That's a quick re-cap on how I did NOLA for cheap. What exactly I did there well... what happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans.

I'll be posting more soon...