Posted May 17, 2013 by Amanda Raye

Whassup home skillets? Now that summer is right around the corner, a ton of new trends are popping up. Instead of making up new ones, we decided to steal. Typically, fashion repeats itself every 20 years, and we’ve finally hit that mark with good old 1993.

Below are popular spring trends that are actually from the 90′s:

1. Floral Dresses

We’re loving this 90′s comeback like whoa!

2. Overalls

Or dungarees…that’s what they were called back in the day. Quite a few celebs have worn this trend recently including fashion icon, Heidi Klum. What are your thoughts on this one? We think they’re cool…NOT!

3. Flatforms

This trend started last summer and it’s still going strong! If you loved the Spice Girls, then you loved flatforms; but are you brave enough to wear the new and improved version?

4. Jelly Shoes

As a kid, I loved my jellies and wouldn’t mind having an adult sized pair in my closet. Thanks to Nasty Gal and Urban Outfitters…that’s possible!

5. Knee High & Thigh High Socks

Yep, we stole them from the 90′s. If you have long legs…go for it!

6. Crop Tops

You can thank Drew Barrymore for this one, and perhaps Hanna Beth for its revival.

7. Velvet Skater Dresses

One of these with a chunky pair of Mary Jane’s was a super trendy look back then. Update it by pairing your adorable velvet dress with a pair of simple flats.

Shop all these looks below!

Well that’s the dillio! What do you think of the 90′s making a comeback?

Posted May 15, 2013 by Amanda Raye

Wall collages are super trendy at the moment. They can give your home that “I paid for an interior designer” feel, without actually having to hire one. And believe it or not, they aren’t pricey!

Unfortunately, many people are scared of them because they look difficult — but they aren’t! Below are a few tips so you can start hanging:

1. Figure out the look you’re going for

If you want a “put together look” like the image above, definitely get all your work framed. I recommend going to a thrift store, as they usually have an over-load of frames. You might also find a few pictures or painting less than $10 that you’ll want to add to your colleciton!

If you want an edgy look, hang your photos up with letter clips.

2. Figure out what you want displayed

Gather all of your favorite paintings, photos and posters. If you don’t have much, I recommend going to Graphic Fairy and printing some out. It cost me only $20 to get over 15 images printed out in color at Fedex!

In order to get that wall collage look, you’re going to need to hang up at least three items.

3. Gather your supplies

• Hammer
• Nails
• Small Letter Clips
• Large Letter Clips
• Leveler for framed images

4. Collage them on a floor first

Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, start collaging them how you think you want them on your wall…on your floor. That way there won’t be any surprises and unnecessary holes in the wall once you start hanging them up.

I recommend you start in the middle and work your way out. My middle piece was a heart mirror I got from Ikea a few years back. Once that was in place, I built my collage around it.

This is a rough draft and will most likely take a while since you’ll keep rearranging everything until the fit is perfect.

5. Hang them up

You might want a friend to help you with this, especially if you’re standing on a ladder or chair.

6. Final look

This is the final look of my living room wall collage! I decided to use a lot of images in order to add color since we’re aren’t allowed to paint.

Do you have a wall collage in your home? Submit your photos to hey@brokeandchic.com for a possible feature!

Posted May 14, 2013 by LearnVest

Although staying in to eat is a lot cheaper than going out, foodies can’t help but indulge in their favorite restaurants once in a while. Food is one of the biggest joys in life, and nothing is better than sharing a good meal and conversation with the ones you love.

In fact, the restaurant industry in America makes about $1.8 billion on a typical day, according to the Restaurant Association. That’s a lot of money we’re spending on meals out! On your next food outing, be sure to keep these tips in mind to shrink your bill:

1. Skip the Drinks

Sodas, alcohol, and other non-tap water drinks tend to be overpriced at restaurants. Get water with your meal, and if you’re really itching for a particular drink, wait until dinner’s over and head to a convenient store to buy it.

2. Order the Kiddie Meal

The meals for kids are generally cheaper and most of the times are the perfect size for adults! This option is also great for portion control and your wallet.

3. Get Takeout

Skip the long wait and the service tip by taking out a meal from the restaurant and enjoying it at home. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend money on drinks and dessert.

4. Do Your Research

Yelp the restaurant to death before eating at the establishment. A big waste of money is not eating your food. Check out if the restaurant is worth your bucks and see what dishes are highly recommended by fans. Sometimes the opinions of the masses are more accurate than your friendly waiter.

5. Bring Back the Leftovers

Bring back a doggy bag and make the most of your leftovers. Sometimes you can even make an entirely new meal out of them. For example, when I had leftover steak one time, I chopped it up and stir-fried it with veggies for a brand-new dish.

6. Split a Meal

Since portions are usually way oversized, split an entree with your eating partner and perhaps an appetizer to share.

7. Order Appetizers

Ask the waiter how big the appetizers are at the restaurant or look at what the people near you are eating. Sometimes appetizers alone can be big enough for a meal!

8. Go For Lunch

Oftentimes, the lunch menu is a lot cheaper than dinner. Check out your restaurant in the daytime and be sure to pick their lunch specials.

9. Wait For Deals

Look out for daily deals from sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial!

10. Don’t Go Hungry

Don’t skip a meal before you go to the restaurant just to have that extra space in your stomach for food. When you’re hungry, you’re more prone to ordering more than you can eat.

11. Use Coupons

Go to Restaurant.com and enter in a coupon code that’ll get you a $25 voucher for only $10. You can find the coupon code by searching online at sites like RetailMeNot.com.

You can also buy a local Entertainment book worth $15 that will give you lots of buy one get one free coupons for restaurants.

12. Earn Rewards

Do your research on sites like Credit Card Guide and figure out which credit cards give you the best rewards for your diner bucks. Oftentimes, if you’re a loyal member of a mileage program, you can even earn some miles by eating at the restaurants the airline partners up with. For example, Southwest has a Rapid Rewards Dining program that credits three points for every dollar spent with their restaurant partners.

More from LearnVest:

• What Does It Mean to be Rich?
• 9 Luxurious Beauty Products Under $25
• Top Money-Saving Summer Trips

Posted May 13, 2013 by Amanda Raye

Summer is creeping up on us fast; it’ll be 80 degrees before you know it! How you apply your makeup in the winter and spring shouldn’t be how you do it in the summer (we’ll tell you why below)…you still have a solid month until it’s officially here, so start adding these things into your life now so you’ll be ready.

1. Self Tanner

Don’t by any means go to a tanning bed — you’ll spend enough time at the beach this summer for a real tan. Instead, start applying Jergens Natural Glow lotion after every shower. That way, you’ll be bathing suit ready on your first beach outing in a few weeks.

2. BB Cream

You really don’t need foundation, powder, blush and eyeshadow everyday during the summer…you’ll just sweat it off. BB Cream is the perfect alternative. We love the BB Cream from Maybelline! If you want to splurge, you can’t go wrong with Dr. Jart.

3. Sheer Foundation + Translucent Powder

If you’re going out and want a full face of makeup and feel BB Cream won’t offer enough coverage, consider purchasing a sheer foundation and a translucent powder. The matte look isn’t very summer friendly and color on color will just make you look cake-y in the heat.

The translucent powder will set your foundation without adding more color. We really like the translucent powder from e.l.f…it’s only $3! If you are in the position to splurge, we’re madly in love with the translucent powder from MAKE.

To really make that foundation survive the heat, consider applying a primer first.

4. Highlight

It’ll change your life, just put a dab on your cheek bones. We like this one from Benefit. It’s worth the splurge…we promise!

5. Clear Mascara

I’m personally a sucker for dramatic eyelashes, but in the summer, it’s so easily smudged — especially if you’re going to spend a great deal of time at the beach or pool. Clear mascara will make your eyelashes stand out without the the worry of water or sweat smudging it. If you’ll miss the dramatic look, just go for a waterproof black.

Your New Summer Routine

• Wash your face with a mild cleanser.
• Wear sunscreen, we like this one!
• Apply your BB Cream (you won’t need any powder, it sets on its own).
• Add highlighter to your cheek bones.
• Add a clear or waterproof black mascara
• Add a chapstick with SPF and apply a light pink lip color over it. We love the Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry.

Voila!

You don’t need eyeliner, eyeshadow or anything else heavy every day in the summer. If you feel your face is “missing” something, add some blush and bronzer. We like Bahama Mama from The Balm, which works with all skin tones and won’t leave you orange-y.

By the time mid-summer hits, you’ll have a nice natural glow and most likely will no longer need the bronzer and blush. We need it in the fall and winter to add color, but why use it when you already have it?

Also, matte makeup during the fall and winter is gorgeous and it looks very natural since it’s dry out. In the summer, matte makeup looks very un-natural. It’ll actually age you and make your skin look dull. It’s all about sheer in the summer!

Check out this great post from our favorite beauty blogger. She goes into depth on the difference between matte and sheer.

On Extremely Lazy Days

• Wear a tinted moisturizer with SPF (It’s more sheer than a BB Cream).
• Add a mascara of your choice
• Add pink lip color with SPF
• Add a sassy pair of sunglasses

How do you usually transition your winter to summer look?