Homecoming Dance- Saving Money on your Limo Ride, homecoming mum and more

bow center mum 224x300 Homecoming Dance  Saving Money on your Limo Ride, homecoming mum and more

Today I am talking more about saving money on your Homecoming or Prom expenses. I wanted to discuss the vehicle you take to your dance. Obviously, the limo is the “standard” ride of choice, but there are also some ‘other’ options you have.

Why not ask your dad, neighbor, uncle (etc.) to drive you in their sports car? If you know someone who has a cool ride, perhaps they can take drop you off at the dance. Your parents can also RENT a luxury car from a from a car rental service. There are many luxury cars available, including many convertibles, and, this method is vastly cheaper than a limo service. Instead of billing by the hour, you would get the car by the DAY. Keep in mind that most rental companies will not rent to anyone who is under the age of 25, so your parent (or other older adult) would need to do the driving.

If you want to go for the limousine service, here is a tip that will allow you to get more for your money. I found this on the blog www.picklimo.com/blog. Pick limo provides a broker service that allows you to compare prices of limo’s in your town. Visit www.picklimo.com. They also suggest you consider the TYPE of car/limo that you want to rent. Town cars can be much more affordable than Limousines AND can be much more affordable. Compare prices between different types of limousines (traditional, hummer, town car, etc.), and choose the best one (and best price) for you.

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Homecoming Dance Savings continued- Money saving tips on Make Up and Perfume, Homecoming Mums and More

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Replica Louis Vuitton fabric that I found on etsy

il 570xN.401645000 n3ua1 300x225 Homecoming Dance Savings continued  Money saving tips on Make Up and Perfume, Homecoming Mums and MoreI am really working hard to come up with some great ideas to help save money for your 2013 football homecoming game or prom. Since it is not homecoming mum season right now, I’m just a little bit bored. It’s a great time to pull together some resources to help my wonderful customers have the perfect homecoming experience…for less.

I am going to discuss how to save money on Make Up and other beauty items for prom. Specifically, today, we are discussing make up. If you’re not crazy about doing your own make up, there are several businesses that offer a “make up lessons” for very little money, if not free.

Ulta cosmetics and Sephora often offer “lessons” on how to apply their make up. I was walking through the Galleria mall recently and saw and advertisement to learn how to create dramatic eyes using shadows, mascara, eye liner, etc. The cost for the class was between $5-15, and, there is no obligation to buy anything else. If I did this class, I would probably show up with my own make up so I wasn’t tempted to buy anything else.

Similarly, you can go to a cosmetic department inside a larger department store, and get a free make up lesson. Yes, they will try to sell you make up, but it is their job to offer free make up application and lessons. When these counters offer “sales”, like the spend $30 get a free goodie bag, they’re often times better values than regular drug stores and beauty chains.

I really love Rite-aid! Their return policy on cosmetics is FAMOUS. If you didn’t know, you are always able to return beauty items that don’t work for you. Now, I’m not suggesting that you buy your make up, use it for homecoming, and return it. Not at all. I’m just thinking there are no strings attached, so if you buy a new lipstick or eye liner, and it looks horrible, you’re not out any money. After you do a “free” beauty lesson from one of the shops above, why not head to your local Rite-aid to pick up any needed products to complete the look!

5th Avenue Bowtique creates custom homecoming mums and football items for students in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Our blinged out homecoming mums are popular in these states where high school students wear homecoming mums to their football games! For more information on our mums, visit: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

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Devastating day on Amazon for my new ebook “Fabulous no sew lace crowns”

Yesterday marked a horrible occasion on Amazon for my latest ebook release called “Fabulous No Sew lace crowns”. I will start by saying I LOVE and adore this craft project. The response we’ve received by literally EVERYONE who has seen the cover photo (and the actual instructions) gave me a sense of confidence and faith that this was going to be a new hit. I think that’s pretty accurate to say, since it is currently the #2 craft project on Amazon under the “Crafts for Children” sub-category.

However, I was devastated to get an email yesterday afternoon from an Amazon Kindle customer who downloaded the ebook to her device. She explained that only 4 pages downloaded and didn’t even complete the ingredients necessary to complete the project. And, I then learned that over 250 people have downloaded this ebook in the past 36 hours, and, much to my dismay, all of them appear to have only received a partial ebook.

I believe that this error is finally fixed, and, if you are a victim of this problem, I hope that you will allow me to help resolve the problem. If you downloaded this ebook, please contact me using the email address on the front page of the ebook. I will be sure to rectify this situation for you.

5th Avenue Bowtique creates craft instruction ebooks that you can read at home. 5th Avenue Bowtique has a variety of titles, including hair bow making, wreath making, among others. For more information, search 5th Avenue Bowtique on Amazon.com or visit our website at: www.5thavenuebowtique.com

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Saving Money on Photos for your Homecoming Dance. Save on everything- homecoming mum, limo, etc.

camera 199x300 Saving Money on Photos for your Homecoming Dance.  Save on everything  homecoming mum, limo, etc.

1) Buy a few disposable cameras, and have fun taking photos yourselves. Get crazy with your group of friends (and/or date), and take fun photos to document your memories. Consider driving to a fun location to give your photos more character. Several Chuck E Cheese locations have photo booths…perfect!

2) If you want professional photos, consider contracting a photography student from your local community college. Split the cost with several people to make it even more affordable. Request that your photos be placed on a disc. Then, you should be able to make unlimited copies and have several great photos to choose from.

5th Avenue Bowtique makes custom homecoming mums for high school students in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. You can see more information and photos by visiting our website: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/high-school-homecoming-mums-c-137.html

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Blinged Out Homecoming Mum embellishments- replacing flowers with rhinestones

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5th Avenue Bowtique’s “This is What Spoiled Looks Like” custom mum is ALWAYS popular. We get several requests each year, and I attribute that partly due to the phrase itself, and partly because replacing the mum flower with bling is really a new idea. I think I can take credit for it…after several years, we’re yet to see anyone else do it. I take that back…last year, I had another mum maker call and ask for me to sell her just the transfer.

Anyway, She really has a ton of others, but these designs really show some team spirit!

If you’re thinking you might want a rhinestone bling center for your homecoming mum this coming fall, please keep in mind that these are specially ordered for you. Your school colors and wording will be customized for you and to reflect your school, mascot, etc. We need 2 weeks notice to get this ordered and in our hands. There are a few rhinestone shops in Houston that can be helpful if we have short notice…but, Lori’s prices are awesome!

5th Avenue Bowtique creates custom homecoming mums for high school students in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. You can view our website and products by following this link: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

102 1834 300x225 Blinged Out Homecoming Mum embellishments  replacing flowers with rhinestones

"This is What Spoiled Looks Like" custom Mum

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More tips on how to save money on your Homecoming Dance night

sammoonclutch21 300x300 More tips on how to save money on your Homecoming Dance nightI am going to discuss some more homecoming dance money saving ideas in this blog post. We’re going to talk jewelry and accessories for a bit.

By now, I’m quite sure that just about every high school girl in Texas has heard of Sam Moon. I’m just thinking that, statistically, it would hardly be possible for the Sam Moon craze to have missed the fashion forward teens of today. Personally, I love Sam Moon, and, while I find looking at thousands of different pieces of jewelry can be a bit of sensory overload for me, the price and the quality are perfect for trendy pieces. Plus, when the style changes the next year, who cares if it gets thrown out?

I love that I can go to Sam Moon and they have styles that look like the “statement” necklaces from J Crew, Stella and Dot, and other high end shops. I’ve occasionally find decent knock off/replica jewelry, most notably David Yurman. The best part about Sam Moon is that they replicate the trends very well, and are dirt cheap. They have plenty of formal jewelry, and you can even pick up a clutch to go with your formal dress.

I’ve noticed that, recently, Sam Moon has been working on their online store. They have countless pages of products photos, so you can order your Sam Moon now in the comfort of your own home! I took a little tour on the website and they have some fabulous new features. When you click on a handbag, they suggest coordinating jewelry based on your style! I was pleasantly surprised that they nailed me and my style after just one click.

Check out www.Sammoon.com. If you’re a Texas girl, they have locations all over from Houston To Dallas and in between.

5th Avenue Bowtique creates custom homecoming Mums and corsages for Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma homecoming games. When it’s a Texas homecoming, 5th Avenue Bowtique bling is the best! Check out our website here: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

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Money Saving tips for your Homecoming Dance- nails and esthetics

I’m really enjoying my new series of blog posts related to saving money for formal events like a High School Homecoming or Prom. At the end of the day, I consider myself quite thrifty, so I hope to share some new tips and suggestions with you. I’ve made a list of the following items or services that are commonly involved with High School Homecoming dances and football games. They include:

(In Texas/Louisiana/Oklahoma)- homecoming mum and/or garter
Corsage or Boutonniere
Dress or suit/tie or Tuxedo
Shoes
At the salon- Manicure/Pedicure, Make Up Application, Hair Up-do or Blow Out, Facial, etc.
Limo rental
Dinner at a nice restaurant

Specifically, I want to address the Manicure/Pedicure options that you have. I will discuss the Make Up Application, Up do’s and facials in a future post.

If you are looking for a full manicure and/or pedicure, why not check out your local beauty school? The prices for services are dramatically decreased, often times just costing you the price for the materials used on you. My favorite “beauty school” happens to be Aveda because they still use the same products as the top dollar Aveda salons. I love the relaxing environment, which includes a fountain at the Aveda salon here in Houston, and the standards for Aveda students seem to be higher than the average. To give you an idea of price, a 30 minute manicure and 30 minute pedicure can cost you as little as $26.00. They also offer french manicures AND Gel nails.

However, I would urge you to get your salon services completed at least 2 days PRIOR to your event. Why? Remember, these are experienced Estheticians, but they are still technically “learning”. In the rare event that you might have a student make a mistake on your nails, you would want to have enough time to get it fixed. FYI- I’ve been many times and the one time a mistake was made was more than rectified by the free services and discounts I was given by the school.

There are many other beauty schools, like Paul Mitchell, but also some smaller schools, which can charge as little as $4.00 for a manicure.

Another idea for you is to consider the Gelish line carried by Sally Beauty Supply. Gelish is a new line of Gel-nails that you can create at home…and it works! You can create your own gel mani/pedi at home, and, like the popular Gel nails in salons, you can expect your manicure to last for 2 weeks or long. No chipping polish!

This option is a little bit of an investment up front, but, once you have the supplies, you’ll be set for any future dances (or formal events), AND will have great fun creating salon quality manicures on a daily basis. Here’s what you will need:

Gelish mini brand Gel nails kit (around $40)- includes all of the steps needed to create and cure your manicures
Gelish brand nail polish in desired color (between $8-15)
UV light of your choice (range from about $40-70)
(for after the dance)- soak of strips to remove polish (about $2.50 for a 10 pc set)

I want to mention that the “mini” gelish kit has enough product to do about 70 manicures. It lasts a long time! Same with the polish. Altogether, the cost of around $150 is still less than 4 trips to the salon for most people. If you don’t have the budget to pay for the whole list of supplies, consider going in with a friend and “sharing” the cost of the light and the gelish kit.

I hope these tips give you some new ideas on how to save money for a homecoming event.

5th Avenue Bowtique, creates custom homecoming accessories for Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma High School Students. Our heirloom quality, monogrammed homecoming mums are intended for you to enjoy year after year. We’ve been featured in a variety of different press articles because of our unique style. For more information, visit our products page at: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

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Saving Money on Homecoming and Prom dresses…Texas Girls- go big or go home!

vintage dress 200x300 Saving Money on Homecoming and Prom dresses...Texas Girls  go big or go home!

You know what they always say…”they just don’t make things like they used to”. I got this quote from my Aunt, who is a couture hat designer in New York and Paris. She is known to make separate trips to Europe just to scour the vintage markets in Paris and Rome. She loves to take tired hats, headbands, and decorations and re-invent them. One of my favorite designs included a patent leather, snake embossed black flower, which was re-invented to create the most fabulous couture headband, and, notably, a headband unable to be copied.

I decided to begin sharing money saving tips related to homecoming, especially for my Texas homecoming mum customers. Year after year, I am reminded by how much $$ parents contribute to their teenaged child’s homecoming experience- the mum and garter, corsage, dress or tux, limo ride, dinner…where does it end?

So, my tip today is a suggestion for you to save money while still getting the dress you LOVE for your homecoming dance or other formal event. I found this stunning vintage dress on Etsy. It’s a very glamourous, Audrey Hepburnish gown with Old Hollywood glamour. They just don’t make them like they used to! But, considering the $1200 price tag, it is far from a reasonable budget for a homecoming dress, but isn’t it beautiful? So, here’s how to get a custom dress for less.

The same website where I found the dress (www.etsy.com) has a variety of sellers, just like on ebay. And, you can find plenty of experienced Seamstresses that contract their work out to help you bring your custom sewing projects to life! Most of the sellers offer their services for between $10-15 per hour, plus the cost of materials. So, your $1200 “dream dress” will cost just a fraction of the full price. And, if you’re trying to copy a one of a kind, or couture gown (Valentino, Gucci, etc.), you might just get lucky with a look alike!

I want to warn you that not all Etsy sellers will be willing to copy a pre-existing design that is not theirs. However, with a ton of different sellers, you are sure to find one who will. Just keep asking!

I learned this tip after asking a Etsy seamstress to copy a Anthropologie top that cost over $200. If it can work for me, it can work for you!

5th Avenue Bowtique creates custom homecoming mums for high school students in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. You can view our website and products by following this link: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

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The latest addition! Learn to make these fabulous lace crowns DIY Ebook

Well, it is not homecoming mum season, so you know what that means…I’ve got to keep myself busy with some other project. I came across these fabulous crowns that were being sold on Etsy for between $14-50, and I knew they were the perfect subject for my next ebook!

The tutorial explains how to permanently shape scraps of lace into a hardened, stiff crown. The few steps are so well explained that even a beginning crafter can do it. My favorite part about this tutorial is that it only requires about 10 minutes of time PER CROWN (plus drying time).

There are so many uses for these little beauties, which would be perfect for a wedding, baptism, a photo prop, birthday party favors…and even a play date!

Our new PDF will be available on our website TOMORROW!

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The extra little details that go into 5th Avenue Bowtique homecoming mums

We’re not your average florist shop! 5th Avenue Bowtique carries a huge variety of embellishments to help you design your homecoming mum. However, we don’t carry high quantities of each product. We think that your homecoming mum deserves to be different and special, and unlike anyone else’s.

During the “off season”, we typically come up with new ideas for next fall. Today, I’m sharing our pint sized cheerleader. At just 2 inches tall, her hair color and uniform can be custom ordered in your school color AND hair color. We can slap her on a bell, a monogrammed ribbon, or in the center of your mum, mum ring, or hair bow.

Go Team!

5th Avenue Bowtique creates custom homecoming mums for high school students in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. You can view our website and products by following this link: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/x-large-double-custom-grosgrain-homecoming-mum-p-549.html

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