Sometimes inexpensive accessories can really look their part.  However, if you’re lucky you’ll find some that will make you swoon no matter the price point, thus bringing a smile to your face when you find out you can actually afford them! I totally believe in the concept of great accessories that happen to cost less, yet still maintain a luxe look.  Here are some of fall’s coolest accessories, which happen to be under $100 -

1-  Oversized Two Tone Sunglasses from Masons for $20

2-  Bedecked Brooch Necklace from Anthropologie for $48

3-  Calling for Rain Bag from Anthropologie for $88

I love a good sequin!  This bag is just amazing…

4-  Paperblanks Calendar/Planner from Paper-Source for $14.95

Who says day calendars have to be boring?  I’m going to ditch my cell phone’s calendar and use this instead…  Trés Chic!

5-  Parisienne Exotic Platforms from Christian Siriano for Payless for $39.99

6-  Dalia Earrings from Banana Republic for $17.99

7-  Rachel Zoe Slouchy Bag from QVC for $38.68 (On Sale!)

8-  Face Palette from Bobbi Brown for $45

Since we had a winning day today, it got me in the mood for a game-day party. Who says football is just for the boys?  Add a little flair to your celebrations, with a few budget-friendly items.  The first on my list are these bowls from Anthropologie, which come in all sorts of colors and the whole set is just $20!   I’m going to fill mine to the brim with our homemade chilli.  I love fall and all of the wonderful food and festivities it brings along the way.  Here’s how to get the look (of course you can mix up the colors to match your favorite team!) -

1-  Libbey 6 Piece Beer Glass Set on Amazon for $14.98

2-  Jme Jellies in Hot Pepper from Williams Sonoma for $14

3-  White and Red Dots Napkins from Paper-Source for $5.95

4-  Reclaimed Slate Coasters from Uncommon Goods for $35

5-  Numerical Appetizer Plates from Target for $11.99

Every guest can have their own number!

6-  Set of 4 Latte Bowls from Anthropologie for $20

7-  Enameled Red Pot from Martha …

I might be Queen of Quite a Lot, as this wonderful poster says, but I am most certainly NOT a Coupon Queen!  There are ladies out there who are not afraid to spend a few hours with their trusty scissors and a stack of newspapers, but I simply do not have the patience.  I am sure they have been known to save $50, $100 or more every month, with their envelopes in tow at the store.  As a frugal girl I should probably be ashamed that I’m not willing to put in more effort when it comes to the world of coupons, but I have developed three shortcuts so I can get a few rewards and discounts every now and then:

1-  My favorite tip for coupon-phobes, is to make Google your friend.  When you fill up your cart at your favorite online store, simply STOP and open a new browser window to Google.  This is the best way to find current coupon codes for e-shopping.  I usually use a search phrase such as, “Store Name (ie – Ann Taylor Loft) + Coupon Codes.”   …

One of my favorite hours of the entire week is the hour I spend every Saturday morning at the public library.  An avid reader who’s watching her purse strings, I love the library.  This weekend, I checked out a great book by The Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil called Wine, Food & Friends.  This book is a perfect match for frugal, health-conscious foodies.  It contains Karen’s wine recommendations for some of Cooking Light magazine’s most wine-friendly, seasonally-inspired recipes.  The best part — Karen includes a price guide and many of her wine recommendations fall under the “great deal” category, meaning you can expect to pay $7-$15 a bottle!

I’m planning on trying several of her budget-minded recommendations (and maybe even a couple of her suggested ‘splurge bottles’).  But, in anticipation of fall and my recently renewed pledge to austerity, the first on my list is a Beaujolais —Georges Duboeuf Fleurie “Domaine des Quatre Vents”, which costs around $15 a bottle.  In the autumn section of the book, Karen pairs this “lip-smacking” red with one of my husband’s most requested comfort food combos—meat loaf and mashed potatoes. …