TUESDAYS WITH MIRIAM: Tis the Season to Save Money

Chicole::Intermixed is pleased to introduce Tuesdays with Miriam. Miriam is an Assistant Manager at a national banking institution. Her weekly posts will help you prepare for the financial realities of education and life. Be sure to leave a comment or send an email if you have specific financial questions.

Tis the Season to Save Money!!!

The holidays do not have to be a time where you have to spend, spend, spend. Follow some of these simple tips to help save yourself some money while buying your loved ones gifts that they will treasure!

1. Start Planning Early – Start making a budget before you make it to the holidays. Think about how much money you will have and how much money you will be spending on required expenses, gifts, and holiday entertainment. By doing this you will know how much money you truly have available to spend during the holidays so that you don’t overspend.

2. Make lists, Decide how much you will spend, and don’t go over! – It is important to make a list of who you will buy gifts for, what you are going to purchase, and how much you will spend. Stick to this list! Don’t spend more than you have allocated for each person.

3. Look in multiple places – Don’t just go to the store and purchase a gift. Do some comparison shopping to make sure that you are getting the best deal. Also, the internet is an awesome place to find discounted prices, but it requires you to start looking early so that you make sure your gifts will arrive on time.

4. Avoid using credit cards as much as possible – If you have started to budget for holiday spending well in advance you shouldn’t have to use your credit cards. However, if you have to use a credit card follow these guidelines:
a. Pay off the balance ASAP – Don’t let the balance hang around until the holidays float
around again the next year. Remember if you use credit cards more than likely you have
to pay some interest on them.
b. Use a card with a low interest rate – Go through your credit cards and use the one with
the lowest interest rate. If you have to take awhile to pay the card off, it will save you
some money in interest.
c. Don’t sign up for or use store credit cards – While the stores may offer you discounts
for signing up for these cards, the interest rates are typically extremely high.

5. Open a savings account now - If you don’t already have a savings account open one now. Start by saving $10 a week and you will have approximately $500 saved up for holiday spending next year.

Gratitude Gifts

A thought occurred as I write my thank you cards to all of the Glitz & Glam participants and vendors. Although every day should be a day of thanks and giving, we are just a few days away from the official Thanksgiving Holiday. Black Friday will start the deluge of gift buying and stress of finding a perfect gift. How often do we feel unappreciated during the year and especially after we spent time, effort, and money tracking down the perfect gift, often for people whom we do not interact with on a daily basis but feel an obligation to acknowledge. Why not, tell someone how much you appreciate them as your gift?

Find high quality stationery that reflects their personality, place their name at the top of the page, and write 25 things that you love and appreciate about them. Then place the stationery in its matching envelope, softly roll it upon itself and seal with a nice bow, or frame your thoughts in a coordinating picture frame, and offer as a holiday gift. There you have it. A simple, unique, and inexpensive gift guaranteed to become a treasure.

Want to add to this unique gratitude gift, purchase a collage frame with three or more openings of various sizes. Arrange your thoughts among pictures of you and the recipient. Wrap it with a bow or place in a reusable bag, and this unique gift, will be hung up immediately for all to see. This activity is also perfect to complete as a family after Thanksgiving Dinner. It's a great way of relishing on past memories while creating new ones.

ChicMix Weekend Recap

It's been a busy weekend for Chicole::Intermixed. We hosted Glitz & Glam: A Holiday Tea Party and keyed makeup for the annual Miss Black & Gold Pageant sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Gamma Eta Chapter. So much eye candy, face candy, and just plain good food, folks and fun in one weekend, refreshed and renewed our souls. I'm so blessed to be a business owner, doing what I love to do, with the people I love, and serving as a resource for others.



Quick recap. Separate posts with pictures for each event to follow so that you can see all of the fabulosity:



GLITZ & GLAM. All the preparations paid off as we had a FABULOUS time at the Tea Cozy. The color scheme was black and silver, accented in purple and zebra print. Yes zebra! The candelabras were divine with their antiqued finish and long purple candles. The food, scrumptious and the teatinis, so good, you didn't need the alcohol. They were intoxicating enough by themselves. The program was informative and the shopping delightful.



MISS BLACK AND GOLD. The contestants were phenomenal and gorgeous to boot, which made my job so much easier. The look was classic elegance tailored to each young lady and complimented with defined brows and lashes. The ladies were simply breathtaking as they took the stage in their business suits, talent outfits, and evening gowns. As it should, their confidence and personality outshined their lip gloss ;-)



Did you attend either of these events? Leave a comment or send us an email and let Chicole::Intermixed know you how enjoyed them. We'll be sure to include a few of your comments in the forthcoming detailed posts because of course, we're a little biased.

Dressing Your Thoughts

Chicole::Intermixed hearts stationery, paper goods, and quality writing instruments. I ASKED for and received my first calligraphy set when I was 8 years old. I know, I know. You don’t have to tell me, but in my defense, I also asked for the entire collection of Jem and the Holograms dolls. Through the years, I’ve grown to notice the difference and the impact of messages delivered on ho hum versus quality stationary.

When expressing your thoughts of gratitude or other sentiments, the words you write are not the only part of conveying a message; the stationery itself is also very important. Often, it tells your true thoughts before a word is read. Yes, it is the thought of sending your sentiments that counts; however, would you go to a celebration dressed in sweats? Why treat your well intentioned thoughts like Cinderella before the ball? They want to be dressed too. Quality stationery for personal sentiments is traditionally thick and feels rich and textured to the touch. The style, design, and color are also crucial to creating an appropriate image or symbol of your thoughts. It may be a simple monogram or a more elaborate image that invokes thankfulness, well wishes, thinking of you, or sympathy.

But even when dressed, your thoughts are even more spectacular when handwritten. The type of pen, tip and ink used can add an additional eloquence and sincerity to your thoughts. Want to express something more casual or whimsical, use a complimenting ink color besides black or blue. Don’t like your handwriting, hire someone to write your thoughts for you in an appropriate lettering style.

Etsy, “the place to buy and sell all things handmade,” is the number one place to head for handmade and customized paper goods (and everything else handmade). Handmade or customized screams “You’re Special” to the recipient. On a budget, you can find quality at a great price point because Target is now selling Papyrus stationery and card sets. Better yet, get creative and make your own stationery. Be sure to stop by our friends at Handsome Lucy as they prepare to launch as a stationer dedicated to reviving the art of social and executive communications.

As we enter the season of expressing thanks and giving (back), here are a few perfect writing tips courtesy of Stationery Style:

Whether it's a simple note of thanks or a serious business correspondence, letter writing is a skill that everyone should develop. Not only will good writing enable you to communicate well in print, but it can also transform your spoken and personal communication as well. Here are some simple tips to remember whenever you are writing...

• Make it personal. A letter is always received more consciously when it is addressed in person versus, "Dear Friend," or "Hi There!"
• Take your time. Never write when you don't have time to think. Stop and be engaged in your writing. Contemplate who you are writing to and think about how they may receive your message. If you must write something difficult or negative, put that information in a "compliment sandwich". That is, say something positive about the person or situation on either side of the negative. There are few, if any, circumstances where being blunt is better than being gracious.
• Throw in a quote. There have been many, many great phrases uttered through history, and an appropriately-placed quote can make your correspondence more memorable. A quote can also serve as an interesting way to introduce your note or letter.
  Make it real. Simply put, write like you speak. Nothing is more impersonal than distant, "high-brow" writing. Be natural and simple in your correspondence. Don't use two words where one will do. And don't be afraid to start a sentence with "and."
• Practice good grammar. Natural and "real" doesn't mean substandard. Be careful to avoid words like "ain't" or "sucks" or "the bomb." Looking for an original word? Just visit thesaurus.com or buy a small reference thesaurus to keep near your writing desk.
• Writing environment. This may seem unnecessary but it really helps... Sit up straight in a good ergonomic chair and write on a hard surface with good lighting. It will help your concentration and focus, allowing you to write longer without fatigue. For a handwritten note, your handwriting will also not suffer as much over time if you put your body in a good position to write.

Chicole::Intermixed has quality stationery on hand just waiting for your thoughts! Contact us today so we can get started penning your holiday thoughts or personal sentiments. I may even break-out my childhood calligraphy pen to add a touch of nostaligia to your thoughts.

High Tea, Low Tea, Dessert Tea...What's the Difference

As you know, Chicole Intermixed is hosting a tea. Recently someone asked what type of tea party is Glitz & Glam? It will be a High Tea with an emphasis on the PARTY. What's the difference? Thankfully Erika of e-vents has done all the work for me in preparing the answer to the common differences among taking tea. Head on over and read the differences. She will also host her annual tea in January.

Why the emphasis on Tea Party for Glitz & Glam? I'm glad you asked. As women, there is no rest for the weary. We traditionally carry the bulk of the responsibilities for family and home throughout the year. The holidays often create an additional stress as we try to make sure that every meal is impeccable, every gift memorable, and everyone entertained. Tea has numerous health benefits and has been on the top of many lists for helping its drinkers find a little relaxation and peace, if only fleeting. Glitz & Glam: A Holiday Tea Party is a time to stop and enjoy a little bit of "me time" in the company of other fabulous superwomen.

Is it time for you to schedule a little "me-time?"

Glitz & Glam: A Holiday Tea Party

Chicole::Intermixed is hosting a tea party and we can't wait! Saturday, November 22nd, participants will be treated to fashion, hair and makeup as well as financial and mental health tips for a fantabulous holiday season and new year all while helping to empower the women of Dress for Success-Indianapolis. You'll also receive take home gifts full of swag! This is not your traditional frou frou high tea; it's a tea PARTY.


the Menu:
Pesto and Garlic Jumbo Shrimp Kabobs

Creole Creamy Tomato Soup
Cozy Tea House Salad

Apple Cider Smoked Cornish Hens (Halved)
Gorgonzola Stuffed Steak
Sauteed Italian-herb Broccolini
Twice Baked Sweet Potato

Dessert- well now, somethings must be kept secret ;-)

the Details:
Saturday, November 22, 2008
5-8pm
The Tea Cozy
50 North Illinois St. Indianapolis, IN 46202
$45

the Attire:
Sophisticated Chic

RSVP by November 14th to chicoleintermixed@gmail.com.
Payment must be received to confirm your seat.
We can't wait to see you!!!

Welcome to Chicole::Intermixed

Always one to find a relationship among the most unlikely things, I realized the relationship between my passions-people,and purpose-service. People are my passion. My passion is people, their EMPOWERMENT::ADVANCEMENT::SUCCESS. In coupling my love of makeup artistry and stationery expressions and my career in education, I found my unique way to be of service one individual at a time. At the most basic level of all three lies an individual's need and desire to feel special, unique, and appreciated. Unless someone has a certain level of self-confidence, dreams will remain hopeless dreams. Education and career goals will remain unattained and the personal definition of success will remain unfulfilled.

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Makeup Art & Details

From a simple coat of tinted and scented chapstick, to the most dramatic of full-faced runway looks, makeup is a tool that enhances both internal and external beauty. Some use it to cover, others use it to create. Either way, there is an emotional response that takes place and a level of confidence and self-esteem that springs forth. The old adage is true, if you look good, you'll feel good. If you feel good, then you'll do good.

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Educational Consulting

Too often higher education becomes an unnecessary barrier to life's goals. Some end up chasing degrees and end up in unfulfilling careers. While others never head to the traditional institution and end up loving life because they never really go to "work." What is right for you is right for you alone.

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Expressions

Handwritten or personalized expressions are the ultimate sign of appreciation and gratitude. Setting aside time to say thanks shows just how significant someone or a gift received was to you.

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This blog is dedicated to sharing resources and letting you know the latest happenings at Chicole::Intermixed in these three areas. Check back often and be sure to show link love, post your comments, or contact us at chicoleintermixed{at}gmail.com with questions or items you would like to read.