#thefrugality

[arlathen]

years ago. YEARS. i had a mutual who was playing oblivion as a guy named kermit thefrug. i don't remember who this mutual was. i don't remember anything else about this playthrough. but i remember kermit.

[danalevyltd]

Repost @alexandra.stedman : Summer stack (also known as 3000 photo attempts at making my hands not look weird in a photo 😆) … We ❤️🤍💙 Tap for details 👆🏽 . . . . . #personalisedbracelet #namebracelet #alphabetcubebracelet #personalisedjewellery #diybracelet #twotonebracelet #danalevy #danalevyjewellery #alexstedman #thefrugality #alexandrastedman #redwhiteandblue https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdu7WsbOq9Q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[foxintheattic]

This little cutie belongs to the lovely @thefrugality. Don’t you just want to squeeze her! She’s enjoying the company of one of my happy cloud rattles and a happy cloud swaddle blanket. #babygift #muslinswaddle #swaddleblanket #happyclouds #babyrattle #babiesofinstagram #letthembelittle #babygifts

[itsgabbieokh-blog]

Wool dryer balls are chemical free, reusable, and require a lot less material to make than regular dryer sheets. I personally make a lot of laundry and dryers for me are a must have. However, they are not that good for the environment. Wool dryer balls cut drying time, remove static, and help fluff clothing. Overall, they are a lot better than dryer sheets and a lot less harmful. They are also cost effective and easy to make. I really hope to start using this in my future.

[luggagebagscases]

La Redoute Homeはまだファッションの最大の秘密の1つです

家のインテリアは非常に個人的な空間であり、議論することはできません。ワードローブの外では、スタイルや趣味を通して個性を最大限に発揮できる場所であり、最も親密でプライベートな瞬間が起こります。 その場合、私たちは常に愛し、永遠に保ちたい作品を見つけたいと思っています。しかし、それは私たちがファッションと同じようにインテリアのトレンドに惹かれていないという意味ではありません。上記の両方のボックス（トレンド主導型および長期持続型）にチェックマークを付けたアイテムの1つは、La RedouteのAfawラグです。とてもユビキタスになり、La Redouteチームは独自のInstagramアカウントを設定しました。 写真： えりか 私たちのすべてのファッションの友人が所有しているようです。自宅用に購入しました（家を引っ越したばかりです）。エリカ・デイビスはトレンドを始めたと信じられており、Instagramの投稿に次のように書いています。「多くの人がこれを購入しました。 写真： @thefrugality このラグは今でも人気がありますが、La Redouteには他にもたくさんの素晴らしいアイテムがあります。たとえば、The FrugalityのAlex Steadmanは、ブランドの非常にシックなコーヒーテーブルを所有しています。私がさらに研究を行ったとき（もちろん、すべてジャーナリズムの名において）、私は非常に多くの豪華な作品を発見しました。手頃な価格の家具からスープボウルまで、シックな家に理想的な場所がたくさんあります。

[differentluggagebagscases]

La Redoute Home Is Still One of Fashion's Biggest Secrets

Home interiors are a very personal space, you can't argue with that. Outside of your wardrobe, it's where you can showcase your personality the most through your style and taste and where your most intimate and private moments take place. It makes sense then that we always want to find pieces that we love and will want to keep forever. But that doesn't mean we're not drawn to interior trends in the same way we are with fashion. One item that managed to tick both the above boxes (trend-led and long-lasting) was La Redoute's Afaw rug. It became so ubiquitous that the La Redoute team even set up its own Instagram account. Photo: @erica_davies All our fashion friends seem to own one. I bought one for my home (I have just moved house). Erica Davis is credited with starting the trend, writing on an Instagram post: "A lot of people have bought it. The brand told me that since I first featured it on here last March, it has had to be restocked six times!" Photo: @thefrugality While this rug remains perennially popular, it's worth noting that La Redoute has so many other incredible pieces. For example, Alex Steadman of The Frugality owns a very chic coffee table from the brand. When I did further research (all in the name of journalism, of course), I discovered so many gorgeous pieces. From affordable furniture to soup bowls, there's so much on the site that is ideal for a chic home. Photo: @monikh Personally, I'm all for more neutral and natural shades (a trend reflected in the upcoming spring/summer season too). I now have my eye on some great rattan pieces for my bedroom as well as a wicker lampshade that will look incredible over my kitchen table. To see all the pieces to shop on La Redoute, keep scrolling for my edit. SHOP THE LA REDOUTE EDIT p Afaw Berber-Style Rug (£99) p Buisseau Oak/Rattan Coffee Table (£135) p Caldera Large Grey Speckled Planter (£17) p Gogain Soup Bowls (Set of 4) (£36) p Sanna Sandstone Dessert Plate (£34) p Set of 4 Mélya Handleless Mugs (£16) p Makita Cage-Style Wicker Lightshade, Large (£99) p Embossed Mustard Ceramic Table Lamp (£55) p Galindo Hand-Blown Glass Jug (£50) p Zalato Two-Tone Ceramic Carafe (£14) p 29cm Elko White Square Wall Clock with Copper Case (£24) p Caligone Gold-Coloured Metal Mirror (£199) p Large Quevedo Resin Cactus (£299) p Santos Terracotta Vase (£70) p Hempy Rectangular Jute Rug (£140) p Buisseau Bedside Wall Shelves (£90) p Galb Wooden Armchair (£290) p Waska Oak and Cane Sliding Door Cabinet (£625) Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2020 fashion trends you need to know.

[verytiny]

follow my insta @ mryamgna and finsta @ thefrug follow my snap @ lazuli follow my twitter @ mireyum thanks love y'all 💌

[dramafan5-blog]

Three Beauty Brands On Their Secrets To Success

With the beauty market seemingly saturated, where new start-ups and industry heavyweights are constantly jostling for the attention of consumers, founding your own brand might appear an increasingly impossible feat. But that’s exactly what these three entrepreneurs have done – and they are thriving. We sat down with the founders of Ayu, Garbo & Kelly and SALT By Hendrix, who shared their secrets to building a beauty brand in the current climate. Prepare to be inspired.

Image: Instagram @thefrugality

Alanna Quin from Ayu

Inspired by the founders' studies of Ayurvedic medicine, Ayu's perfumes blends - which are handmade in India - have already established a cult following with celebrities and beauty lovers alike.  

What’s the concept behind your brand? 

Our brand is built around the philosophy of Ayurveda - hailing from India, it’s believed to be one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. The word 'Ayurveda' translates from Sanskrit to mean 'science of life' and it's based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. Essentially, Ayurveda teaches you about prevention and maintaining good health, rather than waiting for sickness to happen.

How did you start it? 

My business partner Madeleine Whitter studied Ayurveda and I was really intrigued by it. After travelling to India and becoming so immersed in it, I came back home and began my studies in it as well. We both knew that we wanted to somehow create and bring to life what we'd been taught, and from a mutual love of creating our own scents stemmed the idea of incorporating ayurvedic principles into a perfume, which is now Ayu.

What surprised you or was most difficult about starting a beauty brand?

We work with a number of suppliers in India for essential oils, absolutes and herbs, and this can be quite challenging. We have very different ideas on timing which has definitely taught us patience. They also have so many religious holidays every month which can add to the many delays we can never plan for.

What would you differently next time?

I don't think there's anything we'd do differently - everything that's happened to us has been a good learning curve to move us forward to the next chapter. I can honestly say I've enjoyed every moment.

What’s been your biggest breakthrough moment?

Launching Souq as our first scent - the response was extremely positive and the catalyst for great things that lay ahead. We've been picked up by some amazing and really supportive retailers including My Chameleon, Orchard Street, Newrybar Merchants and Splice. 

Anything else you want us to know about the brand?

We've just returned from a trip to India where we've been working on developing new products and expanding our range into other categories of beauty as well, which you will start to see over the coming months. 

What’s the star product from the range? 

Souq is definitely very much loved by everyone - we receive so much great feedback and stories of people being stopped in the street to ask what they're wearing. That honestly makes our day!

Image: Gold Coast Bulletin

Named in honour of the classic beauty of two Hollywood icons, Garbo & Kelly deliver makeup products that work for every woman. They've recently been awarded Australian Makeup Brand of the Year at the Makeup Artist Guild Asia Pacific Awards 2018.

What’s the concept behind your brand?

Garbo & Kelly offer vegan products that specialise in perfectly shaped brows, chiselled cheeks and defined lips to create a look of urban glamour. We believe that every woman deserves the highest quality products and tools to create, correct, camouflage and enhance our beauty, and go from desk to diva in minutes. This gives us the confidence to conquer all elements and expectations of our day. 

How did you start it?

After working with Anastasia Soare [of Anastasia Beverly Hills] for many years, I was so inspired by her that I wanted to make the most of the knowledge I had gained, and to create a brand that was about classic and timeless looks. I wanted to keep the brand tight without too many confusing shades or fad colours. 

What surprised you or was most difficult about starting a beauty brand?

Everything has surprised me. Creating Garbo & Kelly is the hardest thing I have done in my life. I have learnt a lot about ingredients and I am still listening to my customers about which ingredients they want. I think this was the most overwhelming area and one I want to improve in. 

What would you differently next time?

I have thought about this so much and I don’t think there is anything I would change. There are items I would like to add in the near future, such as mascara to complement our award-winning Femme Fatale Duo Eyeliner (recently awarded Best New Eye Product at the Pure Global Beauty Awards). Garbo & Kelly only started 18 months ago and I am so excited to continue building the range.

What’s been your biggest breakthrough moment?

Working with Anastasia for 13 years and being her Australian distributor gave me an insight into what is important to Australian women. Time is of the essence and life is so fast that we need to go from work to wow as quickly as possible. I have also developed products that are waterproof or water resistant where possible to withstand the Australian climate and the demands of the day.

Anything else you want us to know about the brand?

Our lip collection is nut free. A girlfriend of mine has a severe nut allergy and I would have been nervous sending her products that could affect her.

What’s the star product from the range? 

I never want Garbo & Kelly to have products in the range that are not necessary, so this is a hard question. Our biggest seller that everyone seems to love is our Master of Illumination Highlighting Kit - it has two matte shades that are great to use on top of the brow and between the eyes to make the brow pop, and four shimmer shades for red carpet looks.

SALT By Hendrix's range - offering skincare, bath and home fragrance - deliver premium products with plant-based ingredients, created to leave you feeling beautiful both inside and out. 

What’s the concept behind your brand?

A beautiful plant-based beauty range that is a sensory delight. Our products must offer incredible performance yet smell and feel amazing on the skin. We didn’t want a product that you wanted to hide in your cupboard - our range looks and smells as amazingly as it performs.

How did you start it?

It essentially started in my kitchen at home, where I built formulations for my son who had incredibly sensitive skin and eczema as a baby. I was concerned about using harsh, synthetic ingredients to improve his skin sensitivities and the line evolved from this point when I could see the improvements in his skin. 

What surprised you or was most difficult about starting a beauty brand? 

The amount of time and effort it takes to perfect a formulation - so much thought, time, planning and playing to get products just right. The product looks so simple but hiding behind this simplicity is crazy amounts of complexity, from packaging to formulations to getting them market ready for our buyers and customers. I find that people underestimate the intricacies of a beauty brand.

What would you do differently next time?

I’d have more confidence in our line from the start. When you bring a product to market you always dream and hope that it is going to be loved, but it is also very daunting - especially with so many amazing brands out there. Thankfully I have always had an awesome family and team to instil confidence in me. 

What’s been your biggest breakthrough moment?

Receiving emails and phone calls from major retailers around the world has been amazing. We have always been passionate about our face range but it is also a complicated market and consumers are incredibly educated. The positive feedback that retailers and customers have for this part of our line has been a long-term goal and hearing it has been lifechanging for us.

Anything else you want us to know about the brand?

Our brand is what it is today thanks to our incredible team. We are so fortunate to have a team of amazing ladies (and mummas) that work with us; without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We always hire on aptitude and attitude, making sure new team members are right for our brand and bring the sparkle we love has been imperative and will continue to be as we work towards our goals.

What’s the star product from the range? 

Mermaid Oil. She is the little baby people are addicted to – she is hydrating, great under makeup or at night and is super gentle. Being able to create a product that has such loyalty and repeat purchases has been a game changer. She is the inspiration for our newest line of products coming out soon.

Story by Tess Schlink; Images from brand founders

Source: http://www.beauticate.com/how-to/australian-beauty-brands-secrets-to-success

[sethground]

How would Instagram stars save M&S?

How would Instagram stars save M&S?

Image copyright @thefashionablepan/@thefrugality Image caption Bloggers Debbie Le and Alexandra Stedman are fans of some M&S clothing

Remember THAT Marks & Spencer jumpsuit that sold out in 24 hours in the summer?

Or the flowing yellow dress that’s currently dominating all of our Instagram feeds?

If you look on social media, there is always a buzz about certain pieces from M&S, which seems…

[danalevyltd]

Repost @thefrugality ・・・Everything’s gonna be all white (or at least until Peggy’s onto solids 😂). . . Our seashell hoop earrings & cuff bracelet fit white at home here 😉 . . . . #danalevy #seashell #seashellearrings #seashellbracelet #cuffbracelet #hoopearrings #cowrieshell #cowrieshelljewelry #danalevyltd #thefrugality #frugality #flatlay #flatlaystyle #white

[zarahoffman]

31 High-Street Homeware Pieces You Can Totally Fake As Expensive

When the announcement came last week that River Island would be launching homeware in September (and that our RI friends tell us it’s really quite great) it reminded me that our high street really has quite a lot to offer in this department these days. Once upon a time fancy furnishings were just for the wealthy and the rest of us stocked up on Malmo From Ikea like it was going out of style. Now you can pick up posh-looking vases in Arket, amazing lamps in H&M, fancy tableware from Zara Home, bonkers pots from Urban Outfitters and elegant chairs from French Connection—and that’s just a few examples to whet your appetite. If your home decor is just as important as your shoe-drobe, but you’re permanently running on an ASOS kind of budget we’ve selected the most expensive homeware items on the high steet and divided them up into categories for your easy perusal. 

Next up, what London girls are wearing IRL.

Opening image: @thefrugality

source https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/best-high-street-homeware

[fabarmybeauty]

Dream storage situation 😍 (RG @thefrugality)

[luggagebagscases]

La Redoute Homeはまだファッションの最大の秘密の1つです

家のインテリアは非常に個人的な空間であり、議論することはできません。ワードローブの外では、スタイルや趣味を通して個性を最大限に発揮できる場所であり、最も親密でプライベートな瞬間が起こります。 その場合、私たちは常に愛し、永遠に保ちたい作品を見つけたいと思っています。しかし、それは私たちがファッションと同じようにインテリアのトレンドに惹かれていないという意味ではありません。上記の両方のボックス（トレンド主導型と長期持続型）の両方にチェックマークを付けた1つのアイテムは、La RedouteのAfawラグです。とてもユビキタスになり、La Redouteチームは独自のInstagramアカウントを設定しました。 写真： えりか 私たちのすべてのファッションの友人が所有しているようです。自宅用に購入しました（家を引っ越したばかりです）。エリカ・デイビスはトレンドを始めたと信じられており、Instagramの投稿に次のように書いています。「多くの人がそれを購入しました。 写真： @thefrugality このラグは今でも人気がありますが、La Redouteには他にもたくさんの素晴らしいアイテムがあることは注目に値します。たとえば、The FrugalityのAlex Steadmanは、ブランドの非常にシックなコーヒーテーブルを所有しています。私がさらに研究を行ったとき（もちろん、すべてジャーナリズムの名において）、私は非常に多くの豪華な作品を発見しました。手頃な価格の家具からスープボウルまで、シックな家に理想的な場所がたくさんあります。

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

You need to read this author's disastrous rejection story all the way to the end

Pretty much every author out there will have a rejection story or two. 

Not many will have ones quite as dramatic as the tale author Mark Leidner shared on Twitter this week, though.

SEE ALSO: J.K. Rowling's rejection letters give hope to the writer in us all

Here it is, in all its ridiculous glory:

I once rejected my own short story from a magazine I was guest editing. The magazine had a blind submission policy, and I didn't recognize the story as my own and forgot I'd submitted it months before I was asked to guest edit the issue

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

Posting the screen shots made me feel confident in my writing and that I was smarter than the entitled fuckface who'd submitted the story. I then sent what I thought was an appropriately polite but harsh rejection only to receive the email myself and realize I wrote the story

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

Before I was able to delete the screen shot, it had accumulated over 8K likes and 4K shares. Not only that, another post that had screen shot my post had over 75K shares and likes. I was able to delete my own post but not the one that had screen shot my screen shots

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

Luckily no one that I know of discovered that the excerpts were from my own story. Ironically, the 12K new followers I'd gained in the subsequent weeks were instrumental in giving my agent the leverage to negotiate a seven figure advance for an otherwise unremarkable novel

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

I'd been workign on. 6 months later, when I was revising that novel on a deadline for my editor, who worked for a major publisher, I realized with a shock that the entire novel was an expansion of the same short story I'd submitted and rejected, which I'd also forgotten

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

In the middle of the novel was one, absolutely critical paragraph, and it had been lifted from the original short story. It was none other than the very excerpt I had chosen to post online as an example of unforgivable writing

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

When i called my editor and tried to tell her that I had to cut that paragraph, she was incensed, and said "it was the only good paragraph in the novel," and if I cut it out, I'd be in breach of contract, and the publisher would sue me to the tune of twice the size of the advance

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

I eventually caved and the novel was published to no acclaim, and sales were bad enough to pretty much guarantee that I'd never have another deal like that again. In the mean time I'd sunk the advance into bitcoin at the peak, and lost it all

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

I then had to pay taxes on the advance, and I now owe the IRS $175,000 #ShareYourRejections

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

Understandably, people had some questions.

have you never written all night, fueled by the fumes of the muse, then collapsed in exhaustion, woken up late for work the next day, having forgotten what you've written, only to find it months later and, upon rereading it, felt it was made by an alien consciousness?

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

it was on ello

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

i was between agents at the time. and the editor worked for a publishing house that was notorious for publishing books that only had one tiny good paragraph buried somewhere in them

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

By this point, plenty of people were a tad sceptical.

This whole thing is made up, right?

— John (@johnlk1980) August 16, 2018

I don't believe a word of it.

— Thea Cooke (@Thearetical) August 16, 2018

Others, meanwhile, were simply happy to sit back and enjoy the story — made up or not.

I don’t even care, it’s a great story either way

— Xennial Warrior Princess (@thefrug) August 17, 2018

Ultimately, though, the author eventually returned to Twitter to reveal the answer.

Mark- what!?

— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) August 17, 2018

purely fictional, amber! i was just try to invent an memorable example of bad behavior backfiring catastrophically pic.twitter.com/1EnJVBpPXD

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 17, 2018

Yep: as you probably guessed by now the whole thing is made up, likely timed to promote Leidner's short story collection Under the Sea.

Hey — it was still a wild ride while it lasted though, right?

thanks! the last story in this book is very much like this thread in tone and stupidity https://t.co/AxODzHQcrk

— mark leidner (@markleidner) August 16, 2018

Seems like the best way to promote your stories these days might well be with yet another story.

WATCH: This is how words get into the dictionary

[fashiontrendin-blog]

A lesson in maternity fashion, courtesy of our favourite Instagram fashionistas

http://fashion-trendin.com/a-lesson-in-maternity-fashion-courtesy-of-our-favourite-instagram-fashionistas/

A lesson in maternity fashion, courtesy of our favourite Instagram fashionistas

Anyone with a penchant for fashion who has fallen pregnant knows only too well that it throws up a fair few sartorial quandaries.

While maternity fashion has made leaps forward in recent years, there’s still far too many oversized, unflattering tent dresses and hideous elasticated jeans on offer for pregnant women.

So who better to glean some maternity style inspo from than our favourite Instagram fashion editors and bloggers, who prove you can still look super chic while carrying.

From the style savvy We Are Twinset girls, to Holly Scarsella, founder of our favourite beachwear brand, Pampelone, we’ve collated a collection of the best maternity style on social media.

Chiara Ferragni @chiaraferragni proves a man shirt doesn’t need to drown her baby bump with this pared back look…

Sarah Tankell Ellis, one half of @wearetwinset, has dressed her bump in this super chic printed, flowing dress and we are so here for it.

Holly Scarsella, the founder of our favourite beachwear label, Pampelone, dressed her bump in her own brand, naturally, and looks ah-mazing.

Philippa Bloom, who blogs at @wearetwinset, was one of our go-to maternity style icons during her pregnancy. The fashion editor had one of the most enviable maternity wardrobes.

Is there anyone chicer than @pandorasykes on Instagram? We’ll wait… During her pregnancy, she proved you don’t need to shy away from red carpet dresses with this hawwwt red number for the BFAs…

Katherine Ormerod used her nine months to share her insider styling tricks with her 40,000 followers. Captioning this image, she wrote: “Kimono + Empire line + Tonal Palette = pulling out all the ‘figure flattering’ styling tricks today.” Noted.

Hannah Gale, @hannahfgale, gave us a lesson in low-key maternity styling, plumping for flattering striped Breton tees and jeans.

Alex Steadman, @thefrugality, gave us style inspo galore during her pregnancy and gave us a lesson in how to accessorise using the power of the skinny belt.

Want more maternity fashion inspo? Here are the most stylish pregnant celebrities.

[whowhatwearuk-blog]

Anyone else just in a sneakers-all-the-time mood rn? Photo: @thefrugality (at London, United Kingdom)