Shepherds Pie YUMMY!

I decided to make some shepherds pie because my classmate was hounding me to make her some.  I made a huge platter of it so I could take some to school for lunch...AND being the Diva on a Budget that I am... I also put some in the freezer so that I could have some tasty shepherds pie in the weeks to come.  Very Sopranos style of me.... instead of chicken catetori (pronounced catchetori)  I'm storing Shepherds pie!  I live in a house full of vegetarians so I basically cook for myself.  The Diva in me loves a good home cooked meal because I get tired of fast food!  Plus it saves me moolah and I don't have to think about what I'm packing for lunch for a few days.  Here is a basic recipe for Shepherds Pie. Mind you I scammed it off my cousin who scammed it off her Mom!  As you can tell the telephone game has probably occurred and I have made it really basic and quick... I'll admit my Auntys recipe has a bit more TLC... but this little diddy is still Damn good.

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 can of Campbells condensed mushroom soup
1 box of Betty Crockers (2packets inside) instant mashed potatoes
        *If your feeling like a rockstar you may even make your own mashed potatoes from scratch!*
1cup of frozen corn
1cup of grated cheddar cheese

-Preheat oven to 375F

-Cook and brown the ground beef. Drain. Add some seasoning salt to taste if you want.
-Add the can of condensed mushroom soup to the ground beef
-Add the corn

-In a Separate pot follow the instructions and make both packs of mashed potatoes. (Remember to double your milk, water and butter!)

-Take the beef mixture and pour it into a casserole dish. Pat it down and spread it evenly.
-Spread the mashed potatoes over the beef.
-Sprinkle cheese to your hearts delight all over the potatoes
-Put this delightful creation in the oven for 10-15 mins ( on the last few mins I have the oven on grill to get the cheese all melted and a bit crispy)

*Keep in mind this is the most basic way of making Shepherds pie... Feel free to experiment and add your own personal touch to it... like more veggies and such* I add onions, red and green peppers sometimes when I'm not being lazy :-P


Divas 2 cents:  Cooking is not always my favorite thing BUT I find it quite relaxing when I actually apply myself... and above all... Rewarding.  Eating out can be very expensive!  Finding meals you enjoy, cooking them and then maybe putting them in the freezer are good money savers. That way you don't have to eat it for the whole week or waste it.  If I can cook... you definitely can!

Be a Sugar Mama!

Sugaring is an age old hair removal technique that has been practiced in parts of North and East Africa for hundreds of years. It is both effective and beneficial to the skin. I got an excellent sugaring recipe online at the following site: http://hairremoval.about.com/od/sugarwaxing/ss/sugar-hair-removal-recipe.htm

I really liked how easy it was to make this sugaring recipe. What I found amazing was the fact that it was made from 3 simple ingredients that you could easily find at home: Lemon juice, sugar and water.

The instructions were really simple. I appreciate the fact that the person explained the difference between using a pan with a thick bottom or a thin bottom. I was able to adjust the temperature and cooking time based on the pan I had at home. It was simple enough and I successfully made the sugaring recipe without burning it. Just by her explanation alone I was able to cook it without using a candy thermometer. I did as the instructions specified, let it sit over night in an air tight container to cool off. The next day my sugaring recipe was fairly hard. That was easily remedied by adding a drop of water and putting it in the microwave as explained in the instructions.

I tried sugaring on myself and one other person. My guinea pig had only one complaint: the product pulled on her hair when I was applying it. I believe it had more to do with my lack of experience more so then the product itself. When I tried it on myself I was quite successful. I felt like it was easier to maneuver on myself because you sort of get a feel for it. When performing sugaring on yourself you also know when to expect the rip. Don't get me wrong it's actually not that painful at all... waxing takes the cake on painful. I think with enough practice I would like to continue the use of sugaring and perfect my technique.. It has been practiced for hundreds of years and is tried, tested and true.

Cost of supplies: Roughly $7.00 ( Plus, you are left over with lots of product to make many future batches or you can obviously use the sugar and lemon juice in your household somehow!)

Benefits: Removes hair from the root without causing in-growns, extremely cheap, Made of all natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals( you know exactly what is in it because you make it yourself!) Also redness went down very quickly as opposed to waxing. I also think it is extremely cost effective... since I am a Diva on a Budget this method was very appealing to me. Has been used for centuries. You can also use it like wax with strips if you want just by re-heating it in the microwave a bit longer.

Divas 2 cents: I would recommend watching a video on youtube to see the proper technique... then go forth and SUGAR!... while saving Moolah!

Here is a youtube video I found. Mind you the girls room is very messy :s BUT she has sugaring down to an art :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0TOZoAp-8

Here is a link to get a bit of fun history on sugaring: http://www.cleopatras-solution.co.uk/history.shtml

Ponds Cold Cream

Do you remember Ponds cold cream? You may have seen it in your mom or grandmothers bathroom cabinet amongst their toiletries. There are so many uses for Ponds Cold cream! I personally use it as a make-up remover especially on the eyes. It removes eye-makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye. It can also be used on children to remove play make-up... it is that gentle. I have heard of people using it on their hands and feet as well. It is an excellent moisturizer! The most common use would have been for a night cream... just slather it on at night and wipe clean with a cloth in the morning. It honestly moisturizes the face without feeling too greasy afterwards. It leaves your skin feeling soft and supple.

I just scored a 2 for 1 deal on Ponds Cold Cream for $6.99. You can find this deal at Shoppers Drugmart.

Divas 2 cents: You don't always have to be "Out with the old and in with the New"! Ponds has been around since the mid 1800's...it has stood the test of time! And it works great!

Craigslist is a sweet goldmine!

I scored a vintage vanity and a funky chair for $120.00 off of craigslist. I originally planned to buy the vanity for $140.00 and talked her down to $120.00. This luxurious chair was just sitting on her porch and I remarked on how unique it was... and wondered if it was for sale... next thing I know she's offering it to me for free... sweet!

I also love perusing the Free section. I recently scored a tall dark brown wardrobe with a full mirror on the front. It was originally purchased at Ikea and retailed for $230.00. Talk about treasure find! On top of that, the guy gave my friend his cat (with all necessary shots), kitty litter, 2 scratching posts and all the toys because he was going to be travelling for a long time. Turns out she was wanting to buy a cat to catch vermin because she lives in an area surrounded by farmland. He also threw in another bonus... a HUGE display toy ship from Pirates of the Caribbean with a whole bunch of accessories. My nephew loves it! Happy ending for everyone!

That is 3 pieces of unique awesome furniture, a bomb diggity cat named Ujoo, and a cool pirate ship for the lovely price of $120.00! craigslist truly is a goldmine!

Divas 2 cents: Curiosity doesn't always kill the cat. Also be sure to cruise the free section on craigslist. One persons trash could be another persons treasure! When you buy vintage or antique you are also guaranteed to find something unique and one of a kind! Be safe! You should never go alone to check out or pick up an item from craigslist.

Things you should know before your next waxing appointment!

Information provided by COSMOPOLITAN Magazine... and shared with me by my friend Taylor. Check out this link about how to prepare for your next waxing appointment and also post treatment suggestions! Waxing has its ups and downs but now you can avoid the downs a bit more with these great tips :D

http://m.cosmopolitan.com/hb/54181/

Don't be scared of ebaY

I never shopped on ebaY until I actually got a job working for them at a call centre. Mind you, the call centre closed down a few months afterwards. BUT before it closed down I learned enough about ebaY to be more confident when purchasing on the site.

Here are some tips to know:

-Always check the sellers feedback (the little number beside their username). That is an obvious one... but it goes deeper then that. Not only do you check the number, but also the %. I never buy from someone with less then 99%.

-Read other buyers feedback. Make sure the buyers comments are relevant or similar to your item of interest. If the comments are all related to cosmetics and you are looking at a TV from the same seller, there could be something fishy going on... their account could be compromised.

-If there are any negative feedback go and read them and see if you have any issues before bidding or pressing the Buy It Now button.

-Most importantly ask the seller a question or contact them with any concerns you have. ie shipping, price, condition of the item. Communication is key... and be nice about it because the seller is usually always willing to work with you and make you happy.

-Double check shipping and make sure they ship to your country!! You do not want to receive a strike against your account for not paying for an item that doesn't ship to your country!

-Make sure you read the entire listing before moving forward.

-NEVER leave feedback until you are 100% satisfied with the outcome of the transaction.

Let me tell you I have been a member of ebaY since 2006 and I have yet to have an awful experience on the site. I have either had a positive experience or have been able to work with the sellers to come to an agreement or receive a discount or a refund. It is all about communication. Most times they are willing to work with you in order to avoid a negative feedback. The overwhelming majority of sellers are not trying to scam people, they are making a living and are not in the business of ripping people off. This goes back to ebaYs belief that "people are basically good".

Right now on ebaY a seller can leave a positive feedback but not a negative one against the buyer. So there is no reason to be afraid anymore. I am currently training to become an Esthetician. I have bought alot of stuff for nails and eyelashes off the site at an unbeatable price. I am slowly building my kit so that when I have my diploma I won't be overwhelmed with getting my supplies together.

EbaY also has 100% buyer protection on items purchased through PayPal. This makes it easier for members to buy with confidence. The seller is obligated to customer satisfaction.

Divas 2 cents: If you have a particular favorite item and you know the name, style number and everything about it... you may be able to find it cheaper on ebaY! I have done this for expensive bras or jeans. I have tried them on in-store and then found them cheaper on the ebaY (keeping in mind size conversion charts). Hey... anything to save a pretty penny!! :D

Beauty and the Budget

Being a beautiful diva is hard enough as it is and does not always take kindly on our wallets! So here is a lovely solution for beautifying on a budget : ) Consider going to a school that trains in Esthetics and getting top of the line treatments for a fraction of the price. Even though the students are training, they are guided by their instructors so you don't have to worry about the quality.

Another plus is the fact that students will take extra care to do a good job. They rely on feedback from the teacher and client in order to perfect their craft. Consider it a "Ill scratch your back if you scratch mine" type scenario. You are getting beautified for a great price. Therefore you are helping a student develop their skills... and all in the name of learning! How great is that!??

I highly recommend New Image College of Fine Arts. You have a wide selection of treatments to choose from such as manicures, pedicures, waxing, tinting, body wraps, massage and facials. They also use 2 of the top skin lines from Paris : Decleor and Guinot. You can check New Image out here:

http://www.newimage.ca/spa-services/

Divas 2 cents: Beauty doesn't always have to kill your paycheque! You can help students train to be the best and still get top of the line treatments for a great price. Think about it : )

Cable Knit or Ribbed Leggings!

Ive been wearing these lovely leggings for a while now. They are a nice play on the plain black leggings we have all become accustomed too. To top it off they are a bit thicker then regular leggings and are perfect for the winter months. They add a nice texture to your style. Winter is all about comfy knit and textured styles! They seem slimming as well and are super comfy! They come in all sorts of colors but mostly black, white, light grey and dark grey... so you can play up any outfit in any color :D I found them pretty cheap at Ardene's. It is that accessory store sort of like Claires.

Ardene's has become one of my favorite stores for deals. They have lots of accessories for seasonal purchases. You are never going to go too deep into your wallet for items that you may only use for one season. A few weeks ago I was able to buy 3 nice ruffled scarves for $15.00. At prices like that you can't go wrong. HELLO Christmas is just around the corner!!

Price for the Luscious Leggings: $15.00 regular price... BUT Ardene's always goes on sale 50% off... so you already know I paid half price for these little diddies!

Features & Benefits: stylish, slimming and they don't have trouble staying up... AND NO MUFFIN TOP! How about that!?

Divas 2 cents: Pair these leggings with thigh highs, biker boots or flats... they are that versatile! You can dress them up or down, you decide... just get them while they are hawwwt... or while it's cold outside!

Android Blackberry and Iphone Unite! Lets all KIK it beehbeh!

I wanted to share this wonderful App. It is called KIK Messenger! This wonderful App is instant messaging between the 3 cell phone power houses ( Android, Blackberry and Iphone) It's awesome because it is absolutely FREE! As long as you have a Data plan on your device and get internet or Wifi you can send messages as quick as lightning : ) No more BBM vs Google chat and what not...Lets all unite... Lets KIK it! Even if you only have an Ipod touch you can get to kickin it. Free = Sweet!

Divas 2 cents: If you find that you can get all your important people on KIK you can essentially get rid of your text messaging bundle... saving mucho deniros in the long run. Something to think about.

Mascara that won't burn a hole in your wallet

My ultimate Favorite Mascara is Dior Show... But who can afford $30.00 Mascara all the time!!?? That's more like a once in a while treat for me. I have been forever on the hunt for something that is less pricey but can get the job done just as well. After experimenting with many brands I found this little diddy to the left : ) Ladies I know we all love a good deal when it comes to beauty... so here it is! Right now this mascara retails for about $10.00. BUT here's the clincher! at Shoppers Drug Mart you can buy a bonus pack (comes with 2!!) for the sweet price of one!

Features & Benefits: A luscious big brush... Non clumping formula that also helps your lashes grow! We could all use some help with them lashes!

Divas 2 cents: "Always keep your eyes peeled for Bonus packages when it comes to your favorite items!"