Meinklang Gruner Veltliner ($12.99)

We like to think these grapes were harvested by the Von Trapp children.

Never tried Austrian wine? Well, you’re missing out on one of the world’s most overlooked, great wine producing countries. Don’t confuse Austrian wine with German wine. Although Austria creates some of the world’s most renowned desert wines, the vast majority of the white wines are dry.

Gruner Veltliner is their signature grape. Aside from a few oddball plantings around the world, it pretty much only comes from Austria. Gruner Veltliner has flavors that appeal to fans of Sauvignon Blanc. The wines share some of the clean, citrus notes of Sauvignon. Add to that some tropical notes of papaya, a hint of white pepper, some stoniness from the soil and you’ve got the classic profile of these refreshing, dry whites.

Meinklang is a small, family owned producer using the hyper-natural agriculture technique known as Biodynamics. Way beyond organic, this method treats the estate as a whole and follows ancient traditions involving the cycles of the earth and sun. Whether you go in for the “earth mama” stuff or not, the results are in the bottle- delicious, distinctive, complex wines. It’s rare that a wine produced using such labor intensive techniques would be this affordable. Take advantage before the winery figures out how much more they could charge!

This wine is pretty versatile with food, working well with everything from salads, seafood with Mediterranean preparations to simple poultry dishes.

Cheers!

Dean a.k.a “The Cellar Rat”

Now that I just turned 30, I wonder, am I allowed to wear Madden Girl, the “juniors” line of shoes by Steve Madden? Please say yes because I found the cutest shoe booties at, of all places, DSW!

Check out the Madden Girl Raleigh Ruffled Platform Bootie. It retails for $89.95 on stevemadden.com but is at DSW for $49.95. It comes in both taupe (pictured) and black.

Now is the time to cash in those DSW rewards certificates that are stuffed in a drawer somewhere!

DSW
3131 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
773-975-7182
Sun 10am-7pm, Mon-Sa t 10am-9pm

(Pam Sherman, is the founder of Chicago Anytime Assistants, a flexible ‘anytime-you-need-it’ personal assistant service for the busy Chicagoan. She is constantly hunting down deals and sales for her clients and is now sharing them with PoorLittleRichGirls as a contributor.)

In the world of dating, two timing is usually viewed as completely and utterly unacceptable. Lucky for us girls, however, the opposite is true in the world of beauty and cosmetics.  Nothing beats the sheer delight of discovering that your favorite beauty product possesses other secret powers that you can call upon in a pinch. And let’s face it, in these economic times, we all have to put in a little extra over time and our beauty products should not be exempt. Here is a list of inexpensive beauty products that can serve more than one purpose, saving you time and much-needed money.

Covergirl Wetslicks Amazemint Lipgloss ($6.50, Walgreens)
Not sure what took so long, but the marriage between a breath freshener and lip gloss is a natural fit that equals perfection-not to mention convenience. The latest evolution in lip products, Covergirl Wetslicks Amazemint, infuses peppermint oil into your favorite lip color leaving your pout alluring and your breath minty fresh. The 2-in-1 product comes in 13 shades and is a definite date night must that should carried with you at all times.

The Original Moroccan Oil ($40, www.moroccanoil.com)
Everyone is raving about the benefits of Moroccan oil and it is completely understandable. The contents in this little bottle do it all: hair restorator, frizz and flyaway tamer, skin moisture, and cuticle softener. A little goes a long way with the lightweight oil, which can also be used pre-color treatment for a more intense color pay off.  It is made from the kernels of argan tree fruit, which is almost exclusively in Morocco, hence the name.

Oral B Vitality Precision Clean Electric Toothbrush ($22.99, CVS/Pharmacy)
Alright, maybe not the most exciting or most obvious pick at first glance (though some would argue fresh breath and clean teeth are the ultimate beauty accessory), but this tool in oral health also doubles as a spa treatment for your face.  When used with your favorite exfoliating cleanser, the soft-bristled toothbrush gently buffs out your skin and encourages skin cell turnover, which in turn reveals bright, beautiful skin. You can also use this with a hydrating lip balm to exfoliate your lips before your favorite lipstick for a smooth application.  Quick caveat: Purchase two separate toothbrush heads, one for your face and one your teeth.

Pur Mineral’s 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup ($24.50, www.purminerals.com)
Dubbed the “The One Minute Mineral Makeup Miracle,” the title alone sells it.  Few ladies would argue with a product that is an all natural mineral foundation, concealer, powder and SPF 15 protection all in one that leaves your complexion flawless. Available in 10 varied shades and rated by dermatologists as the number one mineral makeup formula, this delivers on everything it promises. Think of all the time and space you will save having this in your arsenal.

Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara ($4.99, Target)
A kin to the beloved industry favorite Maybelline Great Lash in black, this clear version can be used as a conditioning mascara and an excellent eyebrow shaper.  What is great about this product is you won’t have to worry about the messy smudging, clumping and smearing that can be quite annoying with traditional mascara. Bonus tip: Spray an old wand with hairspray and use on your eyebrows for an added hold that lasts all day or on your hair to tame flyaways.

(Written by Lenora E. Houseworth, a Chicago-area writer and editor and a self-professed beauty addict.)

Being a poor little rich girl sometimes means taking on a challenge in order to save some dough.

For example, when my friend and client, Steph, told me she wanted an upholstered headboard, but was on a tight budget, I decided that we could make one. I’m not particularly handy, but designers do it all the time on those design-on-a-dime TV shows and all the websites we checked advertised “chic and easy” instructions. So why couldn’t we build one?

If you have read my column before you know that I tell it to you straight. Was it fulfilling to see the end result of our labor? Hell yes. Would I do it again? Definitely. Was it a walk in the park? Nope.

As a designer, I do have an ace or two up my sleeve that really helped us complete this project. I have a good relationship with a great carpenter, Chris Favia, who took his Sunday to help us put together the wood framework for the headboard. I do not recommend attempting this project without someone who has access to and is comfortable with saws, drills, etc. I also have a friend who is going to school for fashion and owns an industrial sewing machine. Special thanks to Teddy Schellenbach for helping us sew together our fabric. Matching the pattern would have taken me HOURS.

Even with all this help, Steph and I unintentionally (although it should have been pretty obvious) made things a bit harder for ourselves by choosing a curved design, which required more material and carpentry. To simplify this process, choose a rectangular design. Secondly, due to her 12′ high ceiling in the bedroom we chose to build a 6′ tall headboard, which looks AMAZING, but ended up proving difficult to haul around, even in an SUV. Unless you have unusually tall ceilings, like Steph, I recommend you make a shorter headboard. I make these mistakes so that you don’t have to!

Upholstered headboards are really en vogue and are an amazing way to glamorize your bedroom. Below are the directions we followed and the pictures we took so that you too can build one (without sugar coating the gritty details).

Materials:
two 1/2″ sheet of medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
batting, fabric and decorative trim
tempered hardboard (bendable board)
2×4s
staple gun (we got away with just using nails)
drill and wood screws
table saw or circular saw
measuring tape
miter saw
jig saw

1. Tip #1: You need to bring an SUV or truck to the hardware store. Tip #2: Have the hardware store cut the 2×4s into:
For the top of the frame:
two at 13-1/2” long
two at 10” long
two at 5” long
one at 30” long
one a 60” long
For the bottom of the frame:
Six at 60” long

2. Build the top of the frame as follows:

3. Build the bottom frame as follows:

4. Attach the bottom and the top frame together

5. Lay the MDF on the top of the framework and with a pencil outline the curves on the top of the headboard. Then with a saw cut along those lines so that the MDF matches (fits the exact size of) the headboard. When completed, attach the MDF to the framework.

HINT: This is where we got into a problem. Even though we had an SUV, this thing was so freakishly large that we had to chop the headboard into two pieces, in a jig-saw like way, and then reattach them on-site. Unless this MAJOR extra step sounds like fun to you, build a smaller headboard.

6. Attach the batting to the entire MDF covered side of the headboard, and the sides and top of the framework. I recommend using something rather thick, at least 1.5 inches, because that is what your head will be hitting when you are in bed. A staple gun will work, but we used nails.

7. If you want to add depth to your headboard, like we did, we added extra batting along the edges. We used slightly less thick batting for this part because it is easier to handle.

8. Steph and I also made our lives harder by choosing a fabric with a pattern. Sewing the fabric together so that we did not break the pattern was VERY TEDIOUS! (Thankfully, we pawned this part off to an expert). Cover the batting in fabric and attach it with either the staple gun or nails. Hide your nails/staples in the framework on the back and at the edges where you placed the extra batting.

9. To hide where you placed the staples or nails use a fabric glue to attach a decorative trim.

10. Attach the headboard to your bed and admire your 2 full days of work (not kidding)!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

One of the best movie scenes of all time comes from the classic epic Legally Blonde. As Elle Woods lays in bed, depressed and dejected since her boyfirend broke up with her, her friends come to her rescue saying “What always makes us feel better, no matter what?” The camera flashes to the front of a nail salon, where the girls are getting mani-pedis. It seems silly, but a simple thing like groomed nails can sometimes give you the confidence boost you need.

The PLRG team has two all time favorite spots to go for the hallowed mani-pedi. We’ll start with H2O Nail & Spa (865 Larrabee St.). This nail salon is fairly new, which you will notice right away. The space is clean, bright and welcoming. The price for a mani-pedi combo is $40, and you can sign up for their loyalty program which gets you a free manicure after purchasing seven (or a free pedicure after purchasing seven). After your service, the staff walks you to the dryer and give you a 3 minute shoulder massage- the icing on the cake. Really, a great bang for your buck, plus the equipment they use is made of antimicrobial material, meaning all you’ll leave with is a great set of nails, and no other fungus or crittters!

Our PR Siren, Sally, has another great nail spot she swears by. Her favorite nail tech, Vina, at Fancy Nails (22 E. Elm) gives a $32 mani-pedi to die for. Sally warns that there is some tough love involved, but the results are truly magnificent, especially for the price. Walk ins are welcome, but if you want Vina, we reccomend making an appointment in advance (you aren’t the only girls Sally has shared this secret with you know).

With school back in session and long days at work, make the time this week to pamper yourself. Sometimes something as simple as manicured nails can make it seem that all is right with the world. Even if it is only for an hour.

I admit, for the past few years I have been the cobbler whose children have no shoes. While focusing on making other peoples’ homes beautiful I have greatly neglected my own. So, in order to rectify this disconnect, I have declared the summer of 2009 the year I make my home a true reflection of myself.

The wall over my bed has been empty since I moved into my place three and a half years ago. I guess I have an issue with commitment. 

However, I knew I could create a unique solution to this problem without breaking the bank.

Colorful paper is a great and inexpensive way to spice up a wall. I went to Paper Source, but you can go to any specialty paper store, and bought three different pieces of paper. To keep the look cohesive I picked paper with a similar color-scheme. I also kept them unified by choosing all floral prints.

Just like choosing textiles, if you select two papers with similar colors and prints, opt for one large print and one small. If you have trouble mixing and matching…it took me about a half hour because their selection was so amazing…ask a sales associate. He or she is usually more than happy to help.

I spent a total of $15 at Paper Source.

I then went to Michael’s and picked up six 9×12 inch canvases for $6 apiece. I would suggest bringing your paper with you to double check they will fit the canvases you choose.

Attaching the paper was easy:

1. I cut each paper in half so I had 6 pieces total, one for each canvas.
2. I wrapped each canvas with the paper like it was a present. Work on a flat surface to ensure you tightly wrap each canvas and the paper does not wrinkle.
3. I used both glue and tape on the back of the canvas to affix the paper. 

Note: I made an effort to make each canvas unique by arranging the same prints differently. For example, I placed one large decal in the center of one canvas but did not center the decal on the second canvas. 

You can get even more creative when hanging your new wall art. While you can hang them in straight rows I decided to offset mine. 

It would also look great if you choose different shaped canvases and assembled them on your wall in a geometric pattern.

In the end I created a distinct look in my bedroom for $55 and a few hours of work!

One room down…

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Hey Sal,
“I just moved into a place with a larger than average patio/deck. I’d like to have a “patio party” to show off the new place, but I am low on funds and ideas. Where should I start?”
- Leslie, River North

Leslie,

Summer is upon us, and doesn’t it feel good? It’s time to make good use of that patio before, a) it gets too hot and sticky, or worse, b) you blink and summer is gone!

No matter how you slice it, hosting a party is an expense. Cups, ice, glasses, hors d’œuvres (it simply isn’t possible to get away with no food, unless you want people raiding your pantry when they’re a couple of glasses deep), etc. But there are some simple ways to cut back on costs.

Try these top three:

BYOB - This isn’t rude, it’s economical. Ask people to come packing and you’ll save yourself a bundle. Have fun by making a game out of it (asking guests to bring the craziest named bottle of wine they can find, or only bring bottles with certain color labels (tie it into your decorations!!).

Limit Decorations - You look around your place and new patio and you think it looks bare, but picture it with 30 people crammed in. Try to put decorations only where they’ll have the most impact and be appreciated. Suggestions? Front door and tablescape.

Cut the Guest List - Do you really need to invite that one friend of your friend’s because she invited you to her birthday eVite bar party for 200 people? No. Try to surround yourself with only your best friends (better friends will also be more respectful of your space and you’ll have less of a disaster on your hands come morning).

One final thing to consider: co-hosting. Split the cost with a friend and go in on the party together. But be careful, make sure you’ve got a lot of friends in common, or you’ll end up doubling your guest list and saving no money!!

Don’t forget to invite the PLRG girls!

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and send your question to Info@PoorLittleRichGirls.com with subject “Hey Sal”)

There are few things that get a PLRG’s heart racing quite like a delicious prix fixe menu at an outrageously low price. So, when we heard about the Yelp Eats Restaurant week, happening from June 1-7, we almost had a coronary. For one week only, 25 of Chicago’s hottest restaurants will be offering 3-4 course menus for just $25!

We can’t wait for the Pan Seared Scallops at Blue 13 and the Filet Medallions at Kinzie Chop House. Plus, many of the featured eateries have already opened their patios, so you can dine for cheap al fresco!

Check out the entire list below and see menus at  Yelp.com. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time and mention the Yelp Eats promotion over the phone. 

(Lacey Brenly)

It was a few weeks ago that I came upon one of the most helpful websites I’ve visited in a while. I was standing in front of my fridge, door open, trying to figure out what I could make for dinner. I had some leftover veggies (broccoli, asparagus and bell peppers) and your typical staples (pasta, rice and breadcrumbs), but I wanted to do something more creative than just throwing it all into a stir fry. 

I went to my computer for help and stumbled upon Supercook.com. It’s free to sign up, you input all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry (everything from olive oil to onions) and out comes recipes for meals you can make with the stuff you already have. As you scroll down further in the recipe list, it begins to serve up recipes you can make with just one additional ingredient, or two additional ingredients and so on.

In my case, I had everything I needed to make a delicious pasta dish- all I needed was shrimp. A ten minute, $10 trip to the grocery store later, and a gourmet dinner for two is served. Supercook.com is the next best thing to having a personal chef. 

(Lacey Brenly)

Last week, Kevin explained how kicking that latte habit can make a big difference to you wallet. But, late in the work day, just the thought of drinking another cup of that sludge (which they call coffee) in the break room makes you ill. In situations like these, it’s always important to be prepared. Stash a few packets of Starbucks’ new instant coffee, Via, in your desk drawer to manage your caffeine cravings affordably.

Via is the first instant coffee to actually taste like a freshly poured cup of Starbucks’ joe. Just pour the packet (think those Crytal Light individual drink mix packets) into a cup, add 8oz of hot or cold water, stir and enjoy! At just $10 for a box of 12, you can get your Starbucks fix for only 83 cents a cup and avoid the temptation to splurge on a $6 MochaLatteCino Swirl with extra syrup and whipped cream. 

(Lacey Brenly)