Urban Outfitters Opens Halloween Shop!

This is something I am SO extremely excited for that I can barley put it into words. Urban Outfitters added a "Halloween" section to their website and the merchandise listed in that section is AWESOME. I've been on the Halloween section of Urban at least 5 or 6 times this month and each time I look at it I get more and more excited for Halloween!

In case no costume really speaks to you this year, Urban has you covered! This online section is filled with low-price items that are perfect for last-minute costumes.

For $12 you can get a shark fin to top off your Sharknado costume, or for $40, ensure that you'll win best-dressed at your party with their sumo wrestler costume (which is inflatable)!

If dressing up isn’t really your thing, but you still want to be festive, the shop also features fun graphic tees—think: cats, pumpkins, and skeletons—that are perfect to wear to any Halloween party!

Corner Shop Laundry Costume Muscle Tee- $24.00

Besides the amazing accessories and dinosaur onesies, the best part about the shop’s is its tagline—“Costumes, makeup and everything you need to creep it real…”

Check it out!

My Summer Must Haves!

Now that summer is officially coming to an end, I've been trying super hard to think of my favorite fashion pieces for this season. I've gone through so many different items of clothing and accessories this summer, which makes it almost impossible for me to choose just one but I think I have a solid list together!

#1 summer must-have: day dresses

Charlotte Russe "Belted Chevron Striped Dress" - $24.99

Charlotte Russe "Belted Zip-Back A-Line Dress" - $32.99

Alex and Ani

I've been hearing lots and lots of talk about Alex and Ani bracelets, so, I've decided to check them out for myself and post about them! If you're sitting there scratching your head, wondering, "What is an Alex and Ani bracelet" .. No worries; that's what I'm here for! There are three main and very important facts about Alex and Ani jewelry. 

1) They are made in America.

"Alex and Ani is a company dedicated to creating products of unparalleled quality and beauty that promote consciousness and unity. Manufacturing in the United States and reusing and recycling materials is an integral part of Alex and Ani’s mission as a conscious and eco-friendly company. Alex and Ani’s collections are not only eco-friendly, they are made up of powerful, meaningful, and spiritual pieces, which uplift and inspire all who wear them."

2. They are Eco-Friendly

"The Alex and Ani aesthetic underscores the idea that what is pure and natural is most beautiful and creating jewelry from recycled materials enriches the beauty of each piece. Founder and creative designer Carolyn Rafaelian embraces a philosophy that is based upon using eco-friendly, recycled materials made entirely in the United States. Because of this, Alex and Ani is able to purchase metals from local mills who have received recycled scraps from refineries, which in turn, use those pieces and sell their scraps back to the Mills."

3. They are infused with "positive energy"

Summer Sales!

The end of summer is the beginning of some great sales! I've been browsing the internet all weekend in search of the cutest items of clothing for the best prices possible! I know you're wondering, "Why would I want to buy summer clothes if fall is coming?" and I have the answer for you! Because most summer clothes can be transitioned into the fall season, since fall isn't as cold as winter. Fall serves as a medium between winter and summer and has a mild temperature; therefore, you can wear the new clothing you've purchased from the summer sales throughout fall. Also, why not stock up on some clothes for next spring/summer? It will be here before you know it! And imagine how exciting it would be to know you have a bunch of new clothes waiting to be worn! Definitely something to look forward to.

Let's start shopping!

Aeropostale "Sheer Cropped Crochet Tank" - $39.50 ON SALE $7.99

Inexpensive Ideas for Your Upcoming Party!

I recently read an article on Seventeen.com called "How to Throw a Kickass Party (and Pay Your Rent)" and I absolutely fell in love with the article. I felt like I HAD to share the ideas they came up with. The editors at Seventeen talked about 5 easy DIYS that will make your party stand out, all while saving money! 

Light-Bright Coasters

Apply vinyl stickers to a glass tile, then spray-paint the whole tile. Remove stickers after 30 minutes. Use a sponge to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge (prevents chipping).

What you'll need:

• Spray paint
• Painter's tape
• Vinyl stickers
• Mod Podge
• Square glass tiles

Glitter-Bomb Champagne Flutes

Using painter's tape, mark off the area you don't want to cover (start a few inches below the rim). Pour nail polish into a bowl, then blot it onto a glass with a sponge. Peel the tape once the polish has fully dried. TIP: A shimmery shade looks sleeker than chunky sequins.

What you'll need:

• Champagne flutes
• Sparkly nail polish (shown above is Essie Nail Color in Beyond Cozy)
• Painter's tape
• Small sponge

Earn-Your-Stripes Serving Tray

Stencil a design using a ruler and chalk (or eyeball it!), then cover lines with long strips of metallic tape. Using a box cutter, slice the tape so it lies flush against any edges. TIP: Rectangular trays work better than round ones.

What you'll need:

Fall's Hottest Trend: Baroque (On A Budget)

Good morning! It's Wednesday, already, which means Friday is just around the corner! I had such a hard time sleeping last night, so, I decided I would do some online shopping and came across a new trend that I'm loving: Baroque.

Baroque is taking the fall runways by storm. Baroque patterns on pieces of clothing actually originated from pieces of art. The [Baroque] style of art was described as an exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama and tension. The main goal of Baroque is for the observer to easily notice the bold Baroque pattern; they want the arrangement to stand out. A lot of celebrities are taking part in the Baroque trend, too!

Although Baroque doesn't particularly have to ONLY be printed in black and gold, see how prominent the gold pattern is on Selena Gomez's dress? It's the first thing your eyes get drawn to. The neutral black color on the base of the dress allows the gold Baroque pattern to really pop! It's such a classy and elegant look! The pattern is so interesting; it makes you want to examine the whole dress and see if the pattern gets more interesting than it already is.

Here are some other celebs rocking Baroque:

Lea Seydoux wore a white Baroque dress with blue embroidery.

Zoe Saldana, on the cover of Harper's Bazzar, in a black and gold Baroque romper

Hayden Panettiere in a pair of Baroque Joe's Jeans

Transition Trends From Summer to Fall!

One of my favorite things to do during my downtime is create sets on Polyvore! Polyvore is an app (based off of Polyvore.com) that is loaded with merchandise that allows you to create different "sets." They have a bunch of categories that you get to choose from and you select which items you like and they get put on a blank canvas; then you get to arrange it however you want. Sometimes I sit there for hours and scroll through the many many pages of items and find current trends that I'm into at the moment and create my own mini scene. I'm really into it and I want you to check out a few Polyvore "sets" that I have created revolving around some trends that I am gushing over! The trends listed below are ones that can be worn during summer and throughout fall, allowing you to easily transition your wardrobe from season to season. Check them out!

This fall is going to revolve around pastels! They're very flattering and versatile. They're perfect for the transition from the summer season into fall. I paired the pastel color-blocked dress with some mesh heels and a tan cross-body bag; very simple yet it still makes a statement! I also chose to go with neutral make up colors to give the colors in the dress more room to pop!

Looking to shop for some pastels?

 Forever 21 "High Waist Ankle Pants" - originally $17.80 ON SALE $11.99

Forever 21 "Cutout Chiffon Shirt" - originally $19.80 ON SALE $15.90


 Forever 21 "Faux Leather Peplum Jacket" - originally $27.80 ON SALE $25.99 

From pretty pastels to dark and grunge! Another trend prediction for fall is cut off flannels! I feel like they're going to be HUGE. A cutoff flannel won't be as hot as you would be in a long sleeve flannel but they also warm you up more than a tank top. Don't forget to pair the outfit with your favorite pair of Toms! And of course, you could never go wrong with a cross-body bag, a bowler hat, some electronics and your favorite pair of circle sunglasses!

 Looking to shop for some items like the ones above?

Forever 21 "Self-Tie Plaid Shirt" - originally $14.80 ON SALE $9.99

Forever 21 "Sleeveless Plaid Shirt" - $14.80

Forever 21 "F3328 Round Sunglasses" - $5.80

The upcoming trend portrayed in this Polyvore set is POPS OF COLOR! Just because summer is ending doesn't mean that neon can't stick around for a little while longer. I love the neon paired with basic neutral colors; it allows you to stand out without over-doing it. And isn't this background just adorable? Fall is the time where basic shades are really accentuated; which is why I love the neon, it's a new spin on an old trick!

Looking for some pops of color?

Forever 21 "Cool-Girl Colorblocked Crossbody" - $24.80

Forever 21 "Two-Tone Scarf" - $7.80

Forever 21 "Neon Pop Maxi Dress" - $27.80

Unfortunately you will not see any of the sets above on my Polyvore account because I had to make them on my work computer in order to get a screen shot of them. I have many other great sets, though! If you already have a Polyvore or if you plan on making one, you can follow me (briannaonabudget) and I would love to look at some of your sets! 

In other news, I got a new CAMERA! Thanks to my, wonderful, boyfriend Cody. Starting (most likely) this Sunday I will be posting video blogs each week! It's something that I've wanted to do for a while and definitely something I'm looking forward to. So, keep an eye out for tomorrow's blog post as well as an upcoming VIDDDEOO!

PS (to those who watch Pretty Little Liars) - I'm looking forward to tonight's episode! Who do you think pushed Jenna into the lake?

What're some things you'd like to see me talk about/do during my videos? Comment below to share!

Healthier Habits & Gym Gear (On A Budget)

Good morning! Another Monday, another work week. I've been in a great mood because I'm really looking forward to a vacation I have coming up to Florida! For my boyfriends birthday I bought him tickets to Universal Studios for the Halloween Horror Nights. We are so excited! Since we are going to Florida and the weather will be nice there, I decided there's no better day than today to start getting in shape! I went food shopping last night and bought ONLY healthy and nutritious food, which I plan on blogging about in the near future. In addition to me finding a pair of sneakers I FINALLY like, I also plan on signing up for the gym tonight! In honor of my new attitude, I've decided I want to write a blog post on some inexpensive gym clothes! I LOVE the way workout gear looks and I think that just because you're working out doesn't mean you can't look cute while doing it! Let's get started!

As I was browsing online I noticed Aeropostale had such great gym clothes for an even better price! If you're looking for affordable clothes Aero has really cute merchandise. They got a new designer around 2010 and ever since then the look of their clothes have improved a lot! I would definitely shop there.

Marled Contrast-Stitch Active Leggins - $39.50 ON SALE $20.00 

(Other colors available)

Inset Active Capris - $39.50 ON SALE $20.00

(Other colors available)

"Remember When?" Wednesday!

There's no greater feeling than remembering something that you enjoyed when you were a kid. Whether it was clothes, accessories, a tv show, or even a toy. I decided to dedicate this blog post to items I "had to have" and shows I "had to watch" when I was a kid. Let's take a look at some 90's classics!

Polly Pocket and her rubber clothes were all I wanted to play with when I was a kid!

Apparently these accessories are called "choker tattoo necklaces." I used to love these things and my friends and I always would put them around our stomachs because they were stretchy enough. 

Graphic Tee Tuesday (On A Budget)

Hello and thanks for stopping by! I have discovered a new obsession of mine that seems to increase daily: graphic tees. My favorite kind of graphic tees tend to be the ones with quotes printed on them. I mean, what's not to love about tees? They're extremely comfy and versatile. You can wear them lounging around the house, at the gym, or even at a casual event. If I could live in t-shirts I would and the fact that they have ones with pictures and eye catching quotes just increases my interest more and more!

Some graphic tees can run high in price. One of my favorite designers, Jac Vanek, has the most AMAZING graphic tees; however the price tag can be a little high but, sometimes it's worth it.

If you feel like splurging.. listed below are my favorite Jac Vanek graphic tees and their prices!

The "Your Blog" half tee - $49.00

"Sorry for Being Perfect" half tee - $49.00

"Pizza Boyfriend" tee - $64.00

Aren't they adorable? If you're interested in purchasing one of the t-shirts above, just click on the title of each t-shirt and it will lead you to the tee's page. Also, Jac has her tumblr blog located on the home page. She's awesome and her blog is, too.

If you're looking for some moderately priced graphic tee's we can move on to another one of my favorite designers - Brandy Melville. 

The "Stay Weird" tank - $18.00

This has also been seen on T.V star Lucy Hale from the hit show Pretty Little Liars!

Here's the t-shirt pictured on Lucy's official instagram - @LucyHale

FRI"DIY" - Make Your Own Nail Polish!

The weekend is finally here! I bet everyone is really excited for that.  Not only am I excited about the weekend, I'm excited for today's "DIY" blog post! Let me start by saying that in yesterday's post I accidentally wrote I was 250 views away from 2,000 in stead of 3,000, which I didn't notice until 5 hours after the blog was posted and it bummed me out. However, I reached over 3,000 views last night which definitely improved my mood! Anyway, today we are going to make our own nail polish! The only thing I love more than nail polish is DIYs, so being able to combine my love for the two started my day off on the right foot. It was one of the easiest projects I have done and it was very inexpensive! Let's get started!

What you'll need for this DIY:

In no specific order:

1) 1-2 bottles of clear nail polish - 99 cents each.

2) Eyeshadow pallet of your choice (you could also use an old one of yours) - $4.99

3) Q-Tips - $1.50

4) A piece of paper!

I got all of the items I needed from CVS (besides the piece of paper) and spent around $10.00 in total; however you may have these items laying around your house and you can do this project without spending any money! The brands of nail polish and make up I used are NYC.

Time to start!

Open your eyeshadow and begin scraping at (using a butter knife or some sort of sharp object) the color of your choice. Don't scrape all of the color out at once because it will be harder to pour onto the sheet of paper.

Pour what you've scraped onto the paper.

And this is what your eyeshadow should look like: 

Keep on scraping until you've emptied out the entire eyeshadow section of your choice and pour the excess eyeshadow onto the paper!

Once the eye shadow container is completely empty, make sure you crush the eyeshadow color down into powder because big chunks will not fit into the nail polish bottle.

Next, open up one of your clear nail polish bottles and pour a little of the nail polish into your trash can to make room for the powder. DO NOT pour the nail polish into your sink, it will clog your drain.

 Time to start pouring! With the lid off of the nail polish remover, fold the paper in half (with the eye shadow in it) to make the pour 10x easier.

If you get a little eyeshadow on the table it's perfectly fine because it's easy to wipe up and you could always brush it right back onto the paper to pour back into the bottle!

This is what your nail polish should look like after the pour.

Pretty cool, right? Take your Q-Tips and pull the cotton off one of the ends to use as a mixing tool to mix the eye shadow and clear nail polish.

Once the cotton is ripped off either side, begin mixing!

Mix it for about two minutes and you will see your final product!

To ensure you're happy with the color, grab a piece of paper and test it out!

The color was definitely too light for my liking, so I followed the same steps as above and added some black eye shadow to darken it.

And here was my final product (in comparison to the first shade)! I was very very happy with it.

The most perfect purple color I could've asked for!

I also bought a second bottle of clear nail polish that could be used as a top coat or to make another color! You could always be bold and mix colors or choose very funky greens or blues. Adding darker colors will darken the shade as adding lighter ones will lighten it and possibly make it more transparent looking. This particular DIY only took me about 20 minutes and didn't require any heat or craft tools. Like I mentioned above, you could save yourself $10.00 and use eyeshadows and nail polishes you already have at home!

I really hope you enjoyed this weeks FRI"DIY" blog and I'm already looking forward to next weeks!

Links to the places/products mentioned above:

CVS: http://www.cvs.com

NYC Beauty: http://newyorkcolor.com

What do you think of this DIY? What colors are you planning on trying? If you do try this out, please send pictures!