Winding Ruffles & Sticky Teaspoons

Hello Everyone! Thanks for reading Winding Ruffles. I might use it again one day, but I have moved my new blog to www.theidea-generator.com. I feel that it is closer to my personality and the things I want to accomplish with a blog. Please check it out

In lieu of being super broke, I have decided to share some of my new money saving tips that I have been forced to find this past week. Even when my wallet rebuilds, I will use these tips to get more bang for my buck.

Favorite New Sites:

Groupon- okay, so most people probably know about this one, but they have the coolest coupons (3-hour cooking class for only $42 today). I wanted to sign up for the Santa Barbara Shopping & Food Tour at Epicurean, or try the Moroccan cooking night.

Lifebooker- best site for booking spa treatments period. I will never pay full price again after this site. Most massages were only $40 bucks.

Bloomspot- focuses on luxury experiences at a cheaper price tag. Even if you don’t use it to book anything, you can find interesting spots to check out. My next stop is going to Traxx restaurant at Union Station, the patio is rumored to be the best hidden spot in downtown.

Devils Drive-in- I didn’t even realize that LA had a drive-in until this summer. Being on top of a parking garage in downtown LA watching movies such as Pretty in Pink, Labyrinth, or Show Girls and drinking a bottle of wine is the perfect date. Only $10 bucks per person, and you get roller girls that bring you hot dogs or popcorn while you sit on the astroturf. Love.

What are your money saving sites or tips? We would love to hear.

<Traxx Restaurant, and the patio I was talking about>

<Facial Bungalow, I want to try their micropeels>

<Monterey Plaza & Spa, this hotel is on my wish list. It almost reminds me of the hotel for SATC 1>

All of these lovely images are from Bloomspot. Check it out for some inspiration and to get some great deals.

I’m not talking about bikini waxes (where cheap can equal more pain), but I am referring to the new Blowout craze where your hair stays straight and manageable for up to 3 months. The only problem: $300 bucks is the average cost, even though you can find specials for around $150. While I have been dying to get one done, my curly hair is pretty scary at times, and I wasn’t sure if it would even be worth it for me. My prayers were answered this weekend when I heard about this new product from Garnier. It takes the concept of the treatment and lasts for 7 shampoos. The best part: $8 bucks for the kit and there is no damage to your hair. I am happy to say it definitely helped tame my hair and if it lasts even 4 shampoos, I will be getting another box to try again.

**Sorry I have lost my camera for the weekend but I will have to post a picture of the hair soon!

Okay, maybe I am overreacting a little bit. It’s not quite an “Indian Summer” yet, but with all of the fall fashion talk from other fellow bloggers, I feel the need to see leaves and drink spiced chai. While I never welcome winter to so cal, I find myself wishing for a little chill to the air. It will come soon enough, but for now, we can make a shopping list to lust over until fall is officially here.

1. Bowtied Beauty Boots-Anthropologie

2. Mega Tote-Jcrew

3. Greta Silk Top-Bloomingdale’s

P.S.S. If you double click the image it gets bigger.. sry I am still figuring my mac out!

After getting some much needed inspiration from two of my favorite home good stores CB2 & West Elm, I decided to spend the weekend revamping my apartment. I had these vintage, European maps that I bought earlier in the summer while visiting Seattle that I needed to do a project with. I decided to use white frames to showcase them on my new blue wall. The project came out  better then expected, especially since the maps have muted colors that work well with the wall. The other project I worked on was creating a chandelier with tea lights that I picked up at CB2. I originally wanted to hang them over my table, but the cement in my ceiling stopped me for the time being. I improvised and hung them on a bar over my couch with light blue yarn. I am still on the hunt for a strong self-adhesive hook to move them over to my table.

<This has to be the best parking spot in the US, @ the new Santa Monica Place this weekend>

<My lonely wall ready for some pictures>

<Close-up of one of the vintage maps used>

<Final wall placement, 5 seemed like a good place to stop>

<Tying the tea-lights with yarn>

<Temporary home for the wall hangings, hopefully a chandelier in the future>

Let us know if you have any good diy projects!

I love the excitement of new malls, especially ones that are courtyard style with ocean views. Santa Monica Place just opened this past weekend, and I ventured out into some major traffic to go shopping. The best thing about this mall is the store selection. They have CB2, which is like crate & barrel but cheaper and hipper, Love Couture, a cross between Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, and a Bloomingdale’s that made my mouth drop. The Bloomingdale’s features only contemporary brands with a Forty Carrots Yogurt bar on the second floor. If you have never had Forty Carrots Yogurt, you are missing out. It’s similar to Pinkberry, but its actually been around longer and it tastes sweeter (not as much tang). The perfect date restaurant is Sonoma Wine Bar,where you can see the ocean as you sample different wines found around the restaurant in dispensers. Great idea if you are like me and have no idea what type of wine you like. I found tons of inspiration in the stores, and I bought glass tea domes to make a hanging wall chandelier this weekend. (I promise to post that diy this weekend).

I have to admit that the Eat.Pray.Love hype has me all excited to go see the movie this Friday. I usually hate all of the “movie themed merchandise” that comes out around a popular film, especially the vampire medallions that Borders was selling during Twilight. Surprisingly, there are some great ideas for Eat.Pray.Love products that include: STA themed trips to Italy, India, and Bali that have itineraries inspired by the movie, and Fresh has a line of scents (can you guess the names?). My must-have is a prayer bead necklace from Dogeared. The necklace has 109 beads (the 109th bead is where you pause for gratitude) before you begin or end your journey. I love the history of the necklace, and it doesn’t hurt that you can get an updated version in turquoise with green onyx. Also, check out Julia Robert’s amazing hair (I hope I have the patience to grow mine out, because I love her long waves). Hopefully, I can achieve her look with my visit to Drybar, I just bought a $20 Groupon to visit. Details are coming soon. P.S. Not to sound like a complete promoter, but the soundtrack is worth a go if your in a “worldly mood.”

I am going to apologize in advance for the overflow of food related posts, but when I find a great restaurant, I have to talk about it. On weekdays, I usually get stuck eating whatever I can find in the kitchen, or grabbing take out, but today I decided to venture out with few friends to try Luna Park. Located right in my neighborhood, this hidden gem never inspired me to make a trip until my friend suggested it. I love restaurants that have an interesting menu like rock shrimp pizza, goat cheese fondue, lemon aioli artichoke, and do-it-yourself smores. The candlelit decor and hidden “booth cabanas” make it a great place for a date, they even have a great happy hour that lasts until seven. Love trying new places.

Mondays can be hard. It’s the first day of school or work for most, and the alarm goes off way too early. To make myself feel better about the long work week ahead,

I decided to take a look at a few things that always make me smile (or things that I plan on purchasing).

<Gummi bears & spicy Cheetos>

<Platters of sugar cookies by cute business cards>

<the know-it-all pencil set has my name all over it>

<Smiling measuring cups while making chocolate chip cookies>

<A floppy sun hat for under 5 bucks (Santee!)>

Whatever makes you smile early in the week, hold on to it until you make it to the weekend.

Ever notice how bad or good things happen in 3′s? This past weekend, my router, modem, and computer all went down, and I had to replace all three. The upside to all this madness: I finally got a Mac. My wallet is still recovering, but I love how easy it is use my new computer, and I am already thinking of new desk options (clear or white?).

The rule of 3 also applied to my weekend (in a much better way). I went to the US Surf Open in Huntington Beach, shopped in Santee Alley, and painted my wall a slate blue color that I find myself staring at constantly. For those of you that have never been to Santee Alley in downtown LA, make it a priority to go. You can find everything from fabric to trendy footwear, wigs, and even birds. I love wandering around the alleys to find a quirky shop that sells unique merchandise, since most of the vendors can start to have similar stuff.