Fun Things to Do for FREE!!

Since I have been silent for so long, I thought I would kick off the fall by sharing a few FREE things to do in LA.
OK, so FREE is relative, might take a little petrol, maybe some sore muscles, or just a bit of time...but here are some FUN things to do for free in LA....

Here is an amazing link to all sorts of free thing to do in LA, pick a date and enjoy!
Free In LA

1) Be a tourist in your own city.
Having done this fairly recently I urge all of you to go to Hollywood Boulevard and literally watch the tourists. This might be better with a few drinks in your system, but those cost money, so grab a friend walk down the Walk of Fame, visit the Hollywood sign, go to Griffith Park Observatory, and for god sake bring a camera. Best people watching EVER!

And really, when is the last time you went to Olvera Street. It's kitschy, but there are margaritas there.

2) Explore the wonders of the outdoors.
Ah yes, hiking, biking, and gallavanting in the sun. We happen to live in one of the best outdoor cities in the world for all of this. Here's a great link to some awesome Bike Paths all over LA!
http://www.labikepaths.com

Hiking, we have hidden waterfalls in LA too! Bet you didn't know that...
Local Hikes


3) Get some culture, visit a museum!
There are some great natural history, art and science museums all over LA. Some are always free while some have free days, like every Thursday MOCA downtown is FREE!
Free Museums

4) There's no such thing as a free lunch...
Oh yes there is if you go to Costco on a Saturday. Definitely not the thing to do if you plan on buying, but you can always "pretend" to shop while loading up on mini sausages, crab dip, and juice. Last time I was there I had 3 helpings of Strawberry Shortcake...great for dates too. Not cheap, just frugal ;-)

Also, any local farmer's markets, you can usually browse through and get full on samples as well as great people watching!

5) Music and mayhem!
If your into up and coming bands, and want to check em out before they explode on the Scene, AMOEBA Music in Hollywood always has the hottest new acts playing in store when they pass through town.

If classical is more your thing Disney Hall has some admission free Saturday performances during the Fall, Winter and Spring..
And in the summer the world is your oyster, but check here for a full list!
Free Concerts

If you have any more little ideas of how to enjoy LA for free please do share!

Looking for last minute LABOR DAY Plans?! Luxury Villa in Troncones, MEXICO 40% off all of Sept!

Sunsets in Troncones  are gorgeous

It pays to have a fantastic villa in Mexico to escape to once in a while, and since I have an exclusive in to offer you all a great deal for the month of September, you too can have a Mexican paradise to escape to!

La Mariposa, a private 4 bedroom villa in Troncones, Mexico (just 40 miles north of Zihuatenejo/Ixtapa) is available for $350 a night (off of $575, which is a 40% discount).

View from Master Suite #1

This Villa sleeps 10 people, has full time housekeeping and care taking service, out door showers, media room, infinity pool overlooking the beach, outside Palapa with bar and BBQ, and a KILLER surf break.

Located on the most private beach of Manzanillo Bay in Troncones, this 1/2 mile strip of paradise is super quiet and private. A perfect getaway for a long weekend, or a 2 week stay! Great idea for a group of friends or family. Just mention Big City Small Wallet when booking and you are good to go!

Just think, a one of a kind luxury villa for $35 a night if you fill it with 10 people!!!

Non-Stop flights on Alaska Airlines Fridays and Tuesdays starting at $455....

Pool Bar ;-)

LA MARIPOSA VILLA
Check out the detailed website here!
Full pictures of house here.

View from Pool

Eat Well Under $50!

So as you all must have figured out by now I love a good deal! And one I thought I must share with you came through my inbox today!

BLACK BOARD EATS LA

I am a big fan of Blackboard eats, and many times it gives me a reason to try a new restaurant...but today they have a great deal on a restaurant that has been around for awhile and is highly regarded!
JAR on Beverly Blvd is offering an amazing Prix Fixe for just $35 (or $40 with one glass of paired wine...)

$35 BBE prix fixe*

*$35 for three-course prix fixe or $40 for three-course prix fixe with one paired glass of wine from provided list; available during dinner; each person in the party must order his own prix fixe, or one entrée from the dinner menu, or three appetizers; no splits or shares; not valid with any other discounts or promotions; available for parties of 2–4; dine-in only; reservations strongly recommended; see menu in Menu Musts section

Limited number of passcodes. Early bird gets the good eats.
Passcode expires: Sept. 15, 2010

I would click this link ASAP as they do run out of these deals quickly.
No purchase upfront necessary, just a code to use if you want it! Enjoy!!

big.city.small.wallet: Stop WINE-ing! Great Wines for around $10

big.city.small.wallet: Stop WINE-ing! Great Wines for around $10: "If you are anything like me, you cannot leave the grocery store (Trader Joe's to be exact) without grabbing one of their sale wines to try o..."

Stop WINE-ing! Great Wines for around $10

If you are anything like me, you cannot leave the grocery store (Trader Joe's to be exact) without grabbing one of their sale wines to try out. I have indeed found a few winners, but truth be told, most of them end up becoming cooking wines, or I'm-already-buzzed-and-on-my-second-bottle kind of wines. But in my quest to find some wines I would buy again and again, and proudly serve to my snooty wine loving friends, I have run across a few of note that you should check out.
Most you can find at my favorite store, La Wine Store on McConnell
http://www.lawineco.com/


RED WINES:


Red Tree Pinot Noir 2008 - $9.99
marketviewliquor.com
This is a fantastically easy drinking wine. Light bodied, so it goes with most dishes, and light enough to have on its own after work. James Laube of Wine Spectator magazine raved about it too, just found that out...so I must know what I'm talking about...
"Red tree Pinot Noir displays aromas of fresh fruits and strawberries, with a hint of oak in the background. This lighter-bodied wine provides cherry flavors on the palate and more red fruits, finishing with soft tannins."

Jargon Pinot Noir - $8.99

67liquor.com

Another enjoyable light/medium bodied wine that goes well with just about anything.

"Bright and seductive flavors of black cherry, berries and violet. On the palate, this wine has a smooth silky texture, followed by mild tannins that deliver structure and complexity. This is a generously fruit-driven, mediumweighted wine with toasty oak flavors."

Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon - $8.99

lawineco.com

This is a beautifully drinking cabernet for a price that is unbeatable for the quality. This is a luscious full bodied wine, great paired with stronger cheeses, and meat dishes or rich desserts.

"Deep ruby in the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon commands attention from the moment it is poured. Rich, luscious scents of sweet berry fruits entice the nose, opening to wisps of cola, licorice, and spice. An intense core of ripe blackberry and boysenberry greets the palate, giving way to notes of cassis, vanilla and earth. Firm tannins and food-friendly acidity balance the plush fruit, leading to a long, pleasant finish."

Four Vines Zinfandel Old Vine Cuvee - $9.95

www.lawineco.com

This is a delicious big bodied wine, not too heavy, but very big. Great with a bar of Vosges Oaxacan Chile and Dark Chocolate bar, so yummy ;-) 

"On the nose the wine has layers of berry fruit and anise aromas with hints of spice. On the palate, blackberry and spicy plum fruit with a rich mouth feel. Big and opulent on the mid palate with plenty of structure, trailing to a velvety toasted oak finish."

Trapiche Malbec 2008 - $7.99

jerichowine.com

This was one of those let's try it and see...and we have a WINNER! A wonderful Malbec from Argentina, this winemaker has a few lovely wines that are well worth checking out, and you can't beat the prices!

"The wine has rich plum and cherry aromas. In the mouth, the fruit is round and supple, with truffle and vanilla notes. Food Match: red meat, pizza, pasta in meat sauce, lamb, Hard cheeses, grilled meats, BBQ.

ROSE:

Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah 2008 - $10.45 
sandcreekwine.com

This Rose is fantastic, a lovely combination of peppery fruits, with a sweet tang finish. Wonderful on a summer day!

"Made from 100% Syrah grapes, this is a juicy well-ripened wine with loads of strawberry both on the nose and the palate, along with cherry and raspberry on the mid-palate. Peppery red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by licorice and pungent herbs. A touch of tannin gives the well-packed fruit some sophisticated boundaries and the finish endures longer than expected."

WHITE WINES:

Trapiche Torrontes 2008- $6.99

marketviewliquor.com

This may be my new favorite find. After trying the wonderful Malbec, I thought I would try one of their whites. I had actually never heard of a Torrontes before (it's known as the flagship white of Argentina) but it looked crisp and clean for a hot summer day. Needless to say it was the hit of the BBQ I brought it to, and sadly, I only brought one bottle...

"A highly aromatic wine with Torrontes’ trademark floral notes, bright citrus and a whiff of spice in the bouquet. The wine has a yellow-green color, with gold hints. The wine shows floral and citrus aromas and a fresh character in the mouth that is well-balanced. On the palate the flavors are fresh and lively; reminiscent of white peach and Muscat; dry with well-balanced acidity."

Pomello Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $8.99

klwines.com

This is another one of my favorite white's. Extremely crisp, this is one of the few wines I can sip during the day time. Lots of crisp Grapefruit flavors, perfect with salads, fish and light pastas.

"Wonderfully fragrant, floral and grapefruit nose with fig and peach aromas. Very full, round mouth with clean grapefruit flavors. Wonderful to pair with spicy Asian faire, raw oysters, seafood and creamy pastas."

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc - $9.99  

bevmo.com

Another great white from Marlborough, New Zealand. Light and fresh, but not too crisp. A wonderfull easy drinking wine for summer.

"A perennial favorite, this pale-straw coloured wine has concentrated aromas of citrus, gooseberry and tropical fruits. Tangy and refreshing, the aromas replay on the palate underlain with soft vegetal and mineral notes. Light-medium bodied, the flavours are very consistent delivering a bright long-lasting finish. It’s a wonderful match with sole, halibut or your favorite goat cheese recipe."

Excelsior Chardonnay - $7.99

thewinebuyer.com

I tend to like Chardonnay's that aren't too buttery or oak-y, a little lighter palate that can go with most dishes. I have learned through trial and error that Chardonnay's and Merlot's ar good, but only if they are expensive. So trying new ones under $10 is always daunting. And then I found Excelsior, and I have not strayed...Great Value, great drinkability, and a perfect finish without being too heavy.

"Elegant and approachable, this Chardonnay has appealing lemon and lime flavors, with hints of vanilla. Delicate peach nuances linger on the crisp, dry finish."

Nobilo Regional Collection East Coast Pinot Grigio - $10.95

shopperswines.com

This Pinot Grigio is not as tart as most, and has a lovely light drinkability without the acidity I find in most Pinot Grigio's. On the higher end of the scale, but perfect to share with friends at a dinner party.

"Light straw in color with brilliant clarity. A perfumed bouquet of orange blossom and pear is overlaid with enticing spicy notes. Elegant and refreshing, the Nobilo Regional Collection Pinot Grigio has been crafted in an off dry style. Showing excellent weight and balance this wine has a creamy texture complemented by gentle acidity. Flavors of ripe apple, melon and pear linger on the palate in a smooth, generous finish."




So these are a few of my faves! If you have any to share please let me know and leave a comment.


Enjoy, happy and safe drinking!

Spontaneous Travel Plans, Fly Away NOW!

Corinthia Hotel St. George's Bay - St Julian's - Malta

Excelsior Hilton Palermo - Palermo - Sicily

Voyage Prive, an invite only, flash sale, hotel travel site is having one of the biggest sales today on some of the coolest small hotels around the USA and Europe!

A package for 6 nights at The Excelsior Hilton Palmero, that normally retails at $1,596 is only $559!!!
(They have other nightly increments as well, 2 nights for $189, can't beat that either!)

A Package for 4 nights at The Hotel Renew in Honolulu is going for $455 instead of the regular rate of $740...5 nights in Malta at a 5 star hotel for $429...are you kidding me?!?!?

So for all of you that have not used any vacation time this year (damn, I'm maxed out...) or might be able to spontaneously take flight to somewhere exotic OR are looking for some vacation plans over the holidays (many of these sales have dates available for the rest of the year) I would URGE you to take advantage!!

Act now, these sales only last for a few days!
All I ask in return is send some pictures of your travels ;-)

Voyage Prive

Click the link for your invitation!
Enjoy!

I'm on a spending freeze, but....

Damn you Barney's Warehouse sale, damn you, I say!
I am sticking to my spending freeze, but for those of you who have behaved and saved money this summer, definitely hit the sale. (I'm a size S/M and 9 in shoes, and my birthday is in October, just saying...)

And if you miss this sale, there is another one the weekend after (Aug. 22)...I am boycotting all, but doesn't mean I can't share ;-)
Enjoy!

VIRGIN AMERICA 24 Hour Sale- for a good cause, too!

Virgin America and Twitter have teamed up to make low fares make a difference during the #FlyFwdGiveBack Twitter 24 Hour Sale. With fares as low as $39*, Virgin America is encouraging flyers across the nation to grab a seat and retweet, to help raise funds for educational causes. For 24 hours, Virgin America will donate five dollars for every direct booking made** to educational nonprofits. Virgin America will donate up to $50,000 – and 100% of the donation will go to KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Classroom Projects on DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students. Virgin America is an ongoing supporter of the KIPP Program, which operates a network of free, open-enrollment, college-prep public schools in under-resourced communities. For more about KIPP, visit: www.kipp.org. For more on DonorsChoose.org, visit:www.donorschoose.org.

Coupons - Frugally Smart or Tacky and Cheap? You be the judge...

Coupons are one of those things you see, get slightly excited about and always intend to use, BUT it seems they also carry a strange stigma.

I mean, CHRIST, saving $2 off your favorite mascara is not tacky, it's fantastic!
But just like going to the movies alone implies you have no friends, using a coupon conjures up images of Food Stamps for some people...
However, even in the world of coupons, some are more widely acceptable than others, using coupons at the market/car wash/Target/Bloomingdale's carries a little bit LESS of a stigma than, let's say, using a coupon at a restaurant.

So here's the rub, I love coupons, I mean truly love THEM....However, I ONLY seem to use them for restaurants and such...and honestly I think it's fantastic.

Anytime a new Monthly Mailer comes I get all excited, sit down, and book mark the ones I think I might use. I have one in my car, at my office, and a whole drawer full of expired ones. I use them for Dog Grooming at Dog Star, 20% off of lunch at Cafe Buna, 10% of off my overpriced shampoo. 


Come to think of it I just used a Black Board Eats coupon on Friday for 30% off at Orris. 
(saved $50 of the bill! Woo hoo that was one free bottle of wine in my book!)
(P.S. You can totally skip Orris, won't go back with or without a coupon...meh)

Knowing my slight obsession with coupons my husband bought me the mother of all coupon books Entertainment 2010 (now ON sale for $5 a BOOK! Entertainment 2010) for my birthday!
Truly there are THOUSANDS of dollars of saving in there!
Best B-DAY present EVER!! (I told you I am a bit odd)


Not sure where to eat tonight? Well, let's look in our handy dandy Coupon book, Honey....
Problem SOLVED!


And not to mention pages and pages of Movie Coupons, and Clothing Coupons, and Online coupons, and shit-you-don't-really-need-but-screw-it-cause-you-have-a-coupon* coupons...It's fabulous, I'm getting antsy just thinking about all the coupons I have yet to use!


But the bottom line is, with the onslaught of new websites like Black Board Eats and Tippr and Groupon (and more, oh MY!) maybe people won't feel so odd about indulging in coupon usage. What's so embarrassing, REALLY, about saving a little money? We are in an effing recession and I see nothing wrong with using my saved money on something more useful like, let's say, a massage or pedicure. 
(I have coupons for those too)


And if you are really worried about announcing you HAVE a coupon when the bill comes, just quietly shove it in with the bill (whisper to the waiter when you ask for the check that you have a coupon) and I promise no one will even notice. I, however, like to proudly announce to the whole restaurant that I am the smart person who will be saving 10%/20%/30% off my bill because I HAVE A COUPON AND AM NOT AFRAID TO USE IT!!!


So as NIke has been telling us for decades, JUST DO IT...
You might unleash your inner discount diva and like it.

(*I have NOT used a coupon on a dentist yet, but who knows I just might, I'm sure that Dental Chicken guy has one....)

Who Loves Music? I Do I Do!!!

In my quest to hang on to whatever "coolness" factor I still have left, I am constantly searching for new bands and cool remixes to add to my monthly mixes.

Being that I am lucky enough to get music sent to me gratis for my job, I still love finding new cool and interesting remixes and undiscovered talent via a few websites that actually let you stream and DOWNLOAD, for free...yes, that is right, free music...legally!!
Guilt free, as you are not stealing, RCRD LBL allows you to word your self up on some of the hottest acts around like Florence and the Machine and Kid Cudi remixes, and then discover talent like Brown Bag AllStars and Evan Voytas.
I'm really giving up my secrets here, but I have to show some love to this site who keeps it real by sharing tunes we can all appreciate...for FREE!

I also would like to give a shout out to
We (heart) Hand Claps and Hey You Listen Up!
for always sharing their knowledge and putting out some great free mixes as well!

Keep in mind, if you like some of the artists you find always try and be supportive by purchasing the full records or seeing them live, just a nice good karmic thing to do....

Peace out, homies!

Enjoy!

DOUBLE TAKE SAMPLE SALE THIS WEEKEND

Why not get a little shopping on with your beach day?

Supposed to be somewhat nice this weekend, and this sale is by the BEACH!

Go just for the Black Halo stuff, scored myself the Jackie O dress last year for about $80...

can't complain about that!

Which Way to The Websites!!!!

I am queen of Googling...there I said it.

Ask me to find you a house rental in Mammoth for under $200 a night, I can do it...
Ask me to find you those coveted pair of Miss Sixty shoes you saw someone wearing, I can do it...
Ask me to find a discontinued beauty product you can't live with out, I CAN DO IT!
Get the picture?

So WHY am I so good at this, well 1) it's all about KEY WORDS, and 2) I get a kick out of finding things that seem impossible....Call me weird.
I look up coupon codes before purchasing ANYTHING.
My favorite gift my husband got me was a damn COUPON BOOK!
It's kind of sad that a kick I get out of saving a buck here and there, but I do love a good deal...

So what I have noticed in my quest for all things discounted is there are not a whole hell of a lot of sites that point you in the right  direction to FIND what you need discounted.  A HUB of sorts...
I would like to be that HUB...I'm a good HUB.

I've posted a few of my favorite websites to the right of this post that you can peruse at your leisure. Most involve Fashion, Food, or Travel, but this is just day one so come back often!

When in doubt, my favorite place to look for deal in the whole wide world is The Find.
Gotta love a good FIND!

The Great Trade

Oh how we love to shop....I mean....really!

Us girls (and some guys) have more clothes than we need or will wear in this lifetime! I have stuff in my closet that I bought cause it was on sale, or it was a designer, or I didn't try it on before buying (totally guilty of that) and all this crap probably still has tags on them! What a waste...and by the time you realize it's in your closet and the return policy has more than expired, you're stuck with hundreds of dollars of "worthless" clothes...or are they???
We all have probably tried to sell our clothes to resale shops like Crossroads, Buffalo Exchange, Warehouse, etc...but as you probably know, they get really picky at times, and definitely don't give you your money's worth.


Although I am an avid Ebayer I've learned that half the time it is more trouble than it is worth when selling clothes...


Well, here's a great solution. If you're like me you've probably hosted your own "Great Trade" with friends (with a bottle of wine, always makes it more fun!) but imagine a whole NEW closet to peruse, mostly higher end designers, too!


Give + Take Boutique is clothes swapping on a much higher level! Located in Playa Del Rey, for now they are only open 11am-6pm on weekends and by appt. other days. There is no money involved, other than a small membership fee, you gather points for your swaps so $100 for your designer J Brand skinny jeans garners $100 in points for that Eisley Sweater so you can swap equally!


Talk about a fair trade agreement, and not to mention it's totaly "green" ;-)



Enjoy!
http://giveplustake.com/

And We're Off

After years of saying I'm going to start a website that speaks of all things budget friendly, I FINALLY decided to join the blogging community and share. I have seen the start of numerous sites that are doing just that, and quite frankly, I could kick myself for doing a lot of talking with no action for so long....I could be a millionaire by now!  

In an effort to share my knowledge and wisdom of all things frugal and fabulous, I've decided to share the love and start blogging about all my finds on the internet and around Los Angeles (for now) So think of this site as a condensed BASE of all things worth checking out. I'll give you links to some of my favorite "frugal finds" for fashion, entertainment, wine, food, pets, travel and just about anything else under the sun! 

So enjoy big.city.small.wallet and feel free to send or post any of your own finds!

-Jess