Blog Posts by Fabulous & Frugal

by Stephanie Berenbaum - October 3rd, 2012

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One Pot Wonder

I recently celebrated the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) by making my mom's signature brisket. It got so many rave reviews it got me thinking - not only is this brisket delish, it's Fab, Fru & Freezable! A trifecta of perfection.

Lots of Taste from a few Ingredients

This brisket literally tastes like your grandmother spent weeks making it, with an old world family recipe. The good news? Other than the meat, it only uses a few ingredients you probably have sitting in your pantry right now! You just need to buy a "First Cut" brisket - a 4 pounder should only set you back $25-$30. The other ingredients combined will only run you a few bucks. And you can really feed a crowd because a little goes a long way with this hearty dish!

Easy-Freezy Time Saver

As if you thought this brisket bonzanza couldn't get any better - guess what - it freezes like a DREAM! So it's the perfect thing to make now and stick

Read More »from Best. Brisket. Ever

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Last week, Ginny was out to dinner with Beth, a friend from work. Beth started talking about how she was struggling to find an affordable dress to wear to her cousin's black tie wedding - which was just four days away! She confessed to Ginny that she was on a shoestring budget and really couldn't afford any of the new dresses she had found so far... Always willing to help avert a fashion crisis, Ginny told Beth she had a very chic solution for waiting for her - right in her own closet! After dinner, the two ladies stopped by Ginny's apartment so Beth could try on Ginny's elegant, ruby red vintage dress. It fit Beth perfectly. She was thrilled - it was a fashion victory.

Cut to the Monday after the wedding... Beth showed up to work with Ginny's dress - and horror in her eyes. Somewhere between the end of the wedding and walking through her front door, Beth sat on a pen and got a big blot of black ink right on the seat of Ginny's vintage gown! Not wanting to make the stain worse, Beth

Read More »from Cheap Vs Frugal

by Alexandra Pauline - October 1st, 2012

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Turning Freelance Into Full Time

Temping has always been an excellent way to get experience in a new field and supplement your income. But in this soft job market, more companies are using temps to not only help out at the office, but to seriously cut their bottom line. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, 58% of employers expect to hire more part-time, temporary or contract workers over the next five years! So what does this mean for the future of your career and financial stability? With temp positions becoming the new norm of the marketplace, how do you play the game and turn your temp position into a full time job? Read on for our Fab & Fru tips for tackling temping!

Screen Shot 2012-10-01 at 1.49.59 PMFind Out the Facts

When you accept a temp or freelance consulting position, spend time getting to know the culture of the company and what their goals are for the the future. Be sure to ask upfront if there are or will be any permanent positions available at theRead More »from Make Your Temp Job Permanent

Week in Review

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From a Map Mishap to a Millionaire Marriage

iPhone 5 Mapping Mess

Maybe you should be grateful if you were put on a wait list for the new iPhone 5… Consumers who actually already bought the new phones are complaining loudly of problems with the mapping app on the new version, and even Apple is pointing consumers in the direction of competitors maps until they get they get their bearings straight on this one.

The $64 Million Marriage

From the WTF files: a Hong Kong tycoon has offered $64 million for a man to woo and marry his 33 year old daughter. The major issue? His daughter is already married - to another woman. Even more unbelievable than his offer to basically sell his daughter? The fact that his daughter seems to have a good sense of humor about the whole thing. Good for her, and congratulations to her and her wife!

NFL Refs Back On The Job

Good news for football fans, and those of us married to football fans: NFL referees signed a

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by Brandi Savitt - September 27th, 2012

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Paying Big Bucks to Exercise

As a pretty faithful exerciser, over the last four years I have splurged on private training sessions at my gym. Most Tuesday mornings, at 6:15AM, I drag myself out of bed, walk to the gym, and get my butt kicked by my trainer. And I love it.

To manage my cash flow, I typically buy my sessions in 4 packs, and when I travel for work (which I do frequently), I just tell my trainer in advance, she fills my Tuesday spot, and I am never charged. Although it's been quite an investment over time, paying for personalized workouts has been totally worth it for me - that is until…

Changing of the Rulesgym

Last week I received an email from my trainer informing me that the gym had changed their personal training deals. They no longer offer my 4 session pack - so I'll have to buy either 8, 12 or 24 session packages at a time from now on. And while I'd get about an $8 discount per session, if I go for the

Read More »from Is it Worth the Splurge?

by Stephanie Berenbaum - September 26th, 2012

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Day of Atonement

Today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement - a time for looking back over the past year, asking for forgiveness for wrongdoings and thinking about what you want to do differently over the coming year. Don't worry - if you have a long list, you're not alone!

No matter what religion you are, taking a day to reflect and really think about the changes you want to make in your own life seems like a good idea to us…

Nourishment for Body and Soul

One of the most famous aspects of Yom Kippur is that it involves a day long fast. Anyone who has ever fasted knows it is impossible to do so and not think about those around the world who are hungry and malnourished on a daily basis. Which immediately got us thinking about one of our favorite Fab & Fru charities - Planting Peace.

A Little Goes a Long Waym12240097_giving_hands_with_change_514x260

In this economy, many people feel since their own

Read More »from Can $1 Change the World?

by Alexandra Pauline - September 24th, 2012

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Nutritious & Delicious Kid Friendly Foods!

Politics aside, there's one thing we can all agree on: raising healthy kids. First Lady Michelle Obama has made it her mission to combat the American obesity epidemic with her "Let's Move" campaign, and since school is in full swing, it's a great time to reevaluate what you're feeding your children.

Remember - filling your kids up on seemingly cheap, processed junk will ending up costing them a lot - both physically and mentally. The good news is, it doesn't take a lot of time or money to whip up these quick, creative and affordable Fab & Fru lunchbox favorites!

Oh La Leftovers

Chicken has always been a quick go-to when it comes to dinner, but if your kid has had their fill of the typical ham and cheese, take their sandwich to the next level with a BBQ chicken surprise! Cut up the leftover chicken, toss or Screen Shot 2012-09-24 at 10.10.07 AMsauté it with thinly cut carrots and BBQ sauce, and serve on a

Read More »from Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Lunch

by Stephanie Berenbaum - September 10th, 2012

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Do Your Taxes Need A Getaway?

If you've been following the presidential election even a tiny bit, there's one phrase you've probably heard time and time again: "Offshore Tax Haven." And if you think it sounds like something out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, well - you're right! So much has been made of Mitt Romney's use of offshore tax havens to guard his money - but is it really much ado about nothing?

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What is an Offshore Tax Haven?

What is an offshore tax haven, anyway? Basically, there are many countries (the Cayman Islands, for example) which offer very low taxes and extreme privacy. During this election, Mitt Romney has been painted as a tax dodger who did something unsavory by using these tax havens. The issue: though legal, the US government reportedly loses billions of dollars per year in tax revenue due to these offshore accounts…

Ethical Dilemma offshorebanking

Full disclosure - I am not a fan

Read More »from Uproar About Offshore Tax Havens