A little bit about the blog and me...

About the blog: It's dedicated to luxurious living on an affordable budget. Remember, inexpensive doesn't have to be cheap.

About me: Twenty-two-year-old New Yorker who moved to Washington D.C. where I received a B.A. in journalism in May 2008. First and foremost, I love to tell stories. Anyone who knows me well knows it is part of my being. I love a good turn of phrase and hope to write books one day.

What else? I just got my first full-time job as a reporter for a newspaper. (Click on the My Day Job link to see my other blog, links to awards I've won, my resume and journalism samples...please!) And I'm often torn between my desire to do big things -- ie: put my five years of Russian language study to use by becoming an international correspondent unearthing global injustice -- and indulging in the pastimes I enjoy, like cooking, crafting and creative writing. I'm passionate about living life to the fullest...even while remaining a bit on the cautious side. I think a lot with my head but also try to listen to my heart, as well as my gut instincts. I like to get my thrills from exploring new places, trying new recipes and doing almost anything hands on.

I have no background in cosmetics, I just know what I like. (Oh, and you'll see that I tend to be pretty frugal, love my drugstore finds!) I have no training as a chef, other than being an apprentice to one of the best cooks I know - my mom. (Really, she is great.) I do, however, have training as a journalist, administrative assistant, screenwriter, copy editor, researcher and tap dancer. So if you need someone to catch Oxford commas while doing double time steps, I'm your gal. With the rest...well, I guess we'll both wait and see how this blog experiment turns out.