Fashion is just not for NYC anymore.  Catwalks abound, stores are in the mood to give deals, and there are free events for the masses right here in Los Angeles. The Beverly Center  goes all out with runway shows, shopper incentives, and even free self parking from 4 to 10 PM on September 10, Fashion Night Out.

The Frugal Diva would wear jeans and a comfy shirt everyday so I had to turn to Fashionista for the low down on primo events for that night. For the complete list of participating retailers in Los Angeles go to the official city site for LA Fashion Night Out .

And remember you can just have fun without even buying anything.  If you do buy consider the event T shirt to show your support for the next generation of fashion leaders.  Buy the exclusive FNO Los Angeles t-shirts at participating retailers and at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Book Store!  All proceeds go to the California Fashion Association Foundation to be distributed as tuition grants for FIDM students.

This is a global event so look for local fashion activities in your area.

Ironic, coincidence, or  just the inevitable star crossed event – September is National Coupon Month and the month The Frugal Diva was born.   How appropriate that my birthday falls in the month for celebrating savings.  Coupon usage was up 17% in 2009 and as a nation we are very interested in keeping more of our hard earned paychecks.  When economists tell us to spend more they never tell us where to get the money.  For those who are not trust fund babies, lottery winners, or living off the grid, coupons and budgeting help keep us ahead of higher prices and able to maintain our lifestyles.

The I Love Coupons site is right in sync with the our philosophy for strategizing  coupon savings.  And the most important rule is number 4 – if you don’t need it, don’t buy it!  The most expensive item you own is one you never use.  Even if it was half off  with a 30%  discount, there is no point to buying an item that will sit in your closet, stay in your pantry, or be relegated to your garage.  Check them out every day this month for everything you ever wanted to know about coupons and more.

A great way to figure out how small savings add up is to use the Daily Dollar app from the Live Solid Facebook page. Small changes (and small change) add up quickly into dollar savings.  Save that caramel macchiato latte for a once a week treat instead of every day and you are about $20 a week, $80 a month, and $1000 a year ahead.  Calories are another savings, these drinks are just milkshakes masquerading as coffee.  Yummy as a once in a while treat, they will torpedo any diet plans when imbibed on a daily basis.  The Live Solid website follows up with great advice on living a healthy lifestyle on a budget, relationship money issues, college funds, and retirement.  I was honored to be put in their Live Solid Hall of Fame.

She had me at the title Shoo, Jimmy Choo however Catey Brown comes through with solid financial advice and forms to keep you on track. Combining wit and pratical tips she advises women in their twenties how to start out with good financial habits that build a foundation for future security. 

On September 6th this year I will be in Seattle enjoying the company of old friends, eating crab they caught out of the nearby waters, and being ever so grateful for my relationship with The Frugal Dude.

The Frugal Diva cannot tell Two Buck Chuck from Chateau Lafite-Rothschild so it was up to my friends to inform me of this new policy at many restaurants – free corkage. You bring the wine and they provide the glasses, you sip and they serve, you pay nothing and they stand by at your service. In an effort to brave the new realities of consumer spending, many restaurants allow patrons to bring in their own wine at no fee. 

This is a great perk for those who have an extensive collection and for those who stop by a market and pick up a decent bottle for $12. Twelve dollars is just about what a  glass of wine goes for in many places and you will be getting four full glasses for the same price. When choosing restaurants for a night out this usually leads to a minimal savings of at least $50. 

Opentable.com is a great place to check out which restaurants are letting you bring wine at no charge. Some like the Daily Grill only allow it on Tuesdays, others such as Roys are continuing it every day on a month to month basis, and I Cugini in Santa Monica allows it anytime. On the Open Table left hand side they have free corkage and BYOB listing for restaurants in every city.

Policies change quickly so always call to verify before making a reservation.

T shirts, and all types of gear for students at a great price manufactured right here in downtown Los Angeles.  American Apparel   means back to school specials for kids in and out of uniform available online. Buy a cotton pique multi pack of three high quality unisex polos for $87 or a three pack of ultra soft Tees for $42.

While teens are the target market, there are plentiful items for kids that include organic and natural  play dough, organic cotton clothes, and fun hair accessories. Even if they are mocked on Sex and the City, a scrunchie keeps the hair out of your eyes and off  your neck on hot days.

They might not be the first place you think of for maternity however there is a fun selection of tops and leggings.  They will see you through the final days of summer discomfort and you can lounge in them after the baby arrive.

The ads are not my favorites however let’s support this local business and their efforts at not only manufacturing here but keeping it sustainable, donating to local schools, and encouraging employees to bike or bus to work.

So many activities, so little time.  City of Presidents is the nickname for Rapid City where there are forty life size statues of former presidents on the downtown street corners.  That was how the Frugal Diva learned that she and President Madison were around the same height.   The Journey Museum takes you on an incredible trek through time as it tells the story of the Black Hills through interactive displays. Try on old clothes and read original letters from settlers while seeing how the geology of the area brought gold miners from all over the country.

If you watched Deadwood on HBO, it’s time to see the real town and the cemetary where all the characters were buried. Casinos are the new outlaws in the area however it still retains the feel of the Old West.  Move on to Lead and tour a gold mine.  These were harrowing jobs where men and later women spent eight hours underground alongside mules.

The Indians wanted to represent their hero in a monument to Crazy Horse .  Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear officially started Crazy Horse Memorial June 3, 1948.  The Memorial’s mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians.

Flanked by towering limestone cliffs, this 20-mile route along US 14A, cuts through Spearfish Canyon. A forest of spruce, pine, aspen, birch and oak covers the hillsides while Spearfish Creek flows along the canyon bottom.  Bridal Veil and Roughlock Falls are highlights along the route. Stay at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge and enjoy a babbling brook, hikes along the falls, and delux accomodations. We paid $80 (with a AAA discount) for a beautiful double room. Please check for current rates.

How many remember Close Encounters of the Third Kind?  What a great opportunity to hike around Devil’s Tower and see if the aliens left anything behind.  This 1347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.

The all time dinner deal for meat eaters is the Alpine Inn in Hill City. Order a perfectly prepared bacon wrapped filet mignon. baked potato, Texas toast with a starter salad of  lettuce wedge and ranch dressing.  Choose between the 6 oz. for $8.95 and a 9 oz. for $10.95 and pay in cash. If you would like a glass of wine, they are mostly under $6.

Custer State Park has unobstructed views of herds of buffalo, elk, wild turkeys, and burros so friendly you pet them from your car window.  This is indeed where the deer and the antolope play. For those so inclined there are camp grounds as well as reasonably priced motels.

If you want a area with lots to do both indoors and outdoors, visit Mt. Rushmore and the South Dakota area. The Frugal Diva was amazed at how friendly people were and how easy it was to get around.  Living in Los Angeles it’s exciting to be able to park for a nominal fee and drive across town in five minutes during rush hour.

The Grove wants to be user friendly and it is. This lovely outdoor mall makes it fun to hang out. 

Free Movies on Thursday nights in August – August 12th The Twilight Saga, New Moon, August 19th Alice in Wonderland (2009)  and August 26rd Up.  Bring a blanket (no chairs) and have a magical evening at The Grove. The event opens for general grass and bleacher seating at 7:15pm.

Join Run Club on Wednesdays at the Nike Store 6:30-7:30 PM and enjoy a 3 or 5 mile run and meet great people.  Slow and fast pacing groups offer just the right match for your fitness level, and you can opt for a 3- or 5-mile course through Park La Brea.  Nike hosts a post-run reception with water, protein bars and healthy snacks.

Summer sessions for kids and families, featuring LA’s premiere art and cultural institutions. Join us in The Park at The Grove every Tuesday, from 2 – 4 PM during August. Enjoy free entertainment, arts and crafts, and educational activities to stimulate young minds.

Kids Club in The Park- Enjoy a terrific selection of enriching activities for kids, parents and caregivers. A weekly dose of fun, including music, entertainment and so much more!  Thursdays, 11am – 1pm continues into the fall.

Step next door to the Original Farmer’s Market and check out fantastic and frugal food choices.  Pampas Grill is a cafeteria style selection of salads, meats, pastas, and my personal favorite.

August, the last days of summer wind down to some of the best back to school shopping ever at Target.

School uniforms at the best price, sneakers for all sizes and sports, and backpacksto schlep books are cheap and cute.  The housewares department with bedding  and furniture for the kid’s rooms make this the year they can choose between craftsman and mid century modern nightstands. 

I love the site gizmodo  for review of all things electronic however when buying for kids you might want to think about duration. How long will this item last before it is broken, lost, or replaced by a newer model?  An Epson multifunction printer for $30 will do the job and cost less then a set of cartridges for a more expensive model.

Students off to college need a lot of stuff.  Linens under $40, clocks to make sure they get to class on time, and their very own electric toothbrush to make sure they keep up good habits while away.

Whoopi, everyone is back to school!  Pick up some activewear for running, walking, or yoga now that you have the time.

And maybe pick up another one of those Epson printers for the road.

Enjoy the week long festival that celebrates the Japanese community of Los Angeles.  Nisei Week officially starts on Aug. 14th and ends Aug. 22nd however there are events starting this weekend.  Check out the website to find karate demonstrations, arts and crafts, sumo wrestling, and a gyoza eating contest.

The free opening event of the  Tanabata Fesival is Friday evening on August 13 at the JANM Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012.  The most common Tanabata decorations are colorful streamers seen here. The Grand Parade is on Sunday, August 15, at 5:30pm with a rout throughout Little Tokyo. Sunday August 22nd from 11:30am-4:00pm JACCC Plaza 244 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90012 there will be a free taiko drum gathering.

Visit the Japanese American Museum on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 PM for free. The current exhibit is the experiences of early Issei in Hawaii  seen through examples of kimono adapted for life and labor on Hawai‘i’s plantations.

Shaklee, an old name in direct sales products, comes up with a new product line for house cleaning.  Everything that goes down the pipes eventually ends up in our water supply including cleansers, drain openers, laundry detergents, and dish washing liquids.  Take a giant step towards helping the environment with Shaklee concentrated products.  What looks like a big initial investment turns out to save you money and save the planet.  Buy once and refill means fewer plastic bottles, fewer trips to the market, and bulk savings.  These products are not kidding around, they really clean and if they don’t you get your money back.  For those with allergies, check out the list of things that are not in these products. 

This 50 year old company was thinking green before most of us even had the concept.   The Frugal Diva was pleased to see that they were the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset their CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment. And as our mothers said, “You can judge a person by the company they keep.”  You can also judge a company by the partners they choose.  Shaklee partners range from Healthy Child Healthy World to being an EPA Climate Leader.  

If you want to learn more about Shaklee, they are having a free intro to their company on Friday August 6th in Anaheim.