4th of July

Independence Day is a day we fought for our independence from the British right? WRONG. It's the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. Go read Wikipedia! Culturally, unless you stay at home with thirty cats, the 4th of July is about getting together with friends and family and having BBQ's.



Here are the trailer trash tips for the Fourth.


#1 Stay at the parents vacation place for free.


#2 Buy a small table top grill, charcoal and hickory smoked wood chips. Your grilled food will taste like it was cooked in a Traeger.

#3 Eat BBQ Wieners - I prefer Hebrews at the moment. They have less fat, no fillers, no nitrates yada yada yada. . . and they are at Costco. Did I tell you I like Costco?

#4 Eat corn on the cob! The most flavorful needs no added butter and salt.




#5 Eat sliced watermelon that drips down your chin





#6 Eat banana boat dessert warmed by the camp fire





(I could also add, your spouse/mate can accidentally forget the tent and you both can be forced to sleep on the air mattress in the back of the Swaggerwagon, true story. Kudo's to the new Swaggerwagons for all the space and easy to convert seating. Unfortunately no pics this time.)

Total vacation spending $150 including gas and food.
Smell of the outhouse lingering in our noses because the area was that primitive . . .priceless.

Happy Fourth Everybody!

As I was telling the family about the new Trailer Trash Blog, the name seemed to raise a red flag. Hmmm. . . How did the movie Clueless portray this image as comical and not negative? First off we mean no ill intention. Our motive is to show how to save money and make our dollars stretch with a funny theme attached. Our goal is to get out of the trailer park and own a few of them. Stay Cool!

Our Trailer Park

You see that there is our apartment complex. Gill-T lives in the dark blue/white two tones on the right and CJ Lives in the light blue and white trailer on the left. We have the best views and the rent is real good. This is a modern twist of the normal trailer park.

Tomorrow's Trailer Trash Dinner

Take 2 lbs of chicken breast, 1 cup of salsa, green chilies, 1 cup of water, a pinch of salt, pepper and sugar and throw it in a crock pot tomorrow morning. You can substitute organic chicken broth for the water if you want a savory flavor.

(My AC isn't up and going yet so I'll place my crock pot outside on the deck. This is typical for living in a trailer.) Wait about three hours when set on high or 5 hours when set on low. During this time you can play on Facebook, or Farmville or Bejeweled Blitz, heck if you feel real ambitious, fold the laundry while you wait. And for those of you who have a job, go to the office for a few hours. When finished, shred with a fork, drain excess water and vavoom - Dinner is here. . .almost

Add guacamole chunks, pico de gallo, cheese, hot sauce and lettuce and behold the soft taco without heating up the house. Don't forget the chips and salsa for the appetizer.

Add your favorite trailer trash drink. In our house that would be ice water (but reverse osmosis water) or an IZZE. But for some of you, I can only imagine drinks with worms in it our something zippy.

Bonn A petite! or should I say !Buen provecho!

JUNE FASHION TRENDS by Gill-T

June 26, 2010 Gill-T's clothes pics for the 2010 summer.



THE DENIM SHIRT - Behold, the denim shirt is back. It's not as preppy as it was. The trend is a worn in look that acts as a cardigan to our existing outfit. I admit, I have one of these I found brand new on clearance for about $5 and I love it. (I know, Oregon people are just not buying it yet but just wait it's on the rise.) Don't forget the Goodwill has these from the 1992 season but try to avoid the faded boxy look that we used to tuck into our fall colored denims, and go for a slimmer, darker, roughed up look.



THE KHAKI TRENCH - The fashion industry has been pushing this over and over again and it's still hanging in there. Look at all the ads in the mags. I admit because of the humidity in the Northwest, it only works well for night time in the summer. Honestly, I'm over the trench after wearing a waterproof one from January to June this year. "Blame it on the rain!"



LONG TUNICS AND LEGGINGS - Can you say 80's? (1986 and I was in elementary school.) I love the comfort factor here. Behold the blousey tunic/tank. I think I have at least 20 of these just itching to be paired with leggings for the summer while I am away from the office. Personally I think it's too casual for the workplace. Is there anything cheaper than the purchase of a pair of leggings and flats? Although I am pretty picky on flats since my legs can look too thick in them. I can do a dressed up flip flop and that works.

Time to put the jogging suit and cargo pants to rest for good.



GLADIATOR SANDALS AND SHORT SHORTS. Obviously the short shorts are not for everyone. The sandals are great with maxi dresses, flouncy skirts and mini skirts. For trailer trash budgets, I love the fact you can cut off the old jeans or find some for a couple of bucks at a second hand store.



FLORALS - Think early 90's. The small floral is in everywhere. Yes its been in since last 2009 spring but we are so obnoxiously slow to believe it is, that for us Oregonians, it's fresh. I still have a few in the closet from 1993 because they woe me. Pair it with a cardigan and a belt and it's updated.



WHITE BOTTOMS - Finally, my favorite pick is the white trouser. I have a pair that can be easily dressed up with anything on top and it serves well in the workplace, wedding or dining out. White skinny jeans are great too for a fresh look.

Now you know. Go get 'em ladies!

TIP #3 Make Up

OK This is not the cheapest way to go but I have tried way too many foundations including the knock off mineral powders. This one is the best but it does run at $25 for a tiny container. Let me tell you how to make this stretch. I always dab my brush in a little water before I swirl. No need to tap. I guess I like a more matte look. With no water, the powder tends to fly all over (WASTED IN THE AIR) and it takes more powder to cover the flaws. The water gives it more control. Now follow up with a cheap Wet and Wild bronzer when your face is damp and it stays!.



Other products I recommend from Bare minerals is the eye brow powder and the Weather Everything drops added with any Bare Minerals eye shadow or liner color. It stays on ALL day long. You can add cheap shadow colors from other brands.

Like I said, this is not the cheapest way to go but I admit that I have had my eyebrow powder for TWO YEARS and my Weather Everything lasts about a year when used sparingly. As for the foundation, I replace it about every 4 months. Yearly expenses for 3 foundations, two eye shadows, eye brow powder, Weather Everything and cheap knock off make up (glosses, extra eye shadows, bronzers) is about $225 a year or about $19 a month. Add $19 to the $5 cleansing routine and it's less than $25 a month to keep a beautiful face.

TIP #2 Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer

I found this stuff for $19.99 (about 3 months worth) and it works just as good as the $60 products from the major department stores. A little goes a long ways. One tiny drop does wonders for my face. I still have people thinking I'm fresh out of college. If more moisturizer is needed, I follow up with Olay products. I know there are better ways to go, I've seen some great stuff that takes a decade off of your face for about $400 to start up. PHEW I'm not there yet.

TIP #1 Beauty Cleansing Routine

Here it is. My cheap cleansing routine is having a stash of these next to the bed. These cost only $9.99 for 150 wipes. That's like 5 months worth for $2 a month. Other brands want to sell you the cleanser, toner and the moisturizer for $30 a month. They really work. Now for those who need a little benzoyl peroxide or Proactive like treatments, See below



Another cheap Costco brand that works like Proactive for only $20. Now if you combine this product with the KS wipes and use it only twice a week, your product can last for at least a half a year. I do this as I can see my skin beginning to flare. This, with the KS wipes routine is a total of $60 per year or $5 a month for great face cleansing products.