My friend Lisa Sardisco can get you a deal on a dishwasher, Gucci handbag, floral arrangement, new tires (you name it) which have all “mysteriously” just fallen off a truck. She knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows her uncle who just happens to be named Dominic and work in waste management in New Jersey. I’m not saying she’s connected to the Italian mafia, but I’m pretty sure the FBI has a reserved parking space in front of her house. Every girl should have a friend who knows someone, who knows someone, who can get her a deal, and for those of you who don’t know Lisa Sardisco, meet the Budget Babe. Her tagline is “Fab without a fortune,” but if I wrote tag lines, I'd say, “Mafia deals on fashion, without the cement shoes.”

The Budget Babe is a blog about fashion, beauty and style for hotties on a budget. They dish the latest cheap-chic fashion news, bring you designer and celebrity looks for less and deliver honest reports on the places we all love to shop. (Okay, I stole that description verbatim from the their website, but I couldn’t have said it better.) I love their Looks for Less section. They found a super cute knock-off of the Fendi Boudoir Sandal with mesh straps and sky-high heels for $20.80. I dare you to spot the differences from the original pair and while you’re doing that, I’ll put the $679.20 I saved into my Kooba 'Tracy' Studded Hobo knockoff bag.

I’m grateful for the Budget Babe because now I can get the cutest looks without spending a fortune or getting tailed by the FBI. For the record, I do love Lisa, but I’d never want to be connected to the Italian mafia -- have you seen how those girls dress on MTV’s Jersey Shore? But the fashion mafia, now that’s another story, I’d strangle Kim Kardashian with a piano wire to get into her closet.

Today I’m grateful for the Budget Babe.