Stop Collaborate and Listen

{ November 29, 2009 @ 7:42 am } · { Uncategorized }
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So I often read the fashion mags, I am frequently dissappointed with the prices in even the “bargain” or “value” issues. Wow a shirt for under a $100, big wooop. Well many designers who frequent fashion week have been collaborating with big box stores for “capsule” collections. Fashion to the massed thru Target, Walmart, etc.. I was brousing through Walmart or Wallyworld as I call it and my attention was grasped by a small Norma Kamali display. One in particular with a bold graphic butterfly print and edgy, yet clean lines. I came home and sought it out online. Wow $10 that is doable. Shipping is $.97 and tax was like $.85. Shipped to my door for under $12, I will take it. Don’t forget to surf when a store has limited availability in stock. Another fun grouping Walmart is featuring is the Miley/ Max Azria one, cute, affordable, and youthful (too young for even me). The Norma pieces are composed with great lines and smart color palette!

GRRR-attitude

{ November 26, 2009 @ 7:04 am } · { Uncategorized }
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As we are on the time for giving Thanks, I felt a need to be a little more serious. I feel it is always important to carry yourself with a certain amount of couth and class. It seems farther and fewer between that simple courtesies are extended to strangers, yet in their places a glare or scowl. I always hold doors open, compliment strangers (appropriately), and just smile! I will always believe you can kill ‘em with kindness. I often challenge myself to have an open mind towards various cultures and religions, though my opinions and beliefs may differ. I am thankful to know people from all different backgrounds and feel my kids must be open-minded as well. Those of us that celebrate Christmas can take a lesson from Jehovah’s Witnesses carry the spirit of being gracious and generous the whole year through. The material girl in me just wants both!

Patience by Prescription!

{ November 26, 2009 @ 6:21 am } · { Uncategorized }
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A little shopper trivia…. Did you know that Best Buy price matches? I do. I went in this morning seeking an item I had found in the target ad, but preferred to purchase at Best Buy as they can offer more expertise for this item than a Target associate would. Well an hour and a half later….. I saved my $90. Yes it is worth it, but they really should dispense Tylenol and small pillows if you are going to have to sit around that long when their is not even a line! Next stop ToysR Us. I dreaded searching through the mass of games in search for 2 titles. I was already spent from stop one. Yeah the 2 Ezone associates were fantastic, found all that I was looking for and processed the transaction smoothly. Yeah. I was going to indulge this year and select one of my own items, a watch. I had one in mind, but was naturally drawn to a second choice. I asked the starting price and was told $79, Okay with my coupons that is feasible. Oh no the one I liked was over $130. PASS. I guess my bottom line is thank goodness I am a patient and have some prescribed patience! Oh to save a buck. I had great success at the bookstore as my kids school was a fundraiser beneficiary! I only deviated from my list by one item. An $8 hat that matches my lil boys new vest he will be getting. Remember for Friday…..Through on your muck boots, pop a pill for patience (note to self), wish good tidings and carry yourself with class.

Black Friday? Heck Yeah?

{ November 24, 2009 @ 5:45 am } · { Uncategorized }
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This is a day of Darwin. Survival of the fittest. No room for the cold fearing, timid, or unobservant. You must be prepared in energy, dress, and plan. I consider myself a vet of Black Friday as I have always shopped or worked on this day. Beginners beware, I always find my deal. I prefer to tag team with “the line” and “the find”. I have went with my sisters the past couple of years and the laughs surpass the bargains. Start scouring the ads now as often you can couple the current coupons with Black Friday bargains. If you don’t have the money or the need, IT IS NOT A GOOD DEAL. Their is nothing like sitting on Thanksgiving, gorged from the feast and plotting the attack.

This year I am bringing my protege’, the one with a hunger for the find. My daughter. Armed with a math mind for number crunching, lanky arms for reaching, and doe eyes for batting, we say “bring it”. Naturally this means all that I need to purchase for her and her brother have to be done early, without her present and that’s ok. A new tactic stores have this year is a new block of time for “doorbuster” sales. When you ask. 12am-5am! I have found savings of 60% in this bracket.

  1. Write a master list of your “must buys”
  2. Note the time different stores open as they are often staggered
  3. Dress the part, layers and comfy shoes are essential
  4. Remember to ask for free boxes and/or free gift wrapping (Nordys and Learning Express)
  5. A little reward for yourself!

Let me know if you have any tips to share!

Novel Couture

{ November 22, 2009 @ 10:50 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Inspiration can come from many places, I find it in many ways. Enough about me. My love of hand crafted scarves is no secret. I am waiting as my new piece de resistance has just been completed and is truly “Novel Couture”. My wonderful mother- in- law is not only a skilled knitter, yet an avid reader as well. She honed her knitting skills many moons ago while attending, then graduating from the Sears Knitting School. Yes the department store. I have recently presented her with some luscious, nubby Homespun yarn in “Corinthian”, a combination of falls natural colors. I am easily pleased with one of her traditional scarves. This one is an exception. With inspiration coming from A Killer Stitch, A knitting mystery, by Maggie Sefton. Each of these novels, Ecee adores, include a knitting pattern from scarf to hat. Ecee was drawn to the series as they take place in her former stomping grounds, north of Denver, Colorado. The pattern of the current masterpiece is a unique cable knit that highlights the yarns variegation. This is not a 2 hour project. I will have to get the perfect top to showcase this “Novel Couture”. Too my astonishment when I received this perfect parcel today, Ecee had also included a divine, matching hat, big enough for my head! Cold Weather… Bring it!

A Big “F” Bomb!

{ November 20, 2009 @ 8:28 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Okay, go ahead and pull your minds out of the gutter. I save my sailor talk for my husband. LOL So being a savvy shopper, I make a point of keeping up on local retail happenings. I remember the first day the Westfield Galleria at Roseville opened. August 15, 2000 if I am no mistaken. It has recently undergone a major expansion. I definately go between love/ hate of this. Some stores such as Urban Outfitters and H and M, I love. Well today was the opening of the much anticipated Sepora. Yes I adore Ulta, but Sephora carries a different variety. I looked on line to find out they were having their Grand Opening today at  10, with the first 100 customers receiving a FREE gift card in amounts ranging from $10- $100. I was sure $10 would be the most frequently doled out amount. I brought my little girl as part of her “Shopper in Training” status. We both scored $25 gift cards each! FREE! I got 3 items and she got 1! I spent an extra $8, not too shabby. Take a look and see all that Sephora has to offer. They feature Make Up Forever, YSL, Dior, and soooo much more!

The gift for the girl that has everything.

{ November 19, 2009 @ 12:48 am } · { Uncategorized }
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You’ve made your list, have a tight budget, and need to pull perfection out of your backside. Well for the nostalgic type (Grandmas, Aunts, etc.) I have a treasure for you! I was on one of my many trips to michaels and found some inspiration.The Brighton-esque details sealed the deal.  So to all of my readers that may fall into this catagory I am counting on a case of Can’t Remember S#@%. This perfect gift with gorgeous wrapping will run around $8. I purchased the 3 seperate componants

  1. The set of 3 lockets
  2. The actual pin/brooch
  3. 3 little rings to attach the above 2
  4. A satin lined box at Claires

THe only additional tool needed is a pair of needle nose pliers or strong tweezers. Of course you can givw without pice, but it wont be quite the same. I took my pics and processed on a kodak machine with a ton on pics per sheet options.

Kids say the craziest things!

{ November 17, 2009 @ 5:35 am } · { Uncategorized }
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You know what I am talking about. Ever have someone on the other end of the phone who spews repetition. I am so okay if that person is me. I completely prefer to mask an awkward or any situation with laughter. Really. My kids, my daughter in particular is quite witty. If she has any aversion to you of thinks you are a formidable opponent for a battle of wits its on.You can expect verbal taunts of receiving used thong underwear from the Goodwill for Christmas, an offering of a foot rub where she comes out with her hands in plastic shopping bags and a bottle of lotion, or a big eyed smile. L ast year she came home telling me about 3 girls in her 3rd grade class who came to school in “Cup Bras”. Yikes! The girls had stuffed them with leaves and recycled paper. She told one “If you are trying to look like an idiot it is working!” Though my kids are in a unique little bubble called “Mama’s world”. We call flatulents ”biscuits” and needed trips to the bathroom “business”. It is much easier in a public situation. My boy is definitely the cynic of the group. Infomercials don’t stand a chance with him as a critic. In 1st grade he wrote in all the other kids yearbooks “why don’t you listen, how come you don’t do your work, why do you talk so much”. My personal favorite was when a much taller obnoxious boy approached him and said “I’m bigger than you” to which my boy replied “That’s okay because I’m smarter than you!” When I had the unique experience of being a yard duty I knew everything a parent would never want their child to repeat!

Nailed It

{ November 17, 2009 @ 1:16 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Ahhh. from head to toe we change our look for the winter. Our color palette shifts as should our polishes. Gone for the winter are OPI’s Pompeii Purple and its frosty friends. In its place glossy opaques in warm jewel tones to December’s sparkly reds. I have added a few Essie polishes to my repetoire. The crown jewel being “Mint Candy Apple” a shade featured in the new mini set by the brand. I took advantage of an Ulta buy 2 get 1 free and a coupon for $3.50 off. So instead of $24 total I scored all 3 for $12.50. Essie is a great brand with great coverage and color variety. If you are opting for a plain nail their pink tinted clear “Pink Glove Service” is a hands down fave. It also erradicates any yellowing your nails may have. What is your seasonal fave?

Bang for the Buck

{ November 15, 2009 @ 11:24 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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bang for my buckmy 5 headConfession: I am not a Jessica simpson fan on either her music or style. I have seen her various retail collections with a blaze’ response. Well coupon in hand I ventured into Ulta today for a solution to my mullet mayhem. I saw all all of the “Hair Do” brand products (a Jessica Simpson collaboration) were on sale. Obviously I have no concerns of the party in the back of my head. It is business upfront that apalls me. One item they carry is a clip on bang piece. Being a bargain hunter their is no way a full price of $29.99 would do. Well with a sale of 25% off, then an additional $5 off with my coupon I purchased a piece for around $18 out the door. (I also got double Ulta points to boot) I was pleased with the color selections and opted for the “buttered toast”. I came home and it was installation time. I overlaid it on my hair to find the lengthand location to clip it in. It is a very simple process. I popped the clip open and nested it in my hair and closed it. Voila’! Talk about a look make over. Opinions please!

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