Surviving Monday Rain

It's cold. It's rainy. It's Monday. Talk about your triple threat. That's why I'm interluding with a brief announcement about today's deals.

Been to The Butterfly Show lately at Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park? Take the kids, a date, your grandparents or a neighbor to have a darn right near magical experience of fluttering whimsy. It's cheap, but now Groupon.com is making it cheaper. (Regular adult admission is $6, seniors are $5, kids under 17 will set you back $4, and itty bits under four are FREE.) Today only buy tickets for 50 percent off on Groupon's site at http://bit.ly/cxX2Fa.

Don't know what Groupon is? Oh join the club and drink the Kool-Aid. It's wonderful. From their site...

1. Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
   
2. You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
   
3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

Warm98's deal of the week is half off for the Dayton Air Show. Tickets are normally (gulp!) $74. Visit their site for the deal at http://wrrm.incentrev.com/

The Butterfly Show will be at Krohn Conservatory until June 20. Miss out on the Groupon deal? They have a $1-off coupon on their site. The Dayton Air Show is the weekend of July 18. Enjoy!

A Shopping Wingman... eh Winggal?

You may have noticed the frequency of my blog updates have slowed (read... nonexistent) the last couple of weeks. Sadly, on September 18, I became a statistic of the economy. My company laid off eight people - including me. The flurry of a job search has taken priority over my fun lil blog.

Not that I have a job yet, but I do have a lot of things in order now so that I can deviate some of my attention back to the topic of bargain shopping. I know! Yay! Right?!?

Now on to the title of this post. A shopping wingman (gal just doesn't cut it - suggestions?). A fellow laid off coworker and I headed to the new Premium Outlet Mall on I-75 yesterday for interview outfits. This was my virgin voyage, and while there, I learned the importance and value of a good shopping partner.

It all started in BCBG - a store that I adore - and a certain sales associate named Sylvana. At first our relationship was great. She offered her help. I declined. Just how I like it.

Then she returned to offer her assistance again and asked... "Are you looking for anything in particular..."

That's when I did it. I made a fatal mistake. Like a shopping rookie, I told her my goal of finding an interview outfit. Dollar signs appeared in her eyeballs and cash registers dinged in her earballs. She was alight with the glow of a predator ready to pounce its vulnerable prey.

WHY OH WHY DID I TELL HER?! It's been a well known fact all of my life that you do not share the details of a shopping mission unless you want the misguided help of an over eager sales associate. I'm among the pickiest of the picky when it comes to shopping. My own mother can't even help me. Why on Earth would Sylvana think she is any different!?!

And then it started. The never ending flow of suggestions, jealous stares when other sales associates would approach me, and her streaming questions. Instead of shouting "let me shop in peace, lady!" I just took it. I took it all.

But then something magic happened.

Kristy - dear sweet innocent Kristy, my shopping buddy - filled the role of something I had never ever considered before. Wingman. She distracted and obstructed Sylvana's advances with skill and stealth. She fielded the questions, she looked at the well-intentioned suggestions, and did all of the talking. She even located a calmer, less abrasive sales associate when we actually did need help. With Kristy by my side, I could shop in peace and with ease.

So many lessons learned yesterday - but above all the magic of having a shopping wingman. On your next shopping trip, I suggest you try this strategy. Find your shopping wingman and enjoy your shopping mission so much more.

And avoid the Sylvana prototype. It may take ninja skills.

Don't buy Wal-Mart brands unless you're at Wal-Mart

Any shopping aficionado will tell you... know what you're looking for. If you buy an authentic 1908 German beer stein, you'd be pretty disappointed to find out that you're actually the proud owner of a 1988 Zinzinnati Oktoberfest souvenir.

Shopping is not fun when you're left wondering if you landed a good deal. Being able to find good bargains is what makes a good bargain shopper. Plus, you'll waste a lot less time.

That being said, knowing brands is important and knowing price brackets is key. The cost difference between a shirt on sale at Express or T.J. Maxx isn't that great. And unless you're a brand wh*re, it's good to know when you're only paying for a label.

And the outlet malls.

My friends, they're designed to induce shopping spree-itus. So unless you simply love Old Navy, why go to an Old Navy "outlet?" It's a regular store. Old Navy prices are basically outlet prices. Why waste time getting an everday deal when you can really score at the Banana Republic or Pottery Barn outlet stores?

Also, you never know why something is discounted. Look for "as is" signs (holes, stains, whatever) and spare yourself some serious buyer's remorse.

* Hot tip: Gabriel Brothers does carry a wide range of brands. While it's overwhelming at first glance, racks are nicely labeled. Scan rack top signs for hot spots to avoid premature burn out.

<3 Kate Spade <3 One Kings Lane

Shout out to @bridgetweber for this lead: an invite-only site for designer lovers who like a good deal, One Kings Lane.

Sometimes a designer just gets you - and Kate Spade gets me. I rarely dislike a thing with her name on it. So today I thought I'd share with you that One Kings Lane is hawking some beautiful Kate Spade items.

If you'd like to receive an invite so you can check out this neat little site, let Bridget or myself know (via Twitter). We'll hook you up. This particular sale ends Monday, 8/17.

Pictured from top to bottom:

June Lane Iced Beverage Glass, Banyan Stripe Double Old Fashion, Beacon Street Wine Glass and Pompano Point Green Serving Bowl.

I'd post prices, but I'm not sure they'd be cool with it. Let me know if you're curious.

Cincinnati Premium Outlets OPENS TODAY!

Blue light special indeed. Cincinnati Premium Outlets opened today to a throng of eager shoppers - some of them punching in their time cards at 4:30 a.m.

Those that skipped out this morning may have missed some nice freebies including:

• Nike - $10 to first 200 customers (Oscar Robertson appearance at 1 p.m. and apparently, dancing/cheering employees all day)
• Ulta Diamonds - free pearl necklaces to first 100 customers
• Auntie Anne's - free coffee

Do I wish I could be there? Well, yeah, kind of. But there's work. And honestly, I'm a bargain shopper not a fighter. So standing in line at the crack of dawn for a free pearl necklace isn't my thing. Because (a) people are pushy and (b) I value my time.

Successful bargain hunting does not include elbowing people out of the way to impulse buy something I don't need and in the end probably don't want. That's why I stopped shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Hysteria isn't fun.

It does, however, look like a successful grand opening for a Thursday morning in August. Check out the photos and article from the Journal-News.

Follow @laurabaverman, @warreneditor, @journalnews on Twitter for the latest updates live from opening day at Cincinnati Premium Outlets.

Image source: Journal-News

Ooooh - Anthro Sale Seekers

Good news Anthropologie lovers. Anthro has finally gotten hip to what we bargainistas like. In what seems like a fairly obvious move, the company has now enabled organized searches and filters on their site.

In the past, I spent a fair amount of time browsing through Anthropologie's online sale section for good deals and typically came up empty handed. Basically because of the frustration of having to search through EVERY single item on the site.

Now - I don't have to and neither do you.

It's one thing to bargain hunt through tangible racks of clothes but quite another to tediously search through web pages. Kudos, Anthropologie. Welcome to 2003.*

* I am forever hopelessly, devoted to Anthropologie. Do not think in any way that this post reflects a rift between us, Anthro. I'll never let go, Anthro. I'll never let go.**

** Do not in any way think that I've continued to hold on to my love for Titanic. It was a terrible movie, and I loved it. I've come to terms with the fact that I had poor taste as a teenager. My therapist told me acceptance is key.***

***Leo, do not think in any way that I have stopped adoring you. Seriously. But not in a stalkerish-I'd-treasure-a-tissue-that-you-blew-your-snot-in way... more of a I-think-you're-a-genuinely-good-actor-that-those-Oscar-jerk-offs-should-finally-acknowledge-you-for-your-awesomeness way.****

****Members and friends of the Academy, I do not really think you are jerk offs. But would it really hurt to show Leo some love? Would it hurt to show me some love? Some day, Hollywood. Someday.

Mad Men - Decisions, Decisions

I'm a Mad Men admirer - ever since the show first aired. Sadly, I moved during season one and cable/satellite wasn't an option. To my surprise, I found season one at Sam's Club last year - with the seriously cool lighter case - for a mere $25.

Why am I telling you this?

Because season two just came out last Tuesday, 7/14, and as a dutiful shopper, I've scanned websites for the best price. The winner - Overstock.com for the low price of $24.41. With their site shipping marked down to $1, I'm finding it hard to resist. (I should note that the shipping special ends today.)

I love Mad Men and may be having my season two set coming to me in the mail this week - from Overstock of course :)

Gabriel Bros = FUN

The first time I went to Gabriel Brothers I was less than impressed - in fact grossed out might be fair to say. Then, when I moved nearby one, I gave it another shot. So glad that I did.

If you know your brands, you can really make out like a bandit there - so much so that it makes the hint of b.o. in the air bearable. Standard brand stand outs include:

• Ann Taylor (Loft too)
• J. Crew
• Kensie
• Betsey Johnson
• Limited
• Anthropologie
• New York and Co.
• Banana Republic
• Nine West
• Urban Outfitters
• Guess
• Calvin Klein
• Lane Bryant
• Delia's

Of course, for some of those brands, options are in short supply, but they're there and cheap. Usually they have Ann Taylor tops two for $10.

Gabriel Brothers also has merchandise from Linens n' Things' liquidation (I'm still healing from that). Chacos had their own display there about a month ago for $20 a pair. At one point, they even had Vera Wang place settings for $40. How nice is that??? Of course, I still couldn't afford even one but eh - it was good to know.
Recently -as in this week - I purchased a Banana Republic denim skirt, two vests from Urban Outfitters, a pair of pants from Anthropologie and a yoga mat - all for just around $50. Not too shabby.

A shipment from Urban Outfitters Inc. (parent company of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters) must have recently arrived. There are loads of clothes from there right now.

Those in search of jeans should check out their selection of Guess jeans. They have a decent amount of sizes for $30 a pair. Those to the left for example are on sale right now at guess.com for $79.99 a pair and $30 at Gabriel Bros. I sadly couldn't find my size, but anyone who wears a size 30 or smaller are set.

I should specify that my Gabriel Brothers store is the one on Beechmont in Anderson Twp.

In the end, I definitely recommend giving Gabriel Brothers a chance. It's a little messy. A little smelly. Kind of a mess. But if you commit to real bargain hunting, you'll come out smelling like a rose - and looking like one too.