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!

Deals and Steals For Realz

Hey there my lovely deal hoppers. Have you found anything good since my last posting in - um - January. Ugh... how embarrassing. I've let you down, I've failed, I've... I've (fade into unintelligible sobbing).

Well, if you occasionally follow my Twitter feed, you'll see I haven't completely faded. That I utilize the Twittersphere. If you don't follow my Twitter feed... FOR SHAME! That being said, I have found some deals as of late - like a $100 diamond (if you squint you'll see it) necklace from Macy's for $10, Dansk dishware for $5 and yard sale deals galore.

That reminds me, as we near the end of a season (that's spring for cave dwellers), this is the time to watch for sales. Be it in-store awesome sales (like Macy's recent Friends&Family sale that was basically offered to anyone with a pulse), moving sales, yard sales, garage sales and kitten sales.

Kitten sales? Um yeah... it's spring. Love is in the air.

Moving/yard/garage (even estate) sales: it's moving season. Contracts are signed, deals are closing. People are packing up and moving on. Cash in for some great awesomeness (specific nouns are escaping me).

Retail sales: stores are clearing out for the next season's inventory. Drop in. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the economy is still in the stinker. They need your money to pull through a slow second quarter.

Don't forget that special events/attractions are offering you deals to get you through their doors (ex. @CincyParks has been giving away Butterfly Show tickets). Watch Travel Zoo and the like for special promos. Follow your favorite brands, attractions, events, stores, even cities etc. on Twitter. Sign up for their e-mails too, which often include incentives and sale announcements. Score big or go home.

You don't have to be an avid shopper to spot good deals. Just be observant when you're out and about. Know generally how much something costs so you can spot a steal when you see it. Paying attention never killed anyone (at least not me)...

Tweetin Fool

Christmas shopping complete yet??? Better hop to! Lots of great sales are out there during this time of unfortunate economics.

This is just a lil announcement that I have now added my Twitter feed to my blog. I know - it probably should've been there all along, but I just didn't think about it. If you glance to the right of the articles you'll see it.

Watch this feed for my latest steals, finds and retweets about great bargains. If you don't have a Twitter account, um hello? Get with it!

Happy holiday shopping!!

Nordstrom Rack: to shop or not to shop

Nordstrom Rack is open at Rookwood Commons - hooray for Cincinnati raising the bar in shopping. I made sure to stop by the Friday of its opening. The holidays have delayed my posting a bit so if you've visited the Rack and want to share your reaction - please do!

The scoop. The store is moderately sized, clean and efficient... I feel like I'm describing a doctor's office which isn't too far from the truth. Everything is pretty straightforward and sterile, but the staff was plentiful and helpful. I'm used to a much larger Nordstrom Rack so it's hard for me to be objective. However, there is some good deals to be had, and I'm sure as time goes on the inventory will increase and prices will improve even more. Be sure to hit the shoe section - quite a good selection there.

Moving customers through the purchase line was really impressive. The line was pretty intense, but employees were prepared. Extra registers were in place, and they moved us through like a well-oiled machine. Job well done.

In Summary...

Will I shop there in the future? Of course. Recommend it to friends? Definitely. Was I wowed? Not really. It's functional but just slightly missed the mark on deals and variety.

Some photos from my experience :) I really need to work on a steady hand... sorry about the blur!

Two Juicy Finds

Hey there, weight watchers (not the company), let me drop you a tip about The Daily Plate at livestrong.com. It's free and easy. To sign up, put in all your info you lie about on your driver's license along with how much weight you'd like to lose in a given amount of time. They give your daily caloric intake to achieve that.

Next step... enter what you eat all day. It's been around for awhile so the food list with nutritional facts is pretty deep. You can create a meal if there's something you eat frequently. If you exercise or even just move, they have a calorie burn count... from showering to vacuuming to biking. Anything!

It was great the week I did it.

It made me realize I drink way too much juice because the calories do really add up fast, which leads me to my second juicy find. I can't give up juice because I love flavored beverages. I searched for an alternative to high calorie/sugar juice and found Old Orchard's Healthy Balance juice line. The calories and sugar are a 1/3 of that in the same size serving of any other kind of juice. Kroger carries a few of the flavors but it's pricey. My juice weakness kept me coming back for it until I found it at Big Lots. Hello, two-dollar bottle of goodness.

-Interjection... don't expect regular juice. It's really watery but is a step up from flavored water...

Anyway, that being said, hello $2 goodness. I will buy you and all of your assorted flavors. Because Big Lots, typically land of limited supply, has most of the varieties.

Cheers!

Ms. Manners on Shopping Etiquette: Digest One

Why hello there, fellow shoppers. Welcome to the first installment of Ms. Manners on Shopping Etiquette. The inspiration for this post comes from a shopping trip that my friend, Mackenzie, and I took to the Hebron GAP outlet on Saturday morning. We intentionally arrived there soon after the store opened because - holy crap - does it get crazy on Saturdays.

For those of you who have been to the Hebron store, feel free to skip the next paragraph.

Everyone else, listen up. This place is chaos on the best days. It's located in an industrial park and resembles a warehouse space, but has the typical white GAP walls. They carry the GAP Inc. brands' (Banana Republic, Old Navy etc.) reject clothes, which equals damaged or last season clothing. The aisles are packed so that shoppers can barely get through them. Searching through the miles of racks is a must because there's no order, and no telling when an item is defective. To add to the issue, they have carts for customers' "convenience" leaving little hip room in the aisles. That being said, shoppers can score amazing deals - amazing enough that the bargains makeup for the hassle.

The space issue and shopping nightmare (in many people's opinion) are the inspiration for this entry. Practice the following guidelines for common courtesy while shopping where ya have to dig, where there's only sucking-in-the-tummy aisle space and mass crowds. (This goes for Black Friday too!!!)

1. Aisles: follow the flow. If someone is going one direction while browsing through an aisle. Don't go down the same rack of clothes the opposite way. It's rude, it's pushy and a little obnoxious. Also, pull carts to the side.
2. Leave the kids at home. I know. I'm not a mom, and it may sound jerky. But I'm not a mom! I don't want to deal with your kids. Shoppings trips with children are stressful for parents. Stressful for kids. AND stressful for other shoppers. Shopping excursions aren't appropriate for them.
3. Fitting rooms: clean up after yourself. Properly put clothes back on hangers. Button them, zip them and tie them. Don't leave gum wrappers, receipts or anything else behind on the floor and benches. Everyone knows outlet stores can be chaotic. Why add to the sales associates' stress or other shoppers' stress for that matter?

Kindly follow these principles when on your next shopping trip to outlet malls - these principles can also be applied to any store but explicitly at outlet malls. Most people treat these trips as an all-day affair. The stores can be tight fits and people involved can be really overwhelmed with the situation. Being courteous is beneficial to all and can keep everyone's day a good one.

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.

TheFairest.com Launched | Opens with Stila and COOLA Skin Care

Ok I'm so excited right now that I'm embarrassingly giddy, and my hands aren't sure what to type so they're just going with a stream of consciousness.

It's September 1 which means thefairest.com went live this morning. The site's first two sales are Stila and COOLA. I really like Stila but have only actually purchased Stila lip glaze in the past - price being my hindrance. On The Fairest, lip glaze (available in select colors only) is half off for only $11! It sells for $22 at Sephora.

I'm going to try out the site for you all to let you know how it goes, and maybe also because I selfishly want an excuse to buy some fun new makeup.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ok. I ordered Stila All Over Glow - Peachy Keen and Step Out And Shine! Color Collection (pics are with this post). For a total of $33 plus $5.95 for shipping... not too shabby of a deal. It apparently takes 10-14 days for the stuff to get shipped out so it'll be awhile for my update. I'm kind of excited though!

I also checked out the COOLA sale which is organic sun protection. Seems like good product too, but since we're going into fall -and I sit in an office all day- I'm going to spend my money on some fresh, new colors!

Seriously, though, seriously, visit the site as well as the blog (also Twitter @the_fairest). Upcoming sales include: Jurlique, Butter LONDON, MOR, Cosmedicine and Tarte.

BTR Burberry Sale to Start Very Soon (Like So Soon I Can't Stand It)

Beyond the Rack has a few decent designer clothes/accessories sales going on right now, but starting today at 11 a.m. (eastern time... I think), a Burberry sale starts! It will include sunglasses and scarves.

There's nothing like shopping Burberry in London, but I imagine an online sale such as this won't be too unfortunate either. Everyone needs a little plaid in her life or just some cute accessories. I'll update this post if I find anything appealing.

That's like the... inside of a raincoat.

UPDATE: Wow, brand whores. I visited Beyond the Rack at 11:18 this morning, and all items in the Burberry sale are spoken for. That is, except for a lovely little purple watch. The sold out stuff is cloaked in Burberry's trademark "look at me, I bought Burberry" pattern. This little guy is going for $119.

I like Old Navy jeans and other reasons I miss my waist

My most recent shopping mission mantra has been "I need pants... must find new pants." Then I buy five new tops and no new pants because I can't find any that fit well.

So last night I went to the Gap Factory Outlet in Hebron, Ky. with that same mission. New pants. And though I still managed to find myself with -um- four new sweaters (in August), I still scored two new pairs of pants.

Pause for momentary celebratory dance.

Then insert hypocracy. My rant about wasting time at discount Old Navy stores... yeah, sorry 'bout that. Last night I purchased pants of the Old Navy persuasion for $4.99 each. They fit beautifully and for that I'm pretty thrilled.

Which brings me to the title of this post, "I like Old Navy jeans and other reasons I miss my waist." Old Navy pants used to never fit me because while I had a small waist, I had/have "muscular" legs (friends' way of saying "nooooo, you're not fat"). Point is, they didn't fit me because if the legs fit then the waist was too big.

Now they fit everywhere. Bright side? My desk job has made me more proportional. Yay, right?

Another Fairytale Sale [or two]

So remember how I said Kate Spade gets me? She's not the only designer. In fact, she and Marc Jacobs are very nearly tied. Which brings me to tipping you about my latest favorite sales event...

New York Times enewsletter subscribers received an invitation in early July to join Beyond the Rack. An invitation-only sale site. And sigh...

Marc Jacobs sunglasses are on there for around 40% off. I'm starting to think it's time for a second job. Sigh again.

In completely unrelated but related news, an Emile Henry sales event has just been added to One Kings Lane. Not quite as good as the 90% off Emile Henry salad dishes that I purchased from the Pottery Barn outlet this past spring, but not too shabby friends. Not too shabby.

J.Crew. Extra 20% off Final Sale. Ends TODAY.

Ah J. Crew. You and your final sales. So alluring. So enticing. Alas, I am broke, but some of you might not be. With that in mind, I thought I'd pass along the news that J. Crew is at its last day for shoppers to receive an extra 20% off of Final Sale items online.

Remember to enter the 20% off code (extra20) when you check out. The discount is additional to the listed prices.

P.S. My half birthday is next month and I don't mind accepting presents early. You know something like in this picture... just sayin'...

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.

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.