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)...

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!

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?

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'...

Deals on Twitter

So many have asked accusingly, "What is the point of Twitter?!? I don't care what someone is having for breakfast!"

This exclamation is one of course of ignorance. Twitter is handy IF you know how to use it.

Example A: those following @PremiumOutlets know that if you print off this morning's tweet from their Twitter account or show it on your cell, you get a free VIP coupon book. Not too shabby...

Stay tuned for further proof of Twitter's value for the layman.

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.

The Deal Train is Here

Hi there fellow bargain huntresses! This site is dedicated to deals I find in my frequent shopping sprees of all things affordable. I've seen so many great prices on items that I haven't been able to take advantage of, and I know so many of you out there would love to know about them!

In my travels, I've seen Betsey Johnson purses for $60 or Chacos for $20... even cereal that typically retails for $6 going for $1.50 (it was still good - I swear)! I want to share those finds with you. Hence my blog. Pas Cher ('not expensive' in French) Fare will bring the deals of Cincinnati and the web to you.

I'd like to start off with a great sale going on over at Newport News. Now, I don't typically shop there... just not my style. HOWEVER, I bought a bikini there my junior year of college for ten bucks, and it's perfect for laying out.

Scoot over there now! Suits start at only eight bucks... plenty of summer still left to soak up, and it never hurts to have an extra suit around - especially one with a little personality.