"Emotional Clutter" Is A Warm And Fuzzy Place For Me!

   Ah, the new joys of a new place are insurmountably wonderful.  A new address, a new neighborhood, different views from every window, a little redecorating here and there and all is good...whoa gotta put the brakes on here for a second because it may look like you are unpacked and it may feel like you are unpacked and you may wish you were unpacked, but when you take a look inside your little (cute & charming ) 3 season room filled with boxes...yikes!!!  Or up the stairs in the attic, or all the big garbage bags filled with stuff that you have stuffed into closets...then you take a trip back to reality and confess and realize "I'm just not done yet!"
   Moving can bring out the worst in anybody!  My hubby is a firm believer in throwing things out which is why we have clashed and collided all through this move."  We had a rusty old brown dumpster in front of the place we moved out of, he rented it for one week and was having so much fun pitching things (his...of course) that he keep it another week.  I shared in the "throwing away party" somewhat but not quite up to his expectations.
   As I explained to hubby many many times, a lot of my "stuff" I have become emotionally attached to and parting with it just isn't going to happen.  Clothes, shoes, jewelry, furniture...well it could all come back in style one day!  So very begrudgingly he packs all my "emotional clutter" and into the new place here it comes...life just got good again.  however one piece of furniture that was a real point of contention followed by a shouting match did not make into our new home, it was sent to dumpster heaven where I hope it found a good home...okay i gave in, let him think he won SOMETHING!  
   This bargain fashionista was working overtime at the local Bed Bath & Beyond store searching through their clearance tables...lot's of good finds there if you can take the time to really go through it all and don't forget to always travel with your BBB coupons.  Apparently they never expire...who couldn't use an extra 10 or 20% off of anything! 
   So 2 weeks into the new place and I know eventually there will be artwork on the walls, accessories on the shelves and tables, current pictures of family and friends in brand new shiny picture frames, entertaining every weekend (okay, not every).  And at this point, there is the smell of dinner cooking in the new oven, the aroma of fresh flowers and a nicely lit fireplace...if I could just find my warm and cozy Ugg slippers (they are packed away somewhere) this would really be a perfect Norman Rockwell scene!
  

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Can Be Found!!!

   I think it's time to reveal that this bargain fashionista has not been in the thick of things as far as shopping goes, even though this is certainly the season for shopping, my life is under a new direction at the moment and after I share with one and all, I'm certain you readers will understand, appreciate and sympathize with me and my hubby...here is the lowdown, we are moving!!!  If you prefer no stress in your life...don't move!!!  If you get emotionally attached to items, such as furniture, your kids artwork or renaissance clothing...don't move!!! And if you can't make decisions about things immediately...don't move!!!
   So what is the bright side to moving?  If you felt the pause there it's because I'm still thinking about it(okay just kidding!!!)  For me the light at the end of this tunnel is a great new condo waiting for me and my hubby, it's 20 years old but I'm making it my "own" with redecorating and that is the joy found loud and clear!!!  Of course there are a few bumps in the road, but it sure is awesome watching this place take on a new face along with "my" personality.
   And now I must share with you readers the good fortune that came my way via this move...there was a box in our garage and I found a small ziploc jewelry bag with small pieces of random gold items such as links, a small chain and a few sterling silver rings, it looks like I must have made some bracelets smaller years ago.  Excitedly I took my little stash to my favorite place to sell gold and silver  and my total amount knocked my socks off...$648.00(OMG...seriously???)  And for the real twist of this all...that stash has been in the garage for six years and almost got pitched...I must have lived right that day!!!;
   Along with all the new "goodies" bought for our new home, the excitement of a new address with new neighbors and waking up in the morning and watching the birds gathering at their new restaurant(my bird feeders) while I sip on a hot cup of tea will be my little slice of paradise and at night when I lay my head down on crisp new sheets, blankets and a comforter I will always be thankful for this fresh new look on life!
   
  

Coupons,Deals and Offers Are All Just A Website Away!!!

   Welcome to this entry of my blog...nicknamed rightly so "The Market Place of Great Finds."  So much good stuff to write, report and rally about so here we go...I was alerted about a website called www.couponchief.com  and I was anxious to see just what this website had to offer me, the every ready coupon and bargain shopper, in the way of good deals...could they really knock my socks off?
   Upon a visit to this site, I was very excited to see a wealth of coupons, an array of offers, a bundle of bargains from a to z...from Christmas items to outdoor furniture...you name it...it can be found here, totally one stop shopping!!!  They offer coupons from featured stores such as Best Buy, Macy's or Wal-Mart(plus a thousand other stores to choose from) or go to popular coupons where you will find discount deals from stores such as Kohl's, PhotoWorks or Old Navy(so many choices...fantastic!!!)  You can browse for your selections by store or by item.
   They offer Coupons 4 Causes (I'm a big supporter of this), shop with them, use one of the coupons from the site and they will donate to your favorite cause(excellent and a high five to them!!!)  And there is an icon to hit to give them your feedback about your experience with the coupon(don't we always want to give our opinions about stuff...and they want to hear it!!!)  If you are confused
 about the workings on this site, there are step by step instructions just how to navigate through it all.
It is pleasant to the eye and chock full of items just waiting for you to explore.  As more and more of the world becomes computer friendly, what better way to shop than at home, relaxed with a nice hot beverage and ready to have the retail world right at your fingertips!!!

Back To Those Racks I Go...Please Help With My Addiction!!!

   So let's talk about addiction...because I just might need a support group!!!  No, it's not food, and no it's not exercise but it is those golden "$2.97" racks at JCPenney that shout out to me just like an old friend, or just like your favorite warm and fuzzy slippers.  And with this full force addiction, I can breeze right through the racks because I know the new additions from the old stuff and I do not have to try any thing on because I know to a "t" what will fit and what just won't work.  Yes...this is where I even think it might be getting scary, crazy and out of control!!!
   But let's now talk about the savings once again I had at my last visit to those "sacred" racks.  First up was a pair of pair of  golden yellow summer cotton jeans that retail for $36.00 marked down to $2.97...my savings is $33.03. And as luck would have it, there was another pair exactly the same item in a cherry tomato color...same price, they retail for $36.00, on sale for $2.97 and yes the same savings of $33.03, heck I would have taken all the colors of the rainbow for those prices.
   Next was a plain scoop -neck black t-shirt that retails at $14.00 marked down to $2.77(it can't get much cheaper!!!) and my savings was $11.23.  And last in my cart was a sleeveless tye-dye peasant -like summer top which retails for $38.00 and with the $2.97 markdown my savings comes in at $35.03.
   So when the total savings appears on my receipt I'm amazed because it rallies to the tune of $112.32 and all I spent was $13.00!!!  Easy to see how addiction can set in to make your heart start pumping and your feet start running to those glowing, golden and glamorous racks.
   And for the record, the hubby was also a baragain fashionista last weekend with his steals and deals which will be shared with all next blog...he even mentioned that I blog it so I would say he was pretty happy with his  glorious finds...stay tuned!!!

The Bargains Are In Bloom And What a Garden Variety Out There!!!

   When your karma rocks it turns a good day into a fabulous day!!!  It makes the smile on your face even bigger and that spring in your step might turn into a giant leap!!!  This is close to the feeling I had yesterday afternoon while leaving JCPenney's.  I had scored a major touchdown on the clearance racks so I was a very happy camper!!!
   The breakdown of my bargains is just incredible and this bargain fashionista can't wait to share with all...so here we go!!!
   First purchase was a lovely short sleeve mid length vest that I love to add a pin to keep the vest closed, so it retails for $34.00 and was marked down to $13.60...my savings was $20.40 (Okay I'll take it!!!).  Next up was a pair of gray capri pants with nice zippered side pockets, this retails for $40.00 on sale for $2.97...my savings was $37.03 (seriously...are you kidding me, I'll take one in every color!!!).
   Continuing on, next was a nice pair of white capri pants perfect for my Florida trip next month, they retail for $36.00 and I snagged them for $2.97...my savings was $33.03 (does this seem even possible to mark things down this low...but no complaints here!!!).  And the last piece of clothing was a nice pair of linen pants trimmed with buttons on the bottom, retailed for $49.90 and I paid...yes of course you all know, $2.97 which gives me a savings of $46.93(OMG...I never want this to end!!!).  My thirst continued for more...so I strolled over to the costume jewelry and found a great funky, chunky and trendy bracelet which retails for $15.00 and was marked down to $5.99 and my savings was ONLY $9.01 (one can get spoiled with such low prices).
   Now for the best part...this shopping extravaganza cost me only $30.42 and my savings was out of this world as I tell you I saved $146.40.  That is one awesome jackpot to hit!!!
   Luck was on my side, perseverance was pushing me on and the luck of the draw as to what I might find was my light at the end of this thrilling, exhilarating and spirited tunnel.

New Years Resolutions Fill My Soul With Good Vibes!

   First to start out with...wishing one and all a very happy and healthy new year from my home to yours.  As the Jewish New Year starts out there are always new resolutions that I can make and try to keep.  And as always the usual ones are certainly a good start...get to the gym, try to eat a better diet, clean out the closets and yada...yada...yada.  But what resolutions should a bargain fashionista make or would she like to make?
   So here we go:  Every store I shop in I will always hit the clearance racks first (especially at Old Navy )in the hopes of finding a sensational bargain and then be able to use a coupon!  And then after I find that bargain in one color I will not stop until I can find the same deal in another color.  I will never shy away from the $2.99 bargain rack at JC Penney, not for fear of being picked over, but fear of how much I will buy!
   I promise to shop at Kohl's at least once a month so I can spend my $10 Kohl's cash and try to enjoy the new Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony collections. And everytime I hear from DSW via mail, I promise to not let their $10 coupon expire without a purchase...no matter what city I'm in (I was in Los Angeles and bought a pair of shoes from DSW)...talk about coast to coast!
   Every time I visit SteinMart I promise I will always check out the costume jewelry on sale just because I have an addiction to necklaces...200 plus and still adding...and I promise to only shop at the 30-50% off racks (you can find the best deals in town on those racks!)
   I promise to share with my readers the trails and tribulations of bargain shopping...the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and the good, the bad and the ugly!!!
   So I have put a lot of pressure on myself with all of my new years resolutions but I think I am fully up for the challenge.  Let's hope for a new year filled with happiness, love, health, fortune and lots of sales out there and newspapers filled with coupons!   

One Good Bargain Starts the Fall Season Off Just Right!!!

   Okay...it's time to get back to bargain shopping, back to the gist of this whole blog, back to the sport that gets my blood pumping and back to the pure joy of finding a bargain.  My inner voice told me to head over to JCPenney in search of a good find.  And yes the 80% off rack sure was looking good!
   And there it was, a "kick-ass"," awesome looking", " just my style" vest.  Light brown macrame with lots of long fringe...I'm already picturing it with jeans and cowboy boots.  Now for the best part, it retails for $44.00, marked down to $17.60 and then marked down again to...$6.97.  Really???!!!   Isn't that couch change?   It was in my hands so fast I shocked myself. 
   Checking out the brand, it is made by the company Allen B. Schwartz.  Just for fun I googled him and found out that the "A.B.S. sportswear, dress and jewelry collections are worn by top LA & NY fashionistas as well as red carpet starlets."  Now this is what I'm talking about!!!
   I felt exhilarated about my bargain...I felt like I was back in the saddle riding the big bronco and of course I was wearing my new vest.  It is safe to say that my winter bargain shopping has now begun!!! 
   It's crazy how an item made of hardly any material, marked down to the bare bones, and buried on the clearance rack can make my day, put a smile on my face and start my winter bargain season...happy hunting!!!
  

At The End of the Day...It's All Mid-West For Me!!!

   Well readers I am back after spending a week in the fabulous city of Los Angeles.  This vacation was centered around a family members big birthday and it was celebrated in high style with old friends, new friends and good times.  But then this bargain fashionista starting thinking, how can I take my blog give it a bargain slant and talk about LA...interesting and basically not to easy...so here goes!!!
   Trying to find a bargain in LA is like trying to find a celebrity sitting next to you in a restaurant...it's hard!  I must add here that the restaurants, cafes and bistros are wonderful, Italian food is truly to die for, Mexican is so authentic and even a salad is the freshest ever and its not unusual that every place has a nice outdoor seating patio but the food is pricey!  One night we had sushi on the rooftop on the 21st floor... the view was stellar!  (yes it was pricey!) And people walk everywhere...from your front door you can walk to a bistro, post office or Whole Foods...this is great.  Or you can ride the public transportation which is overcrowded or you can be brave and fight the California traffic...not even going to address that one!!!
   The boutiques are cutting edge with fashion and very trendy but don't faint when you glance at the prices...I kept thinking that some of the boutiques I'm browsing through...well, celebrities shop here, ok, but don't they like a good sale once in a while!!!
   The beaches are fabulous...beautiful long piers filled with the excitement of food, amusement rides and lots and lots of people. The landscape of the back of the million dollar beach houses is breathtaking and within eye shot off the beach is a silhouette of a cruise ship...no bargains here but wanted to interject the beauty of it all!!!
   One should not be surprised by the showcase of cars that people drive on the west coast...it is amazing all the Mercedes, Bentley's and BMW's on the road...and that was citings in just 5 minutes!  A ford or chevy just does not cut it as any kind of status symbol and...no bargains here either! 
   Here are the bargains that I can share with you...the sun shines almost everyday, people are so friendly, you can walk on a beach for miles, and the people watching can be an all day sport.
   So as this mid-westerner thinks about the stops we made in West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and Studio City, at the end of the day...there is no place like home!!!
  
  

Here Is To You Dad...!!!

   Well I am back and it really feels good.  My father did pass away on August 8th surrounded by his loving family.  So this blog is totally dedicated to my father who courageously fought and lost the battle to lung  cancer and the many people who made his last months so wonderful, peaceful and comfortable.  It is also a kind of cleansing, purifying and closure for me to share some of the last months of his journey...this is really good for my soul.
   I can only sing praises and accolades for the hospice where my dad was a patient.  The nurses and staff have an amazing approach to each and every patient filled with love and understanding.  They are kind, caring and it's not unusual for any nurse to give a patient a kiss good night and a little reassurance with a loving touch or squeeze.  It is truly a special one that can work in a hospice environment.  The nurses  just "get it" there and they know each family is going through turmoil filled with emotional ups and downs.  And lucky for me I bonded with each one of my dad's nurses in such a special way that 2 weeks later and I am already missing them!  For the families of the patients, the hospice feel is one of a "make your self at home and comfortable" by the little basket of treats offered, or the fold out into a bed couch, or even the shower in one of the family lounges decorated just like someones home.
   Nobody ever wants to be in hospice but I feel that if your loved one has to go to hospice...consider them and you lucky to be at a place like hospice!  It sounds funny to say it this way but it sure makes sense to me!
   And in this past 2 weeks it has been entirely overwhelming and so very touching all of the people that want to give you or send you their thoughts and prayers...my mail box has been full of cards and hand written notes.  I am a big believer in "Pay in Forward" and when you are the recipient it is very comforting and oh so touching !!!
   So readers...thanks for letting me put my heartfelt thoughts into this blog, while writing this, many tears have rolled down my cheeks.  But as I am writing this I have had Burt Bacharach music in the background which only reminds me of my dad...so here's to you dad and thank you for the many many memories that are now filled with love, joy and devotion to your family and I will always save the last dance for you!!! 

Riding Along on that Rocky Road

I must tell you all, my readers, that I have not been blogging because my rocky road is really really rocky now.  My father is very ill and most of my time and energy has been spent with him in hospice...just can't get the brain and creative juices flowing.  So that is my story for now...stay tuned for I shall return!!!

Heading To The 70's... Don't Forget the Disco, Folk and Rock!!!

   I believe that everyone has a certain time in place that they would like to go back to...relive, revisit and maybe re-enjoy.  For me it would definitely be without a doubt the 70's.  Especially the years of 1973-1977 which of course would have been the wild, crazy and free-spirited days of college at Ohio State.  I love all 70's music...disco, folk or rock.  I also have had a wish list of all the concerts that I wanted to see...Michael Jackson (which will never happen now), Madonna (which could happen) and Steely Dan (which did happen last night).  They were in town, the concert was awesome, the music was totally awesome and it felt like being a young college coed at a Friday night concert!
   They played many of their old songs which sparked a bit of nostalgia for me because I felt like when the concert was over I just might be heading back to the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority house.  To put my bargain fashionista slant on this blog, we found great tickets on Craig's list but regardless of cost, I believe that if you enjoyed yourself, had a good time and took a mini-vacation back to your favorite decade of choice...then who cares what the tickets cost...it was worth it!!! 
   Despite the heat, which was teetering around 95 degrees, it was one great, magical and very special evening spent with my hubby and about 4,000 other people all movin' and groovin' to the tunes of Steely Dan just like we would have been doing approximately 37 years ago.  My music concert wishlist will still continue to grow, I'll still hope to see Madonna, be sad that I cannot see Michael Jackson, glow in the glory of seeing Steely Dan and all of this should keep me "Reeling in the Years!" 

As You Fall Into Chocolate, Hang Onto Your Gift Cards and Coupons!

  When you are a good shopper, well you are just a good shopper.  It might involve a little luck, being at the right spot at the right time or basically good karma.  When you shop with coupons and gift cards, it just makes your hunt, search and purchase all that more exciting.  Here is a "shower of good fortune" told through these three true...true ...stories.  This gal pal is also a repeat person that I have already blogged about.  She knows how to shop, she knows how to find a deal and she knows how to come out a winner...so here we go!!!
   Heading into SteinMart with a $100 gift card can be a very dangerous venture, just way to much variety to choose from.  Two hours later and 50 outfits tried on and nothing is working.  Onto the shoe department but first her eye catches the purses.  And there it is..a robins egg blue COACH tote with white leather straps and bottom.  The purse retailed for $368, the SteinMart price was $229, add an extra 30% off, a 20% off birthday coupon and then her $100 gift card brought this purse down to $30...unbelievable!!!  This is one steady fall right into a big bowl of chocolate!!!
   More good news for this gal pal.  Shopping at Kohls and spotted an Anti Gravity Lounge Chair (so nice for summer nights on the deck).  Retails for $129 and on clearance for $59.99, 30% off coupon, 2 $10 coupons (for spending $50 each time at Kohls previously), and a $5 off birthday coupon brings the total of this chair to a whopping $17...that's amazing!!!  Once again, falling into the bowl of chocolate and now adding the whip cream!!!
   And the good news just keeps flowing.   My gal pal saw a Michael Kors faux suede jacket on the clearance rack at Dillards for $38 marked down from $129,  take an extra 30% off and this item sold for $27.40.  Okay, now the reason it was marked down was because one of the sleeves was torn.  She is so savyy, she bought it, repaired it and got herself one slick bargain.  Here we go again into the bowl of chocolate.  Enjoy the fall into your own bowl of chocolate and don't forget the cherry on top!!!

Step Out of The Box and Make It "All About You!!!"

     Is it possible to ever consider "shopping" a new sport on the horizon?  Now I am not saying it should be up there with skate boarding or snow skiing, but what I am saying is "shopping" definitely fills an emotional, physical and spiritual need.  It's a "feel good" thing fueled by all the bags you can carry, while you keep telling yourself, "I deserve all this and more!!!"  And for me, "shopping" is my relaxation, escape from everything and concentrate on that thing called "me time."
   Now for the good news from one gal pal shopper who fell into some good "steals and deals" at the Gap.  This fashionista was glowing due to the fact that the gal pal shopped out of her comfort zone just a little bit and reached for the stars...she went out of the box!  Purchased that day was, the staple in every woman's closet..."a little black dress" (sexy!)...a black sheer t-shirt (sexy and sporty!)...a black tank top with ruffles (chic!) and a gray cotton t-shirt with a gathered neckline ( casual and chic!).  And all of her goodies came from the sale rack which gave her another 40% off bringing her total to under $50...you rock it out big time sista!!!  Still more news from Gap...use your Gap credit card on Tuesdays, save another 15%!
   And another gal pal brings us her good news from Victoria Secret...she fell into a deal with 6 pairs of "undies" for $15...usually they are 5 for $25...hey girlfriend...you rocked it out with a $15 savings!!!  And if you are an Angel Member, they will treat you to $10 off merchandise the month of your birthday.
   So the way I see it, shop til you drop...the one with the most shopping bags wins...it's the hunt, score and thrill... and glow in the fact that it was "all about you!!!"
  

Addiction and Meltdown...Oh What a Combo!!!

   People have addictions to absolutely everything...addicted to love, addicted to food, addicted to exercise...and here is one that I have been rattling around in my mind that involves ME...I think I'm addicted to bargains!!!  And now for the best part, I think that I might be suffering from "bargain withdrawal" when I have not scored a GOOD BARGAIN!!!  It's the hunt, the find, the purchase  and most importantly...the savings!!!  Or maybe I am suffering from "bargain addiction?"  I feel like I could not be true to myself if I paid retail for anything!!!
   Let's try to put this addiction into perspective...do your endorphins really kick in when you leave knowing you paid less than half for a pair of shoes?  Yes, and it's a feeling that you want over and over again.  It's kinda sounding like an addiction to me!!!  If you strike gold at SteinMart once, chances are you will be running back again and again with that 20% off coupon...yes sounding more and more like an addiction to me.  And the flip side of that is...this is how the stores want you to feel.  So do they jack the price up so high just so they can mark it down?  But no matter how you shake it...a good bargain is a good bargain and it usually will put a little skip in your step and gives you the feeling of "I've got to do this again"!!!
   Now for the meltdown part...being away from the stores that I usually peruse on my "bargain-friendly" route for over a week and a half, makes me feel like something is missing in my daily routine...it certainly is crazy but it sure is a strong feeling.  Meltdown could be a strong word but the word "void" might work just fine!  Again, the thrill of a bargain is a quick high.
   So how do I cure this addiction/meltdown/void in my life?  Well it goes something like this...I walked into Gap last Sunday just on a whim, staring me in the face was a cute shirt retailed at $30, on the sale rack for $9.99 and then 50% off of that.  I took a yellow one and a white one and for $10 bucks my addiction was satisfied, but that was last week and here I go again thinking...

All Fears Aside... Go For the Gold!!!

This blog is totally devoted to bragging rights on and about my husband who asbolutely deserves it.  He broke all boundaries, scored the score and came out a winner!  First back to the beginning of all this, after a health scare 2 years ago he has shed 95 lbs, adapted a very healthy lifestyle including diet and a huge chunk of that is exercise.     Six months ago the idea of participating in a triathlon turned on a light bulb in my hubby's mind and he decided to make it a reality.  This included swimming 1/2 mile, biking 18 miles and running 3.2 miles.  This took place last weekend in Columbus, Ohio (June 12).  All fears aside, my hubby was pumped up for this like a pro...he was in the oldest age group (designated by a purple swimming cap).  It's 7:45am, his group is in the water, the gun shoots and they are all off and swimming...oh what a glorious sight!!!    Well,  he did the swim, did the bike ride and run  and 2 hours later as he crossed the finish line the look of accomplishment across his face was worth a thousand words.  They had drinks and snacks waiting for the athletes and the biggest thrill of all is the medal they put around your neck...so cool!!!    The dream of dreams was thought of, executed and still reliving the joy of the day in our minds.  Any thing is attainable if you set your mind to it.  And as I saw my hubby revel in his pride and joy of his first triathlon, I know that this is just the beginning for him.  His goals and visions set for himself now will be limitless and yes...he has only just begun!!!

Sharing My Bumpy Road in This thing Called Life

   Feeling like it has been forever since I blogged last...well it has!!!  My life gets complicated not to often but right now it's a full plate.  Had been in Hartford Connecticut for the past nine days with my father who is ill and now he is in my  home town at a rehab facility.  How did we get him from Connecticut to Ohio?  On a Lear jet medical plane...now that is an experience.  I was very nervous about it and was on the verge of taking a xanax but I decided to just sit back and enjoy it and it was quite a nice hour and a half ride.  Forget about flying Delta...it's a Lear jet for me from now on!!!
   This bargain fashionista has lots to blog about since mid May but just wanted to let my readers know that I did not fall of the face of the earth, just a few road bumps in my path of life and I will be up and running and back to normal.

Good Fortune Showers Us All...Please Share!!!

   I try to keep my blog chock full of good news, good sales and good bargains.  So when a gal pal shares her good fortune with me, it's a given that it will find a home on my blog.  So on with the good news from my friend...spotted at Stein Mart on the sale rack was a great dress, it would normally retail for $98.00 and the regular Stein Mart price brings it down to $49.99.  Then use a 50% coupon and then 50% off all red dot merchandise...well it then becomes the bargain of the day when it rings in at $12.00.  I'm calling that "awesome" and  your karma was rockin' that day sista!!! 
   READERS...please e-mail me your bargain stories...this bargain fashionista would love to share your good fortune also.  I want to know what good deal or deals have come across your path.  It's great to hear stories like these, I find them inspiring, exciting and exhilarating.  Every one has the wheeling' and dealin' spirit and this is a good place to showcase your treasures. My e-mail is harleydiva@bex.net .
   Stopped in to see my friends at the Go Dollar store with a girlfriend and she also was impressed with the "goods" there.  New shipment of Pandora-style beads...deals are so good there I'm buying things I need and a few that I don't ...it's all about impulse buying sometimes!!!
   And welcome aboard Debbie...hoping you enjoy the read!!!
  

Jumping Over the Rainbow to the Endless Pots of Gold

   Just when I think I'm fully satisfied "for the moment" with my bargain shopping, my bargain hunting and my bargain "sharing", a better bargain out there always seems to cross my path. Check out retailmenot.com .  This is a website with coupon codes and discounts for 90,000 online stores - it's pretty amazing (just 90,000?).  Give them your e-mail address and you will receive a newsletter quite frequently and there are free shipping coupon codes.  No complaints on the amount of online stores and no complaints for free shipping.  How awesome to have choices like that...you can shop in your jammies sipping on a nice hot chocolate...cool!!!  It must be a good find because over 57,000 people hit the "LIKE" button.
   Now to put a local slant on my bargain bonanzas...check out this website...savingmoneyintoledo.com.  This is an upbeat, cheerful, chock full of stuff including savings on food, restaurants and entertainment.  You might be surprised about this one and all the goodies found here.
   And now for my last bit of local bargains:  For any Lands End fans, you must go to the Sears Outlet store off of Rt. 20 in Perrysburg (across from the French Quarters).  Fabulous markdowns, the stuff is $5 to $10 (I'm not kidding-I was there) ladies, kids, men's (not so great).  You will fill up a shopping cart in no time because of the isles and isle of clothes.  So enjoy and start looking for some bargains at the end of some beautiful rainbows!

You Say It's Your Birthday... Celebrate With "Freebies"

   When spring is in the air and the flowers are in bloom and Mother's Day is  just around the corner, I always know that my birthday is not to far behind.  I thought it would be interesting to see how many "freebies" are out there in "google-land" to make our birthday celebrations just a little more "bargain-friendly".  WOW...there is no shortage of free stuff out there.
   So...get the cake and ice cream ready because here is my hand picked list of 13 "freebies" sure to make your birthday rock!  *Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant-receive a free dessert, *Baskin Robbins Ice Cream-receive a free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream or a swirl of soft serve, *Buffalo Wild Wings-free dessert, *Carrabba's Italian Grill-free appetizer with entree purchase, *Del Taco-get two free soft tacos and a free premium milkshake on your birthday, *Denny's-free original Grand Slam breakfast, *Hooters-10 free hot wings,
   (list keeps going...) *Maggie Moo's- free ice cream cone, *Macaroni Grill-free slice of chocolate cake, *Sonic-free regular creamslush,  free medium tator tots or a free medium drink,  *Spaghetti Warehouse-free spaghetti dinner and spumoni sundae, *Steak & Shake-free steak burger with cheese and fries, and *TGIF Friday's-free  dessert with purchase of entree. 
   Enjoy my birthday present to all of you!!!

A Little Slice of Heaven and a Lot of Cha-Ching is Just Across the State Line

   On a rainy Monday when you have the day off,  your laundry is caught up and your dinner is already made...what is the only thing that makes sense for you to do?  But of course...head for a day at the casino, which is exactly what my gal pal and I did.  And believe it or not, there were some bargain aspects to this fun...fun...fun outing.  We took the bus which left from our Home Depot parking lot at 9am right to the casino front door by 10:10am (about a 50 minute ride)...no worries about filling up your gas tank or paying for parking...I'll score that as a savings.   When you purchase your bus ticket, a $30 voucher is included...in other words, they are giving you $30 cash to gamble with before you start dipping into your own stash of money. Cool...you have a chance to play with "their " money and maybe win it big!!!
   Yes, gambling does make one very hungry and we chose to go the huge buffet route.  I think every country was represented in this smorgasbord of food and then some.  Hey...you can eat as much as you possible can,  you can go up as much as you want, and yes don't forget to have dessert as many times as you want to... all of this for one price.  Not bad!!!  My pal and I were so engrossed in the 1, 2 and 10 cent machines that we never even played the 25 cent slot machines...yes you can win big on these.  As I learned that afternoon, those machines can be bargains if you play them right.  We had to be back at the bus by 3:30 and head for home...and by 5pm I was already pulling up in my driveway.
   So did we win or loose?  Well...we...each won a $100 so I text my hubby a"thumbs up".  This was an early birthday present to me from my pal...and so here is how it goes...my friend and I got to spend the day together...we both love to gamble and we know how to rock it out and come home a winner!

Junk Mail Landed Me One Hot Bargain... But Is It Really Fashion?

   I hate going through all the "junky" junk mail that comes in our mail box daily...but I do like when the $10.00 Kohl's Cash Card comes paying a visit to my mail box!  So cash card in hand, having the day off from work along with a little bit of luck and hope on my side were all the ingredients I needed for a nice enjoyable afternoon of browsing.  Heading towards the 80% rack I spot a pair of jeans in my size.  And here is the interesting part...they look like someone took a knife and dragged it down the front and then spilled a little bit of paint on the jeans...my question being...is this fashion?  Is this what I really want to wear (at my age)?  And do people pay for holes in jeans and paint spots?  Well the answer being...YES, this is really fashionable, high couture (I think) and YES, I think it's really cool to dress about 30 years younger than I am (my daughter would be so proud of me) and heck YES I'll pay for it (maybe I'm a slave to fashion).
   Now the jeans were marked retail at $48.00, less 80% brought them down to $9.60 and with the $10.00 Kohl's Cash Card well they were basically FREE.  If holey jeans can make me look hip and a little drizzle of paint makes me look "in style"and it's a freebie then I will rock it out like a "Tiffany Hippie"!!!

The Jewelry Craze Rages On While Prices Get Slashed at The Gap

   My craze of selling sterling silver jewelry is still at an all time high which is why I went back to my friends at the Estate Jewelers yet once again yesterday, stash in hand and unloaded some more sterling...yes it was a good cha-ching!!!  Now I will say that yesterday they had 2 happy customers walk out because I took a gal pal  with me and she did really well unloading her unwanted gold and silver.  As we sat at lunch reviewing our visit, we both felt the warm, cozy and exciting feeling that only the "jewelry" g-spot can offer.
   This fashionista must switch gears now and report to you on the sale going on at The Gap.  I was at Gap today and my new friend Eric (who just happens to be the store manager and knows about my blog) mentioned that today (Sunday April 17), tomorrow (18th) and Tuesday (19th) there will be a sale of $5, $10 and $15 items.  So here is the scoop on this mini sale.  It is all new merchandise and only on women's clothes, the $5 rack is small and not so great but the best buys I believe are on the $10 rack ...really cute stuff, and I didn't even browse the $15 rack.  This is going on at all Gaps.  Yes it is worth a pop in and it is also worth chatting with Eric...he is so nice...so personable and so awesome!!!

...and my g-spot has been found!!!

   After the mini windfall I had last weekend with the sale of my gold and silver jewelry , I couldn't wait to experience the thrill, excitement and enjoyment of it all over again.  Going through all my sterling silver (925) jewelry, I was shocked at how much I had.  Now the real challenge ahead of me was...do I sell it or is this something that I like and will wear.  I found many rings that were too small for my "middle age" fingers and thus my pile started growing.  Into the bracelets I go and realize that I can part with a few of these but I did not even think about looking at any of my necklaces...to hard to part with any of them!!   And the hubby donated a bracelet and a "Harley Davidson" ring that he no longer wears (not his style any more), so I was pretty proud of my little stack of sterling silver goodies and all I can think of is cha-ching.
   So here I go for round two of my jewelry selling escapades.  I tell them I'm so happy to be here again and they say they are so happy to see me again with my stash.  They weigh it, I like what they will pay, they write me a check and I walk out once again thinking "wow!!!...this is awesome!!!"...  I would say that this gal has found her g-spot and that is the "sterling silver" truth!!!
  

When Your Karma Rocks Get A Lottery Ticket!

   An astronomer would have said that "all our stars were in alignment today", a gambler would have told us to "go buy a lottery ticket today" and a reader of tarot cards would  have said "you've got great karma going on today."  I'm talking about the day my hubby and I experienced yesterday, Saturday, April 9th.  It all started after brunch, we went to sell some of my old sterling silver jewelry that I just don't wear anymore.  I walked out with $200 more dollars than I ever dreamt of getting...cha-ching with a big smile on my face!  Next we headed for the pet store to get food for our dog Reggie.  As we are checking out the cashier says,  "You are going to love me today because I have a $10.00 off coupon for the dog food", so a bag of $10.99 dog food cost us $.99...score with a big smile on both of our faces!
   Next we decided to kill some time at the mall.  I find a cute sweater that is from JCPenney's American Living brand.  The sweater was marked down from $58.00 to $4.97...geez that is only a savings of $53.03...score big time for me!  And as our evening was winding down, we decided to go to Smokey Bones for dinner for a little change of pace.  Our meal was $22.00 and when the waitress brought the credit card slip to sign, it read $66.00...oops big mistake.  So the manager apologized and gave us a gift certificate for $50.00...touchdown and a home run and that is the way our karma rocked for us!!!

Once A Good Find Always A Good Visit

   Sometimes you find a good thing and you just want to revisit, refresh and renew.   I had found a good thing and I wanted to go back and see it all again, take it all in again and enjoy while I was there.  Now that your curiosity is peaked... of course I'm talking about my jewel of a find in Lambertville, Michigan by way of my friends at the Go Dollar store.  Stopping in this morning was once again a royal treat to peruse the rows of things I recognized and all the new stuff adorning the shelves.  I was told that a brand new shipment of knock off Pandora beads came in...still a bargain for a dollar and the beads are so impressive and so much to choose from!!!
   Could not walk out empty handed so of course I found some little treasures for myself.  The owners are so nice...they put a link to my blog on their website which is just awesome to me!  I love shopping at Go Dollar and periodically little vignettes from Go Dollar will be showing up in my blog.  Their merchandise is great, variety superb and it is always a pleasure chatting with the owners.  Please pay them a visit and check out their wonderful website...www.go-dollar.com

Try Jogging Down a Different Path

   Sometimes you just have to jog down a different path and instead of looking for the bargains start looking for all the "freebies" out there.  Case in point, my gal pal and I did just that by going to a local business expo.  Talk about the wealth of free things that the exhibitors want you to take.  So we helped ourself to just about everything and I decided to take a tally of some of the good stuff I got and share it on this blog.  (This will not include the magnets, chip clips, rulers, nail files, etc.) 
   My best take of "freebies" was 40 pens which will go straight to my desk at work because pens grow legs somehow on my desk.  70 pieces of candy which will go right to my candy dish at work because it is always empty.  6 pads of paper which is great for phone messages...yes, at work.  2 big bags of micro wave popcorn...hubby was happy.  2 anti bacterial hand sprays, one for the car and one for my purse.  1 car air freshener which smells like yummy vanilla and saving the best for last is the...Harley Davidson temporary tattoo which hubby and I will be fighting over! 
   Now where else can you have this much fun with your girlfriend, spend no money and walk out with a very very heavy bag full of junk!!!!!!!    

Gotta See It..Gotta Touch It..Gotta Get That Feeling

   A venue not quite explored  by this fashionista is online shopping.  I have to admit that I am a "touchy" "feely" kind of shopper...I just gotta see it, touch it and get a feel for it before I consider the buy.  So now coming your way I will share a great gem of a bargain from my "nurse" friend found online...and she would agree that waiting it out was well worth the wait!!!
   Spotted at Kohl's online store was a gorgeous Seiko mother of pearl face and diamond bezel watch with a chain link band.  This watch was marked at $525.00.  Eventually it was marked down to half price...SCORE!!!   Then she had a coupon for 30% off, plus a $100.00 gift card...(still not done) and every $50.00 you spend, you get  $10.00 Kohl's cash... knock off another $30.00 which brought this watch down to $54.00 plus tax and the shipping was free...OMG...you should be glowing every time you check the time!!!  Way to go and do it proud and rock the house girlfriend because as Kohl's says..."EXPECT GREAT THINGS".

Rockin' and Rollin' With Our Arm Charms

   It's been said that seeing is believing and once you see a bargain you just gotta believe that it's for real and jump on it.  One of my "peeps" shared this nugget with me and of course it gets blogged in my column to share with everyone else.  At Elder-Beerman she spotted a good-looking Nine West purse marked at regular price for $100...it was then 60% off and if you brought in an item for their goodwill sale (which I blogged about) you got another 20% off.  So that very pricey purse now becomes a very affordable $30 item that is going to find a really nice home on my girlfriends arm.   Yeah for you girlfriend for your great gem of a buy and for sharing your good fortune with us. 
   Another great place for bargain shopping and browsing are craft shows.  I am truly a craft show junkie...come spring and summer my weekends revolve around these venues.  Today my "gal pal "and I hit a local craft show and the bargains came to us.  I walked out with a great arm charm and yes it was a steal.  Its a beautiful bracelet with squares of polymer clay painted purples, blue and black with crystal beads in between topped off with a beautiful sun and moon toggle.  It was priced $15 and the lady said she would knock off $5 because she wanted it to have a good home.  Well guess what...I walked out with a big smile on my face, it looks like I bought it in a very "high end art studio" and you can bet it will have a lovely home.  These gals rocked it out today!!!  

Think Spring...

and go for the bargains!

The Good News Keeps Flowing

   So here is the good news in the world of bargains, sales and really "goodwill" towards man.  And of course this blog would not be complete without an update on a really good  "gem" that I stumbled upon.  Okay...on to the sales...Christopher and Banks and CJ Banks will be having their Friends and Family Event.  It's really good...40% off the entire store or online.  Even on new spring clothes!!!  A really nice sales gal told me that ladies will be lined up all over the store to check out their items.  The sale starts this Friday, March 18 through Sunday March 20.  Hurry out there before their shelves are bare!!!
   Here is more good news from Elder-Beerman.  They are having their "Goodwill Sale" now until Wednesday March 23rd.  And the scoop is...each apparel or home textile item you donate in-store earns you a 20% off coupon that is good on regular and sale items, apparel, accessories, shoes and fine jewelry.   Put this one on your list of places to go.
   And now for my golden nugget of a bargain... Christopher and Banks was having a 70% off sale on just 2 racks...got a $30 spring top marked down to $19.99 and, yes you guessed right, 70% off of that brought it down to a whopping $5...scored big on that one!!!  I walked into the right store at the right time!!!
  

Thanks for sharing your bargain... and my confession!

   Finding an awesome bargain makes you feel good from head to toe and then sharing your good fortune with "gal pals" is your cherry on top!  Perusing the fabulous jewelry at the TJ Maxx counter, (in my mind they have one of the best selections of costume jewelry,and priced extremely well, bar none), one of my pals spotted a great pair of earrings. They were marked from $60 down to $29.99 and then again marked down to $10.  Cha-ching!...this is a bargain that you can't walk away from and yes these earrings found a nice home.  They even had a beautiful crystal bead...this bargain fashionista thanks you for sharing your incredible jewel of a find.
   This is probably the best time to admit that I have a great love of jewelry and have lots of it!!!  At last count, I have over 200 necklaces and pretty close to 100 bracelets, about 50 rings and approximately 80 pairs of earrings.  I know it's crazy but my outfit is not complete without that final touch of sterling silver around my neck.  Hunting for the perfect arm charm or neck bauble gets my blood pumping.  And yes, one could say that I am a jewelry "junkie" and you would be 100% correct...thanks for listening to my confession!!!   

You Should Be Running to Old Navy and Speaking About Being Grateful...

   Spotted at Old Navy today were t-shirts for both men and women for $5 bucks.  Lots of bright spring colors and lots of sizes.  This fashionista bought a hot pink and melon "t" and the hubby treated himself to a white "t".   I'm into the layered look and i just might make a few more trips back to complete my spring and summer wardrobe.   Just love this deal!  You can't go wrong...for 10 bucks walk out with 2 new 't's"...awesome!!! 
   Many thanks to my friend who gave me such a beautiful card yesterday...which went like this..."I'm grateful for so many things-clearance sales, 2-for-1 sales, half -off sales, end-of-year sales, holiday sales, but, most of all, I'm grateful for you...because it's no fun shopping alone!"  Shopping is good therapy and shopping with a girl friend is really good therapy and shopping with a girlfriend and finding bargains is like winning the lottery!!!

There is a jewel in Lambertville

This jewel has been found in Lambertville, Michigan.  You will never guess that it is a dollar store appropriately called..."Go Dollar".  Located on West Sterns Rd. and Secor I stumbled upon this purely by accident.  I was totally surprised by the inventory and the stock they had.   An enormous amount of party goods, lots of office supply stuff for your desk, funky kinds of paper clips and OMG rows full of fish lures.  They had some nice looking cards advertised as hand made.   Here is the best deal there in my opinion...knock off Pandora beads that look like the real thing for, but of course, a dollar.  Apparently they sell these beads like CRAZY!!!!  I was also impressed by the fact that they are a drop off point for southeast Michigan for Hannah's Socks.  This is a "must stop and visit place" and of course bring lots of dollars.  Say hi to the owners...they were so nice and friendly and of course tell them you read about their jewel on my blog...Go Dollar!!!!

So here is how Dillard's does it...

I have some great news for everyone!!!  I have tips for you from a very nice and very chatty sales clerk at Dillard's who loved sharing with me all the scope on markdowns.  This could be be very valuable information so you might want to write this down...here we go...the first Monday and Tuesday of every month they do markdowns down to the next percentage off. (30-50% will now go down to 70%).  This one is really good...the last Wednesday-Saturday from January-September additional markdowns are taken on sale items (70% can get another 30-40% off).  This is one for your calendars...every New Years Day they have 50% off of everything...what a way to start off the new year.  They had just marked down this afternoon (to 70%) Jones New York t-shirts from $19.99 to $5.99 so of course I had to have one...3 racks full of them and lots of colors...hey treat yourself to one...I'm sure you deserve it!!!

Weekend starting off quite nicely...

To say the least...the weekend is staring out quite nicely.  Like I said the hubby is the real shopper (and in a future blog I will share with you why) and after dinner he said let's go to the mall, but I voted for going to Kohl's.  So the big news is that he found the Converse tennis shoes he has been drooling over for $31.49 which is the cheapest he has seen then anywhere, I'm talking DSW, internet or mall shopping.  Yes, these are the shoes that he wore as a teen.  So of course I'm scouring the 80% off racks and stumble upon a great little black sweater...regularly priced at $50 but marked down to $10.  Yes it has found a home with me.  In conclusion...we saw, we bought ,we conquered

I would like to share with everyone just how well I have done in the past two months regarding this shopping frenzy.  I found three racks at JC Penney that were full of items all for $2.97 each.  Thirteen items later I walked out of the store smiling because I had just saved a whopping $471...you can't beat that.  If this rack pops up again you can be sure I will alert everyone.  My hubby and I walked into Old Navy one day and they were having a sale...50% of all clearance items.  You can't complain when you are getting cute cargo pants for $5!!!   And my hubby found a distressed jean jacket on the sale rack in his size with a million mark downs, so he decided to buy it for $5.  If any one has any great shopping deals they would like to share, just put it in the comment space and you can bet it will end up in my blog...happy shopping and saving!!!

Ready...Set...Go!!!

Well, I finally decided to do it…it has been a joint venture between my daughter and I and now it is reality.  I have become an excellent bargain shopper in the last year and a half.  Either I have been there at the right time and place or I have the patience to scan the clearance rack, but when I can find a pair of Capri’s at Old Navy in my size for .97 cents, to me that is quite a high.  Join me as we take this shopping journey together.  I will be sharing my bargains and deals with you, what stores I‘ve been to and any advice or information that I get from the sales people…they could turn out to be very valuable to this gal. Did you know that Old Navy does all mark downs on Sunday mornings?  My husband is also a shopper and he will be feeding into this blog also with his great deals.  How lucky am I to have a hubby who likes to shop!  My motto is…it’s out there you just have to find it!!!  Ready…Set…Go...!!!