The Holy Grail of Shoes

While scanning my Google Reader earlier today, I noticed a coupon for JC Penney’s that ended today. Apparently, they’re having a big ole sale – and it was a BIG one!

I fell in love with these boots. Like, IN LOVE. They’re perfect! Flat-ish, wide open calf opening, and that buckle? Actually adjustable! It can go from leggings to jeans – which makes them so flexible. YES.

I needed the black ones. I already have a pair of brown boots albeit with heels. But I couldn’t get the website to show me what they looked like in black so I could make a decision. I needed to try them on anyway because I can’t seem to buy shoes online. I know you can send them back for an exchange but then I wouldn’t have them right away! So I ran up to the closest store but of course, they didn’t have them. Figures.

I had enough time to try another store before picking up my Christmas cards at Costco and making it to my 6 pm audition. So of course I had to run over there and check to see if they had them in my size.

The stores were crazy busy (why in the world is everyone at the mall these days?) but I found the shoe department pretty quickly. I tried on the brown boots because they didn’t have the black ones in my size.

That’s when the problems started – I couldn’t pass up these brown ones! They were SO perfect on and did I mention? They were on sale for $39.99. AND I had a $10 off coupon. SCORE.

So I treated myself to a pair of black and brown boots, each for $30 – less than half of what one pair was priced originally!

They’ll be coming directly to my house within the week … and I can’t wait!

I love getting things for less than retail price

Have you heard about Swagbucks? And about how you can search the internet and earn these “swagbucks” and use them to buy things?

I’ve been using the site for a few months now, with the hopes of saving up enough points to buy Christmas presents for the family or something equally exciting.

They say the best way to use Swagbucks is to redeem them every few weeks for a $5 Amazon gift card. You can then add those gift cards to your account and use them for whatever you need.

I’ve been saving up those credits and ended up with about $40 worth on Amazon. The other day when Husband and I were shopping for packing and vacation accessories, I realized we could get a better deal on these packing cubes on Amazon than in a brick and mortar store…

With the credit and Amazon’s free shipping, they ended up being $11 – for TWO sets! I got the green ones and Husband chose his in silver. Now we’ll be all organized for gallivanting across various hotels in Europe. Yay!

Amazon doesn’t know that I exist. Well, they do, because I buy things from them, but they didn’t endorse this review. Neither did EBags. Swagbucks, however, will give me some extra “swagbucks” if you click that little referral button on the my sidebar. But I’m the wife of a poor law student, so maybe that’s ok? :)

The Best Garage Sale EVER

It was the annual Sunset City garage sale the Saturday before the family wedding. My friend M and I went this past spring (I think they hold it twice a year) with M’s mom and aunt. They are SERIOUS garage sale shoppers. They agreed to take me along and show me the ropes. M had been lots of times and thought it would be fun to have someone her own age (and someone with similar tastes as her) go along too.

This time, M asked me to come along with her sister and go on our own. The other ladies weren’t free for this one, but we figured we had learned a lot and were ready to strike out on our own.

I was up at 5:15 am and at M’s house by 6 am. Thank goodness for Starbucks, because we stopped there at 6:30 and hit up our first sale by 6:45 am. It was going to be a very successful sale day, we KNEW it.

I think it was the first or second stop where we found THE HOUSE. It was like the holy grail of garage sales.

I found a Coach bag.

Isn’t she pretty?

You won’t believe what I paid for her. $5. YES. I couldn’t even believe it. I didn’t bother bargaining (something M’s mom and aunt would be very disappointed in!) but it was such a good deal I couldn’t ask for less.

Every time I pick up the bag to head out to run an errand, I just grin from ear to ear. I lurve my new bag!!!

Groupon got even better

Remember my most favorite deal site, Groupon?

I just found out they have a referral code. Click here and go to the website to see what deals you can get for your hometown.  There are even some deals that are redeemable online – and so anybody can buy ‘em!

Seriously, this site is really good. I’m excited to see what they come up with next! If you’re going to check it out, would you please oh please click through my referral link? :)

Groupon is my favorite thing, like, ever!

Have you heard of Groupon?

We’ve had it here for a few months now and I’ve bought at least three of the gift certificates.

Every day, the site offers a city-specific deal – for restaurants, exhibits or spas among a bunch of other things. On Friday afternoon, Husband and I wanted to celebrate another week successfully completed and try out a local restaurant in Grand Center, Kota Wood Fire Grill. It’s across the street from the Fox Theatre.

I have been CRAVING their Thin Mint milk shake all.day.long. And it SO did not disappoint! After all, it has Bailey’s in it. :)

We had the calamari as an appetizer…

And I had the crunch salad for my entree. So yummy with a citrus vinaigrette and actual caramel popped corn on top of the salad.

LOVE. IT.

Do you see the final total? $0.00!!! I love Groupon. :)

But then my Thin Mint fell off my drink before I got to eat it. :(

But still - A free date with husband on a Friday evening? Wonderful!

*I was not compensated in any way by Groupon. I just like the service! It saves me money. :)*

That fine line of bidding for a hotel room…

Let me just say that Priceline is kind of awesome. Because we’re staying here on Saturday night…!

Source

We’re going to Kansas City this weekend to see the KC Wizards play Manchester United. Husband is a huge soccer fan and a friend of his got us tickets.

But I didn’t want to spend Saturday night at my grandma’s. To be honest, it’s because of the smoke. My step-grandfather smokes – and not just outside and lets it waft in. Nope, he lights up every few hours sitting at the kitchen table.

When I went few weekends ago, I had to wash every.single.thing that I took in to the house. And then febreeze the suitcase. Ick.

So yeah, we’re going to a hotel. But those things are expensive! I remember someone saying that Priceline has a feature where you can name your own price for a pretty sweet hotel.

I picked the area we wanted to stay in and put in a bid for $35 for a 3 star. Surprisingly, it was rejected! The three star hotels in Priceline usually go for over $100. But it was worth a shot, right?

I expanded the area I was ok with and upped the bid by five bucks. And you know what? It was accepted! We’re staying at a Ramada – which, by the way, are really nice!

I called the hotel after it was confirmed and just double-checked that they had us down for a king-size bed. With taxes, it was just over $50 – a perfect way to spend a night away from the craziness of work and law school.

So Priceline is helping me get our mini vacation across the state for not a huge price tag! Yippee!

*I received no compensation for this review. I just think the website is pretty awesome and saves me money.*

I love sales

Instead of driving all the way out to St. Charles this morning for Costco, we decided to hit up Old Navy on the way home from our errands. Costco always has great deals on clothes, and we needed some new stuff for our trip to Disney next week (less than 8 days ‘til we’re in the land of the Big Mouse!).

Old Navy has the BEST deals this week – until tomorrow, I’m pretty sure.

Hubs got a pair of reversible shorts – blue plaid and solid blue – for $30. Ok, so those weren’t on sale. But if you think about it, reversible shorts means you get at least two outfits out of it. So really, they were $15/outfit. I think that’s pretty neat!

I also convinced him to pick up a pink polo – it just looks so preppy! I love it. He got another polo, too, to round out the outfit with the plaid shorts. Those shirts were only $10/each. How can you beat that?

I picked up two flip flops for $5 and two t-shirts for $5/each. I love sales!

The funny thing is, I found a bunch of summer clothes when I cleaned up the master bedroom. That should teach me to go shopping before figuring out what I need.