Black Friday

Weeks before Black Friday arrived, I was looking online at what was going to be on sale. I didn't really find anything in the ads that I couldn't live without. I wasn't really feeling like getting up at 4am and standing in line when it's cold out. People kept asking me if I was going shopping on Black Friday and what deals I was going to go after. I would tell them that I didn't think that I was going to go this year.

Well, Thanksgiving day came and the ads came out (some that I didn't see online before) and my sister-in-law and I decided that we would go shopping, BUT we didn't go until after 8am. This was definitely a good time to go - we didn't miss out on anything that we were looking for and we got there after the mad rush! Oh, AND we didn't have to freeze our butts off in the cold!

I got a few things, but didn't go too overboard because I wanted to save some money for Minneapolis next week. My mother-in-law is flying back from Brazil on Wednesday, so Rachel (my sister-in-law) and I are going to leave for Mpls on Monday after I'm done working and she's done with school, so we can spend all day Tuesday shopping before mom flies in on Wednesday morning. Now, I just hope that we have enough room in the car for her luggage and all of the stuff that we buy! We are going to the Mall of America for sure and possibly Albertville Outlet Mall, so it could be interesting getting all of our stuff in! Wish us luck!

Interesting Warning Label

I purchased this silk floral arrangement recently. It had this warning label attached to it. I thought it was kind of interesting how it says to "Use only with votive cup" and "Never allow product to contact hot wax." Do they really think that I'm going to put candles IN it?

Weekend shopping trip

So, while in Sioux Falls I went to Macy's. It just happened that they had a one-day sale! I happened to find myself another Dooney & Bourke bag, pictured here. This one was originally priced $175.00, but was 65% off, so it was $61.25!

We didn't get out of town as early as I'd hoped on Friday, so by the time we got there every place was closed. This means that we only had Saturday to shop, so we didn't make it to the flea market or to the arts festival downtown.

I also got a few fun books at Barnes & Noble, some clothes and some scrapbooking paper and stickers from Hobby Lobby (pictured here also). Now I just have to get to work on my scrapbooks - still haven't started the wedding one and we've been married for 3 years now!

Shopping Trip

Yay! It's been a while since I've gotten anywhere to do some shopping. The hubby and I are going to Sioux Falls tomorrow! Some of the things I will be looking for are:
~Birkenstocks or Danskos (need good arch support for my feet) - I do not shop at Payless anymore since I've started wearing Danskos. I've been wanting to try Birkenstock's for a while now, so I'm hoping to find some cute ones, and hopefully on sale!
~Some new bras - a girl needs to have some good ones!
~Scrapbooking stuff - I haven't been to the Hobby Lobby in Sioux Falls yet, so I definitely want to check that one out.

We seen on TV that Benson's Flea Market is this weekend at the fairgrounds. Ted said that he would like to go check it out. I also seen there is a sidewalk art festival downtown - might just have to check that out too!

Splurge!

I got it! I was so excited when I received the box from QVC. I love my new Dooney & Bourke handbag! It also came with some accessories - a eyeglass case (that's too small for my sunglasses), a ID holder and a small wristlet. Not sure if I will have any uses for those, but we will see.

CrAzY dAyS!!!!

Last weekend was Crazy Days in town. Friday I took a couple of hours and went to the mall. (The Aberdeen mall doesn't usually take more than a couple of hours!) Maurice's had 75% off the lowest-ticketed price on their clearance! WOOHOO!!! I did also get a new pair of Dansko sandals. Hallmark had their Christmas ornaments marked down to $1.00 each - this is quite a bargain because most of them range from $10-$20.

I also splurged a bit on Friday. I had the day off, so while I was doing things around the house I was trying to find something to watch/listen to on TV and I came across Dooney & Bourke handbags on QVC. I ended up looking on their website and ordered one. I was planning on waiting until I got somewhere so I could actually SEE what I was buying, but it doesn't look like I will be getting anywhere anytime soon. I can't wait until I get it delivered! :D I will definitely post pictures as soon as I get it!

New curtains for new living room

Of course, since we got new furniture I needed to get new curtains for the living room as well (the other ones were green).

Spent Saturday night running to Menards to grab some paint samples, then back home to see which color matches the best. Then, searching a bunch of stores to find curtains (that I like) in the right color. It was a no-go.

In Sunday's paper, I looked at the sales and Shopko ended up having 40% off all window treatments! That was one store we didn't make it to on Saturday night, so I went out there Sunday. Found some panels in blue for $6.99 each and a scarf to drape along the top for $4.99 each. I think I made out pretty well on the prices of new curtains:
4 panels at 6.99 each - 27.96
2 scarves at 4.99 each - 9.98
2 sets of tiebacks at 7.67 each - 15.34

I just hope that the curtain rods that are there will work OK, otherwise I will be off to the store to look for new ones. Now, I just gotta iron those dang things!

Expensive end table

Last Friday night, Ted and I went to Slumberland looking for a new end table for our living room. We found an end table that we both liked for $150. Not too bad. Ted also wanted to look for a new recliner because he says that ours is not very comfortable. We found a nice one on clearance for $277! Plus they had another one exactly the same - WOOHOO...matching recliners on clearance! But wait...problem was, the chairs are blue, and our living room is decorated in green. OK, now what? So, we run home and get one of the couch cushions to see how bad it would clash. Back to the store...it clashes really bad! So, the salesman shows us this couch that is tan in color - matches perfectly with the blue recliners. And of course it's on clearance for $577!

So, we end up leaving the store with:
Couch - $577, plus $75 for the stain protectant
2 Recliners - $277 each, plus $40 each for stain protectant
End table - $150

Wow! Now that's what you call impulse shopping!

Handbag Hunting

All my life (OK maybe not all, but the past few years) I've wanted a designer purse/handbag. I don't know what it is that makes me have this desire, but I just want one - and someday I will have one. I still haven't been able to find one that I really like yet. I feel that if I am going to spend that much money on one item, it's going to be one that I absolutely love! Once I find that "one," I will be sure to post some pics.

Rummage Sales

This last Saturday, I decided to go rummage saling. Ted & I babysit for our god-daughter quite a bit, so I have been looking for some items that we could have at our house for her. Some of the things that I have been looking for include a stroller, a car seat and some outdoor toys. The first rummage sale I went to on Saturday had a stroller there that looked like it had barely been used It was a little dirty, but just looked like dust from sitting for a while. I picked that up for $10.00! I did clean it up and it looks awesome now. I went to quite a few other ones, but didn't find anything else.

Later on that day I was riding my scooter to the gas station and I seen another sale that wasn't advertised. They had a car seat there! It was only $5.00 and was quite dirty. I just took the cloth parts off the car seat and threw them in the washer and now it looks like a brand new car seat! This is one of those things that I probably would never buy at a rummage sale because of the safety reasons, but since I won't be using it a lot I think that it was a good purchase! The brand-new ones in the stores are so EXPENSIVE. I couldn't justify spending that much money on something that we only use once in a while.

I did find some cheap bubbles, sidewalk chalk and a plastic golf set at Wal-Mart - so we do have some outdoor toys for her to play with when she is at our house now! But, now that I have a stroller we can just walk the couple of blocks to the park or go to Storybook Land.

Flowers!

Sorry, I haven't had a post in a while. I really haven't done much shopping lately.

I did spend last weekend shopping for and planting flowers in my pots. My husband introduced me to Beadle Floral's greenhouse in town that I didn't even know existed. I only thought that they had the one north of town! It was the best greenhouse that I've ever seen! So many beautiful flowers and they all looked amazing! I will post pictures of them soon.

I also decided to try out some Aqua globes. So far, I haven't really seen any results from those yet, but I will keep you updated on how they work.

Trips planned...

I am looking forward to a couple of weekend trips that we have planned in the next couple of months. Only two more weeks until we go to Fargo. My husband is bowling in a tournament, so I will have lots of time to do some shopping!

We are also going to Minneapolis in April for a wedding. We have decided to go a day early so we can do some SHOPPING! YAY - I'm so excited for that!

Bedroom redecorating is all done!

Well, I spent the weekend redecorating the bedroom with the new purchases I made! It turns out the "window scarf" I had bought was actually two window panels! Somehow they must have gotten put in the wrong package. But, it's OK because it actually worked out better to have the two panels. The most money was spent on the new curtain rods and tiebacks.
Here's the rundown of the total cost for everything:
Comforter set (comforter, shams, sheet set & bedskirt) - 24.98 (on clearance)
Window treatments - 2.48 (on clearance)
Curtain rods - 25.98
Tiebacks - 10.99
Total = 72.94

I really don't think that's too bad and here's a pic of what it looks like!

Another thought - why does everything that you take out of the packaging have to be ironed? It would be so much easier if there weren't so many creases and wrinkles in EVERYTHING!!!

I LOVE TARGET!!!!

The hubby and I went to Target to look at some things. We found this Comforter set for 75% off!!! It was originally $99.99 and it was on clearance for $24.98. I thought this was an especially great bargain because I have been looking for something new for our bedroom and didn't want anything flowery or neutral. I like this set because it's bright and doesn't seem like something that I would normally buy! Will need to change the window treatments also because the ones we have on there now won't match. I was looking for valances that will match, because we already have blinds on the windows. I found a window scarf that matches perfectly (also on clearance for $2.48), but there was only one. I think that if I could cut it in half it might work, but I don't know how to sew. May have to recruit mom for help on this one! I can't wait to redecorate the bedroom this weekend!

**For some reason in this picture it looks pink, but it's really red and orange!

Movie time

On Saturday, a good friend and I went to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic." It is my new favorite movie - I will definitely be buying that one when it comes out on DVD! Loved it just as much as the books! I found a lot of similarities between Rebecca Bloomwood and myself.

Saturday shoppping day

Last Saturday I went shopping - finally! It's been awhile since I've been shopping. Went to the mall and stocked up on some stuff from Clinique so I could get the free bonus gift (free stuff is awesome!). Also was walking by Maurice's and noticed their sale they were having - buy a pair of jeans, you get a top 50% off! I know, it's just a marketing thing to get you to spend more, but I needed some new jeans anyways. So, I bought two pair and then of course got two tops (50 % off). And they are super cute, so that's even better!

We also went to Wal-Mart Saturday night to get a "few" things. Ended up going through the clearance aisles and filled up the cart! They had a whole aisle full of clearance toys - and they were marked down really good too, so I figured they would make great Valentine's Day gifts.

Can't wait to see the new "Confessions of a Shopaholic" movie that opens Friday! :-)

AC/DC Concert

We went to the AC/DC concert in Fargo on Saturday night. It was the best concert I've ever been to! Even though I didn't get to do any shopping at the mall or anywhere else, I did manage to get a couple of things at the concert. For $15 I got the devil horns that I'm wearing in the picture and for $35 a t-shirt (kind of spendy, but definitely worth it)!

I'm a sucker for Clearance

I admit it - I'm a sucker for clearance racks/aisles. Every time we go to Wal-Mart we can't leave without going through the clearance aisle(s). I know, it's pathetic - but you never know what you'll find in the clearance aisle! I think the best item I ever found in that clearance aisle is my Dyson vacuum cleaner. What did I ever do before Dyson - oh yeah, I had to buy a new vacuum about once a year!

I am going to Fargo this weekend! But I won't be doing any shopping. :-( Going to the AC/DC concert and we won't have time to do any shopping. It's OK though, it wouldn't be enjoyable to go shopping with a bunch of men anyway! Oh well, I have a Monday off in February so maybe can make a shopping trip somewhere then.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

When I started reading the "Shopaholic" series by Sophie Kinsella, I realized that I, myself am a shopaholic. Not to the extent of Rebecca Bloomwood, but still in my own little way, I am.

After reading the first book, I needed to read more - I bought the whole series. Then that was it, I had read them all. I was bummed. Then I was excited when I learned that there was a new one coming out - Shopaholic & Baby. I couldn't wait until it came out. When I finally got the book, I read the entire thing in about two sittings.

So, obviously I am addicted to the books. But now they have made a movie based on the first book "Confessions of a Shopaholic!" It opens February 13. YAY! My only thought is - will they make a movie for every book in the series?