LIMITED TIME AT DILLARD'S

For a limited time only (I can't believe their ad in the B'ville News Democrat didn't specify) Dillard's is taking an additional 40% off the entire stock of permanently reduced merchandise in Ladies', Juniors', Men's, Children's, Accessories, Lingerie, Shoes and Home.  That's a GREAT Sale!

BELLEVILLE FARMER'S MARKET

If you head to downtown Belleville this Saturday morning for their Sidewalk Sale, be sure to check out their Old Town Market while you're there.  The market is located at 1st and West Main and offers free parking.  The hours are 7:30 a.m.. till noon.  This week you'll find tomatoes, sweet corn, peaches, plums, blackberries, other summer vegetables, fresh baked goods, honey and fine artisan crafts.

DETAILS ON PAINTED HORSE SALE

I told you yesterday about a sale at The Painted Horse in Freeburg (scroll down to find it or click on the title of the original article to find it).  Anyway, I've found out some more details on it.  The sale's hours are Thurs. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  It's their Dog Days of Summer Sale, their biggest Sale of the Year!  Outside, on the parking lot, is their 8th Annual (Cash & Check Only) Huge Parking Lot Sale with items starting at 25 cents.  For more info call the store at 539-0146.

CITY SIDEWALKS

Downtown Belleville on East and West Main Street is holding an inside and outside Sidewalk Sale this Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st.  Drawings will be held at various stores.  Just some of the stores participating include Allison's Common Scents Shoppe, Beatniks, Marvin's Camera, Ben's Crafts & Florals, Aunt Mary's Parlor, Grimm & Gorly, Harold Smith Pharmacy, eye on design and more.  

RAIN, MAN

I got this out of The Belleville News Democrat.  Belleville area residents are being offered the chance to be a little greener and for a lower price than other outlets.  The City of Belleville is teaming with Prairie Rain Harvester Inc. of Urbana to sell rain barrels for $65 a piece.  I saw in a magazine where a variety of these barrels were being offered from around $150 to $250, so that's a big savings.  For details, deadlines and pick up information check out www.prairierainharvester.com/belleville.  You need to order online by Aug. 12th or postmark your order by Aug. 7th.   I think John and I are going to try and place an order for a couple.

YIPPEEE! YARD SALE ACROSS THE SOUTH!

That's right, baby.  It's that time (almost) and I'm counting it down.  A week from Wednesday I head to Tennessee to take in The Yard Sale Across the South, also known as the Highway 127 Sale, also known as The World's Longest Yard Sale.  I just call it a whole lot of fun!  The sale runs for over 650 miles from the Ohio/Kentucky border down through Alabama.  I've already been 3 times but each of those times was concentrated on about a 45 mile stretch north and south of Lexington, Kentucky.  This time we're headed in to the north part of Tennesee and the south part of Kentucky.  We'll be spending a lot of time in Jamestown, TN, the capitol of the sale and where it originated.

I've been "squirreling" my mad money away for over a month now and have a nice nest egg for spending.  I've made my list and I'm checking it twice.  My friend, Kathy, is emptying out their Honda Element, all but the front seats, so we can fill it with our treasures.  Kathy and I have been "antiquing" together since we got out of college.  We've been to numerous flea markets throughout the Midwest.  We've visited the Sandwich (IL) Antique Market, the Heart of the Country Antique Show in Nashville, TN, we've covered The Covered Bridge Festival in Brown County Indiana too many times to count and visited many an antique mall and shops all over the place.  On our list to still visit:  The Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market in California, Round Top in Texas and Brimfield in Massachusettes.  And last of all we have dreams of visiting the markets in France and England.  I've made it to the Covent Gardens Market in London and another market over there (the name escapes me at the moment) but there is more to explore!

Back to the yard sale across the south, it starts on Thursday and we plan to be there when the stalls open.  We plan to shop all day Thursday and Friday and either come home Friday night or Saturday.  It just depends on how long it takes to fill the Element!  I'll fill you in on what treasures I found when I get back.  Got anything you'd like me to keep an eye out for?  A friend of my sister's wants me to keep an eye out for an old trumpet to make a lamp out of but I'm to pay no more than $20.  What do you want?

ULTA OPEN IN FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS

The new Ulta Beauty store is now open in Fairview Heights, next to The Bed Bath & Beyond on Route 159.  Their grand opening sale is going on through Saturday, August 1st.  Their sales flyer, which has been in the Belleville News Democrat, has a coupon for $3.50 off a $10 or more purchase.  In make up they are carrying such brands as Cargo, Smashbox, Benefit, Lorac, Urban Decay, bareMinerals, L'Oreal, Cover Girl and Revlon.  You'll also find Ulta's own store brand.  In hair products they carry such brands as Graham Webb, bigsexyhair, Paul Mitchell, Catwalk, Joico, Nioxin, Redken and more.  You'll also find facial products, hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, razors and more.  Salon services are also available.  Visit their website at www.ulta.com for all the details.  

SHOPPING IN WATERLOO

A Retirement Celebration Sale is currently going on through August 1^st at Back on the Rack in Waterloo.  Christine is retiring and thanking her customers with a 50% off sale.

A World of Difference, A Healthy Food Store, in Waterloo has new summer hours.  They are currently open Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 to 6:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Take advantage of this great barbecuing weather and head to Schneider’s Quality Meats in Waterloo to pick up some of their award-winning Brats for the grill.  They make a large selection of specialty brats, the best brats you’ll ever eat!

Immanuel Lutheran Church is hosting a Rummage Sale this Saturday, August 1^st from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  All proceeds go to Immanuel’s School.  Currently, the school has openings in the 4 year-old preschool class for the 2009-2010 school year.  Immanuel also plans to begin a Christian kindergarten in the fall of 2010.  Please contact Immanuel’s church office at 939-6480 for more information about the Rummage Sale or the School.

INSPIRATIONAL GREETING CARDS BY DEBBIE LARGENT

Debbie Largent of Waterloo shared with me her new endeavor.  In addition to being a floral designer at Memory Lane Gifts and Floral on Main Street in Columbia, she is now also one of their resident artists.  She is producing "inspirational " cards that combine her photography with inspirational verses.  At the present, her collection includes 20 different photographs.  Some of her photographs are from her travels while others are from right in her own backyard.  She carries her digital camera with her at all times just in case she needs to pull off the road and take a picture. She thanks Gary Edwards of Dupo for all his help in providing her with the spiritual verses. Debbie said that the photographs are nice by themselves and the spiritual verses are also nice, but it took both the photograph and the verse together to make the card "complete".  Debbie is very excited that her cards are ready to sell and also equally excited that her name is on the back of the cards.   Currently the cards can be purchased at Memory Lane and Drew's Landscaping in Evansville.

Debbie will also be participating in the Art on the Bluffs Art Walk in Columbia on Saturday, October 3^rd.  The Art on the Bluffs Committee is in their final push to round out the slate of participating artists.  If you are interested in displaying and selling your art in the fair please get your application in as soon as possible.  Applications are available at City Hall and by emailing artonthebluffs@hotmail.com.  The committee is also looking for sponsors for the event.  If you would like more information on the various sponsorship opportunities please contact Carol Fetcho by emailing her at dfetcho584@aol.com.

PARTY LITE WEBSITE

A friend of mine has a friend, Tina Thien, that sells Party Lite and she is trying to spread the word about her website.  Check out www.partylite.biz/tinathien to view all their products and monthly specials and promotions.

SHOP THE SCHOLARSHOP!

I wrote last week about Sweet Charity and The Exchange having a parking lot sale last weekend.  A friend replied to me that she knew of another second hand shop that is also having an end of summer sale.  The Scholarshop has two St. Louis locations.  The location the location in Clayton across Clayton Road from the Galleria started a 50% off summer merchandise sale on Monday.  The Webster Groves location is starting a 75% off sale this Friday and some sort of "fill the shopping bag" sale next Monday.  They carry everything from clothing for the entire family to home decor and housewares.  Check it out and let me know how you make out!

BIG SALE THE PAINTED HORSE

OK, I haven't been there yet, but I've always heard good things and I'm hoping to check it out myself this weekend.  It's the Painted Horse in Freeburg, IL.  They are located at 810 South State Street in Freeburg and according to a friend they are having a huge SALE event this weekend.  The sale runs Thursday through Sunday and I believe they have extended hours during this event.  Call the store at 539-0146 before you head out.  I believe they are going to be discounting everything in the store from 10 to 75%.  And there is also going to be an extensive parking lot sale going on at the same time.  It sounds like a cross between a yard sale and a flea market, I'm not sure, but it sounds well worth checking out!

I'M BAAAACCCKKK

Well, not yet, but soon.  I'm prepping and tweaking and plan to be back blogging sometime next week!  Stay posted!  I'll be back and better than ever!