LEAPING FOR BUYS!

So, my sister and I went out shopping this morning to see what kind of deals we could find on leap day.  While we didn't find any once in four years kind of deals I did find some great buys on tops to start my spring wardrobe.  Our first stop was Macy's and my first find was this great Style & Co. red anorak, perfect for spring.  The original price was $79, with half off to $39.50 and then with a $10 off coupon, I paid just $29.50 for it!

Next this Charter Club navy print tunic caught my eye (I love blue), regular price was 21.99, marked down to $16.99 and then with an additional 20% off it came to $13.59.

Next up was this gorgeous Charter Club coral (trendy color for this spring) tunic top with wonderful gold embellishment around the v-neck.  It was originally marked $44, marked down to $15.40 and then with an additional 20% off it cost me just $12.32.

I love ruffles and thankfully they're in style and so there's lots of ruffles to be found.  I bought this INC (International Concepts) red top with elastic waist and 3/4 sleeve for a steal.  Originally priced at $49.50, marked down to $17.32 with an additional 20% off it came to just $13.86. 

Tunics and flowy sleeves are also a big trend that continues this spring.  I love the flowy sleeves and print of this INC tunic.  I can't see paying $59.50 for it but when its marked down to $20.82 and then an additional 20% off brings it to $16.66, well then I'm in!

I'm not usually big on horizontal stripes because, well, I think they usually make me look bigger.  But this looked just so cute under the red anorak and with its cut and neckline I thought those would help to distract from my bigness.  So I broke one of my own rules and bought it.  It was regular priced at $46, then half off that took it to $23 and then an additional 20% off made it my most expensive top at $18.40 (a real splurge for me!).

From Macy's we moved on to the new JCP (JC Penneys if you're not in the know).  I got the coral sweater, St. John's Bay, for $12, their new original price (supposedly 40% lower than retail) was $16.  I have always loved this color and it looks so good with my turquoise jewelry.  Also its versatile because it looks nice with khakis, black, navy, gray, just about anything.

Off of the clearance rack at JCP I found these St. John's Bay lightweight khakis for $5.  They'll be great going into spring and are even light enough in weight to wear in the summer, and believe me, any more, I don't think my legs are anything anyone wants to see too much of!  If you're not in the know about the new JCP, they clearance items on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month.  That means that they will offer items marked down for the first time and that those $5 pants may be just $2 or $3 on Friday, but I'm busy Friday and didn't want to take chances on them being gone in my size.  What doesn't sell (at least in Misses and Petities) will eventually go down to $2 to $5 if they haven't sold at their higher price.  Definitely worth checking out!  I heard they clearanced their coats out at $20 a few weeks ago.


I should mention that the additional 20% I talked about at Macy's was from one of their coupons.  I, personally, like coupons!  But I'll take a bargain anyway I can get one!

SALE INTO SPRING

Spring is on the way!  And sales are abundant.  Here's some sales I've gotten wind of!

The Exchange, a home decor consignment shop at South County is holding a Presidents Day Event through Monday, February 20th.  Pick a sucker and receive savings of 10 to 30% off your entire purchase.  Regularly priced merchandise, not to be combined with other offers.  The store is located at 11437 Gravois Road and they can be reached at 314-842-7300.

A new store is opening next door to The Exchange in two weeks.  Modern Vintage Decor is now accepting vintage furniture and home accessories on consignment.  You can contact then at 314-842-5555 or modernvintagedecor@gmail.com for more information.  You can also check out their website at www.modernvintagedecor.com or follow them on facebook.

The Lagoona Magoo Toys at St. Louis Mills is going out of business the end of February.  They hope to reopen at a new location in the future and their two Illinois locations will continue to operate.  They don't want to pack everything up and move it so they are holding a clearance sale and will also be selling some of their fixtures.  Starting with the Presidents' Day Sale (Feb. 17th through 20th) at the St. Louis Mills, Lagoona Magoo will be sporting some hefty discounts.  The sale pricing is good only at the Mills location and all sales are final.  Once an item is gone, its gone.  As soon as they have news of where and when their new Missouri store will open they will post it on their facebook page, blab about it on their blog and tweet it from the rooftops!

I was in JC Penneys, or should I say JCP, yesterday and checked out their new format.  Its very clean and organized looking.  Prices are everyday discounted and then clearanced out.  They had some $5 racks in petites and misses that had some nice items on them, some winter and even some spring/summer items.  You just might find a real bargain.

Macy's had some clearance racks with a mix of items and of course their coupons to add to the discount.  I ran out of shopping time though and didn't buy anything.  Kohl's also is having a big sale this weekend.  I got my husband some unmentionables (alright I'll mention them, briefs, not boxers, he'll be none to happy with me if he reads this, but then, he rarely does read this) and me some Zumba clothes.  They were 40 to 50% off and then I had received a 30% coupon through the mail that I used so I feel I got a great deal on them.  John's unders were on clearance for 65% off and then I got the extra 30% off so they were like free (not really but very good buy).

So between end of winter and Presidents Day, there are great sales out there everywhere, so get out there and SHOP!!!  Let me know if you've heard of any great sales or have found any great buys!

CHEAPER THAN A RESALE SHOP!

Wow, I was out shopping this morning with my sister and we came across a great sales rack at JC Penney's at St. Clair Square.  They had $2.97 racks scattered throughout the women's clothing department.  We pilfered through the one in petites and each came up with a few scores.  I found 3 Liz Claiborne short sleeve tops in color ways that work well into fall.  Two of them will also look great going into winter with a brown or black sweater cardigan or jacket over them.  And the blue one will look great with a jean jacket this fall!  With these 80 degree fall days, short sleeve tops are all you need.  You can't pick up a second hand top at the Goodwill regular price for $2.97!  Take a look at my finds for yourself!

SHE SHOPS, SHE SCORES!

Went over to South County this morning for my retail therapy. At Macy's I got a pair of Style and Co. boot cut jeans for $18.00, they were 60% off regular price. I also bought a Charter Club traditional V-neck cardigan in red for $3 and something and a Cha Cha Vente (don't you just love that name brand, I had to buy it for that alone) tank with crocheted neck for $4 something. Then I got an additional 20% off that with a coupon card I had in my wallet so all three pieces came to just about $20. But wait, that wasn't even my best buy at Macy's. I went downstairs to the home store and found DVD players on clearance. A Haier (I'm not saying the best brand but it'll work for the price) DVD player that was orig. $49.99 was marked down to $29.99 and then there was an additional 40% off the marked down price so I got it for just $17.99! They wouldn't let me use my coupon for an additional 15% off because it was an electronics. Watcha gonna do. Just the right price for putting it down at our weekend cabin we are purchasing (yeah, I'll tell you more about that after we close next week and its really ours). Ok, back to shopping. Then I headed to Dillard's and got a pair of sterling silver and stone (the blue one can't remember the name of it) earrings for $4. Then a friend called to meet me for lunch so I didn't get to finish shopping there (maybe I'll go back tonight but the hubby wants to go to Rural King and see the bunnies and chicks but that's another story too). After lunch I made a quick trip over to JC Penney because I had a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $10 or more. Found the cutest Navy with white polka dots short sleeve blouse for spring (and it'll look great under that red cardigan from Macy's) for $14.99 minus the $10 coupon and it cost me all of $5. I told you I scored!!!

SHOPPING ALERT

DILLARD'S is taking an additional 30% off marked down merchandise this weekend.  The sale started Tuesday for their credit card holders and was offered to all shoppers starting on Wednesday.  Also know that SEARS has they're clearance racks marked down to $2.99, $4.99 and $9.99 currently.  KOHL'S also seem to have a good sale underway.  I got the cutest Apt. 9 black mandarin collared, lace accented black tee for $8.50, regular price $34.00.  I can't state this enough, if you find something you REALLY like, go over to the price checker and check what its REALLY marked at.  This top was regular priced and on a rack where I couldn't be sure what it was on sale for, if it was on sale at all and NO WHERE did it say that I would get it for 75% off!  It was like winning the lottery!

While I'm at it, I know you don't necessarily want a wallet full of credit cards and you definitely don't want to carry credit card debt but if you're disciplined enough to pay them off at the end of each month then its worth looking at having one for the stores you frequent most IF they have monetary benefits attached to them.  I have a Kohl's charge and they sent me a $10 off card for a purchase of $10 or more to use in my birthday month.  So, I actually got that top I just talked about for free and another dollar and a half off a sun visor I bought.  I also got a birthday certificate from JC Penney's for $15 off a $15 or more purchase.  Scored myself two new summer t's that would have cost me $25 total (and that was on sale) and I got them both for, you got it, 10 bucks!  And they've already sent me another certificate for $10 off a $10 or more purchase for Mother's Day!  Got to tell you, not so impressed with Macy's offers for credit card holders.  All they sent me for my birthday is a coupon for 25% off a purchase, yeah, its good, but not great.  Another good one, especially if you have kids that like Old Navy.  You earn "dollars" with all your purchases and then get sent a $10 or $15 certificate when you reach certain levels.  The great thing about this one is that you can take that certificate and spend it on yourself at The Gap or Banana Republic.  So check out those offers!