Fabulous Black Friday Giveaway!!!

The time has arrived for my big announcement! My apologies I did not post it yesterday but I didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning after partaking in some early Black Friday shopping. I had some great success and am hoping that those of you who were out and about had good luck in your shopping fun as well. Speaking of shopping fun - how fun would it be to win 60 awesome items from 60 different vendors?!? It could be your lucky day and think of all the fun gift giving as a result of winning it all!

I am happy to announce that I am part of the Fabulous Black Friday Giveaway Event going on now through November 30th. One winner will not only win a shopping spree with me through Rendi, but that SAME winner takes ALL the items posted in the giveaway. What?!? Yes! You read it right...so hurry to the Fabulous Fun Finds blog to find out how to be entered for all the loot. Good luck! Wish I could enter - there is some REALLY cool stuff in this giveaway! Here's a preview of some of the 60 (yes, 60!!!) items to be won! Who knows, it may be YOUR lucky day. You never will know unless you enter!

Images Courtesy of Individual Giveaway Vendors via Pinterest :: Fabulous Fun Finds Fabulous Black Friday Giveaway Event

FREE shopping money for YOU!!!

Yes, you read it right...you will get a FREE $20 credit to your account when you sign up for RueLaLa.com!!! Yup. Just for creating a free account! RueLaLa.com is the destination for 2-day-only Boutiques, filled with the designers we love at private sale prices. It's free, fabulous, and invitation-only. Here's your invitation!

PLEASE GIVE ME MY $20 CREDIT TO START FINDING DESIGNER DEALS!!!

HURRY! The FREE $20 credit is only available via personal invite and through 10/24/2010!!!

Enjoy and happy shopping!!!

Brand New Shopping Link

Exciting news - there's a new private shopping club for men and women who want designer items (apparel and accessories) at up to 70% off retail. It's called Beyond the Rack and is by invite only! Here's how it works: BTR obtains authentic designer merchandise and provides it exclusively to its members through limited-time events. Each event starts at a specific time and typically lasts only 48 hours. After each event ends, the merchandise is no longer available. Members are notified by email in advance of each upcoming event according to their preferences.

Visit my right hand column under :: shopaholic secrets for great online deals :: to score other fabulous things for discounted prices. Start with Beyond the Rack and work your way down the list - have fun and enjoy the benefits of membership of these great sites!

::::: PS Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY here :::::
:: ends TOMORROW Wed 5/19 at 11:59 pm CST ::

(Image courtesy of Beyond the Rack)

Planning for the Big Move (and another GIVEAWAY coming SOON!)

As you know, we are planning a big move back to the city from which we moved...Confused? Yes, so was I when we got the news. Ironic? Eerily. Easy? Well...I could think of many, many other things more painful, so you won't find me complaining. On the bright side, there are many fun things on the horizon like updating our daughter's room to a 'big girl room' and getting her ready for preschool come the fall. CSN stores recently approached me to do a review on one of their products and I happily agreed (insert cartwheel here). Have you heard of them? They have everything under the sun in one place from an awesome variety of toddler beds to some of the cutest options in children's wall art. Moving and making our daughter's new room 'perfecto!' will be a piece of cake with CSN stores, that's for sure!

And let's not forget preschool this fall - new experiences are always so exciting! I will be receiving this adorable Skip Hop Penguin Zoo backpack to review for our daughter and giving one away to a lucky reader! Come back here in the very near future to read about the giveaway and enter. In the meantime, check out the 200+ CSN stores - but make sure you have ample time to browse their goods...you'll need it. Seriously.

(Image courtesy of CSNstores.com).

Friends Don't Let Friends Pay Retail

Seriously...here is another fantabulous site for you to visit - Haute Look. It is similar to the site where I got my Orla Kiely bag for dirt cheap...so check it out! You can join for free and browse as you wish...they list their sales, current and coming, so you're always informed. Plus the timing couldn't be better - hit the sales before Black Friday comes and goes...all from your chair at home in your pjs...no long lines, no elbow bumping, no thumb-wrestling for the last Tickle Me Elmo (does that happen?)...anyway, you get the idea.

Don't waste any more time - they have great sales going on like COACH and Plan Toys right now! Check it out at Haute Look and never pay retail again!

(Image courtesy of Haute Look)

GAP Give and Get = Shopping Karma

I absolutely LOVE this promo - it's a great idea and I participate in it every year. GAP offers a Give and Get coupon - 30% off of anything for 4 days - with 5% going to the charity of YOUR choice (they have a group you get to pick from and they are all worthy charities). You can send an invite to participate to 25 of your friends - if they buy, 5% of their purchase will be donated to that charity of your choice. Although 5% isn't a ton, there is a domino effect going on here and as they say, every little bit adds up.

I urge you to participate in this when it rolls around next time - keep your eyes peeled. Here's a sampling for what I got for just about $60 with the 30% OFF! Three basic layering shirts for me (came to $8.75 for the Favorite tees and $10.50 for the gray super soft tee), uber cute legwarmers for Miss Gabi (hello, $7!) and some new cologne for the hubs (under $20). Right now, they have an online special running through November 22nd. Get 25% off your entire purchase (regularly priced items only) by entering GIFT123 at checkout (some exclusions apply - check the website for full details).


(Images courtesy of GAP)

Wonderful Weekend Wardrobe

Need some suggestions for your weekend wardrobe? Want to look uber cute shopping at the farmer's market, grabbing a latté, catching a movie...? Check out these items - MOST of them are on sale and some pieces are mix and match for more options. DOUBLE BONUS!!! I recently found Sensibly Styled, a site that 'finds all the modest clothing, from all the brands you love, and puts it all in one place'. Inspired by their affordable daily selections and the bright colors of summer that I LOVE, I put together this style board...maybe it will inspire you to do some shopping either online or in your own closet. Either way, have fun! And if something on this board inspired you, please drop me a line to let me know. Stop by these fabulous sites for some mood board inspirations too - Making It Lovely (go to her archives and choose 'style'), Melissa Loves, Oh, Hello Friend and Creature Comforts to name a few...

a) Anthropologie Braided Racerback in Raspberry $29.95 (sale)
b) Anthropologie Daydream & Fancy Cardigan in Sky $49.95 (sale)
c) Forever21 Peasant Tee Top in Green $10.50
d) Orla Kiely Multi Cross Hatch Stem Large Tote $169.89 (sale)
e) Anthropologie Rail Rider Trousers in Beige $29.95 (sale)
f) Anthropologie Crayon Box Necklace $19.95 (sale)
g) Anthropologie Crape Myrtle Thong in Red $49.95 (sale)
h) ShopCloverBelle (etsy.com) Peace Necklace in Red $61.00
i) Boston Proper Border Print Dress in Turquoise Multi $89.99 (sale)
j) Forever21 Jewel Leaf Dangle Earrings in Gold/Green $4.80
k) Anthropologie Smocked Canvas Tote in Yellow $39.95 (sale)
l) Melissinos No. 14 Ionian Handmade Greek Leather Sandals $40.30

(images courtesy of above mentioned sites)

Be sure to shop around!

So, paging through some recent catalog deliveries from the post office caused me to do a double take...if you are looking for a garden stool/glossy end table, be sure to shop around and let your fingers do the walking via internet before you hit the order button. Here's an example...I'm not looking to buy a garden stool, but was sure I had seen this in Tracy Porter's recent catalog (she's having a 40% ADDITIONAL off clearance sale - HURRY and enter clearance40 at checkout, she has some cute stuff left) and also in the latest Ballard Designs catalog.

Tracy Porter's garden stool comes in lipstick red (yummy) and measures 12" in diameter and 15.75" high...ceramic and priced at $360.00. You can get 20% off (purchases over $200, so this would qualify) and FREE SHIPPING...that red is just sooo nice! If you decide to order it, be sure to enter SWEET at checkout.


Ballard Designs garden seat comes in either lime or glazed white and measures 10.5" in diameter and 18" high...ceramic and priced at $139.00.


Depends on what color and size you want, but it sure does make sense to shop around to make sure you get the best deal for what you want.

(images courtesy of Tracy Porter and Ballard Designs)

G is for GREAT deal!

I have been a HUGE fan of Jenn Ski for awhile and was excited when she came out with her Actopus to Zelephant Animal line (screams summer - pool, exploring, zoo - with a toddler). I've been stalking her etsy site for some time, debating on whether to splurge on some items or not. When I was at Michaels the other weekend, I found that line at the store! And you know what?!? If you go online to Michaels.com and sign up for their newsletter, you get a 50% off coupon on regular priced items. Her line is regular priced! So, I got the pack of Alphabet cards (so incredibly cute) for a whopping $3.56. What a steal!

The animal cards have an adorable illustration by Jenn on the front and details of each animal printed on the back. Cute and educational - what more could a mom want! I'm sold and will be getting more items there to scrap this summer. As for her etsy shop, I will be saving up to purchase that keepsake piece for my daughter. She also has a vinyl etsy shop of her artwork and a vintage goods etsy shop. Happy Shopping!

What is your best item you found for a steal?

(images courtesy of Jenn Ski Etsy and K & Company via Michaels)

Paperwink SALE - 30% OFF orders $30 or more!!!

Got this in my inbox this morning - oh happy Friday! And Happy 30th Birthday to Darcey!!! Be sure to check out their site here - it's worth the trip. They not only stock paper goods, but check out these AWESOME rubber stamps. I'm sure you won't have any problem spending $30 to get 30% off. Be sure to enter BIG 30 at checkout to get the discount. Happy Shopping - hope you find some goodies! Thanks Darcey and Tara!