Black Friday fun!

SLACKER that I have become....I am finally getting on here to post about my recent Black Friday experience at the outlets in Cabazon, CA.

We stayed up rather late on turkey night, eating, taking silly photos, drinking in the fab pomegranate martini's my sis, Marla, makes & just having a truly FUN Thanksgiving (for a change). Marla & Micah were over, and Ian came for a few hours. My Aunt Francine also joined us. My dad was visiting from Michigan with his fiance, so it was nice to finally meet her. She is just as warm & friendly as my dad said she would be!

My youngest sister, Shawna, came from Chicago to join in the festivities, so it was equally nice to have her with us (she is not a fan of flying). Shawna has amazing porcelain skin & is the hipster I always wanted to be when I was young. She has a flair for taking wonderful photos, particularly the "silly ones" with her old-school Polaroid camera.

Last, but not least, my sister Aimee, came from Michigan, complete with her hubby & their 2 gorgeous toddlers. They stayed at our home with us.....crammed into our tiny den on a futon, but they were troopers! They insist they never slept better, but I don't see how. ha ha!!!

So, back to the main event......after a late-night bowl of Chili John's for me, Mike & my brother-in-law, Craig, we headed up to bed, knowing full-well that Marla would be calling at around 5am to wake us for the Black Friday event. We could have gone earlier, but no one wanted to rise & shine before 5am & the guys did not want to rise & shine for shopping at all. The plan was to drop them off at Casino Morongo while the girls & kids went shopping.

My dad & Maria headed out to the outlets first & earliest. We met up with them there. Apparently, they thought that the desert remained hot even in winter....they showed up in short sleeves, sandals & no jacket! To say they were chilled was an understatement....and let's not forget the chilly winds that blow through the Palm Springs area. Brrrrr!!!! Marla & Shawna headed out in a separate car next. Shawna was not too happy to wake up so early just to go shopping, but she did.....largely because Marla promised her there was an Old Navy at the end of the rainbow. I tried to warn everyone that there was NO Old Navy store out there, but I guess no one heard me (must have been the turkey day booze clogging their ears). Poor Shawna was outta luck on that one, but she still scored some great goodies at some of the other shops. Last, it was me, Mike, Aimee, Craig & the 2 wee-ones, packing ourselves into a rented mini-van. We were slow moving, hung-over, and had 2 kids to get out the door.... But, we made it!! The boys were dropped at the casino with some kisses for luck & off we went to the outlets. Aimee was so excited, I think she nearly pee'd her pants. ha ha!

Parking was a nightmare! The streets & gravel areas off the side of the highway were crammed with cars. I have never seen such a sight out there! We took the first space we found & hoofed it down towards the outlet stores & thanks to cell phone technology, we managed to hook up with the rest of our group for loads of tag-team shopping & babysitting. Hailee refused the stroller, so it came in awful handy for carrying packages. Little Brian slept part of the time in his stroller.....lucky guy! The stores were packed, but for the most part, the lines moved smoothly & quickly, no matter how long they were.

Banana Republic had some of the best deals -- everything in the store was a full 50% off, even the clearance items were an additional 50% off! Made it real easy to calculate costs when you just cut the ticket prices in half! I refused to wait for a fitting room to try on a skirt, so I did so out on the sales-floor.....in a thong. Not one of my better moments & Marla managed to catch it on film (see her Facebook page for those pix). I am guessing some other dudes in the store may have as well & I could be up on You-Tube for all I know (thanks again cell phone technology!). I tried to keep my exposed back-side up against a wall of faux UGG boots, but I am sure some "crack" was exposed. Ooops! No, I did not buy the skirt. All that trouble for nothin'!! It was cute, but rather tight & there was no way I was going to try on a second one, being the first one was SO difficult to wrangle myself in & out of!

J. Crew had about 40% off most of their merchandise, which worked out well for us (translation: we have lots of shopping full shopping bags from this store). The clearance items were an extra 50% off. I love $12 sweaters!!! Marla got a CUTE mini-skirt in black, white & yellow plaid. I almost did the same, but I held off.

The Gap was PACKED.....but Aimee & I managed to fill up our bags with some fun items, including boxer shorts for our men. Mike's are green with gingerbread men on them. Craig's are colorful stripes. We thought about getting them matching undies, but laughed & opted to pass on that idea. Boys are funny about that stuff, you know. The Gap was a well-oiled machine with their super long line. I was through that line in maybe 5 minutes, much to my surprise....and with a new plaid miniskirt in hand, along with an eggplant top & Mike's new boxers. I saw other goodies, but apparently, most of the stuff I liked in that store was not on sale. Argh! Aimee bought too many things for me to list! (She has kids, too, you know!!).

There were LINES like you cannot imagine to gain access to stores like Gucci. That line was a 5 hour wait just to get inside!!! Sadly, we had to pass. Aimee wanted to cry, I'm sure, because that was the main reason we went all that way to shop -- to hit up Gucci. Ferragamo had some amazing handbag deals & while my hubby told me to get one if "I had to have one", I passed. It was sweet of him to offer, but buying handbags is "his thing" & I prefer to save that event for when we are shopping together & it's not just me in a Black Friday Frenzy! True Religion also had a long line that my dad opted to wait in, only he did not buy anything after all that waiting. I think he scored some designer jeans later at the Sacks outlet, however, for far less coin. Kenneth Cole was giving $25 off for each $100 you spent. Nice!!!

Michael Kors had some great deals, including 40% off their handbags. Impressive pricing for sure! My niece had maybe 8 of these bags strewn along her tiny arms as she paraded through the store......but since she did not have any money, they all had to go back! :)

The crowds were getting thicker & thicker.....shopping was more & more chaotic. Our strollers & arms were full of packages & our feet were getting as tired as our eyeballs. We were hungry, too. The goldfish crackers were long since eaten....now what??

Me & my sisters, plus the kids, paused for a break by sitting on a curb, eating hot pretzels, churros & bottled water for a bit. By then, the sun was out & the temps were warmer, but that wind was still blowin'. We did a bit more shopping & gradually parted ways for everyone to head home. My dad & Maria opted to head into Palm Springs for the remainder of the day where they stumbled upon an art show (one of my dad's favorite things). Aimee & I made a few calls to reach our boys & picked them up from the casino around 1:30pm & then we drove on outta that town. We made a stop in Pasadena for a wonderful lunch/dinner at a Mexican place called Margarita Jones. YUMMY! Probably the smoothest margaritas I have ever tasted....and the Centenario Anejo tequila certainly did not hurt, either. Don't worry....I did not drink & drive! I only had a sip off Mikey's drink while my nephew discovered the glories of guacamole & proceeded to ingest an entire bowl of the green concoction all by himself. It was a magical day, indeed!

Hope you all had a happy "black Friday" as well.

Happy Shopping!

Black Friday

Are you ready for Black Friday?? Personally, I am counting the days since my sisters will be here visiting from the Michigan area & from Chicago....and we have plans to shop until we drop! The goal is to pile everyone into a passenger van & make a trip to Cabazon & hit the outlets, which open at midnight. Wahooo!!!! The men would likely spend their time at the Casino Morongo instead. We shall see how it all pans out.

I have not partaken in Black Friday in years. I always shop WAY early & stash everything so by the time Black Friday rolls around, I am long since done, my gifts are wrapped & there is not much left for me to do but sit home & avoid the crowds......but I have to admit that I miss that rush! It was so fun to wake up before the sun (coming from someone who is not a morning person, that speaks miles) & head out with ads & coupons in hand to hit all the big sales, get all the freebies many stores offer for the early birds, etc. I'm really hoping my man & my sisters really wanna do this because it sounds so fun!!! (And, I could really use some new boots, so at least I have a shopping goal).

Many stores open super early for Black Friday, as do many of the outlet malls, including the outlets at the Citadel. We may hit those, too, not sure. So many places to shop & so little time (and funding). I seldom read the newspaper, but always look forward to the Thanksgiving edition since that's when you find all of the sale ads & coupons. I am anxiously awaiting it all & looking forward to sharing in the frenzy with all 3 of my gorgeous sisters. I plan to take pix & document the day, so check back.

I have one sister who has been hocking stuff on E-bay in order to raise some additional shopping funds for the big day. My other two sisters have just been trying to save a few bucks in anticipation of Black Friday plans. Personally, I have been trying to just hold off buying anything now, so that I have reason to buy when the big day gets here....and saving a few bucks until then is not a bad idea, either. : )

There are too many deals to name & list. I see them online & in my inbox daily. Too many to share, I'm afraid. So, here's to the shopping frenzy that has come to be known as Black Friday! Wake up early, have a good (quick) breakfast, & don those comfy walking shoes.....it's gonna be a long & glorious day!

Happy Thanksgiving!
HAPPY SHOPPING!

CLINIQUE Bonus Time!

It's that time again.....free stuff!!! Head out to your local Nordstrom CLINIQUE counter & if you spend $25, you get a well-stocked "gift with purchase", including a Trina Turk make-up bag. Supplies are limited......Hurry!

And, of course, Happy Shopping!!

Turkey Day Shopping coming soon!

As you know, I love me those premium outlets at Cabazon, just outside of Palm Springs!!! And, I got an e-mail that they will begin their "after Thanksgiving" sales events there starting at MIDNIGHT of Thanksgiving Day. Yippeeeee!!! My sisters & other family members will be visiting us here in LA for the holiday -- eager to shop as they are, we may just pull an all-nighter & go shopping. Stay tuned for the details OR, head on out to Cabazon yourself come midnight on a full belly of turkey dinner. What could be a better end to an already fun holiday??? Shopping under the stars in a spectacular outlet mall in the desert! Wahoo!!!

If you go online to the website for Chelsea Premium Outlets & select the Cabazon location, you can get all the details, see who is having the big discounts & sometimes, even print coupons for added percentage discounts.

Happy Shopping!!!!

TAG!

I got tagged by Tina.....ask you & shall receive!

I don't have anyone to tag that is not already playing, but I hope you all enjoy this hideous photo of me & my sis, just for kicks. This is a SUPER old photo of me & one of my sisters, circa 1983, if I had to guess. I know I was a junior in high school or about to be one, as much as I hate to admit that looking back on this photo with our fab mullets & geek attire! It was ALL about Adam Ant in those days, as well as Duran Duran. This photo was taken by our dad during a trip to Detroit to visit him & the rest of the family. I later read the rules of this game. The rules of this photo blog tag are as such....

What to Do:

Go to your photo files, pick the 6th folder and the 6th picture and post it! Then tag 5 of your unsuspecting friends! So, if I play by the rules, the real photo, from folder #6, photo #6 is the one of the peacock. I took this photo at the LA Arboretum in the earlier part of this decade. The damn bird would not open his feathers, so this was as good as it got!


Thanks, Tina!

Bella Wish -- handcrafted w/ LOVE

OK, time for some online FUN shopping for a change.....a very dear friend gave birth to an adorable little girl nearly 6 months ago (my, how time flies) & this new chapter of motherhood has pushed her to find other means of making a living.....so she can stay home & be with her sweet baby more & be off in some horrid office environment less. She has created a line of jewelry & is working at adding items daily to her site on Etsy. Here is the link.....I hope it works, if not, try searching on Etsy.com for BELLA WISH.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5830407

At any rate, BELLA WISH specializes in ALL hand-made pieces, as well as custom orders, including adorable dog tags for the pups in your life. Items are of the best quality sterling silver, some include gemstones or charms -- the choice is yours & the possibilities for creativity are endless! All of the items are hand-stamped, hand-finished & made with lots of love & care, not to mention the attention to detail. No 2 items are alike.

My pal is so very creative & it's wonderful to see her taking this leap into self-employment. I hope that I can soon follow in her footsteps, but in the meantime, I hope you will drop by her online store & do a little shopping to support her cause.....and to keep the real-life Bella Wish well-stocked in clean diapers! ha ha!!!! Check back often as she is constantly adding new photos as new items are created. Working all alone & by just her own 2 hands takes time, you know. And, speaking of worthy causes, some of her items also provide for charitable donations to be made to various organizations when you purchase them.....just be sure to read her item descriptions & you will learn all you need to know about all of the items & any linked charity causes. (She will donate to the ASPCA on the dog tag sales, for example).

Hurry, check it out!! I am sure my pal would be happy to have you visit her BELLA WISH Etsy store and I know she would LOVE to make you a custom pendant!

Happy Shopping!

Underwear from Down Under

I think I may just have a new fave vendor for underwear.....GILLY HICKS Sydney! It's actually a spin-off of Abercrombie, but all undies, bras & some lounge-wear. We went to the retail store at the new Americana at Brand in Glendale last weekend....purely by accident. I was not shopping for undies -- after all, I have MORE than a girl could ever possibly use! But, they had such a cute store-front, like a quaint old beach-house porch with big, down-filled patio furniture to lounge on... how could we resist? We were intrigued & had to head inside to see what it was all about. It's probably not fair to freeload, I mean LOUNGE on their porch without at least taking a peek inside, right?

At the front door, you are greeted by cute employees decked out in some COMFY looking loungewear with the Gilly Hicks logo all over it. Inside, it's dim & dark, with dark wood floors & you have to wander from room to room.......much like a real house only without windows or much in the way of lighting. The place is constantly being "misted" by some form of aroma-therapy, but subtle. There are girls perched everywhere in their comfy "uniforms" of Gilly Hicks lounge pants & tanks -- I guess they have to keep an eye on you in that dark place to make sure you don't shoplift! ha ha!!!!

As you wander from room to room, there are cute, simple tables & wall displays of undies, undies & more undies.....sprinkled with a few tanks, camisoles, shorts, T's, lounge pants & hoodies. Everything is soft -- like a chamois cloth!!! All the displays have very focused tiny halogen spot-lights, so while the entire store is DARK like night, all you see is the lit up displays of panties & the like. The prices are not as bad as I would have expected, either, but not cheap.

The fitting rooms have dressers inside them (as in furniture dressers) filled with all the popular bras in all sizes so you can try them all on without having to run out repeatedly to get other sizes or styles. Genius idea!

It's like being in a fun-house of underwear.....so dark & compartmentalized, but fun because you never know what's around the next corner in the next room! The cash wrap desk is in the far back corner of the store & if you can believe it, it's even darker in that room still! They wrapped up my purchases SO cute & the bag is adorable with sturdy, thick paper & cloth handles. My husband said this was the first time he ever actually enjoyed underwear shopping & looks forward to going again. (Normally, you can't pay him enough to set foot in a place like VS, for example).

So, after we dropped a small fortune & signed away the rights to our first-born, we made our way back out of the dark, cozy store.....and by cozy, I am not implying small. It was a big place, with a LOT of rooms! Make sure you have your sunglasses ready upon exiting because that daylight sun is blinding after wandering through that dark underwear fun-house for the last 30 minutes or so........all in all, a really fun experience! And, the undies are very comfy & flattering, too!

On a side note, I found that most of the panties run smaller than normal, so keep that in mind if you are buying stuff without trying it on -- and, let's face it, how many of us try on undies before we buy?? Not many & certainly not I.

GILLY HICKS -- a whole lotta fun for your undergarment needs! I highly recommend at least touring the store, but I dare you to walk out without buying SOMETHING. :)

Happy Shopping!