I (puffy heart) the Gap Outlet

I was in a neighboring town for a business lunch and meeting today. Said town happens to have a rather fabulous oulet mall. Said business meeting lasted too long and kept me from spending more time there. However I did manage to get a quick trip to The Gap, Banana Republic, and the make-up place. Although I found a few items at Banana Republic, I only purchased items at The Gap.

First is this cute creamy colored sweater. It's very thin, three-quarter sleeves, has a loose decorative knit, and a fabulous keyhole with button detail. It's going to be a great spring staple with a cream or bold colored cami underneath it. I also think wearing black underneath it with black trousers would be very sleek. It was only $8.

Next I got this blue jersey knit dress. Does it look familiar? Yes, it's just like brown version I bought last month. It was only $15 and it will be so great for spring and summer in that fresh shade of blue. I plan on making it weekend wear with brown leather flip flops (also from The Gap). I'll probably also wear it on casual Friday with healed, thong sandals.

Last is this brown, merino wool sweater for only $15. It's thin enough to layer but soft and warm. It looks great with jeans as well as my dark pink trousers and eggplant colored trousers. Pardon the wrinkles, I pulled it out of the laundry for the picture.

Memo to Old Navy

Dear Old Navy,

For the love of all that is good in this world clean up that hell-hole that you call a retail establishment.

Your entire store was one big messy hunk of junk. Tables were piled moutain high with who-knows-what. The only items actually on hangers were all shoved on one teeny, tiny rack and nearly exploded at my very presence. The only thing I could find and browse easily was the very small section of dog items on the end-cap of the register.

However, one can't be in search of new yoga pants and make a trip to Old Navy and come out with only a bag with a new polo for The Bargainista Pooch that she intends to monogram with only that now can one? Don't worry, I didn't. But mostly because I'm mad at you Old Navy.

You often have a lovely variety of yoga pants, zip-up hoodie jackets, socks, and the occasional decent shirt or sweater. However, face it, you're clothes are made cheaply and not exactly long-lasting quality. That said, I still purchase items that are rather inexpensive because I feel I can get my use out of them.

What I will not do is search through your heaps of junk. No siree not me!

I may be The Bargainista, but the only way I'm throwing punches and diving headfirst into that mess is if there is the promise of a pair of True Religion jeans on the bottom for 90% of that fit my stubby legs, birthing hips, and bubble bum perfectly.

Now let me out, I'm going to Target for yoga pants.

Charmingly yours,
The Bargainista

Sexy Pink Shoes (Nancy)

Nancy found these sexy pink heels at a store called Younkers in Michigan. Orignal price was $120 and she paid only $36! Wow! We need a Younkers in the South!

Plum Dress

I found this great little dress at Kohl's and it was discounted 90%. It had been $59.99 and I paid only $5.80. I nearly tinkled! I love dresses like this, a very light cotton.

The color is more of a jewel-tone plum than the brightness the camera shows. I used the flash so you could see the great gathered detailing on the front and the elastic on the sleeves. It makes them very blousy and feminine. It can easily be worn in the summer and bundled up to wear in the winter. I'm going ot wear it with brown tights, a brown cami, and brown boots, or black tights and boots with my black pashmina. I also have this great necklace I made that looks perfect with it (see below). That with a gold bangle and gold earrings should complete the look. It will be perfect for my meeting with an advertising agency next week.

Cute Must-Haves

Mrs. Bargainista and I are putting finishing a third bathroom in our home. We had money on a gift card and went to Marshall's to look for a new shower curtain. We didn't have a shower curtain, but did find other items we'd never pay retail for!

First are these very charming and rustic frames:

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We'd first saw similar items on our honeymoon. They were in a quaint little shop on one of the items and sold for $60-80. I took pictures of all the cute items in case I could ever recreate them and also to remind me I would find them for a better deal! I'm sure these aren't the handcrafted luxury that the items from the shop were, but they are great all the same. The larger frame was $12.99 and the smaller was $8.99. These will most likely go in the master bedroom. We found old windows and shutters at an estate sale quite some time ago and this will tie the whole look together.

Next I found these ceramic, wipe-off place holders/labelers:
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I first saw these through another blog and found them adorable. I love to entertain and what a cute little touch this would be (I'm all about the details!). I'd found them only to be $20 for a pack of four. I paid $6.99 for a pack of four and bought both packs they had. I'd have probably got a third one if it was available. You write on these with a marker but it comes clean with soap and water to use and re-use.

How cute will it look when I serve brunch of car bread with my milk in a glass bottle?

(In case you didn't know, Marshall's is part of the T.J. Maxx chain that includes Ross and Homegoods as well. If you have any of these stores near you, you may be able to find the above items.)

Spyder Fleece

I have to credit this post to Mr. Bargainista. He found it at our favorite thrift store while I was enjoying muffins, mimosas, and manicures with the girls. This jacket retails in the neighborhood of $100, but Mr. Bargianista scored it for only $4.99 and it's practically brand new! He was very proud of it, as he should be. I noticed it was a bit snugger and shorter on him than normal. Then, ding-ding-ding, the light bulb went off; it will fit me perfectly. And that it does!

(front with full zipper and zipper left pocket, bag, tag)

White House|Black Market Shirt Sale (Rusti)

Rusti did it again! She found this oh-so-cute little shirt at White HouseBlack Market (we just got a new one in MyTown!) on a great sale. It was regularly $98.00, but marked down to $59.99 and then another 30% discounted. Grand total was $41.99.


This darling little dress was given to her as a gift. She was going to buy it from a friend who didn't want/need it any longer but then the friend gave it to her. Sweet! I love friends like that. Likewise I love giving goood duds to friends too.


Rusti really will be smokin' hawt with these little ditties plus her fabulous shoes. Look out cruise ship--here she comes!

Outlet Shopping: The Mothership

Mr. Bargainista and I took a juant to visit friends over the long New Year's weekend and while we were there took a pilgrimage to visit the mothership. The mothership that is the Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma outlet. (No I'm not getting paid to say the names, but I'll write them out in case the google me and want to reward me of my love with lots of goodies. You know, just in case.)

Best Deal Ever at the Pottery Barn:

Orignal Price: $1499
Our Price: $450

This lovely armoire now graces our den! I convinced Mr. Bargainista just had to have it! There was a great sale and this great discounts and the more great markdowns that allowed us to afford this fabulous piece.

Other Pottery Barn goodies I found include some wonderful storage for my studio. I bought a few of these very sturdy canves boxes to fit on the shelf in the closet and to keep small items organized and easy to find.

Original Price: $24.99

Outlet Price: $16.99

My Price: $4.99

I also have some natural color canvest storage bins I purchased from there last summer (shown below). They were a mere $6.99 each and are great for storing patterns, my iron, etc.

In keeping up with storage I purchased a few magazine files to match the boxes. These will help me keep up with customers and orders as well as organizing information for a few organiaztions I'm a member of.

Original Price: $24.99
Outlet Price: $16.99
My Price: $4.99

I also purchased a few fabulous items of Christmas decor, but didn't get a picture before they were stored. But let it be said that the items were 60% plus 40% discounted!

Next, we were on to Williams-Sonoma, full of a gabazillion discounts and markdowns as well. We found another fabulous deal-of-the-year type bargain!

Retail Price: $249 (I think)

Outlet Price: $189

My Price: $88

This fabulous CuisineArt (Hi CuisineArt people! Send me free stuff!), non-stick, stainless steel cookware is a dream! Mr. Bargainist and I had wanted it for some time but just couldn't bite the bullet for the price. Patience paid off and we didn't have to! Just look at the numbers! It is by far the most fabulous cookware ever. EV-ER! (My apologies for the poor picture).

Other great finds at Williams-Sonoma included a large pack of bar towels ($6), bar clothes (4.50), and a soap and lotion for my little sink caddy ($3.25 each).

Mr. Bargainista found an adorable little loaf pan that is 6 loaves of cars! He had to have it ($8) and I suppose I'll be make banana bread those goes Vroom! Vroom! very soon.

And how about this cute little milk bottle:

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It was only $3.50 and is cute-as-can-be. You can't see the impression on it but there is a cow on one side and a "100% Pure Milk" on the other. When entertaining and serving it looks much nicer than the big plastic jug of milk. It's perfect to sit out with cold cereals or blueberry bread cars (see above!), or guests or to have on table during brunch. I only wish I could actually have this filled and re-filled at a farm store.

Thank you for a fabulous day my mothership!