Crazy for Christmas Shopping

(Clockwise from top left): Audrey pullover sweater in pink (A&F); AE XO Ring (AE); gold and silver necklace (AE); Manhattan Beach button-down in blue check (HCo.)

It's no secret that I love any opportunity to shop--especially when my wallet is full and the sales are on! The post-Christmas deals are always the best, and I usually have a gift card or two to use up, which is exactly what I did on Tuesday.


First on my list was Victoria's Secret PINK. They have the best selection of bras and undies, as well as some really cute lounge wear in neon shades. But the store was crowded and I couldn't find anything that really caught my eye.


Then we went to A&F and Abercrombie Kids. Both stores were offering 40% off everything, which is a great deal. I ended up buying a pink striped pullover sweater and ruffled light grey tank at A&F and a lacy navy tank with a pinstripe bow at Abercrombie. And all for under $100!

(Closeups from top left): Ashley ruffled tank in grey (A&F); Audrey sweater (A&F); Dessa lacy tank in navy (A&F Kids); Cord Jeggings in light brown (HCo.)

At American Eagle, I was honestly underwhelmed. I tried on a pair of light wash destroyed jeggings, but wasn't thrilled (especially since they were $45) but then gravitated towards the jewelry. I'm almost never disappointed in the selection. I got a gold and silver necklace and a gold jeweled 'X&O' ring, and only had to spend $3, since I had a gift card.


Hollister was the final stop on our list...but we definitely didn't expect to have to wait in line outside the store for our turn to go in! I guess they wanted to prevent the shopper overload that seemed to be present in every other store, which was a good thing. With another gift card, I scored a pair of tan cord jeggings (my second pair ever--I just bought my first denim jeggings from AE last week) and a royal blue/navy buffalo plaid shirt. 


Despite the craziness of the crowds (remind me to never shop 2 days after Christmas), it was well worth it to score a lot of deals and spend just a little over $100 (not counting gift cards, of course)!

(Clockwise from top left): faux leather bomber (F21); Bearpaw Viper boots; ALDO Pirnie booties in grey (Amazon.com); jeggings in dark rinse (AE)

Have you braved the post-Christmas crowds yet this year?

Dog Days of Summer [Shopping]

Little did I know after my last haul just two weeks ago that I'd have another one so soon. As much as I love clothes and I adore shopping, I'm not a compulsive shopper. Most of the times I'm at the mall, I'm window shopping. Haul shopping is not in my budget...usually. But because I was graciously gifted with some birthday money, I thought a little more shopping was in order. Another haul? Why not!

HOLLISTER





Bay Shore lace knit layer in dark grey (HCo., $34.50); Tecolote Canyon twill shorts in navy (HCo., $15)

I've been eyeing this lace tee since July, and I was determined to buy it. On my last haul, I didn't see it, but luckily the store had plenty of these. I had no lace in my closet prior to this purchase and I'm so glad I bought it because it will add a girly element to just about everything, including my boy fit crop jeans. It is definitely see-through, though, so if you buy it, make sure to wear a black bra or a colorful cami underneath. It comes in grey, white and navy.

Beach Street striped tee in blue stripe (HCo., $20); Tecolote Canyon twill shorts in navy (HCo., $15)

I wasn't planning on buying this, but when I saw it near the back of the store in this pretty royal blue color, I couldn't resist. It was also fairly cheap, at just $20. It fits right at my hips, so it'll be perfect to wear with shorts and minis. It comes in navy stripe, dark grey stripe (I may have to snap this one up, too) and solid colors (navy, blue, heather grey and dark grey). I'm starting to really like stripes, especially thin stripes.




Malibu plain button-down in blue plaid (HCo.,$49.50); Tecolote Canyon twill shorts in navy (HCo., $15)

 Apparently, I'm really into royal blue! It's honestly not an overload, though, because I don't think I owned anything in this shade prior to yesterday! This shirt was actually half price at the store, so it was a real steal. It's a pretty thick knit, so it'll probably work better in fall than right now, but it also looks great with twill shorts. It comes in 9 other shades, so you can get your plaid fix easily!

ABERCROMBIE KIDS



Sheer floral cami in navy (A&F Kids); dark denim cuffed shorts (A&F Kids)

 I found this in the clearance section for only $19! It's very cute and definitely my style. The XL fits well and it'll look perfect with shorts now and skinny jeans and a cardi in fall and winter. I love the kids store because I can usually find something that fits me for a lot less than a similar item at A&F.

FOREVER 21



Gold and pearl Love two finger ring (Forever 21, $4.80); mixed bracelets (Aero and AE)

 Yesterday was my first foray into Forever 21 (yes, I know, I'm so behind!) and I've gotta say, I was pretty impressed. I liked a lot of their pink, lacy tops but I just ended up buying this two finger ring. I think it's pretty adorable, even though I don't usually wear gold jewelry. But I think mixing metals is okay, so this should work fine!

What did you buy in your latest haul?

Snowy Day and Lots of Clothes

Hi everyone! Hope your second-to-last day of 2010 is going well. I'm still very excited ater my shopping spree yesterday--I can't wait to wear all my new purchases, as well as the gifts I got for Christmas.

As promised, here are the pictures of my new clothes. Sorry that I'm not actually wearing them, I've been very busy today and with all the snow that's been falling for a few hours, I'm feeling like today's a lazy stay-inside day. I was out all morning running errands and now I'm just relaxing inside and watching the snow fall. It's the first real snow that the Front Range (of Colorado) has gotten all season, so it's pretty big!

My shopping bags

Bearpaw Eva boots in grey mist (Christmas)



Close up of boots



Hollister cardigan & Abercrombie tank (shopping)

A&F Benni cardigan (shopping)

A&F Julia pajama pants (shopping)

Close up of pjs

AE cardigan (last year) and AE ribbon tank (shopping)

Close up of tank

A&F Abigail Cardigan in light pink (Christmas)

AE Slouchy Jeans (shopping)

I also got a pair of metallic tights and a necklace from AE for Christmas but didn't post the pics because it was taking a long time anyway.
Have a very happy New Year's Eve and good luck with any post-Christmas shopping!

Christmas Round-Up Part 2

Yesterday was the big shopping day and I can definitely say that I spent the most I ever have in one day! Not to mention my arms hurt from carrying 5 bags but it was a great day.
My parents, sister and I went to Park Meadows in Denver and boy was it crowded! I thought by December 29th the after-Christmas crowds would have died down a little but it was crazier than ever.
We hit up Hollister first--was that a mistake or what! The store isn't very big and it was packed to the gills with teenage girls, guys and some moms all trying to spend their gift cards. I got shoved a few times and had to do a little gentle nudging myself. Everything in the store was 40% off, which probably explained the crowds. I didn't even consider buying anything I had to try on since the line for the dressing rooms was a mile long! I did manage to find one of the things I had planned on buying, the Royal Palms Beach sweater ($29.70) in burgundy. I don't really have anything this color and I liked its easy fit.
Next, it was on to American Eagle. My sister and I both got a $50 gift card to AE, plus $10 off any purchase of $35 or more so we had to check them out. At first I didn't really see anything that caught my eye, but then I saw some jeans towards the front that I kinda liked. They're the new Slouchy fit, which is totally my style. I prefer looser-fitting jeans over skinnies and these looked too cute to pass up. I wish I had found them in the authentic dark destroyed wash but the pair I got are more polished. I still had some money to spend on my gift card, so I checked out the clearance rack. That store was pretty busy, too, so it was hard to find anything cute in my size on the rack. But I happened to find a purple and navy polka-dotted cami that looked pretty cute and in my size. The XS part of the rack was pretty limited so I was lucky to find it. It'll look great under a navy cardigan. My sister liked it so much that she got it, too, in a size small. After all my purchases, plus the $10 off, I ended up with $10 left on my gift card!
My parents went to Eddie Bauer to spend their gift cards and after my mom bought her stuff, we went to Abercrombie & Fitch. I hadn't spent very much money so far, and since we rarely get to go to A&F, I was determined to find a lot of stuff. They were also offering 40% off the entire store which is a steal, considering A&F's usual prices. I was looking for the Kali sleep shorts ($19.60) in navy and I saw them a few times on the mannequins, but none were wearing XS. I bought the Julia pj pants ($24) in navy moose instead and I actually like them even more. Not content to just buy one thing, I also got the Benni sweater ($40.80) in heather grey. I couldn't pass this up because 1) I don't have very much grey in my closet, 2) I love sweaters with an easy open fit and 3) It was much cheaper than its original price of $68. I ended up spending a little under $70 at A&F.
But I wasn't done shopping quite yet. I needed a tank top of some sort to go under both sweaters I had bought. I wanted something pink and with some detailing since the sweaters I got aren't decorated. I hadn't found the perfect thing until we went to Abercrombie Kids next door. I'm lucky enough that I can fit in both juniors and some kids sizes so I can save money sometimes. I really liked the ruffly pink tank I saw at A&F, but it was almost $30. I saw a similar version at Abercrombie (Evette tank, $17.15, in dark pink) so I bought it in a size XL. Surprisingly, it only ended up costing me about $15, which I was very thankful for.
We ventured on to Bath & Body Works next so I could buy some lip gloss. If you haven't been there recently, a lot of their merch is on sale right now because they're trying to bring in all their spring stuff so stock up while you can. I ended up buying a Summer Vanillas lemon lip gloss for only 3 bucks!
I was super-tired after a long day of shopping but it was totally worth it to get all the great stuff I did, not to mention for a great price! Even braving the crowds was worth it. I'll post some pics of my new stuff very soon!
Did you do any after-Christmas shopping yet? How did it go?

Pre-Christmas Shopping Spree!

I know I'm slightly crazy for going shopping just 5 days before Christmas, but that's exactly what I was doing yesterday with my sister. However, we already got all of our shopping done for friends and family so this was just a little shopping trip just for us.

My sis really wanted to go to Hollister since they had a pair of pants there she wanted. When we got there, we found out that everything in the store was 30% off--what a deal! I wasn't planning on buying anything from there, but I looked around just in case. Nothing really grabbed me, but when my sister headed for the pants she liked (the Fallbrook twill pants, $27.65), I decided to check them out, too. I kinda liked them in stone, so I took them to the dressing room in size 0 short (the smallest size HCo. carries). They actually fit pretty well, snug but not too tight, just the right length and I liked the color. I took pics in the dressing room to show how they fit--sorry about the bad lighting! If you've ever been in a Hollister store, you'll know that they're very dark.

 

 So I decided to buy them. But then we went to American Eagle next...and it completely changed my mind! I finally found the flats I've been looking for forever--the AE Sequin Ballet Flat ($19.50, pewter). Since they were $10 off the original price, I couldn't resist buying them, especially since they were actually in a size 6! When I tried them on with tights, they fit perfectly. I also found a pearl and metal chain bracelet for $12.50 and a chain and jewel necklace for $6.95, and since they were having their buy one get one 50% off jewelry sale, I only paid about $30 for all three items! That's a great steal, considering that if I had bought them all full-price, it would have cost me over $61!

But I decided that I didn't really need the pants that much, even though they were 30% off. So I returned them but hopefully I'll be able to find them again at a lower price after Christmas.

Have you ever bought anything and then decided to immediately return it because you found something even better? I hope it doesn't happen to me again, because I'm still waiting for the money to be credited back to my card. Have a merry Christmas, everyone, and good luck with any last-minute shopping!

Black Friday Heads-Up

Black Friday is one of the best days for bargain-savvy shoppers--and also one of the craziest! You'll want a little heads-up before you head out into the crowded malls the day after Thanksgiving, so here's a small update on which stores have great deals on the Big Day and all weekend long!
At Hollister, you can take 30% off everything in the entire store until noon on Friday--the catch is that your purchase must be at the actual store, not online. The best part is, the 30% off also includes clearance-priced merchandise, so you could score some great deals. If you prefer online shopping, make sure to spend at least $75 so you can get free shipping from now until Tuesday!
American Eagle has offered great deals on the weekends since October. On Thanksgiving only, you can get free shipping and an additional 25% off when you use the discount code found on their Facebook page (make sure you fan them if you haven't already to get in on some good discounts). All women's sweaters are $5-$30 off their original price, so make sure you check them out. Looks like you'll be doing your shopping a day early!
Abercrombie & Fitch has a similar deal, going on now through Black Friday--you get 20% off and free shipping over $100! Again, you'll need their Facebook discount code to take advantage of this offer.
Gilly Hicks is helping you stay cozy this holiday season with $20 hoodies and sweats in-stores only on Friday before noon. Unfortunately, if one of their stores isn't in your area (they only have 16 stores in the U.S.) you won't be able to get in on this, but if you join their email list, you'll find out about the Secret Sale that happens every Monday--every week it's something new, from 20% off everything online to pajamas, t-shirts or jeans on clearance from noon to 8 pm only. So the deals last all season long!
Are you planning on hitting the stores this Black Friday, or waiting for any Cyber Monday deals?

Something Unexpected

A simply cute outfit (all I need now is the
tank top and ballet flats!)

If you've been reading some of my posts lately, you'll know that I've been hunting down the perfect jeans. I only have 3 or 4 pairs in my closet and I was looking for a couple more but I was having the hardest time finding ones that weren't all spandex-y or too low-rise or way too long in the length.

I got to spend some much-needed time with my family this past weekend, as it was Homecoming and family weekend on my campus, and on Friday afternoon my mom, sister and I hit up the local mall to buy a few things. Unfortunately, the stores there didn't have the best selection, so I only ended up buying the Boat Canyon zip-up hoodie in dark red ($29.89) from Hollister. But it was fine, since I don't have much red in my closet and the hoodie was on clearance.

Then later, my mom told me she had a surprise for me: she had ordered me a pair of jeans online from Abercrombie Kids! I was ecstatic, since I'd been talking about trying to get some jeans from there lately. The closest store is almost an hour away from our house, so it would have been kind of a pain to go to the store, especially since I'm in college now so my mom wouldn't want to waste a whole day driving. So she ordered a size 14 for me, hoping it would fit and wouldn't be too long.
The next day, I checked my dorm mail and sure enough, there it was! When we got back to our hotel that night, I tried them on. I didn't expect them to fit snugly, since most of my jeans don't, but these definitely did. But they weren't so snug that they didn't fit at all and my parents and sister thought I looked great in them. Plus, they're only slightly too long without shoes. Yay, I had actually found a pair that were great (by the way, they're the Mackenzie Flare in rinse, now $23.70). They have just enough stretch in them to make them comfortable and not stiff but not so much that I feel like I'm wearing jeggings. I love how flared they are, too--not extreme, like bell-bottoms but definitely more than boot-cuts. The color is amazing too--it's so dark and rich-looking.
I guess the lesson to be learned here is that there's a great pair of jeans out there for everyone, you may just have to step outside your comfort zone and try a new store or new style, whether it be light wash or skinnies or boyfriend fit. Next time I need a new pair of jeans, I will definitely be hitting up Abercrombie Kids...I'm not even ashamed of the kids label!

Shopping Adventures!

This weekend, I got to spend some time away from my dorm and I came home. I was glad I got to spend some time with my family, and today my mom, sister and I went to the mall for a mini shopping spree.
I was way overdue for some jeans (before today, I only had 2 pairs!) and my trip to another mall on Friday wasn't so successful. I was shocked to find that most jean styles, even flares and boot cuts, are cut more like jeggings, so they're super-tight. But luckily, I went out on a limb, tried on some Levi's from Dillard's and I love 'em. They're a skinny jean style, which I never really liked before but these are great.
Next we went to American Eagle, where I found another pair of skinnies that I liked, but I didn't really want to spend a lot of my money on them, so I passed and instead got the AE Boy Fit Crop Jean in dark vintage indigo ($19.95). I also had to take advantage of their buy one get one 50% off jewelry, and I got my first set of bangles and a blingy leather bracelet.
Finally, we hit up Hollister, my favorite store. I had been looking at the Point Dume plaid tunic shirt ($39.50) in turquoise and luckily, I was able to find it at the store. I also bought the Point Loma sweatshirt ($29.89) in orange, and I really think it's a great piece to brighten up any wardrobe.
However, during the checkout process, I hit a little snag. My debit card was declined, because I was a few dollars short, but my mom ended up having to pay for the entire purchase because the cashiers didn't know why it was declined! So that was a problem, plus I couldn't get a gray cami that I needed, but all in all, it was a good day (going to Starbucks afterward didn't hurt either :D).
What's your favorite memory of a shopping trip?

Even More Shopping?!

Yep, it's true, I went on another shopping spree this afternoon! After a few weeks of earning money from doing chores around the house, I had saved up almost $90. Plenty of money to go shopping, I thought, so me, my sister and my mom trekked to The Citadel Mall.
First stop: Hollister (of course!). I had made up a list ahead of time of things I planned on buying, but unfortunately, none of them were at the store. But I found plenty of cute, cheap, unexpected things--the Summerland bandeau top ($6.89), a solid ruffly lime green babydoll ($9.03) and the Trestles Beach skirt ($29.89).
Second and final stop: American Eagle. I saw a loose white blouse there that would have paired perfectly with my new bandeau, but it was $40 so I passed it up for now. Instead, I bought the AE Linen Bermuda Shorts in Vintage Blue Wash ($29.50). I also begged my mom to buy me a replacement belt, so I picked out the AE Double Braid Belt ($19.95). Even though jewelry was buy one get one, I had to pass on that, as well, because I didn't have enough money!
All in all, it was a great day for great buys.

Summer Shopping Spree

What better way to celebrate the end of the school year than with a shopping trip? Earlier today, my mom and I embarked on one after dropping off my grandparents at the Denver airport. I have been out of school for almost two weeks (a perk of being a senior--go class of 2010!) but it was a great way to celebrate.
Instead of going to the usual mall (Park Meadows), we decided that since it was early, we could make the trip to the Flatiron Crossing shopping center in nearby Broomfield.
First up was Hollister. I loved that since it was early (around 11) hardly anyone was in the store (unlike on my usual shopping trips when I go in the afternoon and the stores are crowded). Almost immediately I saw the dress I had fallen in love with online (Santa Margarita in red plaid, now $29.89) and grabbed it off the rack. After scouring the rest of the store and finding nothing else that really appealed to me, my mom showed me a cute floral babydoll tank (Newport in grey, $19.50) that I also loved and bought.
Next, it was on to Abercrombie & Fitch. I still had some money left on gift cards from Christmas so I couldn't wait to find something adorable. And I did--the Hallie ruffled babydoll tank in dark pink (a great steal at $15.89). While I was in the dressing room trying on other tank tops that I didn't buy, my mom came back with two cute swimsuits. I tried them both on and eventually bought the Leanne triangle bikini in white floral ($24.89 each piece).
Finally, we hit up American Eagle. I wanted to check out the great deal they have going on now--get a pair of flip-flops for $1 when you buy any shorts--but the shorts that I liked were out of my budget. So I made a beeline for the jewelry, which was buy one get one 50% off. I found (and purchased) the adorable Shell Double Strand Chain necklace (now $9.95) and the Chainlink Fireball bracelet (also $9.95).
Shopping bags in hand, I left the mall happy and ready to wear my new purchases.

New Years Resolution: Save $$$!

If you're like most people, you may have made a resolution or two in the past week that, as of right now, you intend to keep. However, in about a month, it will most likely be a forgotten goal of the past.
But this year, make a resolution that you're sure to keep: saving money. If you want to have enough cash to go on a shopping spree, or just spend a few dollars here and there on clearance items, you'll want to make sure you keep up with this resolution.
One easy way to do this is scour your closet. Organize it by store, color or style to make sure you aren't wasting any hard-earned bucks on something you already have.
Another way is to sign up for store rewards programs. American Eagle, among many others, has one of these and it's a good way to stay up to date with sales and save some moolah on that sweater you just have to have.
Finally, clear out that wallet! Throw out any expired receipts and call the toll-free numbers on the backs of your old gift cards to check the remaining balance. That way, you won't let those gift cards go to waste.
With these tips in mind, you can go shopping...without feeling guilty!