Blog Suggestions and Shopping Info

I LOVE TO SHOP!!! 

If you don't know me to well let me just fill you in on the basics: I am a lover of Jesus, a devoted (sometimes impatient and a tad pushy) wife, a loving and caring (and totally all up in your business)mother of two, a good (at least I think so) friend. 

I work full time (both at a business and at home), and I love to do karate with my girls, create crafty things like scrapbook layouts, hairbows, children's clothing, and home decor (DIY style). 

I like to bake, and I LOVE to shop!  But not just go to the store and buy pretty things kinda shopping!  I love to find bargains, and great deals, and mark downs and well you get the point!  I am fiscally frugal ie. cheap! LOL

My favorite stores are: Family Thrift (a great second hand retail chain), Goodwill, Ross, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning (for craft stuff), and Nordstrom (online - I know this sounds absolutely absurd - but keep reading and  you'll understand).

Awhile back I did a shopping post and you may have read it here, and hopefully you got a good tip or two out of it.

Well Christmas is right around the corner!  40 Days away to be exact!!!!!!!!!!!

In an effort to help you (since I'm almost all the way done with my Christmas shopping). I'm going to share a few sites I love to check out.

Now ever since I started this blog - my blog world interest has been peaked.  I will be honest - I have a set of particular blogs that I follow religiously.  It's funny because I do not know any of these people on a personal level at all or live near any of them really...but they intrigue me for one reason or another so Monday - Friday I read what they have to say!By doing so I have found a few great deals, and learned new things about stores I thought were way out of my league!

The first site I check out daily is  Kelly's Korner.  This has nothing at all to do with shopping - but I am sharing with you my blog love and this is one of my all time favorites.  This Kelly chick is really cute, and has adorable kids, and she has an amazing love for God that I admire.  She inspires me to be a better person.  She has this uncanny ability to make me smile, or cry, or laugh at things that I really enjoy! You know there are people that lift you up and make you smile, and that just encourage you and make you want to be better....we need more people like that in our lives...and unbeknownst to Kelly - she is my inspiration!

Second blog I check is The Sweetest Thing.  This Emma girl is freakin fabulous.  She posts pictures daily about her style, her clothes, her do's and don'ts, with details on what she is wearing, where it is from, how much it costs, etc.  I like to pretend that we would be friends, cause she is pretty cool!

Third stop is Mix and Match Family, which if you haven't seen before you must totally check out!  This is the sister of one of the bachelor contestants...but aside from her claim to fame she is super adorable, has beautiful kids (and a pretty hot husband too), great fashion sense, great decorating tips, and another blog all about food.  My second love of pastime after shopping is eating!!!!  Go follow Shay , and pick up some amazing recipes from her too.

OK - are you ready for this?

This is the good stuff!!!

Take notes - add this to your favorites...you'll thank me later.

My fourth blog stop each day is at Pinterest Told Me To.  This is my super most favorite spot (I go to it last because I spend so much time on it, and the links it sends me too! (for shopping). 

This awesome super chick Shaeffer is your personal shopper.  Did you know you had one?  Well you do...and I'm not talking about time...although I would love to spend your money...I'm talking about this site.

From reading this blog I have made my first Nordstrom purchase ever.  Growing up I thought that it was a fruffy store for upscale folks with tons of money.  It isn't!!  Well - let me rephrase that - it is, but it has stuff for the regular everyday American workers like you and me!  I'm not rich, but I'm not poor either.  I am abundantly blessed by God, and I love to have nice things! (without being in debt - I frown upon credit card use - my #1 shopping rule is if I have the money to buy it I can buy it - if not - then DON'T). 

Ok - so anyway - I digress - read this blog - check out her list of MUST HAVES.  My first Shaeffer recommended purchase was these MUST HAVE JEANS, which she talks about VERY OFTEN.  I heard her recommend and saw people gush about them for well over a month before I even looked at them because I thought _ Nordstrom - YEAH RIGHT!

Well I finally clicked on it after one of her spills on hoe great Nordstrom is and how everything ships for free and returns are free...so its no hassle shopping!  I clicked on the pants and guess what..........THEY WERE ONLY $38!!!!!!!!!

That's not bad for a pair of jeans which supposedly fit like a glove, make me look good, and would be my all time favorite.  I said - OK SCREW IT...I'll order them and see what this chick is all about! 

The pants came in a week later and I liked them.  I wore them and the first time I did - I got 8 separate compliments from complete strangers!!  I am not exaggerating - I mean I thought they looked good - but WOW 8 compliments good...that AWESOME!!  I started to have a little faith in Shaeffer and her shopping skills.  So much so that I ordered the dark wash pair next.  And not only do I still several months later continue to get compliments in these jeans, I recently received the ultimate compliment because my teenage daughter said to me - "Dang mom, you look good in those pants, do they come in my size?" I told her yes, and she said "You should order me some cuase I really like those."  That may not be a big deal to you - but to me its a HUGE deal. 

Over the years I have turned from the cool, mom to the uncool, you dress old mom!  I don't know that I believe that just yet - but to have her approval on some jeans I wear to the point of wanting a pair of her own...now you know they gotta be well worth my $38!!

So anywho - I follow this blog almost daily - and I trust in Shaeffers opinion more and more.  So much so that I own also every single one of her must have items.  I have three pairs of the MUST have jeans (and I wear the hell out of them).  I have the recently mentioned HUE leggings in both black and brown, I have the waffle weave scarf, and I have a pair of the flats, (and I am still contemplating the must have wedges). 

She is featuring some great Christmas ideas, always features sales at certain stores, and some fun giveaways and stuff too.  Go check her out.

Oh but wait - before you do - let me tell you about hautelook.com

Since I have been placing several orders on Nordstrom.com lately.  I received an e-mail telling me about Hautelook.com.  I have never heard of them....but I am so glad I know now.  This is a clearance site for Nordstrom.  They have items that go on sale for a limited time (sales start at 10am daily- and are based on a first come first serve basis).  You can get designer things at up to 75% off retail.  And I am not talking about old, out of season stuff - I'm talking awesome designer, classic items that are priced amazingly!!

And here's another secret - once you sign up they will send you a coupon code for $25 off!!!!!

Have fun shopping and checking out these blogs - I know I certainly do!!!