Do you buy clothes on Amazon?

You can find some amazing deals on designer brands- like 90% off or more.  It's also pretty easy to find a code for an extra 20% off.  Right now the selection is not as good as other times, but I did find a few casual things that would be great for hanging out with kids. * Also, don't forget that if you are a prime member you can get free shipping, and that there is no sales tax in most states.

Kensie Girl ribbed cropped sweater $12 originally $48

Three Dots Dolman Hoodie $32.70 originally $118

Romeo & Juliet Couture zip sweater $15 originally $98

CJ By Cookie Johnson Jeans $32.51 originally $112+

*This was fantasy shopping, by the way. I didn't actually purchase anything.

Real vs Fake?

Back story: During my last month of pregnancy my fingers swelled up rather suddenly, making it necessary for me to get my wedding ring cut off by a jeweler.  With a new baby, getting that ring soldered back together is about number 137 on my list of things to do.  In the interim, I purchased the ring above to wear on my wedding ring finger.  It is actually quite pretty and got me thinking...

Certainly I wanted my wedding ring to be real because it represents being solid and long lasting like my marriage.  However, why should I care if my earrings are CZ?
Why is it so important that jewelry be real? Why not just go get some huge fake diamonds? It's very rare that someone would ask whether or not they were real. Is it just me that doesn't usually like to wear fake diamonds?  Also, how large must a diamond be before you assume that it is fake?

I heard that Lady Gaga has been quoted saying that she doesn't know where diamonds come from so she just wears crystals.


I haven't made any final decisions on this.  I am just curious of the opinions of others.

Outfit Friday: Attempting (and failing!) to take a good fall family photo

2 Things I discovered are much more difficult with a baby to do than I ever thought: 1) Taking a good family photo and 2) Finding the time to stop and take a picture of my outfit before leaving the house.  Please accept this outtake and simple ensemble for my first Outfit Friday.

Jeans: Madewell, Scarf: H&M, Top: Three Dots. 

Beauty Thursday: Red Lips

Since I have always thought of myself as having a small mouth, I never really wanted to draw attention to my lips.  Thus, I have always been a lip gloss kind of a girl.  However, since having a baby I have needed a beauty pick me up- a change, if you will.  I decided red lips were the perfect punch on days when I am not feeling my prettiest.  The problem is that cheaper red lipstick without good pigmentation just tends to look pink or magenta on me.  I finally found this awesome Pretty Amazing Lipcolor from Bare Escentuals.  The color is bright and amazing.  The first couple times I tried to apply it, it was an absolute mess.  However, after following the instructions (line your lips with powder foundation first) and a couple of tries it ended up looking really fun.

The best price by far that I have found is on Amazon.  And speaking of, there are also some great prices on what are usually expensive Bare Escentuals makeup brushes on Amazon right now as well.

ps. Remember this scene from Airplane? I feel like that sometimes.

Shopping Wednesday: Well made, Madewell!

5 weeks after having my baby, I am still ten pounds and roughly one jeans size above my starting weight.  While I am pretty satisfied by this I was unhappy that none of my old pants fit right.  A person can spend all the money she has on cute tops, but no one can feel good about an outfit without nicely fitting jeans.  While I'm not averse to the investment of $200 jeans every so often, I didn't want to go out buying designer denim when hopefully I will be back to my old size within a few months.

Enter Madewell.  We are fortunate in Seattle to have a Madewell store, and I've heard great things about their jeans.  I must say, I tried on several pairs and they all fit fabulous! I think I may never shop for pants anywhere else.  I ended up buying two pairs, both on special for $59.

These skinny "high riser" jeans are not so high rise to be mom jeans, but just right to be "no butt crack" jeans when I'm on the floor and leaning over my baby.

I loooove the slimming fit of these "wide legger" jeans, and the length is perfect with a pair of wedges.

I think I am sold, Madewell!

How to Save at Nordstrom, The Krazy Coupon Lady Way!

Have you ever seen The Krazy Coupon Lady blog?  She has some fantastic info on great deals for things I actually buy!  I love the blog she did about saving at Nordstrom.

Consider Cost per Wear

Before I boil it down for you, we need to talk, sweetie.  Pull up a chair and take a seat.  This might be hard to hear.  Ready for some tough love?  You sure? I have always intuitively known that a dress that I bought for $10 that is a superb dust-collector in the dark recesses of my closet is NOT cheaper than a dress that I bought for $20 and wear every week.  It’s about cost per wear, hon.  Cost per wear.
Are you buying a clothing bargain because it is a bargain and not because you love it incredibly?  Clothing shopping is not about stockpiling.  Leave the grocery thoughts at home. Focus on cost per wear first.  You gotta love it: not the price tag, not the name brand…the actual item itself!  If you spend a bit more for a pair of jeans, but you wear them all the time, was that a good deal?  You betcha.  If you buy a shirt for $3 but never wear it, that’s $3 that you could have spent elsewhere.  Wasted moola.  Ugh.  Of course, since you are a kindred couponing spirit, you also want to buy it for cheap.   So, first, love the clothing you buy.  Then, buy it for free or nearly free.

How to Save at Nordstrom

Let’s get to the guts of it (finally, you say!)  This really works with any of your favorite clothing stores with varying results, but today, it’s about Nordy, baby.  Here we go:
1. Sign up for Nordy’s credit or debit card, and opt in for getting emails and mailers.  Sure, Nordy has a credit card (DANGER, Will Robinson!), but did you know that they offer a debit card, too?  (Yes, they do!  They really, really do!) They award points with each purchase.  Read about Nordstrom’s Point System.  Points equal free Nordy money, which equal free threads for you! You’re gonna need to do this in order to get the maximum benefit from your newly-developing “friendship” with Nordy.  If another plastic card is not in the cards for you now, skip
on down to step #5.
2.  Watch for the postcards and emails – and READ them! Nordy sent me a private invite to shop before everyone else on a Saturday morning.  Now, before you think I am sipping tea with the Nordstrom family clan personally, anyone who has a credit or debit card through Nordstrom in my area was invited.  The best part?  I got $20 in free Nordstrom bucks for bringing in a friend who opened a new debit account.  And she got $20 in Nordstrom bucks for getting her friend to open a debit account…starting to get it?  A special deal from my BFF, Nordy, all because I cared enough to have her debit card.  Love it!
3.  Shop only on “special” days (and, of course,  during sales).

1. Initial Signup:  Nordy often runs signup specials where you can earn $20 in Nordy bucks quickly.  Find out what they are!
2. Reward Points:  Nordy also gives you rewards points for every purchase.  Each time you earn $2000 in rewards points (don’t freak at that number!  Breathe, breathe!!), you get $20 in Nordy bucks that you can spend online or in the store.  Now, don’t you go down today to sign up for the debit card and make your first purchase.  Oh, no, girlfriend!  Read on…
3. Double / Triple Point Days:  Wait for double and triple point days, when your purchases count for more, making your first $20 in Nordy bucks easy-peasy to earn!   At Nordstrom, I plan my shopping around double and triple point days – ONLY.  Why shop any other time? (Note to self:  next triple rewards days are September 14-18, 2011.  Did I say that out loud?)

4.  Get free clothing money.  So, after a possible initial signup incentive, you don’t earn $20 in Nordy bucks until you have earned $2000 in rewards points.   Whoa!  Like I’m gonna spend that much on clothing in the next 10 years, right?  Well, here’s how you cut your OOP way down:

1. Shop only on double and triple point days.  You’ll get your $2000 in rewards points much faster.
2. Then, buy clothes with your other “freebie” money.   I use grocery coupons and sites to save at the grocery store, and places like MyPoints (which does do PayPal cash deposits), ebates, and Mr. Rebates for the money for clothes for my family.
3. You’ll earn $20 in Nordy bucks in no time!  There’s nothing like expensive yet free clothes!

5. How to save without  Nordstrom card.

1.  Facebook:  “Like” Nordy on Facebook, and learn about special giveaways.  Recently, the Rack was giving away a free cosmetic bag, no purchase necessary.
2.  Sample Saturday:  Going to the mall anyway?  On Facebook, Nordy tells you what item (if any) is free on Sample Saturdays.  Cologne samples are the usual freebies (BVLGARI, Marc Jacobs, and other brands I wouldn’t pay full retail for!)…and who doesn’t love an excuse to go to the mall?

This has been a guest post by Rebecca from Highlands Ranch, CO
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Zara Opens Online Store!!!

Ok, this is a bit of old news now, but I just wanted to make sure the word was out there.  For those of us who are not so fortunate as to live near a Zara, we can now buy our Euro fashions online!

The only downside is that the quality at Zara isn't so top notch.  It's the kind of place where you take 20 items into the dressing room and 18 just don't fit quite right.  However, the other 2 pieces are usually some fabulous scores for which people think you paid way more than you did.  But like I always say...you can just send it back!