Sales & Deals!

I think one of the reasons I've been a little stressed out about blogging is because of my expectations.  For instance, one of my goals was to always do a WIWW ("What I Wore Wednesday") post, and almost every time Wednesday comes, I realize I haven't taken any outfit pics all week and I have to come up with something.  So I'm going to stop forcing myself into a box where I have to post certain things on certain days.  I am going to try to keep up all of my topics - beauty, fashion, cooking, parenting, etc. - but I'm just going to do what I can, when I can.  Sound good?

Today I thought I'd share some of my latest steals and deals I've found.  As I've mentioned before, I LOVE TO SHOP.  I try to keep myself on a budget, but it's so hard. 

Shopping is my therapy.  Fo' real.

(source)

 

Let's get right to it, then.  Shall we? 

 

Just to warn you, this post is a bit all over the place.  But stick with me.  Please.  Thanks. 

Okay, here we go.

 

On a recent stop at T.J. Maxx, I picked up this tray and pretty rope-wrapped jar with fake hydrangeas to add to a table in my bathroom.  We've been in our house for seven years and there are still walls that need pictures and spots that need decorating.  I had a little, white, gold-rimmed Lenox dish that I added to put my everyday jewelry in each night.  I think this is the perfect addition to our bathroom!  It makes me happy every time I see it. 

 

I also came across these wall hooks at T.J. Maxx.  The left and middle ones are the same and were $5.99 each; I'm planning on using them in our laundry room once it's painted, and the starfish one on the right was on clearance for $3.  I'm not sure where I'm putting that yet, but I'm thinking I'll add it to our master bathroom.  I mean, for $3, they were practically giving it away!

 

I always do a quick "once over" in T.J. Maxx's clearance beauty section, and this time I came across this gem: bliss' "baggage handler eye gel."  It was marked down to $8 and says it reduces puffiness.  The bliss products are supposed to be really good (there are bliss spas in major cities), so I figured I'd try it. 

I'll let you know how it is.  I wake up with MAJOR puffy eyes - almost like I have a hangover every day.  I'm hoping this works!!

Here's another find from an earlier trip to T.J. Maxx (I think it was a few months ago).  It's philosophy's "living grace" perfume.  The scent is very beachy, clean, and spa-like.  I love it.  But it doesn't last.  I spray it on my pulse points, and an hour later - - NOTHING.  I know they are known for "lighter" scents, but they should last!  I'm so disappointed.  I've found that philosophy products are either HITS or MISSES for me... there is no in-between.  Have you had any luck with philosophy?

Got this headband in the mail from Nordstrom.  Love it.  Love it even more because it was on sale!  I got it during their half-yearly sale, so it ended up at six or seven dollars instead of fourteen.  (You can find thet BP headbands HERE, but they're not on sale anymore.  I'm sorry!  I'll tell you sooner next time.)  It'll be great for those days before I get my hair colored when my gray roots are really bad.  It'll cover them up in the front and I can pull the rest of my hair into a ponytail.  Easy peasy.  Lemon squeezy.  I can't believe I just said (er, wrote) that. 

No, I can believe it.  I'm a dork.

Alright - next up is a pair of sneakers, but I haven't decided if I'm keeping them or not.  I just bought a pair of sneaks not too long ago for working out.  Sidenote: My hubby and I are doing T25.  Well, he's done it already.  Several times. 

I've started it.  Several times. 

We're starting it again. 

I am determined to finish it this time, and my motivation was buying myself new sneakers...

...hence why I don't really need these.  However, these are not workout sneakers.  They're Skechers slip-ons and I got them because I thought they'd be great to take on our upcoming vacation to Disney World.  They are super comfortable, and I got them for waaaaaay less than what they go for, but I have shopper's guilt.  (Or is it shopper's remorse?  I don't know, but I guess I have both.)  I don't really need them, and I'm not really a sneaker kind of gal - I just think they'd look a lot better with regular shorts than my workout sneakers.  What do you think?  (Please do not let my unshaved legs alter your decision.  Sorry about that.  I'm Italian and hairy.  I've come to terms with it.)

 

Now go grab your bad self a cup of coffee or tea or juice or soda or water or wine or beer or whatever it is you like because we're not done yet.  Oh, no. 

 

We've only just beguuuun... (to liiiiiiiiiive)

 

Okay - back to some finds.  (These are things I've picked up over the past few weeks, not all at once.  Just wanted to put that out there!  I don't have THAT much time to shop, and I don't have the BUDGET to shop constantly!  However, because I love to shop, I allow myself to buy stuff from the clearance racks when I'm out and about running errands.  Then I don't feel so badly - ha!)

 

I picked up this little top from T.J. Maxx for $7.99 on the clearance rack.  (I swear - sometimes I go in that store and find nothing, and other times I go in there and find so much.)  I loved this top because it is so different from anything else I have.  My favorite part is the little zipper on the one shoulder (or maybe the asymmetrical hemline), and I think this will look great with white jeans or tan dress pants. 

 

Found this cute fedora at Kohl's in the clearance section for $6!!!!  My husband thinks I look ridiculous in it, but I love it and can't wait to wear it with a low ponytail, some big ol' hoop earrings, a tank top, a maxi skirt, and flip flops. 

Here's another T.J. Maxx find.  It looks much better on than on the hanger.  I love the embroidery detail on the front - very unique!  I think I paid $11 for it, and the quality is really great.

One more top from T.J. Maxx.  This black and white printed one was also $11.  I'm planning on wearing this with jeans or my black skinny pants.  It'll be fun to accessorize with turquoise or coral jewelry!

Now I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  Aside from my "good" jewelry (like my wedding bands and other gifts from my husband), most of my costume jewelry is all from clearance sections.  Kohl's has a GREAT selection of jewelry on clearance every time I go there.  Here are two of my recent finds.

 

The clover stud earrings were originally $30, on sale for $6.  The snake-like necklace on a gold plated chain was originally $35 marked down to $7.  Add to those my 30% off coupon, and that's what I call a good deal!  I love finding pieces like this to wear every day and not worry too much about.  They're great to take on vacation or even wear while working out and while showering.  Then I don't feel badly if anything happens to them because I know they were so cheap!

 

My last three items to share with you are candles.  I love burning candles at home - not just for the smell but also for the relaxing ambiance they create.  (I love the word "ambiance," by the way.  Aaaaam-biance.  It just sounds so sophisticated.)

I've been EXTREMELY disappointed by Yankee Candles lately.  They smell the first time I burn them, and then NOTHING.  No smell at all.  I've found that the Bath and Body Works candles are so much better, so I try to pick them up when they have their big semi-annual sales.  My two favorite scents right now are "Harvest Peaches" and "Lemon Drops."  I highly recommend them!

 

I also like the small Glade candles to keep in the bathroom for those moments when, ya know, you just need to light a candle.  I find a lot of them at Target on clearance.  I love this "Woodside Library" scent.

 

Whew!  We covered a lot today.  And I haven't even mentioned this week's episode of "The Bachelorette" yet!  Did you watch?  It was crazy!  What do you think?  The show gets worse and worse every week, but I CAN'T. STOP. WATCHING.  What is wrong with me, people?

 

(source: ABC)

 

Anyway, if you've read this whole post, thank you.  I know it was long.  And if you didn't, I'll never know.

 

Hope you stop back tomorrow!  I'm hoping to have my "Thankful Thursday" post done.  At least that's the plan!

 

Happy "hump" day!

 

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