Bargain Blitz

Well, another post on bargains. Geesh! I know. I just love to share them.

I went out with a friend to the mall yesterday. She was researching a new coffee maker. I was just along for the ride...or stroll I suppose. I think we make quite the combo in a mall, as we have matching Graco Quattro Tour Duo double strollers. So here we are, two hot Mamas, pushing these monster strollers, with 5 little ones in tow...er, or in stroller...its a sight to be seen!

So she is looking at the various coffee makers that Sears has to offer. I'm looking as well. Then with my super-sonic, deal-getting, fine-tuned ears, I hear the words "80% off." SAY WHAT??? So I immediately I head in the direction of the voices. The marketing guy is talking to the cashiers, trying to figure out how to sign it. "40% and then another 40%?" "No, no, just hand write a sign."

Don't worry, I'm coming, I'm coming!!!

Its a table of leftover Christmas decorations. I immediately grab 5 candle holders. 3 boxes of Christmas baubles. 2 glitzy little jars. All coming to a grand total of...$10.19. Woot! I'm planning on spray painting the candle holders black for the top of our TV unit, or heck, for $1.17 apiece, I'll find something to do with them! I hope to make this Christmas bauble wreath that was posted on the Eddie Ross website. Its so simple, and cute. You can see it here. And the jars, well, I'm not exactly sure, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Whew, what a rush!
I had also wanted to find a dress for Abbi, so we looked in Please Mum and Gymboree. Really there was nothing. Or just a mere $40, gulp! To be honest, I'm not a huge dress 'em up, get the Sears photos kind of gal. I'd happily get a hand me down or something at Value Village for special occasions. And take my own darn photos!

But this year, our church is having the kids go up to the front for Palm Sunday. They will be waving Palm leaves to signify Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem (At least I think so. To be honest, I didn't even know what Palm Sunday was a week ago!). They will sing two songs as well. So for some reason I'm getting all into this "Easter Dress" idea. I suppose its her first church thing, ever, so maybe its just the proud Mama rising up in me! But again, I don't want to spend a lot.

So I went to where? You guessed it. The Bay. I found a Charter Club tweed dress, with a matching turtleneck underneath, regularly $40 for $11.99. I also got the sweetest Feu Follet cropped sweater with gorgeous little crystal buttons and embroidery on it for $8.99. We still need some shoes as Abbi seems to be all out of dress shoes currently. But still. I was so pleased. And she looks so cute. I'll post pictures after the big day!

And then, well, you're probably starting to think of me as some sort of shopaholic. Well, to some I might be, but when I do shop, it really doesn't come to much. That evening I ran over to Zellers once Rob got home to see if I could find Abbi some dress shoes. No luck. But I did have to do a quick "tour" of the upper floor. Zellers has recently (like Fall 2008) started this "dollarama" line. Just little cheap things, under $5-ish. I've gotten some really cute things. Like dryer balls for $1, some funky fridge magnets for 50 cents, some cute rattan Christmas decorations for 40 cents each. Just all sorts of random things.

So they currently have a bit of Easter stuff, and it is ADORABLE! I got these cute little eggs for 50% off of $1.50. So cheap, and so cute! I picked up some measuring cups for our cat food and our laundry detergent. Some cute bunny ears. One for Abbi, and one for Gabe when he gets older - if they last that long. And a cute little sticker album for Abbi for 50 cents. My grand total? $4.73! And the best part is I come home with two shopping bags, and Rob is like "Uh oh..." Until I told him the grand total...

So I took those darling little eggs, and I just had to add them to my door wreath. I have a really cute little ceramic hanging that says "Spring has Sprung." But I refuse to hang it until we can actually see some grass around here. Spring has definitely not sprung in my neighborhood. Especially considering it snowed a bit last night. So for now the wreath will have an "Easter" theme to it. Very simple, but I think its quite adorable.