Mmmm, bacon and wine

Ya know, from someone who doesn't drink much anymore, this blog is getting a bit sloshed lately.

Who wants to drive me to this next week? C'mon! Nothing saying a good time on a Saturday like Oxnard! Besides, I love this company. I ordered a Christmas gift from them last year and they couldn't have been more fabulous.

Information from the nice email they sent me:

Attn: Southern California Palates

Save the date: Saturday April 26th
- "Take a ride" to Oxnard for our third Warehouse Wine Sale!
- Huge inventory of everyday drinkers to rare gems - all on sale!
- Artisan food items and accessories on sale, too!
- Stock up for Mother's Day, Father's day, and summer get-togethers!

You should make a plan to set aside some time on Saturday April 26th for The Grateful Palate's third ever "open to the public" warehouse sale. Our stock of previous vintages, last bottles, damaged labels and discontinued wines will be priced to move! There will be wines from most of our great labels including Noon, Greenock Creek, Shirvington, Marquis Philips, Rusden, Burge Family, Kay Brothers, Paringa, and many others. We'll have lots of wines for sale from $5.00 and up so it will be a great opportunity to stock up for summer parties, anniversaries and graduation parties. Many of our bacons, food items and accessories will be reduced in price significantly as well. We want to clear it all! Sale starts Saturday morning at 9:00 - no phone orders accepted. Limited to stock on hand.

Address:701 Del Norte Blvd #205 Oxnard Ca. 93030 For more info call (888) 472-5283

Hours:Saturday April 26th - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Chaos & Anarchy Rule

at the mall.

OMG, I haven't seen that many people at the mall in years. Seriously. Wall to wall people. People shopping and spending money and carrying bags; kids running amuck; couples arm in arm.

Isn't that supposed to happen before Christmas? I'm just sayin'.

So yeah, if you're aching to go shopping (*coughcoughmelissastevecoughcough*) there are defiantely deals to be had.

Somebody needs to buy these for me

Seriously.

And, by the way, I must confess that I totally posted this post to the wrong blog first. Yeah, HUGE blogger faux pas!

Going Back to My Roots

Ok, so back in the day there was no Ross, no TJ Maxx, no Marshalls. Any true Angeleno knows there was only one place to find fabulous discount clothes...Loehmanns! Back in the day, it was across the street from The Grove, before there was a Grove. Mom and I spent many, many hours there.

Once it moved from 3rd to San Vicente we never went back. Maybe it was because we had Ross and TJ Maxx and Last Chance, I really don't know. But, while I was on vacation (pictures and blog posts and stuff coming soon), this magical thing appeared in the mail...a $10 off coupon! Then, just a few days later, one of the girls at work told me that she was at Loehmanns and she saw a whole rack of Hello Kitty.

Ok, that's enough I'm in.

Now for those of you who have never been to Loehmann's, here are a few things you need to know:

1. Size: I'll be honest, its huge and overwhelming and the racks are super close together. Take a deep breathe and just take it one rack at a time.

2. Selection: I was impressed. The store is divided into departments and then by designer. It makes taking on the store much easier. Also, then there's The Back Room. That's where they keep all the designer stuff...the REALLY expensive stuff. I remember in the old Loehmanns there was a security guard standing in front of a huge red curtain which ushered you into The Back Room. That red curtain always seemed so magical to me. Now, instead of a red curtain, there's a glass partition. I miss the red curtain but I'm sure the glass makes much more sense.

3. Price: People carry around huge piles of clothes like they're giving it away for free. Uhm, yeah, they're not. If shopping sales doesn't bother you, then you're better off at the clearance days at the department stores. I saw a pair of Juicy Couture shoes there for about twice what I paid for them.

4. Dressing Rooms: Danger Will Robinson! Danger! They have group dressing rooms with an attendant to deal with your go backs and to ensure you don't wander off with anything. So like your mother always told you, wear good underwear.

5. People: Go early. I got there right after they opened and by the time I left about an hour and a half later it was pretty packed. I don't think I would have lasted more than a few minutes with that crowd.

6. Parking: They have their own parking ($1 for 2 hours). Definite plus.

7. The Insider Club: Dude, they have their own Ralph's Club cards. So, you do the little card thingy and they send you coupons and stuff. Cool by me.

Now after telling you all of that here's where I stand on my new-old discovery. Although I do better at my clearance sales at Bloomingdale's and Cusp I would definitely go back. If you need something specific and you're like me and you have name brands that you like and fit and trust and all that, this is a really good place. I found a L.A.M.B. skirt that I think they mismarked 'cause all the other L.A.M.B. pieces were WAY more expensive but it was cute and it fit and I got to use my coupon and I have the most fabulous cape to match it. But, I don't think I'd go there more than occasionally, that is, until they send me my coupons.

A Shoutout to Ohio

I'm seriously jealous of you Ohio people this week...this warehouse sale would be the ultimate Christmas-shopping-for-people-who-own-everything-and-get-it-for-cheap opportunity.