Biggs & Featherbelle

I should have posted this last week but we'll just chalk it up to my being a bad person....

See that banner?

<---That one? Yeah. You know you've been all good in this recession, saving your pennies, not going out and buying new sewing machines or designer shoes (ahem, well, moving on...), so do something nice for yourself, at a discounted price of course. I was introduced to the fabulousness of Biggs & Featherbelle at Felt Club, and even discussed them before in this odd little soapbox of mine. But now you can try them without the hesitation of, well, full price. Just use their BIGGSALE discount code until Wednesday (4/1) at 1pm and you get 50% off EVERYTHING.

The real steal is getting their fabulous soap for $2.50 per bar. That's outstanding. But, in the interest of full disclosure, I did most of my damage in the bath soak section. Their bath salts & soaks are just fabulous. And then I decided to try a few of their scrubs...and well, a large box will be arriving at my house hopefully in the very near future.

Enjoy!

Minnapolis and a wee bit of shopping

Well Labor Day weekend means one thing to all of us...Minneapolis! What, you didn't go? I thought everyone in California went to the Midwest for the long weekend. Huh.

Anyways, I spent the weekend in beautiful Minneapolis. I kept saying, and I meant it, if it weren't for the (winter) weather, I could totally live there. If you haven't been and you have the opportunity, you really should. They have an incredibly vibrant art scene...plays and musicals and music and modern art and Russian art and all sorts of stuff. I've been traveling out there for 3 years now and haven't even seemingly scratched the surface. And, then there's the shopping. There's a three story Off Fifth right in the middle of downtown, not to mention the Super Targets and boutiques and all of the craft and yarn shops.

Normally, I don't shop in Minneapolis. I confine my spending to food and stuff at the fair. But, the February issue of Lucky recommended several shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Oddly, I was able to cut out and keep the page with the recommendations (so not like me) and even remembered to bring it with! I took this as a sign. But, being the level-headed shopper that I am, I immediately crossed off sever shops from my list for this trip...no craft or yarn shops as Regina & I are heading up to Portland in two weeks. Also, no trendy boutiques as I can find that stuff here. That left about four shops I really wanted to hit.

As timing allowed I was able to stop in two, Hunt & Gather and Design Collective. Hunt & Gather is about 3 blocks from the significant other's house. I've driven by this place about 100 times and always wondered about it but never had a reason to go in. So, we kidnapped, er, took his mom's dog for a walk and headed down the street. Todd and Brown Dog hung out outside in one of the many Adirondack chairs while I ventured in.

Hunt & Gather is not for the faint of heart or the claustrophobic. If you're a collector or someone who's looking for that diamond in the rough, this is the place for you. The store is divided into different rooms on two floors separated by the various vendors. Talk about Midwest and honest, when you're walking around this store you are definitely on your own to, well, hunt and gather. No sales people looming over you, no pressure...just wandering through thinking about your grandfather's attic and all the cool stuff you could find there. I didn't find anything I couldn't live without but there were several people having quite a fine time finding their own treasures.

Design Collective was described as off the beaten path in the Lucky article. Uhm, if you mean, one building up from a MAJOR street, one that Todd takes to work everyday, just past the busiest part of Uptown, then, sure, yeah, really off the beaten path. Its a small shop, but the polar opposite from Hunt & Gather. Everything is merchandised beautifully and despite the size of the shop, you never feel too closed in.

The shop has the clothes organized by designer with a little bio at the beginning of the rack. Other than the tshirts, everything was pretty much one of a kind. The shop feels like the various small designer sample sales you find in L.A. And, that's a compliment. The clothes are original and very well made. But, if you're not the size on the hanger, tough luck. There was one plaid skirt, very 50s that I liked but it looked to be about a size 8. So, no need to be a sample size, you just need to be lucky. I will say that if you're in the area and you need a gift or a fantastic card, go here. The cards are incredible and the tshirts, purses, jewelry and odds and ends would make a unique and fabulous gifts. I had to talk myself out several cards as well as some arm warmers. 'cause, you know, I really need arm warmers. So, Todd bought me a very nice tshirt and we continued on our merry way.

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.