The Savvy Supermom

How I got a $350 Mohawk Area Rug for $50

2011-03-10T06:35:00.000-08:00

One of the things I enjoy the most is making my house feel like a home because as a home-school mom I probably spend more time than most in my house. And well, I LOVE being at home.

Over the past 8 years in this house, we've slowly filled up the empty walls, put up curtains and added pillows - all those "little things" that add up to coziness. I LOVE watching HGTV and learning how to re-purpose items to decorate our home. I'm willing to buy or dumpster dive for a ratty piece of furniture and repaint or re-stain it.

God has been gracious to allow me to update and accessorize our home. Like this rug for instance...

We put in hardwood floors with our neighbor's help when we first moved in to this home. Seeking to protect the floors and to add a layer of warmth, we also bought rugs. Rugs can be expensive! Most of my rugs have been in the house for the last 8 years and while I liked the beige wool rug in the living room, at 7x9 it was never as big as I wanted. We had bought it for $98 at Home Depot and it was the closest we could find at the time and since it lasted 8 years, I couldn't complain but I could look and I have been for the last 2 years!

I found this rug at Big Lots of all places. It's a Mohawk rug and I'm pretty sure it came from Home Depot or Lowe's. These things usually cost around $350. This was all wrapped up and ready to go for $150. Wielding my 20% coupon I was able to get it for $120. Then I went home, took pictures of the old rug and sold it on Craigslist for $70. So we basically spent just $50 out of pocket for this rug.

Now the rug I sold was a hand piled wool rug and it has lasted well, which is the only reason I was able to sell it for $70. I really wish I could have bought another wool rug to replace it because I'm not sure the Olefin used to make this rug will last as long as wool, but I've been searching for 2 years now. All the rugs I gravitate toward are $300+ and I'm just not willing to spend that right now. So even now I will continue to keep my eyes open for a large wool rug for this space in the hopes of finding one at a price I am willing to pay.

And well, if I do, I spent only $50 on this rug and I am sure I could sell it for just as much if not a bit more on Craigslist should that opportunity come along.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $21 and a little Broadway Music!

2010-04-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

Shirts that work in spring/summer/winter and fall are just BONUS. This shirt is one that I like to wear under sweaters or cardigans as well as alone -with slacks and with skirts. The great thing is that it's "wrinkly" so that it doesn't need to be iron. It's truly a wash and wear shirt.

The Breakdown.
Sunny Leigh shirt ($13 Belk's Sale/ARP $79), Speigel denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), Linea Paolo strap wedge ($4 thrift store/ARP $99 ).

Grand Total: $21
Approximate Retail Price: $207
Savvy Savings: $186

Savvy dressing doesn't have to be fancy dressing. It's a misconception to think that one has to be "dressed-to-the-nines" all the time. I want to be comfortable. I have kids. I don't need a pair of skin tight jeans telling me all the places I need to lose weight. I can't and don't want to compete with all the mini-skinny teens running around. Listen, Demi Moore at 43 is intimidating enough!

But I do want to make the most of what I do have, hide the stuff I wish I didn't have and be comfortable and look cute if possible.

Before I go off on a tangent of dressing to where you want to be and how you want people to see you, I leave you with this, one of my favorite songs from the musical Annie (yes, the musical, Annie). Silly as it may seem, it does relate to this topic.

I see lots of pretty Moms out and about during the day with their children. I have admired a lovely purse or a well put together outfit, but it's all pretty hollow when that Mom never makes eye-contact with the people around them or grimaces or makes faces at those serving them at cash registers or others just shopping in the same store.

Pretty is as pretty does, is an old saying, and I'm always quick to point out to my children that what you wear on the outside can never compensate for what's inside and how you treat others.

And so back to my Broadway Musical song..."Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." If you've never heard it, take a moment and find it somewhere on line or better yet, rent the movie and watch it!

Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
By Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin

Hey, hobo man
Hey, Dapper Dan
You've both got your style
But Brother,
You're never fully dressed
Without a smile!

Your clothes may be Beau Brummelly
They stand out a mile --
But Brother,
You're never fully dressed
Without a smile!

Who cares what they're wearing
On Main Street,
Or Saville Row,
It's what you wear from ear to ear
And not from head to toe
(That matters)

So, Senator,
So, Janitor,
So long for a while
Remember,
You're never fully dressed
Without a smile!

So please smile as you stay savvy, you never know who you meet during the day that just might need it!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $14 Kenneth Cole Cool

2010-04-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

It wasn't technically a date night, though since we've had kids any night we get to go out without the girls and have great adult conversation somehow becomes a date night ipso facto. The girls are spending a couple days with their grandparents and great-grandparents so my Hubby and I have had some free adult time. Last night we were invited to a party.

The sad truth is that my husband's company was recently acquired and the party was actually a company "farewell party". The great news is that my husband's job seem to be one that will make the transition. Of course, in this economy we take nothing for granted but at least for now he is still gainfully employed.

That said, I do realize that every get together with his fellow co-workers is to an extent a networking opportunity that might someday result in a job or working with someone. I know this is about my husband, but it's also about us as a team and I want to be the partner that makes him proud.

The Breakdown.
Kenneth Cole Jean Trousers ($5 thrift store/ARP $79), Arden B purple shirt with chain detail ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), Fioni patent leather slides ($4 thrift store/ARP $25).

Grand Total: $14
Approximate Retail Price: $144
Savvy Savings: $130

The evening was a lot of fun, and dressed as such, I felt comfortable in the middle ground between the business wear in which some attended the party and the jeans & polo shirts of others. I LOVE these jeans because they make me look tall and leggy - and who doesn't want that? Best of all, for $15 I had a great outfit in which I felt I could hold my own.

"Why yes, I homeschool my children...."

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $20 Ann Taylor Graphic

2010-04-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Goodness if a cool breeze didn't just go through Music City, reminding all of us that it is still Spring. Last week we had weather in the 80's and this week we're in the 60's. Truth is that I love when the weather is between 60's - 70's. Anything higher than the 80's and I'm not a huge fan. Yes, I'm a wimp.

The Breakdown.
Ann Taylor sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $60), hot pink tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Kenneth Cole black denim trousers ($5 thrift store/ARP $79 ), black Joan & David Patent Leather shoes ($6 thrift store/ARP $150).

Total Cost: $20
Approximate Retail Price: $292
Savvy Savings: $272

So the reality is that all I had was a Dr's appointment, but I felt good as I walked into that office. There's no reason a stay-at-home mom can't look and feel good when she's out and about, especially for this price.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Kid Shoe Savings - $20 Merrells, Nike and Uggs

2010-04-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

My favorite shoe outlet, French's, is moving. While that sort of news might make someone sad, it makes me happy on two counts. One, they are moving closer to where I live. Two, they currently are running a 50% off of rack shoes - children's, men's, and women's shoes. As long as I have been going to French's they have not had sales on children's shoes. As most of the shoes are under $20 I guess I shouldn't complain, and since their stock usually includes names like Merrell, Keen, Geoxx, Stride Rite, Uggs and Juicy Couture I still know a good deal when I see it.

I have to say that I was pretty pleased with my score this week when I walked home with a new pair of Merrells and Nike's and a pair of store returned Uggs all for $20. The girls are thrilled with their new shoes.

So to my savvy Williamson County friends, run, don't walk to French's on Columbia Avenue. All their rack shoes are half off and since they hope to move by June there are some great deals to be had between now and then.

As a note, the black Nike's look a little dingy because my youngest wore them playing outside yesterday, they were brand new!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

The Savvy Supermom - $20 Karen Kane Wrap Dress

2010-04-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Hello My Friends! Been a while and yet I have been furiously thrifting for my house and home as of late and saving all kinds of money!

For our family it's a way of life; if I need shorts the first place I go is the thrift store. If my oldest has outgrown clothes, I thrift. If I don't find it there I rarely run to a retail store to find it because the truth is we rarely NEED it right this second.

It's a hard less to learn but a good one for my kids, and well, for me. As a stay at home mom I don't need new clothes that often. I mean, outside of slight weight fluctuations of a couple pounds here and there, I'm not growing out of my clothes.

The economy has been tough on a lot of people and I think it may only get tougher for some. I propose with thrifting you can make ends meet and not lose out on style one bit.

Today's outfit was a lovely Karen Kane wrap dress I found at Goodwill. Wrap dresses are flattering to almost every figure and are SO easy. As I am a little top-heavy I have always had a hard time fitting dresses and so to a certain extent I only wore them for special occasions because if I needed one I would probably have to spend a lot of money to find one.

Today I own about 10 wrap dresses - all from the thrift store. From BCBG to CAbi (Carol Anderson by invitation) and I wear them quite often. If you want easy, this is as good as it gets. All but one of the dresses are wash and wear so there's not special treatment or extra dry-cleaning bill.

The Breakdown.
Karen Kane wrap dress ($8 thrift store/ARP $99), black tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Black Nine West boots ($9 thrift store/ARP $125)

Grand Total: $20
Approximate Retail Price: $227
Savvy Savings: $207

Just yesterday I watched a couple shopping together in the thrift store and overheard (I was not eavesdropping, I swear) the husband make a very important point that I always use to justify my thrift store shopping choices. "Honey, it's $4 for all the shirts, why not get something that's nice and not just something that 'will do'."

Amen. I'm telling you, as much as I am not opposed to buying a George (Walmart brand) shirt at the thrift store if it fits well, I am much more likely buy a Free People shirt if both are just $4.

Dear Friends I will try to blog more in the future - I guess given all that's going on around me between the economy, politics, THE WORLD, I sometimes feel that my thrifting for fashion finds for my family or the house, just seems frivolous given what some are going through - and yet I do know there is a place for it.

I recently spend $45 for a friend-of-a-friend to help her with her work wardrobe. She and her husband are going through a difficult time, not the least of which is IRS difficulties. She had also lost a lot of weight (45 pounds!) and was having a hard time making things work in her closet. I was able to buy 4 pairs of pants and 4 shirts and make about 10 outfits for the money - focusing on brand names like The Limited, Ann Taylor and other work appropriate brands. I took some pictures of what we found and I hope to show those off at some point!

Till then, Stay Savvy!

The Savvy Supermom of the Day - $30 Lucky Brand Bohemian

2010-02-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all! How on earth have you been? To say I've been busy would be an understatement. It's been a full year so far. New jobs, a new homeschool tutorial, girl scouts and some household renovations that have just seemed to have eaten up all my free time. Nonetheless I have been thinking about y'all and have some great things to blog about so please stay tuned!

Lately I've been feeling a little funky and bohemian, but as I am not 20-something and don't plan on wearing dreadlocks anytime soon I've been trying to find that line between cool casual and "I'm trying to look younger than I am." It's not that I don't like my cardigans and trouser jeans, but I guess I've been craving something less structured.

There's something about the more organic shapes (paisleys and swirls in earthtones) versus symmetrical boxes and plaids and distressed leather and the deep patina of well-loved leather that just "speaks" to me. Maybe it's because in the midst of hitting my 40-something stride, I feel very liberated and more comfortable with myself.

The Breakdown.
Lucky Brand thermal shirt (Birthday Gift!/ARP $59), purple tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), mustard colored tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Banana Republic Boot Cut Jeans ($19 eBay/ARP $79), Bronx suede boots ($5 thrift store/ARP $125).

Grand Total: $30

Approximate Retail Price: $269

Savvy Savings: $239

I do hope this finds you well and happy - I look forward to talking to y'all soon!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $37 Fabulous Forties & Birthday Blues

2009-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

I turned 41 this week, and I have to say that I'm loving the 40's so far. Sure, there are those moments of "wow, these pants don't fit the way they use to" or the "what is that darker spot by my eye?", but nothing can take away the sense of gratefulness I have for what else I have earned at this age.

In the midst of the extra pound or two here and there as well as the extra wrinkle and grey hair I've gained over the last year, I have also gained...

a deeper sense of peace at knowing that life is not a race and that the list I have will eventually get done or won't matter as much as I think it does at the moment...

a heart full of thankfulness for the things I do have: healthy, happy children, a roof over my head, plenty of food on the table, a wonderful, supportive & handsome husband, parents & siblings who are still alive, amazing in-laws, and friends who love me no matter what...

a little more patience to handle my disappointments and frustrations...

a little more grace so that I am slower to anger and judge...

and a little more wisdom than I did when I was younger.

So I have to admit that the only birthday blues I had this year were the navy blues & teal blues in this beautiful wrap dress by Evan Picone that I wore to a studio session earlier in the day and to the lovely dinner that my family treated me to that night.

The Breakdown.
Black & Navy Blue Evan Picone wrap dress ($20 TJMaxx/ARP $99), blue tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Nine West leather boots ($8 thrift store/$125 ARP ), blue cashmere pashmina ($6 hospital sale/ARP $20)

Grand Total: $37
Approximate Retail Price: $247
Savvy Savings: $210

Since it's also FREEZING here in Nashville right now (sorry all you Northeners who understand that when I mean freezing, I'm just being a wimp) I'll also add in my lovely black wool Amanda Smith coat, which was an additional $10 at the thrift store. The approximate retail price is $175.

One thing I do want to add is how much I love pashminas and scarves. I find they help bridge the gap between being cold & warm when coming inside and taking off my coat. Winter coats are bulky and yet sometimes it takes a bit for me to warm up when I get inside. A pashmina or scarf or shawl is the perfect thing to wrap around my shoulders and keep me comfortable. Plus, I do love the little color it brings to my basic black coat.

I do hope you are warm wherever you are and that it's not too crazy for you during this Christmas season.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Into the Fray...Black Friday

2009-11-27T12:12:00.001-08:00

So we did it. We went out for Black Friday.

My husband and I had discussed the fact that there really wasn't anything we needed...except for a new cordless power drill. Sometime in the last year our old one died and replacing and recharging the battery didn't seem to help, and while I am fine using a plug-in drill, I did miss the convenience of the battery pack. So my husband trudged out at 8:30 am and retrieved us a new cordless power drill. YEAH!

Not to be outdone by my hubby, I went out with the girls and we wandered around the mall for a bit, leaving the house around 9am. We took care of a few birthday gifts at Claire's where they were having 12 items for $10.

I also picked up a new painting at Kirklands. I had seen it a couple months ago and loved the colors. It reminds me of the beach, without being too beach-y. It was regularly $99 and I got it for $39. I had to change the color of the frame. It use to have a band of gold around the picture and the edge of the frame so I taped it up and spray painted it on my front lawn.

Besides the fact that the gold previously didn't really work with the colors I had in the house, the darker frame makes the color POP more. At almost 4 feet high and 3 feet wide it's a pretty large picture for the foyer, but I do love looking at it. Sigh, it makes me miss the beach though.

The Savvy Supermom Outfit Breakdown.Old Navy sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $24), Red Camel Skirt (Belk's $7/ARP $30), Via Spiga boots (Free with trade-in Plato's Closet/ARP $250), Coach Bleecker Laced Flap Purse ($140 eBay/$450ARP ), Wet Seal vest ($6 thrift store/ARP $25).

Grand Total: $159
Approximate Retail Price: $779
Savvy Savings: $620

Not a particularly exciting Black Friday, but I'm happy!

Hope Y'all had a great Thanksgiving!

The Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $19 Jigsaw of London

2009-11-23T19:59:00.001-08:00

Today's outfit was a little monochromatic, but I do love the little pop of red the bag brings and the colorful beading on this sweater.

I bought the sweater a couple years back at Nordstrom with a gift card I had received for my birthday. I think it was on sale for $21 down from $90. I do wish we had a Nordies here (that's an affectionate nickname given to it by its many fans), but I hear tell that we will get one soon!

The Breakdown.
Caslon sweater (free birthday gift/ARP $90), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Jigsaw of London Lyocell dress ($8 thrift store/ARP $158), Nine West kitten heel leather boots ($8 thrift store/ARP $150).

Grand Total: $19
Approximate Retail Price: $401
Savvy Savings: $382

Dresses aren't for everyone and admittedly I have a hard time fitting into dresses. I usually opt for a jersey knit or a wrap in order to accommodate my chest size which was a 34DD last time I got professionally measured. That sounds HUGE doesn't it? I mean, I don't think I look that big but I do have a hard time finding a dress that fits my body: anything too constructed will either be way too big on the bottom in order to fit my chest or way to small at the top if it fits my bottom half.

But I have to say that it is worth it when you find the perfect dress. You know the one that doesn't show a bunch of bulges without having to squeeze into Spanx beforehand, and well, if it does (like this one did a bit) just put a sweater over it!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $13 Lucky 13

2009-11-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, jeans! I figured it was the weekend and well, if you can't wear jeans on the weekend, by golly, when can you wear them?!

This was a bit of an experiment. I'm not sure what color this BCBG sweater is, salmon? It's kind of a orangish-pink or maybe pinkish-orange, but I was kind of excited that it matched a shawl that I had recently found at the thrift store for $1.50. To kick it up a notch, I added a bright yellow patent leather purse and there was just enough color to keep this from fading into just another "jeans & sweater" outfit.

The Breakdown.
BCBG sweater ($3 thrift store/ARP $50), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Mavi jeans (FREE from a neighbor/ARP $80), lovely shawl ($1.50 thrift store/ARP $40), Andrew Stevens blue suede ankle boots ($6 thrift store/ARP $80)

Grand Total: $13.50
Approximate Retail Price: $218.50
Savvy Savings: $205

I am SO loving the yellow purse! Patent leather is a favorite of mine because it's so low maintenance, and with the onset of fall/winter, it's nice to have a purse that can withstand the elements without fear of waters spots. And well, the yellow is so happy. Can't wait to wear it with the yellow patent leather Bandolino wedge sandals I found last week for $4 - of course that will probably have to wait till Spring.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $27 Morrissey & Victoria's Secret

2009-11-19T19:37:00.000-08:00

I put this outfit together for the sole purpose of wearing this purse today. Somehow I felt like I needed a little red in my life, and the black and white provided the perfect backdrop to showcase one of my favorite bags. It's slouchy, it's soft, it's Rebecca Minkoff's Dream Bag - and she is a dream!

The Breakdown.
Morrissey black & white shirt ($5 thrift store/ARP $150), black tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Ideology skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), Victoria's Secret boots ($15 boot outlet/ARP $130)

Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $343
Savvy Savings: $316

I love clothes that can work in any season. I wore this shirt in a different combination earlier this year and paired it with a white skirt, white heels and a green purse. By changing out the shoes for boots and wearing a darker skirt, it easily moves to fall.

As it is getting a little cooler here, I also brought along one of my all-time favorite shawls. Received as a birthday gift last year, this shawl is from New York & Company, and I love it! I never figured myself for a shawl/throw sort of person but having since discovered it's basically a blanket you get to wear and snuggle up in without people looking at you like you're strange, I have since embraced it.

Of course there is a certain element of a shawl being a bit dramatic. You know...

"Frankly, I don't give a darn what you think," she yelled as she threw her cape around her shoulders and slammed the door behind her.

And though I do not necessarily see myself as such, I am now old enough to not really care if anyone thinks it a bit dramatic...I've been called worse before.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Thrift Store Score - $4 Cole Haan Patent Leather Beauty

2009-11-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Admittedly I have 4 other pairs of black flats, but in my defense, they range from suede, to grained-leather, some pointy, some round-toed. I did not, however have a pair of patent leather pointy ballet flats with lovely silver hardware detail on the front until I found these at the thrift store yesterday.

These beauties set me back $4. The tag reads $49.99 (there were from TJMaxx) and they has the retail price at $130). I love that they aren't completely flat. There's a tiny bit of a wedge at the back, and that they are the Nike Air tech-shoes; meaning that together with Nike, Cole Haan designed a shoe that was not only beautiful but comfortable.

Grand Total: $4
Approximate Retail: $130
Savvy Savings: $126

Shop Savvy Y'all!

The Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $27 & Yak Pile to Boot!

2009-11-16T19:37:00.000-08:00

Today was school - the girls and I attend a one-day-a-week school that we integrate into our homeschool routine. I love that it's just one day a week and that it provides for us a skeleton and jump-off point of learning for the rest of the week.

I also love the fact that I put "normal clothes" on before 9 in the morning - not that PJs aren't normal, but they sure aren't appropriate in most social situations.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo cotton sweater ($5 Target/ARP $17), Essentials by Milano shirt ($3 thrift store/ARP $30), Union Bay cord skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), Victoria Secret boots ($15 boot outlet/ARP $130).
Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $207
Savvy Savings: $180

Later in the day, the girls and I stopped by the thrift store and I found a lovely Tibetan 100% Yak Pile shawl (never mind that Yak Pile sounds like something from which I would most definitely NOT want to make a shawl) for just $1.50. It also happened to match my outfit perfectly so I'll be sure to use it when the weather turns colder...which I hope it DOES NOT anytime soon.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $14 Classic Cardigan Twist

2009-11-16T05:17:00.000-08:00

Look Ma, no denim!

I have noticed that the longer I shop thrift stores, the more likely I am to take chances or try a new color combination. This is one of them. I love the subtle green, orange and pink found in this sweater and have now worn it several times using a different colored tank under it to bring out the different colors.

Although it's difficult to see, the skirt has pinstripes going through it. As someone who is not particularly a flower & lace type of girl, I love the way the pinstripe lends a more classic feel...that the bright green purse totally throws off (and I love that!).

The Breakdown.
Ann Taylor sweater ($3 thrift store/ARP $80), green tank ($3 Rave/ARP $3), Gap pin-striped black cotton skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Unisa beige heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $80).

Grand Total: $14
Approximate Retail Price: $213
Savvy Savings: $199

Thrift store shopping is a great way to try a new color combination without breaking the bank so go for it! A little color IS fun!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $15 Louis Vuitton Cerises

2009-11-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

So I just realized that it's happening again...I'm sliding back into my denim EVERYDAY. Granted they are skirts for the most part, and well this one is so dark that it isn't your typical ultra-casual look, nevertheless I'm sure it gets a little boring for y'all.

However, in my defense I've been rather under-the-weather lately. I've had a cold/cough that has lasted 3 weeks now. I had a fever for just a day or two of that time so I was able to meet homeschool and work obligations (barely), but I did all I could to stay as comfortable as possible.

The Breakdown.
Madison red cotton shirt ($4 Belk/ARP $50), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Banana Republic denim tulip skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Unisa nude shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $80).

Grand Total: $15
Approximate Retail Price: $183
Savvy Savings: $168

So I bought this LV Cerises Speedy last year sometime and it is one of my luxury purses, and one that I paid much more than I usually do for a purse - $180. I did it for three reasons: 1. I wanted to see if I could find an 'affordable' Louis Vuitton as a challenge, 2. if found at a good price, I know I could sell it for at least double when I no longer use it and 3. I sold three other purses to buy it! A limited edition bag that is retired, this Speedy is being sold anywhere from $500 to $1000 online.

I found this bag on Craigslist, which is really a great place to buy high end bags, IF you know what you are looking for when you do so. There are TONS of fakes out there. I have spent many an hour on Discussion Boards both eBay and the Purse Blog so that I knew what the signs were of an authentic bag.

The great thing is that the advice from these places is free and from men & women who really know their stuff: from internal tags to the number of stitches on a certain part of the bag even the types of screws used to hold certain pieces together. It's free to register and once registered you can ask all the questions you want about authenticity.

You can either post pictures and have them look at it, or even send them the link to the eBay auction, Craigslist or website you are thinking of purchasing from, and they will help you out. Sometimes their answers are quick, and sometimes it takes a day or two, but either way it's free.

I benefited from their experience to buy an authentic bag. I definitely credit them for my savvy purchase, and if you're someone who enjoys bags as much as I do, it's a great resource.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Beautiful Pasta

2009-11-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

When Daddy is away on business it gives me a chance to serve some things for dinner that maybe I wouldn't otherwise. No offense to my Beloved, but he's a little more picky in his dietary requirements, and something that I and the girls would be fine eating for dinner just wouldn't have enough protein and substance necessary for a grown man. I'm not talking mac'n'cheese & hot dogs for dinner or even cereal for dinner - no, I'm talking plain gourmet pasta and green beans.

I admit, I bought it solely for its looks. How shallow is that? Well, it was fairly healthy as food goes, boasting an ingredient list of just 5 items (including spinach, beetroot & turmeric), but despite that fact, the truth is that I can pay less than $1 for a package of pasta and still I plunked down $4. Why? Because it was beautiful.

See what I mean? Even through cellophane, raffia and a tag sporting an old Italian man, I could see the potential. And oh the teaching opportunities...

"So girls, do you think the red pasta tastes different from the green? Or does the striped bow-tie pasta taste stripey?"

All I know is that we three girls happily munched on our multi-colored pasta seasoned with just a bit of olive oil, butter, salt & pepper and fresh grated Parmesan cheese with a side of blanched green beans this evening and felt we had experienced a 5-star meal.

After all, it really is the simple things in life, isn't it?

Chili Pepper Flakes Anyone?

2009-11-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

Please tell me I am not the only one who does silly stuff like this?

I cleaned out my kitchen drawers, well, maybe not all, but a select few. In one drawer I found a whole cache of chili pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese packets from our semi-regular movie nights. At least once every-other-week we set out a big tablecloth on the bonus room floor, eat pizza and watch a movie together. From old Disney movies to present day movies like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the movies are just part of the fun. We all love our little family tradition...and well, Costco pizza is $10 and it's gigantic.

Needless to say they hand us a stack of pepper and cheese each time we partake of this little ritual, and we don't use all of it. I don't have the heart to throw it out because it's just seems wasteful. So as my husband sat watching me with raised eyebrows (trying not to laugh and shake his head each time I sneezed) I cut the top off of all the pepper packets and put it into an empty spice jar I had.

Would you believe I filled the whole thing?! I had no idea that they would and now I am even more glad that I didn't just throw it all into the trash.

I didn't have as much luck with the Parmesan cheese since the girls would happily put a whole packet on every single piece of pizza they ate - and let me tell you, they can put some pizza away - nevertheless it still filled the cheese container up an extra inch.

Please tell me that you have done something that crazy so that I know that I am not alone...

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $14 A Bit About Bags, a Coach Laced Bleecker

2009-11-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

Fall is here and I am loving the fact that my wardrobe has "expanded" to include sweaters. For now they are cotton sweaters since it's really not that cold, but it's a nice change nonetheless.

The Breakdown.
BCBG Sweater ($2 thrift store/ARP $50), white tank ($3 Rave/ARP $3), Red Camel denim skirt ($7 Belk's/ARP $30), leather belt ($2 thrift store/ARP $20), Via Spiga suede wedge boots (Free - exchange at Plato's Closet/ARP $270 )

Grand Total: $14
Approximate Retail Price: $373
Savvy Savings: $359

A word about purses - I don't list them in the cost of the outfit because I know a lot of people really just use one purse for everything but in attempt to show you how you really can trade out bags in a savvy fashion I'll tell you about this Coach Large Flap Laced Bleecker.

I bought this bag on eBay after selling a Botkier Trigger Bag. I had bought the Trigger earlier in the year for $100 (after selling another bag) and though I enjoyed it, I found the drop a little too short to properly fit over my shoulder. So I sold it for $175, which means I netted $75. I then took this $75 and spent an additional $55 out of pocket for this lovely Bleecker for the fall for a total of $130. Given the rarity of this bag, I will be able to sell it for more than for which I bought it. I actually saw a bag just like this just sell on eBay for $299.

I've talked to several women about handbags and their collection. A lot of women, although they admire the idea of trading up, aren't willing to part with their bags, and really, if they have the extra money to spend then go for it. I, however, don't and so I let go of old bags to buy new ones.

A girl can only wear one purse at a time, and I have found that most women, myself included, have favorites. Some lucky ladies have only one that they use till it wears out before they buy another. Others like wearing a different bag each day. I tend to fall into the second group, using my purse as another accessory and it's choice dependent upon what function it needs to fill on that given day: a carry all or a carry my wallet - field trip or grocery shopping.

That said, I know some women can't relate to the purse thing. I didn't 10 years ago and then something changed. Maybe it was the babies, maybe it was my fashion sense, either way I do view it as one of my luxuries.

I don't get manicure, pedicures, spa dates. I don't go to the salon to get my hair colored, and my haircuts, which are but a few times a year, cost me $20 a shot. I don't go out regularly with the girls or even by myself on a regular basis, preferring to spend my time at home with my family when I get a chance. I don't have any big hobbies like scrapbooking, where I spend extra money. I just like changing out purses.

The way I justify it (and yes, it's justifying it because no one NEEDS a bunch of purses) is by being as savvy about it as possible - whether it's thrift store shopping or eBay and Craigslist splurges. It's my fun way of changing things up a little and as I always say, "Purses and shoes pretty much fit on fat-days and skinny-days, pre and post-pregnancy and whether or not you just had another birthday!"

Stay Savvy Y'all...and have fun!

Savvy Thrift Store Find - Le Creuset Braiser/Dutch Oven

2009-11-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

A while back I mentioned in my post Small Kitchen Appliances & Accessories Upgrade the Le Creuset skillet I bought for just $4. After cooking with it just once I "got it". I now understood why people collected them. Le Creuset conducts heat just beautifully. I rarely need to go past Medium High heat and things just seem to turn out great with less work than some of my other pans where things get stuck or burnt. I'm sure it's user-error in those cases, but suffice to say, Le Creuset is user-friendly.

Imagine my great delight when I found a Le Creuset 2.25 qt Braiser/Dutch Oven at the Goodwill Outlet for just $5! It's in a seasonal and hard-to-find color, Peach. It originally cost around $180 so I was besides myself for finding it.

At this point I am unsure about whether or not I want to sell it on eBay and use to money to buy a more vibrant color, or just go against my natural inclination to have everything match and just keep it. Believe me, I have already tried it out and it's just a "peach" of a pan.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Folex - My Favorite Carpet Spot Cleaner

2009-09-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is, but I have a guess as to what the little drop-like marks that line the hall between my daughters' bedrooms and their bathroom (click on the pictures below to enlarge them so you can see what I mean). My youngest daughter doesn't always dry her hands completely after washing them and tends to wave them through the air as she dashes off to her next adventure. I'm sure that's where the dirt likes to congregate, a watering hole of sorts, to just irritate me. While I am glad that she is washing her hands, the spots are killing me! My goodness, like I NEED a reminder that the builder's grade carpet in our home is over 10 years old.

We had always imagined replacing it after the youngest finished potty-training, and yet here we are 2 years later, and it's still here. Given the economic climate, I think Hubby & I are more likely to keep the extra money in the bank until things stabilize a bit more and well, with my handy-dandy bottle of Folex we're doing ok.

You can buy a 32oz bottle at your local home improvement store for about $7 or at Walmart for $5. Guess where I go? It's easy-peasy to use, just shoot the spot, let it sit for about 30 seconds and then wipe it off. That easy. I've even used this for red wine on both my carpet and my micro-suede couch. I've even used it on some of my Coach fabric bags to clean off general dirt. If the fabric is color fast/color stable it should work on just about anything. I've not used it on laundry items because I've already got my cache of stain cleaning items that work well for me.

The label says that the product is non-toxic, non-flammable, odor-free and CFC and Petroleum Free, and non-ionic - apparently meaning there is no negative or positive charge which keeps the area from attracting dirt to it or repelling it - so that it continues to get dirty at the same rate as the area around which you cleaned.

The list of things it claims to get out is pretty impressive: ashes, crayon, grass, many inks, soft drinks, auto oil, dirt, grime, pet accidents, tea, beach tar, fireplace soot, household grease, potting soil, tobacco, blood, food, ice cream, road tar, toothpaste, car grease, food oil, ketchup, rust, urine, coffee, fruit juice, lipstick, sauces, varnish, copy toner, furniture polish, makeup, shoe polish, vomit. Eewww.

Anyway, I can't say that I've tested the list for accuracy, but I will say that I've used it to get crayon, coffee, red wine, rust and food. I love this stuff,which is why I have a bottle upstairs and downstairs!

Stay Savvy!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $115 Botkier Trigger Clyde Bag & Diesel Boots

2009-09-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ahhh - my stretchy jeans. I bought these Silver Jeans at the thrift store and had to hem the tattered leg hems but that's ok - they were just $4 so I'm not complaining...too much!

The Breakdown.
tapemeasure shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $39), Silver Jeans ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), canvas belt ($1 thrift store/ARP $10), Diesel boots ($6 thrift store/ARP $150), Botkier Trigger Clyde bag ($100 eBay/ARP $650).

Grand Total: $115
Approximate Retail Price: $909
Savvy Savings: $794

These jeans are definitely lighter than what Stacie & Clinton suggest, but with the gray skies and rainy weather I was in a very casual mood and needed to wear my comfort jeans...instead of eating comfort food.

Franklin Goodwill

2009-09-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Located at 601 Hillsboro Road just about a mile away from downtown Franklin, this Goodwill store is my favorite. Of course, it could be because it's right down the road from my house so it's very easy for me to do a quick drive by.

This particular Goodwill store is special in that they keep the items that are donated and sell them in the store - apparently some of the other stores send theirs into the warehouse to be priced and sent out to other stores. Given that it's located in Franklin, just minutes away from Westhaven and lots of other great subdivisions, they get a lot of GOOD STUFF. You've read my blog, most of my items are from this store.

If you are driving down Hillsboro Road you will past Franklin High School as you head towards quaint downtown Franklin. You'll see a Wendy's, Mickey Roo's and a big sign that says "Independence Square" in which you'll find the Goodwill Store, The Dollar General Store and Kroger as well as two smaller strip malls.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $18 A/X Armani & Cole Haan Casual

2009-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

I love skirts, but sometimes I don't feel like wearing a skirt - but then I tried to put a pair of jeans on and they were squishing me too much and I decided maybe a skirt wasn't so bad after all.

I don't know if I am in denial by not going through all my jeans in preparation for the fall, but the few I kept in my drawer are a little tight right now so I'd rather not depress myself by trying more on, and just go for the more forgiving denim skirt. Anyone give me an "amen"?

Maybe it's because it's "that time of the month" or maybe it's just that at 40 I need to work harder on my abs and well, I don't want to - whatever the reason, I'm feeling a little poochy. Sigh. That could be why I plunked down the extra $1 at the Dollar Tree and bought the "Hula Abs & Butt" DVD the other day.

I grew up in Hawaii and even took hula lessons at one time, but due to subsequent years on the Mainland and a lack of opportunity, I never picked it up again. But hey, if I can get back to my Hawaiian roots AND end up a little slimmer in the gut area, I'm all up for the try. I'll let you all know how that goes...without embarrassing pictures.

The Breakdown.
A/X Armani Exchange skirt ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $98), Fang black shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $24), Cole Haan "Genie" Nike Air patent leather ballet flats ($6 thrift store/ARP $175).

Grand Total: $18
Approximate Retail Price: $297
Savvy Savings: $279

Ok, so maybe the black shirt was a little much as far as "mourning because my jeans made me feel like a stuffed sausage" but I tried to make it all better with a little bit of happy green. I do love the pop of color the bright green bag adds to this outfit. And well, patent leather is an excellent choice for rainy weather since it doesn't stain or get water spots and we've been getting a lot of that lately!

As a note, I bought this little Coach beauty on eBay for $45!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $40 Lucky Brand Core Colors

2009-09-17T07:09:00.001-07:00

We're having odd weather here in Music City. With the current weather pattern we are experiencing bouts of down pours, a bit of humidity and heat with cool breezes thrown in now and again. There are puddles everywhere, and so I pulled the boots out. Though my kids may like the squishing of feet in sandals or crocs, I can't say that I do.

Not quite Fall and still not out of summer, today's outfit was a combination of both seasons - boots and t-shirt!

The Breakdown.
True to Your CORE t-shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), United Colors of Benetton denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $75), Nine West kitten heel boots ($8 thrift store/ARP $150), Lucky Brand purse ($24 thrift store/ARP $200).

Grand Total: $40
Approximate Retail Price: $375
Savvy Savings: $335

A brown purse with a black skirt and jeans? YES! Matching your shoes to your purse is a myth that needs dispelling. It's about what works and in this case, a black purse would have just faded into the background. Using a brown purse adds a little interest to the outfit and well, all my "stuff" was still the purse from the day before so I just left it there...

Stay Savvy Y'all!

The Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $52 Lux Ripani Daytrippin'

2009-09-10T21:34:00.001-07:00

This shirt is part of a recent $25 shopping spree at Goodwill this last weekend. Boy, did I score. I've not yet worn the awesome Seven for All Mankind denim pencil skirt I got for $4, but I can't wait.

Besides this shirt and skirt, I scored a white denim pencil skirt, a great tiered denim skirt (are you seeing a pattern here?), a black skirt similar in shape to today's skirt, and a Bebe lace top. I'm sure you'll see them over the next couple of weeks, though the Bebe will wait for an upcoming wine tasting....I think.

The Breakdown.
Daytrip cotton shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $26 ), LUX denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), Unisa nude heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $80), Ripani purse ($40 new with tags on eBay/ARP $398).

Grand Total: $52
Approximate Retail Price: $444
Savvy Savings: $392

I became a fan of Ripani when I bought a gorgeous bag earlier this year at Plato's Closet. It's so soft and well, not well known, it doesn't scream LOOK AT ME, and I love it!

Savvy Retail, uh, Fashion? Find of the Day and "Stupid" Sale

2009-09-09T21:13:00.001-07:00

Ok, so short sport socks (say that 10x fast) don't really fall into the fashion category, but it is what my husband needed when I recently asked him if there were any type of clothes item that he needed. I like to do that from time to time and see how little I can spend to get him what he needs - it's my way of trying to show off my Savvy Skills to him.

Thanks to our friends at Kohl's, who, for whatever reason, send me $10 Kohl's cards a couple times a year, I was able to check that need off the list. The card is really, for all intents and purposes, a $10 gift card. There's no "you have to spend X amount to get the $10 off". You just can't cash it in, get change back or pay off your Kohls card (which I do not have). Suffice to say, I was able to buy my Beloved 2 4-packs of socks for $1.81. Who's the helpful wife????? That's right!

Grand Total: $1.81
Suggested Retail Price: $17
Savvy Savings: $15.19

Now I don't shop Kohl's that much, but when used wisely, little coupons like this that come in the every day mail, can add up to great savings. Whether it's a "Free Pair of Underwear" from Victoria's Secret or the "$10 off $25 purchase" from Macy's, these are perfect for everyday needs and sometimes, even gifts. And with Christmas right around the corner and sales EVERYWHERE, it's never too early to start shopping for gifts.

There's nothing better than finding the perfect gift on "stupid sale" where the price is almost too-good-to-be-true. Like the $50 Columbia khakis (with 50 UPF protection no less!) I got for my Dad for $4.98 at Academy. That's right, $4.98. Since I was feeling so generous I even bought him a cotton button-down Columbia fish-themed shirt for $4.98 as well (retail was $45). Since he lives in California, it's no problem giving shorts or short sleeve shirts for Christmas (my Dad doesn't read my blog so I'm safe sharing the secret with you - don't tell him, ok?).

Actually even if my Dad did read my blog he wouldn't care...well, maybe only because I didn't buy MORE at that price. Then I would have had to tell him that it was all they had, 'cause if it wasn't, I would have bought more and he would be getting those for Father's Day, his next birthday...you get the picture.

Last but not least, a big ole LOVE YOU to my dear friends who let me know they do indeed love me and miss me (and the blog) when I'm gone. So, to my loyal audience of 10, YOU GUYS ROCK!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $61 Kate Spade Summer

2009-09-08T10:54:00.001-07:00

HELLO my Savvy Friends! I have been a way for a while, haven't I? I'm not sure what happened, other than the end of the summer I guess. I'm so much more organized and together when there is a schedule of some sort.

Then, a funny thing happened yesterday when I was at my favorite thrift store. I ran into one of my Savvy blog friends! She admitted she was a little concerned because I hadn't been blogging lately (and well, we hadn't run into each other at the thrift store lately either). After a rough summer of several of her friends dealing with hardships like sickness, she had hoped I hadn't succumb to the same thing. And well, it made me feel loved!

Cue music and the Sally Fields clip: "You like me. You really like me."

Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads the blog. I waiver between hoping that I am encouraging people with the cheap clothes and items I find versus the sick feeling like I may be discouraging people with things that they feel they could never find or worse, that I sound like I am bragging.

Suffice to say, I hope that it doesn't sound like I am bragging. Whether it's the thrift store or retail stores, there is no reason any one should pay full price - even if you have money to spare - and there's no reason why found fashion (as fellow blogger Karla's Bonanza calls it) can't be beautiful. Who cares where you get it?

So without ado, here's today's Savvy Outfit of the Day!

The Breakdown.
Peck & Peck blouse ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), aqua tank top ($4 rave/ARP $4), Gap cotton skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), MIA leather heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $60 ), Kate Spade Dot Noel ($45 eBay/ARP $325).

Grand Total: $61
Approximate Retail Price: $469
Savvy Savings: $408

Summer is coming to a close and Fall is just around the corner. I can't wait to break out the jeans and jackets!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $52 Coach Soho and Speechless!

2009-07-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day here in Music City. On July 21st we broke a record low with 58 degrees - a fact that makes me chuckle a bit as I type away here in the home state of Al Gore. Sorry Y'all, I couldn't resist! Record or not, I LOVE the cooler weather even as it makes me a little homesick for my youth in So. Cal.

When I'm not trying to offend people politically (ha, ha, ha), I like to be outside as much as possible. Thankfully, the girls oblige willingly. They are trying to get as much play-time possible with their friends before we all hit the school schedule. The year-round school is already in session and public school starts in a couple weeks, which is about when we will officially start. I'm currently awaiting word back from a classical homeschool tutorial in our area so it may change things a bit this year.

Till then, I will wear Summer-y clothes and enjoy the way the cool breeze billows about my flouncy skirts. There are times I really do like being a girly girl...

The Breakdown.
Madison cotton shirt ($5 Belk's/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Speechless skirt (FREE trade-in Plato's Closet/ARP $20), Unisa nude colored slides ($4 thrift store/ARP $80), Coach large Soho Flap ($40 Craigslist/ARP $298).

Grand Total: $52
Approximate Retail Price: $451
Savvy Savings: $399

I've got a couple of the Coach Soho Leather Flap purses and I love them. If you watch carefully on eBay and on Craigslist, it's pretty easy to get one for around $50, less if you're lucky. They are classic in style and shape and hold a good amount. The leather is just lovely.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom's Fun at Sips n Strokes, Franklin

2009-07-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Boy did I have a great time the other night at this new little place called Sips n Strokes in Franklin! For $25 I spent two hours painting a picture with a couple of my girlfriends while sipping on a nice glass of Cabernet.

Now while that may seem like a lot of money, I assure you, given the fact that they provide all but the wine (i.e. canvas, paints, easel, brushes, smocks and instruction) I thought it was well worth the money. Participants need to BYOB, but there were just as many people sipping on water and lemonade as there were those of us sipping on wine so it doesn't have to be expensive.

Several people in the group had never painted before and they had a great time while producing a beautiful piece of artwork that is indeed worthy of hanging in their home. It was really interesting to see how the pieces all were the same thing and yet as different as the personalities that painted them.

There are 9 locations in all. Franklin is the only Tennessee location with the other 8 in neighboring states Alabama and Georgia. They also offer franchises, which I think is a great opportunity for people in other Metropolitan areas. I can't tell you how fun it was to unleash my inner artist.

I plan on going back next month when there is a painting that will match the decor in my home perfectly. I hope to see some of my Savvy Supermom Nashville Friends there!

Free Fun in Williamson County at Lake Radnor

2009-07-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Radnor Lake. Right in the heart of Williamson County, the Lake sits on almost 750 acres of land and is Tennessee's first protected eco-system. Up until recently we haven't gone regularly since the idea of hiking hadn't really struck the girls as something fun to do.

Us: We're going to Radnor Lake.
Them: YEAH! Can we bring snacks?
Us: Of course, what's a hike without snacks?
Them: What do you mean "hike"? We're just going to walk?

Thankfully at 4 & 7 they are starting to see that there is something pretty cool about looking at deer running through the trees, owls turning their heads all the way around and ants fighting to death on the stone wall.

The basic walk around the lake is about 2.3 miles, but there are smaller segments to be walked and still just as beautiful. This last time we saw several bucks & does as well as a few spotted fawns.

In the past we've seen egrets, turtles, fox, rabbits, squirrel, chipmunks and snakes (my Mother-in-Law actually calls Radnor Lake "Snake Lake"). If the animals are feeling shy, the Visitor's Center houses some live local snakes and "stuffed" life size animals that can be found around the lake.

When the kids get older we'll be able to do Canoe Floats and Astronomy Nights at the Lake or even a Junior Ranger Program where they can help out and earn a daily stipend.

So, if you're in Williamson County or some of the surrounding areas and looking for something fun and free to do, pack some snacks and head out to Lake Radnor. It's a beautiful place that makes for some great pictures and great memories.

The Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $55 Max Studio Savvy

2009-07-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

So, are you tired of looking at my Boho look? I am! Goodness, I'm not sure where last week went, but it sure sped by quickly.

This outfit is almost diametrically opposed to the previous outfit. A pencil skirt and classic lines make "professional" look easy. The best part is that I found this skirt, new with the $68 Max Studio tag on it for just $2 at the thrift store. Can you say, "SCORE!"

The Breakdown.
Madison Studio shirt ($5 Belk's/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Max Studio pencil skirt ($2 thrift store/ARP $68), Coach Pebbled Flap Soho ($40 Craigslist/ARP $298), Via Spiga red leather sandals ($5 Plato's Closet/ARP $60).

Grand Total: $55
Approximate Retail Price: $479
Savvy Savings: $424

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $84 Boho Maxi & Michael Kors

2009-07-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

One of the latest trends this season is Maxi dresses. And while I think some of the materials used are really beautiful looking and they are probably very comfortable, I really don't think they look good on everyone.

If you're not careful, it can make you look shorter and wider...think mu-mu. Truthfully, if you're busty, like me, it's not the most flattering look either unless you have beautiful shoulders and perfect pert "girls", and even then, I think it's tough to pull off the older you get without making it seem that you are trying to hard to look young.

But I like the whole look bohemian (Boho) look, so I decided to find an alternative and was pleasantly surprised to find that JCPenney had this cute skirt on sale for just $19.99. I know, I know, that's a little expensive for me but still not an unreasonable splurge.

The great thing about this dress is particular is that it has that elastic "tube-top" material at the top that when worn like this under a t-shirt, helps suck in a bit of the "loose bits". I can also pull it up all the way and wear it as a strapless dress with a cardigan over it and it looks great.

I paired this with a pair of gladiator-type Michael Kors sandals I found at my local shoe outlet and I felt like I was participating in spirit with a trend that I think it cute, while still staying age-appropriate.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo t-shirt ($4 Target/ARP $10), Tracy Evans skirt ($20 JCPenney/ARP $36), Michael Kors sandals ($20 shoe outlet/ARP $150), Coach Pebble-Grain Soho Flap ($40 Craigslist/ARP $298).

Grand Total: $84
Approximate Retail Price: $494
Savvy Savings: $410

Hope y'all are staying cool and Savvy this summer!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $23 HOBO International & Banana Republic

2009-07-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ahhh - the weekend! After two weeks worth of short work weeks (my Hubby worked 6 days out of 14), last week was a full week, and thank goodness it went by a whole lot quicker than I thought it would. Still, I'm glad it's the weekend. This morning we've got FREE swim classes at Prairie Life Fitness, our gym, so it's time to get on and get moving.

We like to get everyone showered and ready for the day after working out, which means packing toiletries and outfits. Outfits like this are great to throw into the bag and not worry about it looking too wrinkled.

The Breakdown.
Banana Republic wrap shirt ($2 thrift store/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), The Limited white skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), MIA white leather mules ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), HOBO International white leather purse ($11 eBay/ARP $250).

Grand Total: $23
Approximate Retail Price: $403
Savvy Savings: $380

Is this a little too fancy to wear on the weekends? I don't think so! It's just as easy to wear as shorts and a t-shirt, just as easy to wash (no ironing here because the touch of spandex in each piece) and a whole lot cuter. Ok, so the heels might be what kicks it up a notch, but hey, it's just as easy to wear a pair of black flip flops and just as appropriate.

Nashville is a small town in some ways. It's not unusual for me to run into friends as well as clients. Dressed like this I always feel like I represent both myself and any potential clients well - and at $30 I'm not breaking the bank to make a good impression all the time!

Life is short so live Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outift of the Day - $18 Bleecker's Back

2009-07-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

I use to wear a lot of black. Not anymore! Lately I've been trying to find ways to combine colors without it looking gaudy or too Palm Beach...not that I have ANYTHING against Palm Beach, but c'mon, I'm in NASHVILLE and the beach is at least 7 hours away.

Here's my version of Music City Subtle...

The Breakdown.
New York Company purple wrap shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Red Camel denim skirt ($7 Belk's/ARP $30), Unisa pumps ($4 thrift store/ARP $80), Coach Bleecker Duffle (FREE/ARP $328).

Grand Total: $18
Approximate Retail Price: $471
Savvy Savings: $453

Go out and try a new color combo today, you never know what you might end up really liking.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $53 Unisa & Coach Pebbled Flap Soho

2009-07-05T12:47:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh, the weather hasn't been as "stupid hot" around here, and I am LOVING it! A little rain, a little breeze now-and-again, it's just lovely!

The Breakdown.
Mossimo t-shirt ($5 Target/ARP $9), Tracy Evans skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), Unisa gold heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $75), Coach Pebbled Soho Flap ($40 Craigslist/ARP $298).

Grand Total: $53
Approximate Retail Price: $411
Savvy Savings: $358

Hope your Summer isn't sizzling hot!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $59 Fossil Fun!

2009-07-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hope y'all had a great Fourth of July celebration. We sure did. The folks in the 'hood that didn't spend it with faraway family got together and boy was the food great: teriyaki and jerk chicken, pork steaks, shrimp, cilantro butter grilled corn, bacon wrapped asparagus, the list goes on and on.

I don't often wear tank tops because I don't like the top of my arms. Because I'm a little top heavy, I have a little extra "stuff" right by my armpits. This particular top fits so that most of the extra stuff is covered. Of course I still don't feel totally comfortable but I was trying!

The Breakdown.
The Limited tank ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), Red Camel denim skirt ($7 Belk/ARP $30), Nine West slides ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Fossil red suede purse ($44 Belk's/ARP $190).

Grand Total: $59
Approximate Retail Price: $300
Savvy Savings: $241

I do look forward to using this shirt under a blazer or jacket in the fall, maybe I won't feel so self-conscious then.

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day my American Savvy Friends!

I hope that whatever you plan to do this Fourth that you are surrounded by people you love and that you stay safe. With all its flaws, the United States is one of the best countries in the world in which to live. We are able to disagree with the government and not be afraid for our lives. We have the safest running water in the world and enough food on our tables that a good portion of us have a few pounds to loose.

I could go on and on, but suffice to say we should be truly thankful for the many freedoms we have here in the United States. Having done a bit of traveling both here and abroad, I have seen first hand the many ways we have been blessed.

If you have a moment, why not take some time to tell the people you love how thankful you are for them as well as for those men and women who have given their lives through the years in order to keep this country free.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $24 Armani Exchange

2009-07-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today's outfit was just a basic run-around outfit. I've often resorted to Mossimo solid colored tees from Target as a way to put together casual outfits, but although the colors work well with the different patterned skirts I like to wear, they are just t-shirts. I figured that it was time to start looking specifically for wrap shirts in solid colors that are a little "nicer" than t-shirts.

Thank goodness for eBay where I just have to type in "wrap shirt" in the search engine and I have hundreds to choose from!

The Breakdown.
Moda International wrap shirt from Victoria's Secret ($9 eBay/ARP $30), black tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Armani Exchange denim skirt ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $98), Sbicca shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $50).

Grand Total: $24
Approximate Retail Price: $181
Savvy Savings: $157

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $12 An All-Time Low with a Coach Bleecker to boot!

2009-07-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

I was feeling a little nautical today when I pulled this outfit together. I know, I know, horizontal stripes are not the most flattering and yet, I gravitate to them. Must be a throwback to my preppy days in California. Anyway, the outfit itself is nice and cool, perfect for the HOT weather we've been experiencing around here.

The Breakdown.
Gap striped shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $24), The Limited skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), MIA leather slides ($4 thrift store/ARP $60 ), Coach green Bleecker duffle (FREE/ARP $328).

Grand Total: $12
Approximate Retail Price: $452
Savvy Savings: $440

Wow - I think this qualifies as my lowest total to date! Not bad for under $20.

Stay Savvy (and cool) Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Retail Score - Men's Dress Shirts & Slacks.

2009-06-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

My Hubby works in the health care industry. His basic daily "uniform" consists of slacks and dress shirts with a suit & tie for client meetings. For the most part, he's fairly classic in his taste, and while he dresses himself (I do not pick out his outfits and iron them every day) like most men, he doesn't like shopping.

In truth, I do buy things occasionally from the thrift store, usually new with the tags on them, but for the most part I drop by the sales racks from time to time at our local department stores or discount retail stores like TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Ross.

I scored last week at Dillard's and Belk's in Cool Springs when I bought 13 items ranging from dress shirts to jeans for just $105, an average of $8 a piece. The great thing is that I was able to buy a few things that were a little outside of his comfort zone. He's not one to wear orange or green, but these were subtle enough and at $7 a piece, worth trying. I bought all the shirts I thought would work in his size with the idea that he could try them on and I could return them if they didn't work. Turns out he liked them all, and I like them on him.

The Breakdown.
9 Roundtree & York shirts $7 each/ARP $45 each ($63/$405)
1 Daniel Cremieux $11/ARP $75
2 Roundtree & York striped pants $10 each/ARP $60 each ($20/$120)
1 pair Kenneth Cole jeans $11/ARP $78

Grand Total: $105
Approximate Retail Price: $678
Savvy Savings: $573

It really pays to shop the sales rack at department stores. The key is to do it with the kind of regularity that helps you find the items you need before you need them, keeping you from spending too much when you get it in a crunch and need it "NOW".

Stay savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $61 Kate Spade Punched Dot Noel

2009-06-29T06:17:00.001-07:00

This weekend we celebrated my niece's one-year birthday. YEAH! The great-grandparents came down from Illinois earlier in the week and the girls stayed at Nana & Pappy's house for a couple days so that my husband and I had some great "date" time.

We caught up on a few movies, went out to eat in the Gulch (the new "hip" place in Nashville) and slept in a few times. The girls had so much fun that they didn't want to come home! So, after a week of VBS (Vacation Bible School), and a couple days of alone time, we are refreshed and ready to start the week.

The Breakdown.
New CATO faux wrap shirt ($9 eBay/ARP $17), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Spiegel denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), Via Spiga red shoes (FREE for trade-in at Plato's Closet/ARP $150), Kate Spade punched Dot Noel ($45 eBay/ARP $398).

Grand Total: $61
Approximate Retail Price: $597
Savvy Savings: $536

Something about these shoes, I'm telling you! They are really the only pair of shoes where I consistently receive comments and compliments. From Baja Fresh getting lunch to the party where we celebrated my niece's birthday, they just seemed to grab attention whereever we went. I love the fact that I got them for free...well, and they are comfortable as well.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $47 Barr + Barr Purse & Victoria Secret's MODA International

2009-06-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today's outfit reminded me of being in Greece. No, the print isn't Greek-key, but the colors reminded me of the gorgeous blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the white buildings and blue roofs of Santorini...ahhh, can't you just hear the waves beckoning you to join them?

The Breakdown.
Victoria Secret's MODA International new with tags long white skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), Mossimo t-shirt ($5 Target/ARP $9), white Rave tank top ($4 Rave/ARP $4), Barr + Barr patent leather purse ($30 eBay/ARP $175), white MIA shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $60).

Grand Total: $47
Approximate Retail Price: $308
Savvy Savings: $261

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Thrift Store Score - BIKES!

2009-06-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

So the girls had outgrown their bikes and given the warmer weather I kept hoping we'd strike it right at the thrift store and boy did we! I had been looking for a couple months when all of a sudden in the space of a week I found these two gems.

The first bike was a genuine Disney Princess Huffy bike complete with beautiful iridescent tassels...until my youngest pulled them off. I wish I had gotten a picture of the bike with them since it was a) so cute and b) indicative of what good condition it was in when we bought it. I paid $7 for the bike, from what I can tell it retailed for $80!

The second bike we found a week later looks a lot like the one they were selling at Walmart for $60, only I got it for $5. It was $9.99 with a half-off sticker. I actually had to pull of the protective clear coat off of several pieces of the bike it was in such great condition.

Grand Total: $12
Approximate Retail Price: $140
Savvy Savings: $128

Two new bikes for the summer....PRICELESS!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $15 Trading up for a Coach Bleecker Duffle

2009-06-13T04:18:00.000-07:00

So I have a confession to make. I loved the Dooney & Bourke Lock Sac that I bought at Plato's Closet and I used it quite a bit, but I didn't LOVE it. It seemed a little big on me when I looked at the pictures. I'm not a big person, only 5'4" so it seemed a little overpowering, even as I loved the amount or "stuff" that it carried. So, I sold it. I was able to sell it on eBay for $175 and used $100 of that to buy this gorgeous green Coach purse.

In the end the math works out this way: I spent $24 for the Dooney Lock Sac, sold it for $175 (paid $18 in fees) so I "netted" $133. I then spent $100 for the new Coach so I ended up with a new Coach purse and $33 in my pocket.

The Breakdown.
Morrissey shirt ($5 thrift store/ARP $125 ), black tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Gap white cotton skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), white leather MIA heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), green Coach Bleecker duffle purse (FREE/ARP $328).

Grand Total: $15
Approximate Retail Price: $556
Savvy Savings: $541

Seems Peter Morrissey is a designer more well known in England and Australia. He closed a bunch of his stores last year, which is a shame since this shirt is a pefect, easy to wear, flattering look that isn't high maintenance. Maybe I'll get lucky and find more at the thrift store!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $27 Hobo International Purse & Seven Denim Pencil Skirt

2009-06-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

I think Clinton & Stacie call this type of shirt a "shweater" - part shirt and part sweater all sewn into one. I can't remember if that's a good thing or not, but I like it, and not because it's "comfortable." I like the way it hugs my curves and makes this faded denim skirt look like it belongs. Plus, there is no ironing or dry cleaning involved so that's definitely a plus in my book!

The Breakdown.
Como shirt ($8 TJMaxx/ARP $30), Seven denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $125), Nine West buckle wedges ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Hobo International white leather purse ($11 eBay/ARP $250).

Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $455
Savvy Savings: $428

Hope y'all are staying savvy out there!

Savvy Supermom Food Savings - Gluten Free Larabars/JamFrakas for Celiacs, Protein Mix & Kashi Cereal

2009-06-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Our family is not a health-nut family, though I do like to make sure we stay on the healthier side of the curve. We are conscious about the money we spend on food and I like to keep my budget around $50-100 a week for a family of 4 products that are healthy/organic/natural or less processed. I've not really found the coupon programs to work for me because there aren't many things that I need in the coupon section. We shop at Costco and do a bit of stock-piling on items like toilet paper and paper towels, but outside of chicken or fresh vegetables we don't do a lot of food stockpiling because I don't have an extra freezer or a lot of extra space in the house.

That said, I try to find bargains when I can, even in the most unlikely of places. Surprisingly, Big Lots has been a great source of healthy foods. This week I picked up the following:

1. Larabar Pistachio - $8 for a pack of 16/ARP $25 if bulk/ARP $2 a single bar
2. Larabar Jam Frakas box of 18 for $8/ARP $25, single bar/ARP $1.75
3. Naturade Soy Protein Shake - $4 for 2lbs/ARP $20
4. Kashi 3-boxes of cereal - $5 /ARP $3.75 a box

Grand Total: $25
Approximate Retail Price: $81 for bulk/$95 buying single items
Savvy Savings: $56 /$70

If anything this should be a testimony to buying things in bulk packages instead of a single bar here and there when you're on the run.

Now I realize that some adults and kids don't like this kind of stuff, but I've always used health bars as a snack item for my kids figuring that it was a quick easy thing to stuff into my pocket that would keep us from making bad choices when we were out and about and hungry. I also used bars like these when I was pregnant to keep my blood-sugar up and my nausea at bay. For now these are the bars that I stuff into my bag when we head to the gym so that we have something to snack on because they (and I) are always so hungry when we're finished playing!

Per the company - LARABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits nuts and spices - energy in its purest form. Made from 100 raw whole food each flavor contains no more than six ingredients. Pure and simple just as nature intended. As a celiac, my mother in law eats a gluten-free diet and she loves these bars. If you do a Google search on it you may find that there was a recall earlier this year, but that was for the peanut butter versions of both brands.

The Naturade shake mix is for my husband and what I use to make him a quick breakfast to go. We use frozen fruit from Costco (or whatever fruit is getting overripe in our house), water and a scoop of dahi yogurt (Indian yogurt) from our local Indian market or Kefir when it's on sale. We usually spent the $19 for a months supply of protein powder at Whole Foods, so this was a change for us, but at $4 I was willing to try it. Our oldest loves protein shakes and though our youngest doesn't as much, she seems to like this Strawberry Creme flavor.

The Kashi cereal is for me, and while the kids may eat it from time to time, it's a good way to grab a quick breakfast and or midday snack.

Overall I do love finding deals like this at Big Lots, which happens more often than not, and while I may save a lot doing this, I realize that people who like specific brands may not be able to find these type of savings consistently. I have found for us, the flexibility of trying a new product from time to time does help the bottom line for our family.

A Note to My Local Savvy Shoppers - This deal was found at the Franklin Big Lots store.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $48 Coach Slides & Dooney Lock Sac

2009-06-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how busy summer has become. Our homeschooling schedule has lessened with the summer season, but we still try to find time to fit in a little reading, language arts and math. With all our free time we've started a gym membership at a local club that I will post about soon.

We actually won our membership through a Costco silent auction with the proceeds going to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, but given the services they offer I'm inclined to say that it's one of the savviest deals I've seen around.

The Breakdown.
Energie off-white shirt ($4 Belk's/ARP $20), lace tank ($3 San Diego boutique shop/ARP $3), Sunny Leigh skirt ($11 Belk's/ARP $78), Coach leather slides ($6 thrift store/ARP $125), Dooney & Bourke Large Lock Sac ($24 Plato's Closet/ARP $325).

Grand Total: $48
Approximate Retail Price: $551
Savvy Savings: $503

Hope y'all are staying savvy (and cool) out there!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $23 Faconnable Fashion

2009-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's Summer! Public school is out and the street is teeming with children almost all day long and we love it. This outfit was a celebration of the warm weather.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo cotton shirt ($5 Target/ARP $18), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Faconnable skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $150), Via Spiga red heels (free trade in at Plato's Closet/ARP $150), Hobo International leather purse ($11 eBay/ARP $250 ).

Grand Total: $23
Approximate Retail Price: $571
Savvy Savings: $548

Between the shoes and the outfit itself I received 3 compliments from women ranging in age from 18 to 65. Of course I didn't tell them that I only spent $23 for the whole outfit.

I haven't made much mention when it comes to additional accessories, but I scour the thrift store as well as the sale counters. The bracelet is sterling silver with some sort of stone cabachon (no brand name that I could find, just the .925 silver mark) I bought at a local outlet store named Essex for $1. The Skaagen watch was purchased at Plato's Closet for $5 (retail $125). The necklace was a gift from my sister-in-law and the sterling silver earrings were $2 at the thrift store.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Savings - DIY Window Film/Tint

2009-06-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

Looking for a weekend project? How about tinting your windows? Sounds fun doesn't it? Ok, maybe not compared to hanging out at the pool or the beach with your family, but the savings definitely will make you smile. I have teased y'all about this easy do-it-yourself project for a while now and now I am finally ready to reveal the secrets of installing window film!

Our house faces east to west and so the afternoon sun blazes right on our front door. Given that we have a steel coated/styrofoam core door that sits behind a glass storm door, it gets BLAZING hot. So hot, in fact, that the metal of the door warped soon after we installed the storm door. Given the extreme heat building up between the storm door and the door, wood or composite doors would still suffer so our only solution seemed to either a) get rid of the storm door or b) find a way to decrease the heat coming in. We stumbled on window tinting!

My husband did some research and found that for a professional installation including the product would run us about $5-6 a square foot. Our storm door is a standard size and the glass measures 6 feet by 2.5 feet or 15 sq ft - which means it would be about $100 to tint.

Being avid DIY'ers we figured there had to be a product we could apply ourselves and indeed there was, in the form of window film which is applied to the inside of the window. We went to our local home improvement store and found Gila Window Film.

A single box of the highest percentage of light/UVA blocked measuring 3 ft x 15 ft costs about $35, with which we were able to cover the storm door with enough extra to take care of two of the four bonus room window panels. Including the window kit we spent just $50 to get that all done, breaking it down to a little over $1 a square foot. Talk about savvy savings!

Admittedly, it would have been easier to start with a smaller size window to begin with, but still our first attempt turned out well, and we were extremely pleased. We immediately noticed a difference in the temperature of the door and are now even able to leave the door open (storm door locked) for a good portion of the day to let light in without fear of it ruining the hardwood floors. Given our success we decided to use the film on every window of the house.

Here's a quick run through of how to install the window film. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being difficult, I would rate this a 5 or 6. It requires two people to do the job though only because of the type of work it is, not because it's difficult. At different stages of the process we served as "surgeon's assistants" to each other handing tools or spraying down the window if it got too dry.

The Tool Kit.
We spent the $9 that it cost to buy the initial kit with a bottle of the Window Film Application Solution (which activates the glue on the window film so that it sticks). It is worth the money and is necessary to make the job easier.

Additional Tools Needed
An additional flat razor blade, glass cleaner and paper towels to clean the window helps. You'll also need scotch tape and a tape measure. Handy extras include a pair of scissors, a large trash bag and a towel/tarp to lay down in front of the windows if you don't want the excess solution to damage the floors.

Step 1
Remove all the window "stuff" - i.e. curtains, blinds, shades, etc.

Step 2
Clean the window. This is a very important step and requires a razor blade in order to ensure that every little thing has been removed from the surface of the window. Extra caulking on the edges from the initial build, a speck of dirt, these will show up by way of a bump in your tint if you don't remove them. Standard glass cleaner with paper towels work just fine though I did find the microfiber cloth that came with the glue activator was useful.

Step 3
Measure the window, then measure the window film to cut. Allow at least 2 inches on each side. We laid the box on the tint for a straight edge and used a permanent marker. Given that there is extra tint on each side, you don't have to worry about the line showing up on the window when you're done. Sliding a sharp scissor across the film makes it easy to cut, sort of like gift wrapping paper.

Step 4
Put a piece of tape on both sides of the tint, folding the top over so that you can pull the two apart easily when it's time. What you are trying to do is have an easy way to separate film from the protective plastic. The clear coat covers the side of the tint that has the "glue" which the Window Film Application Solution will activate.

Step 5
Spray the window down with the Window Film Application Solution (glue activator).

Step 6
Have one person hold the piece of tint up, clear side facing out. The other person then pulls off the clear coat all the while spraying both sides of the tint (the one facing the person holding the film) and the other side of the film (it's not really necessary to spray the outside of the clear plastic coat). This gets a little messy and drippy so you may want a towel or tarp below. The solution also made us cough so it would be wise to use a mask if you have any breathing difficulties and well, just to be safe! Also, be careful not to spray the activator into your partner's face...not that I did that to my Hubby but I'm just saying...

Step 7
Once the clear plastic coat has been fulled off and both sides of the film sprayed with the activator, the person who is holding the tint can place it on the window. Standing in front of the window, holding the film centered, have the other person tap the middle of the tint. The rest of the film will slowly cling to the window. Make sure the window is still wet from the coat of activator before you do this step.

Step 8
Use the black squeegee provided in the Application Kit and first drag it down the center of the window film from top to bottom to set the film in place. Then drag the squeegee from from the center out to the edges stopping short by a couple inches on all sides. It's during this stage that you'll see whether or not your windows are clean. On a couple occasions we found little bits of stuff under the tint. If you're careful you can lift the film and scrape it off, make sure you spray more solution on if this happens. The excess solution will drip on the window sill so have some paper towels handy.

Step 9
Now take the clear tool and press it up into one corner of the window. Place the blade of the provided razor and insert into the groove and slide down the sides of the window to cut off the excess film. We found this to be the most difficult part of the process as sometimes the blade didn't cut all the way through to the top or bottom, but a pair of scissors did the trick. You may need to continue spraying down the window film in order to have the blade tool slide easier.

Step 10
Use the yellow squeegee to get out the remaining bubbles.

That's it!

The whole thing takes about 15 minutes per section of window that you do once you get the hang of the process. It's best to apply the film during the cool of the morning or the afternoon. The warmer it is outside the more difficult it becomes to apply because the film activator dries too quickly, thus making it easier to tear the film when you squeegee it or trim it.

On our standard builder grade window panes (36" across by 28" tall) we could get about 5-6 window panels done from a single roll. The film also comes in a wider 4 ft size that was useful for our large bay window in the kitchen nook. We bought the titanium/platinum (they changed names) for the highest level of reflection and protection for the storm door and front of the house windows and the lighter 50% reflection for the kitchen bay windows at the back of the house where we don't get the fierce afternoon sun like we do up front. Plus, these windows face the deck and we didn't want a higher mirror reflection upon the wood which would cause more wear and tear on the deck plus the higher opacity woudl make it harder to see inside when you're out on the deck, something we didn't need.

Since applying the film we are using 10-20% less energy to heat and cool the house. Because we choose the highest level of heat control (they call it titanium) it also provided a bit of privacy as well. The tint looks a little like a mirror on the outside and at night diffuses the ability to see into our house as well.

I highly recommend this product in particular since it was so easy to use and works so well. Not only are we cutting energy costs we also are saving our hard wood floors from overexposure. While the possibility exists that it may not last forever which may be a factor in deciding whether or not to have it professionally installed, the process is so easy and so much less expensive than professionally installed to me it's worth the risk of having to reinstall at some point. Though I will say it's been on our front door for two summers now and we've not had a single problem.

The bottom line:
Window film/tint is a cost-effective way to increase energy efficiency on standard builder's grade windows.

NOTE: A special thanks goes out to my Beloved who begrudgingly let me take pictures of the process without growling too much.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $36 Hobo International by George!

2009-06-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

I love this skirt. I bought it a couple summer's back at Goodwill and every time I wear it I get compliments. It was originally from the Gap and it has a features "postcards" from all over the world.

My sister mentioned how much she loved it and last year I found another one just like it at the thrift store in her size! Since she lives in California I figured it was safe to send it to her so even if the whole "sister thing" kicked in where we chose to wear it on the same day at least we wouldn't be in the same city!

The Breakdown.
Madison Studio shirt ($5 Belk's/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Gap skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), Hobo International leather purse ($11 eBay/ARP $250), George Simulated Patent Leather and Cork wedges ($13 Walmart/ARP $13).

Grand Total: $36
Approximate Retail Price: $356
Savvy Savings: $320

I also received several compliments on the shoes yesterday. I found them at Walmart last year, of all places! Their George line is classic in their cuts and the kids clothes in particular are adorable. They even have an organic cotton line of baby's clothing.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom "Incredabowl" Summer Bowling Deal - JayMar Family Entertainment Centers

2009-06-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

Here's another fun Summertime Deal for my fellow Middle Tennesseeans. JayMar Family Entertainment Centers is currently running an Incredabowl deal. Sign up on their website and they will send you an email card good for one free game a day for each child under the age of 18 from now till August 31. The cards are good for their Franklin location, Cumberland Lanes and Tusculum Lanes.

While the game itself is free you still need to pay for shoe rental if you don't have your own shoes but you do get $1 off shoe rental meaning you're paying $2.25. If your kids are like mine and prefer the Hwy 66 bowling where the lanes are 2/3 the size of the standard lanes AND they have guards on both alleys then you end up getting half-off your first game. JayMar will also periodically will send you a coupon for a discount on food. They also have other deals online like a coupon for a buy-one-game-get-one-free coupon.

The Superstars and I went this week and for a game that lasted about 20 minutes we paid $3 total. It was fun little way to mix things up without having to spend a lot of money. There are also arcade games and a food court inside, all very nice and clean so it would be easy to spend an afternoon there and with the help of coupons you wouldn't be out a lot of cash.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $24 Michael Kors Cool

2009-06-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

The weather is gorgeous here in Music City! We've not yet had super hot days, mainly nice balmy 80 degree weather that cools off nicely as the sun goes down...although we did hit 90 degrees today. This outfit was a nice light summer outfit that kept me cool.

The Breakdown.
Madison Studio blue shirt ($5 Macy's/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Banana Republic white cotton eyelet skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), MIA leather heels ($3 thrift store/ARP $50), Michael Kors leather purse ($9 Plato's Closet/ARP $250).

Grand Total: $24
Approximate Retail Price: $413
Savvy Savings: $389

I've realized the neutrality of metallics this year, although being more of a subdued kind of girl, I like them matte rather than shiny. I love how the silver on this purse adds a little hint of texture to an otherwise low-key outfit.

As those dog-days of summer head our way stay cool and Stay Savvy!

Mom, I'm Bored FREE Savvy Supermom Summer Family Movies in Franklin

2009-06-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

This posting is primarily for all my local Williamson County Savvy Friends...BUT for my Savvy Friends not in the 'hood, make sure you check your local cinema for free movies, Regal Cinema offers free movies during the summer so there may be others doing the same!

FREE family movies start THIS Wednesday (June 3rd) at 10 a.m. at Harpeth Community Church in Franklin, TN. The family movie series called "Mom, I'm Bored Family Movies" will continue every Wednesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m. through June and July at the church's Youth Center. They only have seating for about 150 movie-goers each day, so you'll want to get there early to make sure you get a seat.

Families are encouraged to brown bag a snack, or enjoy free popcorn and 50-cent juice boxes during the movie. In addition, Chick-fil-A of Thoroughbred Square in Cool Springs will provide $2 Chick-fil-A kids’ meals (6 nuggets, chips and a cookie) for purchase each day. A soda machine is also available on site.

Door prizes from Chick-fil-A, Big Idea’s VeggieTales and 3-2-1 Penguins!, and other local companies and restaurants will be given away each day. The Chick-fil-A cow will be on hand for photos and to greet kids during the series.

Two of the weeks are reserved as dress-up events: on July 8 & 9, kids can don their super-suits and come as their favorite super hero, and on July 15 and 16, kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess or prince. More information on dress-up days can be found at www.harpethcc.com.

The series will wrap up with a three-day grand finale on July 29, 30 and 31st and the premiere of the new VeggieTales movie Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella, a lesson in confidence. Big Idea will give away prizes and coupons to celebrate the August 1st release of Minnesota Cuke on DVD at retail stores nationwide.

A full schedule of the summer’s movies can be found at www.harpethcc.com or by calling the church’s movie line at 790-0104, extension 15.

We'll be there - hope you to see you!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $16 Kate Spade &UP!

2009-05-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

We went to see UP! today and it was absolutely wonderful. I laughed, I cried...seriously. The first 5 minutes alone got me. Pixar has done a great job of creating a film that is charming and fun for both children and adults. My 4-year-old sat through the whole thing without any problems and she's usually my fidgety one. My husband even liked it. UP! has made it into my top 5 movies of all time. See it if you get the chance.

The Breakdown.
The Limited chevron shirt ($5 thrift store/ARP $29), orange tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Spiegel denim skirt ( $4 thrift store/ARP $29), Sbicca shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $50).

Grand Total: $16
Approximate Retail Price: $111
Savvy Savings: $95

Hope Y'all are having a great weekend and remember, Stay Savvy!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $46 Armani Exchange

2009-05-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

I'm alive! My family came and went over the last week to celebrate Superstar #1's 7th birthday. It was wonderful having my Mom & Dad here as well as my little (taller than me) Sister, her Hubby and my little niece here at the house, and I already miss them.

A fun time was had by all, but I'm exhausted! The Superstars and I were actually excited about getting back to homeschooling. Even though school has let out for most of the kids around here, we plan on working through the summer. We like doing that so that we have the option of taking a week off here and there for things like my family's visit.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo cotton sweater ($4 thrift store/ARP $24 ), Armani Exchange A/X denim pencil skirt new-with-tags ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $98), Sbicca shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Michael Kors bag ($30 eBay/ARP $350).

Grand Total: $46
Approximate Retail Price: $522
Savvy Savings: $476

I love, love, love pencil skirts! They are so slimming, and it's even better when it's denim. It's like my favorite pair of jeans but better (or so my Beloved says).

I've got a window tinting post in the que, I've just got to download all the pictures I took and get them on up. It's a great way to save on your energy bills if you've got terrible builder's grade windows like we do and don't want to have to totally replace them.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $53 Michael Kors Mother

2009-05-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm a little late posting this particular outfit. This is what I wore for Mother's Day, but I would imagine it would be appropriate for the office as well. The great thing about this particular wrap is that it's made out of a gauzy type of material so it breathes well and can still be worn when the day is a little warmer (but also covers the arms so that if the office air conditioner is on you won't freeze).

The Breakdown.
Karen Kane wrap ($21 Macy's/ARP $80), Madison Studio pencil skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $70), Michael Kors suede/leather pumps ($4 thrift store/ARP $175), Dooney & Bourke Lock Sac ($24 Plato's Closet/ARP $325).

Grand Total: $53
Approximate Retail Price: $650
Savvy Savings: $597

As a mom, I'm trying to teach my Superstars that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to look put together, and though looking nice is secondary to acting nice, the two go hand in hand. Pretty is as pretty does (as the old saying goes), but who says you can't have it all?

Shop Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $236 Balenciaga City Bag Babe

2009-05-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Today's outfit is another casual run-around outfit and yet by the total amount you can tell something is different. I don't think I've gone over $200 for any of my outfits to date. The reason is my Balenciaga City Bag, a purse splurge in the last year.

Of course, as is the case for any of my purse splurges, it starts with selling a couple of my other purses so it's more of a "trading up" rather than a new expense. So 3 Coach bags later, I had my first Balenciaga. It's one of those bags that will last forever. The leather is super supple and soft (goat's leather) and though 4 years old, shows no signs of wear at all. I bought it from a reputable seller on eBay and made sure it was authentic before paying. There are TONS of replicas on eBay so you have to be careful! I'll post more on buying authentic on eBay later.

The Breakdown.
A Byer blouse (bought when Clinton Kelly was in town at Macy's for just $13/ARP $50), black tank top ($3 For Love 21/APR $3), B. Laguna jeans ($15 Macy's/ARP $50), Gianni Bini plum shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $80), Balenciaga City Bag ($200 eBay/ARP $1200), Amanda Smith belt ($1 thrift store/ARP $20).

Grand Total: $237
Approximate Retail Price: $1384
Savvy Savings: $1147

I ran out of the house without a belt for this outfit. I've got tons of wide belts, but not many skinny ones and felt this outfit needed a skinny belt. The solution? A quick trip to the thrift store and $2 later I had a new belt. The thrift store is a great place to find belts. I mean, who wants to spend $20-$50 on a belt???? You know me, I'd rather spend it on a purse...

Speaking of which, a handbag that originally cost $1200. Can you believe it? I can't afford to spend $1200 on a purse and though it's really a lovely and well-made purse, there's nothing so much better about it that would warrant breaking my budget. I bought it because I wanted to see if I could find one for an amazing price with some savvy shopping, and I did. It's a challenge for me to see what savvy shopping can get when it comes to luxury items, but in the end it's about balance for me.

If I want to buy something "new", I will sell off several of the bags that I am not using to fund the new purchase. The longer I've been doing this, the more apt I am to get rid of 3-4 bags in order to get one high end purse. I also know that if and when the day comes that I no longer fancy this Balenciaga, I can sell it for at least (if not more) than what I paid for it!

Shop Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $50 Dooney & Bourke Lock Sac

2009-05-09T08:05:00.001-07:00

Today's outfit was for running around. It was kind of rainy but not particularly cold so I wore light denim trousers, and of course, my new purse!

The Breakdown.
INC jeans ($10 eBay/ARP $60), white lace tank top ($3 Rave/ARP $3), red cotton Madison Studio ($7 Belk's/ARP $50), Via Spiga heels (Free Plato's Closet trade-in/ARP $150), Dooney & Bourke Loc Sack ($24 Plato's Closet/ARP $325), herringbone hat ($6 Plato's Closet/ARP $30).

Grand Total: $50
Approximate Retail: $618
Savvy Savings: $568

Sassy and fun, the hat was something the girls at Plato's Closet said I really needed to get so I did, and I'm glad I did, especially since my hair was seriously a mess that day!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $61 Plum & Patent

2009-05-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

It's back to work for me again, well, voice over work. I had a session today that I had almost forgotten about. Scheduled for 10:00 a.m., the session is one of my regular gigs that I record every other month. I remembered it at 9:51. Luckily it's right down the road, but I was still 15 minutes late. It took me 10 minutes to get out the door with dressed kids in tow (pretty durn good if I do say so myself).

The Breakdown.
Next denim pencil skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60 a UK brand), Sunny Leigh blouse ($13 Belk's/ARP $59), Gianni Bini plum shoes ($4 thrift store, with TJMaxx sticker still on the bottom/ARP $80), Helen Welsh brown patent leather purse ($40 eBay/ARP $248).

Grand Total: $61
Approximate Retail Price: $447
Savvy Savings: $386

I love the soft plum colored shoes with this outfit. They look brown but I think it adds a bit of extra visual texture so that it's not too "shoes match the purse" kind of thing. I know, silly, but it's the little things, right?

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Find of the Day - Dooney & Bourke Annalisa Lock Sac & Trading Up

2009-05-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Today's find was a gorgeous Dooney & Bourke Annalisa leather Lock Sac purse marked at $30 at Plato's Closet. I had a filled frequent shopper card that entitled me to an additional 20% off PLUS a $5 trade in so I ended up spending about $20 on a purse that is still on the Dooney website. Zappos is still selling it for $243 (their pictures looked better than mine, black is a difficult color to photograph well so that's what you see here).

The Annalisa Lock Sac was originally $325, and it's now on sale for $227. This purse measures about 12" across at the bottom (16" at the widest point) and almost 10" tall. It's huge and perfect on those days I need to lug around a bunch of stuff for the Superstars. Even without the trade-in, $30 is still 90% off retail.

So here's a tip: go to Plato's Closet or the equivalent if you're looking for a new purse, but if you want to get the most for an old purse for the purpose of "trading up", be savvy and see if you can't sell it on eBay or Craigslist first.

On eBay this purse, if pictured & marketed right, could go for $100+. The same is true on Craigslist if the right buyer is there. You could get at least $50 if you wanted a fast sale, which is 5x more than what the person got in trade-in at Plato's Closet. That's right, she probably only got $10 for this $325 purse. So be smart and as always...Shop Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $48 Beverly Feldman, Tracy Reese & More

2009-05-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, there's a good reason, I was on vacation in Florida! It was our first family vacation. I mean, we'd done the Disneyland thing but my husband says that didn't count because we were actually in California visiting my family. Considering his relatives use to live in a small town in southern Illinois where there is no Disneyland, I considered it a nice little family vacation thank-you-very-much.

At any rate, we had a grand time and very cheap to boot! I mean, if you consider spending 2 hours listening to a timeshare presentation a small price to pay for a 3 night stay on the beach in Sandestin for just $199. Really, the presentation was quite interesting and something we may actually consider in the future but at this time in this economy, we're putting aside any extra income "just in case."

At any rate, the Sunday before we left I wore this outfit for my niece's dedication at church. It may look familiar as it was the first time I got to wear these two pieces from my Sunday splurge back in March. Coupled with a Scarlett Blake purse I got off eBay a couple months back and some great Beverly Feldman shoes I bought at a local outlet, I felt pretty together...important since we had to wake up at 6:30 to get to the church on time. Sigh, the things we do for the people we love.

The Breakdown.
Gap sweater ($3 thrift store/ARP $60), Tracy Reese dress ($8 thrift store/ARP $250), Beverly Feldman heels ($17 shoe outlet/ARP $168), Scarlett Blake ivory purse ($20 eBay/ARP $200).

Grand Total: $48
Approximate Retail Price: $678
Savvy Savings: $630

The Beverly Feldman heels are called "Funtastic." With a name like that, it's enough to make me NOT want to wear them, but I swear I didn't know the name when I bought them. They are not the type of shoes I gravitate towards, but I had to make an exchange that day, and it was the only thing that remotely sparked my interest and forced to make a decision, Funtastic it was. In truth, I now like the shoes. They are...ha, ha...fun. At least my niece thought so each time she heard the shells jingly together. It kept her occupied and quiet for a time in church, and that, as any mother knows, is priceless.

Upgrading Dinnerware Savvy Style - Replacements.com

2009-04-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

So after 10 years of the same pattern, I decided I wanted a change. We didn't have anything fancy, just some porcelain plates by Dansk, white with a blue ring around the edges - very clean-lined. Through the years and through the kids, several plates and bowls had fallen victim to chips, cracks and breaks so we no longer had a full set.

Even though I could have replaced the ones we were missing, there was a part of me that wanted to get something different. My neighbor has white plates from Crate and Barrel and I really liked the way they showcased the food. Everything just seemed to look better on white.

Then one day at my local thrift store I found a whole bunch of Williams Sonoma Buffalo China dinner plates and some all white Dansk dinnerware. I paid about $40 for 14 dinner plates, 6 salad plates and 6 cups & saucers. I then had to figure out what to do with the "old stuff."

Enter Replacements.com. It's a site that sells replacement pieces of china, crystal and silverware patterns, old and new. I had used it at one time to research a bag full of old silverware to sell on eBay, unaware at the time that they BUY those items as well. I'm not sure how it dawned on me that they might buy my Dansk, but when it did, I promptly called them and was sent an email quote back on how much they would pay me for each piece of china I had. It was good for 30 days.

I spent time that week going through all the pieces I had and then arranging them not only by pattern, but where the item was made (some of the Dansk of the same pattern were made in Portugal and some in Japan). It was a little tedious keeping it all straight but when I was done it was up to almost $250!

Unfortunately I sat on the order too long and had to call in for a new quote. Funny enough some of the items they were going to take the last go around, they weren't taking this time or they were taking them for half as much money. They were also now taking some items that they didn't want the time before and yet it came to about the same amount ($250).

By this time I had gone on line and ordered a set 12 salad plates from Pottery Barn and some cups and bowls from (of all places) Walmart! In all, I spent about $90. So now I was up to $130 on a set of 12 porcelain dinner plates, salad plates, soup bowls, and coffee cups. The great thing about ordering some of this online was that I was receiving great packing material to send my dishes to Replacements.com.

In all it took about 1 hour to box everything up. I sent two huge boxes (can't believe I forgot to take a picture!) which cost me $43.

Within a week I received a call from Replacements.com to tell me that given the silver scratches on some and some reglazing they would have to do (at $5 a piece), the total I would receive back was $195. They didn't take two plates, which I was fine donating and I should have my check next week.

As for the items they didn't take. I plan on calling back next month and getting new quotes and seeing if a) some of the prices went up for the pieces (i.e. a cup they offered $16 last month was just $8) or b) they are taking any new pieces. I'll let you know what happens there. At this point I have more than broken even, so much so I think I'm buying some salad bowls to go with the soup bowls. My new "set" is below".

So in the end I was able to go to a larger 12 piece set of everyday-ware without spending any money out of pocket, and I couldn't be happier.

Remember that's Replacements.com. Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $15 Seven & BCBG/Max Azria

2009-04-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry my Savvy Friends! I've been SO busy cleaning. I mean, really, really cleaning. My Mom, Dad & Sister are coming out to visit in May and the whirlwind of cleaning out the guest room and just the house has consummed both me and my time. It's the kind of deep cleaning you do only when your parents are coming to stay so you can prove that they really did "raise you right."

It's been good though! I feel lighter, for lack of better word. It's also made me more brutal in my assessment of items that I have not worn or worn lately, which means I've taken more to Plato's Closet. In the next few days I'll post about my dinnerware update and dining room chair updates that have been a couple months in the making. Till then, here's the Savvy Outfit of the Day.

The Breakdown.
BCBG/Max Azria top ($4 thrift store/ARP $120), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Seven for all Mankind denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $150), sbicca heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), Tignanello patent leather Perfect 10 French Tote (free trade in Plato's Closet/ARP $90).

Grand Total: $15
Approximate Retail Price: $413
Savvy Savings: $398

Well, it's back to cleaning - stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $95 Fabulous Fossil & Diba

2009-04-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

I love wrap dresses. They are easy to wear and easy to "style". Here I've got it with a rain jacket and boots, but it can easily change it up and wear heels or sandals and white tank for a more warm weather look.

The Breakdown.
PS Style wrap dress ($21 Macy's/ARP $94), brown tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), cuffed Diba suede boots ($10 thrift store/ARP $150 ), Fossil patent leather purse ($40 eBay/ARP $180), Ambition rain coat ($21 Macy's/ARP $98).

Grand Total: $95
Approximate Retail Price: $525
Savvy Savings: $430

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $25 Banana Republic, Gap & Kors

2009-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Daddy worked from home today, recovering from his trip to the City of Brotherly Love. It was nice having him around, even if he left his computer only for lunch and bathroom breaks. He's much more focused than I am.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo cotton black shirt ($4 Target/ARP $24), Gap 1969 white trousers ($5 TJMaxx/ARP $40), Banana Republic bronze hobo ($10 eBay/ARP $150), Michael Kors belt ($2/ARP $50), David Aaron suede kitten heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $50).

Grand Total: $25
Approximate Retail Price: $314
Savvy Savings: $289

This weekend is our neighborhood garage sale so I look forward to getting rid of a bunch of junk from the house. All proceeds will go toward the family vacation, woo-hoo!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $29 Lucky Me Again!

2009-04-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Today's outfit of the day is mixing up things I wear quite a bit, like my cords and one of my favorite argyle shirts. I used the combo as a backdrop for this Lucky Brand purse that I found recently at the thrift store for $7. It retailed for $200! It's soft and slouchy and the suede is excellent. It doesn't mat down like some suede.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo argyle shirt ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), American Eagle cords ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), BCBG leather shoes ($8 thrift store/ARP $150), Lucky Brand purse ($7 thrift store/ARP $198)

Grand Total: $29
Approximate Retail Price: $416
Savvy Savings: $414

Although I love the purse, I may end up selling it on eBay and "trade-up" for another purse I've got my eye on, and well that purse costs a bit more than $7.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Opearation BDHQ - The Final Hours!

2009-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Back at The Savvy Suburban Supermom I wrote about my friend and neighbor, Tisra, and how she and her family have been in the adoption process for a girl from Taiwan for over 2 years now when out-of-the-blue there was Dorothy...in India. With the paperwork in the final phase and the date for picking her up being scheduled, Tisra and her family have devised a great way to raise the last of the money they need to pay for the adoption and bring her home. We are now in the final 12 hours so please, if you haven't, visit their site and donate just $10 to help them with their adoption fees.

For that $10 donation, you will get a "ticket" that will be entered into a drawing for a whole slew of amazing prizes that have been donated to the Fadely's for the purpose of helping them Bring Dorothy Home Quickly. From a Wii Family pack to a professional camera and blog site set up as well as beautiful handmade items from friends at Etsy, there are wonderful prize packages to be won.

Please take a moment, read their story and help them out if you can. Dorothy was just left at an orphanage, one of thousands of precious children without parents to love them. Please help Tisra and her family bring Dorothy home quickly!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $46 DKNY, Kors & BCBG...Oh My!

2009-04-13T17:55:00.001-07:00

Today's outfit of the day allowed me wear my new BCBG shoes that I bought at Plato's Closet two weeks back for less than $10 (actually it was a trade-in so I spent no money out of pocket!). Worn with a no-name hat I bought there last month sometime I loved the idea of cute casual, especially since the weather went back and forth from raining to blue skies for the most part.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo white sweater ($5 Target/ARP $25), goldenrod tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), DKNY jeans (Free Plato's Closet trade-in/ARP $50), BCBG shoes (Free Plato's Closet trade-in/ARP $90), Michael Kors purse ($30 eBay/ARP $350), plaid hat ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $20).

Grand Total: $46
Approximate Retail Price: $538
Savvy Savings: $534

So I'm getting a lot of use of my Michael Kors purse. I bought it because it was a great price for a well-made handbag and the color was my way of participating on the "yellow trend" that seems to be popping up this Spring. What I didn't know is that it's still selling new-with-tags online. The MSRP? $350! Woo-hoo, and here I thought it was "just" $250.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $48 The Easter Egg Hunt Dilemma

2009-04-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Ah, the age-old dilemma of what to wear for the Easter Egg hunt in soft, potentially muddy ground. The thing about Easter Egg hunts that causes a little bit of concern is finding an outfit that is is Spring-like and decent enough for the photo-op. I know it may sound kooky, but occasions like this mean that the grandparents will most likely show. That means we can get a family photo, and since we're not a go-into-the-studio type of family (usually the Hubby or I are left holding a camera and we get a partial-family photo) it helps to be prepared.

I went with the casual cute look here and since most of the other moms were wearing North Face jackets and jeans I felt it worked. That's one aspect of picking clothing I forget to mention but that is key, appropriateness. Wearing a jeans skirt and riding boots with a nice sweater is appropriate, as is a North Face and jeans for a breezy Spring day. Wearing a silk halter dress with high heel shoes (unless you're at the White House or a more formal Easter Egg Hunt) is not and would look silly.

The Breakdown.
Mossimo pink dot sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Gap long denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $40), Michelle D leather rinding boots ($10 thrift store, brand new!/ARP $120), Scarlet Blake leather purse ($25 eBay/ARP $200).

Grand Total: $48
Approximate Retail Price: $398
Savvy Savings: $350

Sure it's a casual outfit, but in all likelihood I spent less than any of the other North Face mothers for my savvy outfit!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Night - Saltimbanco & Date Night with Daddy

2009-04-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

Nana & Pappy live in town and one of the amazing benefits is that they love having the Superstars spend the night with them allowing us to have Date Nights. Imagine how excited I was when my Hubby said he got tickets for Cirque de Soleil's Saltimbanco and that his parents were more than happy to have them spend the night.

Of course, the next big question was "What do I wear?" I chose a simple wrap dress, rain coat and my favorite boots. I knew with downtown parking we might have to walk a bit and since there had been tornado warnings and nasty weather earlier, I knew I didn't want to go prancing around in the rain in something too fancy. Plus, it was at the Sommet Center (where the Nashville Predators play - GO PREDS!).

The show was absolutely amazing, and I'm glad I had worn something comfortable. I even got a compliment from a woman in the next row about my dress.

As a Savvy Saving tip, check out Travelzoo.com. That's where we got the heads-up for tickets for just $25 a piece, and while we weren't sitting on the floor, we were a a few rows lower than midway and center. Total for the tickets, including the fees cost us $37 a piece, and well worth it if you ask me! Our normal date nights are usually spent going out to a nice dinner and just talking; which is treat enough given that with the Superstars around sometimes it's hard to get a word in edgewise with one another. This was a nice change of pace.

The Breakdown.
Intrigue dress ($8 thrift store/ARP $80), Rave tank ($4 Rave/ARP $4), Franco Sarto boots (birthday gift!), Ambience brown rain trench ($21 Belk's/ARP $129), Maxximum suede & leather purse ($6 thrift store/ARP $120).

Grand Total: $39
Approximate Retail Price: $333
Savvy Savings: $294

Without the jacket I would have chosen a dark brown purse with the dress and boots, but since I kept the coat on for the majority of the time I felt the pop of blue would work better than having something that would just blend in and create a big brown blob. Hmmm, come to think of it, I could have probably worn my light brown patent leather Fossil from a couple weeks back. Oh well, next time!

Tomorrow's challenge, an Easter egg hunt on muddy fields...a.k.a. the dreaded photo op in not-so-good weather conditions.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $92 Kors of course!

2009-04-09T19:48:00.001-07:00

Today's outfit was just for running around. I had a few errands that basically entailed returns, never fun, actually a pain; a palm that died (the last one I had lasted 5 years so I was a bit miffed), a Whole Food's vitamin that my husband was wanting to try and never did, and then an item I bought on eBay that was, as they say, "significantly not as described" and needed to be mailed back with delivery confirmation.

It was all finished rather quickly but then I had a baby shower to run to that evening. I had fully intended to change into something a little more girly, but a neighbor down the street needed help so I didn't have time to change before running out to the shower. I had a great time and met some incredible women. Hi JoAnna!

The Breakdown.
Mossimo green cotton sweater ($5 Target/ARP $18), Arden B lace cami ($4 thrift store/ARP $18), Flirty Blues skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), Unisa nude slides ($4 thrift store, new with sticker/ARP $80), Michael Kors purse ($30 eBay/APR $350).

Grand Total: $92
Approximate Retail: $496
Savvy Savings: $404

Yeah, so Flirty Blues? I don't know anything about it other than it shows up in Australian Google listings so I figure it "must not be from 'round these parts," but really who cares? If it fits well, it doesn't matter. I love high-end labels like the next girl when it means quality, but sometimes I think you should take a chance and mix it up a bit. Remember Sharon Stone when she showed up at the Academy Awards wearing an off the rack Valentino skirt, Armani dress (as a coat) with a Gap t-shirt? Yeah, I had to look up the other pieces of her outfit but I remembered it was a Gap shirt. And you know what, she looked good!

As a society sometimes I think we are so label conscience that we miss the point that clothes should fit well. I'm still learning that. As great as it may be to find a pair of Citizen Jeans at the thrift store, what's the point if it doesn't look good on me? Anyway that's a soap box I'm too tired to climb up on tonight. And really, who am I to say anything, I fell for the Michael Kors purse. But it's pretty, isn't it?

Stay Savvy Y'all!

The Sunday Splurge Saga...the end?

2009-04-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

Remember the Sunday splurge from two weekends back? Well here's a recap and then "the end" of the saga. I say that tentatively because I am taking a small load of clothes to our local consignment store and that is a wait-and-see process that takes about 3 months, but since I'm not in a hurry for the cash since I've long since broken even, it's not truly over.

THE RECAP

What I bought:
Gap Twin Set - $3/ARP $60
Tracy Reese Dress - $8/ARP $250
Ann Taylor Shirt $2.15/ARP $60
Apt. 9 Shirt - $4.29/ARP $40
Levi's long denim skirt (NEW) - $4/ARP $40
Diesel Jacket - $4/ARP $200
SLB Shirt - $4.29/ARP $30
Lena Gabriel Skirt - $4/ARP $75
Totes Umbrella (NEW) - $2/ARP $10
Blue Chinese shirt - $4.29/ARP $20

Grand Total: $37
Approximate Retail Price: $785
Savvy Savings: $748

What I donated:
Amvets for a tax write-off of $50

Money made from what I sold:
$30 at the Plato's Closet for the clothes but I used $18 to buy two pairs of shoes, one of which I sold on eBay for $32. So, yeah, I could have stopped at the $30 in pocket at Plato's Closet and made it $7 for $385 worth of clothing, but the extra BCBG's I ended up with cost me $7 and usually retail for about $80-$90 so I was fine spending a little extra time listing the Coach sandals.

In a nutshell:
-37 (initial splurge)
+30 (Plato's Closet gave me for the clothes I got rid of)
-17 (spent at Plato's Closet)
+31 (sold shoes on eBay)
___
$5 Total Spent for almost $900 worth of retail clothing. At this point in time anything else I might take in to Plato's Closet or sell on eBay (whether the Diesel coat or the Levi's skirt) is money in my pocket!

Overall I would say the whole process took about 3 hours: 2 hours shopping at Goodwill on a Saturday (which is fun for me though it might not be for you:), 15 minutes to go through my closets and pull out old clothes & shoes, about 1/2 at Plato's Closet, and about 15 minutes to list the shoes on eBay. I did this over the course of a couple weeks so it wasn't much at all.

This is how I keep my wardrobe updated without a lot of cost. It's fun, it's easy and doesn't take up too much time, and the efforts are well worth the outcome.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Shoes Glorious Shoes! How to Buy Them Used.

2009-04-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

I wasn't always a shoe person, but I have found a whole new world of fun in shoes. For me it's a lot like handbags, it doesn't matter if it's a "fat jeans day" or a "skinny jeans day"; it doesn't matter if you're pregnant or your post partum (for the most part, I know some women's feet swell) shoes and purses always fit. I love using them to add color, to add a bit of funk and sometimes to ground an outfit. It's just fun for me and though I am no Imelda Marcos, I do have a nice collection of shoes thanks to Savvy Shopping.

Given that, one of my friends asked a great question: how do you buy used shoes? I admit there can be a bit of a grossness factor in some people's minds, and I guess that's something I've never really had much of a problem with. Yes, I know, me, daughter of a German nurse, but I only say that because I have strict guidelines of what shoes I will buy at a thrift or a consignment store.

1. First and foremost, I buy shoes in excellent condition. They need to look as if they are new both inside and out; no peeling, no weird discoloration, no creases in the leather, no weird smells (EEEEEWWWW!). Truthfully, most times THEY ARE new with the TJMaxx or DSW tags still on the bottom of the shoe or obviously new with no scuffs on the bottom, sometimes they still have the string/cord attaching the shoes together.

2. Given I buy shoes in like-new condition, I feel that if they are heels or slides (where you don't generally wear socks or nylon booties) wiping the insides out with a Clorox wipe or some other anti-bacterial solution to kill any germs is sufficient. I haven't tried it yet, but if you mix 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and 2 cups of water, a spritz in the shoes would kill anything in there as well. FYI - this solution can be used to kill any kind of mold, mildew or fungus. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic.

That's it.

In the end, one of the "benefits" of being a throw-away culture, is that many women regularly buy shoes that are too big or just a little too tight. Maybe they buy something for one outfit and wear it once, maybe twice, and then it sits for a year or two deserted in their closet. I don't really have a problem wearing those kind of discards after a good cleaning, but the truth is, barely worn shoes should not need a "good cleaning," a simple wipe down should be sufficient. And well, if you still feel uncomfortable than maybe second-hand shoe shopping isn't for you. If that's the case, it's ok...

It means more shoes for me!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $46 Kors Can Do Yellow!

2009-04-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hope Y'all had a good weekend. After a week of tornado warnings and a few games of Candyland with the Superstars in the closet by flashlight, the clouds blew away and left us with beautiful weather this weekend, mainly in the 70's. Of course today there's a chance of snow, but hey, it's Music City!

I threw this outfit together after being called on to teach again this Sunday in Superstar #1's class. We all had fun, and I enjoyed feeling "grown-up" again. Later in the afternoon I passed out our subdivisions newsletter. As secretary of the HOA Board, I'm in charge of the newsletter. Truth is, I do it because I like knowing what's going on in the neighborhood and I feel like I can make a difference in our little community. Wearing this, walking door-to-door, shaking hands, and smiling I almost felt I was running for office.

The Breakdown.
Nine West sweater/shirt new with tags ($2 Salvation Army/ARP $70), INC jean trousers new with tags ($10 eBay/ARP $60), Michael Kors yellow leather purse ($30 eBay/ARP $350), Bandolino patent leather shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $70).

Grand Total: $46
Approximate Retail Price: $550
Savvy Savings: $504

I'm loving the subtle yellow pop of color that the handbag brings. It's one of the few I have that is more of an elbow bag. I can fit it on my shoulder if need be, but it really feels comfortable this way. Huh, Michael Kors MUST know what he's doing. Actually, I've watched every season of Project Runway so it's kind of fun to have one of his handbags at a fraction of the cost!

Savvy Spring Cleaning - Selling Books, CDs & VHS Tapes

2009-04-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

I mentioned yesterday that our local librarian said there was a used book store in Nashville where they would give you cash/credit for your books. Inspired by the boxes of books in our attic I decided to test it out.

After a quick glance at their website and finding out they took media items as well, it took me about 1/2 hour to gather all these books and CDs together. Eager to get rid of some of the older board books the Superstars no longer read, I told them they would get 10% of what we made to buy any books they wanted, which made them willing accomplices.

When it was all said and done, the Superstars and I loaded 4 boxes of books and CDs into the car and headed out. We checked in at the counter and they gave us a ticket with a number on it. Several monitors throughout the store continually flashed the ticket numbers of orders completed and after about 1/2 hour at the store they were finished with our order. Time passed quickly as it was spent looking for more books!

In the end we were offered either $125 in store credit or $65 in cash and a $3 credit voucher (apparently there are some items they can't give us cash on so they have to give store credit) for 3 boxes worth of books. At about $20 a box of books, I was pretty pleased. We took the cash (which was actually a check), used the $3 voucher toward what we had gathered while waiting and checked out. The girls ended up with several chapter books, readers, a Disney hardback pop out book and a LeapFrog cartridge & book.

I was pretty pleased with the whole thing. In fact as we were walking around I was reminded of the stack of VHS that I had forgotten in the old storage chest in the bonus room and the girls started talking about other books they could trade in the next go-round. Given that, we'll be making another trip in the next couple weeks. We have a Spring garage sale in the subdivision so whatever McKay's doesn't take, we'll put in a grab box at the garage sale to eek out the last bit of money possible before sending it off to Goodwill.

Another bonus about the whole process was allowing the Superstars to see how to increase their buying power. I had also given them the option of using their $6 to buy something at Borders, a store we like to wander in as a family from time to time. It was evident to them pretty quickly how much more they could buy at McKay's versus Borders as each book still had the retail markings found above the barcode on the back of each book.

"So girls, you could buy these three books here or you can buy only ONE Magic Treehouse book at Borders for the same money,which is fine. It's up to you how you want to spend your money," I said.

And well, you know how that turned out. The girls love their "new" books and got a chance to see first hand how to make the most of their money, savvy-style. I couldn't be prouder.

Check out your local city listings and see if there's a media exchange store in your area. It's a great way to clean house and make a little money in the process.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $75 BCBG & Spring Cleaning!

2009-04-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

I can tell it's Spring because Spring Cleaning has begun in our house. Well, that's not entirely true. As the daughter of a German nurse, cleaning is in my blood and is never truly relegated to a seasonal activity. At the moment, however, we have gone beyond our usual presentable-clean to the "go up into the attic and open up boxes that have stayed shut for the last couple of years" kind of cleaning.

Some of this cleaning is due to the fact that I've become an aunt three times over in a year's time. The great thing about this is that I've been able to give clothes to each of my nieces from what the Superstars have outgrown. That of course requires going through the big plastic bins that were in the attic, sorting, and telling the Superstars at least 10x that "Really, mom has got it under control," and "No, you don't have to keep pulling out the clothes from the very bottom of the bin to 'help' me."

The by-product of the cleaning was one very large box sent to my sister in California and two large shopping bags of clothes to my sister-in-laws here locally. Not only do I love the fact that things are getting cleaned out, but I also love the fact that my sweet nieces will be wearing some of the same outfits that the girls wore. Going through the boxes brought back memories for all of us, including my husband who would laugh or smile at an outfit remembering some incident that happened while the ~~perpetrator~~ Superstar was wearing it. Mental and some physical pictures that may one day provide evidence, and well, blackmail material if the incident happened to be caught on film.

Anyway, I wore this outfit to fill in as a teacher's assistant for Superstar #1's Sunday school class this weekend. I wanted to be comfortable, but I also wanted the parents of the children to be comfortable with me helping with their children. You know, "Well, she looks like an adult."

I even act like it sometimes, but don't tell anyone!

The Breakdown.
Nine West stripped shirt ($4.29 thrift store/ARP $40), Gap cardigan ($3 thrift store/ARP $60),
BCBG pumps ($8 thrift store /ARP $150), American Rag, dark denim jeans ($15 Macy's /ARP $50), Helen Welsh patent leather purse ($45 eBay/ARP $250)

Grand Total: $75
Approximate Retail Price: $551
Savvy Savings: $475

While up in the attic I also noticed more boxes labeled BOOKS, which I quickly went through and set aside a box to sell at a place our local librarian mentioned a couple weeks back named McKay's. I brought the box downstairs and then had the Superstars go through their books sorting out the ones we wanted to give to our nieces and ones they wanted to sell, promising them a portion of the funds to buy a new book or two for themselves. I'll post more on the results tomorrow.

AND, by week's end I'll have another update on the Super Savvy Sunday Splurge!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $59 Sigrid Olsen Style

2009-03-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all! Hope you all have had a great week so far. Mine has been BUSY! I've been working on a project near it's final stages and have been writing copy for the overhaul of a website that should be going live any day now. Nothing quite as exciting as my site, of course, but fun nonetheless.

I love that Spring is started to be the more dominant weather indicator as of late. Outside of the occasional showers it's been warmer over colder, and well, the flowers in bloom everywhere make up for the rain anyway.

This skirt has been hanging in my closet since last year. I had bought it at the end of the warm season last year and since it's linen, really hadn't a chance to wear it till recently. When I found this gorgeous Talbot sweater a couple weeks back I was thrilled to find that the blues match perfectly!

The Breakdown.
Talbots thin sweater ($5 thrift store/ARP $70), Banana Republic linen skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $80), Franco Sarto suede boots (birthday gift from my sister several years back), Sigrid Olsen leather purse ($50 eBay/ARP $190).

Grand Total: $59
Approximate Retail Cost: $340
Savvy Savings: $281

As soon as I get this project off my plate I'll be tackling more fun topics than clothes, but since I HAVE to wear clothes every day, it really is the quickest way to show off some savvy savings so I hope y'all don't mind!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $57 Sunday Splurge Saga Continues...

2009-03-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like rainy weather has moved in and though it hampers some of our outdoor play, I console myself wearing my new trench coat and by looking at all the beautiful daffodils and tulips that are coming up all over the place. Spring is here and the signs of it are all around despite the gray skies.

The Breakdown.
Nine West top ($1 thrift store/ARP $40), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3). American Eagle cords ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), Fossil suede & patent purse ($44 Belk's/ARP $190), Nine West brown leather heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $60).

Grand Total: $57
Approximate Retail Price: $333
Savvy Savings: $276

Remember the post where I got about $800 worth of clothing for about $40? I mentioned cleaning out my closet because if I buy several items, I try to get rid of several items to keep my closet edited down. I do this by a) donating some clothing, b) trading some in at Plato's Closet, c)selling them on eBay if it's in demand enough and d) consigning them.

This is what has happened so far. I donated a bag to the Amvets for a tax write-off of $50 and then I received $30 at the Plato's Closet for the clothes I brought it. So, left as it, I've just about broke even on the clothes I bought Sunday.

Of course I didn't take the full cash amount. What I chose to do instead was use some of the money for a "trade" which saves me tax, and I bought a pair of camel colored BCBG shoes and a pair of Coach sandals for less than $20 total. I'm keeping the BCBG, but unfortunately the Coach are too large, so I'm selling them on eBay. I'll let you know how much money I make on them. I don't do that often since items on eBay don't seem to be going for as much as they were a year ago. In fact I rarely buy something unless I am absolutely sure that I will make at least $20-$50 on it. It's not worth the amount of time it takes to list it. The rest of the clothes that Plato's Closet did not take because they were "too mature", I will bring to the consignment store near my house in hopes of making a little more.

Really, this is what I do to keep my wardrobe updated and without spending a lot of money. It's about trading in and trading up. I'll keep you posted on how much the Coach shoes go for and eventually, how much I make at the consigment store. That always takes a while but since I don't depend on that money, it's ok to wait. In fact, it tends to be a nice little something-something when I least expect it. I usually use that money for a trip to the thrift store and so the cycle begins all over again.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $67 Kenneth Cole Trench

2009-03-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it rained ALL day here yesterday. The good news is that I got to use the little leopard Tote umbrella I bought on my Sunday shopping spree. It was also my chance to wear the new raincoat I bought a couple months ago at Belk's. It's a lovely Kenneth Cole classic black rain coat with a touch of flare at the bottom hem. It fits beautifully and it is truly a lovely coat but it was almost TOO nice. So it has stayed in my closet for over a month now while I tried to decide whether I should keep it or not.

It was on the top end of my spending on a single item at about $48, but considering it was originally $180 and it fit so well, I bought it. Funny, part of why I was so hesitant about keeping it was because it was so darn nice. I mean, the other coats I have aren't junk. I have two DKNY rain coats and couple other good name brand coats including a beautiful soft pink Gap trenchcoat, but the truth is that none were as "classic" as this coat. For the past month I've gone back and forth, feeling guilty and thinking "but I'm just a stay at home mom and I've got several perfectly good coats already."

Let me tell you, I'm glad I kept the coat. I feel so...grown-up for lack of a better work. Yeah, me, at 40, I feel grown up because of a coat. Anyway, it just goes to show you that Clinton & Stacie are again correct in saying that it's worth it to invest in classic pieces. I love this coat so much that I will be selling the other coats either on eBay, at Plato's Closet or the consignment store. I'm pretty sure I'll end up more than paying for the coat when it's all said and done.

The Breakdown.
Black Kenneth Cole trench coat ($48 Belk's/ARP $180), black & white Ann Taylor shirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), American Eagle cords ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), white Steve Madden leather boots ($7 thrift store/ARP $100), red patent leather Coach tote (birthday gift that I love, love, love).

Grand Total: $67
Approximate Retail Price: $383
Savvy Savings: $316

Today isn't suppose to be as rainy so I may not get the chance to wear my new coat again, but you know, I wouldn't mind if it did rain. I'd be feeling pretty sassy & savvy if I had to wear it again!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day $28 and Confessions of a Supermom

2009-03-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

Like any Supermom I have a list of things to get done that well, doesn't always get done. Thankfully with age and experience I've learned that not everything on the list HAS to get done.

I will say that in some ways it's easier taking care of household errands and chores when you homeschool. The best part is using those chores and things-to-do as learning experiences that not only help with various subjects like math (try cooking without it) but also help the household run more smoothly.

I watched an interview with Will Smith once and one thing that stuck with me is that he and his wife talk to their kids in terms of the "role" they play in the household. Are their actions helping or hurting the household and the goals they are trying to accomplish? I love it. It stresses personal responsibility as well as helps them see beyond just their own personal need. And it resonates with the kids, giving them a chance to feel like who they are and what they have to offer really can make a difference in our house.

For instance, when my 8 year old comes in asking to pick out her outfit for the day and we happen to be in a hurry, I am now likely to reply "Honey, we are all trying to get to XYZ in just half an hour, does Mommy stopping getting ready and helping you pick out your outfit help or hurt our goal to get to XYZ?" To which she usually grudgingly replies, "I'll go pick out my own outfit."

So what does this have to do with the Savvy Outfit of the Day? Uh...well...I'll think of something, till then, here's the breakdown...

The Breakdown.
Bitten seersucker jacket ($15 Steve & Barry's/ARP $15), Merona sweater tank ($3 Target/ARP $13), Red Camel denim skirt ($7 Belks/ARP $30), Mossimo cotton & cork wedges ($3 thrift store/ARP $25), Coach patent leather tote (Birthday gift!).

Grand Total: $28
Approximate Retail Price: $83 (not counting the purse)
Savvy Savings: $55

Well I didn't figure out what the preceeding had to do with today's Savvy Outfit, but thank you for letting me share a little bit. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for being a Mom, even more so on those days when I don't feel so "super." Maybe that's why I do love trying to pull outfits together so that even when I don't feel like I've got my ducks in a row, I can still make my way through the world with a little lilt in my step because I know I am doing the best I can with what I've got...just like every other Super-Mom out there.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $52 Fossil Patent Purse & Michael Kors Cool

2009-03-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've find that in the in-between weather pairing a bright light weight blouse with jeans or even khaki's kicks things up a notch. It's just as easy to throw on as a sweatshirt and jeans, just better looking.

This Sunday we were running terribly late for church so I threw on jeans instead of looking for a skirt or a pair of slacks. It's not that our church is formal, tons of people wear jeans, but I don't always get a chance to be out and about so many people during the week so I sometimes like kicking up a notch on Sunday because...well...because I can!

The Breakdown.
DKNY jeans (FREE Plato's Closet exchange/ARP $50), Michael Kors suede & bronze leather belt ($2 thrift store/ARP $50), Apt. 9 shirt ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), gold Nine West leather kitten heels ($5 Kohl's/ARP $60), Fossil patent leather purse ($40 eBay/ARP $180).

Grand Total: $52
Approximate Retail Price: $380
Savvy Savings: $328

Anyway, I ran out of the house in this and my husband commented several times that day that he liked this outfit on me so I took note, and when I went on my buying spree on Sunday afternoon I bought two shirts along the same vein. All the shirts are machine washable and because they are either crinkly or a poly-blend I don't have to iron them! Woo-hoo!

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $60 Lucky Brand & Browns

2009-03-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! I think we spent the whole of it outside in front of our house. Whether it was tending to the lawn and garden or just sitting on the grass with several of our other neighbors just talking and watching the kids play, it was truly lovely. Of course I did get a chance to visit Goodwill for a couple hours on Sunday (seriously, I love wandering around and I always try on the clothes so it was a good two hours). Make sure you check out that post, I detail how I got about $800 worth of clothing for just $37.

This savvy little outfit was actually from Friday, but I was having way too much fun outside this weekend to come in and post (sorry Y'all!). Although it was sunny outside, it was a little chilly with the wind, not that I'm complaining, it's better than the snow up north.

The Breakdown.
Sunny Leigh cotton jacket ($12 Macy's/ARP $70 ), Maurice skirt ($4 thrift store new with tags/ARP $24), Franco Sarto suede boots (birthday gift/ARP $150), Lucky Brand red suede & patent purse ($44 Belk's/ARP $190).

Grand Total: $60
Approximate Retail Price: $434
Savvy Savings: $374

Savvy Supermom Shopping - $37 buys $785 worth of clothing!

2009-03-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took a break and ran out to the local thrift store for a couple hours. I say "a couple hours" because I was there for about 2 hours. I like perusing all the sections, chatting with the employees, and I always try on clothes. I would venture to say I tried on at least 30 pieces of clothing, of which I ended up with 10 items (technically 11 since 1 of the pieces was a twin set).

Besides 1/2 off several of the items because they were one of the colors of the day, a fellow customer offered me the use of her discount card which gave me an additional 20% off my entire purchase bringing my total to $36.57. Mathematically speaking that means each piece averaged about $3.30.

The Breakdown.
Gap sweater set - $3/ARP $60
Tracy Reese dress - $8/ARP $250
Ann Taylor black & white striped shirt $2.15/ARP $60
Apt. 9 stripped shirt - $4.29/ARP $40
Levi's long denim skirt (new with tags still on it) - $4/ARP $40
Diesel plum colored jacket - $4/ARP $200
SLB turquoise green blue shirt - $4.29/ARP $30
Lena Gabriel New York long black skirt - $4/ARP $75
Totes leopard umbrella (new with tags) - $2/ARP $10
Blue satin Chinese shirt - $4.29/ARP $20

Grand Total: $37
Approximate Retail Price: $785
Savvy Savings: $748

What I love is that the cardigan from the twin set matches two of the shirts I bought perfectly, as well as the dress, which is why I bought it. I am NOT the kind of woman that wears strapless dress. As a D-cup girl, I just don't feel comfortable doing that, however, with a cardigan and in this color, it just looked beautiful when I tried it on. In other words, I would have missed a great outfit if I had just passed up the dress just because it was strapless. Besides, when I looked up Tracy Reese, her dresses run from $200-$400. You can get them on eBay for $100 and up, but for the most part, a comparable dress today would cost about $300. EEK!

The Diesel jacket is just cool. I would have never paid $200 for a plum colored jacket but for $4 I found something that is a little trendy and different from what everyone else is wearing. Like the Diesel jacket, the long denim Levi's skirt and even the bright colored shirts are not necessarily "classics", but at prices like these just wearing them a handful of times more than pays for it, after which time I can either a) go to Plato's Closet for an exchange when it's more fashion forward b) sell it on eBay (like the Tracy Reese dress or Diesel jacket) or c) donate it and get a tax write-off. In each case I end up either making money or breaking even.

I can't wait to wear the bright blue Chinese satin shirt with a black pencil skirt for a party or even a date night. It's definitely not a "practical" piece, but it's a fun one for sure. The little Totes umbrella was on my "be on the lookout list" because I wanted a new one to put in the car glove compartment for those sudden Spring showers since the kids broke all the other ones because I wasn't willing to pay $10 for one.

All-in-all it was a very successful shopping day. I figure with the clothes I bought I can make at least 20 new outfits with what I already have in my closet, which means I'll be going through my closet today and tomorrow so I can take some to Plato's Closet and donate some to the AMVETS which has a truck coming by our neighborhood tomorrow. I'll let you know how the Plato's Closet trip goes!

Till then Stay Savvy!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $20 Angela Adams

2009-03-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

I wore this cute Angela Adams tote yesterday. I found it at the thrift store and was drawn to the pattern and colors. Angela Adams' work is viewed as part of the urban design movement. She started with textiles, rugs, tiles, more home design items, but she dabbles in clothes and bags as well.

In my opinion she gives a bit of a modern edge to retro designs and colors. So while this outfit may not be "urban" (I mean, c'mon, there's a rosette on the sweater) I'd like to think the addition of the purse keeps this outfit from looking boring in its basic-ness. In truth the bag is more pink than true red, but I think the nuances of color work well rather than a perfect matchy-matchy look, and well, it holds a lot. Great for a mom on the go. I would have used this for a diaper bag if had been around when the Superstars were in diapers!

The Breakdown.
Kenneth Cole faux wrap sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $150 ), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), DKNY jeans (FREE Plato's Closet because of trade-ins/ARP $50), Franco Sarto brown leather heels ($5 thrift store/ARP $90), Angela Adams tote ($6 thrift store/ARP $85).

Grand Total: $20
Approximate Retail Price: $378
Savvy Savings: $358

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $23 Easy, Breezy J.Crew

2009-03-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Talk about incredible weather! It's a balmy, breezy 72 degrees outside. The Superstars spent a good portion of the day outside today. With my in-laws here I figured we could skip a day of school this week and enjoy the weather, because it still may end up snowing here before Spring hits. That's just Music City for ya'.

The Breakdown.
Merona white cotton cardigan ($5 Target/ARP $23 ), white lace tank ($4 Rave/ARP $4), Spiegel denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), tan leather J.Crew heels ($4 thrift store/ARP $150), Angela Adams purse ($6 thrift store/ARP $85).

Grand Total: $23
Approximate Retail Price: $291
Savvy Savings: $268

Like any Supermom, sometimes the easiest thing to wear is the thing you didn't put away last time,and well, like my jeans, denim skirts don't always end up in the laundry hamper after wearing it once. After all, I may have only done a quick trip to the grocery store after a day of PJs in the house, and then really, do you HAVE to wash the entire outfit just because you wore it?

This skirt was folded nicely at the end of my bed on our bench (the reason why I didn't hang it up escapes me right now, but I'm sure it was, uh, a good one) I grabbed it for today even though I had just worn it Sunday. But you good folks won't hold that against me, will you?

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $27 St. Patrick's Day Green

2009-03-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Funny enough, after my warning about St. Patrick's day it took me a bit to find an outfit. I should have saved last week's outfit for today! However, it was a good opportunity to mix-and-match, an essential savvy skill needed to make the most of your clothing!

The Breakdown.
Liz Claiborne skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $60 ), Rave lace tank ($4 Rave/ARP $4), Baccini denim jacket ($9 TJ Maxx/ARP $40), diba cuffed "suede" boots ($10 thrift store/ARP $150), Ripani leather purse (FREE Plato's Closet trade-in/ARP $400)

Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $654
Savvy Savings: $627

St. Patrick's Day Fun Facts - Who is Maewyn Succat?

2009-03-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

Because we homeschool we studied up a little on St. Patrick to find out what we were celebrating. Thanks to Wikipedia and the world wide web here are a few little facts we dug up that you can use to WOW your friends.

1. Maewyn Succat is the "real" name of the Saint we call Patrick today. He took the name Patricius (latin for well-born) upon becoming a Priest. He died on March 17, 460 AD.

2. Patrick wasn't actually Irish. He was born in Scotland. In his youth he was taken to Ireland by raiders and it is said he prayed every day during his captivity. He escaped back to Scotland only to hear the voice of the Irish say "Come back and walk among us" in his dreams which he did.

3. Blue, not green, was the original favored color of Ireland; the Coat of arms of Ireland, the Irish Presidential Standard, the Ancient Colours of Ireland as well as the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom representing Northern Ireland all prominently feature blue. The change to green most occurred around the 1750's where wearing a shamrock represented nationalism or Roman Catholic faith.

4. The actual phrase "wearing of the Green" most likely comes from a Irish street ballad dating to 1798 (anonymously penned) about the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Green was the color of the Society of the United Irishmen. Wearing a shamrock in the hat was a sign of rebellion.

5. St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity (3 persons in 1) to the people of Ireland.

To end today's little lesson, here's an Irish Prayer in honor of St. Patrick:

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Here's hoping the answer is "yes".

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $40 Lucky Me - Lucky Brand

2009-03-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Lucky me, it's getting warmer again so I'm making the transition with skirts and long-sleeve shirts. I've worn this cotton sweater before in a more winter outfit and I'm happy to say that it works as a transitional piece.

The Breakdown.
Merona argyle sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), Spiegel denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), white tank top (Rave $3/ARP $3), Lucky Brand Vintage Inspired purse ($24 thrift store/ARP $200), Cherokee leather slides ($3 thrift store/ARP $20)

Grand Total: $40
Approximate Retail Price: $277
Savvy Savings: $237

This week in Music City we are looking at hitting the 70's again so I'll be breaking out more skirts. I can't wait!

Just a reminder, this week is St. Patrick's Day so think GREEN if you have kids (or adult friends that act like kids) 'cause you know they'll use any excuse to pinch an adult and I, for one, am not about to give them one!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day $38 - Ripani Purse & Diesel Boots

2009-03-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Cold weather is here in Music City.....brrrr! I know y'all up North have it so much colder than we do here, but it was 80 degrees on Monday and by the end of the week it was in the 30's! It's suppose to warm up in the next few days so till then we're layering around here.

The Breakdown.
Old Navy cords ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), Vibe suede jacket ($13 eBay/ARP $50), blue Mossimo cotton sweater ($5 Target/ARP $17), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Ripani leather purse (FREE - trade in from Plato's Closet/ARP $400), Diesel boots ($5 thrift store/ARP $200), suede cap ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $10).

Grand Total: $38
Approximate Retail Price: $710
Savvy Savings: $672

I had never heard of Ripani handbags before finding it at Plato's Closet, but it is gorgeous. The leather is soft and supple, and I'm guessing by the size and quality that it probably retailed for more than $400. That said it was only $30 at Plato's Closet and I had a 20% off coupon which would have put it at $26, which I would have paid out of pocket had the clothes I brought in for "trade" not given me $45 in spending money that day. I put the rest of the money in the bank to save for another day of savvy spending.

Washington Post - Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries

2009-03-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Today in the Washington Post an article went to print talking about the trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer found in some baby shampoos and lotions (Johnson & Johnson and Baby Magic are two brands cited). Not one to overreact, I wonder about the media's tendency to put focus on something that is really quite minor even as I am kind of glad to see that we don't have to worry about even trace elements when using the 365 line of toiletries for our family. That said, I (and dare I say millions of moms) have used their products in the past and I'm thinking that the genetic lineage of cancer in my family will probably have more affect in my children's lives than using Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo ever will.

Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009; Page A04

More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday.

Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.

The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.

The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.
ad_icon

"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup.

Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards.

"The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."

The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful.

A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion.

Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.

"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."

In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said.

Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.

"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.

The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.

Whole Food Value Meals - A Healthy Meal for $15

2009-03-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Truthfully, the more I cook the less inclined I am to want to go out to dinner. Like my taste in clothing, I like expensive food. Give me a choice of where to eat and it's going to be sushi or somewhere that has fresh fish or great steak. I cook pretty well so most middle of the road places just don't seem to be worth the price they are asking when I know I can make something so much better at home. It's not even worth NOT cleaning dishes, which of course leaves me in a bind. What if I don't want to cook?

We do like places like Baja Fresh or El Pollo Loco (sigh, wish we had one here in Music City) and even pizza at a local pizzeria every once in a while, but what I have found works great is Whole Foods dinners. For just $15 you get a large entree, side item and dinner salad for a family of 4. They change up the choices regularly so it's a GREAT way to have a healthy meal that just requires heating up. I even keep the containers they come in and re-use them when making dinners for friends having babies or are sick.

Last night I watched a commercial touting a bucket of chicken feeding a family of 5 for just $3 a person - while its a better deal (marginally) financially, I'll let y'all guess which is healthier. I've got nothing against a bucket meal if it's done every once in a great while, but if it's a weekly thing, why not try a Whole Food Value meal one of those weeks. It's a simple switch that your body will thank you for in the long run.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $27 Gruffalo Green & Bronze

2009-03-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a breezy 80 degrees here in Music City. The Superstars and I had a wonderful day out and about our fair city. It started with a field-trip to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) to watch The Gruffalo a cute play adapted from a picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

We walked around the Tennessee State Museum for an hour after the performance since the museum is free and in the same building beneath the theater. By then it was lunch so we headed to one of my old single-day's haunt, SATCO (San Antonio Taco Company) and ate out on the deck after which we walked around the grounds of the church where my husband and I were married. From a 3500 year old mummy to chips & queso, all in all we had a fun-filled day full of new experiences as well as a reminder of why I love homeschooling so much.

This beautiful green outfit fit the day to a T and I was thankful to squeeze it in before the cold front moves in to give us 40 degrees and rain today.

The Breakdown.
Green cotton Mossimo Sweater ($5 Target/ARP $18), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), green leaves Liz Clairborne skirt new with tags ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), Enzo Angiolini bronze leather shoes ($5 thrift store/ARP $80), bronze leather Banana Republic hobo ($10 eBay/ARP $150).

Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $311
Savvy Savings: $284

Once this cold front moves on you'll be seeing me in more skirts as the weather warms up. I was never really one for skirts growing up a tomboy and all, but the hot humid summers here in Music City have convinced me that skirts are very practical and cool, not to mention SO much more flattering on me than shorts and most capris.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $67 Sunny Days & Sigrid Olsen

2009-03-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

There's a saying here in Music City that goes something like this, "Welcome to Nashville! If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." It's our way of saying that the weather here can be kind of crazy.

For example, last weekend we had several inches of snow which had all the kids out in layers of clothing on inner tubes & sleds. This weekend it was in the mid-70's. Of course the change in weather is wreaking havoc on everyone's sinuses but I can't say any of us would trade the warm weather for it.

This was a transitional outfit that helped weather the change from freezing to warm a couple days ago. It was what I wore to feel a little less "poufy" and bloated; a lovely combination of that-time-of-month and sinus-blech.

The Breakdown.
Merona cotton knit shirt ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), Sunny Leigh skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $70), Mossimo sweater/shrug ($7 Target/ARP $35), Franco Sarto suede boots (birthday gift!/ARP $150), Sigrid Olsen purse ($50 eBay/ARP $190).

Grand Total: $67
Approximate Retail Price: $470
Savvy Savings: $403

I bought this Sigrid Olsen purse on eBay after a girlfriend of mine found one at the thrift store. Of course she got a much better deal on it than I did (I think she paid $14) but what drew me to her purse was the gorgeous leather and the fun bright satin interior that Olsen used on her line of handbags. Unfortunately Liz Claiborne discontinued the Sigrid Olsen brand and closed all the stores in mid-2008.

The good news is you can still you can find lots of her purses on eBay. As an interesting aside, Liz Claiborne also holds the Kate Spade, Lucky Brand and Juicy Couture brands.

Stay Savvy Y'all!

Food, Glorious Food: Raising Kids Who Try Anything!

2009-03-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

I realize that as a mother of a 6 and 4 year old, I'm still very new to this parenting journey. I'm beginning to think that we will only truly know what good parents we were when the kids are 30. Till then I waiver between wondering what power we really have to help the Superstars become upstanding human beings and what things really have nothing to do with our "failures" in parenting, but are battles they will fight in some form or fashion for the rest of their lives by virtue of their personality. One of the battles that I hope we help them win is the one of good healthful eating habits.

I talked with my Mom the other night about the phenomenon of kids eating habits. My kids pretty much eat whatever we eat. They love raw veggies including broccoli, bell peppers and cauliflower, all types of fruits, baked fish, clams, beef, chicken, pretty much anything we put before them. They eat Indian food, sushi (they love smoked eel), Italian, German, Korean, Thai, and will try most things at least once - the catch being, if Mom and Dad eat it too.

And it's with that I had an "AHA" moment, because if we've heard it once, we've heard it a thousand times, "It's not what you say but what you do." When I searched on line about how to fixing food for kids I see tons of lists suggesting WHAT to feed them, HOW TO disguise good foods in "fun" foods and WHAT a balanced diet looks like. What I rarely see is the kids' point of view - and I don't mean "How does your kid FEEL about what they are eating?" but "What do your kids see YOU do?"

Do you fix your kids macaroni and cheese for dinner and eat something totally different with your spouse? Do you ask them to eat their veggies because "it's good for you" then push your own vegetables to the side? Guess what? They totally notice (yeah, that's a throw back to my So. Cal. upbringing...totally, Dude!).

Kids seek the approval of their parents. Goodness, at 40 I still want to know that my Mom & Dad think I'm smart, a good parent and a self-assured woman! How much more do our children look to us to help us make sense of this crazy world we live in?

What you as a parent think about food, defined by what you fix for your meals and theirs, how you serve it (on the fly or sit down meals), and the choices you make when you eat out, are viewed by your children as "the food laws" or "that's just what we do when it comes to food in our lives."

The other day when Daddy was out of town we ate sushi. I watched Superstar #1 close her eyes and relish the taste of the sushi she ate with a sigh. What 6 year old does that? Uh, mine, because I realized that I often do the same thing when I eat something I love. She was just mimicking me. Now just because my daughter enjoys sushi does not make me a better mom by ANY stretch of the imagination, it just shows the power we have as parents to help mold our children's view of food.

And for that I have MY parents to thank. My Dad, a Japanese-American soldier, met my Mom in a disco in a small fishing village in northern Germany back in the sixties and was the first to introduce her to Habachi-grilled steak and prime rib. My Dad, in turn, ate my Oma's (grandmother's) traditional German food with gusto and asked for seconds. A few short years later my Mom & Dad moved back to my Dad's hometown, the colorful and diverse melting pot of Honolulu, Hawaii.

My Mom dove into the various ethnic cuisines with relish learning how to prepare Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean and Hawaiian dishes from the numerous family potlucks that define much of Island life. If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, my Mom came, saw and conquered so proficiently that she earned "props" from my Dad's side of the family as well. Food has always been an adventure, a way to get to know people and cultures better, and I hope we are teaching the Superstars the same.

If you're not there and don't want to be, well, then there's not a whole lot I can say to convince you that eating healthy, even small choices to be healthier (choosing the apple dippers without the caramel versus fries with the McDonald's kid meals) and helping your kids make those decisions has a long term positive outcome on the longevity of your child's life (and yours!). Your children are less likely to deal with excessive weight or tiredness. They will be healthier, and you're less likely to deal with drama of sugar highs and crashes.

If you want to be there, but it's overwhelming, don't worry! It's not an overnight thing, but each little decision you make and talk to them about "No, Mommy/Daddy doesn't like spinach, but hey, Popeye did and it seemed to help him. Let's just try this together because it's good for us" is a step in the right direction. Because, let's face it, nothing is more endearing to a child when a parent shows that LIFE IS A JOURNEY and it's not about being right all the time, or doing the right thing all the time, but being willing to learn and grow.

The key is to find what works for YOU, your family and your shopping habits. Everyone has parameters within which they work. Maybe your child has food allergies, maybe your child hates everything but bread, maybe you don't have time to start something new because you're so overwhelmed with what you already have - just start where you are with baby steps.

In the coming weeks I hope to spend more time on savvy food savings and healthy (yummy!) eating not just for your Superstars but for you too! I'll be interviewing a sweet woman named Vui whom I met on one my trips to Whole Foods. Vui use to own a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia and I can't wait to share some of her ideas and tips to cook and eat healthy with lots of flavor and fun.

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $21 Business Sassy

2009-03-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

Who knew that one day I would actually be excited about having to go to a meeting? I still remember the days when a meeting meant that I would be dragged away from the office to learn about the new work I would have to do while the other work was piling up on my desk waiting for me to get back!

A meeting was my opportunity to pull together a really professional (yet sassy) outfit and I loved it! It's always nice to be in a setting where your opinion is appreciated and considered with the utmost seriousness. As much as the Superstars love me, they aren't always as appreciative of my opinion on matters like, oh, the importance of a clean house and why math and reading really are important. Thankfully the meeting had nothing to do with any of that!

The Breakdown.
New York & Company argyle sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $30), Nine West kitten heel leather boots ($8 thrift store/ARP $150), awesome Zara Basic pencil skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $50), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Coach Patent Leather Tote (FREE! A birthday gift from a dear friend).

Grand Total: $21
Approximate Retail Price: $233
Savvy Savings: $212

A search on the Zara name for the purpose of getting an approximate retail price yielded this nugget of information. It's a Spanish brand that started in 1975. According to Wikipedia: "It is claimed that Zara needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared with a six-month industry average, and launches around 10,000 new designs each year. Zara has resisted the industry-wide trend towards transferring fast fashion production to low-cost countries. Perhaps its most unusual strategy was its policy of zero advertising; the company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead. Zara was described by Louis Vuitton fashion director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world."

All I know is that I really like the skirt and it fits well.

So, yeah, I clean up pretty well, and the meeting went great. With the economy where it is, I'll take any little side project that allows me to put a little money away and get out of the house to look sassy!

Rejoice Ye' Costume Jewelry Lovers Who Have Nickel Allergies

2009-03-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure where along the way I discovered I had nickel allergies. I think I had my ears pierced when I was around 7-8 years old. I had gold studs put in and never had a problem. Birthdays and graduation brought more little silver or gold studs and everything was good.

When I struck out into the world on my own I soon realized that I couldn't wear costume jewelry. Well, I could, but it would be a matter of minutes before my ears started itching. If I continued I would end up with big, swollen puffy ears that would ooze all kinds of nasty stuff. Surgical steel was less irritating, but if I wore them longer than a day, the reaction was about the same. So what's a poor starving college student suppose to do???

Unfortunately I didn't really figure that out until a couple years ago.

When it comes to post earrings I wish I could say I found something incredibly easy, but I haven't. I've tried to coat the offending post with clear nail polish, which seemed only to lessen the eventual irritation but it really was a short term solution and didn't seem to be worth the hassle. Now I tend to stick with silver and gold for my posts because the truth is I can buy most basic "costume" sterling silver post earrings for less than $5 on eBay.

But when it comes to dangling earrings I have found something that works wonders. Jo-ann's carries this wonderful "Elegance" line, which comes in .925 Silver and 14K Gold. Now when I find a costume earring at a savvy price that I like I simply replace the french wire hook with a silver or gold hook and I'm good! For the most part I use the little watch-repair kit that I mentioned in an earlier post, but any small pair of pliers will work as well. It's a great fix at only $3.99 a package, and if you use Jo-ann's weekly 40% off coupon it's only $2.39 for enough hooks to fix 3-4 pairs of earrings.

Not only have I used these hooks to change costume jewelry posts out, but I've changed out vintage lever back earrings (one pair was given to me by my Tante years ago) too. I have also used them to "make" earrings out of other jewelry. For instance, an old 3 pearl necklace I bought on eBay, which just never quite looked right and was so inexpensive that it wasn't worth the hassle of sending it back to the seller was turned into a pair of earrings that I now wear quite often.

You can also buy the back posts of earrings in both silver and gold, which I have found helps mitigate the irritation if you choose to use clear nail polish on stud earrings.

As it stands now, Superstar #1 only shows signs of nickel allergies, which we discovered when she was just 6 months old. While changing her onesie one morning I noticed several little upraised red circles on her belly. My first thought (daughter of a German nurse) was ringworm, and I was a little concerned and confused on how my breast-fed, almost always at home with me, daughter could have ringworm.

It took me a few minutes before I realized that the bumps were an allergic reaction to the little silver snaps on the onesie that went up the front and middle! Needless to say I passed along all the silver snap items on to friends and really haven't noticed any reactions in Superstar #2 although given that nickel allergies run in the family on both sides, we'll probably stick to silver, gold or platinum for the girls if they ever get their ears pierced. Bummer, huh? I bet their future husband's will be thrilled to know they can only wear precious metals.

Really, when it comes to earrings I tend to stick with buying things that are either 925 silver or 14 K gold. A couple months back I bought a pair of Etienne Aigner earrings at Belk's for $6 that were elongated costume hoops, but with 14K gold posts so that I had the best of both worlds.

There are so many more jewelry options nowadays for those of us with nickel allergies, whether it's changing out the french wire or buying online at places like eBay. So remember, Shop Savvy Y'all!

There's No Place Like Home...

2009-03-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to Dorothy. Isn't she beautiful?

My friend and neighbor, Tisra, and her family have been in the adoption process for a girl from Taiwan for over 2 years now when out-of-the-blue there was Dorothy...in India. With the paperwork in the final phase and the date for picking her up being scheduled, Tisra and her family have devised a great way to raise the last of the money they need to pay for the adoption and bring her home.

If you have a minute check out their website here and for just a $10 donation, you will get a "ticket" that will be entered into a drawing for a whole slew of amazing prizes that have been donated to the Fadely's for the purpose of helping them Bring Dorothy Home Quickly. From a Wii Family pack to a professional camera and blog site set up as well as beautiful handmade items from friends at Etsy, there are wonderful prize packages to be won.

If you don't have the funds to contribute, then blog about it, put a blog button on your site and email your friends and you will be entered (up to a total of 3 entries) into their "Spread the Word" contest which features a GORGEOUS Coach leather Ergo purse and more as a prize.

Please take a moment, read their story and help them out if you can. Dorothy was just left at an orphanage, one of thousands of precious children without parents to love them. Please help Tisra and her family bring Dorothy home quickly!

Savvy Supermom Outfit of the Day - $54/$108 Presto Chango!

2009-03-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

Today's outfit of the day is a two-fer. It wasn't cold in the beginning of the day so I went out in just the pants and the sweater and felt just fine, but once the sun went down and I had to run out and to run out for a few things I had to make a change.

In my vanity I didn't want to put a dark purse against a dark jacket where the lack of contrast could end up making me look like a bigger lump so I quickly changed out the shoes and the purse and ran out.

The Breakdown #1.
Gap khakis ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), Mossimo pink polka dot sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), off-white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Coach Chelsea pebble-grained satchel ($90 eBay/ARP $360), bronze leather Anne Klein shoes ($4 thrift store/ARP $80).

Grand Total: $108
Approximate Retail Price: $508
Savvy Savings #1: $400

The Breakdown #2.
Gap khakis ($5 thrift store/ARP $40), Mossimo pink polka dot sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), off-white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Coach Wool Shoes ($20 thrift store, new/ARP $150), Gray Banana Republic Wool Coat ($14 eBay/ARP $200), Gap ivory leather purse ($6 thrift store/ARP $60).

Grand Total: $54
Approximate Retail Price: $478
Savvy Savings #2 : $424

Really, the only thing that changed between these two outfits are the accessories, but either way you look at it, savvy savings netted us about $400 in our pockets. And well, even if you would have never paid full price for any of these items, it's nice to know that you can spend $108/$54 to look $508/$478 good!

Shop Savvy Y'all!

Parenting Tip #2 - How to Dislodge a Bead up the Nose

2009-02-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a rough week here. Dearly Beloved has had a tough month with changes going on at work and recent test results saying he's got high cholesterol. Top this off with a missing wallet and let's just say it's been a little tense around here.

So imagine it's 5:30 p.m., (which is important to note since it's past normal doctor office hours) Superstar #1 runs down stairs laughing (yes, laughing) and yelling, "MOM, Sissy's got a bead stuck up her nose!"

I immediately turn off the stove and oven knowing Daddy might not get a home cooked meal tonight, and quickly walk upstairs to find Superstar #2 sitting sorrowfully on her bed. A look up her nose and no bead in sight meant a trip back downstairs for the otoscope and the subsequent realization that yes, it's up there good. Superstar #2 is sad but breathing just fine and seems to be in no imminent danger so I ask her to lie down on our bed while I make two phone calls.

The first is to Daddy, who had called about 10 minutes earlier to say he was on the way home.

"Ok, so it's not life-threatening ('cause you know that's where you gotta start to get their attention) but Superstar #2 has a bead up her nose and if we can't get this figured out we may have to visit the ER tonight."

I hear a heavy sigh at the other end of line. Translation: "Of course she does."

"I'm almost home," he said, and hung up the phone.

The second call was to my neighbor, Jen, who is a pediatric nurse. I went to voice mail so I reluctantly dialed the on-call doctor for our pediatrician's office and explained the situation.

His first words were, "There's a little trick for that..."

No sweeter six words could have been spoken to me at that moment, because "a little trick" meant we might not have to visit the ER tonight!

He continued, "If you plug the nostril on the opposite side of where the bead is stuck and then blow into her mouth, it should pop right out."

Grateful, I told him, "That sounds easy enough. If you hear from me again tonight, you'll know it didn't work, but if you don't hear from me again, I thank you in advance."

My husband walked in at that moment and I explained what the doctor said as we both walked over to Superstar #2 - who looks both worried and pathetic, but starts giggling nervously as we joke around about the impending "procedure."

I went first. Daughter of German nurse I'm always the first to jump into situations like this. Two unsuccessful attempts (lots more nervous laughter and a video cam) later, Daddy brings in the big lungs, I mean, big guns. All it takes is one blow and POP, out comes the bead. No, I will not be posting a video of the adventure.

So there you have it, a simple, non-evasive way to get a stuck bead out of a child's nose. Sure beats using a tweezer and holding their head still, and it definitely beats a visit to the ER or doctor's office.

My friend Jen, having seen my number come up on her phone called me back a short time later to make sure everything was ok. When I told her about the adventure, she said, "Yeah, we do that all the time in our offices. In fact, we had a kid in who had stuck a dime in their nose today." And so the procedure is even sanctioned and used in most pediatric offices. Who knew?

I do now, and so do you! So pass this along to your friends, it could save them a trip to the ER and maybe even a co-pay!