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L. Marie Dubuque's BlogPosted by L. Marie Dubuque I was awaiting the arrival of the brand new PetSmart in our area as much as a child anticipating Christmas day. I guess that says a lot about my exciting life. As soon as I entered the store and made that left turn into the aquatics department, I was shocked. There were fewer fish tanks than in the old store. (PetSmart closed one store and moved about a mile down the road to a brand new location.) I was still happy with the prices though. I got a tiny goldfish for 12 cents. But I guess I expected some sort of fish bonanza with huge tanks of colorful fish lining the walls. What I saw instead were small tanks and fewer fish. Maybe that will change. I'm not saying I won't be a loyal customer anymore. But I feel the store's allegiance is now with dog lovers...The new pet hotel is supposed to be fabulous. So where do all of us fish lovers go now? Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Last year, I bought three pairs of $39 pajamas from Victorias Secret just so I could get three pairs of slippers. I loved the sleep wear, and I loved the foot wear even more...because I gave them away as gifts! It worked out great. I'm still wearing the pajamas. They are soft and warm and wear very well. Maybe not worth $39, but it was a great deal when you consider those cute multi-patterned slippers come for free! And they were a huge hit with my teenage nieces. You have a choice of a bunch of different bright colors and varied themes. If you want to keep the slippers for yourself, they do match the pajamas perfectly! To get the deal, simply enter slipper08 at checkout. Hurry, because the promotion ends December 9th. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque When my son was little, we used to have a great time at the mall. I would wheel him around in his stroller and he would be content just to stare at all the people and try to reach for the colored lights. Now that he is 13, not only is it like pulling teeth to even get him to the mall, but he is ready to go home as soon as we get there. Until recently, I have avoided the problem altogether. I've bought his clothes online. But now that he is too tall to fit into kids' pants, and men's apparel is both too expensive and too "old" looking, I have to take him with me. Gone are the days when bribing him with a pretzel would work, or hanging out at Dick's Sporting Good's rock climbing wall. Now I have to get in there with a plan, and get out as soon as possible. Maybe that's a good thing. No more lingering at the shops, spending money that just recently evaporated with the stock market. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque My 13 year old son plays tennis and runs cross country. He is also starting high school in less than a year. So he thought this would be the perfect time to trade in glasses for contacts. A few weeks ago we arrived at the optometrist's office to get fitted for contacts. But after almost two hours trying to put the lenses in, he finally gave up. "We'll try again in a year or two," I told him. I wasn't surprised contacts didn't work out. Fine motor skills aren't a strong suit in our family. But instead of sulking, our son is actually walking around with somewhat of a status symbol on his nose, thanks to a certain vice-presidential candidate from Alaska. Now that she has made those wireless rims a fashion statement for both men and women, people who aren't lucky enough to be able to wear glasses wish they could. Sarah, your entrance into the potical arena couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Ever since I turned 40 I have been battling waning eye lashes. Don't believe what people tell you. It's not sagging skin you should be worried about as much as losing lashes. I was reading In Style Magazine, when I came across an article about the latest hot beauty products. It said Sarah Jessica Parker, whose fashion sense I really admire, uses Guerlain mascara. So, I went over to Sephora, and without a second thought, bought it, for $35!!! I guess if you like pretty containers, and you're willing to pay for them, this mascara is for you. But if you want "volume" lashes like they advertise, I would stay away. I don't know if Sarah's paid to wear this stuff or what. But I didn't see the length, volume or curl they promised. But I did appreciate the extra smaller brush that came with it for those hard-to-reach corner lashes. So I am back to my old standby that does a better job than mascara twice the price: Maybelline Intense XXL Volume Length Microfiber Mascara.It's on sale at Drugstore.com for $6.83. Make sure you use the lash conditioner that's included. The stuff looks like white glue, but It makes a real difference in building volume. I'm contemplating false eyelashes if I have some kind of an event to attend. But I've never applied them myself. I have read though, that they're cheap and easy to put on. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque When I'm at the supermarket, I feel like wheeling my cart through the baby food aisle, even though my only child is now 13! The problem: he has braces and is constantly breaking brackets. Aside from mashed potatoes and soup, what can I feed him? I kid you not; he has broken a bracket on bell peppers, dried prunes, and the latest happened in his sleep. He wasn't eating anything! The orthodontist doesn't believe him about the bell pepper, says prunes are too sticky, and there is nothing he can do for a child who grinds his teeth at night! So I have resorted to cooking frozen vegetables (they tend to be softer), feeding him dried grapes and cherries(less sticky) and have thrown out any and all left-over Halloween candy. Oh yah, the first time he broke a bracket, he was biting into an old tootsie roll. In fact, I'm thinking about eliminating Halloween treats altogether. After all, he is 13 and those braces are expensive! I'd love to hear your comments on what you feed your kids with braces. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque In my previous post, I told you about our three hour trip to buy albino catfish. We loved those four fish. We fed them bratwurst, freeze dried crickets and even started a little worm farm, so they would have fresh, tasty treats all the time. And the best part about these beauties? Other than their cute little eyes and stealthy spirit, was the fact that these cats were almost two feet long, too big to be within reach of a predator. If only that were all we had to worry about. After we had the fish for two weeks, we noticed slightly unusual behavior...jerky movements and a limited appetite...something was wrong, and we didn't know what, until they started dropping like flies. Within 24 hours all the fish were dead. My husband and I were devasted, to say the least. (I'm really not over-reacting. I like those fish more than I like most people.) Their bodies had pink splotches all over them. I did a lot of research on catfish diseases, and came to the conclusion (with the help of the fish person at Petsmart) that the three hour car trip stressed them completely, lowered their immune system and made them susceptible to disease. My hubby and I mourn in different ways. I wanted to get right out there and buy more fish. But he didn't want to deal with another drive, and another disappointment. I happened to run across Osage Catfisheries on the web. It was again, a three hour drive from our house. But they said they deliver in St. Louis. So I called down there and later that day, a nice man sent an e-mail saying he would be at the St. Louis airport the next morning at 6 a.m. and could bring along four or five small catfish. I told my husband about "a deal I had going down at the airport at six in the morning." He wasn't fooled. He knew it had to do with fish. I met the man in the dark at the cargo terminal as promised. I was so happy to have my fish, I didn't worry about how these 8 inch fish would survive a bird attack. He wouldn't take any money, and he didn't even know what we had been through. It was still dark when we released the little guys into our pond. As I watched them swim away, my only hope was that they grow...and fast. Raccoons and Heron are relentless around here. In the meantime, we have a net over the little ones, and are practically standing guard, so they don't become bird food....and so far, they are very healthy! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I can tell you, finding catfish for our pond was no easy task. After fending off blue heron, pesky raccoons, snakes and even a very large snapping turtle, we couldn't keep a fish alive to save our lives. So what's the alternative? a fish-less pond or...fish big enough to out-maneuver even the most devilish predator. Enter channel catfish. With their stealthy ways and friendly spirit, this was the fish for us. But we realized that this task wasn't going to be as simple as running down to Petsmart. We finally found a very nice fish farmer who was willing to sell us four 15 inch cats. These were big ole fish, almost two pounds each to be exact...Big enough to be predators themselves, but no. They don't devour smaller fish, and happily eat fish food and algae. To get ready for our nearly three hour trip, we installed a power inverter hooked to the cigarette lighter that charged an aquarium pump. Otherwise we would have needed 100 gallons of water to get our fish home alive! We arrived to find a large commercial fish farm with a huge pond and a sheltered area housing the fish tanks. We paid by the pound, thanked the owner over and over again, and set off back home, hoping the fish would make it alive. Before we left, he attached weights to the aquarium tubing (something we hadn't thought of) and set us on our way. I'll never forget that man. He didn't charge us any more than he would have if we were buying thousands of fish. And he didn't get tired of my questions about how to keep the heron away. And yes, the fish made it home alive, and we arrived, not completely over-stressed. A message to the heron: You've met your match! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque When I read the article about the 70 year old Ohio man who brought 16 coffee cans full of spare change to the car dealership I was intrigued. Actually the coins only paid for half the car. He wrote a check to cover the rest of the $16,000 vehicle. Still, what a great use of spare change! I try to save my extra coins. I envision what I can buy with them. But I've found I collect less and less spare change. I get cash back on my credit card purchases. So I try to put as much as I can on my card, even coffee or a newspaper. It works great. I get a check every couple months. It's like a windfall. But that only works if you pay your entire credit card bill at the end of the month. Otherwise you'll pay more in interest than you get back. Will we become a cash-free society one of these days? I already see it happening. With direct deposit becoming more popular and the use of credit and debit cards rising, will good old fashioned quarters and dollar bills simply disappear? It's happening in Europe, so why not here? I'm prepared for the transition, but I'm not sure I'm ready. No more tip jars at Starbucks? No more coin operated newspaper machines? I guess we'll have to get used to the idea...because there really isn't any other choice. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I never thought I could love a car this much. Not since I sold my 10 year old BMW 325I convertible in 2004 have I ever been this enthralled with a vehicle. Maybe it's the fire-engine-red color, or the zippiness of it's little engine. Or maybe it's all the gas I'm saving zipping all over town! Whatever the reason, this is the car for me. When my husband told me last spring that he really wanted to sell our 2001 Jeep Wrangler, I wasn't overly enthused. The Wrangler never gave us a minute's worth of trouble. It was as cute as it was reliable. But ever the economist, he insisted on a more fuel efficient car. So off we went. The problem was, cars that were gas-saving, were nothing to look at. We wandered through dealerships and looked online. My ever-patient hubby was getting ansy. He knew SUVs were depreciating and we were no closer to finding a suitable replacement...until I came across a Money Magazine article on the most fuel efficent cars for the money. When I saw that cute little Mini, I was hooked. When we got to the Mini dealership, we didn't see exactly what we wanted. But it didn't matter. We could order a car. Since they do not deal on price (they really don't) we could basically custom-order what we wanted. We had fun tracking it from the factory in Great Britain to the port in New York and on to our local dealership. And we actually saved money ordering because we didn't have to buy those bells and whistles we really weren't interested in. And just like Jeep owners, Mini drivers wave when they see you. This is one club I like being a part of. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque This was a fun job. I poured ketchup on a sweater made of 75% silk, 20% cotton and 5% cashmere. After rubbing in the red mess and letting it sit for 24 hours, I applied Spray 'n Wash Max which boasts that it can remove even dried-on stains. I followed the instructions and promptly put the shirt in the gentle cycle with cold water. When the cycle was finished, I took it out and was surprised to find the stain was still there but barely noticeable. Had I been walking down the street, you wouldn't have stopped and stared at the woman with the ketchup stain all over her shirt. So I decided to run it through the wash one more time. As soon as I took out the garment, I could not see any stain at all. I all but took a magnifying glass to it and did not see one single mark. I don't know if this product works on all stains, or stains that are older, but it did on this one. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I took a pink sweater made from 64% rayon and 36% nylon and poured spicy brown mustard in three different places on the garment. I rubbed in the mustard and let it sit for three minutes. I used the following spray-on stain treatments:
I covered each stain with the treatment, rubbed the cleaner in gently and let it sit for a few minutes. I then put the sweater in the gentle cyle of my washing machine. I immediately took the shirt out as soon as it was finished. I could still see the stain in every place I had put the mustard. But the Spray & Wash seemed to make the stain slightly less visible. I then reapplied the treatments to the exact same areas on the sweaters and ran it through the wash again. This time, every stain was non-existant. I got other people's opinions as well. No one could tell me where the original stains were. So if you have a mustard stain and you don't know which of these products to use, I would recommend whichever one is on sale. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque The other day, Good Morning America reporter Taryn Brill did a story on people's reactions to curly versus straight hair. I had just written an article about styling products for curls, so the piece piqued my interest. And I have lived my entire life either fighting or embracing my curls, depending on the decade. I wasn't surprised when the group of men who were polled favored straight hair. I wasn't even shocked when the classroom full of children thought the straighter hair was "prettier and less messy." But what I was suprised to learn was that during the job interview, the corporate bosses though she was more confident with curls! I thought, now that is a breakthrough. Because for so long, curly locks were thought to be "unprofessional." I mean, you never see a news anchor with a head full of ringlets, or a CEO for that matter. The day after the story ran, GMA got a flurry of phone calls and e-mails..over curly hair? I guess it's a sensitive subject for a lot of people. But really, would a man with a head full of curls be equally as scrutinized? Maybe so. After all, people base their first impressions on people's appearance. I really don't care if people like curls or not. But at least curly heads are being taken seriously in the boardroom. It's a start. Now if people could just let go of the blonde stereotype. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Dry cleaning is expensive. No one wants to waste gas, time and the cost of dry cleaning itself. Dry Cleaner’s Secret are these nifty little sheets you simply put in the dryer with your clothes. One box will clean 50 garments for around $20. So I figure I'd give it a whirl. I decided to try one sheet with a silk cocktail dress I had only worn for a couple of hours. (By the way, this product is not for use on suede or leather.) I followed the instructions and put the sheet in the dryer with my dress, set the machine on medium heat and waited 20 minutes. When I took my dress out, it looked clean and fresh. Since it was not very worn to begin with, I couldn’t tell any difference in the fabric. And there were no stains on the dress. However, the package does contain a pre treatment for stains that you apply before you place the garment in the dryer. Would I recommend Dry Cleaner’s Secret? Yes, if you have something you need cleaned quickly and is not very soiled. But if you have an expensive, heavily soiled outfit, I would still leave that to the professionals. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Just like you don’t want to make unnecessary trips in your car, you don’t want your washing machine and dryer to see to much action either. If you’re one of those people who runs a load everyday, change your habits…fast.
Remember, the less drying you can do, the better your clothes will look. The constant tumbling motion isn’t great for your clothes or your wallet. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I remember shopping for a dress for my 10th high school reunion. It was in August of '91. The weather was hot and humid and the anticipation was palpable. It was the first time everyone from Ladue H.S. class of '81 had seen each other in 10 years. I was living in Florida at the time so it was easy to find a sleeveless number. I remember my dad came down to visit from St. Louis and we took a short weekend trip to Key West. Normally this vibrant eclectic community would be the perfect place to find a suitable dress for a reunion. But somehow I must have picked up something left over from the holidays. Or I was suffering from a serious heat-related illness. Because the ensemble I ended up wearing involved a red sequined dress with matching red high heel suede pumps and a red purse. I'm still afraid to look at the picture. I stood out from the crowd alright...like a flapper girl from the 1920's. For my 20th reunion I tried to go for a more subdued look...try dowdy. I went a little overboard in my conservative black dress with the high neckline. Business convention for undertakers...yes, 20th high school reunion...no. I don't think I'll go back for another reunion. (My husand and I made a pact. We wouldn't subject each other to any more.) Besides, I remember fewer and fewer people and I'd just assume forget a lot of high school memories. (Namely frizzy hair and braces that I'd like leave in the past, thank you.) Anyway, I'm more interested in reuniting with my middle school teachers than my high school friends, namely Kathy Mawhinney-Beal, my journalism teacher. Kathy, if you're out there, call me. We'll catch up. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Driving home from Panama City Beach, Florida, after too much sun and too much salt, we stopped at the Grand Old Opry...not for country music. My husband and I can't tell a banjo from back hoe, but we know a good deal when we see one. And deals were a plenty at the Opry Mills outlet mall. It is adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland hotel. The hotel is lavish and is home to more than four acres of tropical gardens enclosed in a giant atrium. This is a must-see, even if you don't stay there overnight. Before hitting the stores, my husband, son and I ate at the Aquarium Restaurant. You can view eel, grouper, sharks and sting ray, among other spectacular salt water marine life. A little pricey, but worth a visit. Now, stomachs and wallets full, we were ready for some heavy duty bargain hunting. Time is of the essence when you are the only female in the company of a teenage boy and a patient, yet not-overly-enthusiastic-about-shopping husband. I gave them 15 minutes to wander around the food court while I hit the Ann Taylor Factory Store running. In those fifteen minutes I picked up my entire late-summer-early-fall wardrobe. I came away with a black and white sweater set for 25% off, a couple of racer-back tops for $8.50 and a to-die-for pair of black and white shoes for less than $30. Now on to the Nine West store where I got the big savings. A pair of tan suede clogs and black ballet flats, each only $17! I was out of there in less than an hour, and my son got a slurpee and my husband visited the Bass Pro shop...so everyone was happy, especially me! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Java junkies across the nation are practically spitting up their lattes over the news that Starbucks is closing 600 stores. This morning I read that one very near my house has gotten the axe. Sure, I'll miss the friendly baristas and the special Starbucks-Double-Shot-Over-Ice with soy that they artfully prepare for me every other day. But honestly, now that the aroma of percolating coffee doesn't overtake me every time I turn that street corner, maybe I will save some money! And truthfully, that is probably the reason for all the store closings. These days, $5 lattes aren't really in anyone's budget. So now that I have to drive a little farther to get my coffee fix, I may not go as often, or at all. And who knows what kind of a store will take the coffee giant's place on all those street corners. Maybe a ma-and-pa operation that needs a good location to sell its wares...Or more likely another big chain selling who knows what. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque NBC's Today Show followed a family along for a week as they proceeded to slash their budget in half. Viewers saw them cut out fast food, invite friends over for a potluck dinner instead of going out to dinner, and pull out a slip-and-slide for the kids instead of going to the movies. As I watched the episode unfold, I couldn't help but think this family should have been living this way all along. Of course you don't need to be eating fast food two or three times a week. And eating out would be the first thing to go. At the end of the segment, the mom says she'll continue with some of her new found habits, but she plans to go back to getting pedicures. What did we, the viewers learn from this experiment? How easy it is to cut expenses, I guess. But duh, was it a huge surprise to learn that it's cheaper to make coffee at home than go to Starbucks everyday? Posted by L. Marie Dubuque J.Crew’s enduring, classic style needs a facelift every once in a while. I guess that’s why they decided to redo their web site. I had to try twice to enter the site. Once I got on, certain pages displayed error messages when I tried to load them. I guess every new site is going to have to work out the kinks. Before I headed to the "clearance" area, I clicked on "new arrivals." A pair of multi-colored beaded sandals caught my eye (Corossol Jeweled Sandals.) The turquoise, brown and yellow stone accents were striking. But as soon as I saw the price, $325, I decided to just go straight to the clearance section. Before I even got on the page, a banner informed me that all prices are final and no exchanges or returns will be taken. Oooh, these prices must be good. And they were. I found a lot of orange, lime green and metallic colors on shorts and tops along with more classic muted tones. But what was missing were the sizes. So if you want to take advantage of this sale, get there fast, because I’m sure the pickin’s will soon be pretty slim. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Before Michelle Obama's appearance on The View, wearing an off-the-rack black and white dress, I had been in the White House/Black Market a few times. It's a little pricey (but not by designer standards) although the sales are terrific. I walked in the other day and most of the merchandise in the store was 50% off. I saw cute black shimmering tops next to white pants with muted gold tone accents. I was so impressed, I signed up for the store's e-mail and physical mailing list. I usually do not provide my home address to anyone. But I figure the coupons and advance sale notice would be worth any possible breach in confidentiality. The sales lady assured me the information would stay with the store and I would get some great bargains in the mail. As I was leaving, I asked if the store ever carried the dress worn by Michelle Obama. They said it never arrived in the shop. Of course, I live in St. Louis, and fashion-wise, we are the last to get everything! So really, what was the big deal about the dress anyway? Well, for one thing it was an off-the-rack outfit for $150 instead of a designer number for thousands of dollars. Would I really want to buy the dress now that it has received so much publicity? Probably not. But it is pretty cute. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Every year we buy a season pass to Six Flags. If you go at least three times during the season you will save a lot of money that way. With the season ticket comes a coupon book filled with discounts and free buddy passes. And that's where my problems began. Last year I took my then 12 year old son and a friend to the park on a weekday. I tagged along as they rode the coasters, ate junk food and splashed in the water park. This year, however, my independent minded teenager wanted me to drop him and his buddy at the park to wander around unsupervised. I called Six Flags, and yes, they have plenty of perent-less 13 year olds running around. But the question is, am I ready to let my son be one of them? My husband and I decided that I would sit in the water park the whole day while he and his friend hit the rides. After much arguing, he agreed. (He didn't really have a choice.) Except for the whir of passing trains and the firing up of the wave pool, I was able to get work done peacefully, and the kids had fun. As I was sipping my $4 lemonade, I was thinking, what was I worried about? With security guards and a metal detector at the entrance, the place is safer than the mall. I guess I envisioned them getting lost with broken eye glasses and missing shoes. None of that happened. And after all the arguing, at the end, my son said he was glad I was there. Sure, wait until you start to drive. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I love color! And Ann Taylor is my go-to place for bright yellow, navy blue, purple and even orange tops, capri's and shorts. But I guess this time, everyone else got there first. Because not only were the best colors gone but so were the sizes. After a disappointing trip to the back of the store, I headed to the front...a very dangerous place for me. And low and behold, I found exactly what I was looking for: bright yellow cargo capri's, along with a yellow, blue and orange top. Problem was, they were full price. Thankfully, I had just printed out a 20 percent off coupon (coupon code: coollooks.) The discount helped a little. But I would have been happier to find great sale merchandise. The sales person told me what I bought had just arrived in the stores, of course. Hope you have better luck. The clearance ends June 29th and if you use the code online and spend at leat $100 you'll get free shipping. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque When I read the recent study that says drinking a lot of coffee might lower a woman's risk for heart disease I was elated. Finally, my addiction is no longer a vice, but rather something the doctor would order....or maybe not yet. Still, I can relish in my java habit guilt-free. Bring on those coffee drinks! My addiction started with regular ground Folgers in the red bag. It morphed into a big mug of gourmet coffee with beans that I grind myself using my at-home contraption. And forget about an automatic coffee maker. I'm squeezing those beans in a french press I bought at the gourmet kitchen store. Think I've gone a little too far? My husband does too. But he doesn't touch coffee...except for those Iced mocha drinks I make him, with, you guessed it, my at-home espresso machine. But my absolute latest adiction is Starbuck's newest drink called Starbucks Double Shot on Ice with soy milk.. I just love this concoction. I tried to get the recipe, but the friendly barista wouldn't give it to me. I think I figured it out though. I know they use two shots of espresso, a shot of soy milk and a little Starbucks special syrup and pour it over ice. That's the secret right there. The syrup isn't too sweet. My local store ran out of the stuff and used vanilla syrup instead. It was awful. Now, if I simply buy the syrup I might be able to make this drink at home! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque If you’ve avoided buying that dreaded bathing suit all spring long, you no longer have an excuse. They are on sale now and if 50 percent off banners aren’t enough to get you to the store, how about the promise that you’ll find a suit that will fit you perfectly and hide all your flaws? Well, of course I can’t promise that, but others can. You will now find stores that are eager to custom-make a swimsuit to your exact proportions. Don’t ask the price. For the rest of us in the real world, navigating from the racks to the dressing room is enough to cause a nervous break down, or at least a panic attack worthy of an escape from the swimwear section altogether. I avoided the whole scene completely by buying online through Bloomingdales. I wouldn’t normally recommend this tactic, because returning a swimsuit is no easy task and you’re not likely to find the perfect suit the first go-around. I lucked out and found a two-piece with a skirt bottom…better than a bikini bottom and more flattering that boy shorts. (I’m sorry but I wish that fashion would quickly disappear.) I’m hoping for a return of those high cut tankinis from the early 90’s. They were great for us short legged women. And as far as a one-piece suits goes, forget it if you have a long waist, big butt or wide hips. For that matter, forget them period, for everyone. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque If you're a six 8, aren't picky about colors and don't need new walking shorts, Bloomingdale's summer sale is for you. The savings are big, but in some areas, the selection is small. I found $79 walking shorts (the kind that hit just above the knee) for $22.99. The problem is, they were only available in size 8, and you'd be hard pressed to find the color white. Still if you meet the criteria and you're willing to spend a lot of money, you can seriously save some bucks. Because by using coupon code JUNEPC before June 12th, you'll save another 30-40% off the already reduced prices. The catch is: to save 30% you need to spend at least $250. To save 40% you'll need to buy $500 worth of merchandise. If you're talking about $22 shorts, that's a lot of clothes! So if you are in desperate need of a lot of summer clothes fast, take advantage of this sale. And if you're in the mood to shop for bigger ticket items, don't forget that coupon code! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque If there are rules on how to dress when you’re over 40, I’d like to know them. Because right now, I feel like a fish out of water or rather, a fashion faux pas waiting to happen. When I look at those pictures in In Style magazine, (you know the ones where they show you a similar outfit for 20,30,40,50 and 60 year olds) I feel like the models my age look, well, sort of fuddy duddy (is that expression even used anymore?) and the models in their 20’s and 30’s look almost too youthful, sort of childish sometimes. Am I alone here? Or are all the fashions looking either matronly or Hannah Montana-like? I’m not ready to don the polyester pantsuit yet, but I know I need to stay away from ruffles and bows. The other day, I wore a shirt that had slightly puffed sleeves and cute shoes with a small ribbon. And yet, I felt very self-conscious that day. Please, someone make up some rules for us 40-somethings…And don’t simply tell us to look in the mirror. I’m already doing that and it’s not helping! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque The sale started last week but today was the first day I had time to get over to Nordstrom. As soon as walked in I made a bee line to the shoe department. Believe it or not, they still had a pretty good selection. It wasn’t as picked over as I thought. But I would have like to have seen more flats instead of all the high heels. The savings are supposed to be at least 40 percent. They don’t give you the original price on the shoes, but I saw some marked at more than $100. I can’t imagine what the regular price was. Then there were the "special purchases," shoes that were reduced just for the sale, and will be back to the regular price after it ends. I did find a pretty good deal on black patent leather flats I could wear in the fall for around $30. After a painful trip to the cash register, I headed upstairs to women’s. I thought the selection was not nearly as good as in shoes. I couldn’t find any sale items I liked. Maybe if I had gotten here just a few days earlier, I might have made out like a bandit. But it’s just as well; I don’t need any more summer clothes. If you haven’t made it to Nordstrom yet, you have another week. The sale ends June 13th, just in time to begin the sale for men. And if you miss that, not to worry. The helpful sales lady reminded me that the anniversary sale begins July 18th, both online and in the stores. I think she was worried I didn’t buy enough stuff. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I remember when my son was little. I looked all around for a fun place to get his hair cut. Here in the midwest, no such place existed, or at least not near us. So I settled for a regular salon that took walk-ins. After a lot of trial and error, we finally found a sweet girl that still cuts his hair every four weeks. But now, there are many more choices. If you have a son, you can take him to a special men and boys' shop. If you have a girl, there are specialty salons that will even host birthday parties for her, featuring all the pampering women receive. That might be a little too much. Come on, they're just kids! I didn't even paint my nails until I was in college. Wherever you decide to take your child, you might want to make an appointment for a consultation ahead of time. I know that may sound extreme for a child's haircut. But if your son or daughter is weary of new people, it would be a great way to break the ice before he/she has to sit down in the chair for real. A lot of salons will provide a pre-hair cut visit for free. Finally, if your child get a bad haircut the first time, don't be afraid to complain. Or simply keep searching for the right person who can do a good job and put your son or daughter at ease. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Sure, you could head to your dentist's office for a total teeth makeover. But it comes with a hefty price tag, and really over-the-counter kits do work...The results are just a little more gradual. Several years ago, I bought teeth whitening gel from my dentist. I had an impression made so the plastic mold surrounding my teeth would keep the material in place. It worked pretty well at the time. I'm sure there are many more choices available in cosmetic dentistry these days. But now I simply buy Crest White Strips from the drug store and that works just fine. It's a little bit of a pain to buy the product from my local drug store. They are locked in a case. So I have to go find a sales person (which is no small feat) to unlock the cabinet. What, are people trying to steal them?! So I've resorted to buying the white strips online. And actually, I've found some great deals. Best Prices for Crest White Strips:
I've also tried teeth whitening mouth washes. I was skeptical at first. But they really do work, if only for a few hours. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I just lost 15 lbs and recently got a well-paid freelance assignment. So I decided to treat myself to a fabulous new purse. I figure I can splurge once in a great while, and now is the time. Everyone has their weakness and mine is purses! I bought this cheap bright yellow bag at the beginning of spring. And when I say bright yellow, I mean almost neon. It was nearing the end of a very cold, dark winter and I was ready for some color. Now I am so sick of color I could scream! What was I thinking! This big yellow purse reminds me of a giant bumble bee. I get these faint compliments from people, I think because (1) they feel compelled to say something; the thing is so bright, and (2) they wonder who has the audacity to carry something this "out there" in public. So I look around the on 'net. Of course the first store I come to is Louis Vuitton. (A girl has to dream right?) Anyway, the "Jamais" catches my eye for $3400!! (My freelance job wasn't that well-paying.) Next...On to BlueFly.com. I have actually never shopped there before. And I was surprised to find some pretty good deals. I finally settled on a Gustto brown and tan shoulder bag for $498. Before you shriek, keep in mind I will wear this thing for years. And the regular price is $831. I needed something neutral I could wear year 'round. The purse is a mixture of patent and regular leather. So it's neutral, but not boring. I found a coupon code at coupon cabin for $30 off. (Code number is ccabin31. It expires at the end of June.) Now, I hope it doesn't arrive here and I hate it. Returning is such a pain. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque If the price of contact lens solution isn't enough to drive you to consider lasik surgery, I don't know what will. But if you can't let go of your contacts, at least save some money on cleaning solution.
Where to Find the Best Deals on Contact Lens Solution:
Posted by L. Marie Dubuque If you've priced soda lately, you've probably noticed, it isn't cheap. But you can save money if you know where to look. I for one, try to stay away from the stuff. I've noticed as soon as I start drinking even one sugary drink a day, the numbers on the scale begin to inch up. I know I can drink diet, but the after-taste is not worth any calories saved. So what's the alternative? Tea, of course. It's nutritious, low cal, and best of all, cheap. (As long as you don't go for the exotic loose leaf varieties.) I buy bags of plain old Lipton in bulk either at a warehouse club or on sale at the grocery store. And when I'm feeling adventurous, I'll sip a little green or white tea for the added anti-oxidants. And if I really feel like splurging? I grab one of those decadent frozen coffee drinks from Seattle's Best. After you drink one of those, you'll blow your tea budget for a month! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque A recent USA Today article talks about all the retaiers offering a 10 percrent bonus if you spend your tax rebate check with them. It's tempting alright. And maybe a good idea IF you have no credit card debt. But if you are one of those people who carries a balance very month, you should pay off your credit card debt and stay away from shopping malls. What Else Should You Do with Your Tax Rebate Check?
Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Spending too much is a lot of like eating too much, drinking too much or gambling too much. True, there are no health consequences involved in over-spending, but the financial price can be steep, and the emotional fall-out is high. Over-eaters support groups will encourage you to get to the heart of your addiction...the real reason you turn to food for comfort. Spending problems are much the same. You have to look at why you over-spend in the first place in order to find a way to stop it. I remember when I first started using credit cards in my 20's. I had just started a new job in an unfamiliar town where I know no one. The mall was the one place that felt safe. But the thrill of that new outfit would fade away faster than the sales person could swipe my credit card. And where did all that spending leave me? In a mountain of credit card debt that took me until I turned 30 to get out of. I never abused credit cards again, because I knew I couldn't find what I was looking for at the mall. When you finally figure out what really brings you peace and joy in life, you will find a way to live within your means. That may be an over-simplification. But once you decide to live within a budget and prioritize your spending, you'll feel a new kind of satisfaction. One that involves getting control back, over your life and your finances. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I am thinking about buying a new car. Along with all the other choices like paint color and manual vs. automatic transmission comes an entirely new decision. Which radio to put in the car? Should I stick with the old free standby, AM/FM radio? The car I'm looking at offers satellite radio for $595 and of course I have to pay for the satellite subscription service on top of that. I could get HD radio for only $350 with no subscription at all. I thought to myself, this is a no-brainer. Don't pay for anything and go with AM/FM radio. After all, I get top 40 tunes along with all the traffic and weather information I need. But, what I can do without is all that DJ chatter in the mornings. It drives me crazy. My husband convinced me to go with HD radio. He says the sound quality is a little better, the channel selection is wider and no monthly payments are involved. I'll still hear the commercials, but if they get really annoying, at least I have a lot of channels to flip to. Now that Sirius and XM are merging, satellite may become even more enticing for some. Not me...I don't like any recurring charges, not even if means getting rid of all that useless chatter! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque I almost don't want to turn on the news anymore or read the paper. But I can't hide under a rock. We've got to face it. The economy looks bleak right now. You read all kinds of articles about how to recession-proof your spending habits, how to hold on to your job, and ways to save money. But what about how to relieve anxiety? Short of weekly therapy sessions, is there any way to stop worrying about what will or will not happen to the economy? I've decided to simply stop worrying. I know; easier said than done. But I figure it's futile to agonize over something I can't do anything about. I'm cutting back on the amount of driving I do, clipping more coupons, and taking advantage of sales. Beyond that, I'm not going to take my money out of the bank and put it under a mattress. We've weathered recessions before, and we will again. So maybe it's time to go see a funny movie and forget about whether we are or are not in a recession. After all, it's only money. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Now that we are officially in a recession, it is time to start cutting back on expenses. The first place to save is by eating out less. I don't mean never go out, but if you usually dine at a restaurant twice a week, cut back to once a week. Even if you still buy carry-out on that night, at least you'll save money on tips. When you do go out, be sure to take advantage of coupons. By using the Entertainment book or downloading gift certificates from restaurant.com you can save up to 50 percent on a meal. Even if you're celebrating a special occasion, consider visiting a gourmet supermarket and cooking at home instead of spending $100 or more dining at a five star restaurant. When I was in my 20's and single I looked down on men who pulled out coupons on a date. Now, if my husband finds a coupon for a place we are going, I applaud him for it. How attitudes and finances change! Posted by L. Marie Dubuque A recent USA Today article mentioned that people are holding on to their cars longer. Well, finally! But did it take the possibility of a recession to make folks realize that trading in a vehicle every three years is a complete waste of money? Or is it the fact that cars simply last longer these days? Whatever the reason, this is a step in the right direction. Now, if we could only get consumers to pay cash for cars instead of finance, the debt load in America would be greatly reduced. Problem is, the article states that while drivers are keeping their cars longer, they are also taking out longer loans. And with that they are paying for high priced extended warranties. Neither is a goog thing. My advice? Buy a quality late model used car and pay for it upfront. The salesman and the dealer won't be your biggest fans but you'll walk out a whole lot richer. Just think back on all the interest you've paid on car loans in the past. Even though you won't impress anyone with a fancy new car every few years, you'll be proud of youself for saving interest and building wealth. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Are fears of a recession sending you into a shopping funk? Are you skipping the traditional department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom in favor discount chains like TJ Maxx and Marshalls? A recent USA Today article says yes. In fact all retailers experienced a dismal January. The International Council of Shopping Centers states January was the worst month for stores since 1970. I, like a lot of people do a little of both. I shop at Macy’s and Nordstrom when they have really great sales. (Nordstrom’s shoes are to die for!) But you can’t beat TJ Maxx and Marshall’s for every day savings. The problem with those stores is, you really have to go there every week to find great stuff. They keep getting new inventory in, and every shopping experience is hit or miss for me. I really don’t have time to get to them that often. But I do like to shop at Sam’s Club. And I have been known to find really cute sweaters and shoes there for ridiculous prices. The problem? There’s no dressing room. The shopping experience isn’t quite the same when you’re searching for trash bags and suddenly you see a great pair of sandals. There is a time and place for department stores. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque A recent article in USA Today stated that 58 percent of homeowners who are facing foreclosure don't ask their lenders for help. That's a big mistake. What people don't realize, is that the bank doesn't want to take your house any more than you want to lose it. If you find yourself a month or two behind on your payments, contact your loan servicer. You'd be surprised at how eager they are to help. The mortgage holder might be able to extend your payments, put you in touch with a counseling service, and possibly refinance. I've written a lot about how important it is to negotiate with your credit card company to lower interest rates. The same holds true with a mortgage lender. Banks are not in the real estate business and they would like to keep it that way. So stay in contact with your lender, even if your mortgage has been sold several times. And don't wait until you get so far behind that foreclosure is looming. Even after one late or missed payment, contact your lender and come up with a plan you both can live with. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Feeling a little bit of the winter blues, I made my monday morning trip to Sam's Club for paper towels and laundry detergent. There, you wouldn't know it was the middle of January...Because In the center aisle alongside barbecue grills and lawn chairs were stacks of spring bulbs. At a price of 30 bulbs for 13 dollars, this was a deal I couldn't refuse. The package came with four Canna bulbs, 20 Caladium and six Elephant Ears. I've written before about deals I've found at Sam's Club, but this is one of the best I've ever seen. Or maybe I was so in the mood for something tropical that it just seemed too good to be true. You see, my two weaknesses are plants and books. I spend way too much on both. Gone are those fancy gardening catalogs. From now on, I'm buying plants and blubs at discount stores. I can usually justify buying books because I turn around and sell them on Amazon. But recently, they have simply sat on those virtual shelves. No e-mail from Amazon, saying "sold, ship now." I really miss those e-mails because it means I can't buy any more books if my old ones don't sell. To me, this book-selling slow down signals we are in a recession. I know the so-called experts won't admit it. But if we're not in one now, we're pretty darn close. I did see books on sale at Sam's Club. No, I better not. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque Not only is the housing market melt down sending us into a possible recession, our kids are paying the price as well. A recent article on CNN Money blamed the sub prime mortgage crisis on higher student loan rates. From now on, it will be harder for students to get loans and the interest rates will be higher. Already, young adults in their 20’s who should be having the time of their lives are being socked with heavy debt from loans they naively signed up for. The other night, I watched Suze Orman’s show which featured a young woman who makes seven dollars an hour as a pastry chef. And she can’t make her $700 a month student loan payment. I’m sure culinary school looked very exciting to her at the time. But what she wasn’t told when she signed the dotted line, was that the fancy school diploma wouldn’t lead to a fancy job when she graduated... And that the interest on the loan would be more than she could afford. Are these lenders taking advantage of young consumers who don’t know any better? Or should parents bear the burden of setting their kids straight when it comes to handling debt? Or are colleges and trade schools just too off-the-chart expensive for today’s students? Any way you look at it, higher education may soon become an unattainable luxury for many. Posted by L. Marie Dubuque My husband and I had been waiting since October for a new front door and two back doors to be installed. So when the company called to tell us they could put in our new doors on New Year’s Eve, we were thrilled. When the men arrived on monday morning, we found out only our back doors were on the truck. We would have to schedule our front door for another time. The day went quickly down hill from there. After some rude comments from the installer and no apology from the office, we’re still waiting for our front door. Five tips to make the renovation experience more bearable:
Following these suggestions won't make the renovation process any easier, just less stressful. |
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