Thrills & Deals

Love me. Blog me not.

2009-11-04T17:35:00.001-08:00

The worst about about blogging is updating.

Well, I guess that is the only part.

Taking pictures using self-timers is exhausting when your camera produces less than quality anything. For now, I find myself not updating because of blurred images and darkened silhouettes.

Even so, I happen to find myself on this site everyday.

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A Leather Treasure

2009-10-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been searching for the perfect pea coat. I hope to find one that will become a staple in my wardrobe for the next 10 years or so. Black is a must! Wool is a must! Everything else? It's just semantics. And today, I finally found it!

HERE is where I would enter the picture of this vintage black, wool, double-breasted, military inspired button, trench coat. Price tag: $37.00! It was thick. It was warm. It was TOO BIG. So my search continues....

But if your search stopped with the description, I enourage you to scoop up this steal at La Bomba, located at W 2nd St in Pomona.

The perfect coat will have to wait for another day, but I did score some other GREAT items.

Black, High Waisted, Leather Mini: $2.98

I was inspired by other bloggers wearing it here and here.

Stretch Chain Waist Belt: $0.99

I love the detail of the clasp leaves. I already have a similar black belt that I wear with almost everything. I'm stoked to add this gold one to my closet.

Amercan Indian Inspired Necklace: $1.99

Don't let the leather skirt fool you, my style is bohemian at heart. I love anything ethnic inspired and so naturally, I acquired a subtle fondness to this necklace. I plan to change out the string and alter it a bit to truly make my own.

9.99

2009-09-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

Urban Outfitters is having a pretty decent sale right now. Which, isn't really news, because they're always having sales on some type of item. But with tees starting at $9.99, it's definitely worth checking out.

I've always loved the vibe of UO, but the prices - - ? Not so much. Out of my 5 years of shopping there, everything I've ever bought has been on sale (minus 1 green sweater and 1 brown bag). If it wasn't for the sale items I probably wouldn't shop here because $58.00 tees did not make it into my monthly budget.

Here's some of the steals I got at UO over this summer. Each item is under $10.00 =]

Brands: Silence + Noise, BDG, Sparkle & Fade, Nothing Sacred by Obesity and Speed

$8.99-$9.99 tees; $4.99 tanks

Brands: Kimchi Blue, Ecote
$9.99

I have more goodies, but forgot to add them to the picture. I also bought two white tees, an oversized beanie, and a black lace bodysuit.

P.S. Back in July, UO had a $5.00 sale. Did anyone catch it? It was diiivine. I'm crossing my fingers that they will have another one before the warm weather ends!

Fraternal Twins.

2009-09-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

I hadn't planned on my next post being about shoes, AGAIN. So forgive me.

But blogger, Carly from Chic Steals, posted back in March about these Steve Maddens (below) that she scored. She does the most amazing DIYs and knows how to find great deals, so I'm not surprised if she found these for dirt cheap.

A few days ago I found a similar pair of Maddens. Strangely, mine sort of look like a knock off version of hers. Instead of a chic buckle, my shoes feature an elastic slingback closure which is a bit annoying to pull over your ankles. The thin stilleto heel was also replaced with a thicker triangular one. Actually, my shoes are just thicker in general - I feel like the fatter sister.

Steve Madden

Original Retail: $89.00

Found for $19.99

I'm not quite sure why Mr. Madden would want to make two nearly identical pairs of shoes, but I guess thats the way fashion is sometimes. Ordinarly, I run away from shiny patent leather. But these? I left the store without them one day and came back for them the next.

Even so, I'm STILL having second thoughts. To keep or not to keep, that is the question.

They tried to make me to go to REHAB.

2009-09-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

"I went to Ross today and all I got was this lousy t-shirt."

I'm sure we all have seen those screen-print vacation shirts at tourist stands. But that's exactly what I felt like today. As you can tell by my previous post, I've been buying a lot of shoes at Ross lately... and today? Well I went to FIVE Ross stores.

...Hi, my name is Ashley and I'm a bit Ross obsessed....

Frye Riding Boots, $378.00

But I found a VERY similar pair at Ross. The quality, naturally, isn't as good, but I overlooked it for the price.

Franco Sarto, $34.99

Ironically, they had my normal 7.5 size. Still, I decided to drive around to four other stores just to see if they had it in a size down. I like my boots to fit a bit snug. But because all of their stores carry different things, at the end of the day, I literally walked away with nothing.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I went to Ross 5 times in one day, but at least it made for a great driving adventure. So meanwhile, while I check into rehab, you should check out Ross. I love them because they carry great brands at finger-lickin prices: Seychelles, Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Nine West, Doc Marten. Which shoe brands do you like?

Buckle Up.

2009-09-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

I'm a Summer baby... it's all I need. The warm nights, thin dresses, and cute sandals have always won over my heart. My body shivers even at the thought of 70 degree weather (farenheit). Ordinarily I'd be trying to cling onto the last days of summer. But with all the cute boots that are now in shops, Autumn is finally starting to win me over...

Dolce Vita Flat Bootie: $248

Miu Miu Studded Biker Boots: $1,375

Frye Engineer Boot: $188.00

Sam Edelman Lakota Boot: $224.95

But those are the boots that live only in my dreams. And these ones? They live in my closet =]

Engineer Boots by Guess

Retail: $165.00, Found at Ross: $34.99

I had my boots off in the store today while trying on some shoes. Several passerbys kept picking up my boots, thinking they were for sale. It was a bit awkward. I was worried that some gal would accidentally take my shoes up to the cash register and I'd end up barefoot. But now the boots are safe and sound, back in the closet, and ready for the Fall.

I Love Sam.

2009-09-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

Fashion blogs have me lusting over designer shoes. The Vitas, the Fryes, the Campbells. I dream in heels. But my lust doesn't extend much beyond that. My cheap nature cannot seem to justify spending $80.00 on gladiator sandals and nearly twice as much on platform wedges.

That's why I was BEYOND EXCITED when these Sam Edelman peeptoe boots landed in my hands. I love wood anything and the wood platforms on these booties are the perfect playmate to the grey suede uppers.

Original Retail: $169.00
Discovered at Ross: $34.95

He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me... Thanks Sam!

4 for 3.

2009-08-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

Let me explain myself...

Ever since the prepubescent age of eleven, I've been financially conscious of fashion, food, and the like. Diamonds, while girl's best friend, make more sense for princesses. Back in 1997, when Forever 21 had no more than 45 retail stores world wide, prices were CHEAP. And I was the little girl telling my mother not to purchase any tee over $10.

That was me then, and this is me now. There's something so amazingly gratifying about finding the perfect steal. It is the thrill in the deal. You have to be smart, creative, advantageous, and courageous to pull it off... are you ready?

Here's a look into my world:

JCPenney Jewelry & Accessories: $3.76

clearance + sale + coupon = looove.

I got a JCPenney's certificate in the mail for $10.00 off a purchase of $10.00. I don't know why I'm the receiver of such blessings, but I take them anyway. In order to maximize it's benefit, I kept my purchase as close to ten dollars as possible. I chose clearance items and took advantage of the store's ongoing sale "50% off clearance items." After all of the deductions, I felt like I nearly robbed the place!

Black Lace Tights: $0.38; Brown Wooden Bangle: $0.89; Woven Chain Necklace: $0.90; Green Leaf Bangle: $1.29

Local + Sales Taxes: $0.30

Total Savings: $54.54

I bought these goodies a week ago, but it still makes me smile. =]