AJWright.com

It was one I am familiar with: I had flown out to Boston last fall to have a similar meeting with TJX (TJMaxx/Marshalls, of which AJWright is a family member) and learned a lot – about how their buyers get the deals, and just how far the deals can take you. Essentially, they take advantage of department store overstock, and end up with current-season merchandise at a fraction of retail.

But even I wasn’t ready for this experience. AJWright is sort of to TJ Maxx what Old Navy is to Banana Republic – the seen-as-scrappy little brother who will be the one who save the world.

OK, not the world. But tons of money.

Armed with an $100 gift card, I ventured out with my mom today to see just how far I could stretch the dollar. (Or, $100, as the case may be.)

Within an hour, I left with two heaping shopping bags.

Inside:

a totally hot pink lace nightie

matching g-string

two thongs

mini food chopper

pink polka dot flannel pjs

spatula

thigh-high gray “suede” boots (OK, they aren’t real, but no one knows that)

mustard thigh-high “suede” boots

black long-sleeve t-shirt (no name, but a staple)

six pairs of black knee high socks (LIVE in these)

pink print opaque tights

baking pan for mini cupcakes

baking pan for regular-sized cupcakes

a box of fancy chocolate

shower curtain

**** I think that’s it….total cost: $80.89!!!

Is that unbelievable or what? This is all totally cute stuff, at up to 70% off discount and chain store prices! Crazy. It’s like better than a sample sale, and you can try on too!

Just so you can experience a little bit of this on your own, I am awarding one reader a $50 gift card to AJ Wright. To have your chance to win, please share the best buying bonanza experience you ever encountered…how much you spent, and how much you got for it! Deadline to enter is December 1, good luck! Please earn extra entries by RT-ing this contest on Twitter. (I am @alywalansky)

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I totally heart their super-chic designer espresso machines. It’s a great time to pick one up, too…it’s getting chilly out!

I’m also besotted with the super-hot Gwyneth boots on sale at ideeli…yes, I may already have several pairs, but it’s a fabulous price and I can always use another color!

ideeli.com

Some other great sales going on today:

J Brand

Kate Spade

Ritmo Mundo

Twenty8Twelve

Adrienne Landau

Ash shoes

Tribute

Auchelle Jonas

Apivita

Sorelli jewelry

Rampage clothing

Spa Chakra

Gwyneth

Magaschoni

Taylor dresses

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Nescafe Dolce Gusto

The first one is actually something I myself received last week, and I am IN LOVE with it.

I live in a pretty small space, and that makes “decor” a luxury I cannot really afford – economics-wise, but also space-wise. However, EVERYTHING changes when a kitchen tool I need anyway just happens to be totally artistic.

My new red Nescafe Dolce Gusto is very modernistic-chic, but it’s also an amazing coffee pot.

The machine itself was created by Krups, and it’s a  single-cup coffee machine  – in itself not innovative in that concept – but it’s designed with a professional 15-bar pressure [comparable to coffee shop machines], which guarantees a perfect cup and fine milk froth every time. What does that mean? It means I can make pumpkin spice lattes AT HOME. Hello, recessionista friendly. Plus, we all know Nescafe is totally delicious.

It makes blended coffee, it makes iced coffee, it makes frappachinos – it makes everything I want. And it’s so so cute, I can pretend I live in a grown-up apartment at the same time!

Now I just need to mature my polka dotted shams, and we’re probably in business.

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Order their Rose Bud Box through October 31, 2009 and 15% of your purchase will benefit The Susan G. Komen Foundation. This lucite box features an embedded rose bud image that is truly gorgeous. It measures 10″ x 10″ and is priced at $195.

Image: Floral Art

If you live in New York or Los Angeles, you can have the Rose Bud Box delivered with flowers inside. The box itself without flowers is available nationwide. Visit FloralArtLA.com to learn more about this lucite vase and check out all their other vases, furniture, home accessories and more.

Be sure to look for other pink ribbon products available during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These fashion, beauty and home decor items benefit a variety of breast cancer awareness and research organizations.

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Ideeli.com

As I was in the tents of Bryant Park all day, I had no time to cyber-browse!

There’s some fabulous deals still going on though – so you have plenty of time to jump on these links and get shopping.
• Tat2 Designs jewelry
• Sweetees
• Cole Haan
• Cuisinart home
• William Rast
• Basq beauty
• Tracy Reese shoes
• Dear Cashmere

• Kuuru kids
• Cole Haan Handbags & Sunglasses
• Thom Browne
• Just Cavalli
• Ralph Lauren Shoes
• Earnest Sewn
• Michele Siegel Private Jeweler

• Cole Haan Women’s Shoes

• Gold Hawk
• Devi Kroell

• Stitch’s jeans

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ideeli.com - BCBG

I realize that as much whining and groaning as we do, a lot of people would love the opportunity to be sitting among the sheer magnitude of celebrity and high fashion that flocks to the tents. And it is pretty fabulous – even the part where we live for a week on coffee and champagne – my two favorite “foods”, anyway. My point? You can live like you are here!

For instance, one of the first shows this morning was BCBG – I have info and pix to come – but, lo and behold, ideeli is having a BCBG private sale today! It’s totally almost like you are here…except you are paying a lot less. So, here’s a list of some of the fabulous designer sales going on – for those of you inside, and cozy and warm at your computers.

• BCBG
• Magaschoni
• Lenox

• Cover FX beauty
• Mike & Chris
• Maya Brenner Designs
• LnA

• Marc by Marc Jacobs
• Fratelli Rossetti
• Dr. Brandt Skincare
• Oakley
• Alexis Bittar Jewelry

• Dolce & Gabbana
• Charles David

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RueLaLa.com

It’s the day where friend drama, money drama, and life drama converge, and all I want to do is curl up with a martini and watch DVDs. Oh, and shop, because I also lost my favorite jacket this morning.

If you too need retail therapy – like to the extreme – you may want to check out some sales going on today. I’m super excited – especially about the denim!

• London Fog handbags
• Tadashi
• Lucca
• Rock & Republic
• Rock & Republic Beauty
• Love Shop
• Milly
• Wilson
• Notte by Marchesa
• Superga
• Gurhan Jewelry
• Susan Farber
• 7 For All Mankind

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(No, that’s nothing gross – Wednesday is considered the “hump day” because it’s in the middle of the week, and thus, means you’re halfway to the weekend!)

Ideeli.com - Matisse Boots

As it’s a long weekend this week, you probably have big plans on the agenda. Might as well have a new outfit to go with it! Below, are some of my favorite sales going on across the “interweb” today. They are all on different sites, so click on the link for more info!
• LinQ
• ABS by Allen Schwartz
• Matisse shoes

• Holly Morgan
• Paige Maternity
• Neil George beauty
• Heather Hawking

• Rebelette (for the kiddies!)
• Kate Spade

• Designer Denim (A FAB sale!)

• ABS
• James Perse

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ideeli.com has Voom by Joy Han at over 80% off!

This weekend, I did my traditional end-of-month bill-sorting and realized…thank god for sample sales. Life is getting increasingly expensive, thank god for these exclusive sales sites that give you the hot stuff we want – but can’t afford – at much more affordable values!

Here’s some hot sales going on today on the “interweb”.

Click on the individual links for specific info about each sale.
• Elaine Turner
• Voom by Joy Han
• Marc by Marc Jacobs (Watches)
• Amrita Singh
• EcoSkin
• Kings & Queens

• Berndes (Home)
• Taverniti So Jeans
• Gant & Gant (Mens)
• 1891 Sferra (GORGEOUS home products)
• American Vintage
• Ella Moss
• Little Ella (by Ella Moss)

• Kids Ink
• Lorelei Handbags
• Rhonda Faber Green Jewelry
• Visconti Pens
• Designer Accessories Sale

• Marc Jacobs Collection (Yes, Marc Jacobs is all over the place today!)
• Sequin Jewelry
• Earnest Sewn

Happy shopping! And please, if you discover any sales that are fab and not mentioned here – please comment below so everyone can take advantage!

Post from: Shopaholics Daily

And I also know I love innovation. And, lets face it, there’s been a lot of that. Like the invention of the engine, the first vehicle to be super safe, the first vehicle to be incredibly powerful.

Kitchenaid

To that end, there’s been lots of designers that mastered their craft. This has led to techie innovations such as satellite radio, MP3 devices and Bluetooth.

Kia wasn’t the first at any of these. But when it comes to putting all of this into a compact car, they ARE.

And thus we have the incredibly cool Forte. It’s safe, it’s inexpensive, it’s pretty darn sexy – and it just happens to be fuel-efficient, making it perfect for this era of economic uncertainty.

In order to attempt to build awareness about the new Kia Forte, they are encouraging people to go fan their Facebook page.

After  you go fan their page, and then Tweet me (@alywalansky) with your thoughts on this innovation, and what you think makes the Kia Forte so incredibly cool, you become eligible to win a grand prize – not a car, sorry! – but a very cool Kitchenaid then giving away either the KitchenAid Pro 500 Bowl-Lift Mixer mixer worth $400!

Five runners-up will each win a $10 Crate & Barrel Gift Card. To have extra entries in this contest, please RT this contest, and also repost it to your various social networking sites – and become a fan of me as well, on Facebook, and tell me a – why you think compact cars are a fabulous innovation, and b – 3 other shopping bits of brilliance you discovered on ShopaholicsDaily this week.

Deadline to enter is August 30.

Kia Forte

Kia Forte

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