Is it any secret that I love a bargain? Stores where you can find closeouts from other stores, especially high end stores, are a favorite of mine. I love knowing I have the same name brand and designer items that other people paid a lot more money for. It’s a bit of a rush! The thrill of the hunt, and all that, you know? I also love buying deals and stocking up my gift closet. I can give someone a great housewarming gift, or something for a birthday, and it will only have cost me a few dollars…but the value is much higher! There’s a store in Tampa that is a closeout store for a big linens catalog, and they have amazing deals. I never knew where to find deals like that online though…and I’ve often wondered where the people who sell on eBay get their cache of goods from. I’ve seen sellers listing tons of items from catalogs like Victoria’s Secret. I now know the answer - I found this store offering closeouts online! It’s one of the best kept secrets on the internet. The store features clothing, shoes, electronics, toys and all sorts of products that are from name brand manufacturers. Those eBay sellers are obviously buying here, since they have products from Liz Claiborne, Vanity Fair, Victoria’s Secret, and even Oscar De La Renta. You can find things from department stores and catalog shopping companies. I’m having a great time just browsing and trying to figure out where products came from!

I took my oldest shopping last week, and we went to Beall’s, which is a chain of department stores in Florida. I was able to find 3 pairs of new jeans that fit in both the waist and leg (score!) and then I got a little frustrated. I normally shop in the juniors section…not because I am trying to hold onto my youth, but because clothes from the women’s section don’t fit me. The pants are too big, the shirts fall off of me. The petites section doesn’t have arms / legs long enough for my limbs. I also think clothing from the womens section tends to look…matronly. However, from time to time I venture into the womens section hoping I can find something professional for work, because finding that type of outfit in the juniors section…well, it doesn’t happen.

I came across a shirt on the clearance rack by Nine and Company, which I later discovered is a division of Nine West Shoes. I found a darling brown dressy shirt, complete with polka dots (I do love polka dots!) on clearance for only $22. And then when I got to the register, I was given an extra discount since it was a red line item, so I got the shirt for only $13.20. Since it has short sleeves, the arm length wasn’t an issue, and the small was a perfect fit. The shirt isn’t on the Nine and Company website, but while I was looking for it, I discovered quite a few items not in the department store. I think I’m about to become a repeat customer of Nine and Company.

A long time ago, in a land far, far away…

(Seriously, we were in France!)

A boy took a girl to Paris. The boy and the girl were in love, and this was their first big trip together. They had never been to Europe, and the trip was exciting. They spent quiet nights in cafes, and days trekking through museums, hand in hand. One night, the boy took the girl to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and all of Paris lay before them, lit up brightly. The girl tingled with anxiety and apprehension, because she knew the boy wanted to marry her. She knew the boy planned to propose soon. She knew that the boy had been to a jeweler to see about a ring before they left for their trip to Europe. She hoped with every breath in her body that tonight would be “the night”.

The boy and the girl admired the lights of Paris, and the night sky, and then…

Nothing happened. The boy and the girl went back to their hotel, and then flew back home. It turned out that the ring wasn’t ready before the trip, so the boy couldn’t propose on the top of the Eiffel Tower, in the middle of the most romantic city in the world. Of course, the girl didn’t know this at the time. She wondered if she had body odor, or some other affliction preventing the boy from asking her to marry him.

That’s why I prefer to live vicariously through romance novels. Boys in romance novels never leave the ring at the jewelers, like my husband did. HA! He tried hard, but he just couldn’t get it together in time for our trip. Romance novels typically have the perfect ending to a tale like mine!

I know it’s barely October, but has anyone out there started Christmas (or holiday) shopping yet? My girls will sit down and put together a nice list that includes things like books & new pajamas. My son, on the other hand, will wait until that BIG huge holiday toy catalog arrives from Toys R’ Us. He then sits down and writes down anything that he thinks looks cool. We end up with a list of 15 or so items, like motor scooter, and karaoke machine.

Uhh…no.

When I was a kid, we had a BB gun in the house, which if my father was in a good mood, I’d get to shoot. We’d go out into the wide open area behind our house and aim at beer cans or pieces of wood, and I’d see if my aim had improved from the last time I had picked up the gun. Airsoft guns are fun to use when you live in those wide open spaces, and the air rifles on PyramydAir.com look a lot like the old BB gun we had in the house. From time to time, even my father would pick it up, usually to aim it at some sort of varmit. Those old style air rifles always remind me of the movie, The Christmas Story, where ALL Ralphie wants for Christmas is that Red Ryder gun, and all those adults try to change his mind. Remember when a BB gun was THE gift to give a 10 or 11 year old boy? Those were the days, huh?

Heck, I wouldn’t mind having my own now, to protect me from all the people who ring my doorbell all day trying to sell me stuff. HA! (And I could save 5% on my purchase at the site!)

My 3-Day walk is in just a few weeks, but my sister is walking this weekend in Philly. Watching her prepare and pack has helped to get my rear and gear. Yesterday she emailed me that she forgot to buy Body Glide, which reminded ME I don’t have any either. (Body Glide is a sports lubricant that walkers put on their feet to reduce friction, and in turn, blisters.) Last year, we shared a tube, but I’m on my own this year. She’s making a last minute trip to Sports Authority for her Body Glide, but I’ve got time to find it online and have it shipped to my house. I could go to the store, but it’s not convenient, and I can get free shipping at Drugstore.com