Girl's Day Bargains

Today was "girl's day," as my nine year old daughter Maddy likes to call it. I had no idea what to do with her. When the weather is nice we go to the local park and hunt for frogs. When it's cold we make popcorn, watch movies, and do our nails. (Yeah, we're versatile like that.) But it's February and we're both itching to get out of the house. The boys went ice fishing, we decided to go shopping.

I wasn't looking forward to the trip. I was exhausted. I just wanted to stay home, snuggle up in bed and take a nap. But mother's guilt rose into my conscious, so I got ready in a haste - no frills, no thrills, just the basics.
I should explain this guilt thing: During a recent conversation with my Aunt we chatting about Maddy's upcoming 10th birthday. My baby is turning ten. This realization is hard for me; I'm sure many mothers can relate. I mean, just yesterday she was a sweet baby sleeping in my arms! While I struggled comprehending reality, on the other end of the phone I hear my Aunt say, "Just think, in ten years she could be married..." FACE-PALM! Hold up... What did she just say?! But, it's true... didn't I get married when I was twenty?
Enter: Guilt. I'm not even going to think about what my Aunt said, but in eight years Maddy will be heading off to college. I know it seems like a long way off, but the last ten years have gone by (SO) fast. Today she is still ALL mine. I don't care HOW tired I am. Today... is girl's day.

First up, Goodwill. The last place I wanted to be was in a congested store. Don't get me wrong, I love a good deal, but there wasn't anything on my list of wants and needs that I could find at the thrift store, right?
Maddy loves Goodwill, and it's an inexpensive way to let her feel a little extra special, since I always let her pick something for herself. She runs off and I head to my usual racks:
1st: Curtain rods - Nothing good.
2nd: Electronics - Nothing that I was looking for. There was an interesting do-dad that hooks up to the T.V. and plays an iPod - but, then I remembered, I have an iHome, so... Pass.
3rd: Pets, Garden and Home Goods - Nada.
4th: Books? (please, please, PLEASE have Eat, Pray, Love.) Nope.

Usually, at this point, I give Maddy a five minute warning before dragging her from the store. Today, though, I didn't have the energy; so I let her continue doing whatever it is that she's doing and I head over to the clothing racks. I'm not too keen on buying used clothes for myself, but Goodwill regularly receives donations from popular department stores. So, to kill time, I started digging through the racks, just to see, and... BINGO!

Starring me in the face: a brand new, Liz Claiborne, dark brown leather jacket.* My size. $9.99. For years I've wanted a dark brown leather jacket. Once, I even took a special trip over to Macy's just to buy one. In the end, I couldn't justify dishing out the dough because I wouldn't wear it often enough**. AND If I buy a brown leather jacket, I NEED brown leather shoes, right? No question. See the pattern here? But guess what? You'll never guess...
Brand new, Nine West, SUPER CUTE, Size 12***, kitten heel ankle booties - WITH a buckle detail AND the color matches the coat perfectly. $4.99. O. M. G. SCORE!!!

Now I'm excited. I rummage through every rack in the store, huffing obnoxiously and sighing loudly when someone gets in my way. I find a long, black, thick knitted winter scarf that looks a little... familiar, to say the least. (Back story: earlier this winter I was walking through the mall, (another girl's day,) eyed a scarf in the Gap window and drooled. It was perfect. I went in, picked it up, looked at the price tag, almost fainted, put it back and stomped out of the store. $60?! Come on, Gap, no WAY. I went right home and learned to knit - no joke. Two months later I finally finished the handmade scarf, but Maddy wanted it, so... no scarf for me.) Here I am, at Goodwill, scarf in hand, almost too excited to look at the tag: Yep. Gap. $2.99. My heart's racing now!
Then... a black, long sleeve, open front, shawl cardigan: BCBG. Hot DAMN! TODAY is my DAY!

Two hours later...
My loot from above, two shirts for Maddy, a toy and flat iron that she wanted, and we're off to Marshall's... with a renewed spring in my step.
Okay, first, let me say this: Sometimes Miss Maddy says some CRAZY, off-the-wall things. Kind of a Smack-My-Head, where did you get THAT, kind-of-a-thing... This morning, before we left the house, Maddy asks if we can stop at the gas station to buy cotton candy. I pause, look at her sweet, innocent expression and (seriously) smack myself in the forehead. Cotton candy? At the GAS STATION? I simply say "uh, honey, I don't think the gas station sells cotton candy..."
We walk into Marshall's and what do I spy? A big bucket of cotton candy. $2.99. I chuckle, shake my head, throw it in the cart and move on.
I love Marshall's. Cute stuff, great prices, but nothing I need to spend money on at the moment. As Maddy looks through the kid's clothes I rummage through the beauty aisle. Pretty floral hand cream for the car - check.**** Then... what do I see here? A torn up box, clearance priced $2.99, with the brand name Tweezerman. Hmmm... let's take a look-see. If it's a pair of Tweezerman tweezers - for $2.99 - it's mine. Period. I open the box to find a shiny black makeup bag. Hmmph. BUT... inside the bag, I find TREASURE!!!: TWEEZERMAN tweezers, eyelash curler, cuticle clippers and a porcelain nail file. No WAY. (I run a quick calculation in my head) retail value: $85.00 - minimum. This HAS to be mis-priced. Oh well - it's MINE NOW, SUCKERS!
A few "No - that's too grown up" comments on the clothes Maddy chose and we're off to check out, where I get distracted. I think everyone can see the hot steam blowing from my ears, because Maddy says, "Mama, what's wrong?" when I spot a coffee press for $15.99. I paid $80 for mine. Damn. OK, check out, where the cashier swoons over my Tweezerman STEAL.

Just in case you were wondering:

Liz Claiborne leather jacket: Retail $199/Mine $9.99

Nine West booties: Retail $89/Mine $4.99

Gap winter scarf: Retail $60/Mine $2.99
Gap sweater (I know, I didn't mention this - sorry): Retail $49/Mine $4.99
BCBG sweater: Retail $178/Mine $4.99
Shirts for Maddy: Retail $40?/Hers $5.98
Toy and flat iron: Retail $30/Hers $12
Tweezerman Kit: Retail $85/Mine $2.99

That's $730 worth of items for a mere $48.00. WOOT!

Good girl's day. Guilt be gone. GREAT bargains. I can't wait to do it again!

*I'm really not a Liz Claiborne fan, but have you seen her leather coats?! This will be my 3rd LC leather coat. They're beautiful. Cut well, great color, soft leather.... worth the $199 price tag at Macy's.
**I'm really a black-wearing-fashionista.
***Yes, I have enormous feet for a woman. Just another thing I can blame on the kids. Imagine how I felt when I found MY size just sitting there on the rack!
****Hand cream, for the car, WAS on my list... I'm SERIOUS!!!