Livin' on Tulsa Time

If any of you know me personally, I'm sure you have heard me talk about my love for the store 'Ross Dress for Less.' I might like it even more than thrift stores (gasp!). The Ross that is closest to my house is in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On October 8 the Ross in our area is opening! I am so excited but hopefully I don't spend every paycheck there. :)
If you have never been to a Ross let me give you a quick run-down. I compare it to TJ Maxx or Marshall's. It is the same concept, but cheaper. Understand though, that they don't have as many 'name brands' like TJ Maxx but that is how it is cheaper. Check out the Ross website for more info.
One thing I like about the tags at Ross is they tell you the 'compared at' price and often the original tags are still on the items, and often, these tags are even more than the 'compared at' price. It is really easy to total up your savings and see how much you are saving.
So, yesterday my mom and I took a trip to Tulsa to visit a couple of the Ross stores they have there. I found some great items. Check it out:

My finds for the day.
I got the black Worthington dress pants (which I usually find at JC Penny's for about $40) for only $9.99- compared at $36.00. I saved $26!
I had looked at black shoes like these (for work) at Dillard's and I was prepared to pay $70 but I found these for only $16.99- compared at $39.00. I saved $22 or as I like to see it compared at $70 I saved $53.
The rug perfectly matches my living room- $2.99 compared at $6 but actually rugs like this are even more than that even at Wal-Mart.

These two dress I found were both on clearance. One was on clearance for $8.99 and the other $9.99. Now, tell me where you can find beautiful dresses like this for under $10? Both dresses were compared at $60. So, I saved over $100- boom- just like that.

I went in to Ross looking for some tops that I could wear with jeans and found these two tops which I loved! The black and gray top was only $9.99 compared at $24.00- I saved $14. The pink top (just how cute is that pocket!) was $8.99 compared at $28- I saved $19.

In total I saved $185.07 at Ross! Awesome!
We don't only go to Ross on our trips to Tulsa, we also like to stop by the Macy's in the Woodland Hills Mall. We have a Macy's that is closer (Joplin, Mo) but if one is where you are, you might as well stop in. Macy's has really good sales. Their clearance was an additional 40% off. There is a cute story behind this pink sweater I found (for only $14.70!) I went with my sister to New York and Company to shop for her and as we were walking around I found the cutest pink sweater with glitter strands- it was beautiful and totally me- except for the price- it was $50. I tried it on anyways, and unfortunately, it was too big and they didn't have a smaller size. Well, I found an even cuter replacement at Macy's! Get this- the original price was $50. :)


We also stopped by Micheal's craft store- again, another store we don't have (are you sensing a trend?). This candle was on clearance since it was a summer scent- only $2.39! The scent is orange vanilla which really means it smells just like an orange creamsicle. Yum! Also, I found these cute- as- pie Paula Deen kitchen items. The spoon holder cracks me up (totally Paula Deen!) and it was only $2. The cupcake holders are cute- as- pie too- they say 'yummy' and 'enjoy' on the bottom. 50 were only $1. So stinkin' cute!

Well, I know I said I might love Ross more than thrift stores, but that doesn't mean that I still don't hunt to find thrift stores in every town I go to. So, long story short- we had a time and a half trying to find this thrift store, but we finally found it. It's called Value Thrift Store and it is on the corner of Memorial and 11th in Tulsa. Quick word to the wise- look up the location of thrift stores before you leave home...just do it...it will make life easier and save you some gas. It might have taken us a while to find it, but it was worth it! The store was huge and packed! I spent $16 and got all this plus some more that isn't in the picture! It helped that I had my mom with me and it was senior discount day (an extra 25% off!)

I know what you are thinking- why in the world did she buy 3 pairs of brown pants. Let me explain. One pair are capris- $2.98 and the brand is Talbots (original price was probably around $80!). Another pair are full length were also only $2.98 (brand Apt. 9 compared at probably $50). The last pair I'm hoping fit my sister are Old Navy brand and were only $1.98!
The tops are super cute! The black one I'm going to wear as a swimsuit cover-up and it was only $2.98. The green leaf one in the middle was also only $2.98. The last one I look a close up picture of. It's Ann Taylor Loft (which if you've read my previous posts, you know I love) and it was only $1.98.
Oh, and the little bird house was only 45 cents!

I'm exhausted from hunting down all my great finds. If you have a Ross in your area I highly recommend you checking it out. Their company website and Facebook page has a lot of tips for shopping at their stores. Some of my tips are:

• Shop early and often- their inventory changes on a daily basis.
  
• Grab it when you see it because it might be gone if you try to circle back (especially on busy days).
• Have an idea of what you are looking for and if you don't find it- try back in a few days.
• It is a great place to find gifts- they have cute home decoration items and a large kitchen section.
• Don't forget about their clearance racks- do I need to mention my awesome dresses again?

Don't let places like Macy's intimidate you because you see them as 'expensive' places. Yes, the store does have a lot of items that are too pricey for me so that is why I shop the clearance racks and watch for sales on clearance items.
Going on a weekend trip to another city? Look up thrift stores in the area before you go (map out where they are). I knew I'd probably find some good items at a thrift store in Tulsa because it is such a big city- lots of stores= more variety in what will end up in a thrift store.
Well, I have a lot of new stuff to put up! I'm still pumped about my great finds! If you have great finds of your own tell me about them!
Until next time- keep hunting for those great finds. :)

Thrift Store Back to School Sale

A local thrift store, The Samaritan Shop (one of my favs) has been advertising their 'Back to School Sale' with proceeds going towards school supplies and other needs for local students. Since I'm an educator and understand what it is like for a student to come to school on the first day with nothing, I decided I better go check it out. Also, of course, I was in it for the great deals. The store advertised lower prices on clothing and then mentioned 'new' merchandise.
Now, the area of Arkansas I live in is often known as 'Wal-Mart Country.' The Wal-Mart home offices are located here. So, we have a ton of venders in our area and these venders often sell their items at 'sample sales' they have at their own facilities. But lots of times they donate their items. Well, the 'new' items the thrift store advertised were beauty/bath items that were donated by local venders (I am assuming).
So, to state it simply, aside from some great clothing finds, I got a boat load of NEW bath items for nearly nothing.

Here is my loot. Let me explain my great finds and deals.

So, to start off on the left-
Remington brand flat iron for $10- retail $37.99. I saved $27.99.
Remington hot rollers- I paid $12- retail $20.99. I saved $8.99.
There were a lot of shampoos/conditioners/conditioning treatments/hair gels/etc. I got two different sets of shampoo/conditioners from the brand L'Oreal (which I never buy because it is a little too much to pay). At the thrift store they were only $2.00 x 4= $8.00. Retail- $23.88 (at least). I saved $15.88.
I also bought 3 bottles of deep conditioning treatments (one overnight, one for colored hair, and one for deep conditioning). I paid $7.00. Retail- $23.22. I saved $16.22.
L'Oreal mousse (one of those things I always want to buy but never seem to) I paid $1.00- retail $3.47- I saved $2.47.
Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray- I paid $3.00- Retail $8 (at least). I saved $5.
L'Oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Total Eye Correction System (anti-wrinkle/dark circle/anti-bag/puffiness cream)- $2.50- Retail $18. I saved $15.50.
I also got Zest soap (20 pack) for $5.00. Toothbrush (2 packs) for 50 cents. Toothpaste (2 pack) $2.00. Loofahs $1.00 each. 625 count Q-Tips for $1.00.

I know it's a lot to take it...it might seem like a waste but it is all non-perishable items that can be stored. I know I don't need 2 bottles of shampoo and 2 bottles of conditioner right now, but I will need them and it will save me from needing to buy them in the next few months.
If you ever stumble upon items like this for such a great deal, grab them up! Especially bathroom items. These seem to be the things that you all-of-a-sudden run out of and can't really go without. Food deals are often perishable or about to expire and need to be used quickly, so tread lightly and smartly with items like that.
I'm excited to try out my new items (like the deep conditioners and under-eye cream). If you live in the Northwest Arkansas area, I highly recommend you stopping by this sale.
As always, happy hunting :)

There are more like me :)

As I was getting ready to write my next blog post about my thrift store finds, I ran across this article on the Yahoo homepage. If you don't believe me by now, read this article. You would think it was written by me, but it's not. :( The author and I do have a lot in common though. Read the article and see what you think. Now, you know it's not just me that thinks thrift stores are so awesome :)
There is the link to the article.
Or you can copy and paste.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-Our-5-Favorite-ac-1581336515.html