Em's Guide to Shopping Stateside

Those who know me, know that I'm something of a self confessed expert when it comes to shopping. Yes indeedy, we all have our special talents and emperical evidence has shown that when it comes to sniffing out the bargains, I'm up there with the best.

So don't doubt me when I say that there's nowhere more satisfying to shop, especially when the exchange is favourable, than the good old US of A. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that even factoring in the airfare and accommodation, you'll STILL be  saving money, particularly  if you travel off season and shop like a pro, which, coincedentally, is where I come in.
You're welcome. 

Because the truth is, unless you're a zillionaire and money's no object, there are definitely ways to get more bang for your buck... and lots of envious glances when you come home. ( NOT of course that that would be your motivation, but I'm puttin' it out there anyway.)

I may possibly have mentioned before that I was in Vegas last week? But actually,  my top tips apply to all American locations-I've honed and used the same principles with great success over the years whilst shopping in the San Francisco, New York, Washington DC and Boston metropolitan areas.  Okay,  so here goes.

Stateside, I have a belt and braces approach to shopping -I hit the Mall AND the outlets, because depending on the seasonal sales, you can do just as well and sometimes better in the Mall, with the added bonus of more up to the minute choices.

1. The Mall-I can't emphasize enough how important it is to start early and hangover free as malls require your full attention simply because they're bloody enormous and you need lots of time. Thankfully though, there's lots of places to stop for coffee and usually a top end food court as well, so there's no excuse-it really is all about pacing yourself. Many's a bargain has been missed because a shopper has arrived too late in the day, or simply run out of steam half way through.

Your typical mall will have the big flagship stores like Macys, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom-( think House of Fraser sizewise for each) , and then all the mid to high range 'high street' type shops as well. That's where you'll get your Hollister, Abercrombie, Nine West, Victoria's Secret etc.

 Top tip- do your research before you go. Look at the Mall online and get an idea of which shops you want to go to. Know what you need and what you plan to buy- make a list! Check out comparative prices before you go to make sure you're bagging a bargain because otherwise why waste valuable luggage space? That said,   let's face it, no matter how much sensible planning one does, there'll always be that unmissable bargain (or five) which you'll know you've stumbled on when  your heart starts to race and you feverishly start working out exchange rates in your head, while furtively clutching your steal to your chest, afraid to set it down in case it's snatched away by another canny shopper. In all this heady excitement, don't forget to utilize the calculator on your phone- that's what it's there for, peeps, and I don't know about you but my mental arithmetic is seriously undermined by unbridled shopping highs, especially when I have to factor in those pesky taxes as well.

2. Outlet malls- the holy grail for bargain hunters, and honestly,  these bad boys are in a different league from the so called outlet malls at home, so again, you MUST start early AND check the websites out before you go. I cannot emphasize this enough because no one wants to waste time and money going somewhere that just has a load of old crap. That said, most outlet malls have 150+ stores in them, so there's something for everyone, even the reluctant other halves.

Checking before you go also gives you a heads up on the upcoming flash sales and offers, and most significantly the printable coupons.(You can now download these onto your mobile device but I still prefer the paper version myself). Premium Outlets has places all over the USA- including, ahem, the two I visited in  Las Vegas last week.(One at either end of the 4 mile Strip!) Join their free VIP club and you get MAJOR discounts in loads of stores AND a voucher for a discount book to collect at the information desk when you get there.

We're talking major mundo off here, my lovelies! For example, my voucher for Michael Kors was 'spend $250, get $50 off.' Don't mind if I do, thank you very much.

 And in the Converse shop, as well as their ongoing offer of 'buy one, get one half price', I slammed it  with a 'spend $60, get $15 off.' coupon as well. Well, it would've been a sin not to.
Then, in Jones New York,  I gave a lady my (extra) 20% coupon which saved her $150 and I'm pretty sure there were tears in her eyes when she offered me a place to stay in the Phillipines.



So what did I get? Now obviously I can't disclose everything but I WILL tell you that I got this fabulous Michael Kors bag AND a matching purse for $220 all in (about 150 quid) while the bag alone here is 220.


I also got my Mum a gorgeous leather Coach bag-I can't talk money cos it was a pressie- but it was 50% + off retail.
 Two pairs of Converse shoes for the boys cost less than one pair here, and a Roxy dress for Anna was less than one in Primark. Are you picking up what I'm laying down?
What are you waiting for??
Oh and if you need a personal shopper, gimme a shout!

Friday Quicktakes

1. So it's all over for another year, and if I'm honest, I'm kind of relieved. The Christmas decorations are down, all except for the crib anyway- I like to give the Three Kings a victory lap-but come Sunday, their five minutes are up and they AND their camel are off to the attic.
 I'd also forgotten how busy this first week in January inevitably is-if  I wasn't making appointments (doctors, orthodontist, dentist, optician), I was driving small people to and from them. I've also been planning our January parties - two boys have birthdays this month -which in hindsight, was exceptionally bad financial planning on our part.

2. January's depressing, non? The darkness, the shitty weather, the credit card bills, the diet and fitness ads...Unless of course  you're a celeb in which case right about now, you're en route first class to Barbados. I don't like to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty certain that I'd make a wonderful celebrity. I've given it a lot of thought and I'd go for uber glam obvs (think a post modern Mrs H), effortlessly mixing designer with high street, while clearly still in touch with my roots and more than happy tochat to my fans. I'd be involved in lots of worthy charity work, to offset all the free designer shoes and handbags, and I'd definitely make a point of popping on to Desert Island Discs  to chat with my bestie Kirsty. (Girl crush, anyone?) Hmmmm, possibly toooo much thought has gone into this.


3. Back in the real world, I can't complain really, because after a super busy December the New Year started, rather fabulously, with a few rose- mantic nights away just Himself and Myself. And in case you're wondering, I'm very pleased to report that, we still got it going on, baby!

It's a joy to realise that you're not  too old for silliness-like getting your face painted with shamrocks and glitter-and that you haven't completely forgotten what's it's like to just enjoy each other's company, without being distracted about what to leave out from the freezer for tomorrow's dinner,  or whose homework needs checked, or which bin needs putting out.

 To have time to look back and reflect, and look forward and dream, and to make each other laugh or just be in the silence. I'm really glad we didn't make too many plans - it meant that we lived in the moment- one day all we did was walk hand in hand by the river after staying in bed till lunchtime! A decadently lovely, deliciously sexy few days..........I'll savour the memories while I'm peeling the spuds later!



4. Despite January's shortcomings, it does somewhat redeem itself  with the sales. During our little trip a deux,  I managed to twist his arm and drag him off to the outlets in Kildare.Which actually meant that while I lusted after various handbags, he went elsewhere to wash the car and check the tyre pressure! I DID get a few bits and pieces, including a gorgeous weekender bag by Cath Kidston for the Caravilla, but overall I showed admirable restraint.
Online was a different matter -once Johnny had thoughtfully emailed me to let me know that the Boden sale had just hit 70% discount, I was feverish with  excitement. I instantly snapped up this leopard  print bag (£149 to £44) and these velvet boot slippers (£45 to £11.40). Two key purchases that'll take me anywhere...and very possibly together.

5. Finally, this week's car seat boogie is a little piece of nostalgia. I was reminded of it when both Miranda Hart AND Ant and Dec chose it as one of their tracks on Desert Island Discs. Morecambe and Wise- you s bring me back to my childhood and make me smile.... January, you  can do one.
http://youtu.be/ZedhoqYdfTM


Enjoy and Happy Friday lovelies. Xx

Christmas Prep

Made me laugh!

Whoa- is it just me or are we seriously ramping up into Christmas mode now? It may be only early December, and the big day is still nearly three weeks away, but I'm detecting a definite whiff of panic in the air. The fact that we haven't bought the tree yet, nor got a single decoration down from the attic is unusual, odd even, because it looks like everyone else has!

When we lived in the US, and folks traditionally put their trees up the day after Thanksgiving, it seemed shockingly early... but not any more. Am I sounding a bit 'bah humbug' about it all? Don't answer that... but while I'm on a roll, here's another one- the taking down of trees almost as soon as Christmas Day is over. What is that about? It's a SEASON for goodness sake! Twelve days of Christmas and all that, and, seriously, there are few sights more forlorn than an abandoned tree on Boxing Day. That said, conversely, leaving it up too long is another no no- friends of ours had a desperate habit of leaving the tree up till Valentines Day, which is just wrong...and downright lazy. And yes, I realize that I'm sounding suspiciously like the Christmas Tree police, (Special Branch- geddit?), so I'll zip it...for now.

Other preparations? Well, I've booked my pre- Christmas Tesco delivery slot-  those slots are like gold dust and fill up fast but they're sooooo worth it. Never more so than a few years ago, when it was -13 outside, and the lovely Tesco man STILL made it out to us in the sticks! How we would've survived Christmas without that garguantuan cereal and toilet roll drop, just doesn't bear thinking about. (He DID admit though that he'd made the extra special effort because he thought we were an old people's home but still.... that's dedication for you!)

What else? I'm in the middle of writing my Christmas cards. Loverboy didn't manage to get a cheesy Christmas letter done in time this year but honestly, I reckon Facebook ticks that box now anyway. Plus, it makes them heavier and after dropping £50 on stamps this morning, I'm all about saving the rainforest.

I also spent a day cleaning and clearing  the toy room of junk/big plastic toys. Top tip- if at all possible do this job in the middle of the night, or at the very least, use black bags so your precious angels can't see what you're sneaking in there for charity/ bin/ other people's toy rooms. Start clearing and suddenly even the crappy Mc Donald's toys become beloved childhood heirlooms that they can't bear to be parted from. But somehow I managed it, and for a few short weeks I'm pathetically enjoying the sight of colour coded toy boxes and plenty of shelving space.

Present wise *whispers* I think we're almost sorted, which is great. And yet....I always have an uneasy feeling that I've forgotten something or someone important. Which is nonsense, I mean I've made the list, I've checked it twice...but still, I can't shake it off. It's the same story every year, and honestly it only ever leads to  unnecessary spending, which you KNOW I'm totally against, (except obviously in the case of absolute necessities ....like shoes or handbags.)

Guess who?

So, logically the next step, even though it's still a fraction too early, is putting up the Christmas decorations this weekend. I'll also be getting my Christmas playlist sorted, making the first batch of mulled wine and most thrillingly of all, revealing this year's seasonal toilet rolls. Meanwhile, Loverboy will be off to get the tree, which is actually more dangerous than it sounds. A few years ago, he dragged home a monster sixteen foot tree which we could hardly get upright. He said it looked much smaller in the field, which beside the twenty foot ones, it probably did.  I, on the other hand, am all about the small but perfectly formed, non shedding variety, or better again, an artificial one complete with snowy branches and lights. But this year, given that its probably our last one living in the country, Christmas tree-wise, he can knock himself out. So be afraid, my lovelies, be very afraid....

My Shopping Hell....

I'm mostly an Internet shopper myself. I've wholeheartedly embraced online retail and I'm really focused on doing my bit for the economy. Each little shoe purchase helps lift this country out of recession-one (cheeky  'Irregular Choice' clad) step at a time. Sadly, Loverboy doesn't always share my altruistic spirit, but I'll continue to try and illuminate the big picture for him.
Nevertheless, I'm not biased where shopping is concerned and there's definitely something to be said for the old fashioned experience as well. It's just that these days, I don't have the same opportunities because, as every mother knows, children and shopping aren't your ideal combo. Toddlers and shopping, even less so. As a result, in general, I tend to avoid it...then gradually the memories fade, and I give it another shot. Which is exactly what happened the other day, when I clocked a seventy percent off sale in a chic little local(ish) boutique. That's right. Seventy. Per.Cent. Well, I'm only human, so despite the fact that I had Luke, that it was almost nap time, and most crucially, that I had no method of containment (buggy) for him, I made the call to pop in. That was my first mistake.
There were two sets of glass doors into the shop- the first an ordinary push/ pull one, the second an automatic sliding kind. In we went, through both doors and I got to work, with one eye on the rails, the other on Luke who was toddling around me. Then, after a few moments of rummaging, I heard a little yelp, then another and glanced round frantically for him. I found him sitting, happily enough, in the inner doorway, bewildered, as the sliding door opened and closed on his toddler body, squashing him slightly each time.(And the Mother of the Year Award goes to....)
Undeterred, I hauled him out of there and sat him up on a chair with a (plain) biscuit in the hope of buying myself a few more minutes. But of course, that would have been far too easy. Down he got and  began a charm offensive on the very nice, perfectly groomed, older sales lady. She was talking to him, 'Who's a lovely boy? And what a lovely hat! Did your mummy knit you that hat? (Yeah, Right.) Oh yes, you're a lovely boy, aren't you? Aren't you?'
There was then the briefest of pauses and I glanced up from the rack  to see that the smile had frozen ever so slightly on her face. I then looked at Luke and saw the reason why. He also wore a frozen expression -a familiar, fixed grimace on his reddening face- he'd clearly decided that this was the perfect moment to answer nature's call. By this time, the slightly flustered, but ever polite lady, was backing away, and I understood why, as a distinctly unpleasant odour began to circulate. Meanwhile, with the job done and apart from an unmistakeable new bulge to his rear silhouette, Luke was carefree once more and ambled off after his new friend, who by this stage, was dealing with a new customer. That was when I made my second mistake. With the thick skin five children have granted me, and three heavily discounted items on my arm, I eyed the tiny changing room and made the call. Go! Go! Go!
So at this point, squeezed into the world's smallest changing room, with my now completely offensive offspring, I was aware of the women on either side coughing, (and possibly even gagging), on the foul smell. To make matters worse, he then decided to play peekaboo with the curtain, periodically exposing ample amounts of my mottled white flesh to the rest of the shop. The final flourish to this nightmarish scenario was, of course, the fact that none of the items even fitted. It was all for bloody nothing. Completely stressed, and now most definitely persona non grata, I grabbed my malodorous shopping buddy, put my head down and got the hell out of there.
But the fun wasn't over yet, as once outside, I had a decision to make- to change him now or get him home and do it. Given the freezing temperatures of the January day, coupled with a distinct lack of facilities, I chose the latter. Understandably enough though, Luke had no wish to sit down in his car seat while 'harbouring a fugitive', so this meant actually forcing his rigid body into the seat, in order to buckle him in. Eventually though, amid ear splitting screams, with the heat turned up full blast and the windows down, I hurtled back home, vowing never, ever again. It's the virtual shopping experience for me from here on in-come back Amazon, all is forgiven......