Steals and Deals: Anthropologie Skinny Weave Jute Belts

   Well I have another find from Anthropologie. This one is from a while ago also. I've learned one main rule of shopping, which is to sleep on it. I get terrible buyers remorse, over the best purchases I make. I don't understand it, but it happens. I've learned even if I like something and its on 'sale', if I'm not 100% sure its the best deal or that I really want it, I sleep on it. Wait Until the next day or weekend, At that point if you want it you can happily and surly go back and get it. A plus side of this is if it was on sale last time you went, there's a good chance it will be marked down even more. Honestly this is how I save money a lot of times. 

   I had seen these belts on the website and loved them. 

Originally priced at $48. So I waited. Then I saw them for $19.95 on the website, never got around to buying them. I was walking in the store one day and they were in the sale room for $10, with a 50% of all sale items. So i bought the 2 they had left. For a total of $10, $5 each, A complete savings of $90, From waiting. 


Happy Shopping!

Steals and Deals: Anthropologie Meave Catmit Dress

  As weird as it is Anthropologie is a type of therapy for me; shopping therapy. Walking in through the large bamboo and glass doors, smelling whatever wonderful fragrance, and hearing the soft music. Oh, and what's not better than being surrounded by gorgeous cloths. 

  I usually walk strait through those doors to the Sale section. That small room, who knew it would be filled with some many treasures. 

   This is one of my proudest moments as a shopper. (By the way I am putting up a lot of these steals and deals recently, some of them are recent and a some of them were from a while ago, just thought I would mention that). Ocasionlly at the front of the store they have racks of cloths, organized by price, $20, $30, $40, $50, etc... Just searching through these racks I spotted this Dress:

   The Catmint dress by Meave, $148. I know I'm not alone in my obsession with pocketed dresses. Well this one has pockets as well as being really cute. Looking at the tag I released it was a return, no big deal. This next part is a big deal, it was marked down to $20!

  

   I walk up to the checkout counter, they ring it up. The man says that will be $10.60(including tax). I almost fell to the ground. How it got the extra markdown I don't know, and honestly don't care. 

   So This dress was $148 and somehow I got it for $10.60, by the way if any of y'all have this dress i've found it looks really cute with cowboy boots, or wedges, because it has a longer length then most dresses, it rests at my knees. 

Steals and Deals: Jcrew Wearhouse Sale in Ashville, NC

Okay, I'm Letting Y'all in a Secret that could possibly change your life. There is this crazy sale, at a jcrew outlet. The word sale dosent even start to describe the deals you will find. I live about 3 hours from this wearhouse, and every time i get the chance I will go in a heartbeat.

   I stumbled upon this place one day, I was in the area and asked a friend a good place to go shopping, she gave me the address and I went. Walking in I my mouth dropped. 

  I was handed a trash bag and a sheet of paper. On the paper was a list of items; tee shirts, jeans, blouses, bathing suits, etc... There is a ginormouse room lined with fold out tables, topped cardboard boxes. These normal looking boxes were filled crazy cheap jcrew clothes. 

   One thing to know when going into this sale; except to spend around $200-$300. You will spend much more than in any normal shopping trip. But also know that you can buy basically a whole new wordrobe with that $300 dollars. 

   The phone number and address of this store is not loacated on the jcrew website. It is trully a hidden gem. But here they are...
          Phone Number: 828-687-6475
          Address: 1 Clifford Way, Arden, Nc
          Next Sale Date: August 11-12, 2012

   Here are the things I purchased the last time i went to their sale. 

Claudia Halter Dress in Grey, Originally $385, I got for $30

Scalloped Lace Tee

McAlister Boots, in Dark Brown. Originally $145, I got for $30

These are Madewell Ripped Boyfriend Jeans, I bought them with a $110 price tag attached, and payed $10 For them

I Bought a couple of these Perfect Fit Tee's, For $8 each

Steals and Deals: Jcrew Lila Patent Platform Wedges in Navy

I've decided to start a new "line" of blog posts, called steals and deals. I LOVE the thrill of the hunt, And this is not me bragging in any way, I just really don't like spending full price for stuff I know I can get cheaper. I hope that my readers will get ideas and use all of their resources for extra discounts. With that said, Here is today's find !

I found these wedges to day at Jcrew. Originally priced at $168.00. I purchased brand new for $25! I saw them in the clearance section marked at $40, with and extra 30% discount for all sale items, and an additional 15% off with a student ID, resulting in a total savings of $143!

Food: Spicy roasted chickpeas

   Being a vegetarian it's hard to get enough protein. And i'm always looking for a healthy snack. You know when your just craving that salty crunchy goodness, but don't want to regret it latter. These roasted chickpeas are perfect for those moments! 
Ingredients:
1 can of rinsed chickpeas 
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/8 - 1/4 Tsp salt (to taste)
Fresh cracked black pepper 
1/4 Cayenne pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you want) 
1/4 Tsp garlic powder 
1/4 Tsp onion powder 
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper(this allows for much easier cleanup), 
3. Drain and rise the chickpeas, lay out onto a dish rag. Make sure they are bone dry 
4. Pour onto baking sheet, drizzil on oil, then top will all the other ingredients, Remember you can replace, reduce or add more of any ingredients to suite your taste buds.
5. Using clean hands toss the chickpeas in the oil and spices, till evenly coated 
6. Bake for 40-55 minutes, until crunchy and golden brown 
7. Let cool, and store in an air tight container for up to a week 

Food: Brownie Cookies

   Brownies are always tasty, I don't think i've ever met anyone that doesn't like them. Now i found a way to transfer that amazing chocolatiness into cookie form! What could be better? This recipe is so easy, it's unreal. AND it takes about a quarter of the time to bake! (this recipe is not mine, I found it on the Hershey's brownie mix box, but i twiked it a bit). These cookies are on the thinner side, i you like thicker ones, use less liquid
   Ingredients: 
1 Package of brownie mix
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Olive oil 
3/4 Tsp Vanilla extract 
   Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Whisk together in a medium bowl, eggs, Olive oil, Vanilla
3. Mix the brownie mix into the liquid ingredients, stir until combined, it usually looks kind of runny, but don't worry it will thicken up while baking
4. Grease baking sheets well, these cookies tend to stick easier than other cookies i've baked 
5. Scoop the dough onto the pan, place 2-3 inches apart
6. Bake for 9-14 minutes
7. This step is VERY IMPORTANT! remove the cookies from the pan while there still hot! Dont stack them until their cool, I usually place them on a sheet of parchment paper
   
   Makes 30 cookies 

Food: Homemade Organic Fruit Roll-Ups

   During spring and summer I always crave fruit. I had some peaches laying around that too ripe. Trying to figure out what to due with them I decided to make fruit roll-ups/ fruit leather. Often when I bake I don't really know what i'm making or planing to do, I just figure it out as i go. I did this when making these. This method has gotten me in trouble from time to time, but thankfully it worked out this time. I failed to take many pictures with this recipe, because I was crunched for time, but I think you will be able to figure out what i'm saying, this recipe is fairly simple. 
   Ingredients:
1. 5 Cups of fruit- use what ever types of fruit you like in this recipe i used 3 peaches(skinned), and a mango. Use whatever your in the mood for. 
2. 3 TBSP sugar- more or less depending on your taste
3. 1-3 TBSP juice,water, or other liquids - amount of liquid needed will depend on how jucie the fruit you use
   Directions:
1. Chop the fruit into 1 or 2 inch pieces
2. Add all of the ingredients into a medium or large saucepan, stir using a wooden spoon
3. Let the fruit simmer, the time needed will depend on the type/firmness of the fruits used. take off heat one the fruit is very soft, almost mushy
4. The next step is to smooth the fruit, if you want a smoother roll-up use a food processor to blend fruit, if you want a more thick roll up with pieces of fruit in it use a fork or a potato masher. 
5. Using a mesh strainer, drain out excess liquid 
6. Spread fruit mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spread a 1/4 inch thick.
7. Bake at 400F for 30-40 minutes, check to make sure the fruit is no longer mushy, once that has happened its done!
8. Let the fruit cool, cut into strips, roll, and enjoy!




It is about half way done
at this point.


-The output depends on how large you cut the strips and other factors (I got about 8 out of mine)


It's done!

 -Store for up to a week