Happy New Year !: The Recessionista's Affordable Champagne Picks

Its the last day of 2008! Au Revoir old year. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready for a New Year. In preparing for New Year's Eve, bubbly is very much on my mind. And by bubbly, I mean Champagne. At only 90 calories a glass, Champagne helps me prepare for my coming New Year's diet and usher out the old year in style. Today's quest is to find some wonderful Champagne for our New Year's festivities at an affordable price. I have two affordable favorites to recommend from California to The Recessionista's readers. My top picks are Tattinger Champagne from Domaine Carneros and Thorton Champagnes from the Thorton Winery in Temecula, California. I must confess, my top pick is the Domaine Carneros Tattinger Champagne from Sonoma, CA. I've visited this winery and spent many a happy afternoon sitting on their patio overlooking the vineyards sampling their Pinot Noirs and their sparkling wine. If you can't journey to the Champagne region of France, Domaine Carneros provides a cheap & cheerful alternative. The winery & tasting rooms are designed to look like a grand French chateau. Their vintage Brut Cuvee is listed on their website for $26.00 and has been rated 92 points by wine spectator. However, I have found it for less than $26.00 at Trader Joe's grocery in California. If you're in the US, check your local Trader Joe's for it.

My other affordable US pick is the Thorton Winery's Sparkling Wine from Temecula, CA. The Thorton sparkling wines are a cheap & cheerful choice ranging from $15.00 to $38.00. These wines are available from the winery of course, but also at many grocery stores.





Of course, for many connoisseurs, there is only one source of fine Champagne, and that is France! After all, Champagne takes its name from a province in eastern France, near Paris. Leon Chandon offered many great Champagnes from Reims, France.
After its initial invention a french monk named Dom Pierre Pérignon introduced various production and bottling improvements for Champagne. Today, its fair to say that Moet Chandon and Dom Perignon remain the jewels of the Champagne world. I heard yesterday on NPR that Champagne sales in 2008 are down, 4%. This had lead to sales on Champagne in wine stores all over the world. So check your local wine store today for prices on these two. NV Veuve Clicquot is available at many grocers, wine stores and Trader's Joes in the US for under $40.00 US. Korbel Champagne provides another affordable option for your consideration.

And finally, the Good Wine under $20.00 Blog(US) has some great posts on affordable Champagne. Click here to read what this great site has to say about affordable Champagnes.

Two final resources are worth checking out if you're shopping around today for a good deal:

1) The News & Observer's article on Bubbly at a Bargain featuring 10 Affordable Picks (choices offered include sparkling wines from Italy, Spain, Australia and California)

2) The New York Times article on Champagne: How Low Can You Go


So Happy NEW YEAR dear readers! I'm sending you all a Virtual Glass of Bubbly and wishing you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR's!

PS: If you're interested in looking back at Fashion highs & lows in 2008, check this article from The Huffington Post for a fun look back!

Happy New Year !: The Recessionista's Affordable Champagne Picks

Final Year End Sales Round-Up: Closing out 2008

Well, 2008 is coming to a close. On behalf of all Recessionistas, I feel we are ready for a new year! Hopefully 2009, will bring us better news and some long-awaited change :) For now, we can content ourselves with some final year-end savings. If you're like me, you've been saving a few pennies, gift certificates and Christmas cash gifts for those year end markdowns when retailers offer consumers their very best prices. Many of us wait for the lowest sales prices of the season before making our purchase commitments. So looking around this morning, here are a few year-end sales on my watch list to share with readers.


HauteLook's Year End 90% Designer Blow-Out Sale
The fashion shopping club HauteLook has been having some great sales this week. The prices for high-end designers fashions from Jovovich-Hawk, BCBG & others have been unbeatable. Today is the final year-end designer blow-out with 90% off retails prices from designers like James Perse, Nicole Miller and Rachel Polly. The sale starts today at 8 am PST, 11 am EST.
Click here to join as The Recessionista Blog's Guest and enjoy the savings. Yours truly will be in there shopping, so please don't try to out point and click me! :)

The Gilt Groupe Cynthia Rawley Sale
I'll be checking out one of my favorite designers, Cynthia Rawley today at the Gilt Groupe.
I am a big fan of her classic clothes and her handbags! Both are offered today at deep discounts. These will go quick, so get in early if you are interested.

The RueLaLa Final sale
This also starts at 11:00 am EST today. I don't know what will be offered, but I know that 30 designer brands are featured. Click here to check it.

There are fashions for men & women featured from James Perse and other designers. Women's fashions include Juicy Coture, Shoshana, Walter, Kate Spade, Ellen Tracy & Lululemon Athletic. For this one, I have several gift certificates for that I might be able to put to good use :) Yay me!


Belk's Year-End Sale: $10.00 off of a purchase of $50.00
Since I am outside of California today visiting my family in North Carolina, I have the opportunity to shop a different range of stores. We don't have Belk's in Los Angeles, so this is a little bit of a treat to be able to do to one of their stores in NC. I've long admired their Kristin Davis collection, inspired by the actress who played Charlotte on Sex & the City. The collection offers some nice apparel, jewelry and handbags. Most of it is now on clearance in the stores and on Belk online. Here are two pieces from the collection that I have my eye on.

Kristin Davis Bow Tie Cami Top

Kristin Davis Poplin Tie Waist Smocked Dress, Vintage Rose

The quality on both pieces seems quite good. Comparisons to the SJP Bitten line at Steve & Barry's are inevitable, and I have to say Kristin's collections is better quality in terms of fabric and cut. And now that its on clearance, the price differential is pretty small. Definitely worth spending a little more for something that will last a bit longer.


Finally, if you're looking for something beyond women's fashions, I recommend checking out the Amazon.com Year-End Deals. Amazon is one of the few retailers to report strong sales during this disappointing Christmas retail season. One reason is doubtless the wide selection of goods, plus an international business including sites in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, China and Japan. They are offering deals on electronics, the cool "Kindle", Apparel, Books, DVDs, kid's toys, men's fashions and more.


So those are a few ways to spend a little of your holiday "mad money" or gift certificates if you have them. One word of caution, I do make a little budget for my year-end sale spend and I try to not go over it :) Usually, this works out well. I'm able to leverage my Christmas cash to the best effect.

PS-- I can't forget Vera Wang at Kohl's. Be sure and check out their sale.

Final Year End Sales Round-Up: Closing out 2008

Good Deals on New Year's Dresses: BCBG, Kristin Davis @ Belk + More

A couple of readers have written in to ask for some recommendations on affordable dresses for New Years. So here are a few picks for your consideration.


Kristin Davis Collection Dress at Belk
This flattering scoop blue dress features a necklines adorned with jewels and a bow tie waist. This lovely dress is subtly shimmering. I've always liked this collection and now alot of it is on clearance at fantastic prices.



HauteLook's BCBG Blowout Sale
BCBG is the featured Blowout Sale on the HauteLook site today. As you can see from the picture above, some gorgeous dresses are featured. This is an online sale, so you won't get it in time for New Year's but, the prices are deeply discounted and one of these would be classic for your 2009 events. I particularly love the Lilac dress on the left side. Gilt Groupe also has some special stuff on their sale racks today that you may wish to check out.


Norma Kamali's shirred jersey dress in Black at Walmart: $20.00
The drape of this one is fantastic and very figure flattering. For $20.00, you really can't go wrong.

Loehmann's also still has many beautiful, affordable holiday dresses from top designers in their Back Room and the rest of the store. Check your local store for selection. Today is the continuation of their after Holiday Sale offering an extra 40% off* plus an extra 10% off all clearance merchandise storewide!


The Target Holiday Collection dresses are still available in store and offered in sizes XS to XXL.

And finally, don't forget the cute party dresses from the Gap that I covered last week. Many are still available and best of all on sale.

Good Deals on New Year's Dresses: BCBG, Kristin Davis @ Belk + More

The Recessionista Reviews Thakoon for Target

The Recessionista's Top Pick: The Thakoon Floral Raincoat

One day early, we found most of the eagerly awaited Thakoon (Thakoon Panichgu) collection for Target available at our local Super Target here in North Carolina. I've been a Thakoon fan since last season's Gap White Shirt Collection made his fashions accessible to thrifty fashionistas. In the summer, I still wear the Petal dress and the puff sleeve blouse from the 1st Gap White Shirt Collection which featured Thakoon. Before that Gap collection, the only hope for affordable Thakoon was shopping the end of season sales at Saks & Nordstroms looking for his pieces. So its great that Thakoon has partnered with Target to bring more of his designs to Recessionistas working within their "new economy" budget.

I'm here in North Carolina this week visiting my family, so it was a pleasant surprise to find the collection already on the racks. However, I had an unexpected rival for scooping up my favorites from the collection. To my surprise, my dear Mom was my chief competitor for scooping up these reasonably pieced gems. Mom is an experienced shopper and world class coupon user. Its no surprise that she took the best piece of the collection right from my hands. Pictured below is Mom wearing her new Thakoon Floral Raincoat!! She picked up the last one in our size. I had to give it to her because, really it looks adorable on her. And for $44.99 it was a great value. Mom doesn't usually give a second thought to Go Collections from Target, regardless of who the designer is. ( And yes, she considers Go for teenagers). She's all about Talbot's collections and their classic looks. But this Target Go Collection was special. Thakoon for Target peaked her interest because she knew that our new first lady, Michelle Obama was a wearer of Thakoon. She loved the picture of Mrs. Obama wearing a Thakoon dress at the Democratic Convention. However she did not love the price of Mrs. Obama's dress: $1,500 USD. So, Mom was thrilled to find something of Mrs. Obama's style at an affordable price. And I think its great to show that affordable fashion is not just for the young, it can also be for the young at heart. After all, once a fashionista, always a fashionista. Age does not change a love for fashion or the appreciation of a great piece at a great price!


The leader of Team Recessionista, the Author's Mother in Thakoon for Target.

The cut of this coat is ageless and a timeless classic. I love the print & the little slit pockets. The front placket hides the covered buttons on the front. The coat is 100% cotton canvas. It seems really durable. Its also machine washable. This is my top pick from the collection. Mom picked it up tonight, but I will sneak onto Target online later & order mine :) I am letting her savor her victory lap tonight as she knows she got the last one.

Below is another of my picks, this darling yellow print cotton top. This was not available at the Target we went to, so I am basing my opinion on the online pictures.




Thakoon for Target Yellow Print Tee, $14.99 USD

Another item of interest, is this very fashionable black dress with the ruffle trim. We also couldn't find this in the store, but our people (me , myself & I ) will be looking for this at other Targets :) It looks like it would be perfect to go from the office to the evening. And it looks very classy. As with all Target Go Collections, you don't know until you try it on.

Thakoon for Target® Pleated Bottom Dress - Ebony
, Price: $39.99 USD

One item we did find in the store, was the pretty Batik like navy & white dress shown in many of the adverts for the line. This particular dress is of special interest as its very similar to a dress from Thakoon's Spring 2008 line. This dress is in the same “Shibori” pattern (inspired by Japanese tie-dying techniques) as the dress from his high-end line. The key differences are the length of the dress (the Target version is short) and of course the quality of the fabric. Although the Target version of the dress is beautiful, one word of caution. The fabric is quite stiff. Its made of 100% cotton, so the question is , how will this look after its washed? My guess is that it should really not be machine washed, and will last longer if its gently treated & hand washed. A little extra TLC and hand washing might preserve the delicate pleats around the neck and bodice for a few extra wears. For the price, its well worth it.

Thakoon for Target® Shibori Woven Dress - Navy/ White,
Price:
$39.99

The material used in this dress is also used to make a blouse in the collection, which is very pretty, but a bit over sized. We saw the blouse in the store, but its not yet on the Target website.

As with every Target Go collection , there are hits and misses. One of the biggest disappointments is this floral dress pictured below. Its so over sized, that its not flattering.
The print is absolutely gorgeous, but because its lacks any structure or shaping, its almost like a beautiful potato sack. When I tried it on, I could barely look at my reflection. It was that unflattering. Sorry Mr. Thakoon, I just don't like this one :) Great print, poor execution and I can't recommend it at any price.



Thakoon for Target Floral Dress

I'm also not completely sold on the cardigans from the line. They looked way cute on the racks, but they were not shapely on, at least for me. My advice would be to try them on before ordering or buying, if you can find one at your local store. Also, read the reviews from other Target shoppers on Target online. I always find those to be extremely helpful.

But overall, I give the collection a thumbs-up. There are some good pieces here at affordable prices. Sizing runs the gamut, with some pieces over sized (floral dress and some of the tops), and some running in the usual Target Go habit of running small (i.e. the green windbreaker). No comment on the bikinis, I left those for Mariah Carey, as I was sure she wanted them :)

If you live outside the US, and you are interested in Thakoon, I'm sure alot of it will find its way to eBay shortly. Also, if you have friends in the US, just ask them to pick up a piece for you. I just sent a friend in Australia a Target Anya Hindmarch bag for Christmas. Later, she will send me some stuff from Target Australia that I can't find in the US.

PS--although my Mom snatched up the floral raincoat, I was able to console myself with a pair of Sigerson Morrison aqua flats for $14.99. That's an in store sale, and worth checking out. Online they are $20.99.

The Recessionista Reviews Thakoon for Target

Hot Deal: Jovovich-Hawk Blowout Sale on HauteLook!

I'm writing today as I enjoy a VERY merry, morning after Christmas. My little niece & nephew are all snug in their beds after another momentous & successful visit from Santa Claus. This gives Aunt Mary a little "me" time to look around at the after Christmas sales. I'm looking because I received a some cash as a holiday gift which is now burning a hole in my pocket, and I have found the perfect gift for me today: Jovovich-Hawk (JH) on sale today at online shopping club Haute Look. This may be the best holiday gift ever. I love JH, but I hate to pay retail ( and won't) for it at stores like Fred Segal. I own pieces of JH from both their high-end line & their Target line. Every time I wear those pieces I receive compliments.

For those of you who don't know about them, Jovovich-Hawk is the creation of actress Milla Jovovich and her partner Carmen Hawk. I was originally skeptical when I heard they were launching their own designs. After all, the world is full of celebrity labels and honestly some of them are less than grand. Not so JH. Their designs channel vintage classics & patterns from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and more. The prints are beautiful. I also LOVE the fit. Their pieces are exceptionally comfortable and fit beautifully. I can't help but think some of this is due to the fact that the collection is designed by women, to fit women, not just tiny models on runways. I was photographed wearing one of their pieces at the recent fundraiser thrown by OC housewife, Jeanna Keough. So, if you're looking for a fashion treat for yourself today, check out JH on HauteLook. Click here to join as The Recessionista's guest. The sales starts today at 8 am PST, 11:00 am EST. This sale is a real treat. Pieces like the slip start at $10.50, and one of the dresses is $23.00! Some of the dresses originally retailed for over $700 US. The sale will go through 12-27-08. If you're reading from Europe or Asia, look for Jovovich Hawk on Bluefly.com and fashion club Catwalk to Closet for JH deals that ship outside the USA. Anyone who signs up for a free Catwalktocloset.com membership, can also sign up to receive a pair of £120 (GBP) Bruce Oldfield sunglasses for just £10 (GBP) approx. $15.00 USD. Look for the advert on the lower left side of their web page.

If you're looking around for a few other deals this am, you're in luck. Some analysts are saying that the after Christmas sales will be the new Black Friday, offering the deepest discounts yet. Retails sales have been disappointing this season due to the economic reports and the bad weather around the world. Winter storms prevented many shoppers from making their last minute rounds. So here are a few tips on shopping today. If you received gift cards, don't forget to make use of them. Here's a few ways to maximize the value of those gift cards.

Los Angeles designer James Perse ( another one of my personal favorites, due to the extreme comfort of his clothing + great fit) is having a clearance sale on men & women's clothing. Click on the banners on the right side of the blog to check it out.

If you're looking for a warm winter coat, A.B.S. Outerwear Boutique Sale is happening now at RueLaLa.com. Click here to join as the Recessionista's guest.

Neiman Marcus is launching their After Christmas sale with 40% off already reduced prices. This is the only time I consider purchasing at NM, as generally their good as outside my price range.

KB Toys is liquidating for good, so if you are looking for toys, you might want to check them out. Toys R Us is also having a sale thru New Year's. Check their website for details.

OverStock.com has just about everything off + a free shipping coupon.

Kohl's is offering 60-80% off (Take an extra 15% off with the code JOY15). JC Penney opened today at 5:30 am with a big clearance sale.

Macy's, Target & Walmart all have their own clearance sales going on. Look for the Macy's coupons in your morning papers. Also, for Tar-jay fashionistas, we'll be blogging more later this week on the Thakoon collection and the new Hayden Harnett Handbags coming Dec. 28th.

Its definitely a buyer's market today at all the retailers. So use your coupons, your gift cards and of course your Recessionista smarts :)

Hot Deal: Jovovich-Hawk Blowout Sale on HauteLook!

Happy Holidays to all our Readers!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year. Thanks for stopping by, reading & sharing your comments.

Today, we're putting the final touches on the tree, getting Christmas dinner ready, tracking Santa and hanging my friend Lynn's beautiful homemade starfish ornament up on the tree.

'Merry Christmas'
Feliz Navidad
Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Glædelig Jul
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
Joyeux Noel
Hyvaa joulua
Mele Kalikimaka
Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Froehliche Weihnachten
Mele Kalikimaka
Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Buone Feste Natalizie
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Nadolig Llawen

Happy Holidays to all our Readers!

For All the Procrastinators Out There, Final Holiday Shopping

Today's post is for the Procrastinators among us. Even though I have been working on my holiday shopping since November and looking for the best deals, others in my family have not! After surviving 10hrs of airline travel yesterday (to make it to the east coast for the holidays) I now understand that I have more shopping ahead of me. Ugh. I can't even believe it. Why you ask? Because my Dad has not done any of his Christmas shopping and he informed me of this last night after picking me up at the airport. After the usual warm holiday welcome, he slyly informed me that he "needs" me to go out shopping later today, and maybe even tonight to get some stuff for him to give my Mom and the grand kids. Needless to say, this is one of my worst nightmares come true. I am going to be out at the mall today battling for parking and waiting in line to buy my Dad's gifts with all the rest of the Procrastinators. So, I'm sitting here getting fully leaded with a big cuppa coffee to get ready for the task at hand. I'm checking out some final in-store deals, and this is what I have found. Realizing that there may be other holiday shoppers out there who have also put off their shopping, I'm passing along my findings.

Last minute in-store deals

Kohl's: Christmas Jewelry Sale plus many other in store deals on toys, clothing & Food Network items. Also, big discounts on the digital picture frames. Plus, they are also doing the Kohl's cash thing until 12-24. That means when you spend a certain amount, you'll receive some Kohl's cash. Check their website for details.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores , Further markdowns on clearance items

Macy's: I think they are actually open until late to help last minute shoppers. And of course, they are having lots of sales. The website offers an extra 15% or 10% off if you use the promo coupon SAVEMORE.

H&M: 25% OFF AT H&M ON DECEMBER 23RD, sign up at their friends & family site to get the coupon and the info.

Anthropologie gift ideas & final sales

And of course, check Target & Walmart for their final discounts on their websites. This just in: Anya Hindmarch bags on sale at Target (in store only) and Sigerson Morrison shoes reduced.

Online Shopping for Fashionistas looking for values!

If you can't face the malls, or are just on the lookout for a few more good deals, here are some online bargains.

JoMalone.com: TODAY ONLY! Complimentary Overnight Shipping - Ends 1PM ET Gift sets are still 25% off


Ideeli's Michael Kors Home Sale
There is something about the chilly winter months that makes us ALL want to stay in bed. Having a comfy, chic bed becomes a priority to snuggle up in. Ideeli is kicking off their
Michael Kors Home Sale today featuring some stylish fashions for your bed :
To check it out as The Recessionista's Guest, go to: http://www.ideeli.com
and enter invite code: recessionista

December 23 / 11:am EST

Michael Kors home, save up to 72%,prices start at $34

Yaya Blowout, Amrita Singh jewelry PLUS Madison Marcus, Lily McNeal and Ruthie Davis Are ALL On Sale Now at HauteLook. Click here to join as The Recessionista's Guest.

Gilt Groupe is offering online sales on Trina Turk, Bill Blass, Temple St. Clair and L'Objet . Click here to join as the Recessionista's guest.

And finally, RueLaLa is featuring BCBGMAXAZRIA, Born Boutiques and Just Cavalli on sale today. You're invited to shop Rue La La as a guest (www.ruelala.com/keyhole) of The Recessionista.

Try before you buy from the Norma Kamali Collection--this one's probably best for AFTER the holidays :)
Our friends at Norma Kamali collection came up with a great shopping idea. Try
before you buy and only pay for what you keep and do it ONLINE.....at Norma Kamali Collection

Here is how it works... NK's personal shoppers FedEx overnight selections to the online client and the client is given 48 hours to decide. You can try the NK items for friends and family at home with your mirror and your accessories. The NK personal shopper then follows up to track the return. Your credit card only gets charged for what you keep and the shipping fees.
This is a full service way to shop that avoids emotional buying and spontaneous spending.
Just call 1800 GOFEDEX to pickup the pre-labeled box to return items back to Norma Kamali Collection

For All the Procrastinators Out There, Final Holiday Shopping

The Courage to be Frugal: Last Minute Holiday Shopping

Today's post is thoughtfully entitled, "The Courage to be Frugal" because that is what it took for me to venture out in person to stores today. The sun is out, the rain has stopped and California is in the Car! Its like the city of Los Angeles is coming out of winter hibernation after the bad weather to get those last minute Holiday gifts for either Hanukkah or Christmas. I think the rest of the world is struggling with getting out to get gifts or trying to order online. So I had to muster all my courage this am and get up early to make a last run to the discounters at the neighborhood mall for my last minute gifts & stocking items. I'm lucky, in a strip mall near my house are Marshall's, Loehmann's and Ross all right next to each other. Today, I was looking to get some cute little items for stocking stuffers before traveling tomorrow for 9hrs to visit my family on the East Coast. I hit the mall early for the 9:30 am opening and was rewarded with parking and a few good deals. Here's what I found:

Loehmann's: 25% off perfumes including Estee Lauder, Versace, Betsey Johnson & Burberrys. Delicious smelling Karen Klein "Black Currant & Fig Candles for $5.99, great Men's & Women's watches. There was some great discounted jewelry for dedicated bargain hunters to shuffle through. Also, they had a super comfy travel pillow/neck cushion scented with lavender for those who do alot of airline travel and want a little budget pampering.

Marshall's/TJ Maxx: Great cosmetics sale. I found little Lancome blushes & lip glosses for about $7.99. They also had Elizabeth Arden creams and other high-end beauty products. Another item I liked for a small gift was the delicious Ghirardelli chocolate gift bags and a few other high-end treats. They were even little cinnamon sticks for dipping into hot cider or coffee nicely wrapped in little containers for $2.99.


Ross: My final stop on the budget train. They had some nice watches---Anne Klein and a few other high-end brands.

My journey ended by 11:00 am PST, just as the rest of the mall shoppers were arriving. I read this morning that over 25% of shoppers still haven't done their holiday shopping. Obviously, alot of people have put off the joy of shopping but are also trying to dig down deep to find those last minute deals.

Remember, online shipping deals for 12.25 delivery are coming to an end today & tomorrow. So if you just can't face the mall , the traffic & the fight to find a parking spot, here are a few tips/deals looking around online.

Amazon.com. : They truly have something for everyone. Lost of good deals & still time to point & click. I saw Body Shop products for 50% off, plus good deals on toys, books & electronics.

Urban Outfitters has a selection of men's & women's gifts for under $50.00. Every purchase over $100.00 will also get a free $10.00 gift card. The last day for their shipping to arrive by Christmas is tomorrow, 12.22, order by 10:00 am EST. See their website for details.

Kohl's: 40% Off selected toys with code: EXTRASAVING
12/21 (TODAY) Deal: 20-40% Entire Stock Fragrance Sets

Bebe.com: Gifts under $50.00

Macy's: They are having a good sale in store & online.

H&M: Lots of reasonably priced gifts for everyone , women, men, teenagers & kids. No online shopping though. If you can brave the lines at an H&M (at least mine is crowded), you'll definitely find some good stuff!

Target: Last minute in store deals. Check their online ads for this week.

Walmart: Norma Kamali collection & other deals.

Gap: Holiday sale.

So good luck to all of you out there shopping today. I hope you find the magic Recessionista formula: Quality + Price + Fashionista = Recessionista!

The Courage to be Frugal: Last Minute Holiday Shopping

The Recessionista Falls into the Gap for $10.00 & under $30.00 Holiday Gifts!

The Recessionista's Holiday Pick du Jour, Items on Sale Today at the Gap for $10.00 US


So, I'm pleased to say that I went to the Mall last night in my neighborhood. This was a major win as I have been putting it off because of the "California Cold". I'm embarrassed to say that once I was in the car speeding down Pacific Coast Highway, I realized, it wasn't really that cold. I'm just incredibly spoiled after 10 years + of California living. I remember bundling up to walk the streets of Chicago in 10 degree weather, driving down I-75 in Cincinnati when it was snowing, walking through snow up to my knees in Massachusetts & Connecticut when visiting my great aunts and running around NYC for work in full winter coat with a matching hat. Ah the good old days of real winter living! :) And now, I'm such a wimp I have to talk myself into venturing out in the cold California winter of 35- 40 degrees. I blush with shame just writing about it. But I digress.
Last night I went out to the Mall to shop the Gap. I had a $10.00 Gap Reward Card burning a hole in my pocket. My efforts to brave the "California Cold" :) were handsomely rewarded as I found many gifts on sale for $10.00 at the Gap, plus an overall sale of 40% off alot of the merchandise.


On sale today for $10.00 are the items on the graphic above: Layering Ts, Thermal Crewnecks for men, GapBody Fannel PJs and items for kids. There was actually a line at the register to purchase items, a rare site nowadays! And I can see why--the Men's Thermal Crews were great value and the colors were really nice. I particularly liked the Baby Blue one. There are also plenty of Holiday gifts for under $30.00 for Recessionistas to check out.

Plus, there were great fashion treasures on sale for Holiday or New Year's parties. Many of the Gap designs show the distinctive touch of designer Patrick Robinson. This ruffled chiffon holiday dress is really gorgeous in person. The picture on the Gap website does not do it justice. The dress is sheer, but it comes with its own slip lining so it is not too revealing.



Above: Gap Ruffled Chiffon Party Dress

Another super cute holiday dress is this little red faux-wrap number. I saw a mother buying it for her teenage daughter and matching it up with both cute black patent leather flats and the little red ballet flats. I have to say it looked like a million bucks for a whole lot less.


Gap Faux Wrap Holiday Party Dress in Cinabar Red


My final pick is this ruffled shift dress with the lovely detail around the neckline. It also looks alot more expensive that it is.



Gap Ruffled Shift Dress


And finally, no trip the the Gap is complete without a little something for your truly. I'd had my eye on this sheer ruffled top in the unique dusty lavender color. I bought one for me & one for one of my best friends who wanted it, but would not buy it for herself. These are mostly sold out on Gap online, but there were plenty of them still available at my Gap store in White, Black and this pretty lilac/maueve.

Kudos to Patrick Robinson for adding his creative touches to the Gap collection. I love all the ruffles.

And thanks to Gap for an affordable holiday sale. I picked up a nice selection of $10.00 gift items that were warm, cheap & cheerful. You can't beat that. Its all about easy on the wallet at this point.


PS--I think there is still time to order online in time for XMas, but check the Gap website for details. I think you have to order by 12.21 to receive by 12.24.

The Recessionista Falls into the Gap for $10.00 & under $30.00 Holiday Gifts!

Sweaters on Sale: Flying over to Bluefly + more

Holiday Sweepstakes on Bluefly.com

Hello Recessionistas! I can't begin today's post without first exclaiming that I am COLD!!! Yes, its freezing cold here in Los Angeles, California. I heard its the coldest its been since 1901. Early this week we were "blessed" with rain, freezing rain and even snow in some areas. I haven't used my heater in quite awhile and all of a sudden its getting a big workout. Checking the news this morning shows that Californians are getting a taste of the cold crippling the rest of the country. Areas in the Midwest & east coast are getting more winter storms. So, its only fitting to do another look at online shopping options. Yesterday, I received the most interesting comment on the holiday items from London post. A reader wrote in to say, " Dude!, Why are you not mentioning Bluefly.com??? I just bought a pair of Rafe boots - suede and leather, stacked heel, gorgeous - for $162. They are listed on frigging xxxx for almost $300. Other sites have them for less, but not as low as Bluefly." Immediately, I was intrigued. First of all, even though I live in California, I haven't been called "Dude" in years. It really perked up my ears. And then of course, the mention of the the word sale is always like a siren call. So last night, I went over to Bluefly.com to check it out.

I have to say, it was a very pleasant surprise. I joined the site years ago, and occasionally shopped there. I hadn't been back in the last year because I had been cutting back on shopping high-end designer items. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they ARE having some great sales. They also offer Woman's clothes, Men's clothes, Home items, plus shoes & handbags. Even my beloved Bedhead pajamas were there and deeply discounted (very appealing as I now need a flannel pair :) )

So, here are a few Recessionista picks I'm looking at over at Bluefly. Today they are having a sweater sale. With the cold weather all over the country, this is really attractive.

Below is a gorgeous Hayden Cashmere sweater in a pretty holiday emerald that I found on sale.

I was also amazed by all the great stuff they had for guys. I desperately need to get something for my Dad. The sweater sale for men (up to 65% off) looks like a perfect fit. They also have some of my favorite designers for men including Ted Baker, Marc Jacobs & Cole Haan. Now, Dad does not care about any of these designer names, but he would certainly appreciate the quality products and warmth of a good sweater. I'm in!

Finally, I did take a minute to play the Holiday Game on the site to try to win a free shopping spree. Its a cute game (although it took several plays). I'm always into the "free" stuff, so I took the time to play it :)

Bluefly ships outside the US. To my surprise, Bluefly ships directly to the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Switzerland. This helps with the dilemma of finding things to send friend overseas.

So dear reader, aka, Dude! You were right...Bluefly has some great deals. Its now in my Recessionista shopping bag. Thanks for the tip to revisit the site. I'll have to go over and revisit Overstock.com too and see what's new over there. But that's another day....and another post.

Sweaters on Sale: Flying over to Bluefly + more

Holiday Magic from London: Jo Malone Gifts & Liberty of London Handbags at Ideeli

Today's Tips: The Jo Malone Holiday Sale & Liberty of London at Ideeli

There are several ladies on my gift list that I buy Jo Malone perfumes & colognes for. Their scents are some of my favorites. My special favorites are the grapefruit & the orange blossom. Last year, I was able to buy my gifts at London Heathrow's Jo Malone shop following a business trip. I was excited to save a few pennies since Jo Malone is very hard to find on sale. However, I am not traveling to London anytime soon (unfortunately), so I have been looking at other alternatives for my Jo Malone gift giving.

Good news! Jo Malone is having a holiday sale on their website today. Perfect timing for my Recessionista last minute gift buying. This is what I have been waiting for! I never want to pay retail if I can find another way. Here are some details about the Jo Malone sale. If you go to Jo Malone.com, you'll see on the home page that holiday gifts sets are now 25% off and if you order today, there is still time to have them delivered by Christmas. Hooray! Check their website for details. Featured holiday gift items include:

• The "Tasting Kit" of their scents
• Candles
• Soaps & bath oils

One more Recessionista saving tip, sign-up for their e-mail list before you shop and receive some nice special codes for other goodies. The website also advertises a few complimentary benefits of shopping at Jo Malone.com :

Enjoy complimentary standard shipping on all orders. To receive your gifts before 12/25/07, place your order on or before:
12/21/07 for Overnight Service
12/20/07 for Second Day Service

12/16/07 for Standard Service

Also enjoy two complimentary fragrance samples of your choice with any Jo Malone Online purchase. All orders arrive luxuriously wrapped in the chic cream box, grosgrain ribbon and jet black tissue. If you have questions use the LIVE CHAT on Jo Malone.com. I used it yesterday, and the customer service was fabulous!

Another classic from London: Liberty of London Handbag sale starts today on Ideeli

This just in -- another great tip today on gifts from London. The Ideeli shopping club's Liberty of London handbag sale starts today. Liberty is another classic brand on my favorite list. These are pricey, but certainly discounted deeply from their retail prices.

To go to Ideeli and shop the Liberty Handbag sale:
Go to: http://www.ideeli.com/
The enter the invite code : recessionista

I'm off to place my orders now! )

Holiday Magic from London: Jo Malone Gifts & Liberty of London Handbags at Ideeli

Bon Prix: Sweet Scents from Paris - Diptyque Candles for Less

Joyeux Noel to Recessionistas around the Globe! This is a favorite picture of mine showing the Arc de Triomphe & the Champs-Élysées all light up for the holidays. I've enjoyed some great shopping & dining in the City of Lights and have many found memories of my trips there. This afternoon, I'm having a great remembrance of things past as the storms are still hitting Los Angeles and I'm doing my some shopping for some of my very best girlfriends. One of them is a "francophile", and I am looking around the Internet today for a french treat for her at a bon prix (good price) for me.

And that brings me to the topic of today's post: Diptyque Candles. I love the fragrant scent of these candles in my home. They make the whole house smell beautiful and refreshed. And they literally light up any holiday scene. The shopping mission du jour is to find these luxury brand candles at a great price. Even on trips to France, they have been pricey. But today, I have made an amazing discovery while looking for the candles at a price I can live with. Voila! Amazon! I had NO idea that the fabulous, long lasting Diptyque Candles were available at great prices on Amazon. My favorite one is the Oyedo Candle. This is basically, a Japanese grapefruit scent. Diptyque describes it as " the fruit of a tonic blend of citrus fruits (mandarin and grapefruit). " The candle and others from the Diptyque Catalog are available on Amazon.com.

And that's not all, Amazon has other Candles & aromatherapy products for less.
Check out this nice set of Lavender, Lemongrass & Tangerine candles for $20.95.

Candles provide a sweet scent for stocking stuffers or unbreakable gifts that can be easily shipped. Some of my other favorites:

Karen Klein Sicilian Grapefruit Candle available at Loehmann's for approx. $7.00 US

Target Soy-Pomegranate Candle for $7.79 US

So if you're looking for a great gift for less, consider a candle in the Christmas tradition of lumineria.

PS: You might also find some great Candle deals at Marshall's & TJ Maxx's & even on eBay! :)

PSS: If you are a francophile, or just a classic handbag lover, shopping club Ideeli is having a contest today (12/18/08) on a Louis Vuitton bag. To enter the contest:

Go to: http://www.ideeli.com/
The enter the invite code : recessionista

Then look for the Louis Vuitton SIGNATURE TOTE giveaway on the Ideeli boutique page.

Remember to stay warm & shop wisely.

Bon Prix: Sweet Scents from Paris - Diptyque Candles for Less

Christmas Gifts for Men: Dear Santa I Really DID Try!

Now begins one of the most challenging tasks on my Christmas shopping list....the gift for the man in my life (the BFF). Every year I sigh, I really DID try:). Buying for the BFF presents a singular challenge. There is an essential difference between what I want to give, and what he wants to receive. Every year, it presents a conundrum. Here's how this typically works. Secretly, I want to upgrade his wardrobe :) And he of course, wants none of it. At the holidays, I try to lovingly + sneakily (the two are not mutually exclusive) gift the upgrades. What dear reader might some of these fabulous items be?

Here's a few of my brilliant ideas on gifts for him:
Fabulous cashmere scarf (Macy's, Amazon, Loehmann's, Nordstorm's & others all have great choices.)




Cashmere Scarf

Ted Baker London shirts & ties (can be purchased at a deep discount at the pre-holiday Divine by Design Sale or at 30% off at Ted Baker online)
Penhaligon's cologne or men's shaving gift set. The case alone is so beautiful. He needs it! :) Many of the items are on sale in the store & on their international websites.


Penhaligon's Website for Holiday Gifts Screenshot

Cashmere Alfani Sweater from Macy's. Great colors, good fit & a very reasonable price.

In contrast, here is his list of what he wants:

• New DVD Player
• Gift Certificates (so he can get what he really wants)
• New iPOD + iPod download gift cards
• New CDs for the Car

That's it! Not a lot of choices here. And most of these items can be found on Amazon's Top Holiday Pick List. So, I did some research to find out if this is a common problem. The answer is a resounding YES. Check out this list of the Holiday Gifts Men Really Want to see what I mean. I'm also posting it as a cool widget on the right sidebar of the blog to help give our readers some more ideas. I'd be better off going to an electronics store, or a Target, Best Buy, Frye's, Amazon or other big-box retailer and looking for these items rather than hunting for the wonderful fashion items that I think he needs. Yahoo has a nice list of men's gift with prices if you're looking for a few more ideas.

So this year, I'll probably pick one item from each of the lists (my list & his list).
We'll try for a Solomon like compromise & hope for the best.

If your significant other IS interested in some men's fashions, here are a few final tips on good deals.

Super Tuesday, 12/16 at Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, 50% off, 6 am to 11:00 pm

Loehmann's Gifts for Men: Cuff links, scarves, ties, gloves, wallets & more.

Kohl's is offering 40-50% Off Men's Selected Fashion Watches.

Malo Men's suits, coats & leather jackets are also on sale at the Gilt Groupe. Click here to join as The Recessionista's guest.

Saint Honore watches and jewelry are symbols of France's love affair with sophistication. They are on sale today at Ideeli's private shopping club. Click here to join as The Recessionista's guest.

Christmas Gifts for Men: Dear Santa I Really DID Try!

Online Shopping & Shipping: Christmas on a Budget

New York's Rockefeller Center

I'm in a New York state of mind as I write this morning. I feel as though I could be on the east coast today. Why ? Because baby its COLD outside! It feels like winter here in California as we prepare for a big Pacific rainstorm that is blowing in. Believe it or not, there will be driving rain, sleet and even...gasp snow here later in some parts of the state! The only thing I'm managed to do so far today is to step outside to pick up my Sunday NY Times and drink some hot coffee. The cold does nothing for my holiday enthusiasm. Its not like taking a brisk walk down 5th Ave and seeing all the decorated shop windows, while you do a little shopping. In California, we have to get in the car to go places. And today is not the day to do that. When one drop of rain falls here, the highways become treacherous. California rain & the ensuing mud slides can be the equivalent of an ice storm or blizzard on the east coast. It becomes traffic Armageddon. You don't want to be on our freeways. And really, you can't walk anywhere here (with a few exceptions). So, I think this is a day for staying at home, enjoying the fireplace, addressing some cards & doing my shopping online from my trusty PC!

So just a few little tips today as I look around at the online shopping. The shipping costs are very much on my mind. Why ? Because I don't want to pay a fortune for shipping. Remember, alot of the retailers will no longer offer free shipping after Dec. 18th ( or any shipping with a guarantee to arrive by Dec. 24th). To help see where you can get FREE shipping, the folks at LetterBar.com built this handy little spreadsheet so you can see the free shipping costs and deadlines from various retailers. Its quite useful & is available at LetterBar.com.

Another site that offers free shipping coupons plus coupon codes to over 850 stores is FreeShipping.org. The site includes coupons for over 850 stores including JCPenney, Kohl's , Macy's and Gap.

FreeShipping also has some nice tips on their site on how to give to charities in order to meet the minimum free shipping requirements. One tip is when ordering from an online retailer that requires a minimum purchase to qualify for free shipping, buy a toy or gift for someone in need with the extra money needed to get the discounted delivery. BigBrothersBigSisters.org/kids and Angel Tree offer ideas for how to make this Christmas a special one for lonely kids.

Since its likely that there are going to be at least a few days of bad weather around the US, its good to know about the shipping deals. It saves you going out, driving in unsafe conditions and waiting in long post office lines.

Coupons for discounts on the merchandise itself can be found over at Coupon Cabin and RetailME.not. Also, be sure and check the Coupon Widget and deals here on the right column of the blog for some savings. Every little bit helps because it all adds up.

A final cost saving tip to pass along is FREE Christmas cards available on line at Fly Greetings. Below is a sample of one of their cards, cute, huh? And you can't beat the price.

I was really glad to find out about this one & pass it along. Several readers have written to me this year that they can't afford to send out Christmas Cards. I was so sad to hear that, I wanted to pass along this free alternative. Check out Fly Greetings as a no-cost holiday greeting choice. I tested it yesterday and the cards were cute & promptly delivered.

For those of you still willing to brave the brick & motar stores today, I salute you. I know Macy's is having another big sale, ditto Kohl's & JCP. And many, many more...it truly is a buyer's market at the moment.

So rock on Recessionistas, shop well & wisely! And above all, stay warm no matter where you are in the world :)

P.S., from the USPS here are their are key shipping cut-off dates for Dec. 24th delivery.
- Parcel Post: Dec. 16
- First-class / Priority Mail: Dec. 20
- Express Mail: December 23rd
Also, according to USPS, you can print your postage online and save up to 10 percent on shipping costs:)

Online Shopping & Shipping: Christmas on a Budget

Beauty on a Budget

The topic du jour is Beauty on a Budget. This subject is very much on my mind as I sip my morning coffee and review my holiday gift list. First of all, I received the unkindest Christmas gift ever : property taxes were due to LA County this week on Dec. 10th. I have to tell you, paying that large sum of money at the same time I'm trying to do Christmas shopping really hurt. I practically had to get a crowbar out to open my wallet and send that money in by the early deadline . If I had not, I would have had to pay an extra couple hundred dollars later. LA County, if you are out there reading this, why do you have to be such a Grinch? Why are the taxes coming due before Christmas? But I digress. Back to beauty. The second reason beauty is on my mind today is its time for me to get spiffed up for a couple of holiday events. This means my brows need to be pruned back from the Frida Kahlo unibrow look they are acquiring. A facial would also be a good thing! So I've been looking for a few good beauty bargains, and here is what I've found to pass along.



Prive Salons (located in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami and Orlando) have some terrific specials well suited for Recessionistas.

1) $95 Rising Star Mondays! - With the only 12 days to go until Christmas, many of us don't have the time (or money) for ourselves. Prive has a special designed to help. The Rising Star Mondays package is a post-weekend pampering package. It offers haircut, blowout and eyebrow for $95. This sounds like the perfect stop for a little pampering to rejuvenate your look and spirt!


2) The Gift Certificate That Gives Back - Prive is offering gift certificates that give back...to you! Purchase a gift certificate from $50-$200 and get up to $40 for yourself. This one is appealing because it means I can gift myself at the same time I gift others. I have an annoying habit of buying for myself at the same time I buy for others. I'm working on it :)


Burke Williams, a California spa, has a couple holiday specials that are also appealing. They have holiday priced packages offering facials & massages. Some of the specials also offer a pass to their spa. Click here to see the full array of packages offered.

For great holiday hair that will take you right into the New Year, check out David Jensen's hair art at The Shampoo Lounge in Santa Monica, CA. David is offering a special discount of 20% off hair services to Recessionista Blog readers. Just make your appointment with David Jensen when you call The Shampoo Lounge . The offer is good until Feb. 28, 2009. Bring a copy of this blog post with you when you go it. It will act as your coupon.

If you're reading from the Raleigh/Durham, NC area, check out the enV salon in the Apex/Cary area. The enV salon has great cuts & a full color bar. Prices are reasonable and all hair products are 20% off until Dec. 31, 2008. Ask for Renee the owner. She is fabby.

Finally, if you're not into going to a salon to pamper yourself, check out the beauty products at TJ Maxx/Marshalls and Loehmann's.

Loehmann's offers some great hair products usually only found in high-end hair salons. These are always found near the register. They also have bath & spa kits starting at $9.99 US. And I also like their candles for great stocking stuffers. I am still loving my Grapefruit candle (Karen Klein Sicilian Grapefruit candle) that I got there for $7.00.

There are also great deals on beauty products at TJ Maxx/Marshalls. The brands featured are high-end luxury retailers for alot less. Last year I treated myself to a bevy of Moulton Brown gift boxes, body washes and cosmetics at my local Marshalls. Other great finds include Elizabeth Arden creams, Cliven Moisturizing Cream and Clinians Suisse cleanser.

If you are looking to find beauty via the Internet, check for beauty items at lower cost at Amazon.com or Sephora on JCP.com. Both offer some good deals.

So shop around a little. ... there are some good buys for the beauty on a holiday budget via the web and in your neighborhood!

Beauty on a Budget

Season's Greetings from California Just for Recessionistas!

Seasons Greetings from California! Above is one of this year's Christmas Cards from my Recessionista grab bag. I purchased all my cards at last year's Swoozie's sale for 80% off the retail price. Nice, huh? And I'm just smarmy enough to brag about it here on my blog:). I've just returned from a great party over on LA's Rodeo Drive to celebrate the success of this year's Divine Design Sale to benefit Project Angel Food. The party made me glad to be living here in California at Christmas. The weather is fairly warm, the snow is fake and the snowflakes are filled with little tiny light bulbs. Gone are the days where I had to bundle up in 20 degree weather like an Eskimo. My heart goes out to the folks affected by winter storms around the country. I'm still willing to visit those parts of the world where its a little colder, but I have to say, I really enjoy the pre-holiday season here in California. We just had the Marina Boat Parade and the Redondo Beach Village Holiday Open House with all the retailers participating. Both activities were free of charge and immensely enjoyable. I even saw Santa Claus cruising down Pacific Coast Highway last week in his sleigh. You know, he looks pretty good & I hear he hasn't even had any work done :) It just makes me want to sing Randy Newman's "I LOVE LA".

In celebration of the holiday season in California, we want to share some of the best of California with our blog readers looking for some great presents. Let's start with our California wines. Quite simply, we have some of the best wine in the world. One of my favorites is the Justin Winery & Vineyards in Paso Robles, California. Snuggled away in a rather remote area is this little oasis of great vino. Going to Justin is like taking a trip to a great French winery without the expense of the travel from the US. Both the tasting room and the restaurant are very comfortable. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable. I've enjoyed each and every visit there. Some of my favorites are their Tempranillo, Cabernet, the award-winning ISOSCELES and Justification. I have to say, I there is no bad wine at Justin. Their wines are delicious and reasonably priced for the value delivered. And just in time for the holidays, we have a gift package offer for our readers.

Announcing the "JUST for Recessionistas" Wine Special!

JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is offering it's "JUST Reserves" gift pack at the Wine Club price of $93.00 (regularly priced at $116.25). You must call to receive this offer, and mention you saw it here on The Recessionista Blog. Additionally, get free shipping if you join the JUSTIN Wine Society! Offer valid now through Thursday, December 18, 2008. Call 805.238.6932 x134 to place your order. Included in this JUSTIN logo gift box is a wonderful set of the Reserve wines released this year. Included are a 2006 Reserve Cabernet, 2006 Reserve Tempranillo and a 2007 Reserve Chardonnay. Gift packed with burgundy sizzle paper, your personal season's greeting note and packed inside an outer shipping box, this is a unique pairing of all the current JUSTIN Reserve wines.

Another great treat from California is BedHead Pajamas. BedHead Pajamas are made in Los Angeles. You may have seen these beautiful PJs in People and InStyle Magazine. I own several pairs and I highly recommend them. In fact, after I finish this post its gonna be time for the BedHead PJs :) Recently I stopped by the store @ 3305 Motor Ave in LA. The staff was very pleasant and welcoming. I told them I was doing holiday shopping on a budget, and to my delight, they introduced me to their treasure trove of bargains in their back room. The back room at the Motor Ave, Los Angeles shop contains irregular and imperfect BedHead PJs at greatly reduced rates. I got a fabulous pair of the Blue Eiffel Tower PJs for a song. If you live in LA, and you're looking for a great gift for yourself or someone else, I recommend you drop by the store. If the store is not convenient, you can order from their website. If you order from the website , we have a deal for you! Save 15% off everything (excluding gift cards) until Dec. 24. Simply enter the promo code HOLIDAYS at checkout.

If you live outside the US, BedHead Pajamas are available from a variety of retailers around the globe. Just check on Google to find out where they are sold. The website Bluefly sells Bedhead and ships to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea & Switzerland. Bluefly has some great prices on BedHead. The PJs are also available on eBay from a variety of sellers who are willing to ship worldwide. BedHead offers regular woman's sizes, woman's plus size and men's pajamas. There is something for everyone.

Both of these offers are Recessionista tried and approved. We actually use & recommend the products we write about here. So enjoy some of the best of California & Season Greetings! If you're reading this today from an area affected by the ice storms, stay home, snuggle up with some hot chocolate and be safe.

Season's Greetings from California Just for Recessionistas!