Tag Archives: shopping

Nov24

A Former Retail Worker’s Black Friday Lament

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A Former Retail Worker’s Black Friday Lament

Hellooo everyone and happy Black Friday! Boy, I’ve got to tell you – it never gets old not having to work on Black Friday any more. After over four years of working retail, the mall madness is the last place that I want to be, whether it be to work or to shop! It’s so crazy to think that as this post is being published, I would be stuck at work running around like a madwoman – if we were living in 2010 to 2014, of course. #blessed

Some retail workers live for Black Friday and that’s cool, but I was never one of them. I detested Black Friday like a fly buzzing in your ear, the common cold, or the relative that you can’t stand at family gatherings. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I was always very bitter that I never got to fully enjoy it for four years in a row. Of course, I’m thankful for those jobs but my sixteen to twenty year old self didn’t know how to separate the two so that I could still have fun on the holiday, despite dreading going into work in T-minus twelve hours.

As much as I enjoy a fast paced lifestyle, working for over twelve hours straight while on your feet the whole time and rushing to and fro between customers is for the birds. I genuinely don’t know how I did it, especially when I was working two jobs – hello, twenty hour day. And for this reason, among many others, I respect the hell out of retail workers during this time of the year.

It’s funny, because you would think that during the holiday season, people would be full of good cheer and might be even overly kind. Sadly, this is not the case. Don’t get me wrong, I have memories of delightful customers during the holidays, but those are trumped by people who have almost made me cry because the line was too long, I didn’t have the shirt that they wanted, etc. And for what? The shirt isn’t going to magically appear. The line isn’t going to move in double time. And the craziest thing, is that it was always adults that were speaking in raised voices and being out of line to me and my fellow retail workers. Just SHAMEFUL.

So, having said that, PLEASE be sure to be kind to all of the workers that you interact with today, throughout the holiday season, and always. Working retail is a choice and a responsibility – but how many employees really want to cut their family time short to work a long Black Friday shift? Slim to none. Enjoy yourselves during your Black Friday shopping, but be sure to give all of the employees who made your outing possible a little credit! I promise you that they will appreciate it far more than you know.

How was everyone’s Thanksgiving? Do you have any crazy Black Friday stories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: AskIdeas

Nov21

Black Friday Shopping Do’s And Don’ts

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Black Friday Shopping Do’s And Don’ts

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! I can’t say that I’ve ever gone Black Friday shopping before and have no real desire to, either. BUT, after working retail for four years, I’ve grown savvy to some pro tips that will get you through the madness with some great deals and your personal safety/sanity still intact. Take a look:

DO:

Know your sales: Most stores do the same Black Friday sales every year. PacSun does, The Body Shop does, Claire’s does, Piercing Pagoda does (All stores that I’ve worked at.). Investigate the sales from year’s past and see if you notice a pattern. That way, you can determine if it’s even worth it to go out and hit the shops. Most stores won’t give you their Black Friday sales info before the day – but it doesn’t hurt to ask, either!

Know your sales Pt. 2: Normally, Black Friday sales don’t end on Black Friday. At PacSun and The Body Shop, their sales didn’t end for a solid month. If you don’t get to the stores on the actual day, I wouldn’t sweat it too much – especially because Cyber Monday is still a thing.

Cyber Monday Savvy: And speaking of Cyber Monday, get hip to it. In some cases, Cyber Monday sales are even better than Black Friday deals, especially if the stores you prefer to shop at have a stronger online presence. Do your research of sales from the past as mentioned in the above sections and make your decision on which day to shop. Or throw caution to the wind and shop on both!

Get there early: If there’s something that you really want, I’d recommend staking out at that specific store front at least an hour before opening. That way, you can get in, grab the item, and get out. It also doesn’t hurt to see if you can put items on hold prior to the Black Friday date so that you can purchase them with the sales and you don’t have to run into the store like a madwoman to get it.

Let it go: If you find yourself in a stand off for the last of something, just let it go. People are literally crazy and I’d rather leave the store in one piece than get the last of something that I’m sure you can buy at a later date.

DON’T:

Be that person: Black Friday is, by definition, a crazy time. Please have some respect. At the mall that I worked in, the store manager of Victoria’s Secret got punched in the face THREE YEARS IN A ROW. That’s pure insanity. You are all better than that. Don’t be that person.

Go in willy nilly: It’s essential to have a game plan during Black Friday. What items do you want? What stores are a must to go into? Can you and whomever you’re going shopping with divide and conquer to get everything on your lists? Devise a plan and stick to it so that you can make the most out of your Black Friday shopping extravaganza.

Buy in excess: Yes, it’s great to get a good deal. BUT do you really need everything that you’re buying? It’s nice to see all of the money that you saved, but don’t buy stuff just for the sake of buying it on Black Friday. As I mentioned before, check the deals. Some stores already have their sales going on now. Think of what is really necessary to purchase and try and do it beforehand, if you can. Being involved in all of the Black Friday hubbub can make you feel inclined to overspend so DON’T FALL FOR IT!!

Black Friday is not everyone’s cup of tea. It certainly isn’t mine! But that doesn’t mean that I don’t know a thing or two about how to shop during it. Use my pro tips and have the best Black Friday shopping experience yet! What are some of your Black Friday do’s and don’ts? What are some of the best Black Friday deals that you have scored? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

Lil Red’s Holiday Shopping Pro Tips

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Lil Red’s Holiday Shopping Pro Tips

Howdy! I have been asked a lot recently for advice on holiday shopping, since I finished my present purchasing way ahead of the game last week. I take holiday shopping and birthday present buying very seriously, because I love to spoil my family and friends. Of course, random prezzies throughout the year are nice, but it’s fun to go hard on the major gift giving occasions. Now, I’m going to walk you through a step by step guide on my holiday shopping process to help you finish your purchasing with December to spare:

Make a list: I know that I say this all of the time, but it’s true. Type or write out all of the people that you need to shop for and then start narrowing down the best gift for him or her. What are their hobbies? What is their favorite food or type of music? What is something that they would like to have but would never buy for themselves? These are all excellent places to start.

More on gift selecting: Still stuck? Let’s talk about some of my go to present selections:

  • Alcohol is always a good choice if you’re buying for one of your girlfriends or brothers. Who wouldn’t want a six pack of Christmas ale or a bottle of vino?
  • If you’re buying for a couple, how about treating them to a date night? Gift cards for restaurants and movie theaters are a great place to start.
  • Groupon vouchers can also be a nice surprise. I received two vouchers for a Paint Nite event at a bar one year and my guest and I had an absolute ball.
  • Lotions, candles, and other bath and body care treats are also a fool proof selection if you are buying for a sister, your mom, or a girlfriend. Customize a gift set for them filled with smell goods, fuzzy socks, and a sleeping mask for the ultimate pampering party.
  • Buying a subscription is another really good option. Popping for a few months of a Netflix, Hulu, Ipsy, or Birch Box subscription is the gift that keeps on giving and they are not overly expensive.

Purchasing time: After you’ve made your list and checked it twice, it is time to move on to the actual purchasing of the presents. I prefer to do every possible bit of my shopping online, and then buy the rest of my presents in store as needed. I am a faithful member of Amazon and a majority of my shopping was done on there this year. I then went to the shops on a week day afternoon to do the rest of my buying and eliminated all of my holiday purchasing in one huge swoop.

Online shopping tips: If, like me, you prefer to shop online, then there are some steps that you can take to ensure that you are always getting the best deal. Such as:

  1. Signing up for emails or rewards programs. Most websites will give you an extra incentive to sign up for their email updates, like ten percent off a purchase or free shipping. Every little bit helps!
  2. Using websites like Retail Me Not or Honey to find coupon codes for different websites. Note that some websites rarely have promotion codes like Amazon, TJMaxx, and Zara.
  3. Do your research. Read reviews of the products that you are going to buy and Google them, as well. You can’t physically touch and look at what you’re thinking of purchasing so this is the online equivalent.
  4. Check out multiple different websites to ensure that you are getting the best deal.

In store shopping tips: I avoid shopping in store during the holidays like the plague. However, it has to be done sometimes and this is how I avoid the hustle and bustle of hitting the shops:

  1. Go shopping during non peak traffic times. A week day afternoon is ideal, but if your schedule doesn’t allow for that, then try going late in the evening or early in the morning. The less people around while you’re shopping, the better.
  2. It’s also important to make a game plan while shopping in store. Know exactly who you’re shopping for and where each item that you need is located in the store. Wandering aimlessly can be stressful and ain’t nobody got time for that.
  3. Use coupons, in store sales, and apps. Plenty of stores now use apps and rewards programs to give their customers great deals. Find them, use them, and love them. Every little bit helps!

And finally, make sure that you double check all of your items that you purchased in store or online for any defects in the products. The sooner you find a problem and correct it, the less you have to stress about it – especially if you have to ship back the item and rebuy it.

So there you have it, Lil Red’s Holiday Shopping Pro Tips! Was this guide helpful to you? What are some of your tips to holiday shopping that I didn’t cover? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov13

Monday Update: ASOS Obsessed

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Monday Update: ASOS Obsessed

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fantastic weekend. While I peruse all of the wonderful fashion blogs out there, I always see ASOS mentioned, but have never taken the plunge to going on their website. All of the clothes in the haul posts that I have seen look gorgeous, BUT I truly don’t need another store to shop at…Said no girl ever.

During a blah night in last week, I decided that I needed to see pretty things, and browsed through some of my preferred shopping headquarter’s websites. And, just for the HECK of it, I decided to check out ASOS, too.

BIG MISTAKE!!!!

Guys….guyyyyyyys. Why did no one tell me that that website is amazing?! I mean, seriously, thank you because ballin on a budget. BUT DAMNIT, I feel so ashamed of myself. As an avid lover of all things British fashion, you would think that I would have been all over this site a long time ago, but sadly:

WE ALL THOUGHT WRONG!!

Sweet Jesus! That site is the bomb. Pages and pages and pages and pages AND PAGES of such fantastic, edgy, sleek, chic, cool, clothing and accessories AND SHOES and I just can’t even. If I didn’t have a single ounce of self control, I could probably spend all night clicking through each page and ogling over the seemingly never ending supply of clothes that I want.

THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!

You have no idea how badly I want to buy all the things right now, but I am showing restraint like a good girl who just burned a hole in her pocket with my holiday shopping haul. But, but, but – I can always consider a little shopping as an early Christmas gift to myself, right? #savemefrommyself #PLEASE

My questions for ASOS fans are as follows, BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW:

  1. How in Sam Hill do you pick what you’re going to purchase when there are So. Many. Options?
  2. What is your technique for shopping on a website with a million items to choose from when you want to look at all of it?
  3. What are your favorite ASOS pieces on their website right now? I want links, people!!!

I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: All Student Deals

Nov10

Faux Fur Fabulous – Replacing The One That Got Away

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Faux Fur Fabulous – Replacing The One That Got Away

Hi everyone and TGIF! If you remember from a post wayyyy at the beginning of September, I revealed my “one that got away” piece of clothing that came in a beautiful black and purple faux fur vest. Many moons ago, when Lil Red had no confidence, I purchased a real stunner of a faux fur vest from TJMaxx. Too nervous at what people might think and feeling like there was no way that I could pull it off, I returned the vest a day later. BIG MISTAKE. Because now, I would do anything to have it back. But, I did come pretty darn close to finding a good replacement. Check it out:

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I got this Romeo & Juliet Couture faux fur vest from TJMaxx for about twenty-four dollars. You can’t tell very well in the picture, but the jet black of the vest is mixed in with an inky midnight blue for a striking, night sky palette. What I loved about my original vest, was that the purple color was deep and blended seamlessly with its black base, and I feel like my newbie captures that perfectly. I love that the blue in this new vest is dark enough that the colors feel cohesive, but bright enough so that when it catches the light you can see the break up in the palette.

My blue ombre vest that was purchased in September is a lot of fun, and I love styling it. However, we all know that Lil Red is an all black everything girl at heart, so this vest was an absolute must. I like that this Romeo & Juliet Couture piece is more sleek than the other one that I have in my closet, because it gives me different styling options. I love my shaggy ombre vest, but I really like how this new one lays nice and close to my body for a slinky ink look against the fall and winter cold.

Now that I have a replacement to my one that got away vest, I feel at peace knowing that Sarah 2.0 finally has the confidence to pull off what the old me couldn’t. Is it exactly the same as old faithful? No. But, it’s close enough and makes a cool and edgy update to what was lost all of those years ago.

So there you have it, this Friday’s post: Faux Fur Fabulous – Replacing The One That Got Away! Do you have a one that got away clothing story? How do you style faux fur vests? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov9

Beautiful Stories, Beautiful Button Down

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Beautiful Stories, Beautiful Button Down

Hey everyone and happy Thursday! One thing that Lil Red loves is all embroidered everything. From fun sew on patches to elaborate floral designs and patterned backs, I’m obsessed with all of it. Embroidery takes a basic piece to an over the top fashion statement. Not only that, but it’s an easily accessible trend, as it is so popular right now, and you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it. My shopping trip to TJMaxx last weekend allowed me to open my closet (And heart!) to a new button down by Beautiful Stories that I am completely swooning over. Take a look and let’s discuss:

beautifulbeautiful1

The first thing that I thought when I saw this twenty buck beauty was that I totally needed it. And second, I thought about how much is reminds me of one of my favorite army green button down tops from Zara with a similar “look at me” motif on the back. This shirt is so magnificent to me and what I love the most about it is that every copy of this shirt that was made is a little bit different due to the embroidery and dyes of the string. This button down is literally one of a kind, and I was sold the moment that I laid eyes on it.

The color palette of this top is so striking. I love that the army green base color has a more grey undertone to it, giving it a unique shade that makes my red hair and pale skin pop. The peach, bronze, white, silver, and yellow hues of the patterns on the back all work so well in a collaborative tapestry that makes for a grand reveal every time it catches someone’s eye. Not only is the back divine, but I loved how they added a little something something to the front of the top on the pockets and the patches in the bottom left corner. Sometimes I find that a beautiful back makes for a boring front, which is so not the case on this button down!

I cannot wait to incorporate this statement piece into my wardrobe year round, but especially now during the fall and winter. Because jackets are now becoming a necessity with the drop in temperature, showcasing this button down once my jacket is removed will feel like a huge unveiling every single time. This Beautiful Stories top has it all, and with such gorgeous detailing, who even needs jewelry while wearing it?!

So there you have it, my brand new Beautiful Stories, Beautiful Button Down! How do you feel about tops and jackets with a heavily detailed back? What is your favorite trend to sport this season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov8

If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! This past weekend I had a lot of fun hanging out with my mom and sister, Kristen. On Saturday night we enjoyed a ladies night out at a Mexican restaurant (Yum!) and on Sunday afternoon we went shopping all together at the “fancier” TJMaxx in Fairlawn, Ohio that my sister works by. Of course, I love my home base TJs that I live closer to, but it’s fun to go to a different one, especially when it has a better collection of more high end designers.

Kristen rarely goes shopping with my mom and I, so it was really exciting when she asked if we would come with her while she did some browsing before work. My sister’s opinion means a lot to me, and it’s always such a high compliment when she likes something that I’m wearing because we have such different tastes in personal style. That’s why when she expressed such a positive opinion of these new twenty-four buck beauties, I couldn’t say no! Take a looksee:

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Although my nickname is Lil Red, I rarely wear any clothing/accessories/shoes that rings true to my namesake. In fact, I don’t own one pair of red shoes (Shocking, I know!), so when I saw these retro inspired brick red Kenneth Cole heels, I had to give them a try. These shoes spoke to me on a spiritual level. The faux suede, the fringe, the buckle, the clothed heel, and the COLOR! And the twenty-four dollar price tag with a “compare at” price of fifty was a price that I was more than comfortable paying.

These shoes looked great with the outfit that I was wearing when I tried them on. I was wearing a pair of tights underneath shorts along with a flannel and a moto jacket on top. Not only were they a hit with my sister, but the two older ladies that were perusing the shoe department were also swooning over them. Everything that I purchase is because I love it but, I have to admit, it is always nice to receive compliments on something as soon as you try it on!

Although these heels made a great addition to a more edgy, street style outfit, I am more looking forward to wearing them for work. I think that the shape and style of my new shoe collection addition is very chic and professional, but the color and the fringe still makes it young and fun for a twenty-something on the go. These will add a sweet pop of color to my work wardrobe and will also be a funky way to complete an OOTD on the weekends. And hey, it only seems right that Lil Red finally has a piece of red anything in her closet!

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition! How would you style these shoes? What is your favorite pop of color to incorporate into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

Monday Update: Early Holiday Shopping Edition

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Monday Update: Early Holiday Shopping Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fabulous weekend. One thing that Lil Red loves almost as much as shopping for herself, is shopping for other people. I live for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas so that I can spoil my friends and family rotten with well thought out presents. I revel in making my holiday shopping list, mulling over the hobbies and favorite things of my loved ones, and coming up with the perfect presents under the tree for each of them.

Even though it is a bit early to start holiday shopping, I am pretty happy to have knocked out a solid chunk of gift buying this month. It was admittedly hard to spend the extra dough, especially because of my New York trip, BUT I was going to be buying the presents anyways so I figured that I would start getting it over with now. And since my preferred method for present shopping is doing it online, the earlier the better, in case any of the gifts are broken, take long to ship, etc.

Amazon has always been a godsend when it comes to gift giving occasions for me. What I usually do is buy a majority of my presents from there and then go to the mall (Yikes!), TJMaxx, or Target for the rest of the random odds and ends. Quite a few of my purchases have already arrived to chez moi, and I have to say that Amazon has really stepped up their shipping game. All of my packages arrived in about three days and all of the contents seemed to be handled and packed really well. When I opened the boxes and saw a solid amount of packing foam, I was confident that all of the items were going to be in one piece and ready to be given as a gift. And they were.

I’ve only had a handful of bad experiences while shopping on Amazon in the years that I’ve been a customer of theirs. But the success of my recent early bout of holiday shopping has made me feel safe in my decision to leave a majority of my purchasing in Amazon’s hands, once again. I’m glad to have gotten a head start on my Christmas shopping and am looking forward to checking off the rest of my list in November!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Early Holiday Shopping Edition! Who is done with their Christmas shopping already? Who is a last minute gift buyer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition

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Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a relaxing and restful day to wrap up your week! Today we will be completing the Scarf Series with a gorgeous, black and silver number straight out of one of Stevie Nick’s costume trunks. When I first saw this scarf at TJMaxx, I was totally thinking “Stevie”. And the first words out of my mom’s mouth when she saw it was “It’s just like Stevie Nicks”. So, let’s just say that this scarf is very Stevie inspired. Take a look and let’s discuss:

moon1moon2

This Printed Village scarf features metallic silver moons in various stages of waxing and waning against a deep black midnight sky. I’m not going to lie, I hated my Astronomy class in college, but I freaking LOVE the celestial background of this beauty! The pattern of this scarf is simple, cool, and understated, which is different than what I normally go for. You guys know that I love loud and bold clothing. However, there was something about this scarf that stuck… And yes, it is the fact that my mom and I agreed that it’s very Stevie Nicks. 😉

The best thing about this scarf, though? Other than the shimmering moons and a nod to the White Witch? The styling possibilities – because this scarf is huge. This Printed Village piece is the size of your average picnic blanket, which leaves you with tons of options for how to wear it. The idea that I’ve been toying with lately is wearing it as a sarong style wrap over a pair of black skinnies with a black crop top and my black oversized boyfriend blazer for a sleek All Black Everything OOTD. And, of course, chunky silver and gold jewelry is a must to tie everything together.

The sarong wrap for styling this scarf is an interesting idea that I’m looking forward to sporting. But this scarf is so Stevie that it would be sinful to not style it as such. To emulate the White Witch, I plan on layering my sheer maxi dress (That has a solid black crop style top.) over top of a lace maxi skirt, my new scarf wrapped as a shawl on top, and a Panama hat. My black, thigh high, faux suede boots underneath will complete the look and will be a fun peek-a-boo surprise when I give a signature Stevie twirl!

So there you have it, the last of my Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition! Which celebrity’s style do you admire? How would you style a Stevie Nicks inspired look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

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Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Today we’re going to talk about another scarf from TJMaxx that ignited a newly found passion for such a staple accessory. Because the way I style my outfits is so shoe and jacket oriented, scarves have been a part of my wardrobe that has fallen by the wayside. I have a lovely collection of scarves before these new additions in the Scarf Series, but my newbie purchases have sparked a fire to wear one literally whenever I can now. It’s new, but I’m not mad about it! Take a look at the next scarf segment in this series and let’s discuss:

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If there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, it’s all Europe everything. From a strong desire to travel there to a deep appreciation for the style and culture, this girl is destined to make her way across the pond. Whenever I see a piece of clothing or an accessory that fits my style and has an ode to Europe, whether it be literally in its design or made overseas, I am attracted to it like bees to honey. So, obviously you can see why I loved this scarf at first glance!

I am unsure of the brand of this scarf, as there was no tag. But, I like to make pretend that it came from some darling boutique in London that I could spend a rainy afternoon browsing through. This scarf screams “British Invasion” and I love everything about it. The fun, cartoon like designs, the fact that it’s not an infinity scarf (Hello, Parisian style wearing!), and the muted yet somehow bright colors with an emphasis on black, white, and red makes me go all heart eyes. I honestly can’t even, because this little baby was made for me.

This scarf is cheeky, which is so classic in describing Brit humor, so obviously I’m going to style this accessory with a sense of fun in mind. I’m thinking of throwing this around my neck over top of a mini dress layered with an over sized army green button down on top and a chunky, funky heel on the bottom to bring some London luxe to Akron, Ohio. Cheers!

So there you have it, the latest issue in my Scarf Series: London Calling Edition! Where in Europe would you like to visit? What do you admire most about European style/culture? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah