My "Go To" stores for the best deals on CUTE stuff

If anyone knows me well, they know that I am literally OBSESSED with deals.  I am not one of those crazy, coupon-clipping-for-8-hours-a-day types of people, but I do love a good score.  It gives me the biggest high that lasts for days.  If I HAVE to spend a lot of money on something, I literally get sick to my stomach and want to vomit.

Over the years, I have figured out where to get the best deals on things that I need/love.  Here is a list of stores I go to and what I find/try to find there:

*Keep in mind, most of these stores are a "hit or miss" situation.  Sometimes they have nothing, sometimes they have gold!

*I also frequent the typical stores, such as: H&M, Forever 21, Target, random mall stores, etc., but I just want to write about the ones that aren't the obvious choice for most.


Cozy: Cozy is located in Provo, across the street from Movies 8/The Plum Tree shopping center.  It is right next to Downeast and the old Albertsons.  I am kinda apprehensive about telling you all about this store, for it is a little bit of a hidden gem.  If you already know of this store, you know of the glory it has within.

This is my "go to" store for blouses, colored jeans, printed leggings, chunky necklaces, studded earrings, belts, etc.  They also have plain, long tank tops and t's in every color under the sun for like 7 bucks.  They do have dresses and skirts, but I find them to be overpriced.  Some of the cutest blouses I have have come from Cozy.  It is quite a small store, but it is great.

Burlington: I love the Orem Burlington so much.  It isn't ever busy and it is huge.  I get so excited walking in, for I know I am going to search and find great stuff.

They have the most random shoes ever.  You literally have to search for good shoes.  BUT BUT BUT I always find at least one good pair that is so cute, unique, and extremely cheap.   

They have amazing blousy shirts, too.  I get most of my work clothes from here.

Their baby stuff ROCKS if you didn't already know this.  We just bought Parker a 3 piece suit from there for 20 bucks!  The little vest is so cute.  I love finding baby gifts here, too.

The rest of their stuff is harder to go through, with less success, but it is still worth the look.


Ross: Ross is tricky.  You walk in, you see sequined jumpsuits, you think, "What in the...?"  I see the same stuff.  I, however, also see the potential.  It is all about seeing the potential.  The first place I go to when I enter Ross is the shoes section.  I can almost always find a good pair of flats for around 10 dollars.  I like the junior section for clothing.  The adult section is where you find the "fashionably-challenged" stuff.  I have also found some really cute rugs at Ross as well.

Look quick, if they don't have good stuff, leave.  I usually spend no more than 15 minutes in a Ross, unless I find awesome stuff and try a lot on.


TJ Maxx: This store is annoying in a way.  They have cute stuff, but I find it harder to find than other stores.  They also have a lot of extremely overpriced stuff.  Who pays 200 dollars for a purse from TJ Maxx?  That's an oxymoron: a 200 dollar TJ Maxx purse haha.  The good sections in this store are: Shirts/tops, bottoms, seasonal (some of my cutest holiday decor come from here), baby.  I never look at their shoes; they are too expensive.  They also don't have anything, really, for men.

There are a lot of stores that I would never think to go in, that I have actually gone into over the last few years, and have found loads of great deals.  The trick is to rummage through the CLEARANCE sections.  You can get pretty good and pretty fast at doing this.  For example, I normally wouldn't think to shop at JC Penney.  It is a great store, just not on my typical radar.  I, however, have recently gone into Penney's and have looked in the clearance section and have found such cute tops.

D.I: I am not ashamed of it.  I adore Deseret Industries.  I go there probably 3-4 times a month seeing if anyone brought in a diamond in the rough.  You see a hot pink night stand that is missing 5 handles, I see potential.

The things I look for here are: furniture (night stands, desks, filing cabinets, etc.), books, picture frames, wooden decor, dog blankies, etc.  The "yard" section is where the larger frames are.  I have, occasionally, found great decor in the "wooden decor" section.  I get books for my student classroom llibrary from here as well.

Soel: Soel is a really cute little store in the Riverwoods.  It reminds me a lot of Anthropologie, my favorite store to walk through.  The one misconception that many people have about Soel is that everything is too pricey to buy.  I used to think this.  However, they do have a Sale section that is great.  They also have other items that aren't too expensive for the quality of stuff you get. Check it out! 

Home Again:  Home Again is a consignment store.  They have a few locations.  The ones I frequent are near Gardener's Village and in Sugar House.  They have THE BEST home decor for really respectable prices.  If you are looking for barstools, hutches, tables, decor, etc. this is a place you must stop by. 

Urban Renewal:  If you are in St. George, you have to stop by Urban Renewal.  It is the coolest store with vintage clothing, awesome toys, decor, furniture, etc.  It reminds me a little bit of Home Again, but with its own, unique qualities.  Check it out!

These are just a few of the places that I like to shop.  Again, the main purpose for going to these stores is their prices.  

Go check them out!

Valentine's Day Decor for under 20 dollars!

Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays.  I remember coming home from elementary school, with all my unopened valentines, sitting in my room by myself, and reading each and every one.  If a boy I liked gave me one that said something like, "Be Mine" or "You Rock" my heart swooned.  

I love decorating for small holiday/months like this, but will NOT pay the expensive prices that most stores charge for current holiday decor.

Here is what I came up with for this year and how I did it:

 I bought the burlap pennants, pre-cut and doubled up for thickness, from Hobby Lobby, 2 bucks, plus a 40% off coupon, which made them just over a dollar, for four.  I wrote the "XOXO" with a permanent marker.  I then hot glued the pennants to some twine.

I bought the berries from Dollar Tree, yes, Dollar Tree.  I bought both white and red bunches, cut them and took off the "pretty" leaves, then tied them in bunches with twine. I think I spent like 6 dollars on all the berries. I then placed burlap on the bottom of a basket that I got from Tai Pan for like 6 bucks, and placed the bunches of berries in that. 

The lighting in this above picture sucks.  Here is what the berries really look like:

 Entry way: I bought this glass container years ago from Tai Pan.  I fill it with different things for different seasons.  I have really liked it.  

I filled it with Christmas berries that I have used for December decor, then used Christmas ribbon for the top.

My favorite thing to do is, find colors in decor that you can use for multiple holidays/months.  Red is key! You can use it for MULTIPLE holidays.  I also always hit the "after holiday" sales, too.  I recently went to Tai Pan and got a bunch of red Christmas stuff that was 75% off!

The sprigs on the table are also Christmas things.  

I bought the red sign from Tai Pan.  It was in the damaged section, for some reason and was only a dollar.  The red bird I have had for years, but I think I got it at Tai Pan as well haha.  

The "LOVE" sign is burlap.  I got it from Hobby Lobby.  It was just plain but already painted white, for 4 dollars.  I then decided to write LOVE on it with permanent marker.  

I hung this wreath on our closet door in our living room.  I got it from Tai Pan, in their Christmas sale section, for 2 dollars!

 I got this wooden heart hanging thing for my front porch from D.I.  I think it was like 3 dollars. I go there so often to find things like this.  It was just in the wooden decor section.  You have to rummage through the UGLIEST things, but you sometimes score cute stuff like this.  I feel so unbelievably accomplished when I find cute stuff from thrift stores.  It gives me a natural high that lasts for days. 

This sign is next to our tv.  I thought it was cute.  I got it from, again, Tai Pan.

For all of this stuff, I probably spent under 20 dollars, easily.  That's like the price of one thing from Rod Works or Gatehouse or something.  Definitely worth it!