Thrifty Weekender Recap

I ran into good deals all over the place this weekend.

It all started quite innocently when my mother and I ventured into The Gap Outlet. Now, I know what you're thinking, The Gap Outlet store is really just overstocked items sold at full price or slightly discounted. Well, not our Gap Outlet. In fact, located right here 15 minutes from my house is the real, true Gap Outlet store. The only one in the world like it. I'm not even kidding you. There are racks upon racks of clothes by Gap, Banana, Piper Lime shoes, and Old Navy all under one roof. You could spend hours in there just combing through everything.

My goal was to find Beckham some fallish clothes. I scored big time with a cute Halloweenie Old Navy tee for $1.99 and a pair of size 7 Converse {velcro!} kicks for ten bucks. Totally precious and totally worth every penny. I also got him a really cute tobaggan that he refuses to be photographed in because, well, he'd much rather rip it off an throw it on the floor where it belongs, mom. And, go figure, the only pic I have of him in the new tee is one where he is throwing a fit after being shooed out of the bathroom while daddy got ready for date night. Guess the bathroom can only handle one stud at a time. So, here is Becks fleeing the scene all in a tizzy...

Next on the list was a pair of skinny jeans. After looking through literally hundreds of pairs, I came across the most perfect pair of Gap dark denim skinnies you've ever seen for - stop the world - $9.99. They fit great and I pretty much haven't taken them off since trying them on over my leggings in the middle of the store. I'm risque like that (or the line to the dressing room was just really long).

So, after my outlet winning prices, it was on to Kmart to pick up some random things like a shower curtain and bar soap...lest I be distracted by a rack of clearanced clothes for $2.99 which led to the discovery of about twelve other racks also of $2.99 clothes. So, a five minute trip turned into an hour long shopping spree as I piled my cart full of some really cute pieces.
And, I really have to hand it to Kmart - they've picked up a new {trendy} line called Piper and Blue that definitely could compete with F21 when it comes to quality, affordability, and trend. I hadn't heard of them until my $2.99 quest led me to stumble upon many cute pieces, including the ruffly tank that I wore out on date night later that day. To make a long story short, I bought 16 items for $50.81 (which is comparable to, what, one piece on sale at other retailers?). And my husband didn't even balk when I walked in the door holding an enormous bag of clothes. Love him. Pair all of this with my recent Target sale trip, and I shouldn't need to shop for a long time. Or at least until Christmas. Maybe.

So then there was date night at The Bonefish Grill which was absolutely divine. B and I booked a babysitter (thanks Nana K), and off we went to enjoy drinks and dinner alone. It was wonderful and we've decided it's going to be a monthly occasion. So good for the marriage. Believe it or not, our convo didn't even center around the baby for once, which it often does when you're sitting next to someone with mashed bananas in his hair and who is also extremely cute.

Sunday morning I had the opportunity to go to a going-out-of-business yard sale at a local preschool where school supplies we aplenty. While I could bore you with the many books and manipulatives I bought, the real gem was the purchase of my very own - brace yoursef - PERSONAL LAMINATOR. I know, I know! I'm a nerd! But, you all, when you are a teacher and 85% of your planning period is spent running construction paper through a cranky old machine, this is like a gift from God! For $8 I was sold.

So now, I guess, I'm a skinny jean laminating queen.

Happy Monday, BFFs :)