The Gift of Inspiration

Attention ladies! I found a wonderful website that is sure to "wow" you with their selections and unique gift items. Femail Creations an online catalog filled with unique gifts to empower, inspire, and celebrate women. I couldn't find just one favorite item, there were far too many to pick from. But one that really jumped out to me was the 3 minute journal. What a great gift for a helping professional, student or anyone who loves to stay on top of their own personal development. One for $12 or two for $10...not too shabby! They even have a giant clearance with merchandise up to 75% off. If you sign up for their newsletter you will get an immediate 15% off your purchase....again, not too shabby! Good luck and happy shopping!

Entertainment Books for $15

Need a quick and affordable gift for Valentine's Day? Why not purchase a few entertainment books and surprise friends and colleagues with the gift of entertainment discounts? The Entertainment Book contains coupons to regional restaurants, activities, and services at discounts of over 50% and freebees, too! Normally $25 when the Books hit the market, these books are now on clearance for $15!!!! Discounts run through the end of November, so there is plenty of time for you or the recipient to get your money's worth! Good luck and happy shopping!

http://www.thegifttherapist.com/

Sidewalk Sale at Station Square

Hey Pittsburgh lovers! If you haven't browsed the shops at Station Square, now is the time to make the trip. From Steeler's gear to handmade soaps, all stores are participating in Station Square's annual sidewalk sale. Why not take a day and take in the sights and sounds of the 'Burgh at Station Square? My favorite eatery is the Melting Pot...unfortunately I eat myself sick every time I go there because I just can't seem to stop eating the appetizer fondue!!! If you go online and visit them, be sure to sign up for their fondue club and you'll get a coupon for a free dessert fondue worth $16. Follow this link to sign up and check out their expansive menu!
The Melting Pot's Club Fondue
Enjoy!!!!!
http://www.thegifttherapist.com/

The Goodwill Treasure Chest

Still haven't made it to a Goodwill store in your area? You may be missing out BIG TIME! I visit my local store at least once a week to scout out all of the target furniture and decor that comes in brand new in the box at a fraction of the retail price! I have found pub tables, chairs, ladder shelving, garden boxes and more for less than $20!!!! Some of my other favorite finds include:

• A vintage Chanel wool skirt... I paid $2.99 for an item that is worth hundreds!
• A brand new Sirius satelite radio system for only $40
• A used but excellent Sony stereo system for $10
• A Brighton silver necklace for $1.99

I just got off of the phone with one of my shopping buddies who just told me he found a vintage Steeler's t-shirt and Nick's Fat City t-shirt both in excellent condition for only $1.99 each. I was so jealous, as most of you Pittsburgh music fans can probably attest to the sentimental value that only an item from the cathedral of Pittsburgh rock and roll memories can bring! Go give Goodwill a whirl...you've got nothing to loose! You just may stumble upon a welcomed blast from the past!

Good luck and happy shopping!

http://www.thegifttherapist.com/

Must Have for Ladies Who Travel!

Curling Iron Cover from Ebags

My husband and I are planning a little tropical getaway and I began browsing some luggage sites to what deals I could find for our trip in the spring. Well, I found a great site that is absolutely awesome with tons of packing solutions that will help keep you organized. My favorite item is the curling iron cover that is on sale right now for around $12...how many times have you had to wait for your curling iron to cool off before you packed it up? I love this! This would also make a great gift for the lady who loves to travel!!! They also have packing cubes that are like mini flexible suitcases that you pack first to save you valuable space inside your large suitcase...absolutely GENIOUS! Maybe my husband and I can finally take only one suitcase this time around...) Click below to check out their stuff! Good luck and happy shopping!

Dell Saves the Day!

Remember when you couldn't buy a computer for less than $3,000? With technology surging forward at the speed of light, savvy shoppers like you and I can now afford to buy a brand new Inspiron computer, thanks to Dell, for $549! Inspiron notebooks are on sale for $649! Keep in mind the $549 price only includes the tower, not the monitor, keyboard, speakers, or printer, but if you already have a computer, this is a steal! Just download your printer driver and hook up your monitor and you'll be good to go! Flat screen monitors are also on sale, so if you're tired of the monstrous CRT monitor that's just taking up too much space, now is the time to venture into the 21st century and splurge on a great monitor! Good luck and happy shopping!

It's Yard Sale Time on Ebay!

On cold days like today, there is nothing better than shopping from the comfort of home! One of my favorite hobbies on days like these is to browse ebay and find out the going prices for some of my favorite must-have items. Did you know that NOW is one of the best times to find great deals on Ebay because a lot of folks are trying to sell their unwanted Christmas gifts? It's like an online yard sale right now on Ebay, so don't miss your chance to get your hands on some really great steals! You can sniff out these sellers by using the following tips:

• Novice sellers usually have a feedback score of under 100 (be sure to read their feedback before you bid!)
• Novice sellers are just trying to get SOMETHING for their unwanted items, so they usually start the bidding very low to get the bidding started.
• Novice sellers usually do not include a gallery picture, but will have one posted in their item's profile.
• Pictures from novices are "raw" meaning that they took them from a camera phone or didn't take the time to make the presentation look super professional with stock photos, etc.
• The item description page is very basic with few bells and whistles.

I hope these tips help you find whatever treasure you are looking for! Good luck and happy shopping!

75% Off at Things Remembered

Engrave and Save!!!

Engraveable gifts under $15??? Yep...it's true, so stock up now for next Christmas, future birthdays or office gifts! I love the star keepsake box for two reasons...one, it's on clearance for only $14.99 and two, five dollars from the purchase price goes directly to the Make A Wish Foundation. This is a great way to Shop Smart and GIVE MORE! Click the picture above to be taken directly to the Things Remembered website and browse their huge assortment of clearance items suitable for every gifting occasion!

http://www.thegifttherapist.com/

The Aerogarden Rocks!

My husband and I just love our garden in the summer time! From fresh herbs to beefsteak tomatoes, we just can't seem to get enough! Now that winter is here, we had to find another convenient option for getting our "greens" fresh from our garden and the Aerogarden blew us away! Right now we have six different types of basil growing heartily in our basement, almost ready for harvest...in mid-January! We received the Aerogarden as a gift at Christmas with seed kits for basil and mixed greens, but there are many other options to choose from as well. Right now the folks at Aerogarden are running a free promotion, so if you are not happy, you can send it back no questions asked. But I highly doubt you won't be amazed and keep a garden in your home year-round! Enjoy!

http://www.thegifttherapist.com/

Furniture Sale at Big Lots

As my retail sale calendar predicts, January is a great time to find clearance prices on furniture. Big Lots in Belle Vernon is currently liquidating all of their "salvage" furniture at 50% their retail price. Currently they have several cast iron kitchen chairs, bedroom furniture, and end tables out for sale. An "inside source" tells me there is plenty more to come, including kitchen tables and more slightly damaged furniture that have either been on display or scratched in transit. I took a look at the dressers that they had on the floor today and only noticed some small scratches on the back and feet. Originally priced at $300, and now priced at $150, these pieces are really beautiful and could pass for the higher end products found at the more expensive furniture stores. If you decide to go out and purchase a wooden piece that is scratched, be sure to go to Walmart or Lowe's and pick up a set of "magic markers" for wood repair jobs. They usually come in a set of three our four and come in various shades of brown to help disguise those unsightly scratches pretty darn well! I've used mine far too many times to count! Good luck and happy shopping!

www.theGiftTherapist.com

Gabriel Brother's Winter Blowout Sale

Attention Shoppers! Gabriel Brother's is having a gigantic sale on all of their winter clothing, coats, and winter merchandise. Nearly EVERYTHING in the store is half off because they are starting to move in their spring merchandise. I found a great pair of red chenille Liz Claiborne Gloves at the Uniontown Gabes for only $1. Scarves and hats were on clearance, too! For the Ipod Nano fans, they also have Liz Claiborne wristlets and organizers on clearance for $1 that retailed for $28. Good luck and happy shopping!

www.theGiftTherapist.com

Great Bargains on Pet Supplies

If our pets could talk, they would probably tell us that they love us very much. After all, we feed them, play with them, and cuddle with them like they are our children! But pet supplies can get pretty expensive and when I see a great bargain, I snag them up in multiples! For example, Petco now has all of their holiday pet supplies on clearance in the front of the store. From bones, chewies, to toys, I try and stock up for the year! Once I take the goodies out of the package, my critters don't know or care that it was from Christmas! Also in the front of the store, you will find several clearance bins with everything from pet vitamins, pet costumes and sunscreen. Look in those bins first before you head deep inside the store to purchase other merchandise! Good luck and Happy Shopping!

www.theGiftTherapist.com

Don't forget your Girlfriends! Valentine's Gifts Under $20

Valentine's Day is not only an occasion to express your love for your significant other, it is also a time to recognize and appreciate our best friends! I have a few single friends that have not received a Valentine's Day gift in quite a few years, so this year I am going to surprise them with a small token of gratitude. If you want to brighten someone's day and not break the bank, visit
Jewelry Clearance at Walmart.com
With several items under $15 you might just find the perfect gift! Good luck and happy shopping!

www.theGiftTherapist.com

Bargain Alert at the Waterfront

I found a fantastic new store in Homestead PA (within the Waterfront Retail Zone) called "39 Cents Cards and More." I decided to pop in before my husband and I attended a comedy show at the Improv, which is just a few doors down and we had some time to kill. I was expecting a dollar type store, but boy was I surprised! They specialize in discount EVERYTHING! Similar to a dollar store, they carry everything from cards to home decor at huge discounts! Here are some of the great bargains I found:
Thomas Kinkade vanilla candles for $3.00
Giant bath and body sets for $10.00
Beautiful boxed coordinated stationary and note cards for $2.00
Greeting card organizer boxes for $3.00
All Christmas bags, paper and decor is 50% off and they have LOTs of stuff left!
The next time you find yourself in the South Hills area please check out the stores at the Waterfront. You can really make a day out of it! Try peeking into the smaller stores, as they often are overlooked for finding great bargains!
Good luck and Happy Shopping!
www.theGiftTherapist.com

Hurry!!! Help me win 50K for the Schooner Youth Center!

Parade Magazine and NetworkforGood.org have partnered to provide community activists with the chance to win 50K toward their favorite charity. I decided to join the contest and route for my favorite charity, The Schooner Youth Center in Monessen, PA! The winner is determined by how much community support and donations I can round up over the next few weeks. The competition closes on January 31st...YIKES! If you haven't made a charitable donation yet this year, there is still plenty of time! Go to www.networkforgood.com and choose your favorite charity or adopt the Schooner Youth Center as your signature charity as well! For more information, please click the charity badge below. More information on the SYC can be found at www.schoonercenter.org.
Thanks and blessings to all of you! And don't forget, Shop Smart, GIVE MORE!