Life comes at ya fast...

Seven days ago I had no idea that I would be in charge of starting a new outreach program at the Schooner Youth Center! One two-minute phone call literally changed my life and hopefully many lives throughout the Mid-Mon Valley. Thanks to the generous donations from Rondell Curcio, our new working women's clothing ministry will be ready to serve hundreds of women and young girls who can not afford buy clothing for their next interview, new job or social event. This program can help give them a hand up and reduce barriers to employment while increasing self esteem and community connectedness.

You are looking at over 100 ladies dresses, suits, and career casuals that have been donated from Rondell's local consignment shop that decided to close it's doors today. When God closes a door, he certainly does open a window...and a big one at that! When the consigners found out that the clothing would go to a great cause, they offered them to us rather than pick them up and sell them elsewhere! One such customer, Mrs. Melanie Patterson, former Mrs. United States and the inventor of Pibbs (disposable bibs) told us to keep it all! AMEN! Life comes at ya fast, and this is how quickly one can be blessed when your heart is the right place!Keep your eyes and ears open for the grand opening! It's going to be a big one!

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to support this program, please send your donation to: The Schooner Youth Center, Attn: Jennifer Melnick Carota, Executive Director, 701 Schoonmaker Avenue, Monessen, PA 15062.

PS...We also have a church van filled to the brim as well! This is just the tip of the iceberg!

Monroeville Shopping Spree

My husband and I decided to take a drive and enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon in Monroeville, PA. Of course we really didn't need anything specific but I couldn't resist hitting Plato's Closet, 1/2 Price Books and Khol's. I love to shop when I don't need anything because that's when the bargains really jump out at me. I rarely buy on impulse this time of year because it's still too chilly here in the Burgh to wear spring clothes and not cold enough to buy another sweater...even if it is only $2.00 at Khol's on the 90% off rack! I don't shop at Khol's often, probably because I don't have one close by, but I was interested to lay eyes on the new line of Vera Wang essentials that they have been promoting heavily...and on Oprah! Although the prices were pretty reasonable, most of the cuts, colors, and styles were just not "me". I did like a few casual pieces but not enough to pay $20 for a cotton t-shirt. I have to say the clothing was very well made and looked like wearable artwork. I can see some of my best friends scooping up a lot of the styles. All in all it was worth the trip. I found two pairs of jeans at Plato's closet (Abercrombie and Fitch)and contemplated buying a few others to sell on Ebay, but I was feeling lazy and knew I just didn't have the time to list them any time soon. Maybe next time! We also found a few CD's at 1/2 price books. Dane Cook comedy and Van Halen Live. How's that for off the wall? But we laughed the whole way home! Since my husband and I came in well under budget we splurged at Don Pablos on a fine tex-mex dinner. What a wonderful day! It feels so good to be home and relax before another crazy busy at the youth center. The weekends pass far too quickly these days! Have a wonderful week and don't forget to Shop Smart and GIVE MORE!

Childhood Dreams, Present Realities

Unlike most teenagers, I always knew that I was destined to become a leader. I loved participating in our debate league, student council and local chapter of the Rainbow Girls. Throughout college, I did much of the same. Sorority, student activities board, student government, and numerous volunteer activities. But the experience I remember most vividly is going to our local bridal shop to be fitted for my first prom dress. From that day on I always had the desire to help clothe women with beautiful things. To feel like a princess for a day is an honor that no young girl should go without.

The thought of opening a bridal salon rolled in and out of my head but never really stuck. But I think it has always been just waiting for the right opportunity come along. And this week it did! The Schooner Youth Center in partnership with Angela's Angels will be providing free prom gowns to girls in need throughout Southwestern PA. Although our timing is a bit late this year, we hope to be set up and running by mid-April so we can serve at least 50 girls this year. We have over 150 new gowns that have been donated with more still to come! AMEN!

The story doesn't stop there! A relative of mine who runs an upscale consignment store told me yesterday that she will be closing her doors this week and would like to donate all the remaining inventory to the Schooner Youth Center! From designer suits to formal wear, we get it all...and it will all go to deserving women and girls in the Mon Valley who have fallen on hard times through the "Jennifer's Closet" outreach. Women supporting women...I love it!

Women are truly blessed with the innate ability of "knowing" but I have found the tricky part is sorting out the details. With faith and patience, God will do that work for you. Although this means lots more volunteer work on my end, my spirit is jumping for joy! Now this is a life worth living!

Blessings and Hugs!

Why I Really Love Ollies and Big Lots

I have a confession to make. The truth is that I do not spend hours at my computer looking up retail prices for everything. My shopping moods are so fickle that I would drive myself to exhaustion if I researched absolutely everything I wanted to buy! Because I have been shopping smart for years, the experience does help, but Ollies and Big Lot's really makes it easy on me. For example, each week I receive fliers from both stores that list both the suggested price and the current sale price for each item that they are promoting. This is often referred to as the "compare to" price. For example, in this weeks Big Lots flier, they are advertising name brand bras from Bestform, Vassarette, and Rampage for only $5. The compare to price is $26...now that's a bargain! Ollies takes things one step further! They print their compare to price right on the sales sticker. Very nice! The good news is that if you don't currently receive a flier in the mail you can jump online and view the flier at your own convenience. Be sure to sign up for their free club memberships. Both Big Lots and Ollies really do send you discount coupons on a regular basis. Just another reason to love them!

A Glorious Fresh Fruit and Cheese Tray Under $10

Only at Aldi's can I find the ingredients to make a classy and affordable fruit and cheese tray for under $10. Depending on your likes and tastes, check out these prices!
Red or green seedless grapes: 99 cents per pound
Cantaloupe: 99 cents each
Golden Pineapple: $1.49 each
Red Delicious Apples: $1.99 for 3lb bag
Assorted 8oz cheese blocks: $1.89 each
Havarti 8oz chees blocks: $2.69 each (MY FAVORITE IS THE DILL!)

Presentation Tip: Cut off the top quarter of the pineapple with the beautiful leaves still attached. Place that in the middle of your serving tray. Place a small napkin or folded paper towel underneath to absorb any juice that may trickle onto the tray. Surround the base of the pineapple with chunks of your assorted cheeses and fresh fruit. Vary the shapes and sizes. Alternate fruit, cheese, fruit, cheese. For a splash of color, break off individual grape branches from the bunch and place them on top of the other cheese and fuits in a wagon wheel pattern. The Pineapple would be the center of the wheel.

Substitutions?

• Replace the cateloupe and pineapple chunks with pepperoni, summer sausage or cocktail franks. Garnish with the pineapple to and grapes as you would with the fruit tray above.
• Hollow and core the bottom half of the pineapple and fill with your favorite fruit or mustard dip. Be sure to cut a thin slice off of the bottom of the pineapple so that it will sit upright.
• Stawberry season is coming! Use strawberries instead of grapes when truckloads arrive in May and are on sale!

Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

Paper or China?

Looking to host an intimate dinner party but aren't sure where to cut corners? Depending upon the number count, and formality of the occasion, I believe you can do a little bit of both to cut back on time, money and stress.

Cutlery Tip:
I must admit...I hate plastic silverware and rarely use the stuff you find in the dollar store or picnic isles unless, of course, I'm having a casual picnic! If I am hosting a party and absolutely must use plastic because I don't have enough place settings I will go to the party store or shop online for the heavy duty stuff that looks like real silver. Yes, it is expensive, BUT you can wash and re-use!

Serving Tip:
Again, I rarely use paper plates except for large parties, and then I will go out and buy the heavy duty plastic types that can be washed and used again. Not the thin plastic ones that come in bulk, but the heavy plastic that you can find at Big Lots or the clearance sections at TJ Max, especially after the holidays. If you have tons of storage space to spare, check Goodwill or local consignment stores for mismatched plates and dessert dishes. Depending on your theme, you can find really high quality china for a steal...and be in style at the same time! Pick one or two up at a time, as you see them. Before long, you will have a service for 20! You can do this with vintage silverware and glassware as well. I love to mix and match. It looks really cool! If you're really in a pinch, use china for the main course and high quality plastic for dessert. After all of the wine, no one will really notice anyway :)

Decorating Tip:
No need to spend money on those expensive wine charms! Keep guests glasses tagged with DIY fancy papers that you probably have in your office. Simply cut a regular sheet of paper into 8 squares. Use a hole punch and punch out the middle of each square. Write each guest's name on the bottom edge of the square, right under the hole that you punched. Now grab your scissors and cut a straight line from the top of the square just until you hit the top of the punched circle. Presto..you now have a tag to slip around the stem of a wine glass with minimal effort and zero cash spent!

From Jen's Kitchen

Need a quick, easy and yummy appetizer recipe? Here is one of my favorites that is absolutely NO FAIL...always a hit and you probably have most of your ingredients in your closet or freezer!

Super Fast Bruschetta
What you'll need:
1 Box of frozen texas garlic garlic toast (buy the store brand without the cheese)
1 Can of chopped tomatoes, drained or about 2 cups freshly chopped from your garden
1Tsp of Oil (Extra Virgin or whatever you have in your cupboard)
1/2 cup chopped onion (may be omitted if you're not an onion fan)
1tsp Garlic powder or 1 clove of chopped fresh garlic
1tsp dried basil or 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil from your garden
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded italian cheese (pick your favorite or whatever you have in your fridge)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place frozen bread slices on a cookie sheet. Put all ingredients except the cheese in a bowl and mix with a spoon. If you are using all fresh ingredients, you may use a food processor (do not over-process!)With a slotted spoon, place about 2-3 tablespoons of tomato mixture on each slice of bread. Smooth with a knife and sprinkle with your favorite cheese. Bake for 7-10 minutes. Remove from oven, cool slightly and cut each piece of bread in half or quarters with a pizza cutter (very slick and fast!) Place on a lovely serving platter and watch them disappear!

Leftover topping? Save for another day or mix with softened cream cheese for a delicious veggie dip!!!

Not a tomato and basil fan? Try chopped mushrooms, artichokes, frozen shrimp or olives instead with chopped or dried parsley or dill with the shrimp!

Oh...and don't forget the wine...Check the clearance rack at your local state store and buy a bottle or two each trip. Within a couple months you'll be readily stocked for an impromptu party! Variety is the spice of life and gets even better when you find a great deal!

A Gift For You!

After spending most of the weekend cleaning out my closets, I thought I'd provide all of you "budget fashion divas" with a great e-book that I put together to help you save lots of time, money and stress. Revamp your Wardrobe on a Shoestring Budget can be downloaded FREE by clicking here No strings attached! Just sharing the love! Please foward to your friends and other conscious consumers! Please let me know how you liked it! Enjoy!

Cheap Coffee

An essay and review of Shop Smart GIVE MORE with a Christian twist... by Kelly Daniels, future bestselling Christian Author and Youth Minister

Cheap Coffee
There’s little merit in beating around the bush…so I won’t: I love to shop. I salivate over clearance racks. I consider the day spring clothes show up on racks a national holiday. I could wander around a store for two hours, leave without buying anything, and consider the day a success merely for the entertainment factor of browsing through the store.
For a while I thought admiring a good purchase was sin incarnate. Materialistic? Maybe. Selfish? Sometimes. The mere word “shopping” leaves a sour taste in some Christians’ mouths. And yet…I think there’s more to it than materialism. *Gasp*
Our friend Jennifer Melnick-Carota just published a book entitled Shop Smart, Give More (Yes, this is a total plug for her book…check it out at: www.thegifttherapist.com). The premise is that by becoming a smart shopper, you can save money and give more to others. Shopping becomes the means through which others are blessed.
Here’s what got me thinking about Jen’s book and shopping in general: Last week when our spring break group from Ursinus College was here, we had a discussion about the quality of coffee. The argument was that fair-trade, organic coffee may cost more than Maxwell House, but serving it conveys the message I care enough about you and the people who made this coffee to serve you a good cup ‘o Joe.
Somehow the idea of quality has been sacrificed at the altar of cost-effectiveness. Plastic tablecloths, cheap coffee, and stale pastries run rampant in church fellowship halls. I understand that these are viewed as the most cost-effective materials, but I wonder if it gives off the vibe that Christians don’t care about aesthetics or hospitality…
I also believe problem lies beyond coffee…I wonder if we offer each other less-than quality interactions, “cheap coffee” so to speak. We give what we perceive costs us the least. We give Dollar Tree replications rather than Van Gogh originals…
And what, you say, is the connection between cheap coffee and my love for shopping? I’ve realized that my pleasure for shopping is rooted in an appreciation for beauty and hospitality. As a Christian, I don’t want to offer only cheap coffee, both literally and figuratively…and I don’t think we have to. Shopping for a good deal on a quality item, decorating a room to be warm and welcoming, or sitting down to chat with someone when it interrupts my schedule may cost me a little more, but conveys the message I care enough about you to give the best I have…
In the future, fair-trade organic coffee it is…

Kelly Daniels is currently an intern with Greaterworks International, a Christian Service organization that spreads the Christian message through good deeds in depressed communities throughout the US and Mexico. Kelly has spent the last 7 months as faithful intern at the Schooner Youth Center in Monessen, PA. Her leadership, charisma and compassion is motivating and inspiring to all who know her. If you would like to support Kelly and/or the entire Monessen Greaterworks team please visit www.greaterworks.us and pledge your support.
PS...Kelly is the second little one on the right with the bright smile! She poses with her greateworks colleagues Eric, Travis and Rhonda and our favorite volunteer Grandma, Hilda! Pic taken during fall cleanup of the Schooner Youth Center!

Take the Poll!

When I first started this blog before the holiday season, I had no idea that it would attract so many readers. It amazes me how many emails I have gotten from all over the United States, UK, and even Japan! That being said, it's very important for me to make this blog "count"...one that has the most impact and keeps my subscribers happy and coming back! Please take the poll on the right and tell me what you would like to see more of. If something isn't posted, be sure to leave a comment for this post, as I read every one and make every effort to respond personally. If you have a specific question, please visit my website at www.theGifttherapist.com and email me through my contact page. I love to hear from all of you and take every suggestion and recommendation to heart!

The Gift of Thanks

Just as important as the act of giving, the art of saying thank you is often understated or completely overlooked. At times I find myself saying "thank you" to strangers more often than I do for my own family and friends. Shame on me! In keeping with the GIVE MORE message, I encourage all of you to give more thanks and appreciation to those closest to you. Send a card, write an email, give them a hug...do something to make this mundane Monday special! Never take for granted that your appreciation for that person is understood. We all could use a little extra love every now and then. Now go on and surprise someone today with a sincere thank you! It's one of the best free gifts out there!

In loving memory of my friend, mentor, and colleague Ferna Nogy, March 21, 2008

Click on the image below to order your copy of

The Gift Therapist's new book

'Shop Smart, GIVE MORE'

Femail Creations

I absolutely love this site! The jewelry is inspiring, classy and to the point! I especially love that they have their clearance sections clearly marked and easy to find. They have some really beautiful jewelry in their 50% off clearance section that would make a great gift for mothers, daughters, best friends and co-workers. I would stock up now for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. The necklace on the right is only $17. I have a hunch you guys are going to love this site, too! Happy Shopping!

The Gift of Elvis

I just found the perfect gift for the Elvis fan and wine fanatic. Elvis wine? Only at gifttree.com can you find this one! To be honest, I really don't care how it tastes, this gift is priceless! For only $42.95 it 's the perfect "WOW" gift for someone who can really appreciate it! One bottle of each...red and white shipped in a decorative wooden crate...PERFECT! My best friend would pass out if I were to give this to her...shhhh...I already ordered one! This site has tons of other really neat gift ideas unlike the traditional gift basket sites. I love to shop online, especially this time of year..the few extra bucks are definitely worth the time and stress saved! Click the picture above to see more options from this fantastic site!

Go Shopping with the Gift Therapist

SAVE the DATE!

Bargain Diva Shopping Tour: Belle Vernon

Saturday, April 5th

11am at Hoss's in Belle Vernon, PA

• Lunch on our own from 11-11:30
• Gabriel Brothers, Ollies, It's a Buck or Two, Goodwill and Big Lots!
• Reconvene at 2pm for "show and tell"

Want to go shopping with the Gift Therapist? Exchange great sale info with people all over the net? Join the Mon Valley Bargain Diva's (men are welcome, too!) for free and keep up to date on future tours events coming to a shopping district near you! Click here to RSVP!

Click here to check out
The Mon Valley Bargain Diva Meetup!

Next trip....GREENSBURG!

Introducing Pay Per Post

As you all know, I am an avid shopper and love to share honest with you all on products that I find to be fabulous! I have recently joined the Pay Per Post blogging community and I will be participating in their blogger compensation program. What this means for you is that I wanted to make you aware that some of my posts will be "sponsored" in that I will receive a small stipend to provide a review. My promise to you, my trusted readers is that I will keep these posts to a minimum and continue to provide only my honest opinions on products, services, and issues that I feel strongly about. If the post is sponsored, I will clearly indicate that within the blog post! I think this a wonderful opportunity and of course, I will be donating a portion of my commissions to my signature charity, the Schooner Youth Center. Maintaining my website and marketing my new book has been very labor intensive and costly at times. Participating in the program will help me make ends meet when my budget is tight. The gift therapist will not go into credit card debt ever again but will never sacrifice the trust that I have established with my loyal readers! Thank you all for your support and please keep coming back! If you are a blogger and would like to earn some extra money, please visit Pay Per Post for more information!

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Learn Me Good!

Need a unique gift for the teacher on you list this year? My new and hillarious friend John Pearson, author of "Learn Me Good" shares his insights, antecdotes, and creativity through both his website, blog and online store. Each portal provides you with funny stories and observations about being a 3rd math teacher, a new profession he established after being laid-off from his job as an engineer! Be sure to visit his store! You have to see the t-shirts...they are pretty darn funny and would make great gifts for the comedian on your list as well. Most importantly, John is a huge fan of LOST as well as U2...Good guy, indeed! Enjoy your experience and tell him the Gift Therapist sent ya! http://learnmegood2.blogspot.com/



John Pearson, Author
"Learn Me Good"

Spring savings and more!

Happy Spring, everybody! I hope the weather turns around soon so we can really celebrate outdoors very soon! In preparation for the much anticipated warm weather, I took advantage of the long weekend and finally cleaned out my closets. FIVE gigantic bags were delivered to Goodwill this afternoon full of clothing, shoes, boots, and jeans. What a relief! Clutter makes me crazy, especially in my closet! If you are size 2-4 be sure to hit the Belle Vernon Goodwill and you may find a few treasures from my collection...haha! Gabriel Brother's is getting ready for the warmer weather too. They are currently celebrating their lawn and garden event and have a large selection of patio and garden decor. Get there soon to land the best selection. They still have two really nice hammocks left in Belle Vernon...well, one if my husband gets there first! And for the ladies, all of the Ann Taylor clothing is mix and match, two for $16!!! Down a few dollars from last week and still a huge selection. Good luck and happy shopping!

What Mechanic's Don't Want You to Know

For all of you ladies out there who would like to learn the secrets that mechanics won't tell ya...this may be the ebook for you. I wish I would have had this years ago! I'll give you a full review after I read it or you can share your comments here if you already have! This is exactly why I love technology...instant access! And for $19.99 plus a bunch of other free bonuses, this looks like a great bargain!



Click Here!

Click Here!

Do you work with teen girls?

Did you know that research shows that over 80% of seniors graduating from college leave with consumer credit card debt? The American Bankruptcy Institute reveals that 19% of the people who filed for bankruptcy last year were college students. That means 1 in 5 bankruptcy filings were by very young people who fell prey to credit card seduction.

If you work or volunteer with teen girls, Shop Smart GIVE MORE is a fun an unique compliment to more traditional teaching aids. Use Shop Smart GIVE MORE to reinforce the importance of financial responsibility, creative gift giving, and charitable giving. Give girls the tools to make wise decisions before they are tempted to charge their lives away before they turn 21!

Bulk pricing is available for nonprofits and church groups who wish to provide this "GIFT" to their most valuable assets...our future leaders, mothers, and community champions! Contact me directly for special pricing through my website at www.theGiftTherapist.com or click on the link below for more details.

Click on the image below to order your copy of

The Gift Therapist's new book

'Shop Smart, GIVE MORE'

Free Shipping at New York and Company

New York and Company is one of my favorite stores! On the rare occasions that I do venture to the mall this is usually the first store that I hit! To start, I always go to the back of the store where they have a large assortment of clearance merchandise. I'm in heaven! Although I don't use my charge card there anymore, signing up for one will grant you entry to great coupons, special events and notifications to future sales. The last coupon I received was $30 off $75. That's a pretty great deal! If you sign up for their mailing list online they will also send you a coupon for 20% off just for signing up! Right now they are having an online special of free shipping on orders over $75. Why not browse the bags, belts and clearance merchandise and get some Holiday shopping done early with the stress of the mall? Visit the store at www.nyandcompany.com!

Vanderwall Breakfast Nook

And you thought Aldi's was only a grocery store! This week they have this lovely pine breakfast nook on sale for only $149! Haven't been to Aldi's yet? You are missing out big time! If you live in the PA region, stores are located in Belle Vernon, Beaver Falls, Greenville, Lower Burrell, Punxsutawney, and Warren. For other locations and directions, visit them on the web at http://www.aldi.com/

Mastering the Bargain Shopping Experience

I admit it. Bargain shopping in the discount department stores (and even the major department stores) can be frustrating and overwhelming. Having a plan or shopping agenda really can help speed up the process. If you follow my advice in my book, Shop Smart, GIVE MORE you will have bargain shopping mastered in a matter of weeks, I promise! Here are my favorite tips to get you started right now for the upcoming holiday season!

• If you haven't developed a household budget that includes a gift budget for the year, now is the time to bite the bullet and establish a gift budget that works for you and your family. Be sure to include birthdays, holidays, special occasions and emergency gifts.
• Now divide you gift budget by 9 (nine months to go before the big holiday season). Now you know the maximum amount you can spend on gifts each month beginning in April.
• Open a free checking account and request a debit card. Deposit this amount or whatever seed money you have that can get you started. $20 is a great start!
• Keep your new debit card and/or at least $20 cash in a seperate wallet. This will allow you to pick up great gifts on the clearance racks when you see them and keep your records straight at the same time. The clerks really don't mind if you have two seperate orders!
• Pick 2 or 3 of your favorite stores and shop them weekly. The more frequently you shop them in the beginning, the less time you will spend in them later. I can get in and out of Gabriel Brothers within 20 minutes because I know the floor-plan in my sleep and can maneuver the sales racks with super-hero speed!
• Keep all your of your gifts in a centralized/common area. I keep mine on a shelf in my kitchen pantry. An under-the-bed box works just fine, too!

I hope these tips help! Good luck and happy shopping!

Click on the image below to order your copy of
The Gift Therapist's new book
'Shop Smart, GIVE MORE'

Please Sign My Guesbook

I have added a new guestbook to my website and would LOVE to have all of you leave your thoughts, comments and questions! Share your bargain shopping finds and tell us about the great things you did with the money you saved! Inspired by Oprah's Big Give? How do you plan to make an impact in your community this year? Anything goes, so let your voice be heard! Can't wait to hear from you! CLICK HERE and sign right now:)

Gift Therapist's Mailbag & Question of the Day

Dear Jennifer,
I have a male friend who's b-day is comming up in two weeks. He has hinted that he is saving up to buy a new Nintendo Wii. Would a gift of cash be tacky?
Please help!
Liz

Wow...did he do you a big favor! Take the hint and run with it! Do you know of any other friends or family that can pitch in as well? Ask around...all of you may be able to actually buy him one depending on how much is in the pot! Fear not if this is not an option. Your thoughtfullness and practically wins out big time!

If you wind up going it alone on this one, cash would be the perfect gift as long as you make note of why you are giving it somewhere within the card. For example, "Hopefully next year we will celebrate with a game night in your honor!" Since you don't know where he plans on purchasing the wii, a gift card of sorts would be nearly impossible without blowing your cover, so go ahead and give with confidence. Add a personal touch if you can and bake him a cake, cookies, or some other edible you know he may enjoy. Good luck!

Free Shipping on Shop Smart Give More!

Don't forget...get your copy today with free shipping! Offer expires soon! Click below for more information!

Click on the image below to order your copy of

The Gift Therapist's new book

'Shop Smart, GIVE MORE'

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today was the first of many shopping trips for the Christmas 2008 shopping season. You may think I'm crazy, but take a look at what I found today for myself and some other very lucky gift recipients:

• Brand new Target black pat and leather knee-high boots for $1.50 at Goodwill Industries
• Full length BCBG Max sweater coat at Burlington Coat Factory for $16.99
• Seven for All Mankind Jeans at Burlington for $19.99
• 1928 necklaces and earrings for $3.99 each at Gabriel Brothers
• New York Laundry velour sweat suit for $14.99 at Burlington
• Buy one-get one free on all clearance merchandise at Macy's
• Liz Claiborne silk scarves at Gabriel Brothers for $1.99 each
• Ann Taylor seperates (casual and dressy) are 2 for $20 at Gabriel Brothers

My husband and I had a blast today and it was just cold enough to pretend that the holiday season was already here! Every day is Christmas in our home. I hope you catch the spirit as well!

Designer purse rentals! What will they think of next?

I found a new and interesting website today that stopped me in my tracks. I rarely click on web ads on my yahoo homepage, but today was an exception. The site is called www.bagborrowandsteal.com. They RENT designer handbags, jewelry, and accessories that us "common folk" could not normally afford to buy. They do provide an option to buy gently carried items and/or rent to own options as well. I am utterly amazed by this! Have a big night out on the town coming up? Rent a Fendi bag and Betsie Johnson necklace. The catch is you pay by the week, but they boast free shipping both ways. This may be great for a bride, as I did notice some stunning bags and jewelry that would be perfect for such a glamourous ocassion, but for every day? I don't think I'd be very comfortable with that. I shop more for style rather than big name labels, so this site didn't really appeal to me personally. But I'm going to guess this site is going to do a lot of business once word gets out! If you decide to take the plunge, be sure to read the policies before you jump in. I'd be too afraid that I would loose or accidentally destroy such an expensive item! But I have to admit that it's really fun to look!

StubHub.com Buyer Beware

For all of you who are tempted to purchase event tickets through a third-party auction or selling site like StubHub, I encourage you to do your research before you buy from such a site. Make sure you read all of their policies carefully and be sure to read the fine print! The story below will detail my most recent encounter with a once trusted site called StubHub.

My husband and I recently purchased two "Aisle" seats to the recent Bon Jovi concert in Pittsburgh, PA through StubHub. I purchased two very expensive aisle seat tickets because we love Bon Jovi and, most importantly, I am extremely claustrophobic! When we arrived at the venue, we quickly realized that our seats were not in fact aisle seats, but END seats next to a huge steel barrier. I sat there for as long as I could stand, but left those seats after crawling over 8 people during the first bathroom break. I was upset at the time, but didn't want to let this ruin the entire evening. I also knew of their fan protect policy and figured I'd settle the problem the next day.

So today I called StubHub and told them that the seller had clearly misrepresented the tickets and would like a partial refund, as I feel we were victims of fraud by the seller. (By the way, we paid over $525 total for these tickets, nearly double the face price. But we paid this with the understanding the inflated mark-up was probably due to the high premium an aisle seat in the Igloo section can command. By the way, StubHub acknowledges the higher premium that an aisle seat can command, so keep this in the back of your mind for now.)

StubHub responded by saying that they do not gaurantee "seller comments" and such comments like "aisle seat" do not fall within the gaurantee. What??? The seller had 2 tickets up for sale that were labeled aisle. We bought them both based on this information. Isn't that fact rather than a comment? StubHub held firm and stated that their fan protect policy did not cover such issues. Hmmm...but they acknowledge that aisle seats can command a higher price. I smell a rat! I then proceeded to do a search on StubHub complaints and found a mountain of similar stories. How do they continue to get away with this stuff? So rather than lash out, I choose to share my mistake with you in hopes you will be more cautious and careful when buying online. If you ever have any doubt, please contact me and I'll try to help you as much as I can.

Even the Gift Therapist gets burned every now and I feel it is my duty to share this lesson with all of you. Be very careful when buying from sites such as these. Research, research, research! I have learned that StubHub's policies clearly protect the seller's but not the buyers. Thoroughly read their policies and you will see for yourself. I should have known that any third party selling site that does not provide the consumer with information or feedback options regarding the seller or provide you with the opportunity to share your satisfaction regarding the transaction is bad news. I hope this helps someone else from getting stung in the future!

PS...BON JOVI Rocked!!!!

Gift Bag Savings

One of the best parts of my job at the Schooner Youth Center is coordinating all of the Pay it Forward projects being implemented throughout the Mon Valley. One of our participating groups is currently putting together gift bags to be sent to local soldiers serving overseas. I, of course, volunteered to purchase the gift bags! Because I had a day full of meetings, I chose to visit Walmart at 7:30am so that I could check this off of my to-do list right off the bat...plus, my favorite stores aren't open that early:) I didn't see much in the greeting card and party section of the store, but I remembered that they also have some gift bags near the back of the store in the craft section. Well, I hit the jackpot and found 5-packs of gift bags (vibrant colors and many different sizes) for only $3.48! These would be perfect for those Easter bags that I shared with you yesterday! I'm living proof that amazing things can happen when you go shopping with a mission! Happy Shopping!

Easter Basket Savvy and Savings

Easter is coming early this year, so head out to your favorite dollar store and snag up as many colorful Easter basket bags that you can. The Dollar Tree always has a nice selection of baskets, bags, Easter grass and plastic eggs to choose from, but be sure to get there early for the best selection. Many of the items you may already have in your pantry and gift closet! Here are some money saving tips and creative alternatives to the traditional Easter basket:

• Find great quality baskets at your local Goodwill or thrift shop. I have found great wooden, wire, and wicker baskets for as little as 50 cents! Get them now before everyone else catches on!
• Want to give a basket a holiday feel? Maybe you have a can of white spaint in the basement? If not, buy a can of pastel paint from your local dollar store and spray the baskets, pails or crates with a shot of color suitable for the occasion.
• While at Goodwill, be sure to look through their small stuffed animals. They make a great addition to any respectable Easter basket and cost pennies. Tie a festive bow around the neck and you have an instant centerpiece for your basket.
• Fill the bottom of the basket with shredded or crumpled tissue paper. Although not necessary, you can also put a thin layer of Easter grass on the top. One bag of purchased Easter grass should be enough for about four medium sized baskets.
• Buy large bags of m&m's, starburst candies and jelly beans. Place about 1/2 cup of each into a sandwich bag and tie with curly ribbon!
• Go to Big Lots or other local discount stores and buy pretzle packs, granola bars, and dried fruit combinations to balance out all of that chocolate. Mom's will thank you!
• For an even healthier basket, add apples, bananas, and oranges if you have them around the kitchen.
• Bake up a healthy version of oatmeal cookies and put 3-4 of them in ziplock bags and tie with curly ribbon.
• Seperate all of the items on your kitchen table and split the goodies between 2-4 baskets making sure not to forget the cuddly centerpiece in the middle!
• For the final touch, cover the basket with a clear or pastel basket bag with long streaming ribbon. Gold or silver leftover from the Christmas holiday will do just fine!

If you don't want to be traditional, you can always do a theme basket with coloring books, crayons, construction paper and stickers. Just be creative and have fun putting it together!

Good luck and happy shopping!

Oprah's Big Give

Looks like Oprah's Big Give is causing quite a stir in the press today. People either love it or hate it. I can't say I'm totally surpised, but since I'm still processing my own feelings about all of this I will hold-off on posting my official opinion for a bit. In the mean time, I encourage you to embrace the core message of the Big Give and incorporate the message into your daily routine no matter what your feelings are about the television show. How wonderful it would be if we all had the clout that Oprah has! Unfortunately, this is not our reality, but also not an excuse to do nothing! A lot of little things that we do every day can add up to one Big Give in the long run, so do not despair if you don't have the time or resources to make a big splash all at once. In real life you will not be kicked out of a competition because you failed to give enough, so please don't get discouraged and keep giving!

The most important thing is to do something that you are passionate about and make it your own. Give your time, your expertise and/or your voice to something you are passionate about and you can not fail. No celebrity endorsements needed!