Lipstick to Crayons » Be Thrifty

Ross Dress for Less Comes to St. Louis/$25 Giftcard Giveaway – CLOSED

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:27 +0000

If you love getting awesome, name-brand stuff at ridiculously low prices, then you need to visit a Ross Dress for Less store. And that visit got a whole lot easier for St. Louis-area residents last week (3/3/12) when the nation’s largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain made its debut in the area with two new locations in Chesterfield, Mo. and Fairview Heights, Ill.

I was among a lucky group of women who got invited to a special opening of the store and I left the place with a LOAD of great bargains. Here’s a list of my delightful finds, all for $134.19:

a name-brand (can’t say the brand) dress for me to wear to my Godson’s first communion
a boutique-quality sundress for my teen
two pairs of shoes (also name brand) for my 4-year-old
a name-brand summer top for me
a “sliders” burger basket for my grill
a “Live Laugh Love” wall decal for my family room
an 18×24 wooden framed mirror for my kitchen

As promised, I found the same brand names carried in department and specialty stores priced at 20 percent to 60 percent less at Ross. In fact, the above-mentioned dress would have cost me nearly “$130 at my favorite department store, and I got everything on that list for $134.

Ross Dress for Less stores — more than 1,000 nationwide — have been in business for 30 years and carry apparel, shoes and accessories for the whole family, as well as home fashions. It’s literally a treasure hunt shopping experience.

The Ross “strategy” is “no frills, big thrills.” And that holds true in the store — no fancy displays or staging of the merchandise but thrilling merchandise just the same. Despite the “no frills,” the store was super organized and easy to navigate, and the racks aren’t overstuffed like you find in some discount stores. Plus, the associates were helpful, efficient and informed, even on the first day the store was opened for business. I think that bodes well for the customer service going forward.

But don’t take it from me — try it out for yourself. I was told (and I believe) that the best way to find those treasures at Ross is to visit often and snatch them up when you find them. Enter the contest below for a $25 Ross Dress for Less giftcard to get you started.

Giveaway Guidelines:

To enter the contest, you MUST subscribe to Lipstick to Crayons (subscribe button in upper right corner) and then comment below that you did so (or leave a comment telling me you’re already a subscriber). After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

Blog about this contest.
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (You can tweet daily, but leave a comment for each time you do so).
Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook.
Post a link to this contest on your Facebook page.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time March 20, 2012. Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If the winner does not claim the prize by March 23, 2012, she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROLSUE, COMMENT #39.

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Six Ways to Reduce Fuel Costs

guest — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:52:48 +0000

by Andrea Woroch

Crude oil prices are surging again as commodities traders respond to the continued tension between Iran, Israel and the United States. According to NBC Nightly News, the fear of any kind of military action in the Middle East drives up the price of fuel despite no real shortage of supply. Just recently, the price of gasoline rose three-and-a-half percent and is up 42 cents from one year ago.

As winter subsides into spring, consumers should gear up for another pricey summer with gas prices expected to peak just in time for weekend getaways. But before you cancel your vacation plans, consider these tips for saving on fuel.

1. Use your smartphone.
Look up gas prices in your area and pinpoint the least expensive options on your route by using GasBuddy.com. The site also offers a mobile app that uses GPS to provide current gasoline prices per gallon based on your location. Another option is the CheapGas app which guides you to the least expensive gas station in your proximity, an invaluable resource when driving in unfamiliar areas.

2. Travel with cash.
Many gas stations advertise the price per gallon to cash-paying customers and those who use credit cards are charged an additional 10-cents per gallon. Pay with cash when you can to save.

3. Stock up on discount gift cards.
You can purchase gift cards at less than face value from sites like GiftCardGranny.com including gas gift cards for popular brands like Chevron, Shell and Exxon. For example, the site is currently selling a Hess gift card for 8-percent off. These cards go fast, so set up an alert to receive an e-mail when new gas cards become available.

4. Fuel up at the warehouse.
Membership-based stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have discounted gas. In some cases, you can use affiliated credit cards to get a double-dip discount: Pay less at the pump and get a cash back bonus. For instance, the Costco-branded TrueEarnings American Express card lets customers earn three percent cash back on up to $3,000 in gas per year.

5. Find a gas reward credit card.
If you are going to swipe your credit card at the pump, look for one that offers a high reward like Chase Freedom Visa, which offers 5 percent back on gasoline purchases. For other options, check out PTMoney’s “The Best Gas Rewards Credit Cards of 2012.”

6. Go for grocery and gas discount programs.
Many supermarket chains have partnered with name-brand gas stations to offer reward programs. Ralph customers can get 10-cent per gallon savings at Shell stations in Southern California after redeeming 100 grocery points at the pump. Other grocery chains like PriceChopper, Kroger and ShopandStop offer similar programs. Speak with a store manager to find out which local gas stations will honor the reward program, as some franchise-operated stations may not participate in the programs.

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. Andrea has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com.

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$10 JC Penney Coupon Code Plus Free Shipping

lipsticktocrayons — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:35:01 +0000

Right now, JC Penney is offering free shipping on shoes, and you can use the coupon code LIZ4YOU to get $10 off your purchase. I just bought my husband a pair of winter snow boots using this code and got them for $39, plus free shipping. Enter the code at checkout (pick the checkout option that says promo code.

Thanks STLMommy!

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St. Louis Moms — You Gotta Sign Up for This!

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:05:25 +0000

If you’re a Mom (or a Dad) living in the St. Louis area, you absolutely must sign up for STL Kids Club Deals. These deals are launching this month, and will work similar to Groupon. STL Kids Club deals will offer special discounts of up to 75% off at the retailers, restaurants and service providers that parents and families in St. Louis use most. In other words, they will cater to the needs and busy lifestyles of families and they will arrive in your email Inbox if you’ve signed up for the deals.

It’s free to join, and you won’t be bombarded with all kinds of spam — just one or two emailed deals a week that you won’t be able to pass up! I have it on good authority that the first deal is amazing! (I won’t tell you what it is, and I’m not sure what day it will be distributed, but it will be this month. You’ll want to be signed up so that you don’t miss out, because I know it will go fast.)

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Old Navy 30 Percent Off Coupon and More!

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:22:55 +0000

Go here to print a 30 percent off one item coupon from Old Navy, valid until Sept. 23. (thanks MoneySavingMom).

Go here and sign up for JCPenney emails and receive great online offers and valuable in-

Join Chili’s Email Club to get the latest happenings, exclusive offers, and a FREE order of Skillet Queso & Chips.

Go here and get up to $500 in coupons to use them at your favorite grocery stores.

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Three Months Free of Amazon Prime by Joining Amazon Mom

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:07:49 +0000

Amazon just launched a new program called Amazon Mom (www.amazon.com/mom) which is free to join and was developed to cater to the 13.6 million online U.S. moms of children from birth through the diaper-wearing years. And one of the best benefits of joining Amazon Mom is that you get three months of Amazon Prime for FREE!! Amazon Prime is awesome becuase it includes free two-day shipping with no minimum purchase required.

LOVE IT! Can you say “Just in time for holiday shopping”? And you don’t have to provide any credit card information to get your three months free membership of Amazon Prime. It will simply expire after three months (you might get an email telling you it’s going to expire, and encouraging you to renew), but your Amazon Mom membership benefits will continue.

Other benefits of the Amazon Mom membership include:

Upgrades to One-Day (overnight) Shipping for just $3.99 per item.
Option to earn additional months (up to one year) of FREE Two-Day Shipping for every $25 spent on Baby products in a single order.
An additional 15 percent discount on top of the standard 15 percent off select diapers and wipes, bringing the total discount to 30 percent when using Subscribe & Save delivery.
Many more exclusive discounts and offers, tailored to a family’s interests, delivered right to their inbox.

Signing up is simple. Just visit Amazon Mom and provide some information about your family. Please note that the program is not just limited to moms—primary caretakers are eligible too. Members also have the opportunity to connect with other parents on community discussion boards to share product information, tips and techniques.

I’ve already used my Amazon Prime membership to order two books on Amazon. When the shipping is free, it is one of the most frugal ways to shop!!

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Lots of Free Stuff from Vista Prints!

lipsticktocrayons — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:41:54 +0000

Are you famliar with Vista Prints? If not, now is the time to visit them. They’re celebrating their 10th Anniversary with 10 free products.

Free products of the following:

• Free Business Cards

• Return Address Labels

• Free Rubber Stamps

• Free Sticky Notes

• Calendars

• Photo Flip Books

• Free Tote Bags

• Free Mugs

• Photo Notebooks

• Free Mouse Pads

Click Here

Here’s a hint: on the free address labels, instead of typing your address, type in Bradley’s toys or Gretchen’s book — and then you’ve got instant labels for your kids’ belongings.

The Vista Print 250 free business cards offer is awesome. You can create the cards in minutes and receive in as few as three days. Choose from 42 designs and add your text. Click the button below to make your set today.

Or, check out the great promotions around “Back to School” by clicking the button below:

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Must-Have Wardrobe Staples for Every Frugal Fashionista’s Closet

lipsticktocrayons — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:31:46 +0000

Fashion-forward shoppers know it’s not just the latest trends of the season that help to build a stylish wardrobe, but classic pieces that stand the test of time. That’s why Prime Outlets, a portfolio of 21 outlet shopping destinations across the U.S., teamed up with celebrity fashion expert James Aguiar to reveal five essential fashion pieces every woman should own as well as how to find them for a fraction of their regular retail cost.

According to Aguiar, fashion expert and host of “Full Frontal Fashion,” “Where D’Ya Get That?” and “Style Court,” in a culture where fashion trends are fleeting, the key to building a great wardrobe is starting with a few timeless pieces.

“Trends may come and go but there are essential fashion classics that will never go out of style,” said Aguiar. “From the little black dress to the classic trench coat, these are the must-have items every fashionista should have in her closet.”

Outlet malls provide access to some of the finest brands and these timeless pieces at a fraction of the cost.

At everyday savings of up to 65 percent off full retail prices, Prime Outlets’ shoppers have complete access to style icons including Gucci, Michael Kors, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Coach, Victoria’s Secret, Tory Burch, Polo Ralph Lauren and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, among many others.

Here are some of the timeless, essential pieces that Aguiar recommends:
— The LBD – Whether simple and classic or a more glamorous choice in various lengths and sheer fabrics, the little black dress (LBD) is a must-have. Think Audrey Hepburn when choosing this piece and look for a dress that’s tailored and fitted through the waist. Pair your LBD with wedges and a designer handbag for a daytime look, or strappy sandals and an ornate clutch for a night-on-the-town.

— Crisp White Shirt – Look for a crisp white shirt with feminine detailing around the bustline, a long silhouette and French cuffs to pair with skinny cigarette pants or a pencil skirt for an easy, tailored look. Take your look into the evening by pairing a white
blouse with a ball gown skirt and layers of pearls for a sophisticated look sure to turn a few heads.

— Top Handle Bag – A top handle bag with a strong shape and structure is a must-have fashion classic. Look for top handle bags in a variety of colors with interesting details such as intricate stitching and unique hardware for a stylish accessory that will last a lifetime.

– Printed Scarf -This essential accessory will freshen any look and always keep you in style. Whether tying it around your neck, head or handbag, look for colorful scarves with prints and patterns for a posh, sophisticated look.

– Classic Trench – One of the most essential wardrobe staples is a classic, chic trench coat. More than just a way to cover up, trench coats are the new accessory. Look for a trench in black, khaki, white or stone colors with details such as tortoise shell buttons and epaulet accents for a timeless trench that will truly make a statement.

Go here to join Prime My Closet and view videos of fashion classic must-haves from James Aguiar and Prime Outlets.

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Maternity Dress Giveaway and Coupon Code – CLOSED

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:16:36 +0000

If you’re pregnant, then you should know about a very fashionable line of maternity clothes called Moody Mamas. These fashionable clothes are on the virtual racks at Target and they have a devout following of hot Hollywood mamas that includes Heidi Klum, Jessica Alba, Tori Spelling and Bethenny Frankel.

Moody Mamas’ colorful spring capsule collection will make every expectant mom look as sexy and chic as our celebrity clients. Each piece is inspired by the runway, from easy maxi dresses to adorable chiffon trim knit dresses. All of our styles are made from luxurious fabrics that give every Moody Mamas piece the feel of relaxing loungewear. Start expanding your spring wardrobe today! The collection is limited in quantity, affordably priced from $39.99 – $49.99, and extends into plus sizes. Plus, it features dresses that are perfect for transitioning into fall.

To shop the collection, click here to visit Target and use the discount code MM Discount for 30% off.

If you want to win a dress from the Moody Mamas capsule collection for Target.com then enter the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Visit the Moody Mamas Target collection and leave a comment here on two or three of your favorite pieces. This is a mandatory first entry. After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter
Fan Moody Mamas on Facebook
Blog about this contest

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time on July 29, 2010. USA residents only. The winner will be announced here and notified via email. If the winner doesn’t respond by July 31, an alternate winner will be chosen.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO MISTIE, COMMENT #1!!

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Chick-fil-A Free Combo

lipsticktocrayons — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:29:04 +0000

It’s become a holiday at Chick-fil-A — Cow Appreciation Day.

This Friday, July 9, Chick-fil-A will give a free combo meal to anyone dressed like a cow! You don’t have to be completely “cowed up” — I suspect a white t-shirt with black spots would work. But if you’ve got a complete cow costume (?), go for it. And dress up your kids, too, because according to Chick-Fil-A’s dress like a cow Web site, calves get free meals, too!