Many of you are in the same boat as I am with this economy…BUDGET! So, Elizabeth and I headed to Brentwood to check out what you could get, for a true deal, to perk up your Holiday wardrobe.  (to stay local, check out Blush and UAL for great trendy items that are slashed in price.)  We were impressed by what we found.  TJ MAXX has some serious deals and SteinMart was full of great finds.  And, SteinMart is having a 14 hour sale on SATURDAY, Dec 12th with everything an EXTRA 30-50% off!  So, look at these pictures from these two stores and see if one of them should be included on your TO DO list:

TJ MAXX Brentwood (Brentwood TJ MAXX always has the best clothes):

Dolce & Gabbana, retail $1000+ (I think more like $1600+), TJ MAXX= $270, shoes at the Maxx as well There are two of these at the store. It is SUCH a steal I'm tempted to go back.

Nanette Lepore dress- perfect holiday frock- Retail $300+ ( I think it was really $425), Maxx= $89.00

The brown leather jacket is too die for. Many sizes- look to the right of the dressing room. Ralph Lauren, Retail= $1667+, Maxx= $299.

How about a Vince green sweater? So cute, and there is TONS of Vince at the Maxx right now. retail=$300+ Maxx=$150

After seeing this picture, I may go back and get this blouse...unless you beat me to it! Developement by Erica Davie; retail= $325, Maxx= $79

Rebbecca Taylor coat. Love it! 375+, Maxx= $149

Cole Haan with leather trim at slash pockets (yes, I know the tag is sticking out!) Retail= $440+, Maxx=$149

I'm looking down at this one because I'm saying "I think I NEED this!" Leather driving jacket, Cole Haan, Retail $600+,Maxx= $299

One of the better deals we saw, if you are willing to fork over $400. This is a St. Johns jacket. The ticket says $800+, but I've never seen a St. John's jacket for under $1200 and many times TJ MAXX items are under valued. Maxx price= $399. See further details in next picture.

Details on the St. John's jacket. It's a size 8 if you are wondering.....

Now, to SteinMart!!

(insider tip: always check the facebook SteinMart page before shopping, you might be able to score a 20% off coupon or know about an upcoming sale…or sign up for their 25K give away contest.  I’m kinda like a kid with contests….someone has to win!!)

TJ Maxx has lots of THEORY right now. Retail= $180; SteinMart marked down to $39 (and remember take another 30% off this Saturday!)

This leather jacket is great with jeans, but perfect to warm up and dress up and sheath dress. We think it was $129, but we didn't write it down! The arm length will fit you- I just have really long arms.

One of the best "throw on and dress it up" shrugs. Add this to jeans, a dress, a sparkly tee/tank. $89.

They have this coat in about 10 colors and you can EASILY wear it as a dress. It is so dang cute. Check out the picture below of Elizabeth trying one on!

Pretty cute, huh?

I have on a small here and I'm really a Medium, so don't look too close! A great top to add some sparkle and dress up anything- and you can camouflage those Holiday pounds as well! Michael Kors.

I love purple during the Holidays- It stands out and it reminds me of Advent.

What did I learn from this experience?  Great deals are to be had, and that I need to learn to do SOMETHING with my arms when Elizabeth is taking a picture of me!

I used to frequent Steinmart.  Then my love waned. I made a trip back in today to see if there was anything worthwhile.  We’ll be writing a lot about Fall fashion in the coming weeks and we will feature bunches of pricier clothing.  But, fact is, many of us, myself included, are really penny pinching and want to make some wise choices. I wanted to ensure that we featured some affordable options that should give your current wardrobe a nice new look.  Everything I chose was specifically in mind to work with the at home or working woman.  Enjoy!

A few words of caution.  Steinmart is one of those places where it is easy to get led astray.  If you are questioning a purchase, enlist a fashionable friend to help you decide what to keep and what to return.  I hope you find some inspiration in the following pieces that are currently available.  Honestly, I like about 2% of the styles offered here.  But, that 2% is great and worth the trip and the deals are incredible.  I want your comments!  Which is your favorite that I have picked out?  I’d love to know!

This grey sweater, by Venue, is a cotton/viscose blend. It drapes beautifully. Don't be afraid to wear khaki, brown and grey together. Winter white and denim are great as well. $49.99

Paired this short sleeved sweater with a pair of denim leggings and then forget the belt (The belt is mine that I added here). As there is no way my thighs will be in leggings, I'll stick with the belt and some slight boot cut jeans (they balance those thighs) and some cowboy boots. by Artisan, $49.99

I love this little black tee with ruched short sleeves and banded at the bottom. Cable & Gauge $24.99

Ellen Tracy suit. Jacket normally $448 and marked at $119.99. Skirt normally $228 and marked at $64.99. I love this suit because the skirt is equally at home with the suit or paired with a white tee a brown leather belt, a denim jacket and boots. The jacket is just as versatile with jeans, cords, pants or another pencil skirt. Also, I love the teal, olive green and yellow found in the threads.

Marked at $24.99 but on sale for $17, this lightweight jacket is a perfect transitional piece. I love it.

This cute jacket has the perfect amount of volume to be paired with a slender bottom half. This jacket works well over a sheath dress as well as an outerwear. Envy U $44.99

This grey sleeveless cardigan with tons of ruffles is right on trend. A great layering piece. Check out the next picture to see it with a belt and to how great brown and grey look together. Cable & Gauge $44.99

With belt and cute black tee.

A fun jacket that you'll probably grab for more after the sun goes down, this faux snake skin jacket has just the tight amount of funk to put some spring in your step. By Peck & Peck, $89.99

This is the kind of top I live in. Perfect for day and evening. Max Edition $49.99. Both Necklaces are by All Strung Out Designs.

Every Christmas all sorts of publications print their best of holiday buys. I always love to see what items the publishers deem to be “hot items”.  Most are in categories with items priced under$25, under $50, under $75 etc. What I find in magazines is by the time the ink has dried most items are already sold out due to demand..   Last Christmas there was a pair of great Lucite candelabras from Target featured in Town and Country.  They were reasonable at under $50 so I jumped in my car and zoomed to Target.  Sold out.  I checked the website.  Sold out.  And then one day, low and behold, there they were reduced to $25 each.  If an item is lucky enough to make Real Simple, it is guaranteed to sell out.  I called about an amazing wrap in chocolate brown with ruffles featured in Real Simple a couple of holiday seasons ago.  It was a small boutique company from New York so I called the company direct and spoke with the sales associate.  Her comment was they have never sold so many wraps and yes, they were sold out.  .She was helpful and directed me to a similar wrap and my friend Daniel purchased it for his wife Leslie. Still to this day, it is one of her most favorite gifts.   With supply and demand in mind, I wanted to share with you some incredible deals and gifts ideas available RIGHT NOW.. Nothing better than some early Christmas shopping both locally and online.

10 great gifts under $50

1.    Bobby Brown Mini Tube Tints $30 available at Belk’s or Private Edition  I received this as hostess gift a year ago and loved it.  The set includes 4 small tubes all in great colors.
2.    Pottery Barn  Bamboo Cotton Throws $35.  What a great gift for someone that has everything.  They come is 4 fantastic colors:  cream, paprika, camel and chocolate brown. www.potterybarn.com
3.    Victoria’s Secret.  French Cuff Shirt $28.  On sale now.. this is a must have shirt because it stretches to fit your shape, washes and holds up…little or no ironing. www.victoriassecret.com
4.    Red Envelope.  Holiday Paper whites in red vessel $39.  Gorgeous presentation of 10 paper white bulbs..a fabulous hostess gift. Red Envelope is known for their packaging, simplicity and elegance. www.redenvelope.com
5.    Sundance.  Post Modern Pearl Studs $18.  Baroque freshwater pearls in sterling.. wonderful iridescent colors peach, coppery brown, white or gray. www.sundancecatalog.com
6.    Envirosax..great reusuable  shopping bags $8.49 each on Amazon.com for grocery and everything else..  My sister gave me a set of 5 last year for Christmas and I love them.  They are deceivingly big, come in fabulous colors and designs and can fit when rolled up in an average purse.  They have small snaps that allow you to roll them up and a small carry pouch.  The only challenge is to remember to keep them in your car.  www.envirosax.com
7.    LL Bean. Wicked Good Slippers and Scuffs. Like the name says wicked in their warmth and comfort. Great Slippers for men, women, and kids in lots of styles and colors like:  Chocolate brown, vintage red, cobalt blue $49.95.   www.llbean.com
8.    Iprint.com. Photo note cube with 650 pages, color photo on 4 sides.  I love gift items that have many uses.. There are great for grandparents, teachers, teenagers, and friends and cheap at $14.99 per cube.  Check out I print.com for personalized ties, boxer shorts, key chains and more.  www.iprint.com
9.    Steinmart.  Pashmina and scarves.  I am not a big fan of Steinmart for clothes and shoes, but I think they have great accessories and jewelry.  If you need a hostess gift or small gift item, they always come through with good prices.  Their selection of pashminas for $12.95 is worthy of a visit with a lots of colors and styles.
10.    Create  your own bag of favorites for a friend.  Last Christmas my friend Anne put together for her walking buddies and it was incredible.. a tube of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, a small electric foot massager and tube of great lip gloss, bar of chocolate.  Of everything in the bag, my absolute favorite was the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and lipstick protectorate for winter chapping and general dry skin.. It is great at night under your eyes and on your lips priced at $17.00 each. www.elizabetharden.com or at Dillards..

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping.