Posts tagged Deals

Despite living in Cleveland for 6 years, I have just recently learned of the Euclid Dillard’s Outlet.    

Having had the opportunity to visit on four separate occasions, I’m still undecided on if this is the city’s best kept secret or my new biggest curse…. 

Despite year’s of practice scouring clothing racks at discount bargain stores, I was NOT prepared for what awaited me inside….

Up for the challenge? Here’s what you should know: 

• Occupies space in the now “Dead” Euclid Square Mall 
• Slightly odd hours… Mostly 11:00 to 7:00 with the exception of Noon to 6:00 Sunday’s…. 
• Racks, upon racks, upon racks, upon racks…. I’m talking about a store that puts Gabriel Brothers to shame… Plan on eating before entering because you are not leaving for 3 hours
• Don’t make the drive if you’re looking for a lamp….. The outlet pretty much offers it all (Women’s, Men’s, Children’s, Shoes) but don’t count on accessories or home goods….A few straggling belts and purses and a table or two of leftover pillows and curtains…..
• Dress lightly and carry a small purse… You’re going to need the energy to carry the many pounds of discounted clothing to and from the dressing room… if they do offer shopping carts I’ve yet had the opportunity to use one… even so, you couldn’t fit them up and down the isles…. 
• Phenomenal ladies dress section; I’m talking 15 or so racks of cute name brand dresses at a fraction of the price; Antonio Melani, Calvin Klein, Cremieux, Gianni Bini, Jessica Simpson and Kenneth Cole to name a few….  *I scored an amazing $130 Kenneth Cole for $20 
• Prom Dress Haven… If I could only rewind the clock 15 years….would have been worth the 80 mile drive to scour the rows upon rows of discounted ballgowns and glitter 
• Terrible Customer Service… With the exception of a few register workers, these staffers epitomize bad customer service…..By far the the rudest dressing room employees I’ve ever encountered…. That being said, I enjoy the spunk and like the challenge..
• Terrible Dressing Rooms…  As if the unpleasant staffers weren’t enough, plan to occupy yourself because there is going to be a slow-moving line of anxious people….

Best of luck of bargainers…  You’re going to have to work for it, but it can certainly be a fun challenge… 

Thanks to my “Our Town and All Around” Cleveland Coupon Book, I discovered the wonders of the Saffron Patch, but just barely…..

One would not expect to find authentic Indian cuisine located in the basement level of a Shaker Heights corporate office building, but nonetheless, so sits the Saffron Patch.  So easily overlooked is the entrance, that even with GPS, you can expect to do lapse….  Do not give up….

Inside this oddly located gem is some of the best Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan that a gal can ask for…  

And as long as my ”Our Town and All Around” Cleveland Dining Deals book continues to produce a “$14 off two entrees” coupon,  Nick and I will continue to trek out to the East Side to devour it. 

*Bonus for the secondary Saffron Patch 72-hour pre/post birthday coupon!

It’s that time of year again!!!

Time to purchase my all-new Our Town and All-Around Cleveland coupon book!! By far the single smartest $28 purchase any Clevelander can make….

Featuring amazing buy-one-get-one free entrees to hundreds of eateries throughout the city, a section offering discounts to over a dozen Northeast Ohio wineries, and a section designated to discount savings at the West Side Market, this book blows the Cleveland Entertainment Guide away…   

I’m at four years and counting and I have yet to be let down….  

The  2013 edition does not disappoint….

Tons of casual dining options including:

• Cozumel
• Flannery’s Pub
• Harry Buffalo
• Houlihan’s
• Mavis Winkle
• P.J. McIntyre’s
• The Boneyard
• Quaker Steak & Lube
• Yours Truly

Some great upscale dining options:

• 1890 at the Arcade
• Aura Bistro & Lounge
• AMP 150
• House of Blues
• Nine Bistro
• Paws at Bertram Inn
• Porter’s Seafood & Steakhouse
• Punderson Manor Resort
• SB Eighty One
• The Wood Fire Grille
• Welshfield Inn

Some of my returning favorites:

• Arrabiata’s Italian Restaurant
• Jammy Buggers
• Menaro’s Ristorante
• Saffron Patch
• Shula’s
• The Mad Greek

And in addition, this year’s book also boasts an entire section of savings dedicated to fine dining establishments in Little Itally….

• Anthony’s
• Guarino’s
• Ii Bacio
• La Dolce Vite Bistro
• Maxi’s
• Mia Bella Restaurant
• Primo Vino

Let the Eating (and savings) Begin!

*Available at Drug Mart

Up until 16 days ago, I had absolutely no business attending a children’s resale event such as the one being held this Saturday Oct. 6 at Westlake High School.  Why the sudden Game Changer…. Sept. 18…

Sept 18, (1984)… A date once memorable due to the birth of my younger brother,

Sept 18, (2012)… A date now memorable due to the birth of my nephew…

Welcome baby Cullen Jamison… 6 lbs 7 Oz. of newborn handsomeness…… 

Though most first time aunties would have hit the retail stores right away, I knew that my Slovak Sister (first time mother to baby Cullen) would be returning the goods in exchange for savings bonds.  (Not saying it’s a bad thing, just saying it’s a known thing.)

Rather than wasting time purchasing items that would later be returned, I did what any good Slovak would do and opted to hit up last weekend’s Bay Village baby resale where $10 snagged me two bags of name brand baby clothes including these amazing buys….

So how can I top the bargains I found last weekend…..Not sure that I can, but with 80 tables awaiting me chances are I’ll come out strong.

Just remember, get up early because the sale ends at noon.  Those looking for the 8:00 a.m. early bird selection will have to pay $5 to enter but those willing to wait until 9:00 will only have to shell out $1. *And don’t forget to bring cloth totes to carry your goodies home!

Hope to see you there fellow bargainers!

Since 2010, I was on a massive search for an outdoor bistro set that wouldn’t break the bank.   I refused to pay $150, which was the standard rate for these 3-piece table sets…  

Oh..the hours I spent shopping, the muscles I sprained in my fingers from scouring Craigslist.. but finally…finally I scored a beauty for $80..

So you can imagine my horror when I visited my friend Jen and saw her DIY mosaic which she busted out for under $30… Utter disbelief and jealousy. 

How….how is that possible I asked: 

• Hand-me-Down Table:  Free 
• Home Depot Tile Pieces: $0.50 a piece 
• Grout… $5
• Spray Paint… $5 to $10  

But how, how did you concoct this masterpiece I asked:  

Placing whole tile pieces inside of an old pillow case, she slugged those babies with a hammer… *Note, use a cutting board or another hard slab of wood as a silencer… (The initial noise could have warranted the police.) 

From there, navy blue spray paint was used on the wrought iron frame and accompanying four chairs…

Lastly, simple time and patience was needed to piece together and grout these little tiles pieces…

Thank you Jen for restoring my faith in decor recycling.. you epitomized the saying, “a little determination goes a long way!” 

Oh Mail, why are you such a bore…….

Bill, statement, flyer, statement, statement, advertisement, credit card offer, credit card offer, bill, credit card offer, flyer, Ebates Big Fat rewards check, credit card offer, credit card offer.

Ebates Big Fat Rewards Check…… Why…. I nearly overlooked you when I tossed you in a pile two weeks ago and then hid you away in the corner.   

So what is Ebates?  Essentially, it’s an Online cash back shopping site.  (On average, you receive about 3% cash back on most purchases.)  Read more about it here. Over a 1,000 retailers participate with the site.  Definitely worth signing up for before those black Friday and cyber Monday sales….