Bargain Biatch

Take A Peek at Haute Look

Wanted to wait a bit before blogging about Haute Look since we need another couture shopping site about as much as we need another infidelity scandal.  Yes I mean you Mr. Morality Governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford.  But I’ve been logging on daily and most of the sales are pretty good.  Last week’s noteworthy boutiques included Michael Kors with a good amount of well priced separates (cute tops under $50) and Flippa K, a bit young for me but a popular designer who makes trendy and wearable clothes.  In addition to apparel Haute hosts sales for skin care products bags and accessories.  Last week they featured jewelry by designer Maya Brenner.  Never heard of her before but her simple pendants necklaces and leather charm bracelets were stylish and chic.  The site is free to join and the “private” sales last 32-72 hours.  The prices are good and over the weekend they tossed in free shipping so hopefully they’ll keep the tempting sales and incentives coming.

Movie Review: Defiance

When Defiance was first released in theaters I was interested in seeing it but it got sucked into the vortex of other new Holocaust movies. Between Tom Cruise playing a one eyed hero in Valykerie and the maudlin and manipulative “Boy In The Striped Pajamas, I ended up passing on all three.  So finally I Netflix cherry picked what I thought was the best of the bunch, Defiance.  It’s the true story of a Polish family with three brothers who in 1939 fled and hid out deep in the woods to escape the Nazi invasion. Initially they form a small group but soon their numbers swell as the Bielski brothers take in a huge population of Polish Jews fleeing from the approaching Nazis.  Their expanding community includes the elderly, women and children and the two oldest brothers played by Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber disagree on decision to take in so many.  It’s clear that it will be a near impossible task to forage for food and secure weapons in order to survive and protect themselves. Schreiber is unexpectedly cast as the “bad” rebellious brother and he’s great.  Craig is also good but at times his accent slips from polish immigrant to British aristocrat, but after all he is James Bond.  Overall it’s a deeply moving movie and an amazing true story of survival.

 

Bundle And Save Money On Your Summer Vacation

 

Before you hit the on your summer vac-cay let your fingers do the walking or pointing and clicking and search out a package deal.  Since vacations usually involve more than flying in huge a turbulent box while your neighbor overshares and a toddler kicks the back of your seat, you probably need wheels and a place to sleep.  And everyone in the travel industry is feeling the recession pinch, so providers are working together to sell more components for lower prices by bundling packages. A recent article in the NY Times breaks down several travel packages and reveals tremendous savings.  For example by using Expedia to book air and hotel together you save an average of 17 percent or more than double the savings over last year.  The deals are due in part from desperation and the fact more hotels are participating in and effort to book rooms in a sluggish economy.  No one travel site is consistently best so it pays to shop around.  And before you go, check out packages within packages for additional perks, particularly for resort stays.  There are so many choices of properties that in order to distinguish themselves in the sea of summer discounts they’re offering very generous add ons.  You might get meal credits, spa treatments, or excursions like horseback riding and white water rafting.  It’s great way to save money on high-end fun not be hit with sticker shock at the end of your stay

Groupon, Harness Collective Buying Power And Save

 

Just found out about a new website called Groupon that rounds up the best deals in your area and sends you a daily temptation on something great to do, see or buy.  Using your city as a hub, Groupon has harnessed collective buying power to offer unbelievable deals. And for the merchants practically giving it away, they benefit from the potential for enormous customer exposure and hopefully repeat business.  All you have to do is sign up and a daily offer is emailed and you have the chance to sign up.  The small caveat is that a predetermined number of bargain hunters have to jump on the daily bandwagon for you get the deal.  Check out the video for complete details. I’ve only been a member for a week but the deals have been…..well, the real deal.  I’m not talking a free drink coupon on your next booze cruise around the Hudson.  The last deal was a 2 for one, hour-long massage at a well-reviewed midtown spa, which came out to 2 massages for 75 bucks.  Beat That!  

Reviews: Nurse Jackie is Jacked Up...in a good way

A quick Netflix note…available for a limited time you can watch the highly praised (except if you’re a nurse) first episode of the new Showtime series Nurse Jackie.  Since I’m too cheap to get Showtime I could still to watch the pilot to instantly with my magic box (Roku).  The show was great, half an hour of fast paced action centered around train wreck nurse Jackie played perfectly prickly by Edie Falco.  The bad news is that I think they’re just whetting your appetite by teasing you with only the first episode.  For the full season you have to subscribe to Showtime…NOT.  Or wait till it’s available on DVD.  And just on a whim, I also instantly watched an episode of Penn and Teller’s show appropriately entitled “Bullshit”.  The show I caught was about the boy scouts and their infuriating homophobia and ignorance.  Bad enough, but the fact that they are allowed special nonprofit privileges, access and funding was too much to take.  The show was well done, like an extra strength dose of Bill Maher, but the self-righteous stupidity of people sanctioned by the government almost made my head explode.   

Puma, Treat Your Feet And Do Good

Although I consider myself more of a Cougar, I’ll gladly become a Puma to score 30 percent off my next pair of kicks… and donate to a worthy cause.  The program named “soles4souls” is based on the premise that every good deed should go rewarded.  So drop off a pair of new or used sneakers at a Puma store and you’ll get 30 percent off your next Puma Footwear purchase.  Good now through July 15^th.

Get Rewarded By Being a Joiner

I’ve always said it pays to be a joiner but recently I have reaped the rewards for signing up for specific websites deals and preferred buy clubs.  Sierra Trading Post is my go-to website for fitness apparel plus they have a great selection of shoes, boots and outdoor gear.  And although I am a fairly frequent shopper you don’t have to be to get unadvertised specials. Sign up for their Deal Flyer and get offers like an extra 20 percent off and free shipping sent directly to your in box.  I recently took advantage of an additional discount and one day free shipping to score these great Gizeh Birkenstocks for 30 bucks.  Smart Bargains is another site that rewards you for joining.  You’ll get access to preview, one day only and two-fer sales.  And by signing up at Nike I got free shipping and the always-appreciated free returns.  And all three websites are member partners with ebates so I get cash back for every purchase. SWEET! So sign up for deals, it’s free and will help you save while spending….right. 

Movie Review: L'heure d'ete'....Summer Hours

Just before I abandon any semblance of culture and get ready to wallow in the new crop of mindless summer blockbusters, I decided to rein it in and see a movie with an actual decipherable plot, and a foreign flick at that.  Summer Hours is a quiet contemplative movie that delves into the relationships of three siblings and reveals a few incestuous secrets that are uncovered when their mother dies. The first scene is beautiful montage shot in the French countryside on the family estate.  The two brothers and sister have gathered with spouses and children to celebrate their mother Helene’s birthday who is the niece of a famous French painter.  Helene dies shortly after the visit and the siblings must decide whether to give up their childhood home full of memories or sell the rambling estate.  And there’s also the valuable antiques and paintings to be divided up or donated to the Museum d’Orsay.  Since that’s the basic plot the movie it obviously not an edge of your seat thrill ride, but it’s captivating all the same.  The interplay between the family members is touching and genuine.  They obviously love each other but are growing apart due to distance and difference in lifestyle.  Like the daughter played by Juliette Binoche who’s living in New York and designing for Takashi Murakami and her brother who works for Puma and contemplating a move to Beijing with his wife and young kids. I Enjoyed the movie and now I will officially turn off my brain and gear up to see The Terminator and Transformers. Weeeeee, robots, action!

Cash or Credit? How To Find The Best Deals On Credit Cards

Lots of people have maxed out their credit and are waaaaaaay in over their heads and yet credit card companies keep mailing out the offers to pile on even more bad debt.  But does that mean we have to go to an all cash or barter society, well no but that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.  The key is to keep track of spending and when you’re thinking of pulling the trigger on a purchase, try pay with cash or a debit card  so the money is immediately yanked out or your account rather spending money you don’t have.  And besides using your debit, and credit cards wisely, shop around for the best deal.  To peruse the best deals go to Credit Card Guide to see who’s giving the most cash back or points redeemable for merchandise or travel.  The deals change frequently so if you’re thinking of changing cards shop the around to get the best card to match your spending habits.  But a bit of caution if you’ve been changing accounts and cards every time you see “something shiny”, your crackishness will reflect negatively on your credit rating.

 

Falconry, Golf And Wine Tasting On Sale!

Since last week I pumped up my hometown of Denver with great deals in and out of the city, thought I’d show some respect for the East Coast.  Starting with Tarrytown, the picturesque Hudson town where the fabulous Tarrytown House Estate is having a retro blast from the past.  To celebrate the year that they opened, now through end of the 2009, they’re offering an unbelievable package for $196.40 that includes accommodations, dinner for 2, breakfast, retro beers, snacks and a CD featuring 60’s tunes.

Then it’s off to Vermont to indulge in luxury accommodations and spa services at the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa in Manchester Village VT.  To show off their 20 million dollar face lift (and believe me 20 million can be very uplifting) they’re showcasing various packages with high end amenities like Land Rover School, falconry….right not that again, spa services and unlimited rounds of golf.  Rooms start at $150 midweek and $199 weekends.  And finally if you’re feeling Bacchanalian, you can spend a weekend drinking, which is never wrong, and pretty much what weekends are for.  But now you can take your debauch up a notch by taking advantage of winery packages to NY Finger Lakes region’s. There are a dozen different deals that include winery tours and gifts like your own wine label.  Totally cool. And of course accommodations are included so no designated driver required.