Kelly from Kelly's Korner wrote a fun post today about dressing cheaply throughout our recession, so I thought I would play along as well. Because I spend most of my money and time shopping for my kids (it's way more fun shopping for them than for myself), I thought I would mention a few places I like to get great deals for little ones, while still having them look cute and in-style.
#1. Target (you had to know it was going to be # 1 on my list)- They have some of the best prices around and adorable clothes. I usually get all of Halle and Parker's basic clothing there. They always have really cute clothes for girls. I usually find really good deals on the clearance rack- 30-75% off. We just bought Parker a new pair of shoes that look identical to some adidas ones for $6!! Even when paying the normal price though, everything is still really inexpensive.
I love Converse shoes on kids!! Only $19.99
Basic shorts/tees for both boys and girls are $4-6 dollars each, and will go on sale for $3 each
Most boys' shoes are $9.99-14.99
#2. Children's Place- I can't say I always find things I like in this store because sometimes their clothes are a little wild, but they always have great sales. Once you get on their mailing list, you are always receiving 15% off coupons, which you can use on top of the sales already in the store. Most of the time, anything that is on sale ends up having an extra 20-25% off that price as well, and if you use the coupon, you are walking away with clothes for barely nothing. I have spent as little as $1-2 on shirts for Parker. I just bought Parker a whole sweatsuit-pants and sweatshirt for $5 total! Can't beat that!!
Jeans for both boys and girls are $12.50-16.50
I buy all of Parker's pj's from here. On clearance, they are as cheap as $3-5 (which is when I buy them), but usually their deal is 3 for $25!!
#3. Justice- for girls. When we lived in Charlotte, NC, a Justice store opened up about 5 minutes away from where we lived. Halle was always wanting to go there. I liked it because their clothes were just like Limited Too's, but cheaper. Now all Limited Too stores have switched over to Justice (no one can afford LT prices during the recession), so we have one close by us now in MI. I can't say their clothes are really cheap, but they are good quality, cute, and if you get them on sale, they are a good deal. If you get on their mailing list, you get 30-40% off coupons quite freqeuntly. You can use it on sale items as well, so it makes for a good deal. We just bought Halle a bunch of clothes for summer and spent $6-10 on each item after coupons.
#4. Gap Kids/Baby Gap/Gap Outlet- I love Gap for kids. I can't say I find myself much there, but I have always thought their kids clothes are cute. I only buy stuff when it's on sale, and if you wait long enough, their prices get really low. I have found $40 pair of pants for less than $10 before. You just have to wait it out though. Sometimes when you buy an item, you get a survey on the bottom of your receipt. If you take the survey online, you get a code for an extra 15% off your next purchase. It only take 3-4 minutes to take the survey, so it's worth it.
So, there's the top 4 stores I shop at for my kids. I love to dress my kids nicely, but I never spend a lot doing it. Why break the bank on clothes that will only fit them for a few months? If you are really looking for a good deal, always browse the sale racks, never buy anything full price, use coupons, and above all, be patient- it will go on sale at some point!!
**I have posted a link on Kelly's blog. You can go there and see where others have blogged about finding great deals on clothes.
I just put some zebra scrapbooking paper on her tack board
After
Our $5 find at TJ Maxx. She holds necklaces, hair clips, pictures
So, this past weekend, Halle and I went out shopping for a couple hours on Sunday and came home with new bedroom stuff for her room. We usually aren't that lucky to find something we both like the first day we look, but we already had an idea in our minds before we left, which made it a lot easier.
I have been working on quite a few projects for her room since we got all this stuff. Needless to say, black, hot pink, and zebra are what I'm working with. Every day this week, I have spent my evenings working on different projects. I'm not showing them now, so I won't ruin the full effect of her made-over room (pics to come after this weekend). We don't have school on Friday, so I am going to begin painting her room then. It's a huge room, so it's going to take me a while. I really want to have everything done this weekend though... We'll see...I am really excited about it!! Pray I don't run into any snags along the way, or mess up royaly while painting. 
Pasta Salad
Strawberries
and Red Pop/Root Beer Floats for dessert
Skinny Jeans- the only people these look good on have legs like these models...pencil legs...definitely not me!
(Sidenote: I am a substitute teacher right now until I can find a real teaching job, but I am VERY thankful to have a job, even if it is just subbing) I have gotten to know a lot of teachers in the Lapeer schools, so many of them request me weeks in advance, so my weeks usually get filled up quickly. I sub 5 days a week, every week (which is a huge blessing because most subs only get called a couple times a week). 
Well, last night I was telling Brad that I did not have anything scheduled for Friday(today), which just means I would be getting a 5am call in the morning to go an assigned school (there are always lots of teachers who take Fridays off). I will admit that I felt a little weird last night going to bed and even thought about quickly checking my planner to make sure I had nothing written down, but I could have sworn that I had checked it earlier and nothing was written in. So, I went to bed with the anticipation of the 5am call. 
5am rolled around and then 6 and there was no call, so I figured I was going to have the day off today. When you work all 5 school days every week, it just seems weird to not have to work. At 7:05, Brad woke up and I felt like something was wrong, so I asked him to get me my planner. I opened it and my heart stopped. I DID have an assignment at Lapeer East High School. I jumped out of bed barely able to breath because by this time is was 7:10am and school starts at 7:25!!! Yes, that's only 15 minutes!! I should have already been to school by this time!
Have you ever had that feeling before where you have either overslept or gotten behind and are going to be late to something important?? I was freaking out!! I rushed to the computer to look up the school's number, called them and explained that I was going to be a few minutes late (yikes!) and rushed around getting myself ready. Thank heavens that I take my shower at night and every Friday is casual day so I could wear jeans. Brad was sweet enough to iron my shirt for me and I threw my hair into a ponytail. I barely put any make-up on. Brad quickly ran upstairs to start the car for me, grab me a few granola bars and got me a water bottle ready. He was SO sweet!!
