September 2007 Archives

(not my actual lunch)
A colleague recommended Poncho's Restaurant in Winnetka (no Web site, unfortunately) and handed me a menu filled with huge plates of food priced at $5.50 or less. Bingo! Then I went and found I was two weeks late. They raised their prices Sept 14, limiting my fiver options (prez Lincoln is on the $5 bill btw) to breakfast dishes, tacos, a tostada, quesadilla, torta, chile relleno, sope, or burrito. Woe is me, huh?

I settled on the chicken quesadilla with rice, beans, guac, and salsa even though it was $5.50. A friend ordered ceviche tostadas for $5.99 but was disappointed. My quesadilla was tasty but not exceptional. I think I would have been better off with a huarache for $4.50 or if I had stopped by on a Tuesday, when two fish tacos with rice and beans are $5.

Visit them at 20116 Sherman Way, just west of Winnetka St. in Winnetka. (818) 716-0077. Parking is limited.

This sounds pretty incredible! You get a CD and the digital tracks for your MP3 player for $7 plus $2.95 in shipping per CD at AnywhereCD, which is having a going-out-of-business sale. Don't dilly dally, this sale ends midnight Sept 30. I spotted Buena Vista Social Club with Ry Cooder, an amazing recording of Cuban musicians playing traditionals, Dreamland by Madeleine Peyroux, who sounds freakishly like classic Billie Holiday, and sound tracks to the Departed, Hustle & Flow, Borat, and tons more. There are also many recordings for $7 in these categories: heavy metal, classical, punk, jazz, Christmas. In rock/pop alone there are almost 3,000 recordings.

Caveat: not eeeeeeverything is $7, but like 97% of it is.

Sounds like it's time to buy a gas grill. Consumer Reports Magazine has a smart article about what time of year shoppers should buy certain major purchases to get the best price. In-house researchers looked at industry surveys and publications and talked to experts to come up with this list, from the July issue of their magazine.

September:
bikes, gas grills, shrubs, trees, perennials, small consumer electronics

October:
bikes, digital cameras, gas grills, winter coats

November:
new cars, bikes, computers, gas grills, toys

December:
new cars, bikes, computer, gas grills, small consumer electronics, toys, tvs.

If you want to take advantage of sales on gas grills (or another item) but don't live in a warm climate that lets you use them year-round, keep the new purchase in its original packaging. When you open it next spring or summer, it will really seem like you just bought it.

More items to come when it's closer to that time of year.

The Body Shop has marked down all their gift sets by 25% to 50% off. Sounds like the store is trying to jump start people's holiday shopping. You will see the full price initially, but once you click on an item it comes up at the discounted rate. I like the spring home fragrance set for $21 (orig $28). Home scents are big these days, ya know. The picture is slightly misleading as everything in the kit is pictured twice. It actually includes "Cool Watermelon Home Fragrance Oil, Pina Colada Home Fragrance Oil, Small Silver Oil Burner, Tealight (2 pcs)." Watermelon and pina colada? Maybe for teeny boppers. The men's grooming kit ($45) is NOT on sale, unfortunately. I hear it's one of their biggest sellers. The grapefruit "glorious gift" sounds like a decent deal. For $24.50 (orig $34) you get a Pink Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel 8.5 fl oz, Pink Grapefruit Body Butter 1.7 fl oz, Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub 1.7 fl oz, Pink Grapefruit Soap 3.5 oz, and a Ultra Fine Pink Grapefruit Bath Lily.

Free shipping when you spend at least $55. Unclear when promotion ends.

I don't get excited about vacuums. They do wonderful things in record time but for some reason we all hate them. However, I love a good deal and Woot has an excellent deal on a very fancy vacuum. The Dyson DC 15 is $290 plus $5 shipping. Wooters discuss the product here. The same vac goes for $500 to $600 at Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon. Sears has it for $600.

The folks behind Woot are a bit wacky but their schtick is simple: every 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. they put a new item for sale. It's only available that day before they replace it with a new sale item. So ya gotta act quick. The clock is ticking.

Burger King is giving away free access to play an XBox Gold Trial. Sounds like Greek to me, but I guess gamers will appreciate it. Wonder if it includes Halo 3, the new game that just game out? The artwork on the link suggests so.

Get free black and white bangles from Revlon when you spend $10 or more. Keep your receipt and fill out this rebate form. Buy before Sept 30, mail in the paperwork before Oct 15, and the bangles are yours. Register here and get $2 off an color cosmetic (not sure what that means).

eBates, the Web site that cuts you a check for a percentage of your online shopping bills, just added more retailers. eBates has a different relationship with each store so the percentage they give you back varies. You have to register with eBates and click on the web sites you want to shop on through the eBates sites. Sound confusing? They explain it here. I signed up a few months ago and have already earned $17.50 from three purchases. eBates cuts you a check every three months.

They just added these retailers:
5% at AnytimeCostumes.com
6% at Luggage Pros
2% at Champs, Sports Chalet, Guess Fye, and X-tremegreek
3% at the Comedy Central Shop

Sign up here. Or I can send you an email invitation if you email me.

Lush Hair Salon in Redondo Beach is offering $15 off any service until Sept 30. Print out the coupon here. Visit them at 259 Avenida Del Norte, Redondo Beach. (310) 403-9193.

Thru Sept 30 get $5.00 off your tab of $25 or more at Big Mike's Philly Steaks & Subs in Hermosa Beach. Print out the coupon here. Also good at the El Segundo location. Reviews here either love it or hate it. Visit them at 1314 Hermosa Ave in Hermosa Beach, (310) 798-1455. Or at 507 Main St in El Segundo, (310)726-9638.

As part of their 105th anniversary celebration, JC Penny is cutting $10 off on orders of $50 or more. If you spend $75 or more get $15 off, or $20 off purchases of $100 or more. Use code WP34BMSM online. Expires Oct 3.

SmartBargains is knocking 20% off a selection of more than 100 jackets and sweaters, like this fitted women's motorcycle jacket with a bronze glint for $40 (orig $100). This Harve Benard wool coat, $80 (orig $250) takes me back to my days in New York, where fall truly exists. The landscape pares down and the air turns crisp and everybody waits as long as possible to put on their gloves and scarves. Each fall I vowed to wait until after Halloween to wear my winter jacket because I never needed it growing up in No Cal. It didn't seem right to need a two-layer 10-pound jacket before trick-or-treating time, but 40 degrees will change your mind awfully quick. The jacket *always* came out mid-October. But never in September. Seasons changing and air that crackles is hard to imagine after breathing LA's soggy smog day in day out. Here in the desert it drops to 50 at night and people think the season has changed. But it's still summer.

Those who just need a show coat should consider this red cropped jacket that has big buttons and ribbed trim for $64 (orig $120). Wow, that's cute.

Banana Republic is having a 30% off sale on all men's jeans. There are four different cuts (bootcut, relaxed, straight and slim) with the best selection in straight and slim (14 pairs between the two). You can certainly find jeans for cheaper - BR sale jeans are $54 to $68 - but the stuff I've purchased from the store usually lasts and is good quality. If your man has linebacker legs, I'd go for this relaxed cut pair for $54 (orig $78). Relaxed fit is usually the roomiest. If he's built like a runner, I like this darker straight leg pair for $68 (orig $98). If you're not sure about his figure, try one of the boot cut pairs. Thru Oct 8.

All boots at aerosoles are 25% off, which is awesome because their shoes are so much more cuter than they used to be but they are still really comfortable! This faux-leather boot called Risky Pizness (that's got to be a typo, right?) is $74 (orig $99). In sizes 5 to 12. The Vice President boot is $135 (orig $180) and comes in black, brown, black patent and red patent leather. There are also shorty and mid-length boots. Unclear when sale ends. No code needed.

The Against All Odds at Northridge Fashion Center (upper level near Sears) is having a buy one, get a second item half-off deal on regular priced items. At all stores until Oct 7. The store sells hip-hop inspired clothes by labels like Baby Phat, FCUK, and Ecko.

California stores here (Northridge is not listed but the mall does have one).

Children's Place is having a 50% off sale online on their outlet items, like tops, sleepwear, jeans, and shoes. Use code NMS97 to get $10 off a purchase of $30 or more. Shipping is $5, flat rate.

Halloween gear is 30% off. This dragon costune comes in sizes for 3-24 months and is $21 (orig $30). It will make you kiddo and cutiest scary beast out there!

Gap is having it's annual fall sale with some items up to 50% off. I like these gray pinstripped shorts for $30 (orig $40). A pleated floral dress is only $15 (orig $70) but only comes in sizes 14, 16, 18, and 20. A finely ribbed cotton top is $10-$15 depending on color (orig $40). I also like this cable knit cardigan which does not look overly heavy and long like a lot of them. It's $450 (orig $60). A few swimsuits and shoes are marked down. These giraffe print flats (size 8 only) are $30 (orig $40). Decent selection of jammies also on sale.

Borders has a 20% off coupon to be used in stores, not online. Also good at Waldenbooks. Expires Oct 2. Find a Borders or Waldenbooks near you. Not bad if you still have books to buy for back to school or are getting an early start on your holiday shopping.

Caveats: exludes coffee, magazine, special orders, electronics, and comics.

Get 40% off all accessories for the Wii video game player at Meritline.com. Most of the sale items are colored skins for the controllers and remotes, but there is also a charging station for $41 (grrr! not in stock at the moment), cables, and a battery pack for $26. Use code Wii40POFF. Don't wait, expries Thur Sept 27.

Sometimes bargains *are* too good to be true. Shoppers should be especially wary of ridiculously good prices online, as one LA Times reporter found. David Colker - who writes about scams for the paper - says he thought he was getting "a brand-name product at a bargain price by being a smart shopper, just like my feal-market-loving mom taught me." Read "Knocked off by a bargain" here.

Estee Lauder is giving away four free samples when you buy a concealer ($19.50-$24.50), foundation ($32.50 to $33.50) OR a powder ($9.50 for a refill, or $25 to $29.50). Normally shipping is only free when you buy $50 worth of stuff but use code FACE07 for free shipping a your choice of four samples from four powders, two extreme lift creams, three scents, a washer, pore minimizer, or correcting serum.

Thru Oct. 7.

CityMommy says The Closet Concierge is offering a 10% off deal for new clients. For $250 the CC will give you an overall assessment that includes editing your wardrobe, making a closet organization plan, creating a list of specific items you should buy, and helping you decide what you should donate and what you should sell to a second hand store. The CC also does guided shopping trips for $75 an hour and group discount shopping for $300 (for you and three buddies). Email the CC at contact@theclosetconcierge.com

Our computers are being bombarded with bugs or some other cyber creature that is making every.......thing........super.......sllllooooooooooowwww. Anoying, isn't it? Please be patient and check back soon!

In a pinch I went to the chain Sharky's for a quick, cheap bite. The menu did not have a lot of $5 Lincoln options so I ordered two original tacos for $5.18 plus tax. I'm cutting them a little slack on the price because they give a big bag of chips with every order and have a free salsa bar. My chicken taco was juicy and had plenty of chopped onions and cilantro, but it definitely needed salsa. And there was no lime!!! Overall it was decent but no match for the tacos from the taco stand near my house. I didn't have high hopes for the grilled veggie taco since the chicken was bland and the veggies looked steamed, not grilled. But it was surprisingly tasty and had the slightest touch of spice. My NY friend who thinks ketchup is spicy would run for milk, but the rest of us will be fine.

Find a Sharky's near you.

Take advantage of Footlocker's hefty family and friends discount by printing a coupon here. Online use code FF79L924. Get an extra 10% off in-store only when you spend $100 or more. Good Thursday Sept 27 thru Sunday Sept 30 only. Thanks Wow Coupons! Locations here.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are offering 15% off on select routes, including Burbank to Helena, MT, Los Angeles to Cabo or Bend, OR, and Long Beach to Calgary. Need to travel between Oct 16 and Dec 13 for the discount. Use e-certificate code EC05807 when you make your reservation on alaskaair.com. Expries Sept. 30. Cabo baby, here I come!

See the full list of flights here.

Caveats: Blackout dates around Thanksgiving.

Print this coupon for 20% off at Banana Republic Factory stores. Expires Sept 30. Nearest BRFS I know of is in Camarillo, at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, and at Ontario Mills. Find a factory store near you. Thanks Wow-Coupons!

REI stores have free classes on outdoorsy topics likes camping and bike maintence. At the Northridge store there is one Wed Sept 26 on desert camping. Their pitch: "Do you think the desert is just a wasteland? Think again! Southern California is filled with desert destinations that have amazing vistas, unique ecologies and native wildlife viewing opportunities..." Never occured to me that I needed to take a class for desert camping but this doesn't sound so bad. There are also intro classes on rock climbing and GPS, a Stoney Point clean-up day, and bike matintenence. For all the details go here. To find an REI class near you look for a local store here.

The Camarillo Outlets are having a sale for Columbus Day (Mon Oct 8) with items 25% to 65% off on top of their normal discounted prices. Here are a few of the sales:
50% to 75% off original retail on select merchandise at Theory
25% off outerwear at the Brooks Brothers Factory Store
Take an extra 25% off all red ticket clearance at Harry & David, plus smoked turkeys and spiral sliced hams are 50% off original price
30% to 50% off all coats at Jones New York Company Store
No tax at Zales Outlet

For a full list of the sales go here. I recommend signing up for their VIP club and printing out the voucher for a free VIP coupon booklet. The office where you redeem the voucher is to the left of the Mikasa store. Visit the outlets at 740 E. Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo, CA 93010 (805) 445-8520.

Once a day Mon through Fri I send out all the new blog posts since the day before to those who sign up. For some readers getting an email is easier than visiting the Web site. You can sign up by emailing me at julia.scott@dailynews.com. The daily digest is not as good being in the tropics, but it's pretty close. :) Thanks!

eBags is having their fall sale with luggage up to 70% off and handbags up to 50% off. Items part of the back to school sale are an additional 10% off with free shipping.

This black and pink Diane Von Furstenberg "Lizard on the Go" carry on is very fashionable and is $126 (orig $360) plus free shipping. For day to day stuff I love this nylon tote for $27 (orig $40), plus free shipping. Also comes in dark blue, maroon, red, orange, pink and black. If you need more input, eBags lists customer reviews at the bottom of the page of each item.

The famous ice cream chain started selling $1 scoops on Tuesdays for its 60th anniversary. That was in 2005, but many chains seem to offer the deal now, like the store on the corner of Topanga Canyon and Ventura Blvd next to Starbucks and Rite Aid. The scoop normally costs about $1.89 and is for one of their 31 classic flavors.

Caveat: gotta buy between 6 and 10 pm Tuesdays. Locations here. Call your local store to check they are doing the promotion.

Rezon8Living in Van Nuys is having a tent sale Oct 4-7, Columbus Day weekend. "Select items" are 50% to 70% off. The modern furniture store is named one of LA's top 40 home stores in next months' issue, according to the store. I'm going to try and check out the sale. Will let you know how it is.

Visit them at 7900 Haskell Ave, just north of Saticoy and a stone's throw west of the 405. in Van Nuys. (818) 728-1800. Hours Mon to Sat 10 to 6. Sun 11 to 5.

Get 30% off all your purchases at GuessFactory with code SEPT30. Discount taken at checkout. Coupon good to Oct. 6. Hmm, wonder why the code is Sept 30 then. Best bet is to use it by the end of the month. Not sure if you can double up the coupon codes, but code THANKS gets your 15% off and free shipping. I like the Elizabeth Cowl dress in dark aqua for $34 (orig $39). Fitted, made of polyester-rayon-spandex with tie at the waist. This slim cut puffy jacket also caught my eye. At $65 it's not a deal, but the coupon takes it down to $45 and I think that's borderline.

Looking at this blue and silver/grey roll-on deodorant makes you want to buy it, right? That's what color researchers say, according to a story in the Courier Journal. I disagree. The first thing that came to mind when I read blue/silver/grey was men's deodorant, illustrated above. I prefer the brown/pink combo or something with fiery orange.

Chefs Corner has a 15% off coupon that's good thru Sept 30. Use coupon code CCAFFONLY, discount taken at checkout. The online store carries "everything needed to take a gourmet meal from the stove and put it onto the table," according to the Bargainist. Free shipping on orders over $99.

Overstock.com about 60 items (clothes, bedding, dishes, electronics) marked down 75%. There's a Jabra BT350 bluetooth wireless headset for $27 (orig $130), a
gold rug with a floral pattern that measures 8-feet 3-inches by 11 feet for $480 (orig $2,160). Barcelona bar stools in black, brown, red, or tan with leather seats are two for $91 (orig $500). The Palm m505 Handheld PDA is $82 (orig $350). Some decent holiday presents in the mix, wouldn't ya say?

Get 20% off a purchase of $50 at Meijer with coupon code MEIJERCOMGIFT, according to the Bargainist. Meijer has stores in five midwestern states (MI, IN, KY, IL, OH) and sells electronics, stuff for the kitchen, home, backyard, kids, appliances, furniture, storage, gardening, animals, babies, etc. Would be a great discount if shipping is too bad. Discount taken at checkout. Unclear when it expires.

I signed up for emails about fashion and sales from Bluefly and a week later got an offer for free shipping on my first order over $100. The code is H38E27F but it says it'll only work once so you really do have to sign up for their emails to get the discount, which is taken at checkout.

Bag, Borrow, or Steal has a 15% off for first time "borrowers" with code bags24. The online company literally rents out upscale purses by the week or month. There's a monthly membership fee, but you can also rent at a higher rate without being a member. There are four categories of bags each with a set monthly fee: Trendsetter, Princess, Diva or Couture Collections. You can tell which are more expensive.

If I were to rent a purse, I would go for something bold like this gold bowler from MAXX New York. For members, its $6/week or $20/month. For non members it's $20/week or $35/month. The same purse retails at Nordstrom's for $148. Or what about this eye-catching animal print clutch from Lorelei. For members its $13/week or $40/month. For non members it's $30/week or $60/month.' There are also tons of more tame bags that you might want to use on a daily basis, try out before buying, or just flash around at an upcoming party.

Discount taken at checkout. Coupon says its for a limited time but doesn't give an expiration date.

While I do not encourage huge holiday displays that will make your neighbors wince, I see enough of these to know there is a market for massive inflatable Santa sleds, jack-o-lanterns and Easter bunnies. For your Halloween decor, Big Lots has an 11-foot inflatable haunted house for $129, which is $50 off their usual price. A similar, slightly more elaborate looking haunted house goes for $500 on Fright Shop.

Starting Sun, Sept 23. Find a store near you.

Newsweek points out that one benefit to the mortgage mayhem is that banks are raising their CD rates so folks will deposit their cash. Here are a few 6-month rates: Countrywide, at the center of the subprime scandal, has a 5.65% interest rate but requires a $10,000 deposit. American Enterprise Bank of Florida has a 5.15% with a $500 deposit minimum. ING Direct requires just a buck to open a CD that carries a 4.9% rate. Rates change everyday so check BankRate.com to compare the latest CD rates for Los Angeles. Beats putting your money in a piggy bank. Oink Oink!

Stopped by the Camarillo outlets today on the way back from an assignment and used a voucher to get a free VIP coupon booklet (normally $5). It's worth the 10 minutes to print out the voucher and exchange it for the booklet. Some of the good discounts inside:

20% off any single item at:
Calvin Klein
Casual Male XL
Perry Ellis
Two Lips Shoes

15% off any single item at:
Aerosoles
Country Clutter (plus a free votive candle, no purchase necessary)
MIkasa

10% off any single item at:
American Apparel
Easy Spirit
Geoffrey Beene
Hush Puppies & Family
Izod
Naturalizer
Nine West

The voucher is good for one month. Discounts can be used once. Get the voucher here (requires email address), then redeem it at the Information Center, which is to the left of Mikasa if you are facing the store. Take the first right turn into the outlet center and Mikasa is in a big tower across the parking lot.

Until Oct 4 Old Navy has a coupon for $10 off any purchase of $75 or more. Print the coupon above or use code SWEATERS during the online checkout. Their new fall line has lots of black/white and brown/creme woven patterns from the 60s (I wouldn't revist that decade, if I were you). But I like some of their basic pieces that could be jazzed up by a colorful jacket or scarf already in your closet. This white sleeveless sweater, above, with an empire waist for $19.50 looks very adaptable. I dig these grey sweater-boots for $29.50 (also in white) although the trend is quite old. Still, I bet they would keep your toes toasty. This tan shawl-cardigan is perfect for a chilly day or lounging around the house, for $36.50. Like I said, the colors are all very bland, so remember to spice your outfit up with a slice of red or some other fun color.

Locations here.

Beauty.com has a coupon for $10 off $60 plus free shipping. I like the sound of the Murad Environmental Shield
Essential C Eye Cream SPF 15 for $65 (.5 fl oz). All those capital letters in the title sure make it sound effective. The product info says "Renew the delicate eye area. Our patented Skin Repair System with Co-3 stimulates collagen synthesis. Caffeine and tiger's herb increase elasticity and firm the skin. Light diffusers soften the appearance of fine lines and dark circles for a luminous glow."

Discount taken at checkout. Thru Sept 30. Caveats: Not good on prescriptions, contact lenses, gift cards, gift certificates, magazine subscriptions, bulk orders, not applicable shipping charges or sales tax.

I don't know that this ever happens, but yapta.com tracks when airline prices fall. If you register your confirmation number with them and your ticket gets cheaper, they send an email with instructions on how to get a refund. Requires you to download some software.

The folks who keep track of these things predict holiday sales this winter will increase by 4 percent this year. That's not as much as they were hoping we would spend (it's lower than the average 4.8 percent increase over the past 10-years), but it still amounts to $474.5 billion. That' greater than the GDP of Belgium and more than inflation, I'll point out. Maybe they realized people are taking advantage of discounts and sales like those posted on the BH!

Former members can get three months at 20% off if they return to Netflix. Enter code D80015436 here and don't tell them I told you! Shhhh. Plans start at $5 for two DVDs a month (plus 5 hours of download watching) to $24 for four DVDS at a time and no monthly limit. Full breakdown of the plans here. Expires Oct. 31.

Restoration Hardware is having their fall lamp sale. More than 600 "luminaries" are marked down. I like the warm glow of the round shade chandelier for $300 (orig $400). Takes three 60-watt bulbs and measures 25.5 inches around and nearly 15 inches high. If I had a grand dining room I would buy the the traditional Trenton chandelier, below. It's $300 (orig $400). The shades are sold separately for $15 (orig $19).

There are many desk and floor lamps, though the ones in catagloe were all pretty bland. Guess it's up to you to spice it up with a colored/patterned shade. Lamp sale thru Oct 21. Also get 10% off regular priced items (so not the lamps) with code HFLSCEB7 thru Oct 1. Locations here. Or shop over the phone at 800-762-1005.

I'm skeptical about all the posh labels selling clothes at discounters like Target, Kohl's, etc. Do people realize that for the lower price it isn't the same quality as clothes with the same label sold at Nordstrom's or Bloomies? For those who get it, go forth and find clothes you love! For those who want to believe they are getting more than what they paid, it must be nice living on cloud 9.

I'm not a believer, but I do like sales. The Vera Wang line at Kohl's is all 30% off (not a huge line) and there are a few things I wouldn't mind trying on myself. This black tank dress has a whimsical creme sash that says, yeah baby I'm as good as I look. For $60 (orig $88). A top I like is already sold out. Boo.

Went to use the $5 meal coupon from page seven of Sunday's paper at the new Pollo Campero in Van Nuys and was greeted by two employees in orange. The eatery was having "technical" problems and won't open until Monday. Then the employee handed us two menus with $1 off coupons. I smelled a bargain and asked for more coupons and she handed over almost a dozen! We drove off to their North Hills location and used both discounts. So for $4 I got a soda, three pieces of chicken (drumstick, thigh, and thighlet-it was pretty small), rice, black beans, and a fluffy biscuit (my options also included tortillas, cole slaw, red beans, and yellow rice). Food was hot and chicken was crispy. Plenty of salt on everything. In short, a decent fast food meal. Not sure how long the employees will be handing out $1 off coupons at 7249 Van Nuys just north of Sherman Way, but ya might want to check it out.

A chicken tangent: isn't this pic cute?

(random picture of some warehouse sale) This is out of the Valley but sounds like a *great* place for deals. BargainsLA claims The Warehouse Sale at the Los Angeles Convention Center is the nation’s largest touring fashion sample sale, with savings of 40% to 80% off.

BargainsLa says: "This huge, well-organized sale has all new inventory in over 50 brands with 25,000 pieces of designer duds for both men and women at well below retail pricing. Premium designer denim by Antik Denim, 575, True Religion, 1921, Taverniti SO and more. Plus you’ll also find tons of tops, dresses, pants, skirts, hoodies, sweaters, t-shirts, blouses, by 2 B Free, Antik Denim, BCBG Max Azria, and ABS Allen Schwartz."

Now I really do plan on going to yoga Sat, but maybe there is time to drop in after. My sweaty aroma will repel other shoppers from the fabulous deals I find!

Sat is VIP day so it costs $15 to get in if you RSVP or $25 at the door. Sunday is free is you RSVP or $5 at the door.
Visit them at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Concourse Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90015. Parking is $12 in West Hall. Both days 10 to 4. Cash and credit cards, no checks.

Get 10% off any item at Target with coupon code TCHAPPSF. Not a bad way to shave a few dollars off the 1gig iPod Shuffle, which is normally $80 (with discount it's $72). Not a bad holiday present for kids. Expires Sept. 30.

Lane Bryant has a 20% off coupon with code 000201506 for online shopping. Or print out this coupon to take into the store. Get the clothes you want in your size! Thru Oct 11.

I'm new to Shopbop but the clothes seem pretty fab, if slightly more than I'm used to paying. I guess that's what being fashionable is all about. Their sale items have steep mark downs. This hooded dress by Karen Zambos has an intriguing tie around the neck and is $132 (orig $264). It's so short I'd wear it with leggings or tight jeans. Not all of us have the pixie figure of Cameron Diaz. A pair of hot pink terry capri's by Juicy Couture are $25 (orig $82) and they are final sale - no returns. Would be great for going to the beach or lounging around on weekends. Also in white and black. A red silk cami with subtle ruffles and spaghetti straps by Cynthia Vincent is $52 (orig $172) and is final sale. Also in black (shown) or silvery brown (they say taupe but that just sounds disgusting to me).
Shoe selection was not great. Of 10 sale pairs two were white pumps. Who wear white shoes anymore - even before Labor Day? My New York City days purged that ghastly fashion trend from me. But I did like these hazy blue wedge espadrilles with a braided pattern by Andre Assous for $59 (orig $195). Again, final sale, no returns.

I'll put the caveat up top on this one: ya gotta pay with your Visa. At Nine West online, use coupon code VISA07 during checkout. If you are buying in the store, print this coupon. Good thru Feb 29, but it says one time use only. Locations here.

Additional caveats: Cannot be used at outlet or department stores.

Fill out this form on the American Apparel website and get 15% off thru Sept 24. They ask for your email, name, education institution and student ID number. That last question is a red flag because many students use their social for their stu ID. If so, I would seriously reconsider the value of 15% off. AA says once they "verify" your student status they will send you a coupon code for 15% off. Why not just ask to see ID in the store?

AA says this below the form: "Your Student ID Number will not be retained or linked to your personal information. The Student ID Number and Educational Institution information will only be used to validate your student discount eligibility." Hmmm, it's up to you.

Kohl's has overstuffed pillows from The Big One for $5 (orig $10). Use coupon code NEW6369 to get an extra 10$ off. Shipping is $1. Thanks SlickDeals!

The Go International line by Alice Temperley is now in Target stores, the Budget Fashionista reports. She says: "The Go International lines have been a boon for those of us wanting to look au current while watching the bottom line. As we’ve said before, we love Temperley London, and are thrilled to get a chance to put some Temperley in our own closets. The tagline for the collection cites the “English Countryside” as inspiration, so expect just that: pattern and subtle texture, a subdued palate, cozy knits and some understated ruffle detailing." The dress on the far left is $50.

Go to Overstock.com to see what they have marked down as part of their half-off sale. It's a wide range of sheets, watches, couch sets, TVs, and a few clothing items. Nines pages of stuff are on sale. I like this men's leather bomber jacket, above, for $110 (orig $395). As long as we're talking leather I'll mention a modern dark brown leather arm chair for $400 (orig $849). Of course, it's hard to tell if it's comfy just by looking at it. I really like the clean look of this Stuhrling Ascot men's watch, below, for $95 (orig $210). Also there is a chair and ottoman that remind me of a famous piece of furniture designed by Frank Gerhry maybe? See for your self below. Chair is $430 (orig $975.00), ottoman is $200 (orig $483) , or together they are $630 (orig $1,000). In black leather. No discount for buying both.

To celebrate their 7th anniversary online, the makeup maven Estee Lauder is offering free shipping with a purchase of $25 and your choice any four samples. Choose from four perfumes, mascara, Idealist creams, and makeup. Use code HAPPY7 at checkout.

Now that football season is here, many bars and restaurants are enticing customers to watch the games with food and drink specials. Here are a few good ones:

Safari Room, 15426 Devonshire, Mission Hills. (818) 893-9768, Free hotdogs Sunday only. Draft beer is $2.50, domestic bottles $3.50, imported bottles $4.50. Well drinks $3.75.

Pickwick's Pub, 21010 Ventura Blvd, a block west of De Soto in Woodland Hills. (818) 340-9673. Both nights $5 burgers, french dip sandwiches, tacos, pork sliders (all usually $8 to $9). Buckets of 4 to 5 beers (Coors Lite and Pacifico) are $10.

Primetime Sports Bar, 9755 Mason, Chatsworth. (818) 576-3578. Free BBQ every Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Domestic bottles are $3, imported bottles are $4. Pitchers of Coors light are $9.

Casey's Tavern, 22029 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 992-9362. Both nights $2 beers and $2 hotdogs. No other food is served. Cocktails are $2.50. Casey's is known as a jazz club with three shows a week but serves dogs for the football fans.

Yankee Doodles, 2830 Tapo St, Simi Valley. (805) 526-1130. Both nights $2 Michelob Ultra pints, $3 margaritas, $2 kamikazee shots, $5 Long Island ice teas, $5 34-ounce mugs of Mich Ultra. Monday's there is a $5 all you can eat buffet. It changes every week but last time they had ribs, pasta, and burgers, a server said.

Ralphs is having a 10 for $10 sale on many items. According to the ad you can mix and match these items for the discount, making each of the following $1: Colgate Plus toothbrushes, Cliff or Power bars, 16-ounce containers of Breyers ice cream, 1lb of grapes or yellow peaches, 64-ounce containers of Minute main pink lemonade or fruit punch, and Arrid deodorant sticks.

They also have a deal where four boxes of Post cereal (Raisin Bran, Fruity Pebbles, Honey Bunches of Oats, South Beach Diet, etc) are $6. That's $1,50 each, a good deal even on the small boxes.

Sale starts Wed Sept 19 at 8 a.m. and is good thru Sept 25. All prices with club card, which anybody can get.

All the body care products at Wild Oats are 25% off starting tomorrow, Sept 19 until Oct 2. The newspaper pullout ad shows they sell Tom's of Maine, Burts Bees, Kiss my Face, and other upscale brands. Decent prices on a few other things: 69-cent soy yogurts from Whole Soy &Co, 99-cent Cliff, Luna, or Mojo bars (not a great price but decent), plus 20% off Snapware containers and Progressive kitchen gadgets. Nearest stores are in Santa Monica and Pasadena.

The October issue of Real Simple has a few good coupons. Get $20 off a purchase of $75 or more at Chicos. Use code 5900 online or over the phone (888-855-4986). Bring in coupon to the store. Thru Nov. 4. Get $25 off a purchase of $125 or more at White House Black Market. Online and over the phone use code 8440, in store bring in the coupon. Thru Nov 4.

Also Real Simple is offering three subscriptions for $44 (about $15 each). First is $24, second is $19, third is $1. Call 800-962-9402 and use code SMASNN9.

Overstock.com will send you a free pearl necklace (you pay $3 to ship it) if you sign up for their email newsletter. For new subscribers only. Scant details on the length, size of pearls. But even if it's not to your liking, it would be a perfect gift.

Nashbar is having a sale on everything from helmets to gear shifters. Bike seats are$30 to $60 (orig $60 to $110), tires are $8 to $30 (orig $15 to $50), helmets are $25 to $140 (orig $35 to $175), gloves are $5 to $18 (orig $13 to $35). Selection of men and women's jerseys are 50% off. Free shipping with code STBRFS. No minimum purchase. Expires Sept 28. Online only.

Get a quick 15% off coupon at REI by signing up for their GearMail list. It's good for one full price item. Scroll down all the way to the bottom and the box is on the right. Locations here.

I have a dilemma over how much to spend - if at all - to attend a far flung wedding. Hubby and I really *do* want to figure out a way to go and we suspected it would be a hefty sum because the vows are taking place on a small island we had never heard of before. Airfare alone is $1,000 per person, making it worthwhile to stay at least one week. We told our engaged friends that we planned to attend and privately decided to make the trip an early celebration of our 5-year wedding anniversary, a Christmas present to ourselves and a birthday present to me. Can't add much more, can ya?

Then I found out how much the hotel runs (there's not a lot of options on this tiny island). When the bride mentioned there's a way to get $50 off the nightly rate, I knew it was going to be bad. Turns out rooms start at $366! Start!! What if the cheapo room with a view of the dumpster is already booked? Okay, at a place like this the worst you can do is probably a garden view. But it ads up QUICK. With a six-night stay and two RT airtickets, meals, day trips, and taxes that's a bare minimum of $5,000.

This is a huge sum to blow in one week and I'm seriously rethinking the trip. I like to put all my options on paper whenever I have a big decision to make. Here goes:

A) Pretend we can afford it. Splurge and hope the stock market makes up for all the money we transfer out of our savings. It was never going to amount to enough to buy real estate in LA anyway.

B) Ask another couple to share a room. Because it's a weeklong stay, broach the subject of alternating long walks on the beach to create sufficient, err, alone time in the room. Pack extra ear plugs. They both snore.

C) Swallow pride and ask the engaged couple if they will subsidize the trip. Prepare many witty responses for when upper crusty guests joke about your "situation." D) Stay at a different hotel than everyone else on the bad side of the island and spend "only" $170 a night. Endure spousal grumpiness all week long and 10-minute walks to the beach where everyone else is hanging out.

E) Fess up and say no dice, the trip is too costly. Then prepare for tense moments whenever money comes up for the next seven years. Sigh. Maybe they will forget after three years.

Ideas? Suggestions? Perhaps I should write to Dear Abby.

I'm finally getting around to sifting through the ads in the Sunday papers. Since it's at the end of the day, here's a quick and dirty round up of the best deals. Most prices are thru Sept 22.

Rite Aid seems to have the best candy prices. 8-packs of Butterfingers, Snickers, Hershey's and Reese's are 78-cents, and regular sized Hersey's, Skittles, and M&M's are two for 88-cents. In the cosmetics dept, the following have buy one get one 50% off deals: Hip cosmetics, Revlon tweezers, and Salley Hansen nail polish. Wet 'n Wild cosmetics are 40% off. The quality is not great, but perfect for trying out a new color or shade. As part of their 45th anniv sale they have deodorant (Old Spice, Aarid, and Arm & Hammer) for 99-cents, Ajaz dish soap for 88-cents, and laundry detergent (Xtra and Nice 'n Fluffy) for $2. COLLEGE STUDENT ALERT: A dozen packages of Top Ramen costs 96-cents. That's 8-cents each. It doesn't get much cheaper than that.

At Walgreens has two 64-ounce containers of cranberry or grape juice for $4, two packs of Ajaz dish soap for $1.79 (3 cents more than at Rite Aid), and three movie-size candy bars (Junior Mints, Raisinets, Hot Tamales, Dots, Snickers, Butterfinger, and Reese's) for $3. Also 16 packs of AA or AAA Duracel batteries are $9. Pantene Pro-V Texturize shampoo or conditioner are free after mail in rebate.

Michaels has 50% off all its floral items, five T-shirts for $10, and 99-cent bags of rocks (great for indoor plants or vases), marbles, and gems. Many frames and art supplies marked down, and 40% off wicker and natural baskets.

Aaron Brothers has a coupon for 40% off one item (except for digital photo frames and custom orders) thru Sept 23, plus lots of markdowns on frames, easels, and prepared canvas.

Use coupon code X104B0L6IBCK online at Macy's to get $25 off a purchase of $100 or more. Expires Sept. 22.

Get 5% off a Hybrid rental at Fox Rent-a-Car thru Sept 30 with this coupon. Good at company locations at John Wayne, LAX, Oakland, San Diego Airport, San Francisco, San Jose, and Phoenix.

Diane's Beachwear has a $10 off coupon when you buy at least $50. Print the coupon to get the discount at their stores (ones at the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks and the Valencia Town Center) or use code mm97 online. Locations around the greater LA area here. Expires Sept 30.

Sunday's paper had a coupon at the bottom of page 7 for a $5 meal at Pollo Campero. that includes chicken plus two sides and a soda (but not plantains or yucca fries). New locations in North Hills at 9000 Sepulveda Blvd and Van Nuys at 7249 Van Nuys Blvd. Expires Oct. 31.

Babies R Us has a printable coupon for 15% off one item. But it only lets you open it once, so don't close the coupon window without printing it! Get the coupon through SlickDeals.

Get 25% off and free shipping at Shoes.com with coupon code luckybreaks7. The site lets you can also search by color, heel height, width, brand, size, price (the cheapest category is $50 to $100 - what's up with that?). I like these black heels by Modern Vintage , but at $225 they are way above what I'd pay for such HIGH heels. (Shouldn't they get cheaper as they get higher, considering that every inch means more blisters, bunions, and corns?)
These leather snow boots by Tommy Hilfiger are cute and at $100 they seem like a decent price. Of couse, it only gets cold enough in LA to wear them three times a year. The selection in the lowest price category was not great. They are offering a Cole Haan fuzzy slipper for $75 (orig $125). Shoe comes in green, tan, and red, below. These would go perfectly if I had a dog named Fluffy to stroke while reclining on my chaise.

Children's Place has a $10 off coupon for purchases of $30 or more. Use code NMS97 when checking out. They have a lot of 40% off stuff in their fall sale. Shipping is free if your tab is $75 or more with code FSFAMILY. Thanks SlickDeals!

Enough parents are worried about the Mattel toy recalls (owing to high amounts of lead paint on millions of Chinese made toys) that many are searching for USA-made toys. But so many of the toys on our shelves are made in China - about 4 out of every 5. My Sunday story in the Daily News highlighted six Web sites and brands that sell all USA-made toys, plus one store that sells high-end toys. The toys are not a bargain, and its anybody's guess as to whether parents will shell out extra bucks to buy USA-made this holiday season.

There's also a list of a bunch of common toys made here. Check it out!

Ahhh. To have matched luggage and look composed even when you are frantically running for a plane. It doesn't get much better than that, does it? Okay I'll admit it, I'm being mean because I don't have matched luggage. I use an old school Puma bag that I got at a garage sale for $5. The zipper is starting to break and it smells a little (it doubles as my gym bag) but it's perfect for weekends and fits easily into overhead airplane compartments. So when I see sales like this it's hard to resist. Overstock has a US Traveler four-piece set for $105 (Orig $600). The set includes three upright wheelies with expandible depths: 21" h x 13.5" w x 7.5-9.5" d; 26" h x 18" w x 9-11" d; 30" h x 20" w x 10-12" d. The tote is 11" h x 15" w x 6" d.

It got a 4.6 out of 5 rating from 50 reviews. In chocolate with pink trim, navy with baby blue trim, and fiery red with orange trim. Me likes the chocolate.

Big Lots is having a big sale starting Sunday, Sept 16. Here are a few of the deals:

Four jars of Gerber baby food are $1, in regular or organic. Jars are 2.5 ounces and 4 ounces. Solar lawn lights are 50% off. Men's jean shorts are $5, but that's because they look like they are from 1992. See for yourself below.

Fleece throws are $3. A Coleman 18-volt Keyless drill is $22. Prices thru Sept. 22. Locations here.

I'm trying out a new thing where I email the day's Bargain Hunter posts to anybody who
signs up. I will send the "daily digest" between 4 and 5 p.m. everyday. For some readers this may be easier than going to the Web site everyday. So please,
sign up!

WARNING: The cartoon in this link has nothing to do with saving money and is pretty twisted. At least 10 times as bad as the snowman picture. But if you have a cruel sense of humor it really hits the spot.

Overstock is offering a free Blackberry Curve 8300 when you sign up for a new account with AT&T. The gizmo is usually $400 and they cut it down to $50, and have a $50 mail in rebate. Two year agreement required plus a voice plan of at least $40 a month. Check if they offer service in your area here.

BizRate is a shopping comparrison Web site that lets you look at a particular product from various stores. They have a section just for fashion trends under $25. The assortment of oversized sunglasses for $15 and under look good, including the above $15 pair from Adi Designs. They also put together an assortment of summer dresses for $25 or less. I love this black retro mini dress and it's only $14! Made of polyester/rayon, but I think the design is cute enough to pull off.

There's also an Izod girls' jumper in green and blue plaid for $14 (orig $20). And many more.

The W Hotel store is having a warehouse sale, but prices are mixed. A distressed black classic baseball cap with Triple 5 Soul Logo in large is $15 (orig $35). A matte silver hammed cuff, below, is $100 (orig $198). The sheets seem to have the best prices. They are $36 to $290 and each piece is sold separately (flat, fitted, pillow cases). That adds up quick, but the brand does have a good reputation.

Ketchup restaurant in West Hollywood has slashed it's prices by 50% on Sundays. Lunch entrees are $12 to $19, dinner entrees are $14 to $40.

A review on Open Table sez: "Ketchup recasts the tired, boring and predictable typical American grill as something young, vital and completely new. Using fresh and high-quality seasonal ingredients, the restaurant serves up its own brand of classic American cuisine and steaks that cater to a hip and sophisticated clientele."

I think I see a Ketchup date night in my future. Make a reservation through Open Table or by calling (310) 289-8590.
Visit them at 8590 Sunset Blvd.

Ann Taylor LOFT, the hipper and younger cousin of Ann Taylor, is introducing a line of Maternity clothes. Get 15% off the new clothes and free shipping with code 104006271. Not sure when it expires.

Get 20% off Hanes undies and clothing by going to this Hanes site, then click on a box advertising the sale on the upper left corner. That takes you to the regular Hanes site. When you add stuff to your cart it shows up 20% off. Not too shabby. Unclear when it expires.

Stuck in traffic today coming into work when this license plate made me smile. On a black Mercedes CLK convertible: BNVVANT. All I wanna know is, if you are so in love with life why wasn't your convertible top down?

The Camarillo Outlets always have discounted merchandise, but there are a couple of sales above and beyond that.

At the Brooks Brothers Factory Store from Oct 5 to 8, get 25% off the entire collection of Men's and Women's Outerwear. Get an extra 10% off if you use your Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard® or The Brooks Card*.

Everything is 30% off the lowest ticketed price at Jockey until Sept 30.

At Saks Fifth Avenue get 20% off your entire purchase on Sept 15 and 16 only.

For the full listing of their special sales go here. Sign up for the VIP club and get a coupon booklet at the outlet.

During the wanning days of the Old Navy 25% off baby and kids sale, they have offered free shipping on orders of $50 or more online. Use code KIDBABYMAT at checkout. Sale ends Sept 20.

As part of a cancer fundraiser, BMW is letting folks drive their cars for free along Griffith Park Dr. Meet at BMW's Glendale lot at 800 S. Brand Blvd. For every mile you spend behind the wheel, the German automaker will give $1 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Part of the fleet includes a z4 roadster, 3351 convertible, 650i convertible, sedan and sport vehicles.

Drive is Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 10 to 5. To make a reservation call 1.877.4-A-DRIVE (1.877.423.7483). There's even food and drink to be served.

Between Sept. 13 and 23 get 40% at specialty stores and 30% off at factory stores. Get the coupon here.

Caveats. Not good online. Excludes custom boots, HT2 Watches, and clearance items in factory stores. Locations in Glendale and Camarrilo.

Get 20% on certain fall fashion at Lane Bryant using coupon code 000201506 at the checkout. One sale is for $20 off each pair of bottoms when you buy 3 or more. Expires Oct 11.

Gelato Bar in Studio City is celebrating their first birthday by giving away free gelato and coffee this Monday, Sept 17. You can also enter a drawing to win a one week stay in an apartment in Umbria, Italy. Ice cream and a chance at Italy? You know I'll be there.

Caveats: free coffee betwen 8am and noon. Free "bambini" size gelato between 3 and 9pm.

Visit them at 4342 1/2 Tujunga Boulevard. (818) 487-1717.

The selection on SmartBargains new shoe arrivals is spectacular. I adore these seagreen peep toe wedges, above, by Franco Sarto for $40 (orig $83), also in black and a silvery-gold. My black Franco Sarto loafers are comfortable enough to walk a mile in (my usual test) and I'm seriously tempted by these. They even have my size!

Nine West 's black suede moccasins with a buckle are $40 (orig $80). Does the scrunchy part irritate the heel? I don't know but a lot of shoes have them so I'm guessing the flexibility is an asset. Good size offerings. For the comfort-minded, the Birkenstock buckled clog is $70 (orig $124). In Burgendy only. Oh, that explains it.

Couldn't help but notice the Kenneth Cole Reaction black heels, below. Basic, but a few ridges on the toe make it not boring. Would go with everything. For $50 (orig $83).

Attacks on Mexican oil and natural gas pipelines Tuesday put a serious crimp on their production, which in turn sent the price of crude oil (the stuff refineries process into gasoline) to an all time high of $79 per barrel. Translation: gas prices are going up, up, up. So find an excuse for a morning break, squeeze it in on your lunch hour, or make 10 minutes on your way home. Someway, somehow, FILL UP YOUR GAS TANK.

Prices on the Los Angeles gap map show a lot of choices around $2.77. Don't settle for more.

Today only, Walgreens is refilling many printer ink catridges for free. Get the coupon here. No purchase necessary, but you do have to bring in the empty one so they have something to refill. The complete list of printers they are servicing is here. Thanks SlickDeals!

Locations here.

The techie Web site Gizmodo reports folks have created free software to unlock your iPhone so you don't have to sign up with AT&T, which signed an exclusive contract with Apple, for phone service. An unlocked phone can be used with other carriers. Previously, folks were trying to sell software to unlock the iPhone. And now that they are *only* $400...

Download the software through Gizmodo.

Going to toot my own horn here for a moment. I had a Sunday story in the Daily News and a few of our sister papers (like the San Gabe Tribune and Long Beach Press Telegram) about 9 things you should always buy on sale. Here's a link to read the full story, or a few of the tips below from "Learn never to pay full price again."

All in good time.

Nearly everything - even the iPhone - eventually goes on sale. But certain items go on sale so often that you should never pay full price.

The trick to making sales a staple of your shopping diet is patience, according to bargain hunters and marketplace masters.

"A little bit of delayed gratification can go a long way," said Helen Malani, a shopping expert at the West L.A.-based Shopzilla, a Web site that compares the price, rating and shipping fees of more than 30 million products from about 90,000 stores.

Buying early can help just as much as waiting around for a sale and buying late. As long as the item won't take up too much space or perish, why not purchase it on sale weeks or months before you use it?

My Grandma Jo did this every January. While the rest of us were wallowing in our Christmas loot, she headed to the stores to stock up on greeting cards. I used to roll my eyes when she proudly relayed how many dollars she saved on the Santa-splashed cards - 75 percent off, of course.

Now, I realize my grandma was one savvy spender. Continuing in that tradition, here are nine things you should always buy on sale.

Get free shipping over the phone (by asking for it) or online (with code 7441440) on any LL Bean purchases. No minimum. Good thru Jan 1, 2008. That means holiday shopping too!

The families of Sept 11 list memorial events around the country, including this one in Sherman Oaks. "The 4th Annual "We Remember" Walk Honoring victims, families and survivors of the September 11 attacks and
remembering and praying for all affected by terrorism worldwide. Assemble on September 9, 2007 at 10am at the Sherman Oaks Galleria (Sepulveda & Ventura). The walk begins at 11am to the 9/11 Memorial at
Fire Station 88 for program. Please join us as we remember those taken from us on September 11, 2001. If you have a loved one in the US Military or who serves as a First Responder, please bring their photo
and carry the flag in their honor. For additional information, contact Carrie Konjoyan at (818) 406-8013."

There's a new feature on an old travel Web site that lets shoppers know how a quoted hotel rate compares to previous rates at the same hotel, sez a Sunday story in the New York Times. Farecast.com is testing out the new tool, which does have some drawbacks. A decent rate could come up as "not a deal" if the hotel in question is predicting a particularly busy night and has raised rates, and the rates are not compared to hotels of similar caliber and with comparable amenities. Still, the site lets you know how much a quoted rate is above or below - by percentage - rates during past weeks and months. A rate can be "average," "not a deal," or a "deal." The tool makes getting a deal less of a hunch, and more of slap on the back. (Assuming you manage to score.)

Yossi's Salon in Woodland Hills had such a great response from Bargain Hunter readers after I spotted a free haircut sign outside his salon that he has come back with another offer: a haircut, 30-minute European facial, and manicure for $47. Not a bad deal if you are looking to pamper yourself or have a spa day. Thru Sept.

They are at 5349 Topanga, just south of Ventura Blvd. (818) 227-9667.

The upscale men's shirt maker Charles Tyrwhitt is having a sale "just for NYTimes" readers, but I'm happy to pass the discount code onto you. It's for 50% off of 33 different shirts, including classic cut, slim fit, class spread collars, non-iron, and stripes and checks. Shirts are $39.50 to $72.50 after the markdown.

Over the phone use code TUX2, online go directly to www.ctshirts.com/nyt6, or in store bring in the sale booklet than ran in Sunday's paper. Web site also shows 50% off sales on ties and cufflinks. Thru Oct. 31.

Old Navy has a 25% off sale on baby and kids clothing until Sept 20. Body suits are $5.62 to $7.12, toddler hoodies are $10.87, and toddler cargos are $12.37. Locations here.

The Web site S&S Worldwide has Halloween costumes for $3 for toddllers, children and adults. Enter W2560 in the "Enter Special Offer Code" field and get free shipping. The field comes up after you add something to your cart. They are also passing out free beaded jump rope with purchases. Some costumes are more than $3, but I saw a witch costume and this pumpkin costome for $3. Thanks Slickdeals!

Tons of people are going to the S&S website so give it plenty of time to load.

JC Penny is having a one day half-off sale Sept 15 on all its shampoos and conditions, including Avlon, Bed Head, nexxus, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Sebastian, and Sexy Hair. Caveats: Limit 3 items per customer. Doesn't include styling products, hairsprays, brushes, etc.

If you miss the sale you can get Paul Mitchell products at a buy 1 get 1 50% off (effectively 25% off if they are priced the same) until Sept 22. The Sunday paper also had a $10 off coupon for purchases of $30 or more until Sept 22. Need the paper coupon to get the discount.

Locations here.

Backpacks, pencils, notebooks, everything a kid could dream of for back to school is still on sale. Office Depot and Office Max have 50% off backpacks, plus deals on pens, paper products, binders, and a ton of other supplies. Depot locations here. Max locations here and their weekly ad here.

I found the clothing prices in their Sunday New York Times insert so ridiculous that I had to mention it. Jewelry and handbags were even more ridiculous. Who spends $26,500 on a purse? I don't care that it's made of the skin from a gator. Or earrings for $283,000? (That's $54,000 more than the median price of a home in the US, in case you were wondering.) Even the shopping bags are $30. Do the people who shop here take themselves seriously? I'd really like to know.

Get 20% off at Gap Maternity online when you spend at least $125. (For the math challenged a bill of $125 will cost you $100.) The coupon code is GET20. Easy enough. Shipping is $6. Thru Sept 16.

C&B's annual upholstery sale is coming up, Sept 14 to Oct 14. The ad says that includes any fabric, any frame, any sofa, any armchair, or sectional, sleeper, recliner, ottoman, or dining room chair. Leather included. Locations in Canoga Park (Topanga mall), Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga.

A lot of parents are freaked out, rightly so, about the Mattel toy recalls (mostly because of high levels of lead paint). So the comparison shopping Web site Shopzilla did a little reserach into where people can buy toys online that are made in the good 'ol USA. Haven't checked these out yet so I can't vouch for them, but I thought you would be interested.

www.ShopForAmerica.com
www.ZebulonUSA.com
www.usmadetoys.com
www.unclegoosetoys.com
www.holgatetoy.com
www.maplelandmark.com

Shopzilla also compiled this list of items that are American Made: Bicycle Playing Cards, Battleship, Boggle Jr., Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Clue, Connect Four, Crayola Crayons*, Life, Louisville Slugger, Monopoly, Mouse Trap, Operation, Parcheesi, Play-Doh*, Pop-O-Matic Trouble, Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon, Scrabble, Sorry, Stratego, Tri-ominos, Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, and anything from American Plastic Toy Company.

* Some Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh containers are NOT made in the USA. Check the label.

Games have evolved a lot since I grew up playing Connect Four and Parcheesi (one summer my sisters and I played it non stop for like two weeks) but I bet kids will still get a kick out of the classic toys on the list. Fun is fun, right?

The mini-cupcakes at Leda's bake shop in Sherman Oaks were so tempting that I considered making a Lincoln Lunch out of them. At $1.50 each I could buy three with a fiver (Lincoln is on the fiver, you know). But all that sugar wouldn't keep me full for long. Instead I bought a decaf Americano (shots of espresso plus water, a bit sharper than coffee) and met my first fan!

When I handed the barista a hot pink Bargain Hunter flier she said she reads it every Thur in the paper. Wow! I was a total goofball and squealed "I'm famous!" Then I walked out before thanking her for reading and asking her if she was interested in any particular sales. Doh!

Leda's also makes vegan versions of its cookies, brownies, and scones. Visit them at 13722 Ventura Blvd, just west of Woodman. (818) 386-9644.

Get discounted tickets to certain shows of Cirque du Soleil's new show called Corteo, about a clown that imagines his own funeral. Sale tickets are for mid-week or 4pm matinees on Friday. At 20% off adults are $64, kids are $45. At 30% off adults are $56, kids are $39.25. Performances are at the Forum theater in Inglewood thru Oct. 28.
Directions here.

Green Cradle in Sherman Oaks calls themselves a baby's pharmacy. The cremes, lotions, and clothes are all natural or organic. Baby soap was $4.29 to $10 for 4-ounce bars, chapstick in mint, chocolate or citrus was $3.75, after sun aloe balm was $10, and 1-ounce pots of Shea butter were $12.50. Also treatments for fussy babies, colicy babies, stretch marks, back aches, heartburn, and coughs.

Mention City Mommy for 10% off your purchase. Visit them at 13344 Ventura Blvd. (818) 728-4305.

Everything at Kampanat in Sherman Oaks is half off. The owner said he just did inventory and wants to clear out his stock. Literally, everything is half off except the world music CDs and no-slip furniture discs. Most of the furniture was dark, heavy wood with a few more delicate pieces. Prices below are AFTER the markdown. A solid wood bench was $200, a picture frame cut out of a tree ring was $15, wood masks were $42.50. Buddha statues were $150 and up, 2' x 2' wood carvings were $100. A small red lacquer cabinet painted with yellow poppies was $390. A pedestal mirror was $16, and a handsome but plain bed frame was $900. Matching side tables were $125.

Sale thru Sept. Visit them at 13335 Ventura Blvd. (818) 986-5432.

Faire Frou Frou in Studio City is by no means cheap - bras run from $30 to $288 for pieces by top-of-the line designer Carine Gilson - but the lingerie is delicious. Check out the sale merchandise first, it's subtly marked on the right side of the store. Ask if you don't find it because the sales lady said she was swapping it all out today for new fall arrivals. Grab a 15% off postcard in the entryway. They leave them out after the store closes.

I loved the super soft cotton undies ($24), tube-top camisoles ($69) and bandeau bras ($51) by Undrest. They are on a table in the center of the store and come in creme and black with wonderful silk trim and bows.
Honeydew boy shorts with ruffles were $20. Simpler boy shorts by the same brand in black, white, and grey cotton with an elastic stripped band were $15. A white bra with tiny red polka dots by Mimi Holiday was $92. And if the lingerie doesn't add enough spice to your bedroom, there's always a black leather riding crop, $84.

The store is great for special occasions or a bridal shower/bachelorette gift!

Visit them at 13017A Ventura Blvd, just west of Coldwater Canyon. (818) 783-4970. Mon to Fri 10 to 6, Sat 11 to 5:30.

I was in Banana Republic the other day and saw a cute white top, above, with a wide cut neck on sale. Fit decently and would be perfect for work. Price tag: $25. I gave it a once over in the dressing and noticed a tiny black mark in the back of the collar. At the register I asked for a discount even though I knew my hair would totally cover the smudge. The sweet sales rep said he could give me a 15 to 20 % off if I agreed to a final sale - no returns. If it was 20% off I would take it, I replied.

Moral of the story: if you see a smudge or mark on a piece of clothing ask for a discount (but leave it open, usually they just offer 10% but sometimes you get lucky with 15% or 20%).

Westfield Topanga advertises a 10% off discount on all custom printed cards and invitations at Papyrus. It's not to early to plan for the winter holidays. Thru Sept.

Macy's has a $10 off $25 purchase coupon. Thanks SlickDeals.
Coupon is good Sept 7 and 8 until 1pm (not clear if it's thru 1pm Sat or it ends at 1pm on both days.)

Lots of caveats: not good on cosmetics, watches, perfume, many top brands, furniture, etc. Read fine print and ask if the coupon is good before you get your heart set on something.

Unless you're John Travolta and have a private plane at Van Nuys Airport, sooner or later you're going to have to fly out of LAX. Might as well get discounts on the parking.

For starters here's a one night free coupon at LAX Easy Park (two nights required). They email you the coupon. I signed up for their notices and received these coupons in the mail: 2 days parking free with 4 nights stay, and 50% off valet or self parking with 4 night stay. Some holiday periods excluded.

Easy Park is on Avion Dr (parallel to Airport Blvd) at 98th St. Enter the Sheraton lot, but drive past the hotel on your left. Continue past the hotel parking on your right until you reach the stop sign. Cross the street and enter LAX Easy Park. (800) 939-3317.

No joke. A day after Apple announced it was cutting the iPhone price by $200 (the 8 gig is now $400), CEO Steve Jobs said in a letter to consumers it will be giving back $100 to those who rushed out to buy the fancy gadgets when they first hit the stores in June, reports MarketWatch. Gotta love their headline: Steve Jobs says iSorry.

UPDATE: My super deluxe husband points out that for those who bought the iPhone in the last 14 days, you can get $200 back through a price adjustment in the store.
Details are being worked out on how to return the cash. Check Apple's Web site in coming weeks if you rushed out to buy a, cough, $600 phone.

WARNING: This awesome sounding sale is in Santa Monica. CityMommy reports the new and used kids clothing store Tigertoes is having their end of summer sale this Sunday, Sept 9 from noon to 4 p.m. They specialize in clothes for tots 3 mos to 6 years and carry many European brands.

Visit them at 2010 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica 90403. (310) 828-3113 x 2 or dzinespace@adelphia.net.

Print a coupon here to get 20% off your entire purchase off regularly priced items at the girly jewelry store Claire's. Thru Sept 30. Locations here.

You can get the same discount at Icing by Claire's with a coupon here.

This is just a packaging gimick but I think there's room for big savings. SmartBargains has four pages of shoes and if you buy 3 pairs from this selection the total cost is $99. Most of the shoes have a sale price of around $40 or $50, with original price tags much higher. Though I don't have a $100 bucks to spare, I can dream can't I? Here's my preferred trio:

The sexy black and white peep-toe high-heel by Carlos Santana, above (orig $99). Walk into a room with these on and Badaboom! Would look great with dark jeans (preferably thin leg or shorter cut to show them off) or skirts.

Pair the heels with a sensible tan mini-heel pump by Matisse (I have these exact sames shoes in black - in fact they are stuffed under my desk as I type - and they are awesome). The pair is originally $100.
To top it off, I'd get these black and white slip on sneakers by Naturalizer (orig $60).

Something for fun, something for work, and something for the weekend. Perfecto.

Overstock has a lot of different leather bags on sale as part of its back to school offerings. This three-way bag (over one shoulder, both shoulders, and hand strap), above, is $50 (orig $100). Leather mini-backpacks are $25 (orig $90), a classic laptop/portfolio bag, below, is $80 (orig $170).
I also like the Alpine 14-inch messenger bag, below, for $25 (orig $60), even though it's not leather.

Overstock.com has Apple iPod nano lookalikes for a really low price - $66 (orig $160). The 6 reviews are positive and seem to be genuine. Drat! They are out of stock, but not SOLD OUT. Hmmm, curious. It may be worth adding your email to the list to be notified when they get more in.

BathandBodyWorks is selling its Body Butter (orig $14) and Body Wash (orig $9) and anti-bacterial soap (orig $2.50) for $4 + $7 shipping.

Get the discount by using coupon code BUTTER. Coupons on SlickDeals go quickly so don't wait.

Had to drop off some paperwork at the local AAA office and I picked up a brochure touting all their member benefits. I usually make up the fee with a single hotel reservation, but there are many other ways to "get" your money back. A few of their better discounts:

20% off at regular priced pairs at Shoes.com, 12% off sales
Free VIP discount book at Camarillo Outlets
10% off Circuit City merchandise
15% off JoAnn.com
10-30% off at Lenscrafters
$5 off tickets in the Terrance or Terrance main to see the Anaheim Ducks
$4 off upper view or terrance box wheelchair tickets to see the Angels
20% off adult admission to Knotts Berry Farm in Buena park plus 10% on merchandise
50% of certain LA clippers games
20% of LACMA adult admission and membership!
$4 off tickets to six flags magic mountain in Valencia, $12 off Wednesdays
20% off reserved tix to UCLA home football games at the rose bowl, except game against Notre Dame
10% off your El Torrito, Wetzel's Pretzels, Payless ShoeSource, Target.com
20% off at Haagen Dazs, Samsonite Company stores
10% off fine jewelry at Blue Nile, except pre-set engagement rings
Free tickets to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune

Membership starts at $20, a discounted first-year rate. After that it's $47, plus a few more bucks for a second person in the household.

Never fear being called for jury duty in Van Nuys. A few doors down is the Hot Flaming Grill, a great place to get lunch with lots of fiver options (you remember our buddy Lincoln is on the five dollar bill, right?). I ordered the $4.50 Chicken Lula Kabob sandwich and was not disappointed. What came was a ground chicken kabob surrounded by shredded cabbage, lettuce and carrots that was spiced with a tangy lemon vinagrette (the unique flavor is from Armenian spices). It was wrapped in Armenian lavash flat bread (similar to a flour tortilla, but drier). Delish.

Other sandwich options under $5: Rotisserie chicken, beef or chicken shawarma, beef or chicken kabob. A few salads were under $5. Oddities on the menu: Slurpees ($1.50 or $2 depending on size) and Russian Borsch soup for $3. Mention their Web site and get 10% off.

My only complaint was that my wrap took almost 20 minutes to come. But the service was friendly, the restaurant clean, and the food very tasty. Worth a repeat. Visit them at 6322 Van Nuys Blvd. (818) 997-9769. Or in Santa Clarita at 19433 Soledad Canyon Rd. (661) 298-0115.

The used clothing storeBuffalo Exchange in Sherman Oaks had a lot of offer: multiple racks of cute T-shirts for $6 to $14, racks of jeans, and a smattering of shoes. I saw an Abercrombie & Fitch salmon-colored tube top for $13.50 and a pair of Seychelles red peep toe heels with tiny bronze studs for $14. Size 8, unfortunately. Kenneth Cole Reaction grey flats with a silver buckle were $22, and maroon platform heels by Michael Antonio were $29. The store buys used clothes too. Also, friendly staff.

The La Brea store is having a $1 sale Sept. 8, with proceeds going to Access Books. Not all of the store is $1, just the clearance items that have not sold already. UCLA students get 10% off Sept 15 to 22 with their ID. Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of LA.

Visit the Sherman Oaks store at 14621 Ventura Blvd just west of Van Nuys Blvd. (818) 783-3420.

I was impressed with the clothing and how organized everything was at the Canoga Park Aaardvark's Odd Ark (yes, the extra A is intentional). No Web site, unfortunately! The smallish but well air conditioned shop had plenty of offer: straight leg Levi's were $15, bootcut jeans were $20. Men's work shirt ran $2 to $23, suspenders were $12. Kitchy housewife aprons were $3 to $5 (I was tempted by a red plaid one, but to really pull it off I'd have to find black patent leather heels and I really don't do heels). Silky Asian inspired robes were $8 to $30. A cotton summer dress by Fire was $10. I couldn't resist an Addidas warm up jacket that fit me perfectly for $8.

Most of the clothes are from wholesalers. Cash or credit. No returns.

Locations in Canoga Park at 21434 Sherman Way, in Pasadena at 1253 Colorado Blvd, or in Hollywood, Venice, and San Francico.

Newsweek reports that it's a great time to go on a one-way cruise. All the big ships are realigning from the summer ports to the winter ports (they are all moving south, basically) and so you can find cabins for less than $100 a night, apparently, on Cruising.org.

SlickDeals saw a 12Qt Stock Pot from Cook@Home at Linens N Things for $6, using a a 20% coupon code (194712697488) and $10 rebate. Seems a Cook@Home Soup Tureen is added to cart for free.

Get in-store pickup to save on shipping. Locations here.

Express has a 15% off coupon good in stores and the men's store. Thru Sept 11. Locations here.

Caveats: not good on jewelry, hair accessories or "redlined" merchandise. Whatever that means.

One of the things I love about Los Angeles is all the fantastic vanity plates you see driving around. It's one of the few perks of the highway. Now, instead of snickering to myself I'm going to share them with you. It's a free laugh, right? Please send in your favorites by clicking on the comments link under each blog post!

My first hit: a bright red Mini with the plates PRE SHRK

Kmart has 10% off car seats, bouncers, high chairs, toys, boxed gift items, and up to 25% off on sleepwear and layettes. Sale thru Sept. 8.

Find a location here.

Williams and Sonoma has free technique classes every Sunday from 10 to 11 a.m. Here are the choices (drumroll): Braising, Knife Skills, Cupcakes, Pie Crust, Espresso, and Fresh Pasta. I could really use the pie crust class. No matter how many times my baker-mom tells me how to do it, they always fall apart.

Register by calling the store where you want to take the class. It is not hands on, but they show you how to do it while talking. Their regular cooking classes are $50. Find a store near you here.

An in-the-know colleague mentioned that now is a great time to buy used DVDs from Hollywood Video and Blockbuster. You can find sales for 3 for $25 ($8.3 per) or 4 for $30 ($7.50 per) right around the holidays, apparently. Find a Hollywood Video near you here. Or find a Blockbuster here. Often they come with 30-day or 1-year guarantees so you don't have to worry about scratches or unplayable copies.

I guess the grocer is worried we all ate so much at Labor Day BBQ's we won't want to buy more food. To lure us back into the store Albertsons is having a 9-hour sale this Thursday, Sept 6 between 1 and 9 pm. Pineapple's are 99-cents each, Oscar Mayer "fun pack" lunchables are 2 for $3, 10-packs of Mission tortillas are 99-cents, VO5 shampoo or conditioner is 69-cents, and 24-packs of Pepsi, diet Pepsi, or Mountain Dew are $4.

Locations here.

See Jane Run, a you-go-girl retailer based in San Francisco, is having a sale on sporty clothes, shoes, bras, and gear. Current sandals, above, by Mion are $60 (orig $100), Verticle Capris by Carve are $40 (orig $58), a Damsel Jacket by Asics is $25 (orig $50), and a pink and grey Timbuk2 Messenger bag, below, is $50 (orig $120). Unclear how long the sale lasts.

Locations in San Fran, Oakland, and Boise so shop online.

Until Sept 12 Gap has a coupon for $10 off a pair of regular priced jeans. When you use your Gap Card get free shipping on orders of $50 or more with code FREESHIP. Find a store near you here.

Caveats: Jean coupon not good at Gap Kids, Gap Outlet, or baby Gap.

Found a great dress shop in the middle of the Santa Monica promenade. I used to avoid Mudra (no Web site unfortunately!) because I assumed their adorable dresses were pricey, but I was pleasantly surprised to find them around $30. Many were short, casual, beach cover-ups or zaney cocktail dresses. An Asian-inspired silk wrap with a plunging necklines and sash tie was $32. A cotton 70s-print halter with banded neck was $29. They have a small changing room and accept cash or credit. The shop is across from Anthropologie at Santa Monica Blvd on the promenade.

Millions of children, including my kindergarten-bound nephew, go back to school today. For many of them, that means putting on never-worn shirts, jeans, and shoes. Crisp clothes than take the edge off of not knowing who your teacher is, if you have any friends in your class, and if you will get a good cubbyhole/desk/locker.

My mom always took me shopping a week or two before the big day. She never prohibited me from wearing my new threads before the first day of school but would remind me, if you wear it now it won't be new. She kept the new clothes and shoes "hidden" in the hallway closet. I loved to take the clothes out of the bag and touch the fabric, considering which shirt I should wear first. I loved to slide the lid off the shoebox and fold back the tissue paper and examine the perfectly new shoes.

It was a yearly ritual - willing myself NOT to wear the precious new things - that ended in tenth grade when on the first day of school a peer wore a pair of dirty black hi-top converse. I was stunned. Didn't everybody have new clothes to wear on the first day of school? The joy of an entirely new outfit, from undies to socks, faded. Maybe there were more important things in life. Or maybe style didn't always come from new things.

I had my holiday hit list all planned out for Sunday. First, I'd check out It's a Wrap on Robertson near Pico, then onto Harpers Apparel in Culver City for discount clothes, followed by Eclectic Avenue for their low-price modern furniture. But my shopping partner copped out on me, claiming her cat bit her *through* her fingernail. Still haven't seen the bite, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt...for a few more hours.

Instead, I took the hubby to Macys for his tri-annual (that's once every 3 years) shopping trip. Two hours later - after countless trips between the dressing room and the floor and armloads of rejects - he found five button down sleeveless shirts, three pairs of shorts, and underwear. It rang up to $221, but with all the discounts we saved $208. Not too shabby.

As for me, I got a sheer lip shine in rouge satinee from the Body Shop that feels like a cross between a lipstick and chapstick: not too thick, not too waxy. It was $12.50 but with a 20% makeup sale, it somehow ended up being $10.