21st Century Mom

Take a Long Walk off a Short Pier

Need a pillow the kids can destroy or...er, mini river stones?  Pier 1 is having a 50% off everything on the web site sale.  So they are either going bankrupt (returns will be a bit dicey in that case) OR finally restocking their stores with new merch.  Dear GOD -- what were the buyers thinking when they overstocked the glazed vases?  Not sure they're even worth $3 on sale!

And don't forget the tacky tie-dyed little chair to hold your cellphone on sale for $1.

Seriously -- I'm off to short some PIR stock :) 

I have $15 to spend, what should I buy?

Haven't checked out the Friday sale at Amazon in quite awhile...some fun things to go broke saving money on:

A single-serve coffee maker from Black & Decker.  320 reviews, a 4 star rating and only $14.99, which is less than a week of lattes from Starbucks!

A quesadilla maker for $14.99.  In case you don't have a pan and some imagination.

A double-A battery recharger for $11.99.  Who doesn't need this?  Seriously, who?

A speedo bathing suit for $15.90.  Maybe not for any of our husbands LOL!  Or you could spend the next 20 minutes looking at the other speedo options to see if you really prefer boxers,  briefs or boardshorts. 

Toolz Rule

As long as we're on the subject of bits and bobs you may need (or not) for your home, Radio Shack has a deal on this 76 pc maintenance kit for only $9.97 BUT you have to go into their stores in order to get one since they've already sold out online.

Or wait for a local bank to offer up a kit like this in the Fall with a FREE checking offer.  Just wait...it'll come and then you'll think I'm psychic or something.

Cooking Class

JC Penney has a pretty fabbo collection of 106 pots and pans on sale for $59.99 (reg. $149).  Available in any color as long as it's red.

Seems to me there's a branding opportunity here for the American Heart Association.

Posh Tots and Sucker Moms

Not to be outdone in the kid's seasonal home furnishings craze that I blogged about earlier this month, Crate + Barrel Kids (aka Land of Nod...c'mon, you knew that one, right?) is having their end of season clearance sale.  What Land of Nod does best is bedding sets -- love this French themed lavender crib set on sale.

Knowing how excessively marked up their stuff is, I love the 'up to' 75% off on 'must-haves' like their overpriced toys and furniture.  But here's my pick of the day: Kids Garden in a Bag is now only $3.95 (reg. $7.95).  Aside from the obvious question of who in their right mind is buying a seed and a bag for 8-bucks a pop, even the 50% off discount price is a joke.  Here's my 'freebie' version: give your kid an apple and a cup -- send 'em outside to eat their snack, remove the seeds, find some dirt and the rest is pure magic of life!

Power Tools for Chicks

Need a toaster oven?  blender?  How 'bout an iron?  You can have any color...as long as it's white.  There's other Black & Decker small appliances, but in my humble experience, the rest are crap.

Here's the deal -- they are $3.99 each (after $20 rebate...that I'm still waiting for from my last LNT purchase 9 months ago and coupon code: 194712697488). 

As long as you are poking around...check out the 'virtual' sidewalk sale and clearance bins.  I found this dandy knife set for $29.99 and free shipping. 

PBK= Profit By Kids

Could someone please tell me at what point in the rapid degeneration of our consumptive society did furniture and bedding for children become SEASONAL?!!

<pause.  re-read and let it sink in.  continue>

Are your kids telling you off because you put the flannel sheets on their bed (again) in July?  Whoops, I mean, their nanny.  Or housekeeper.  Putting flannel sheets.  Etcetera.

It's not like we don't run the a/c in the summer and heat in the winter to make the house a comfy 72-degrees year-round.  No seasonality -- just bland, temperate weather.  And I know you do the same thing otherwise we wouldn't have this pesky global warming thingy to deal with.

So, anyhoo, long-winded rant just to let you know Pottery Barn Kids is having a sale on their summer bedding, outdoor furniture and, inexplicably, cabana benches (I guess the little treasures have to sit somewhere while YOU get changed).   

Our House (is a very, very fine house)

My decorator ordered an awesome gel fireplace from Astor Club last year.  Every time someone sees it, they comment how awesome it is...an invariably how much did it cost (why ARE people so nosy???).

So for the next 4 days, Astor Club is having an enormous sale on fireplaces and clocks, meaning you can get one for even less dinero than I spent on mine!    Personally, I'm drooling over this Howard Miller wall clock for my 1920's style living room.  Or a fireplace for the basement. 

Or the new i-phone.  Wait, that's for me, not the house.  June 29th...6pm.  I have i-phone fever as described in this rather funny blog post about 5 ways to beat the stress waiting for the i-phone launch.

Pier Review

Pier 1 is having a fantastic sale on home accessories, furniture and gifts, just in time for visiting families on Mother's Day.  But the diffusers stink (literally...go into a store and try one then you will know why they are on sale).

Great deals on these black wire baskets for $5.67.  You can get them instore and save on the shipping.  I may have to pick up these ultra modern black vases for my living room -- an absolute steal starting at $8.50!  And don't forget the silver sticks for $2 each (reg. $10).  Or come rummage through my yard in fall with some silver spray paint for free.

Bring back Kirsty -- she's over the Jenny Craig thing anyway!

Tax Money Just Burning a Hole in Yer Pocket?

Pottery Barn Teen is having a cool clearance sale to shift Winter merchandise.  I like this mountain mural for my dorm room, er, office so I can daydream about...driving.

Other deals include sherbet colored balloon lights for $2.99 (reg. $12) and the quilted game day insta-chair for $6.99 (reg. $24.50), although inexplicably the chair cover costs an additional $6.99 (but who is paying $24.50 retail for a chair cover?!!)