The Basement of the Bargains

It’s almost hard now to remember a time when food processors weren’t basic kitchen equipment. Much as my Depression Baby parents told me tales of the days of ice boxes before refrigerators roamed the earth, I tell wondering youngsters of the days when we used knives even for the huge chopping and dicing jobs and only ever used mixers for mixing ingredients. Their eyes grow huge in wonder and disbelief.

Those days are clearly gone for good. If you cook seriously, chances are you have a food processor. But if yours is on its last legs or if someone you love is about to set up housekeeping and will need a few good kitchen items, then now is the time to hurry over to Cooking.com to take advantage of the fabulous savings on this sturdy Cuisinart Pro Classic seven-cup food processor with accessories.

The workbowl is resistant to both heat and cold. It’s also shatterproof. The set comes complete with medium (4mm) slicing disc, shredding disc, as well as chopping and dough blades, and an exclusive how-to video full of tips and tricks for using your new food processor.

How much would you pay for all of that? Well, the suggested retail price is $220.00. Cooking.com usually carries the set for a thrifty $179.95. Right now, though, all this can be yours for a mere $129.99! That’s nearly a hundred dollars off the suggested retail price! Now that’s what I call cutting costs.

As spring gives way to summer, it’s nearly impossible to resist the lure of the great outdoors. It even becomes tempting to eat out of doors. Of course, one could throw together random bits and pieces all higgledy-piggledy in any old hamper, but why would you want to when picnicfun.com is having a huge Memorial Day sale on perfectly coordinated picnic baskets?

Whether your taste runs to the classic or the funky, there’s one to fit your style and specific needs. My personal fave? That would have to be the Dotty Spotty Willow Picnic Basket for 2 for its perfect combination of light-hearted, attractive look and solidly practical fittings.

The handwoven natural willow basket has attractive cotton straps in soft but bright robin’s egg blue that gets me in the right mood for a fun afternoon.

Inside, there are two cotton napkins and a matching tablecloth in a cheery, colorful polka dot pattern, two plates that echo the same pattern on the rims, two tumblers that are perfect for anything from lemonade to a relaxed glass of wine, two sets of silverware, a corkscrew, and an insulated food cooler in that pretty blue.

Normally this lovely basket would cost you $87.50, but picnicfun.com has it on sale for just $70.00 right now. Whether you’re looking for a picnic set for yourself, a special pair of newlyweds, or a special anniversary gift, this is a great deal on a superfantastic set up.

It’s time once again for the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. That means no end of terrific deals on superfantastic goodies for women and kids! Now through May 26, prices have been slashed as much as 40% on designer clothes, fabulous accessories, and of course shoes.

I’ve fallen in love with this fun and flowy silk chiffon tunic by Blumarine.

Its flowing lines and bold colors are right on trend for the season, and the touches of embroidery at the neckline add a handcrafted feel dear to my heart.

Best of all, it’s 40% off! Originally priced at $1,095.00, it’s now just $649.00.
Oh and if you use your Nordstrom credit card to pay for your bargains now through the 26th, you’ll get double the reward points!

June is just around the corner, and we all know what that means: lots and lots of weddings that cost lots and lots of money. The good news is there are plenty of bargains out there for the savvy bride and groom.

For instance, now through May 24, Amazon is running a sale on selected wedding rings. Already discounted styles will receive a further 20% discount at checkout.

Take a look at this handsome 14k white gold unisex ring with subtle diamond embellishment. This fabulous Netaya creation will look elegant on the bride, the groom, or both. It’s beautifully detailed without being overstated.

The retail value of this beauty is $825.00. Amazon has it on sale for just $280.00 - $300.00 depending on size…and then you get another 20% off at checkout!

Regular readers of this space are familiar with the name YOOX. After all, they discount designer fashions and accessories every day of the year. That means when they decide to blow things out, you’re getting them at an incredible deal you’ll never find anywhere else.

Well, right now they’re having a huge sale. If you act now, you can save up to 90% off their already insanely low prices. You’ll have to hurry, though, because the sale ends on the 19th.
This fun yet elegant Emilio Pucci leather wallet features the signature splashy, colorful print typical of the line. It also has a practical snap closure and internal coin pocket. When you pull this baby out of your purse, those in the know will be very sure who designed it, and those not in the know will probably still get a smile from the cheerful colors and exuberant lines.

How much did it cost originally? YOOX isn’t telling. But YOOX was selling it for $301.00. For a limited time, though, they’re selling it for just $150.00. That’s half off the low, low YOOX price! If I were you, I’d get my skates on!

Tax rebate checks are winging their ways across the country. On average, single Americans will be receiving $600.00 in order to stimulate the economy. President Bush has said that saving that money won’t help, nor will paying down debts. Therefore, I’m here to help us all do our patriotic duty to find a good way to spend this windfall. Of course, I believe firmly that just because we’re stimulating the economy doesn’t mean we can’t do so through finding good deals.

So how do you spend $600.00 and still save? I thought you’d never ask.

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In the normal course of events, I leave all questions of footwear to The Manolo’s superior talents. He is the expert, the master, and the tastemaker. I am but his loyal minion.

Today, however, comes a sale that I cannot pass up and cannot fail to inform you of, and that sale happens to be a gigantic one-day shoe sale at Bluefly.com. Both men’s and women’s shoes are available at a fraction of the original price, and even of Bluefly’s usual discount prices. Shoes like these superfantastic Stuart Weitzman bejeweled Cuando evening sandals.

The combination of elegant black peau de soie with rhinestones and amber-colored beads is timeless with a twist. Delicate yet bold, and just a tiny touch sassy, these sandals would be superfantastic at any formal event.

Best of all, they’re on sale, remember? The retail price on these beauties is $375.00. Bluefly usually sells them for $225.00, which is a great deal. Just for today, however, they are marked down to $112.99! That’s 70% off the retail price and more than $100.00 off the Bluefly bargain price!

Not in the market for evening sandals? Not to worry. There are literally hundreds of fabulous flats, pretty pumps, bitchin’ boots, wonderful wedges, and superfantastic slides available at bargain basement prices from all your favorite shoe designers. Sizes and stock are limited on some of these, so I’d recommend moving fast.

Everyone knows that Bluefly.com carries designer clothes, jewelry, handbags, and so on, but some of you might not be aware that they also carry a wide variety of great deals on household items as well. I decided to take a spin through their housewares section this morning and lo and behold, lookie what I found!

These lucious leather nesting trays with white wooden frames by Vera Wang will look fabulous for serving drinks or just gracing your kitchen. Not wild about the green? That’s okay. They also come in a delicious shade of blue.

The retail value on these trays is $140.00 for the set of two. Of course, since you know where to shop, you can get a much better deal. How does $84.00 a set grab you? 40% off always sounds like a great deal to me!

With Mother’s Day coming up quickly, I’m guessing some of my readers are looking for great bargains on items to pamper Mom. And some of us are seething because a sibling has come up with the gift of sending dear Mom on a cruise or giving her tickets to Europe or otherwise sending her off on a fabulous adventure we won’t be able to replicate on our budgets.

Ah, but it’s possible to add to such a gift with something to make her trip even more enjoyable.

For instance, Saks Fifth Ave has an amazing deal on a cashmere travel set. Matching 100% cashmere wrap/lap blanket, eye mask, and suede bottomed slippers are all compactly stowed in a matching pure silk habutai drawstring bag. The set comes in four different colors and the slippers come in small (5-6), medium (7-8) or large (9-10).

Of course, all this doesn’t come cheap. Luckily, it does come a lot less expensively than it used to. Originally priced at $565.00, it can now be Mom’s (or yours) for just $338.90.

Best of all, there’s a free shipping offer on orders of $150.00 0r more in honor of Mother’s Day. Just enter code SPRINGFS at checkout, and save even more!

The hot accessory this season is the bracelet - the bolder the better. It doesn’t get much bolder than this fabulous sterling silver cuff decorated with one huge cabachon of tiger’s eye.

This handsome piece is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.

The retail price on this fabulous bracelet is $250.00, but if you head over to Smart Bargains right now, you can get it for just $69.99! Better hurry, though. They’re almost out.

Oh, and if you’re too late for the bracelet (or just not in the market for jewelry right now), be sure to check out their big cookware sale. You’ll get up to an extra $20.00 off on names like KitchenAid, Calphalon, Staub, and Farberware.