November 23, 2012
by Julia DiNardo
CaptionMy gift for my future parents-to-be, courtesy of T.J.Maxx and Marshalls
CaptionCan't go wrong with designer nail polishes!
CaptionFor the entertainer (or yourself!)
CaptionFor the artist or hobby enthusiast
CaptionFor the hostess, or the guy or gal who just loves to bake!
I love having nice things, but I hate having to pay full price for them. Luckily, thanks to the constant surge of merchandise coming in the doors at T.J.Maxx & Marshalls, you can truly take advantage of the amazing savings and get practically everyone on your gift list checked off. There are great items for the hostess, for children, for new parents, for granparents who “have it all,” for the best friend, and more.
At the brands’ holiday event this year, I was asked, in advance, to answer ” Who is someone special on your holiday list that you’d like to “wow” with a great gift this year?” and I picked my future parents-in-law. T.J.Maxx & Marshalls was kind enough to provide the gift, already beautifully wrapped, for me to deliver to them under the tree– I can’t wait to find out what is in store for them! Who would you like to wow this holiday season? I bet you can do it at the stores — check out the slideshow above for my favorite picks from the holiday event, that were are varied as we are as individuals!
-Julia DiNardo
November 22, 2012
by Julia DiNardo
I’m no Suze Orman, but I sure know a lot about shopping, bargains, and getting wrapped up in blockbuster sales around the holidays, particularly on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I even made my first mistake of the season on Tuesday, when I rushed into the Gap on my lunch hour in order to JUST get winter white chinos, but since coincidentally there was a sale going on, I ended up walking out with 10 items — none of which were the chino khaki pants.
We can all lose our heads and get wrapped up in the grab and go frenzy of deals in store or even from the comfort of our own couch. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote an exposé on Black Friday, coming up with data that prices can actually be higher on this annual shopping day and around the holiday season in general, so you may not be getting the best spend of your time and money after all. Here are some techniques that have worked for me to help stretch your dollar further, make your gifts more meaningful, and most likely have enough left over to treat yourself to something much-deserved.
1) Make a shopping list – seriously
I know it may sound corny, but it’s the best way to tackle head-on divvying up your funds realistically for each person, as well as planning ahead for what you’d really like to get your friends and loved ones. This way, you are less likely to get swept away in impulse purchases that seem to just be “a good deal” at the time, but may shift you away from your focus.
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November 22, 2012
by Julia DiNardo
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
I hope that your day is full of yummy food, lots of laughs, and some good relaxation. Starting tomorrow (BLACK FRIDAY!!), we will begin featuring a “Great Gift Ideas” section on the site, so stay tuned for our suggestions. Until then…Happy Turkey Day!
-Julia DiNardo & the FPD team
November 21, 2012
by Julia DiNardo
Yoana Baraschi‘s latest collection, spring 2013 (which I previewed last week), offers largely what you would expect form the designer with figure-flattering silhouettes in the hottest colors at prices you can totally rationalize. This season, Yoana takes a very nontraditional fabrication for spring, tweed, and breathes new life into it via fresh, neon hues, and blocking techniques. I also loved the thoughtful details such as pockets and zippers on blouses, tops, and blazers which add a stylish and functional element to the garments. Click through the slideshow above to view my top 10 picks from the spring 2013 preview.
-Julia DiNardo
