Making Noises

Blu’s is one of the stores  I’ve always been intimidated by. Holt Renfrew is another.   I get what I call  “Reverse Pretty Woman Syndrome.”  You know the scene in the movie where the character Julia Roberts plays is going into these high end stores on Rodeo Drive and the sales people are shining her on because, based on the way her character looks, the sales people feel she’s not good enough, or rich enough, to shop there.  Until she enters one boutique where they treat her well, and she spends all of the money Richard Gere’s character gives her.  Afterwards, she returns to the boutique that snubbed her with her bags of purchases and asks the salesperson if she remembers not helping her yesterday.  After the salesperson responds in the affirmative, Julie Roberts’ character asks if she works on commission and the sales woman answers that she does.  Julia Roberts’ character waves the bags of clothes in her face and says “big mistake, huge.”

I have that in reverse–I feel I’m not good enough, or rich enough, to shop there.

The sales people likely don’t care.

Blu’s is having a up to 80% off sale  – starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday,  January 10, 2010.  I love a deal so maybe I’ll be able to over come my Reverse Pretty Woman Syndrome enough to go there!

Leo Babauta, the author of “The Power of Less:  the Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential – in Business and in Life.”  has made available on his website a free e-book: Thriving on Less:  Simplifying in a Tough Economy.  To download, click here:     http://thepowerofless.com/2008/12/free-ebook-thriving-on-less-simplifying-in-a-tough-economy/

from the Power of Less:

With the countless distractions that come from every corner
of modern life, it’s amazing that we’re ever able to accomplish
anything. The Power of Less demonstrates how to streamline your
life by identifying the essential and eliminating the unnecessary —
freeing you from everyday clutter and allowing you to focus on
accomplishing the goals that can change your life for the better.

This is a book I am interested in reading because I sometimes feel the unimportant is taking over my life, crowding out what’s really important-relationships.  It’s okay to let myself off certain hooks – i.e.  no-one will really care if the food I bring to our weekly potluck is home made or from a store except for me.  It’s perfectly fine not to go into a baking and cooking frenzy at Christmastime — we don’t need the extra calories from Christmas baking anyways.

There’s only so much energy in the energy bank for me –the trick is to not feel guilty when I say no.   I will get phone calls from organizations that know me asking me to volunteer my time and I wonder sometimes if people often think that just because I work from home I have the time and energy to volunteer.   My days are pretty full already.

Simplify, simplify, simplify–my new “mantra” for 2010.  That requires a sea change from my current thinking.  I need to find more hooks to let myself off  of  and hopefully this book will help me to do that.

Tomorrow (Thursday November 19) Good Earth Cafe is giving away free coffee at their newest location @ Mount Royal University.

During breakfast (5 am to 10 am, or whenever breakfast is served) McDonald’s is giving away 10 ounce cups of coffee until November 29.

Michaels – Make your own sale with a 40% off coupon out of their flyer   They are also offering 55% off custom framing.  Saturday November 14 – Friday November 20, 2009.

If you are a photographer who’s looking to upgrade to an SLR, there are some incredible deals on Digital SLR Cameras right now.  For example, Sears is offering the Canon XSi SLR for $699 and the Canon XS for $549.00.   I saw similar deals at electronics stores – SLR’s for under $1,000.

Sportchek is having their scratch and save event November 21st and 22nd:   10 – 50% off the store.

Extra people staying for the holidays?  Jysk has blankets  from $4.99 and assorted foam mattresses starting at $99.99 for a twin. Their  Christmas merchandise prices are also slashed – for example a 9 piece set of mirror balls, available in gold, red or silver, is $2.99 and Fiber optic holiday globes are $9.99.

Selected Christmas trees are 1/2 off at Canadian Tire. (Sale ends November 19)

A selection of Mark’s winter boots are on sale for $20.00 off and on the front of their flyer is a $10 cash card which you can use until November 22, 2009 on anything in the store (even sale priced items).

It’s apparent there is a lot of competition for your retail dollars during this economy, and the consumer reaps the benefits with excellent deals like these, and others. So get shopping Calgary!

Week of November14-20th:

Co-op

Mangos $1.49 each, 1 doz. Kaiser rolls, $2.99, Whole grain bread $1.99-Minute Maid Lemonade, Limeade, 5 Alive, Fruitopia or Ice Tea 3 for $3.33.  Also a lot of their own brands are on sale this week such as Co-op Ice Cream, 1.89 L. 3 / $9.99 – Co-op Frozen Vegetables, 1 kg., 2 / $5.98 – Co-op Canned Tomatoes 796 ml size are 2/ 3.00, stick or tub margarine 2.99 each – Co-op Baked Beans 99 each and Co-op Tuna 2/$4.

M & M Meats has their shrimp rings on for $3.99 each.

Sobey’s:

Rotisserie Chicken – $7.99 each – Mandarin Oranges, 1.5 lb. box 2/$5 – Pomegranates $1.98 each – Danone yogurt 650-750g 2 / $5.

Walmart Supercenter – Airdrie or Okotoks:  Zucchini, Eggplant or Yellow Squash .88 / lb – 3lb. bag of onions or carrots for $1 – fresh lean ground beef tubes, 1lb. -2 for $5. (Prices in effect until November 19.)

Superstore -  10 kg. Robin Hood all purpose flour $9.98 each- Crisco or Tenderflake shortening/lard 454 g. pack $1.98 each – Avocadoes – 5 count bag $3.38.

Safeway – Classico Pasta Sauce 218 – 700 ml (limit 5) 2 for $6 – Nabob Coffee 311 – 326 g. 2 for $8 – Ovenjoy Bread $1.49 each – pork side spareribs $1.99/lb (Club Price) – Minute Maid Frozen Orange Juice 4 for $6.

Happy Eating!

Select deals this week

Sobey’s:

Iceberg Lettuce, 2 / $1 – Celery, 2/ $1 – 1 L. Minute Maid or 5 Alive $1 ea. –  Assorted Deli Meats $1/100g – 2 lb. bag russet potatoes $2.00.

Walmart Supercentre (Airdrie or Okotoks)

Worth the drive for:

Seedless Oranges .77/lb – Oasis Juice 4 x 125 ml packs $1 – Baked Beans 398 ml. .77 – Broccoli heads $1 each – Package of fresh mushrooms $1 each – Lunch for under $5: Campbell’s Soups, 540 ml, 2 for $2, 12 oz. Fresh Express Garden Salad $1.47 each and a loaf of French bread for $.97.

Safeway:

Fresh Pineapple BOGO – Catelli Garden Select pasta sauce 2 for $5 – Sunlight Dish Liquid – 2 for $4 – Eating Right Frozen Chicken Tomato Lasagna 1.13 kg for $7.99 plus buy 2 and earn 20 Air Miles.

Co-op

Spartan Apples .88c/lb – Rutabagas .59/lb – Brunswick Seafood Snacks or Sardines 92 – 106 g size are .99 each.

Superstore:

Old Mill Bread (white or whole wheat)  4 / $5 – PC Cranberry Cocktail Juice 2/$5 – PC Blue Menu Non-Hydrogenated Margarine 1.81 kg $6 – Bok Choy .48/lb – Mini Seedless Watermelon $2.97 ea. – 4 count bag red peppers $2.48 each.

Shopper’s Drug Mart has 20 x Optimum Points when you spend $75 or more on cosmetics or fragrances.  This runs until November 13, 2009.  Good time to start your Christmas shopping for the women on your list guys!

The Bay has two GWP* promos on:

Until November 22, spend $30.00 or more on Biotherm products and receive a 75 ml size of Lait de Douche Shower Milk, a 125 ml size of Anti-Drying Body Milk and a metallic blue training bag.

Until November 15, spend $38 or more at Elizabeth Arden and receive Prevage cream, Eye Shadow compact, masacara and a cute bag.

Also the Bay has selected Clinique items on sale.

*GWP = Gift with Purchase

November 1 – 7:

Late but in earnest, some of the best deals at Calgary grocery stores this week include:

Co-op – their “famous” 10 for $10 sale is back:  Sunrype Apple Juice – 10 1 L containers, Co-op Gold Canned Fruit, Betty Crocker Cake Mix, French Bread (10 loaves for $10), Country Morning Perogies, Homestyle Two Bites, Co-op Gold Frozen Pasta Entrees, Milk 2 Go 250 ml, Cloverleaf Light Tuna and Ocean’s Wild Salmon, Mandarin Oranges 10 lbs. for $10 and Royal Gala Apples 10 lbs. for $10.00.

Safeway – Imperial Margarine 1.36 kg BOGO* – Club Prices on Kellogg’s Cereals 4 for $10 – Club Prices on Quaker Chewy Bars – 4 for $10 – Organic Celery Bunch $.99 each – Lysol Wipes 2 for $4 – Canola Harvest Oil 1.42 L. BOGO.

Superstore – Club sizes on sale: Sunrype Apple Juice 40 x 200 ml  – $9.99 each – Campbell’s Soups 12 pack $4.99 each (limit 1) – 10 lb. bag of jumbo size onions $3.28 each – 5 avocadoes $2.98.

Sobey’s – Pork Side Ribs $1.77/lb. – Hot House Tomatoes $.99 / lb. – Romaine lettuce $1.29 each – Compliments Large Eggs $1.99 each.

Note:  Restrictions apply on most of these deals.

*BOGO = Buy One, Get One.

This book discounter www.bookcloseouts.com has got to be one of the web’s best kept secrets.  There’s books of all sorts in all sorts of formats — hardcover, paperback, CD, etc. for up to 75% off retail prices.

And from now until December 31st, on every order over $35.00, they are offering free shipping:

At their checkout page, type in the following when prompted for a coupon number:

coupon number:  freeshipping

coupon password: bookcloseouts.com

Happy Shopping!

Bonus Time @ Sears

Elizabeth Arden:  With a $38 purchase, for $60 more you can get their “Holiday 2009 Beauty Made Easy Blockbuster” (a $400 value):

In a jewellery box, there are 4 eyeshadows, 1 cheek color, 1 shimmer powder, 3 lipsticks, 3 lip gloss, 2 each lip and eyeliner pencils, Mascara, a lip and eye makeup remover and a brush set.

Clinique – limited time – until November 11:

Free with a purchase of $26.50 or more (a $70 value):

Youth Surge Age Decelerating Moisturizer SPF 15, Dramatically Different Moisture lotion, Rinse Off Eye Makeup Remover, Blushwear Cream Stick Glow Blush, a lipstick, a lip plump and shine, and their lash doubling mascara.