Urban Outfitters: $15.81 = leggings

Nothing excites me more than a good "additional 30% off all sale" sale at Urban Outfitters (except maybe an "additional 50% off all sale" sale). Sometimes it can take a lot of rummaging but I can usually find at least one gem. This time my gem was in the form of a pair of spandex and faux-leather leggings. Usually I am really not a fan of faux-leather (or faux-anything for that matter) but these leggings called to me. Not only were they super comfy but they looked pretty sweet on, so for $13.99 I just couldn't resist!

What I got:
BDG Shine/Matte Leggings
Full retail price: $59.00
I paid: $13.99

Total savings (with tax): $50.86 (That's a savings of over 75%!)

Kijiji: $70 = Litas

This score was a big one for me. As a fashionista on a budget, sometimes it can be frustrating going out shopping and seeing so many fabulous things out there with a pricetag that is more than you are willing to pay. So there are certain items that I will regularly troll for on Craigslist and Kijiji with a certain price in my mind of what I would be willing to pay for them. The longest running object of my desire has been the Jeffrey Campbell Lita boot in classic black leather. I don't know what it is about them- is it the sky-high chunky wooden heel? The hidden platform? The lace-up front? The ever-luxurious black leather outer? Or is it just the whole package that makes them oh-so cool, covetable, and a growing fashion staple? Whatever it was, they had captivated me, but as a master of bargain shopping, just could not bring myself to pay that $160 (+ taxes) retail price tag, and being that they never go on sale, Craigslist and Kijiji seemed to be my best hope. The challenge in that is waiting for the perfect combination of finding a pair that is in your size, in the colour you want, in good condition, and at the price you are willing to pay. Seemingly impossibly, the stars did align for me, and finally I am the proud owner of a pair of Jeffrey Campbell black leather Litas and for just $70 and no tax! As soon as I put them on and laced them up I instantly felt like the coolest chick at the mall (which is where I met up to buy them- big tip to any fellow Craigslist and Kijiji shoppers- ALWAYS meet in a public place when dealing with strangers)! And let me tell you, that feeling is priceless. I kind of want to never take them off.

What I got:
Jeffrey Campbell black leather Litas
Full retail price: $160
I paid: $70

Total savings (with tax): $110.80 (That's over a 60% savings- go me!)

Urban Outfitters: $60.99 = 2 tops and a sweater

I'm not exactly sure who it was that said you can't wear white after Labour Day, but some rules were made to be broken and this is definitely one of them. White is a basic and a classic and goes great with pretty much any other colour, so you really can't go wrong. With this in mind, I decided to stock up.

What I got:
1. White peplum tank with cut-outs
    Full retail price: $44.00
    I paid: $17.99
2. White fringe tank
    Full retail price: $50.00
    I paid: $17.99
3. Cream open-weave hi-lo sweater
    Full retail price: $60.00
    I paid:$17.99

Total savings (with tax): $93.01

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I've finally come to terms with the fact that my wardrobe has long outgrown my closet, and that I need to start getting rid of at least one item for every new one that I buy. So if you're in the market for some cheap and gently-used duds, PLEASE check out my selection here!

Urban Outfitters: $40.65 = 2 crop tops

I'm loving that crop tops are making a comeback, especially since that heatwave we had. I hit my favourite treasure-hunting spot (the sale section at Urban Outfitters) on a particularly hot day, in search of something I could (somewhat more) comfortably wear in this heat. I thought that these two tops were so adorable I just couldn't decide between them, so I thought why not just get both?! I'm pretty pleased with my decision. They're both so bright and colourful, and each have awesome details and fun cut-outs- they just scream summer!

What I got:
1. Coral and lace bustier-style crop top
    Full retail price: $44.00
    I paid: $17.99
2. Polka-dot gathered crop top
    Full retail price: $39.00
    I paid: $17.99

Total savings (with tax): $53.14 (I love when I end up saving more than I paid!)

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The Bay: $99.67 = shoes

It's a rare and beautiful thing when the last pair of awesome shoes just happens to be your size, especially when the shoes are this adorable and fun! I was on the hunt for a pair of black pumps that had a little pizaz and this pair just jumped out at me. I feel like the pictures do not do them justice. I couldn't believe my good fortune that the only pair of these shoes just happened to be in my size, AND on sale, it was like winning the shoe lottery. I seriously cannot wait to wear these!

What I got:
Black peep-toe pumps
Full retail price: $180
I paid: $88.20
Total savings (with tax): $103.73

Aveda: $15.58 = box of tea and hairbrush

I don't know if any of you have tried the Aveda tea, but it is just delightful! I'm not even really big on tea, but this one was love at first sip. It's called "comforting tea", it's 100% organic, caffeine-free and the flavor is licorice root and peppermint. It may sound kind of weird but I swear it is a match made in heaven, if you are at an Aveda store or salon in the near future and they offer you some I highly recommend you try it (and if they don't offer it to you, ask for it)! That's how they got me initially. I think it retails for something like $21.50 for a box of 20 tea bags (as I said, I'm not really a tea drinker, so I have no idea if that is really expensive) but, to my pleasant surprise, apparently with their new points system it's one of the first things you can get for free! So if you like Aveda hair or cosmetic products, make sure that you sign up for their points system if you haven't done so already. They also had their FixxRx hair products on sale for 40% off, so I bought a hairbrush for the first time in maybe 10 years or so. As I've had maybe 3 or 4 different hairbrushes in my 23 year lifetime, I'm also not really sure what they cost, but I'm super picky when it comes to my hair/things that I will use every day for the foreseeable future (is that weird?). It's made from sustainably harvested bamboo and looked pretty good to me, and my old brush was literally falling apart. Plus the points I earned from it got me my tea for free! So all in all I think it was a win-win.

What I got:
1. Box of Aveda comforting tea
    Full retail price: $21.50
    I paid: $0
2. FixxRx oval paddle brush
    Full retail price: $22.99
    I paid: $13.79

Total savings (with tax): $30.70 (that's just about double what I paid!)

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Summerlicious: $15-$45 = 3-course meal

If you like great deals, great food, and live in Toronto, Summerlicious is one of the best deals happening this summer! From now until July 21, 195 of the best restaurants all over Toronto are putting together special 3-course menus at awesome price points! With lunches from $15-$25, and dinners from $25-$45, trying that restaurant that you always thought was out of your budget has never been more tempting and affordable! Check out the list of participating restaurants and their menus here. Anyone else getting hungry?

Groupon: $5 = a $10 Starbucks Card eGift

Finally, the Groupon deal that I hope to see every time I open that daily deal e-mail every day... These daily deals are like real-life bargain shopping- it can take a lot of patience and sifting through a bunch of crap but every once in a while you find that diamond in the rough! The Starbucks Groupon is definitely the diamond in the rough of the daily deals. Get it while you still can, this one does not last long! Half off Starbucks?! Well don't mind if I do! Get it here.

What I got:
$10 Starbucks card egift
Full retail price: $10
I paid: $5

Total savings: $5 (That's a 50% savings!)

 I can almost taste that Caramel Macchiato!

Urban Outfitters: $33.87 = 3 tops

If you're looking for a t-shirt with a little somethin' extra, look no further! Urban Outfitters has some stylish (and super comfy and soft might I add) Daydreamer LA tees for just $9.99 each! In other news, really loving grey and mint right now...

What I got:
1. Daydreamer LA drapey tee (grey)
    Full retail price: $34.00
    I paid: $9.99
2. Daydreamer LA drapey tee (mint)
    Full retail price: $34.00
    I paid: $9.99
3. Daydreamer LA contrast and pocket tee
    Full retail price: $34.00
    I paid: $9.99

Total savings (with tax): $81.39

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Shoppers Drug Mart: $28.53 = perfume, lipstick, eyeshadow pallet, Clinique skincare 3-step system, and more

I definitely think that this was one of my most impressive feats yet. This weekend was a SUPER spend your points event at Shoppers Drug Mart, making it the perfect time to spend my hard earned 95,000 Shoppers Optimum Points. For those of you unfamiliar with the Shoppers Optimum Points system, let me explain- when you sign up for a Shoppers Optimum card, you earn points per items purchased at Shoppers. As your points accumulate, they are redeemable for cash reward value towards a future purchase. The more points you earn, the more the reward value. The highest level in the current points system is 95,000, which on a regular day will give you $170. Every month or two or so, they have a "spend your points event", where if you redeem your points, they will be worth a higher cash reward value than normal (for example, the 95,000 points which would regularly be worth $170, is now worth $200- an extra $30). And even less often, they will have a "SUPER spend your points event", where, as the name would suggest, your points are worth an even higher cash reward value! So on this very special weekend, my 95,000 points were worth a whopping $220- an additional $50 than usual, and all I had to do to get it was wait! Yes friends, this was a very special and historic day, and I'm hoping just the first of many. Basically, I now had $220 to spend on anything I wanted at Shoppers, just for buying stuff I needed and was buying anyway (more on how to maximize your Optimum Points earnings later). And now that Shoppers has added a lovely Beauty Boutique to most of their stores, and quite a nice one I might add at my particular branch, I had scoped out a few choice items for such occasion that I am very excited about. The only real "downside" to the program is that you do still have to pay the tax, but it is still a small price to pay for all the stuff you get, so in my opinion it's barely worth complaining about.

What I got:
1. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine limited edition perfume
    On sale for: $64.99
    I paid: $8.45
2. Clinique Chubby Stick in Roomiest Rose
    Original retail price: $19.00
    I paid: $2.47
3. Urban Decay Naked eye-shadow pallet
    Original retail price: $60.00
    I paid: $7.80
4. Clinique liquid facial soap
    Original retail price: $20.00
    I paid: $2.60
5. Clinique clarifying lotion
    Original retail price: $16.00
    I paid: $2.08
6. Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion
    Original retail price: $32.00
    I paid: $4.16
Not pictured:
7. Danone Yogurt
    On sale for: $2.99
    I paid: $0.39
8. Europe's Best frozen fruit
    On sale for: $3.99
    I paid: $0.52
9. Life Brand facial tissues
    On sale for: $0.59 each X 3
    I paid: $1.02

Total savings: $220.00

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If you don't already have a Shoppers Optimum card, I HIGHLY recommend you get one!

Forever 21: $15.81 = top

Hello again! I'm going to skip the part where I discuss the large spaces between my posts and get right to the deal. Not one of my best deal finds, but let's face it, everything at Forever 21 is already so cheap that anything being on sale is just icing on top of the cake! Sometimes you really have to dig through that store but I think this top was definitely a good find, I loved the relaxed style and the colour-blocked sleeves. And the fabric was incredibly soft! So for $13.99 I just had to have it!

What I got:
Colour-blocked dolman sleeved tee
Full retail price: $21.80
I paid: $13.99
Total savings (with tax): $8.82

Good enough for me!

Birthday freebies

I feel like the less busy I am, the more easily I get distracted from blogging, so for this I apologize. I also feel like the longer the absence from blogging, the better my post needs to be when I finally blog again. I am quite certain that this one will not disappoint!

As I recently celebrated a birthday, I have compiled a list of all of the birthday goodies and deals that I have received, as well as how you can get them too and make your next birthday full of free goodness! For your comprehensive convenience, I have listed them in order from worst to best. Bear in mind that some of these may be exclusive to Toronto/Ontario/specific provinces.

The offer:
AMC Theatres gives you a free large fountain drink when you see a movie at an AMC theatre during your birthday month. You will receive this offer in e-mail form after signing up for their rewards program (like being a scene member, but for AMC).
The fineprint:
From what I can gather from the e-mail, although it says "during your birthday month", it appears that it is actually valid within 30 days of the e-mail. It also does not actually say that you need to have also purchased a movie ticket to take advantage of this offer, but this e-mail was not very specific or well written (sorry AMC).
My verdict:
While free offers of any type are always appreciated, I have ranked this the worst of the birthday offers I have received for the seemingly obvious reason that a fountain drink doesn't cost that much to begin with, and that this offer will probably end up costing you way more than it is worth to begin with. On top of that, many AMC theaters have been converted to Silver City's, so not only will you have to buy an overpriced movie ticket in order to get your free drink, but you will probably also have to go out of your way to attempt to find an AMC theater. Overall, while a nice gesture, this offer just seems extremely inconvenient for the payoff.

The offer:
Jack Astor's gives you a free dessert when you spend at least $10 on food or non-alcoholic drinks. This offer will be sent to you by e-mail after signing up for their VVVIP program on their website.
The fineprint:
The $10 needs to be before taxes and tips, cannot be used in combination with any other offer or promotion, one offer per guest per table, dine in only, for one time use only, expires 15 days after offer is received.
My verdict:
Once again, I am not really a fan of the type of offer that requires you to spend money to get something for free. That being said, dessert is still better than a fountain drink, but will probably still end up costing you more than it is worth.

The offer:
Sephora gives you their annual complementary "birthday gift" (this year it is a set of deluxe minis from the brand Benefit of their "They're real! mascara" and "Watt's up! highlighter", I think they might also have a male gift product as well) if you are a beauty insider. This offer will be sent to you by e-mail after signing up for their beauty insider program in store or online.
The fineprint:
I do not think that you have to actually have received the e-mail to get your birthday gift, you just have to show them your beauty insider card (or if they are going to be super picky, your ID). The offer is available 2 weeks before or after your birthday, and is limited to one per customer.
The verdict:
I do appreciate when I can walk into a place without having to spend any money and walk out with something, and in recent years these gifts have actually been good products. Obviously the sample sizes aren't going to last too long, but then again it is free and you don't need to spend anything to get it. While it is a bit of a marketing scheme to get you into the store or get you hooked on these products so that you come back and buy the full-sized version, I still go year after year to get these Sephora birthday gifts because at the end of the day I love free stuff and I do love Sephora products.

The offer:
Yogurty's Froyo gives you 5000 Perkville points on your birthday, which is equivalent to $5 worth of froyo if you sign up for their Froyo Nation rewards program.
The fineprint:
As far as I can tell, there is none! Just make sure to bring your Froyo Nation card and you'll be good to go!
The verdict:
While $5 may not seem like a lot, it will likely get you your froyo for free (as long as you don't go too overboard), and if you have ever been to Yogurty's, a free froyo from there is surely enough to make anyone's day! Plus you do not need to spend anything to take advantage of this offer, nor is there an expiry date on it, making it even better!

The offer:
Starbucks gives you on your birthday your next drink or food on them when you sign up for the My Starbucks Rewards program and register a Starbucks card or get the Starbucks mobile app.
The fineprint:
You must be registered 30 days before your birthday and use your Starbucks card or app to make at least 1 purchase per year to be entitled to your free birthday treat. Just swipe your card or scan your mobile app to redeem your reward. It says that the offer does expire, however I am not sure after how long.
The verdict:
In case you are wondering why I have ranked this offer above the Yogurty's offer, I would have to say that while $5 for Yogurty's may seem like a more valuable offer, the sheer fact of getting anything free from Starbucks is just so rare and shocking that it almost makes you feel like you have just won the lottery. And if you love Starbucks as much as I do, while it was a tough decision, I just have to give the edge to Starbucks.

The offer:
What A Bagel gives you a dozen bagels for free on your birthday.
The fineprint:
This offer can only be redeemed on the actual day of your birthday, with valid ID.
The verdict:
While it is a bit inconvenient that they will only honor this on the actual date of your birth, it is a $6.99 value (I know because I frequently buy bagels there) and the bagels are baked fresh multiple times a day and are DELISH!

Now we're getting into the biggies!

The offer:
W Burger Bar gives you a complementary meal (max of $18 value) for your birthday after you sign up for their e-mailing list in the restaurant (I believe there is a space to write it on your bill). You will receive this offer via e-mail.
The fineprint:
Your table must have a minimum of 4 people to qualify (so you and 3 other people) and while it recommends to make a reservation it does not actually say that you must have one to redeem this offer. Show a copy of the e-mail to your server, the offer must be redeemed within 5 days of either side of your birthday, and it cannot be combined with any other promotions or coupons.
The verdict:
There are only 2 locations, and I guess it could be considered more of a draw for them because you have to bring at least 3 other people with you in order to get your free meal, but $18 is still pretty generous (and their food is actually really good!) and let's face it, this is the kind of place you usually go in a large group anyway. It actually does not even say that your other people need to order meals, they could all just split a pitcher or 2 and you could still enjoy your free birthday meal. So I think everyone wins here!

The offer:
Cafe California gives you a $25 gift certificate for your birthday after you sign up for their VIP list either in the restaurant or online. You will receive the offer in an e-mail.
The fineprint:
Simply show a copy of the e-mail to your server to redeem. The offer is valid up to 45 days after receiving the e-mail, and as always, cannot be combined with any other promotions.
The verdict:
This is by far the best birthday offer that I have managed to find so far. It doesn't require you to buy anything in order to get it, doesn't require you to bring others who will spend money, and is valid for the longest period of time of any of the offers. If that wasn't enough, $25 is an extremely generous birthday freebie, and the food here is great. The only drawback one may be able to find is that there is only one of this restaurant, so while it may be out of your way to get there, it will definitely be worth your while!

So there you have it folks. As of 2013, this is all the free birthday offers I have managed to find, how you too can get them, and whether or not they are in fact worth it. If anyone has anything to contribute to this list I would love to hear it! Hopefully next years list will be even longer!

Sephora: empty mascara = new mascara sample

If any of you are looking to try a new mascara but don't want to spend the money and commit to anything, you should definitely take advantage of the mascara promo on this weekend at Sephora! This weekend only you can trade in an old, empty tube of mascara for a sample (estimated to last 4 weeks) of Clinique's High Impact mascara. I have actually purchased this mascara before and while I am somewhat of a mascara-hopper, I will definitely say that this is a great product and an offer that should be taken advantage of! I got mine!

Urban Outfitters: $20.32 = top

I had loved this top when I first saw it in the store so I was so excited to find this top in the sale section. It's a fun colour, it has pretty pleats, it's nice and loose and flowy, what's not to love?! And it's perfect for this nice weather that we're starting to see now! I must say, I think warm weather fashion is much more fun! (And look- Urban Outfitters got new bags!)

What I got:
Back pleats top
Full retail price: $44.00
I paid: $17.99
Total savings (with tax): $29.40 (That's even more than I ended up paying!)

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Monday nights at Milestones: $40 = 4 belinis and 4 appetizers

If you're looking for a great (and cheap) girls night out, and don't mind going out on a Monday night, I would highly recommend Monday night ladies' night promo at Milestones. You get can get 4 belinis and 4 appetizers for $40, the perfect outing for a group of 4 (or 2 if you're really hungry)! Each get your own or share all the appetizers, any way you do it it's a pretty awesome deal. And with patio season finally here it's really the perfect (cheap) night out. I have gone for this deal twice recently so I can definitely vouch for it, definitely worthwhile!

PINK by Victoria's Secret: $30.17 = bikini top

This was definitely not my best deal, but a deal no less! I used my secret gift card to get $10 off this purchase. After the beautiful day we had here in Toronto yesterday, I'm finally optimistic that it might potentially soon be hot enough outside to hit the beach and show off this new bikini top. I loved the flouncy-shape in combination with the peek-a-boo cutout details, so different from the many bandeaux tops that I already own and can only buy so many of. And no, I did not forget the bottoms, fortunately I already had bottoms that would match, saving me from buying another piece- gotta love mixing and matching!

What I got:

Flouncey bikini top

Full retail price: $39.50

I paid: $29.50

Total savings (with tax): $14.47

Urban Outfitters: $30.50 = jacket

This was a good find as I had been eyeing this one for a while and had seen the same one in other colours on sale but had been holding out for the black. I just love this style! Is it a blazer? Is it a cardigan? Who can tell?! All I know is not only would it be perfect for work, but also casual enough to wear just out and about. Score!

What I got:
Open jacket
Full retail price: $79.00
I paid: $26.99
Total savings (with tax): $58.77

Cardizer? Blazigan? What do you guys think?

Anthropologie: $33.84 = skirt

I almost feel like shopping here was like thinking outside-yet-right-next-to-the box, but never-the-less it is still a new and non-Urban Outfitters store (even if it just barely). I am happy to report that the deal I found here was even better than those of it's sister brand! Possibly one of my best scores to date actually, not only was it an amazing deal but the skirt itself is gorgeous! My picture of it on the hanger does not do it justice, so I have also included the one from the website (luckily I was able to find it!) and while it's slightly longer on me I think you get the general idea...

What I got:
Partially-lined mirco-pleated skirt
Full retail price: $118.00
I paid: $29.95
Total savings (with tax): $99.50 (The full tax alone would have been half of what I ended up paying!)

This one shows off the details and styling much better

It better start getting nice outside soon, I can't wait to wear this one!

PINK by Victoria's Secret: $13.59 = baseball tee

While this deal may not be quite as amazing as the last one I got from this store (as last time I got 2 tops for about the same price), and I don't even know how much I saved because the original price tag was missing and it was the only one left in this style at the store, I still thought it was worth mentioning. Perhaps not the most fashionable of finds but you can never go wrong with a basic baseball tee, especially one as super soft as this one and in such a pretty mint green colour! PINK really is one of the best stores for comfy and cute basics/ loungewear. The "secret gift cards" (worth anywhere from $10-$500) that they give out don't hurt either.

Don't you just love their bags?!