Nov 08

Black Friday Ads: Wal*Mart

by Robin Fiedler

Wal*Mart previously announced its holiday campaign of 100 toys for $10; that’s old news. On Nov. 2, however, a new press release from Wal*Mart announced a 20-30% price rollback on more than 100 additional toys, discount prices that will last through the Christmas holiday shopping. 

I checked out the online list at the Wal*Mart Christmas Shop link (provided by Wal*Mart below) and of the 27 toys listed for $10, 16 were Littlest Pet Shop items. There were 4 Bionicle Legos, a Play-doh Burger set, and Transformers 2: Mudflap and Class Ravage figures, both out of stock online. A V-Tech Explore and Learn Helicopter is on the $10 list but says prices vary per store, and it’s not available online. As far as availability, each item varies. Out of 27 toys, 13 were listed as out of stock online, but available in stores.

Here’s an excerpt from Wal*Mart’s official press release.

“Walmart’s latest toy rollbacks* include popular licensed toys, interactive toys, favorite games, active role play items and more. A few samples of these additional savings include:

· Bakugan starter pack – $8 (33% savings)

· Rocky the Robot** – $49 (17% savings)

· Buzz Lightyear Talking Action Figure** – $29 (17% savings)

· Star Wars Light Saber – $15 (25% savings)

· Barbie “I Can Be” Playsets with Doll – $15 (25% savings)

· Playskool Step Start Walk ‘N Ride or Ball Popper – $17 (32% savings)

· FurReal Friends Lulu My Cuddlin’ Kitty – $38 (24% savings)

· Air Hogs Laser Zero Gravity** - $29 (28% savings)

· Fisher-Price Power Wheels Kawasaki KFX Ride-On – $178 (10% savings)

· Jakks Sweet Oven Makeover** — $24 (20% savings)

· More games like Candyland, Yahtzee and Chutes & Ladders - $5 (37% savings)

Many more toy savings will also be featured in Walmart’s Christmas Toy Guide which will mail to homes next week. In addition, Walmart.com is offering free shipping with Site to Store on thousands of online toys, including all bikes, scooters and ride-ons. More information on Walmart’s holiday savings are available online at www.walmart.com/christmasshop.

These toy savings are not limited time offers, but will be offered through the Christmas holiday. In addition, Walmart’s price guarantee will match any local competitor’s advertised offer on the same toy product.***

* Prices may vary in AL, HI, OK, WI and at Walmart.com and are while supplies last. (no rain checks)
** A 2009 Walmart Top 12 Toy, which lists the retailer’s selection of top toys of the season.
*** Price Guarantee is available only in Walmart stores.”

As we anticipate the release of Wal*Mart’s Toy Guide next week, two tips to note are: Wal*Mart is matching competitors’ prices only for in-store sales, and offers free shipping to the store. Sears has also promised matching competitors’ prices, but did not preclude online sale prices.

As shoppers, comparison research is essential to find the best deals. Once we know an item is on our gift list, comparison shopping can work even when shopping at another store by flashing a competitor’s advertised price. As far as Wal*Mart’s delivery on toys in its advertised sales, I may be wrong, but my brief browsing stint on the Wal*Mart $10 toys link shows that toys may be advertised at cheap prices, but the “Toys for $10” promotional items may not be so easy to find in-stock, at least online.

Footnotes

“Walmart Announces 100 More Toy Rollbacks Including Top Holiday Picks.” WalMart* 2 Nov. 2009. http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9491.aspx

COUPON TIME

Don’t forget to check out our Black Friday Coupons page for the best Black Friday deals around.  We’ve also got plenty of deals on our Wal*Mart Coupons page, and you don’t even have to wait until Black Friday to take advantage of those!

Nov 07

Black Friday Ads: Sears

by Robin Fiedler

Some websites claim to have the 48-page Sears Black Friday circular, but without official confirmation from Sears, the sale prices could just be rumors and Internet gossip. I contacted Sears directly, and so I have the official sneak preview to Sears Black Friday Deals. 

The biggest reveal is that Sears will have “Black Friday Now” sales every Saturday leading up to Black Friday, and Sears layaway is available online as well as in-store! Check out the 42″ Plasma TV sale on Nov. 7. Below is an excerpt from a Sears Oct. 28 press release.

“A sample of Sears “Black Friday Now” deals for Saturday, Oct. 31 include:
· 50 percent off (save $200) Craftsman® 302-piece mechanic’s tool sets
· $79.99 (reg. $259.99) 3/8 ct. tw. diamond stud earrings
· $174.19 (reg. $259.99) 7 1/2 ft. Wakefield Christmas tree with 700 Never OutTM clear or multi lights
· 50 percent off all DieHard workboots (reg. $75.00) and $19.99 (reg. $39.99) on all Covington low-shaft boots
· $399.99 closeout (reg. $699.99) ProForma XP elliptical 16-in stride length

All “Black Friday Now” events will occur on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. local time except for this past week.  Due to Halloween, doorbusters started on Friday (Oct. 30) at 5 p.m. as a preview event through Saturday 12 p.m. local time.

On Nov. 7th, as part of “Black Friday Now” deals, Sears will exclusively offer a 42″ Zenith Plasma TV for only $499 (reg. $649.99). Customers can pre-order this great deal as of Oct. 29 on Sears.com.

Customers can also take advantage of layaway at Sears, which is available in store and was recently launched online, enabling them to reserve great merchandise — including all “Black Friday Now” specials, pay in installments and pick up items just in time for the holidays.  Real Time Price Check is available through the Blue Christmas Crew for Sears’ customers. The pricing is current and Sears will match competitors’ advertised prices on the same product, giving the customer the lowest prices available.

Sears offers personalized and convenient shopping options through ShopYourWayTM, which allows for shopping to revolve around the customer 24/7. With convenient options such as Web2Store and Sears’ Personal Shopper, customers can get what they want, when they want and how they want when they shop in store or online.

A few items are restricted to early-bird in-store shoppers, but many are offered online as well, such as the Plasma TV deal, which can even be pre-ordered right now. Using a Sears Card for major purchases can get 12 months no interest or a 5 to 10% instant discount. Search for other online discounts since Sears accepts eCoupons. Free shipping has limitations, but many items can be shipped to the store for free pickup. Note that Sears matches competitors’ advertised prices, so start your online comparison shopping now. It’s going to be a busy month!

COUPON TIME

Visit our Black Friday Sale page for the latest information on all the best Black Friday deals.

Nov 07

Hidden Treasure

It’s time for me to get serious about shopping for holiday gifts.  But I have one big problem:  where to hide them.  gift-wrap

I’ve caught my children snooping for presents in the past.  Last year I found my older son hunting in the basement closet.  Unfortunately for him, the only gift that was in there was for his younger brother–and he already knew about that present.  A good hiding spot is crucial.

The kids see presents coming into the house; late November and early December bring a parade of cardboard boxes as the UPS guy rarely passes by our home without stopping.  While we have a large extended family, the kids must surely figure that not every package that comes in the door is for their grandparents or cousins.  They’re old enough to know the score.

Due to a rearranging of “stuff” in my storage areas, the basement closet is now out of the question for Christmas presents anyway.  I’ve got to think of something better.  Maybe I could take all the clothes out of the Rubbermaid bins labeled “Boy size 10″ and “Boy size 12″ and load presents in there.  I could get some dollar-store laundry baskets and just leave the clothes storage out there in plain sight.

One year I wrapped and numbered every gift.  There were no gift tags on them, just numbers.  I made up the gift tags with the number on the back for easy matching later.  But if I’d lost the master list, I would have had to unwrap every last package!

Another option would be to hide stuff among my pantry items.  No one’s going to think to look in a box labeled “canned asparagus,” right?

Or I could just give everybody gift cards.  Nah.  That’s no fun!

COUPON TIME

If you’ve figured out where you’re going to hide those holiday gifts, it’s time to start shopping!  Why not check out our Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals pages?

Nov 06

Forget Black Friday Ads: Wal*mart

by Robin Fiedler

The weekend of Nov. 7, starting Friday, Wal*mart has sales on electronics and turkey that may be just hot as Black Friday deals. walmart-logo

Everything Wii continues to be in high demand and the game system has now sunk to $199 at Wal*mart, but requires the purchase of a $100 Wal*mart gift card. The Wii Bundle is selling online, not available in stores, for $269, which includes game console, extra controller and one game. Online and in-store, the Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit is on sale for $80.

Of course, we expect great Black Friday laptop deals this holiday season, but Wal*mart is perhaps preempting Black Friday deals with a just under $300 HP 350 GB Notebook. It’s not available online. However, a mini HP notebook with a 10″inch screen is available online, not in-stores, for $300.

Black Friday TV deals are promising.  Wal*mart HDTV deals start at $200 for a 19-inch up to $2000 for a Sony 52-inch home theatre system with Blu-ray DVD, sold only online. Below is Wal*mart’s quick list of deals on electronics.

“Electronics week of savings event
Beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 7, Walmart will have its first of many special electronics savings events, which includes a week of amazing prices on electronics items at stores through Nov. 13.* Items for this event include:

  • $298 HP Notebook Computer - 3GB memory, 250 GB hard drive, Windows 7 Premium
  • Sharp 1080p HDTVs - 42″ for $498, 46″ for $698 (120 Hz), 52″ for $898 (120 Hz)***
  • Panasonic 46″ 1080p plasma HDTV for $788***
  • Xbox 360 Arcade Console $199 with $100 Walmart Gift Card (for use on future purchases; minimum store quantities are at least 10 per store)
  • $148 Sony Blu-ray player (model #BDP-S360)
  • $29 Magnavox Upconvert DVD player (model #DP170MGXF, 1080p)”

After shoppers fill their electronics’ gift list, they can pick up their Thanksgiving dinner for about $20. Wal*mart has sales on turkey starting at 40 cents a pound, stuffing (albeit boxed), potatoes and canned veggies, down to a pumpkin roll cake. Wal*mart’s Thanksgiving dinner deal is not be available at all stores, however.

“A turkey dinner for eight as low as $20
According to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, last year’s average cost of a turkey was roughly $1.19 per pound. Beginning today, select Grade A turkeys are available for 40 cents per pound at Walmart.* These gobblers are part of Walmart’s $20 Thanksgiving menu guaranteeing family favorites will be on the dinner table this holiday season. Walmart’s $20 Thanksgiving feast includes:

  • One 12-pound Grade A turkey*
  • Three 11 to 15.5-ounce cans Green Giant vegetables
  • Two 14-ounce cans Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
  • Three 6-ounce boxes of Stove Top stuffing
  • One 5-pound bag of red potatoes
  • One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
  • One 22-ounce pumpkin roll cake”

Now, on Thanksgiving Day I can be eating my turkey dinner while watching football on my new HDTV with my new mini-notebook in my lap researching the best Black Friday deals. But I wonder: can the Black Friday buys be even lower? Will there even be any inventory left on the shelves? Is the best yet to come?

References

“From Turkeys to Televisions, Walmart Announces New Savings on Thanksgiving Meal Favorites and Electronics” Walmartstores.com 4 Nov. 2009. http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9497.aspx?rss=All_Press_Releases

COUPON TIME

Pre-Black Friday sales are great! But if you still want to get some shopping done the day after Thanksgiving, we’ve gathered up all the Black Friday Coupons you’ll need to get started.

Nov 06

Cyber Monday Online Retailers: Best Offers

by Robin Fiedler

The top 10 retailers’ online shopping day for 2007-2008 was Cyber Monday 2008 with Black Friday online shopping just a smidgen lower. Who are the 2008 top 10 online retailers?

“According to comScore the Leading Retailers are: Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, JCPenney.com, Kohls.com, Macys.com, Overstock.com, Sears.com, Target.com, ToysRUs.com, and Walmart.com,” posted on Compete.com.

What do the numbers show for 2007-2008? Dillon McGovern on Compete.com remarks that 2007 “saw four distinct purchase peaks during the holiday shopping season, all of which were relatively close to each other in terms of volume.” The four hottest 2007 online shopping days were Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Green Monday, and the Monday after Green Monday.

Then for 2008 online shopping, McGovern adds, “neither Green Monday, nor any other single day could match the activity of Cyber Monday and Black Friday.” Almost 3 million purchases for the top 10 retailers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday versus around 2 million purchases on Green Monday and the Monday after. For all online shoppers, Ellen Davis VP of NRF says, “In 2008, an estimated 85 million people shopped on Cyber Monday.”

McGovern’s numbers are based on the number of online shoppers who made a purchase, not the dollar amount of the online sales. The number may not indicate much about total dollars spent, but instead about consumers’ behavior and holiday sales marketing Internet practices. The best holiday deals are offered early during sales after Thanksgiving. Consumers make most of their purchases Black Friday weekend when the best deals are offered, emptying out inventories on “doorbusters” and “loss leaders.” Thus with all the cheap holiday below cost items off the table, online sales decrease.  gift-with-gold-ribbon-and-pinecones-posters

As far as the best deals Cyber Monday 2009, the ads are being as closely guarded as the Black Friday ads. We may hear smatterings of a ‘leaked’ ad, such as what happened with Office Max, or rumored sales prices, such as laptop deals, but none of it will be official until a day or two before Thanksgiving. We have to look to history for trends on what to expect.

Davis notes that 658 online retailers are listed on CyberMonday.com who will offer discounts, promotions in 2009. As well, the top 10 retailers continue to compete for shoppers. Expect up to 50% off from BestBuy, Amazon, Kmart, and Wal*mart on a large array of electronics from plasma TV’s HDTV’s, computers, both PC and laptops, printers, digital cameras, GPS navigation, and cell phones. The catch is that there will be ‘very’ limited quantities.

Toys will be 20-30% off while Wal*mart, Kmart, Amazon, Toys R US, and Target compete to offer the best deals. Online retailers, such as JCPenney, Macy’s, Target, Kohl’s, Sears and Overstock will compete to sell clothes and household items at the lowest prices. Finally, jewelry will be a hot holiday sale item, but may not be discounted as much as electronics.

My personal prediction for Cyber Monday:  laptops will be the best deals because Internet shoppers need the fastest, most reliable laptop to complete the remainder of their holiday online shopping. It’s only logical that online retailers want consumers to own a laptop.

Warning - While I searched for Cyber Monday deals, more than one questionable, virus infected, spyware, pop-up deluging site came up. The FBI and Washington State Attorney General issued warnings about scams, fraud, and counterfeit websites. Please shop online with care and diligence.

References

“All Consuming Blog: Internet Safety.” Washington State Office of the Attorney General. http://www.atg.wa.gov/allconsuming.aspx?category=Internet%20Safety

Davis, Ellen. “How to Capitalize on Cyber Monday.” Shop.org. 15 Oct. 2009. http://blog.shop.org/2009/10/15/how-to-capitalize-on-cyber-monday/

McGovern, Dillon. “Green Monday vs. Cyber Monday: When did Holiday Shopping Really Peak?” Compete.com 5 Jan. 2009.  http://blog.compete.com/2009/01/05/green-monday-holiday-shopping/

“‘Tis the Season…For Online Shopping: How to Avoid Getting Grinched.” Federal Bureau of Investigation. 28 Nov. 2005. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov05/onlineshoppingtips112805.htm

COUPON TIME

If Cyber Monday is your favorite day to shop, make sure you stop by your favorite site for all the best Cyber Monday Promotions–right here at Ultimate Coupons!  No scams or spyware here, just the best deals ever for Cyber Monday and every day.

Nov 06

Good Answer!

Tomorrow my husband and I will be attending his cousin’s wedding.  That means I have to find my dressy handbag.  small-black-handbag

The last time we went to a wedding, I realized that I had the Tiniest Black Purse on Earth and that it wouldn’t fit my bare essentials: wallet, phone, keys, lipstick and asthma inhaler. “I have to run to Target,” I informed him as I zipped out the door.   Fortunately, Target is right around the corner.

When I came home and said, “I’m back,” he called out, “It looks great” without even turning around to SEE the new purse.

But that was two years ago, and I don’t use that handbag much.  So now I’ll have to go hunting for it again.  I wonder where I stashed it…

Oh well–if I can’t find that handbag, I’ll just run around the corner to Target again.

COUPON TIME

If I’d planned ahead, I could have shopped one of these deals on some gorgeous handbags.  Hmm, I wonder if my husband has any more cousins with wedding plans?

Free shipping on orders of $100 or more at Nordstrom.com
Use promotion code HOLIDAY09 during checkout.
Valid through: December 20, 2009, 3:00 pm ET
Offer based on merchandise total and does not include taxes or any additional charges. Not valid in Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack stores, on international orders or for COACH items. Additional fees apply for expedited shipping, multiple shipping destinations and handling as indicated on item product page. This offer is not limited to one-time use, but only one promotion code may be used per order.
See other Nordstrom coupons!

30% off any one item when you buy two or more items at metrostyle
Sale items included in offer. Enter promotion code MSFAV30 in your shopping bag and click APPLY.
Valid through: November 30, 2009 11:59pm ET
Offer excludes suits. Cannot be combined with other offers. Not applicable to payment of prior orders, bills or charges. Not valid on shipping and handling charges or the purchase of gift certificates. Valid online only.
See other metrostyle coupon codes!

Nov 06

Kitchen Mystery

One day not too long ago, I woke up early and went downstairs.  Walking into the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee, I noticed some very odd things.  brownies

An empty box of brownie mix was on the table.

The container of chocolate syrup was also on the table.  (Brownies are always better if you add a generous shot of chocolate syrup to the batter.)

The lid to the vegetable oil was on the table, but the open bottle of oil was on the counter.

The measuring cup and mixing bowl were in the sink, as was a good deal of chocolate mess.

The tinfoil was on the counter.

The very clean, VERY EMPTY baking pan was on the table.

I didn’t see any brownies. I didn’t smell any brownies. There were no brownies in the oven, or the fridge, or anywhere.

So either my kids ate a whole pan of brownies that night, or they didn’t bother baking them and they ate a whole bowl of batter.

COUPON TIME

What’s cooking in your kitchen?  Or, for that matter, who’s cooking in your kitchen?

Pay with eBillme and get:
$10 off orders over $100 at Abt Electronics

Valid online only. Use promotion code EBMABT1009.
Valid through: November 16, 2009 11:59pm CT
Limit one (1) time coupon use per person, household or address.
See other Abt Electronics coupons!

99-cent per item shipping at Blair
Use this link to activate the promotion code. If there are any problems, enter FQA in your shopping cart.
Valid through: November 30, 2009, 11:59pm ET
Applies to standard shipping. Additional shipping charges apply for overweight items, express and deliveries outside the continental U.S. Cannot be combined with other offers. Online only.
See other Blair coupon codes!

Nov 05

Thanksgiving Turkey

by Robin Fiedler

In your Holy-Grail search for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, you will find that locating the best one is not a twist of fate.

Since turkey is the essential centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal, millions of these birds are raised every year for Americans giving thanks. There are 3 types available: commercially-raised, free-range, and Heritage. The differences are price, how they are bred and raised, and the amount of white versus dark meat.  thanksgiving-turkey

According to the US Census Bureau, the “number of households across the nation — all potential gathering places for people to celebrate the holiday” is 117 million! It also notes that “the preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2009” is 250 million, while 99% of our turkey imports come from Canada.

The whole turkey that typically ends up on our Thanksgiving dinner table is Broad-breasted white hen, bred to be top heavy with white meet. The National Turkey Federation explains, “The hen usually takes 14 weeks and weighs 15.3 pounds when processed. This compares to the tom, which takes 18 weeks to reach a market weight of 33 pounds.”

Heritage turkeys are bred naturally and are grown for a longer period, according to Leslie Brenner of the LA Times. Free-range turkeys are allowed to roam in the open, unlike commercial birds which are raised in barns although not caged. NTF producers do not use hormones or steroids, but do use antibiotics to reduce and control disease.

Brenner reports on an experiment of cooking all three types for a taste test. “Although the dark meat of the heritage bird is what’s often touted, we were amazed at its white meat, which was finely grained, extremely succulent and the most flavorful of the three birds. The white meat of the free-range turkey was delicious, but didn’t measure up to that of the heritage bird. Its texture was coarser, though it was very moist. The white meat of the supermarket turkey was stringy, dried out and fairly flavorless.”

In December 2008, the US Census Bureau reported that the price per pound of a whole frozen turkey was $1.33. In 2003, free-range turkeys cost about $2 a pound, while the Heritage has to be special-ordered at about $4 a pound. The Heritage also takes longer to cook than commercially bred turkey, says Brenner. The USDA points to no difference in cooking time between buying a frozen or fresh turkey.

The typical American consumes 13.8 pounds of turkey every year, according to the US Census Bureau, of course much of it during the Thanksgiving meal. The USDA recommends buying 1 pound of turkey for every person invited to dinner, but for a turkey that gives after Thanksgiving, buy extra for leftovers, or buy two; a frozen turkey can keep for 12 months in the freezer.

Some of the best recipes for turkey and turkey leftovers from top chefs can be found at NTF’s website http://www.eatturkey.com. They even have videos. Let’s put the bird in the oven, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

References

Brenner, Leslie. “Pound per Pound: Which Turkey Tastes Best?” LA Times. 19 Nov. 2003. http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-heritagestory,1,6365330.story?page=1

“Countdown to Thanksgiving Holiday” USDA: United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. Nov. 2006. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Countdown_to_Thanksgiving_Holiday.pdf

“Raising Turkeys.” Turkey: The Perfect Protein. 2009. National Turkey Federation. http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/raising/raise.html

US Census Bureau. “Thanksgiving day: Facts for Features.” US Census Bureau. 30 Sept. 2009.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/014332.html

COUPON TIME

Turkey time?  Check out our Thanksgiving Deals page for the best shopping opportunities for this unique American holiday.

Nov 05

Count the Forks

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year?  If so, it’s time to make sure you have all the tableware and serving pieces you’ll need for the meal.  antique-flatware

My sister inherited our grandmother’s collection of flatware.  It’s not fancy, and it’s not valuable.  But to us, it’s priceless.  And it’s fitting that my sister has all these knives, forks and spoons, because she has taken on the tradition of hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner.

When we were growing up, Thanksgiving was Nanny’s domain.  She spent days in advance preparing for this event.  I still haven’t figured out how she got all of us around her dining-room table, because that table is now in my dining room, and there’s no way we could fit more than 20 people around that table.  I suspect that some people had to eat in the kitchen; most likely, my grandmother and her two sisters were in that group.  They probably didn’t eat until the rest of us were finished.

Nanny set a high standard for that Thanksgiving feast, and now that my sister is continuing the tradition, she has managed to meet, and even exceed, that standard.   My kids look forward to this event months in advance.  Is it the delicious food?  The time spent with cousins they don’t often see?  The Leftover-Halloween-Candy Piñata?  Whatever the reason, we’re all anticipating Thanksgiving dinner, three weeks from now.  We’ll crowd around the kitchen table, dining-room table, and a foldaway table in the living room.  We’ll give thanks for the food and the family.  And we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at a beautiful table, set with Nanny’s knives and forks.

COUPON TIME

There’s plenty of time to stock up on silverware before Thanksgiving Day.  But the Pfaltzgraff deal is good today only!

10% off orders over $50 at Mikasa
Use this link to activate the coupon code at checkout. If there are any problems, enter coupon code AFF1050.
Valid through: December 31, 2009 11:59 PM PDT.
See other Mikasa coupons!

TODAY ONLY!
15% off sitewide at Pfaltzgraff
Use coupon code NEXTPURCHASE.
Valid through: November 5, 2009
See other Pfaltzgraff coupon codes!

And for great deals on other Thanksgiving-dinner necessities, check out our Thanksgiving Sale page.

Nov 05

Toasty Toes

In the winter, it’s not just important to keep your hands warm.  Your feet have to be warm as well.

I wear shoes all day, every day, year-round.  I cannot stand to have cold feet.  I like wearing thick, textured socks and fleece-lined clogs in winter. fleece-clogs

This is why I totally can’t understand the way my daughter walks into basketball practice a couple of nights a week:  in her socks.

I’m hoping that once we hit one of those cold, rainy days, she’ll change her tune.  Then again, this is the kid who took off her shoes and socks at every opportunity at a very early age.  I think that if she could go barefoot to school and basketball practice, she would.

I suppose that I’ll have to console myself with the fact that she has not given in to the fad that so many other girls have embraced:  the sheepskin boot.  I see girls wearing those with shorts.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but those are definitely winter shoes.  In this part of the country, most people don’t wear shorts in winter (except my neighbor and my daughter!)  But my barefoot basketball player is a fashion rebel; she’s not one to want something just because everyone else has it–unless that something is a cell phone.

COUPON TIME

Whether you need basketball sneakers, clogs, heels, or even those sheepskin boots, we have shoe deals for you!

$10 off online orders over $150 at Heels.com
Use coupon code WINNER in Step 4 of checkout.
Valid through: November 14, 2009
See other Heels.com coupons!

15% off your order at ShoeMall
Use promo code 15AMAZON in your shopping bag
Valid through: November 10, 2009 at 11:59pm CT
Excludes Camper, ECCO, Geox, Globe, Harley-Davidson, Merrell, and Minnetonka brands.
See other ShoeMall coupon codes!