Sweatshirts

I have been one of the biggest nay-sayers regarding JC's "sample" sales that take place in New York City since I left the very first one last January disappointed at the high-prices and crappy inventory after waking up early and standing in a freezing cold outside line....

Last week, on a random trip to the mall, I ran into the shoe clearance room at Von Maur.  I don't normally attempt this when I'm 'with-stroller', but there seemed to be a frenzy going on in there so I could, OF COURSE, not just walk by without checking it out!

I usually don't have much luck in the clearance rooms .... mostly because I have no patience and I get mad because I find something I want, but it's 2 sizes too big or small....

blah blah....

but on this day, I found some great deals!!  So exciting!

ZiGi NY - Reg. $150  Sale: $37

I still had a few things to return to the store yesterday, so I stopped in to check out some of the new items that arrived, as well.   Part of me was relieved (the I've-put-way-too-much-on-my-credit-card-this-season part of me) to see that there wasn't anything super spectacular on the floor.  (Certainly some good deals on cords for $29 + 20% off if you need them, but I'm set on cords)

As far as the new stuff I actually remember seeing and noticing....

The SP-013XX is Studio D'Artisan's latest and final model produced in commemoration of their 30th Anniversary, a 17oz selvage denim dyed with natural indigo from the Tokushima prefecture in Japan using the Kasé Zomé technique. This process is done in small batches using a special machine that operates similar to hand dyeing in that the undyed yarns are dipped into indigo vats, exposed to air for oxidation, twisted to squeeze out the excess dye, and then repeated depending on the preferred shade of blue. The more times it's repeated the darker the blue will be with the average dyeing cycle completing after about 10 times. The SP-013XX denim yarns are dipped and repeated 30 times, three times the average, to bring out the darkest color possible from this natural indigo while still maintaining an undyed core of the yarn. This undyed core will help in color falling and fading as seen in their regular indigo denims. Other details include original gold buttons and rivets, indigo dyed jacquard woven linings, and tri-color selvage. Limited to 200 pairs worldwide. Made in Japan. Available in store and online here

Dual layer gauze cotton plaid shirt, outer layer plaid with bold stripe inner layer. Work style chest pockets. Linen combo fabric at collar stand, under placket, and beneath pocket flaps for reinforcement. Delicately constructed with triple-needle chain stitch sewing construction throughout and bar tacking at points of strain. Made in Japan.

I contemplated not getting the mail today due to the 36 degrees and rain (awesome winter weather mix), though it was definitely worth the venture down the driveway to the mailbox this afternoon.

There was a box!  Yea!  A present!  I hadn't ordered anything recently, so I knew it just had to be a present! (OK - that's sort of a lie .... I have ordered A LOT of things recently, but all were being shipped UPS, so I knew that they wouldn't be in the mailbox!  Anyway...)

The return address was J.Crew!  Woo Hoo!

I figured from the size of the box it would probably be stationary, since I know some cardholders received that last year.  However, the gift turned out to be much nicer and more useful!  And, as a bonus, PINK!

Turns out, inside the box was a nicely presented calendar/ planner for 2010.  Not only does it have monthly and weekly calendars, but also a ton of other useful info.... including spaces for addresses, conversion charts, holidays, maps, etc...