But please don’t twist your ankle if you are wearing heels!  I was so excited when my friend Karen in Florida emailed me this photo of my coasters right in the front of her Steinmart store today.  (Yet another reason to love iPhones!)

These absorbent coasters from Thirstystone are a must-have accessory for the fashion minded – even if the high-heel lifestyle is in your head and not on your feet. (That would be me!)

If you ever find my designs in your local store, do let me know – it always makes my day and keeps the creative juices flowing.

– Tara

Located in a hidden corner of Queens, far from a major highway, the Shops At Atlas Park is undergoing a transformation, trying to shed its previous town center image and re-emerge from the shadows as a mall.

Opened in late 2005, Atlas Park was conceived as a community destination – a town square with shopping, a play area for children, high-end boutiques and restaurants targeting a clientele with deep pockets from the other side of Woodhaven Boulevard in Forest Hills.

But what has evolved in the three-plus years since its doors opened is a series of opened and closed stores, a frustration on the part of the retailers over the park setting and paid parking and a clientele looking more for savings than sophistication.

Just as Atlas Park got off the ground, the economy began to stagnate and later spiral downward. This past winter, Atco Management, the company formed by the owning Hemmerdinger family to run the site, was removed by the mall’s financial backers when they called the note on the $220 million site; a Receiver was appointed and the Mattone Group was brought in to handle the day-to-day management.

Today, the philosophy of the site is changing. The central fountain, once the bane of retailers, has been fenced off, barring access to children’s play. The Receiver is trying to evict the high-end Amish Market from its site. The site currently occupied by Stein Mart, once-touted as the anchor for the mall, is now available for immediate lease – as a supermarket.

Stein Mart spokeswoman Susan Edelman maintains that Stein Mart is under contract. “We have a multi-year lease that began in April 2006 and goes for quite some time,” she said Tuesday.

On Wednesday, however, at a breakfast for brokers, commercial broker Capstone Realty distributed packages showing the sites at Atlas currently available. One page in the packet pitches the 32,534-square-foot Stein Mart site as “available immediately.”

“The community of Glendale is crying out for a supermarket to move into their neighborhood, and we have just the location for you,” the prepared materials read.

One prospective tenant, Western Beef, has already turned down Atlas Park over parking access.

“They offered us a location there,” said Santino Montalbano, real estate director for Western Beef. “It does not really lay out as the prototype store. We are definitely looking to expand in that area. We were offered a location, but we are going to pass on it. We need 30,000 square feet and a parking lot.”

Other sites currently listed for lease include the former Aerosoles and Marmi locations, a multitude of vacant spots throughout the mall as well as sites currently listed for the UPS Store, Deseo and Regus Executive Suites. All totaled, 101,798 square feet of the 400,000 on site are listed as vacant.

“At the end of the day it’s all about giving people a place to shop for the things they need,” said Paul Millus, the court-appointed Receiver and spokesman for Atlas Park. “We want to give people value, and good quality items – and that is what we are working diligently on.”

Millus explained the closing of the fountain as a business decision, even though the sign shown at the mall states that the fountain has been closed because of a change in state health regulations.

He said a meeting with the Glendale Civic Association showed people in the area were strongly against the concept of using the fountain as a play area.

“The bottom line was that from a tenant’s perspective Atlas Park is a shopping area, not a playground,” Millus said. “It is not conducive to doing business.” Operating costs and liability were also an issue, he said.

Admitting that Atlas Park suffers from an identity crisis, Millus said the mall needs to have the right mix to attract customers.

“You have to find the right mix,” he said. “We are touching base with electronics stores, restaurants, and other stores that would bring to the community a place where they could go and fill all their shopping needs.”

And for the foreseeable future, though the fountain remains closed to the children who used to play in it, Atlas Park will continue to try to re-establish itself as a unique shopping destination.

“People come for a period of time and we offer a multitude of shopping needs in a setting that is idyllic,” Millus said. “It is a beautiful place, a magnificent place. It may have done gangbusters in Florida or Phoenix, Arizona, but we can make it work here.”

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How to shop for great items on a tight budget
By: Ashley Williams

With every screech of the metal hanger before, the search for the perfect fashion piece becomes more intense. Browsing through the racks and racks of shirts, dresses, skirts, and pants, brings about the excitement and thrill of finding the perfect item in any vintage store. This store in particular hosts garments and accessories from the 1940s to the 1990s. Each piece, unique and one-of-a-kind, subdues any shopper’s passion of finding items seemingly created solely for them. Looking through this quaint vintage store, the super short, shapeless mod dresses from the 1960s and the knit off the shoulder sweaters from the 1980s all hit the right spot in my fashion-filled mind. But as I glance over to the accessories counter in the little vintage shop, I notice a 1960s vintage Dooney & Bourke bag that only my grandmother could have owned. When I realized Dooney & Bourke bags cost about $300 plus I knew I had to have it. Retail price: $60. The all leather, emerald green, navy blue, and cream handbag with brown detailing is the perfect fit for my purse collection, actually, the perfect fit to anyone’s collection. So of course, I got the bag. A unique find like this can be achieved by anyone. Having a good eye and knowing where and when to shop are all factors of buying on a budget for any fashionista, or anyone interested in fashion, that is. With some tips and hints I’ll show you the best places to shop when you want to buy a great piece on a tight budget.

Thrift Stores Companies like Goodwill and Salvation Army have been around for over 100 years, and many people have utilized their services. However, many others have shunned them, only shopping at department stores, boutiques, and malls. When we think of items at the Goodwill or Salvation Army, we think – sequined holiday sweaters, pasty black high-waisted “mom jeans” and run down Reeboks from the 1980s. Nonetheless, through some of the fashion faux pas throughout the store, there are many hidden gems to be found. Mostly, it takes a lot of patience and a good eye for a good find. Remember that many of the people who are able to donate their clothes away are usually have somewhat of an idea of current fashions. When they no longer can use these items or simply don’t want them, they know that donating to these services is a tax write off and a great way to give back. Searching through these stores, you can find many great designer pieces that are either gently worn or have never been worn before (with tags). A great item I found on shopgoodwill.com is a silver Diane von Furstenberg cocktail dress that was auctioned off for $26. Originally this dress was about $485 and is still being auctioned off on websites such as ebay.com at this price. Finding items like these are not always going to be easy, but when you do come across them, you know it was definitely worth the try. Ekom Ekwere, a fashion merchandising major, purchased a black and pink, Bisou Bisou, three-quarter length shirt with a black detailed bow on the back for $4.99 at a Goodwill store in Pembroke Pines, FL. Remember that if you have no luck at one particular thrift store, most likely there is another somewhere around your town. What one Goodwill or Salvation Army might not have, another may.

Fashions Recycle When one style goes out, it is only gone for so long. While shopping at Goodwill or Salvation Army, you may come across vintage clothing that was once out of style but now is in fashion and for a much cheaper price, such as denim wide leg jeans from the 1970s that have now hit the runways in 2009. Vintage boutiques are also a great way to find once out-of-date clothing at cheap prices. Now, not all vintage boutiques are inexpensive, especially in cities like New York or London, but nonetheless, you can find those great gems in the midst of the racks. While shopping at Sick Boy Vintage right here in Tallahassee, I found a vintage 1970s Florida State Football shirt for only $7. Usually, our FSU logo shirts run around $20-$30 at the bookstore. I was also able to find vintage 1980s Levi’s 501 high-waisted jeans for only $14. Currently, the Levi’s 501 jean runs from $68-$78 on levi.com.

Vintage You must have patience and an eye for what you want while shopping vintage. While there can be many great finds within vintage shops, just be careful of broken stitches, zippers or holes that compromise the item. Because these items have been passed along for so many years, some malfunctions may occur that can ruin a piece. However, something great about all vintage clothing is that they are one-of-a-kind. For young girls shopping for a prom dress, vintage shops may be better than going to the mall because of the unique selection. Or even for young women going to a cocktail party where they want to stand out; vintage clothing can set you apart.

Grandma’s Closet If your grandmother is like mine, and keeps almost all her key pieces throughout time, then you may find some special items hidden in the back of her closet. Grandmothers are a great way to reminisce on previous trends and fashions throughout the 20th century. Especially since many of the high-end designers we know of today (Lacoste, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent), weren’t as expensive during their time. I know that my grandmother bought many designer items back in the 50s and 60s, which were considered cheap back then, but now can cost well into the thousands of dollars. That’s how I snagged my vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy bag, which goes for about $700 today. Okay, so you may not find that perfect dress for a first date or high-wasted 1950s dark denim that has made a come back in 2009, but accessories like jewelry, bags, and scarves are always items that never go out of style.

Discount Retailers If you’re not the type of person to shop at thrift stores, or you don’t like the idea of used garments passed along from the 1970s, then another great way to go shopping on a budget is at discount and off-price retailers. Examples of discount and off-price retailers are Wal-Mart, Target, Tj Maxx, Ross, Marshall’s, and Steinmart. Discount retailers are companies that sell their items at a discounted price to the customer, while off-price retailers are companies that sell merchandise that did not sell at other department stores. Today, discount retailers like Target have big name designers within their stores to offer quality clothing at affordable prices. Designers like Isaac Mizrahi, Mossimo, and Liz Lange are all featuring their items at Target for the woman on a budget. Stores like Tj Maxx and Ross offer designer clothing passed down from department stores. Many times these are the items that did not sell in the department store, while other times the manufacturer made a surplus of clothing and sold it to the off-price retailer. Latia Walker, a co-worker at Steinmart, stated they currently had in stock a “BCBG jogging suit that cost $52 for both the pants and a hoodie, while Macy’s sold it for $198 for each piece separately.” With a keen eye you can find great items for much less than if you were to go directly to the department store. Many people complain that off-price retailers are out of style and not up with the current fashions. Sometimes this may be true; however, other times, there are many pieces that naturally never go out of style, such as a little black dress, or a basic medium-wash bootcut jean. Jessica Octavien recently told me she “found Seven For All Mankind dark denim jeans for $50 at Tj Maxx.” These run almost $200 on 7forallmankind.com. Rarely do you ever find designer clothing on clearance, or even marked down a few dollars. However, knowing the right places to shop and at what time, you can find great deals or great items.

Good Sales After every fashion season, the items that did not sell usually go on clearance. But to know when this happens, you have to know some background information about the fashion industry. One, fashion only has two seasons – autumn/winter and spring/summer. At the end of each season is when items will go on sale, usually the months of February and August. At the end of February the spring items usually are coming in and the sweaters are going out. Same with August and summer items such as tank tops and shorts. During these times, and sometimes a little earlier, you’ll find great clearance prices on items that did not sell during the season. This is an easy way to pick up the knit sweater you wanted but couldn’t afford from Nordstrom’s to wear next winter. And if you happen to be looking for a gift for your sweetie, Justin Fort said that he bought a Perry Ellis, long sleeve button-up shirt from Dillard’s for $9.99 during the end of the autumn/winter season. Kirwich Joseph stated he purchased the trendy and stylish Creative Recreation sneakers, that sell for $100-$170, for $70 at a Nordstrom’s in Miami. Second, just because it’s the end of the season and these are the items no one wanted, doesn’t mean you can’t wear them next time around. Sometimes trends don’t catch on until the next season, and if you’ve already purchased those trendy items, you are ahead of the bunch.

Precautions There are, however, some outlets of shopping to take precautions with: outlet malls and online shopping such as ebay.com. Outlet malls are usually made to carry the items from the manufacturer at a cheaper price because they were usually overstock or they are items made specifically for the outlet store. With that, sometimes you aren’t getting the best deal possible. At Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets in Leesburg, VA, I purchased Lacoste polo style shirts for the same price as they would cost at a Lacoste retail store in the mall, around $70-$80. Make sure to know the retail price of items set by manufacturers and retailers before you look for sales. This will help you to instinctively know if you’re getting a good deal or not. Also, beware of sites such as ebay.com when shopping for designer pieces through the web. Although you can find great deals on used items (some new) through the site, you need to check for authenticity of the items and the ratings of sellers. Many people (myself included!) have been scammed on eBay and it’s difficult to get that money back. Nonetheless, if the seller or eBay can verify authenticity and the seller has positive ratings (not just a few, but a significant amount) then eBay is a good way to purchase designer pieces for a cheaper price.

While always wanting the best of the best, but not having the best of resources can often times be painful, finding ways to shop without breaking your bank account can be really simple. Knowing where to shop, how to shop, and what to look for will be extremely beneficial to your pockets. And although thrift, vintage, discount, and sale shopping may not seem all that glamorous, finding those hidden gems amongst the faux pas can bring allure to any closet!

I swear I update this blog like every 6 months – which really doesn’t make me a good blogger!  What can I say?  I’m too busy shopping to blog!

Seriously, though.  In this economy, who is still spending spending spending?  Very few…and even many who can are feeling like they should cut back as well.  So, this post is offering a few tips for people who love to shop but can’t do it like they used to…how to get the most out of your shopping dollah.  Here goes:

Check liquidation stores.  No, I’m NOT kidding.  I’m a bargain shopper who only likes the good stuff – so I’m dead serious when I tell you to check out liquidators.  Why?  Because there is so much stuff out there that people didn’t buy during the holidays that liquidators can’t even liquidate all of it!  And we aren’t talking cheap junk but the high end brand names…heck, liquidators are even shipping stuff to third world countries to try and get a buck for it there.  Sure, I’ll give you a buck for that brand new Coach bag… 

So where do you find liquidators?  Well, you are probably aware of a few of them already – and these are some of my regular haunts:

TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning and Marshalls.  These are typically known as discount outlets, but really they get overstock and discounted lots from retailers – so, they are liquidators in my book.

Then there’s the department store’s who are trying to get rid of their merchandise at discounted prices without sending it downstream to the TJMaxx – they wanna keep that discount dollar.  Those stores include:

Filine’s basement, Nordstrom Rack  to name a couple of my favorites.

Now, in my town, we have a regional liquidator that just liquidates shoes and a few handbags.  

Marty and Liz Shoes

You should check for these in your town.

Other liquidators are less established, but still good.  My husband’s term of endearment for liquidation stores is “the it-fell-off-the-truck” store.  Like unclaimed freight, I guess.  Whatever you call them, they have great deals and they are in EVERY city.  You just need to find them.  Google liquidation and the name of your city. 

Online.  If you are looking for online liquidators, try:

overstock.com, liquidation.com and the newest trend in high fashion liquidation: ideeli.com.  Ideeli is a members-only liquidation site – but if you Twitter, just find them there, follow them, and they’ll send you an invite.  Or send me a message and I’ll send you an invite!

Now, you can’t expect a posh shopping experience at liquidators, but you can expect a deal.  For stuff I might find at Target or Walgreen’s I go to Big Lots.  Yes. I do.  Hey, if you want to pay full retail for something you can get for 10 cents on the dollar at Big Lots, you go ahead.  No one knows I didn’t get it at Target – except me and my bank account!

If you’re looking for home decor items, try Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, Steinmart, Habitat for Humanity Homestore, or TJ Maxx Home Goods.

Building materials?  Habitat for Humanity Homestore.

Electronics?  Try Essex or Essex.com

Large items like refrigerators or dishwashers?  Try Sears Outlet.

These stores may be tried and true for you already, and if so, you’re a savvy recession-ready shopper!  If not and this will be your first foray into discount and liquidation shopping – set your store ambiance expectations on “low” and your expectation for low prices on “high” and you’re set.  Start with TJ Maxx.  In the Handbag aisle. Or the jewelry counter. 

Yes, really.

I’ve been going home a lot this year.  And the major reason is that my parents built a new house, and my pet project is go to and help them decorate it.

During my last trip, we managed to get all the furniture in order.  About half the furnishings will come from the old house and the rest, we bought to fill up the new one (which is about 3 times bigger).  Our goals for this trip were to:

• finish buying all the bathroom accessories (they can get so expensive!)
• pick up random accents
• look at couches and pick a style for the living room
• figure out the entertainment situation

Accessories & Random Accents

The first was pretty easy.  I wanted my room to have a muted, slightly feminine look.  I’m not usually a huge fan of purple, but after I saw those Nicole Miller shower curtains, I absolutely had to have them!  They were on sale when I first saw them in June, but by the time my parents go around to buying them, they were only $19.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond (major WIN!).  During my last trip back, I had also picked out matching DNKY toothbrush holders, soap dishes and trash cans.  My bedroom ’suite’ is actually two rooms with two sinks/vanity areas and a shared toiled/bathtub.  So after a quick hunt at Macy’s, the three of us (parents + me) picked an also matching bed set a la Style & Co.  Here’s how they came out:

Nicole Miller shower curtain.  You can kind of make out the metallic sheen.

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The matching DKNY bathroom accessories and how it looks on the granite I picked out over a year ago.  The stylist looked at me like I was nuts for wanting black granite in the bathroom, but I think they turned out really well.  Especially because it pulls everything in the room towards it.

We were going to get a trash can as well, but I’m leaving my kitteh with my parents from Thanksgiving until Christmas (it’s $125 each way for the cat, so I’m saving $250 just by not bringing her back from Thanksgiving and then there again for Christmas), and we didn’t want her to knock over the creamic trash can and break it.  She might get hurt, and the trash can’s $40 plus tax.

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The matching pillows.  The small one is from Style & Co., a set with the sheets, but the larger ones are actually from TJ Max.  They’re identical in color to the original Style & Co. large decorative pillows, except the TJ Max twin was $16 vs. $40.  (win!)  I don’t have a picture of the sheets, since they were still in packaging when I left.

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For my parents room, my mom wanted something that was brown and gold to match the curtains, for which they’d paid an assload.  Not everything matches exactly, but I guess if you have a bathroom the size of most 1 bedroom apartments in New York, they don’t have to look exactly the same shade.  From far away, lotion dispenser and toothbrush holders look amazing, but they’re just cheap plastic.  Whoo Steinmart.

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These curtains are ridiculous.  A little elaborate for my taste but so rich.  It makes the whole room look majestic, especially with my parents’ bed frame.

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I didn’t actually help with picking the curtains (my parents just hired someone and said, “Here’s money.  Make it pretty.”), but I just love how the dining room turned out.  At first, I thought the table was too shiny and plastic looking.  The curtains and chandelier do wonders in softening the look.

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Living room & Entertaining

As with most standard houses, the living room is huge and two stories tall.  The goal was to put an entertainment system in the rather large alcove between the dining room and the living room, and leave the living room for a huge couch set up and some nice rugs.

My dad had this crazy idea of buying two 46″ Sony Bravia W series because they don’t really sell LCDs or plasma over 60″ (or something like that).  In the end, we ended up getting a 46″ for the master bedroom too.  My mom had gotten used to falling asleep watching TV, so it was hard for her not to.  We still have the old 53″ DLP, but that’s going into the entertainment room upstairs.  It’s silly to have two entertainment systems in the house, but turning down the thermostat upstairs (usually set to 83 degrees to save electricity) just to watch TV seems sillier.

We also went to what seemed like 100 different furniture places to look for an appropriate couch set.  Most of the stores had very traditional leather styles, which seemed too blah for my parents.  But the European stores had tiny tiny furniture, which would look so wrong in such a huge space.  I really dig this one.  It’s 1) made from cloth, so no sticky leather in the summer; 2) a really pretty color; 3) actually big enough to fill up the living room and 4) not that expensive (about $4,000).

… Sadly, my mom hates it.

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Here are some gratuitous pictures of bao zi that my mom and I made.  They’re sooo gooood.  We tried making them super small this time, so each one is about the length of your knuckle (except… you know… round).

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Okay this post has gone on for way too long… cheerio!