Pregnant and Pretty, Part Two

Shop your closet!

That should be the #1 tip from pregnancy and newborn magazines.  Instead of blasting us with images of "must-have" $60 sundresses and $45 skinny jeans, we should be advised that plenty of non-maternity duds can last us for at least two trimesters - sometimes all three.

Case in point: leggings!  I stocked up last fall and winter, and non-maternity styles still fit me, nearly seven months along.  My favorite brand, at about $6 a pop, is George, carried by Wal*Mart.  I have at least four pairs: in black, gray, eggplant and chocolate.  Some are footed versions, some are not; they're all totally opaque.  (If you're wrinkling your nose because I shop at such a big-box store, just remember - we are doing pregnancy on the cheap!  If you prefer organic cotton, sourced and made in the USA, that's awesome!  Go for it!  But that means my ideas probably won't inspire you very much!)  

Those leggings don't get worn with tiny tops, of course.  I have discovered that most of my swingy, flashy, Empire-waisted tunic tops (purchased mostly at Ross Dress for Less, usually for $13 or under) make fabulous maternity dresses.  In fact, Five Below has sundresses for $5 that seem to be nursing-friendly.  They're cheaply made and probably won't last long, but are great for around-the-house wear.  I'm planning on getting a few more.  They're kind of like really cute, knee-length muumuus.  I also like to add waterfall sweaters (very thin ones, since I've tended to feel warm most of the time during my pregnancy), with or without stretch belts.  In the fall and winter, I paired them with the leggings and boots.  

Which brings me to the topic of shoes.  Ladies, trust me: I am all about the shoe.  I have wedges, ballet flats, heels, flip-flops, gladiator sandals, knee-high boots, ankle boots, stilettos, and some rather saucy footwear that probably should not be worn in public.  I love shoes.  Love them!  I have been very loath to stick to "sensible" styles during my pregnancy.  Flats might be comfy but they aren't always very flattering on me.  But I have learned that your center of gravity really does change the further your pregnancy progresses, and shoes with a very high or thin heel simply aren't safe.  They should be restricted to special events only - and bring a pair of flats with you, just in case.  For my part, I compromised.  I found a pair of $25 Crocs (yes, I know, CROCS) at the outlet store.  They're black wedges which are both very comfortable and very flattering.  They've got a sturdy, rubberized 3 1/2 heel that gives me height and confidence, but they feel almost like sneakers.  They've become my everyday work shoes, since my office manager allows me to forego the (unreasonably expensive) maternity scrubs and wear business casual clothes for the time being.  In addition, if you'll be heavily pregnant in the summer, stick to slip-on styles for your sandals.  Or count on your partner to buckle your gladiators for you every time, because chances are you won't be able to reach them yourself!

Another money-saver is the maxi-dress.  Most styles come in forgiving or stretchy materials, and can be easily dressed up or dressed down.  If you're a shorty like me, most maxi styles are too long for you anyway, but the addition of the bump makes them the perfect length!  (After the bump disappears, you can employ your super-cute lace-up espadrille wedges again.)  Again, I found several styles at stores like Ross Dress for Less, TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Burlington.  I'm fairly certain that I didn't spend more than $25 on any of them, and most were $15 and under.

Let's talk about intimate apparel.  Without delving into too many details, your best bet is to stick with simple cotton panties and to purchase one or two new bras as your bustline changes during pregnancy.  I never thought I would be singing the praises of a non-underwire style, but I actually love the Genie Bra (again, I found it at Wal*Mart for around $15, which is $5 less than the advertised price everywhere else).  It's supportive and comfortable, even for a larger bust.  I'll probably be using it when I breastfeed too, since it stretches to accommodate various sizes.  I'll probably buy several more if it works out, because the idea of dropping loads of cash on a nursing bra makes me queasy.  After all, you're supposed to buy at least three, they say: one to wear, one to wash, one to have ready to go.  That could easily be upwards of $100.  Most specialty shops, though, do have reasonable prices.  Motherhood Maternity, for one, surprised me with a variety of very comfortable-looking bras priced around $20 to $25 each.  I don't find that unreasonable, but I haven't tried any on yet.  

In fact, I haven't set foot in a specialty shop during this pregnancy.

I'm fortunate, in a way, to be among the last in my circle of gal-pals to have a baby.  That means that I have gotten about three garbage bags full of maternity clothes. mostly from my friend Jaime.  (I'm also lucky she's kind of a fashionista, because these clothes are cute!)  That being said, don't shun anything that's offered to you, even if it doesn't seem to be your style - or size.  Jaime and I have dramatically different builds, but most of the clothes she gave me fit anyway.  If nothing else, pick out a few things you like and hold on to the rest.  Chances are, that generous Mama will eventually want them back to get her through another pregnancy.  By that time, you might be able to throw in a few of your own maternity-friendly clothes, and then the whole process can start over again!

My final word of advice for this post is simple: eBay!  You can find such amazing deals online and in thrift and consignment shops!  If you're buying online and you're worried about the fit, make sure to purchase from a seller who accepts returns.  A lot do not, and it's eBay's policy to allow that, so read carefully before you bid.  I picked up a very cute white sundress with thick black straps that retailed at Motherhood Maternity for about $50.  Since the seller was not charging for shipping and I was the only bidder, I ended up paying around $13.  I'll be wearing this dress all summer!  I also found two office-friendly dresses (one of which is also appropriate for nursing), and they each sold in stores for probably about $30.  I think I paid about $9 each, as shipping was free for those, too.  All of them fit just fine, even though I couldn't try anything on.  


Next week, if I can convince my husband to play the fashion photographer, I'll be posting some pictures of outfits I've put together!

Pregnant and Pretty, Part One

I'm sure I am in the majority of pregnant women who prefer nothing more than wearing stretchy yoga pants, soft, comfy T-shirts, and pulling their hair up into messy buns.  Wait a minute...isn't that most women, pregnant or not?

Fun...but not functional (or safe) for a lady in her
 third trimester!  These can wait until after baby.
 Image from fabsugar.com.

Yup - it's one of those strange facts about being female.  Although we want to be as comfy as dudes in their well-worn jeans and 80s T-shirts, we make different choices for the sake of fashion.  Frequently, we love to wear gloriously gorgeous shoes that are impractically high, stunning dresses that force us to reposition our boobs every five minutes or so, and pants that require us to perform an awkward calisthenics routine just to get into them.  We like to feel pretty, and often the route to feeling pretty is a painful one.  I'm not being sexist here; I'm just speaking from personal experience and, if I may humbly say, I'm acting as the voice of many, not all, of my female friends.  We often suffer needlessly for the sake of beauty, and frequently, people never notice our efforts anyway!  (Unless things go horribly wrong and we trip over our mile-high stilettos like baby deer learning how to walk...)

At least, in the past few years, women's fashion has generally seemed to take a turn for "cute and comfy" over "pretty and painful".  I'm talking about boat shoes, thick-calf-friendly boots, surprisingly forgiving skinny jeans, knee-skimming shorts (hallelujah!), and the return of the cropped cardigan (great for modest chickies and/or fashionably frozen girls who insist on wearing sundresses when it's still 50 degrees outside).

The desire to feel pretty certainly doesn't go away when pregnancy comes along.  In fact, maybe it's even stronger! With the frequently ugly symptoms that come along with the efforts of growing a tiny human, it's only natural for a woman to want to feel both attractive and comfortable in her own skin - and her own clothes.  With that in mind, and with my own recent experience, I thought it might be fun to put together my own little fashion show for any girls out there who might be ripping through their closets in a panic, fearing what the next nine months might bring.

First, a little bit about me, if you didn't already know: even before I got pregnant, I was always a hard-to-fit size.  I'm five feet tall and quite curvy.  I'd lost a good deal of weight last year and was about a size four or six (small/medium) or so in ladies' clothing, maybe a seven or nine (medium/large) in juniors.  I won't share my measurements but, to be delicate, my bustline makes it very tough to buy properly-fitting button-down shirts, so there are very few in my wardrobe.  I joke that I easily have a supermodel's measurements; it's just too bad I don't have a supermodel's height!

I'm happy to report that many of my pre-pregnancy clothes have carried over well and I'm hoping they'll still work postpartum, too.  I like bright colors but am always comfortable in basic black with fun accessories.  Also: I'm extremely cheap.  Unlike my husband, who would rather invest $80 in a pair of well-crafted shoes that will get him through several years, I'm more likely to drop $15 on a pair of colorful flats that might wear out in a season or two, just because they're fun.  This is both a blessing and a curse, as female fashion is fickle.  Sometimes it's not worth investing in "quality" merchandise because trends change so quickly.  Then again, sometimes those cheap shoes are so darn uncomfortable that I only wear them a few times anyway.  With that in mind, I'm noting the pros and cons, as well as the approximate prices, of the items I'm featuring in my multi-part little fashion show, so you can decide for yourselves what's worth it and what's not!  

Before I even talk about the clothes, I wanted to mention a few other options we preggos now have.  Unlike lots of other women, I never used a BellaBand or anything like it.  If you don't know, these stretchy little numbers are meant to be worn snugly around your waist and hold up your unbuttoned jeans when you're still too small for regular maternity pants.  Since I have practically no waistline, and also because I bloated up pretty fast, I did not find these items useful or comfortable.  My jeans didn't fit at all past about the eighth week or so, so I didn't wear them.  Still, they are an investment to consider, especially during a first pregnancy when you might take quite some time to show, or if you have a very different body type than mine!

Another helpful accessory, near the end of your pregnancy, is a maternity belt.  They come in loads of sizes and styles, and help support your growing belly while relieving back strain.  You might consider purchasing a gently used one, as they can be quite expensive.

Some other things that benefitted me have been accessories!  Yes, the joy of the one-size-really-does-fit all scarf, the earrings that never get too tight, and the "I've-been-wearing-these-since-college" bangle bracelets! Since I like bold prints and funky jewelry, I've scoured discount stores for fun necklace sets, whimsical infinity scarves and even belly-friendly stretch belts.  These items are great for making statements and dressing up the inevitable boring but comfy maternity dress you can't live without, and the best part is that they'll stick with you well after the baby comes.  (Additional bonus: those flashy green and purple beaded earrings will be fascinating and stimulating for your little guy or girl during feedings!)

Image from jordanacosmetics.com

Another area in which I've been enjoying experimenting is with cosmetics.  Now, since most women find that their skin changes during pregnancy, I'm not advocating a total overhaul of your cleansing and beauty routine.  I'm one of the fortunate ones who has enjoyed (for the first time in 22 years) acne-free skin.  That's not to say I haven't had any problems; my skin is definitely less smooth now, and I've seen a few dark spots that are "supposed" to clear up after I deliver.  What's been fun is trying the new, super-vivid colors that are out now: bright corals, vampy reds, poppy oranges and bubble-gum pinks.  I love the new color balms that most companies have released lately.  They've got the coverage of lipsticks, but they apply and feel like glosses.  My favorites come from Jordana and Rimmel (surprise; they're also among the least expensive drug-store brands; Jordana is available at K-Mart and Walgreens and Rimmel is available nearly everywhere).  Bright colors, if you're comfortable with them, are a good way to draw attention from your belly to your face.  If you want to, that is!  Maybe you want your bump to play a starring role?  I'll address that in part two of this series!

Boxy Tops and Skinny Jeans

Two of my beautiful friends, April and Emily, have Instagram accounts and daily post their #ootd (that's "outfit of the day" for you non-hipsters out there).  Both girls are fashionable and have a great sense of style that seamlessly blends retro, romantic, and modern pieces.  (Emily has the additional cool-factor of sporting a lot of superhero gear, too, but I don't think that's really April's thang, so I can't hold it against her.)  My mom-of-three friend Jaime and I laughed and said that we'd start posting our outfits of the day, too.  We wondered how many "likes" we would get on her baby-vomit-stained sweatpants and my cat-hair-covered leggings.  At the time I was unemployed...but I don't think my current job's balloon-print scrubs would really gain the attention of any haute couture houses, either.

That's not to say I don't like to play dress up.  Quite the opposite.  Have you seen my shoe collection?  I pretty much need to rent the T.A.R.D.I.S. just to find room for all of them.

Anyway, I think I first became interested in fashion through the influence of my Aunt Marianne.  To my ten-year-old self, she seemed intensely fashionable.  She always smelled pleasantly of exotic perfumes, wore expertly applied make-up that flattered her skin tone, and dressed in the funky fashions of the 80s and early 90s.  She seemed the exact opposite of my Chic jeans-sporting madre.  Mom wore the same Cover Girl foundation and thin coat of mascara that she'd worn for years.  You know the kind of girl - Blistex instead of lipstick.  And even then, only when necessary.  In fact, this past February, after she'd passed away and I had the chance to look through Mom's belongings, guess what I found?  Yeah.  So, naturally, Aunt Marianne fascinated me.  Someday, I wanted to be the Glamorous Aunt.  Even if I never had nieces or nephews of my own!

In high school, I desperately wanted to have a body type different than my short, stocky frame.  At that time (the mid 1990's), "curvy" had not yet been recognized as a marketable body type by fashion designers, and the concept of "juniors' sizing" was still long off, so I was stuck in mens' shirts and jeans.  In college I tried in every way humanly possible to look like a member of the crowd.  I wore clogs and flare-leg jeans, blow-dried my wavy hair, made my make-up as natural-looking as possible.  

Thing was, as a plus-sized petite girl, it wasn't easy to have a "style" all your own.  You were - and, in some ways, still are - assigned one.  Apparently, if you reach a certain size, designers must assume that you have (1) given up on your appearance or (2) never cared about it to begin with.  You're given minimal choices in regards to the pattern and cut of your clothes.  and undergarments, for the record.

A few years ago, I started to fight back.  I didn't realize I was doing it, of course.  In fact, I was fighting myself as much as I was fighting the "fashion system".  Yeah, it's an institution, same as the government or education.  I'd even go so far as to say there's a level of indoctrination happening, considering how closely that fashion and media are linked.  I mean, they're in bed together.  Each feeds the other in a vicious cycle that usually involved making women of all races, shapes and ages feel somehow "less than" the others.  

I weighed around 158 pounds after my first miscarriage (only 10 pounds less than my heaviest weight).  Trust me, I felt ugly in every way possible at that point in my life.  I guess maybe it was a boost in one area, though.  Maybe I was looking for some way to express myself, but, in spite of my weight, I did something that changed my life forever.

I tried on a pair of skinny jeans.  I broke my unspoken rule: no skinny, no eighties.  Ever.  (Except the music.  And some movies.  Just not the clothes.  Ever.)  Only God himself knows why I did it, but, shockingly...they were comfortable.  They looked...okay.  Not amazing, but not bad, either.

Little by little, I reached out to test the waters of current trends (mostly this revisiting the 80s thing everyone's throwing on the racks).  I disregarded my body type and all the "rules" associated with it.  You curvy girls out there, you feel me, right?  No boxy tops, no midi-skirts, no necklaces that hit mid-bust (yes, I read that one somewhere).  

And guess what I've learned?

1. I rock skinny jeans.  Yes, I've lost almost 16 pounds so far this year - which feels great! - but I was rocking them before I lost the weight.

2. I don't need to embrace every trend I try - but I don't need to be afraid of any, either.  (For example, this neon thing?  Not really for me.  In small doses, like on my fingertips, is fine, but I'm not all about this sherbet-colored maxi-dress thing.)

3. Question fashion's "rules" and the reasoning behind them.  Now, listen.  I'm a conservative girl.  I'm a by-the-book Christian.  I try to follow the rules at work.  I am a stickler for the speed limit (usually).  I'm all for rules.  Call me old-fashioned.  Call me lame, but I believe that rules exist to keep order.  

That being said...how is my wearing the "right" shape of sunglasses for my round face keeping any type of "order"?  Is the American gold standard going to drop again if I wear last season's shade of teal instead of this year's mint? 

Always, always, always question the "rules" of fashion.  Some things are certainly "classic" and there's nothing wrong with that.  But just because a magazine editor suggested that your body type should avoid a certain cut of jeans, guess what?  Who cares?  That editor knows nothing of your personality, your activity level, your favorite color, your budget.  Consider those articles a launching point - not a rule book.  Honestly, if I'd paid attention to the "advice" offered in Cosmo, Seventeen, and Allure, I wouldn't have half of my wardrobe now!  I'd be wearing mostly black, and all my dresses would be done in small prints, with a mock-wrap belt.  Plus, I wouldn't be rocking the bangs and long layers I have cut into my hair (which I am still getting compliments on, six months later, thank you very much).

And I wouldn't have the confidence to start posting my own #ootd pictures.  Because you know something?  Those magazines are not designed to inspire a healthy body image in anyone.  When I stopped lusting after an airbrushed body, when I stopped speaking negative things about my own body, when I started wanting to lose weight for my health and not to "look hot", things started to happen.  I started to change from the inside out.  I started bending the rules of fashion, then breaking them.  Now I ignore them altogether.  

Dangit, I might even wear white after Labor Day this year.

I am such a rebel.

Iced Decaf Tall Sweetened Soy Light Ice Iced Coffees And Other Frivolities

I've been neglecting my blog for several good reasons and one very bad one.  The good reasons: Ross and I have become more active with the youth at church; I spent time with my little sister when she came home to visit; we've been trying to keep the house clean; we have an insane kitten who needs more attention than we ever dreamed possible.  Plus, I am at Starbucks more.  Visiting friends, downloading music, drinking Iced Decaf Tall Sweetened Soy Light Ice Iced Coffees.

The bad but incredibly awesome reason?

Ross and I rented all the seasons of the 1990's X-Men cartoon and have been dedicated to watching them all before the end of summer. 

Like many things from my childhood, the cartoons are not as "great" as I remember, but the feeling I get when I watch them is the same as it was when I was eleven.  Looking back, fashion, pop culture, and even sentimental things never seem quite as awe-inspiring when you're looking at them with older, wiser, more mature and often more jaded eyes.  There's something to be said for those first fumbling steps of youth, whether they were in the form of poorly drawn cartoons or a bold statement in neon and spandex.  We can shake our heads and laugh, content now with our 3D CG films and our designer jeans, but how silly will we consider those things in another decade or two?

Cher said it best: "And the beat goes on."

Everything Old is New Again

...including retro "fashion".

And I am totally a victim.

I was all about it about 6 or 7  years ago, when the 40s and  50's looks were coming back.  You know: towering heels, flattering skirts and dresses.  All the prom gowns and casual dresses looked like something out of a Hollywood movie.  Glam, a little flashy, but mostly classy.  Looked good on us curvy girls.  Yes and amen to that!  Then, a couple tears later, the paisley prints and loose sheath dresses of the 60's and 70's returned.  I could handle that, too.  Paired a shift dress with calf-high boots and a sweater, heck, that wasn't so bad.  Still work-appropriate, and I preferred dresses to pants, anyway.  Plus, the colors were great: bright teals and Deep Purples.  (Heh, heh.)

Then, about 2 tears ago, the 80s threw up all over the fashion industry, laying waste to the wasp-waisted, dainty-print daydresses of my fantasies.  Day-glo colors popped, band logos sneered, and suddenly, I was not alone in wanting to sport this t-shirt.  Now, I've been an advocate for 80s music and movies for a long, long time (mostly fighting passively-aggressively against my husband, who harbors a mild dislike for all things 80s...except Star Wars and Indiana Jones, of course), but the clothes?  Ouch, ouch, ouch.  I avoided them the first time around.  Leggings, huh?  Ripped sweatshirts?  Flat shoes? No, no, no!  I wore boys' jeans in the 80s because there were no designers who understood that young girls might want to wear pants that weren't skin-tight.  I wore clogs.  Oh, God, I wore clogs!  I am just realizing that now!  They were CLOGS.

And, yet...

Maybe it's because of my experience in the costume shop at Clarion, working with women (and Bob) who knew exactly how to dress people in the most flattering way.  Maybe it's because I spent so many years trying to look like everyone else that I finally got sick of it.  Maybe it's because I have an addiction to clothes and shoes.  Maybe it's because I am in a place where I realize - and accept! - that I will never be a size 4 who can't fill out an A cup, slinking around with a wispy waist and mile-long legs.  Maybe I am slowly realizing that what I look like - and what I wear - is not the greatest part of who I am, but merely an expression of it.  Maybe it's because the old adage, "don't knock it 'til you try it" keeps ringing in my head.  Maybe it's because I have a number of beautiful friends who don't meet the "ideal" for perfection, and who dress how they want because it makes them feel pretty.  Maybe it's because I have a husband who genuinely likes the way I dress, whether I am rocking rumpled hair, a flowing bohemian skirt and flip-flops or a belted sheath dress with four-inch heels and super-shiny lip gloss.

Maybe there really isn't a reason.  But I laid down my arms.  I said I'd wear them only to work out.

I bought a pair of leggings.  Then I bought two more pairs.  Then I bought some gorgeous flowing tunics that can only be worn with leggings.  And I don't wear those to the gym.  I like the leggings.  They are comfortable.  If worn with the right top, they make me look thinner.  Without shapewear.  Really.  Hallelujah and long live the legging!

Well, 80s, it looks like you won this round.  Just don't bring this hair back, ok?   Oh, and skinny jeans and white lipstick: you also have no chance with me.

Five Underrated: Stores

I like to shop.  I really, really like to shop.  For myself, for others, for groceries.  I can't really prove it, but I think it's inherent in my nature.  My mom taught me to look for sales and my husband taught me how to clip coupons, so I'm pretty much a deal-finding machine in heels.  I'm sharing my secrets with you now!

1. Ross Dress for Less

No, I am not a fan simply because the name is the same as my husband's!  I "discovered" this place when I was taking a class for Dollar Bank all the way up in Fox Chapel.  It's across the street from the branch, and so one day I figured I'd stop in and try to find a new dress for Easter.  I got so excited inside that I almost threw up.  It's primarily a women's clothing store, and the selection and prices are unreal.  There are sheath dresses from Calvin Klein (I saw one for $19.99), retro-print sundresses by Nine West, Steve Madden shoes and XOXO sunglasses, plus a huge variety of lesser-known brands.  One of my favorites is London Times, which features a lot of throwback cuts and patterns, and there were dozens of their styles at Ross!  It was a dream come true.  Not to mention, the sales staff was pretty friendly.  I am only able to go there when I have class at Fox Chapel, so I haven't been there more than a half-dozen times.  Still, the sales associate who joked with me during my first trip there remembered me last week and eyed up at my purchase.  "Nothing for you today?  Just for him?" she remarked as I put the items on hold.  "His birthday is coming up," I explained.  "But I'll be back for myself again very soon!"

Good Stuff: Huge selection, friendly customer service, decent prices.

Downside: Very few locations.

Bonus: Senior citizens' discount!

2. Aldi

This place is hardly a trade secret.  It's pretty obvious: your choices of brands and products are severely limited, but that is exactly what allows you to save big on basic items.  Well, since I'm a girl who likes variety and choice, I resisted going to Aldi for a while.  Finally, during on of our bi-monthly jaunts to Robinson, Ross and I figured we'd stop in, sniff around, and see if we found anything that appealed to us.  We sure did!  After being used to spending an arm and a leg for produce at Giant Eagle, we were blown away to learn that we could get all our basics (peppers, spinach, bananas, mushrooms, an avocado and grapes) for about $16.00 a week.  Plus, the produce was in good shape.  The yellow peppers were big and shiny, and the mushrooms are every bit as plump and healthy-looking as the ones in bigger supermarkets.  We also found that the Fit & Active brand is a great choice for lunch snacks like cookies and granola bars.  They taste like the name brands, but they are a lot less expensive.  We've begun to regularly get our produce and snacks at Aldi.  Now, for meats and specialty items, including lower-fat and lower-sodium items, we do still go to Giant Eagle.  The selection is simply better.  And, well, I am picky. 

Good Stuff: Fantastic prices.

Downside: Limited selection, only accepts debit/cash.

Bonus: Bringing your own bags helps the environment!

3. TJMaxx and Marshalls

They're part of the same, massive, money-saving fashion chain, so I mention them together.  Like Ross Dress For Less, Maxx 'n' Marshalls are full of insane deals and brand-name products.  Lots of Calvin Klein dresses, Michal Kors sweaters, and Tahari suits.  Of course, I'm not always swayed by brand-names (since I don't find a lot of their petite styles in discount stores), so I'm always ready to scour the clearance racks and redline shoe shelves to find something worth crowing about.  The men's section is great, too, and considerably larger than the one at Ross Dress For Less.  (My) Ross is almost always able to find a nice Geoffrey Beene or Perry Ellis oxford shirt in his size for between $12.99 and $24.99 - which is well over 60% less than the prices at Macy's and other such department stores!  Also of note: these stores have super housewares departments full of really great gift ideas.  Exotic coffees, spices and teas, novelty mugs, cookbooks, all kinds of gourmet snack foods like jelly beans, crackers and candy (men, do you hear?  Salty, crunchy deliciousness for you, and sweet, sweet chocolate for her). Go now!

Good stuff: Huge selection, decent prices.

Downside: $49.99 is still too much to pay for a Tommy Hilfiger dress.

Bonus: Gift cards available at Giant Eagle, so you can save on fuel, too!

4. Big Lots

My extremely thrifty grandfather used to bring gifts for my sister when he came to visit us.  Huge bags of toys from a place he kept talking about: Big Lots.  I remember being disappointed because I was still getting generic Barbie Dolls at age 16...but we never could deny the sheer volume of stuff that we got.   Games, dolls, toys, snacks and treats, movies...you name it, we got it.  Since a lot of the items seemed cheap or second-rate, I stayed away from Big Lots when they opened up down the road from me.  Finally, though, my curiosity overtook me and I ventured in.  I could not possibly have been more mistaken about Big Lots!  I don't know if the quality has improved in the past 15 years or I have simply learned to care less, but the truth is, the store is really, really great.  Like the stores already mentioned, Big Lots does carry plenty of brand-name items (Salon Selectives hair products, Lay's potato chips, Maybelline mascara, etc.) but they also carry a wealth of generic items, too.  I love going to Big Lots for snack food (Shearer's Pepperoni Pizza potato chips - nice!) and for gifts and prizes for children's church.  Big Lots doesn't specialize in clothing, but they have a nice furniture section with unique and beautiful pieces, like coffee-cup adorned bistro-style chairs.  They're also much more likely than the other stores to have large seasonal displays.  It's a great place to get all your holiday decorations, wrapping paper, greeting cards...and some gifts, too!

Good Stuff: amazing prices.

Downside: Items are often discontinued.

Bonus: In-store rewards program offers 20% off an entire order once $200 in purchases are made!

5. Wal*Mart

Yes, I know this industry giant has been under fire practically since its inception.  And I am not by any means condoning their business practices or even addressing ethical issues.  What I am saying is that it is not possible to buy a huge bag of salmon fillets anywhere in America for $4.99 - except at Wal*Mart.  For standard needs like health and beauty products and school supplies, it's hard to beat Wal*Mart's prices.  Big Lots is likely to have a lot of what you need, but since they supply overstock, there's never a guarantee that they will carry the brand of diapers or the hair color you're looking for.  Wal*Mart pretty much can guarantee all of that.  As for clothes, well, it's hit or miss, I think, for most people.  Personally, I have no shame in wearing Faded Glory flip-flops or Jordache jeans.  It's not always a matter of style, because their designers are still able to keep up with trends.  It's more an issue of fit and quality.  I am more likely to buy basics, like t-shirts, underwear and pantyhose, at Wal*Mart, while I find suits and jeans elsewhere.

Good Stuff: Incredibly low prices.

Downside: Poor customer service, negative media attention.

Bonus: Most locations are open 24 hours!

Honorable Mention

1. Fashion Bug (Women's Clothing and Accessories)

2. Dollar Tree (Discount Store)

3. Five Below (Discount Store)

Next up in the series: music!