UltimateMama loves Ralph Lauren clothing for her family as it is stylish, comfortable, practical, colorful, and durable.  UltimateMama appreciates accessible luxury clothing. She always enjoys passing down Polo shirts, sweaters, skirts, pants, and socks from her oldest daughter to her youngest. 

Shop now at  www.ralphlauren.com during the "Last Chance Sale" and receive an additional 20% off select sale items.  UltimateMama recently bought the Cotton Slim Fit Turtleneck in Fuchsia for her oldest daughter for next Winter 2011!  

UltimateMama wants to give all of you a nice, big HEADS UP that Patagonia will host its Winterfest sale February 11-16, 2010.  Get ready to stock up on fleece jackets and vests and other fine outerwear!  Shop in stores or online. UltimateMama loves Patagonia and will definitely be online Feb 11th!  

Now you all know that UltimateMama loves to get deals on children's items.  However, one must always know when to pass something up.  Something may be a "bargain" for a reason (bad construction, ill-fitting, unfavorable color, etc.) and is not a "deal" at any price.  Just because something is on sale does not mean you must buy it for your child. 

UltimateMama always loves watching Stacy London of TLC's "What Not to Wear" tear apart those who head straight for the sale racks and buy items just because they seem "cheap" in price.  Sometimes, these so-called "bargain" items make those who wear them look "cheap".  

UltimateMama defines a deal as getting something for her child at a steep discount that she would have paid full price for anyway. If you would have never purchased the item at full price then it is not a bargain at any price.

Be careful of the following "bargains" with children's clothing and accessories:

– 2 words:  Dry Clean

– Anything missing buttons

– Anything that needs hemming

– Color fading

– Buying bathing suits for the following year (unless your kids swim all year long you may want to avoid buying bathing suits on summer clearance racks because it is hard to guesstimate your child's size)

– Buying snow boots or sandals for the following year (same issue with estimating shoe size—pretty hard to do)

– Licensed apparel (your son may love Diego now but be over him in three months; same hold true with your daughter and Snow White)

UltimateMama has a little tip for you when looking for bargains on children's clothing, shoes, and accessories – MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SALESPEOPLE!  It is easy and fun to chat to sales assistants when you are on shopping adventures.  Many times, salespeople will tell UltimateMama about upcoming sales, hand her samples, or give her special coupons to use on future store visits. 

Who doesn't like to make a friend and save a buck?!

UltimateMama was just told she was a day late for the spectacular Children's Place sale that is going on right now in stores!  However, she just bought her daughter a "rugby sweater" in blue with multi-colored stripes, a "solid henley sweater" in petal pink and the "favorite jacket" in horizon blue for $3.99 each plus an additional 15% savings with her "Spring Pass" booklet of friends and family coupons!  For all you mathematicians out there, that is right, the final price of each of the three items was $3.40! 

 
Not to mention the FABULOUS deal that a few mothers of young boys received when they found "3-in-1" multi colored blue/black winter jackets for $9.99 from $59.50 originally (plus they also used their 15% off coupon).  Read my lips (or font in this case), the total cost of the winter jacket was $8.50!

UltimateMama will note that it does not appear to be the same sale ONLINE where prices are higher on most items she evaluated!

UltimateMama's only regret was that she did not know about the MONSTER sale yesterday!

UltimateMama was a Costco virgin up until a few weeks ago.  Now, she's a Costco slut.  Once, she thought of Costco as the utopia for suburban American overinsdulgance.  Now, she thinks of Costco as a smart, efficient, and effective way to shop for her family without breaking the bank. 

UltimateMama loves her Manhattan Costco!  Costco recently opened a store on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that is accessible to those without cars! (those with cars can ride up there and park).  One can walk, take a subway or a bus, or cab it (like UltimateMama who was under time constraints with childcare) uptown without a problem. After shopping, you walk out and a limo service is there to load your goods into a towncar and deliver them (with you) to your apartment.  UltimateMama did not even lift a finger!

Check it out at 517 E 117th St (E 116th St and FDR Drive).

What I loved about Costco:

 - Dove soap

– Cheerios (huge boxes)

– Dried fruit (20 packs)

– Desitin

– Canned tomatoes

– Eli Zabar bread

– Carter's clothing for babies and toddlers

– Speedo bathing suits for kids

– Armani shirts for men

– Patagonia fleeces for women

– Organic milk in 3 packs

– Great fruit

– Lots of meat and fish (the veal cutlets were amazing)

– Barilla pasta

– Goldfish crackers

– Kleenix

What I did not like:

– No Triple Paste

– No Pampers Sensitive Wipes without perfume

– No Huggies Overnight diapers

So, go to Costco and stock up on food and necessities today!  Make extra portions of marinara sauce, soup, and stew and freeze some for future happy eats!

UltimateMama has a little secret for you. The beautiful, needlepoint holiday stockings that she has for all four of her family members were purchased post-Christmas at a steep discount…and personalization was free!  This year, sales are popping up even pre-Christmas!

Watch websites such as Lands End for great sales!  UltimateMama just noticed holiday stockings reduced to $10.99 from $22.50 with free monogramming for up to ten letters!

Now you know that UltimateMama is into recycling, reusing, and reselling so I wanted to let all of you know about a great event going on in NYC this Saturday, November 21st 2009.  Shop Lucky Finds is having its 3rd FREE shopping event from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm at St. Jean Baptiste Community Center which is located at 184 East 76th Street and happens to be stroller friendly.

Shop Lucky Finds was started by two NYC moms, Nicole Schumann-Rapaport and Candice Lombardi, with the goal of serving moms who want to find new or gently used designer names for their children (from 0-8 years old) at bargain prices.  

The event is held at a community center and several tables are set up displaying new or gently used clothing, books, games, and gear as well as clothing and accessories from local vendors. 

What UltimateMama finds truly special about this event is that all unsold items are donated to Room to Grow, a foundation serving the needs of babies in poverty. 

UltimateMama RAN to the first two events and came away with several wonderful items for her children including brand new books, Dora the Explorer "Opposites" flash cards, "new with tags" skirts from several high-end Madison Avenue designers, brand new polo shirts, and much more! 

Needless to say, you know where to find UltimateMama this Saturday!  UltimateMama warns you to put away all credit cards and check books as this is a cash only event.

UltimteMama just stopped by The Children's Place and noticed a nice sale going on right in time for Thanksgiving.  Take an additional 30% off select holiday merchandise and already reduced merchandise.  So, get that cute outfit for those upcoming holiday parties now – before they run out of the sizes/colors you need.  Or buy a new one for your holiday pictures! Remember, if you shop online shipping is $5 per order.

UltimateMama loves a great deal.  As a matter of fact, UltimateMama craves discounts!  In these tough economic times who doesn't like buying something great for a lot less.  

Gymboree has a SWEET SALE going on right now!  I was in a store today and snapped up a few nice outfits for almost 80% off!  Whether you shop "brick and mortar" or online you can take an extra 20% off all sale items. 

A few shopping TIPS while perusing sale racks if I may:

– Try to buy complete outfits.  If a top looks cute then invest in the matching bottoms.  Buy that t-shirt to go with those cute shorts.  Don't cheap out.  You will be happy when you see you child on the playground in a matching outfit that looks like a million bucks but was acquired at a STEEP DISCOUNT.

– If you like something buy it in the next few sizes.  This is a great tip for parents of newborns.  If you love Carter's onesies then when you catch a sale buy them in a variety of sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 9 months. Buy them in a nice gender neutral color like basic white so you can reuse them if you plan on having more kids or hand them down!   UltimateMama is a big fan of Gap bathing suits and since my kids take swimming lessons 12 months a year I always stock up when the price falls below $10 per swimsuit. 

– Think ahead…seasonally speaking that is.  UltimateMama loves Hanna Andersson.  At the end of each winter I monitor their online sales to purchase jackets for the next winter.  After finding a gorgeous Journey's End Jacket at 50% off last winter I was completely bummed to discover the matching Winter Overalls were sold out.  Not to fret, quick thinking UltimateMama went straight to eBay and found the matching Winter Overalls "new with tags" at a nice discount.

– Buy next year's Halloween costumes RIGHT after Halloween.  This is a great tip for the first few years of your child's life when YOU are the costume decision-maker.  Pottery Barn Kids has beautiful Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating bags on sale right now in November! Remember, Halloween is only 11 months away.    

– Shop sample sales and trunk shows.

– Head into a thrift
store for clothing and accessories.  You would be surprised how many items that
can be found in thrift stores are new with the original tags attached.  Besides, many thrift stores have a charitable
element to them so your child is helping the environment (reduce, reuse and
recycle) and a charity at the
same time.  

– Ask your friends and
family members for hand-me-down clothing and buy new accessories to "jazz up outfits".  

– Shop online.  I constantly fall in love with expensive shoes and boots for my kids while perusing the shelves of local boutiques BUT I try to hold off on major purchases until I check for online deals. Free shipping and free returns at Zappos make it worth the wait!  Surprisingly, I have had incredible luck snatching up deals on ecco shoes as well as boots for the kids on Amazon! 

– Don't forget Old Navy for cute basics.  Each fall UltimateMama stocks up on Performance Fleece pants for the kids in a variety of colors.  UltimateMama even bought a few of the boys pants for her daughter because she liked the red color!