Love To Shop At:

Wayfair:

Wayfair is the one-stop online destination for anything and everything one could possibly need to turn four walls and a roof – into something that looks like a home. Which, for a mom of two who works full time, just so happens to land in my book as one of the greatest things since sliced bread! There is quite literally something for every personality and budget imaginable – even the “starter budget”, you know, the one when you’re young and rubbing two pennies together? Of course in saying that I hear my own mother’s voice chiming in about how you get what you pay for – but with Wayfair, ALL of their products, even low-budget items, are all made with superior quality. Not to mention, it could just be me – but every time I check out their website, it seems like they are having some kind of gigantic sale. I LOVE IT!

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Another great thing that I love about Wayfair is their ability to assist and recommend items to fit your style or personality. From a list of room ideas a mile long to a phone app that lets you view what the item you’re interested in would look like in your home – Wayfair definitely goes the extra mile to make sure that you know exactly what you’re getting and that you can rest easy knowing that when it arrives, it’s not going to be too big or just a tad bit off of your color scheme.

Last but most certainly not least, Wayfair offers two different options when it comes to financing. If you’re established & not living off of borrowed credit (or starter credit) you can apply for their credit card the same as you’d apply for any other major department store card. However, if you aren’t able to get approved for their credit card, they do offer “in-store” financing with approval requirements just about anyone can meet!

I’ll be singing the jingle in my head all day now – “Wayfair, you got what I need”.

I’m 100% sure they have what you need as well, get it [ HERE ]

Gap:

Gap is one of those brands that has been around FOREVER, well at least as long as I can personally remember. But did you know Gap started because its founders could not find reasonably priced jeans that fit them? Fifty or so years later, Gap is still considered one of the best places to buy jeans.

While I haven’t shopped here for myself since I was in high school, mainly because the whole polo-tee and jeans look was replaced by office wear and jeans in my earlier career days – I’ve definitely spent some time in their “Baby Gap” section for my kiddos. Because let me tell you what, even with wear, tear, and throw up – those onesies and outfits could last as hand-me-downs through six kids – and that’s no joke.

So if you’re looking for QUALITY – you definitely need to give GAP a chance. I’ll warn you, they are pricey, but it is 1000% worth the price you pay to not have to buy the same black shirt a month later when it fades out in the wash.

Petco:

Petco is one of my FAVORITES – because I can bring my dogs shopping with me, and I swear they are shopaholics just like me. They have a dedication to pets, their needs, and their health – that 100% shows through their workers and products stocked in their stores.

With their points system, I am always racking up coupons and freebie deals (as well as something special on your pet’s birthday). Not to mention, it’s SUPER simple and convenient to run in, grab a few things the pups need, and drop them off at the in-store groomers to be bathed, etc. as I check out, and then shop around the rest of the mall while I wait. I’ve even left the mall before to run other errands, and they had ZERO issues keeping the dogs an extra hour or so while I finished up what I needed to get done.

If you’re looking for that one thing that sets Petco apart from the rest, You’ll want to check into their vital care and insurance programs for your animals. These programs cover just about anything that could be done on an animal from grooming to in-store vet visits, and everything in between – at prices I’m sure the dollar store couldn’t even compete with.

Ulta:

Ulta, Ulta, Ulta – I was clicking my heels three times during those words hoping to pop into their store as if I was Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. But, now that I think about it, I’m certain I can find a reason to head there today like I do every other day that I’m in the general vicinity of the store.

I LOVE THIS STORE, and I love that the prices for name-brand makeup products are literally HALF of what they charge in Sephora. Soooo, when my child eats my MAC lipstick, I don’t feel like I just lost a leg or have to work 12 days to get a new one.

They also carry their own brand of makeup for those who want to be a step above what you’d find in Walmart or CVS, but just can’t fathom spending $29 on a stick eyeliner. So next time you’re in Ulta, check out their Ulta Beauty Brand.

Did I mention you can also shop online? Take care of all your makeup needs in one click [ this one ]

Urban Outfitters:

Urban Outfitters is another one of those “Quality for a Steeper Price” type of stores, only their items are ALL absolutely to die for. This is the ONLY place I will buy my jeans, as most brands have not picked up on the 25, 27, 29 types of sizing. I like to know what I’m getting when I buy, so if the jeans aren’t sized like that – I’m not buying them.

One super cool thing about Urban Outfitters is their sales section online. If you’re looking for something completely unique, retro, or downright weird – shop this section on any given day.

Urban Outfitters might be for the “younger generation” but this Proud Momma will still be shopping there when she is 60.

Macy’s:

Having grown up in Northern California, there was nothing better than a cold day, hopping on the train, and going to Macy’s in San Francisco. Its Union Square flagship store, opened in 1945, was always dolled up for the holidays and you could really get a sense of the season – lights, huge gift boxes, extra-large ornaments reflecting the twinkling of the trees they adorned.

More recently Macy’s has closed, and is set to close, hundreds of its brick and mortar locations – but they have definitely upped their online game-making shopping from home via a name you know and trust – simple, quick, and the DEALS are Out. Of. This. World.

For this Momma, someone who lives an hour away (without snow) from anything that would qualify as a ‘department store’ – shopping the Macys.com site is a go-to when looking for something special to wear for an upcoming celebration, of COURSE shopping for gifts as they have all the major brands like Free People, MAC, UGG, Gucci, And Now This, Levis, MSK, Dizzy Lizzy, Lancome, Estee Lauder – you get the point! Need sweats, mascara, a couch, boots, an air fryer, baby gear – OH, and lest I forget to mention they are an authorized Toys R Us retailer? THANK YOU! – then you need to head to Macys.com and one-stop-shop your favorite brands and SAVE on the amazing steals and exclusives they have to offer – after all, they are still one of the heaviest hitters in the retail space.

Kohl’s:

The last time I traveled home to see my parents, my Mom and I went to Kohls to get a few things for the kids. Have you ever walked into a Kohl’s to “get a few things”? I’m just going to tell you right now – get a cart. Don’t fight it, just get a cart. You are going to need it.

For the kids, we did pick out some SUPER cute, casual clothes, perfect for outside play, lounging on the couch (for the 2.5 minutes my 4 and 6-year-old “lounge”), heading to school, bath and bedtime. My favorites for kids from Kohls are their Jumping Beans brand, Carters (can’t ever go wrong with Carters), Tek Gear, and Sonoma (my son JD slid down our rock driveway after tripping on a toy car and the Sonoma sweatpants looked brand new! No holes, no tears, nada – almost unheard of).

So – here is the thing about going to Kohls and/or shopping online: We also left the store with a new vacuum for my mom, a FitBit (I had been eyeing one for a while…), headphones for both kids (because, yes), and an Adidas hat for my rain hair that had gone next level curly (not cute curly mind you – but “My lord has that lady ever ran into a brush?” curly). Alas, the cart ladies. Get the darn cart.

For great deals and steals – always shop Kohls and Kohls.com – they will not disappoint!

Home Depot:

As I write this, I have 2 Home Depot bags sitting on my kitchen table full of who-knows-what so my husband can finish up our Hot Hut – more commonly known as a mudroom. Note – said mudroom is being built “around” our RV because if any more mud, dirt, rocks, sawdust – etcetera! get on the floors in our tiny living space – this Momma is going to lose IT. The snow is coming – we can already see snow on the higher peaks around us – hence the trips to Home Depot are ratcheting up as we make our attempt to beat the winter weather.

Over the years – my husband and I have done BOATLOADS of home DIY projects. How we are still married is really a testament to wine. Seriously. We’ve done total gut jobs (when I was 8 months pregnant – I was SUPER FUN!). We’ve ripped out acres of brush, weeds, rocks, and critters and created yards that would make the groundskeepers at Augusta National blush (and by “we” I mean my husband – I am more indoorsy than out). Fast forward to now living on the side of a mountain in Idaho in an RV while creating the infrastructure we need to build a house – I find it redundant to say we spend a LOT of time at Home Depot.

If I am forced to wander outside of the rugs/tile/faucet areas I do get a nervous stomach because I truly understand about .0000008% of what is sold at Home Depot. I’m not a helpless person by any means, but WHY are there 15,000 different kinds of screws?? (Please do not email me all of the reasons for 15,000 kinds of screws). Do I need a metal ladder? A plastic ladder? One that makes 54 shapes? I JUST WANT SOMETHING WHERE I LOWER THE ODDS OF BREAKING MY ARM. THEN, as if out of nowhere – the folks in the orange aprons appear to ask me if I have any questions. Why, yes, I DO! The thing I LOVE about Home Depot is if there is an orange apron in a particular aisle – they KNOW ALL about everything in that aisle. I stand there like I am doing home improvement charades via hand gestures, odd wild-animal-like sounds, and pointing at stuff I think is similar. Via that exchange, I am led to exactly what I need. Those people are amazing. Hats off to my friends at the Home Depot.

One last note – if you are ever buying something that is about 75% too large for the vehicle you drove to Home Depot – they have miracle workers in the pick-up bays that could load a kitchen’s worth of cabinets into your Mini Cooper. Pro-tip. You can also order online, park out front in the amazing heating/cooling of your comfy car & their team will bring your order right out! Try it sometime!

Walmart:

Say what you will about Walmart, but this Momma loves her day out where I can get my nails done, hair cut, vision checked, sign up for health insurance, and grocery shop ALL under one roof. I sometimes ride the quarter-fed school bus just for giggles.

Now. They. Deliver. It took a while for Walmart to realize the ready-to-be exploited similarities between their operation and Amazon. They already have great prices due to their buying power with suppliers – what they also have though is a local presence. Amazon does NOT. Amazon cannot deliver milk, soup, bread, a sweatshirt, and an electric blanket in 45 minutes when I am too sick to blink. Walmart can and they DO. They’ve also upped their game of late to recommend recipes as you add items to your online shopping cart – genius for those of us who are in a hard cycle of Mac N’ Cheese and rotisserie chicken.

If you have kids in school – like this Momma – you may have also experienced the school supplies lists they have from YOUR kid’s actual school and grade – click Buy List and voila! Super Mom status shines upon you (or Dad, Grandma, etc!!). School projects are another story – you know, the projects you are told about at 8 pm the night before they are due? Thank you, Walmart for being open until 10 pm, 11 pm, and some 24 hours! I will see YOU in the poster board aisle, my friends.

Love it or hate it – we’ve all likely been saved by Walmart. Be it sick, stuck, students, or salsa – Save Money. Live Better. MMmmmmmmm, k? BUT – if you’re one of those who despise Walmart, but NEED the savings – try their online curbside pickup. You can order from home, and wait in the designated parking spots for an attendant to pack it in your trunk! Wanna give it a try? Click here to give it a go.

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