Hantastic!

When my mom was pregnant with me in the 1970′s she rocked a hip, yet limited maternity style.  While I was pregnant with my kids, fashion had somewhat caught up with the times, but still I wasn’t wearing clothes I would have chosen if my waist hadn’t been six times it’s normal size.  Fortunately for today’s expectant mothers, the choices in maternity wear are not only comfortable, but chic!  9 Months In Style- 11243 Manchester Rd 63122 offers a large selection of fabulous maternity looks!  Having been in business since 2000, 9 Months In Style is St. Louis’ only remaining independent maternity boutique.  They carry everything from swimwear to denim!  Owner Julie Hoffmann really knows her pregnancy clothing and will ensure that soon to be mommies walk out of her shop feeling amazing!  Here’s a sample of what they have available:

-  The favorite choice of pregnant women everywhere: dresses!  9 Months In Style carries formal and casual options.  You won’t find any mumus here, these HANTASTIC picks are right off the runway!

Maternal America animal print dress $148.00

Olan stripe dress $94.00

Nom tie dye dress $98.00

Olan pattern dress $148.00

Sono Raso olive dress $120.00

- Lots of tops in varying sleeve lengths, perfect looks for spring or summer!

Nom white cotton top w/ ruffle $84.00

Japanese Weekend sleeveless black floral top $78.00

Sono Vaso striped top $84.00

Nom grey/pink/lime tank $84.00

Lilac polka dot sleeve top $84.00

Maternite tanks $40.00

- 9 Months In Style stocks maternity athletic clothes, pajamas and swimwear! Show off that belly!

Fit 2B Mom tank $64.00; capri pants $70.00

Belabumbum cami/matching pajama pants $98.00

Maternal America $104.00

Maternal America $108.00

Maternity $92.00

- Thanks for waiting, because of course, my HANTASTIC friends, 9 Months In Style has a sale rack!  It was stocked with some great deals!

Maternal America top $54.00 from $86.00

Elly B tee $40.00 from $64.00

Love My Belly tee $46.00 from $78.00

Japanese Weekend satin top $46.00 from $76.00

Ripe bermudas $50.00 from $86.00

Bellyssima skirt $40.00 from $80.00

Olian light pink lounge pants $60.00 from $98.00

9 Months In Style is the perfect shop to find clothes that make you feel gorgeous while you’ve got that maternity glow!  Not only will their outfits impress you, they also offer free alterations and a full line of breast feeding accessories.  Stop by their Kirkwood location or visit them online at: http://www.9monthsinstylestl.com Happy Mother’s Day!

A MOTHER OF A SALE!!!!

For the first time ever Goodnite Rooms- 2951 Dougherty Ferry 63122 is having a “Scratch & Dent” sale on their fabulous stock of furniture.  This Saturday, May 12th from 10:00-5:00, they will open the shop space next door to sell over stocks and display items.  High quality name brand children’s furniture such as Baby’s Dream and Baby Appleseed will be offered at 40-60% off the retail price!  That’s HANTASTIC!  What a great opportunity to buy well made furniture that will truly stand the test of time.  Take a peek at what they’ll have available:

- Dressers in creamy white and dark cherry; in low and tall designs; some include a hutch top!

dresser

dresser

dresser

Cherry dresser w/ hutch

White dresser w/ hutch

- Lots of matching headboards/foot boards in full size!

White headboard/foot board

Cherry headboard/foot board

Stop by Goodnite Rooms this weekend to catch not only this sale, but also the one in their main showroom where EVERY furniture collection will be marked down in honor of Mother’s Day.  Visit their store in Kirkwood or online at http://www.goodniterooms.com Sweet dreams!

By now, you’ve probably got your spring/summer wardrobe completed.  The basics are taken care of, but maybe you’re still looking for some extra “wow” pieces.  A fabulous dress, maybe a fun top!  If you’ve stretched your clothing budget and feel guilty buying one more thing, I have the answer for you: Rung- 9739 Manchester Rd 63119.  This unique shop sells trendy clothing for a good cause!  100% of their profits are given to the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis.  Clothing is donated from area boutiques or private homes and resold at Rung.  So you get a HANTASTIC new look while at the same time, giving back to our community!

Rung carries business attire, causal wear, cocktail dresses and accessories.  Many items are big name brands like Joe’s Jeans, Michael Stars, Ralph Lauren and BB Dakota.  There is  something here for everyone!  Take a look at what they had available this week:

- Lots of cute tops and at these prices, you can get them all!

J. Crew sleeveless top $10.00

Los Angeles tank $5.00

Fresh Produce cotton top $12.00

- Those favorite spring weather staples: skirts!

Lily Pulitzer floral skirt $18.00

Tart mini $35.00

-  I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again.  I LOVE SECOND HAND DENIM!  It’s already broken in and waaaaay more cost effective!

Citizens of Humanity $50.00

Joe's Jeans $50.00

Paige Premium Denim $30.00

DL 1961 denim $50.00

- So many cute dresses!  Rung has racks of darling, big name choices!

David Meister maxi $125.00

Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress $100.00

Nanette Lepore $65.00

BB Dakota $50.00

- Rung has an amazing array of accessories!  Earrings, bracelets, necklaces are all available!

pink/gold earrings $8.00

gold circle fan $1000

mulit colored gold $10.00

turquoise/gold $6.00

Rung is a great place to find a special item of clothing or some amazing accessories !  Visit them in Rock Hill or online at: http://www.shoprung.org When you stop by, be sure to check out their outstanding front window display designed by Will Bibbs.  Happy shopping!

GIMMIE FIVE!

My sister who lives on the east coast has been telling me about this store for years and finally, it came to St. Louis!  Five Below- 83 Brentwood Promenade Ct 63144 Similar to a dollar store concept, Five Below offers merchandise for $5.00 and less.  So what’s the big difference?  Two words, my friends: BRAND NAMES!  While the items at a dollar store tend to be off brands or ones you’ve never heard of, Five Below stocks tons of big name items.  Take a peek at what they had available this week:

- Makeup- brands like Maybelline, Sally Hansen and EOS!

Maybelline Great Lash mascara-2 pack $4.99

Maybelline gel eyeliner-assorted colors $2.99

EOS lip balms- assorted flavors $3.29

- An entire wall of “sayings” t-shirts!

T-shirts $5.00

-  Tons of crafts with names like Crayola and CraZ Art!

Crayola sidewalk chalk kit $5.00

CraZ Art window kit $4.00

Bendaroos $4.00

- Five Below is a kid’s dream with an impressive array of big name toys!  Perfect for birthday parties or end of the year school gifts!

Beanie baby "Boos" $4.99

- A nice selection of smaller Lego kits and Playmobil mystery figures!

Lego Atlantis kit $2.99

Lego Star Wars kit $2.99

Lego City kit $3.99

Playmobil mystery figures $2.99

- Speaking of kids, this might have been the most HANTASTIC deal in the store!  Five Below carries Wii, Leapster and DS games..all for $5.00!  They also have tons of accessories!

Lego DS care kit $5.00

Assorted games $5.00

Wii racing wheel $5.00 (also available in black)

Nintendo DS game cases $3.00

-  Or head outside and play with one of these!  Five Below had a huge assortment of sports equipment for grown-ups and kids!

Kickballs- assorted colors $4.00

Basketballs- assorted colors $5.00

Hand weights $1.50-$5.00

Yoga mats $5.00

- Five Below has candy, candy, candy!  Their best bargain here?  You can pick 10 pieces for $1.00 from the bulk bins!!  Laffy Taffy, Bazooka, Razzles, Mary Janes, just to name a few!

Assorted bulk candy

Five Below now has four St. Louis area locations- Brentwood, Ballwin, Chesterfield and Fairview Heights.  Stop by to check them out or visit: http://www.fivebelow.com, you won’t leave empty handed!

If there is one thing my mother taught me it was to “WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE!”  And that meant RIGHT NOW!  Immediately after you received a gift, went to an event, won a Nobel prize, etc..  I must say, the nagging constant reminders worked though, I am a stickler for sending a written message of thanks.  A good way to make it fun is by using cute, personalized stationery.  Take Note- 140 Chesterfield Commons East 63005 has a seemingly endless array of choices in that department!  They stock everything from monogrammed note cards to elegant wedding invitations.  The best part?  Their in house printing allows them to waive the set up fee and offer a 24-48 hour turnaround time!!  What a HANASTIC deal!   It’s not all stationery at Take Note, they also carry tons gift ideas for any occasion!  Here is some of what they had in store this week:

- Love these bags!  Perfect for grads or teacher gifts!

Green polka dot tote $16.50

Yellow bag $34.00

- Fabulous selection of personalized stationery and note cards!

Single initial note cards w/ acrylic holder $25.00

Plaid single initial notes w/ acrylic holder $19.00

Note cards w/ envelopes $13.75

Single initial note pad $6.50

- How about using one of these to make your morning commute so much brighter?

Personalized travel cups $12.50

- My favorite thing in the store! These darling wooden trays by Rosanne Beck can be customized with a single letter or monogram.  They come in charming color combinations and patterns.  Love, love, love them!

Large tray $45.00

Large tray w/ full monogram $45.00

Small tray $28.00

- Take Note didn’t forget the younger set!  Forget run of the mill birthday gifts, these choices are sure to get a smile!

"Cake slice" note pad w/ candle pen $9.95

Stephen Joseph magnetic frame $16.00; letters $.90 each

Stephen Joseph frame $16.00; critter animagnet $5.95

Magnetic bulletin board $16.00

Magnetic bulletin board $16.00

- Wedding season is upon us!  This drawing would be make treasured gift for the bride to be.  Hand drawn in France, each sketch is a beautiful rendition of her wedding gown.

Wedding gown sketch $115.00

- And finally, the invitations!  Graduation, backyard bbq, birthdays, showers, you name it Take Note can create an invite to wow your guests!  Here is a sampling of their amazing work:

Take Note has you covered!  Visit their shop in Chesterfield or see them online at: http://www.take-note-stationery.com

THE SILVER LINING

You know what they say about every cloud, right?  Well, the bright side to this store closing is HUGE savings for you!!  Cha 2 Boutique- 14747 Manchester Rd  63011 is shutting it’s doors.  Brought to you by the same fabulous people who own Cha in Ladue, this second store is located in the West County Nissan dealership building.  It’s stocked with some HANTASTIC merchandise that is now marked at 50% off!!  But hurry to this one, because the shop is only open through April 30th!  This is one amazing sale!  Take a peek at what they have:

- Hats!  Hats!  Hats!

Hatters hats from l-r: $17.50 from $35/ $17.50 from $35/ $13.50 from $27

- Handbags and clutches!

Urban Expressions cobalt bag $56.00 from $112.00

Urban Expressions woven bag $52.50 from $105.00

Beige multi color woven clutch $40.00 from $80.00

Urban Expressions yellow bag $50.00 from $100.00

Clutches top to bottom: $25 from $50/ $17.50 from $35/$17.50 from $35

-  Cute tops, tanks and tees!

Alternative tees $28.50

Wild Fox tee $35.25 from $70.50

Alternative tanks grey $12.50 from $25/black $8.50 from $17.00

- Lots of chic accessories!

Rings l-r: brown stone $9.50 from $19/ multi zig zag $12.50 from $25/white center $15 from $30/ gold $11 from $22

Scarves l-r: orange stripe $12.50 from $25/ animal print 13.50 from $27/ green $15 from $30

Bracelets l-r: crown cuff $42.50 from $85/ triangle cuff $22.50 from $45/ red beads $12.50 from $25/ blk leather $24 from $48/ blue beads $12.50 from $25

Hair bands top to bottom: green $15 from $30/ blk $35 from $70/ blk w/ gold $24.50 from $49

- ALL TOKYO MILK PRODUCTS!!!!  These amazing all natural perfumes, lotions and lip balms come in delicious scents like sweet orange, dark vanilla bean and coconut milk.

Tokyo Milk lotions $11 from $22/ lip balm $3.50 from $7.00

Tokyo Milk perfume $18.00 from $36.00

This is one sale you don’t want to miss!  What an outstanding opportunity to grab some hot pieces for summer at shockingly low prices!! Now go, go, go!!

VAMOS!!

Blush Boutique- 110 N. Clay 63122 is discontinuing their line of Virgins Saints & Angels jewelry.  While this may be “muy mal”, it does translate into big savings for you!  From April 16-22 pieces are marked at 25% off while next week, April 23-29 pieces will be marked at 40% off!!   Handmade in Mexico, each Virgins Saints & Angels item is inspired by gothic elements from religious icons.  Here is a sample of what they have in store:

San Benito medallion necklace; available in gold or silver $194.00- price this week $145.50

San Benito square bracelet: $275.00; price this week $206.25

Beaded collar necklace $259.00; price this week $194.25

San Benito cross ring $225.00; price this week $168.75

Tribal Cross buckle $225.00; price this week $168.75

Some things just seem to go together like peanut butter and chocolate, gin and tonic or footwear and denim.  If you are a fan of that third option, have I got the perfect store for you! Sole & Blues- 6317 Delmar Blvd 63130.  Located in the Loop, this hip boutique combines two of my greatest loves: shoes and jeans!  And when I say shoes, I mean shoes people!!  Sole & Blues carries an amazing assortment:  TOMS, Sam Edelman, Chelsea Crew, Sorrel, Luichiny, Miz Mooz and more!  Be sure to ask for Katie, she can answer any questions and make sure you walk away with happy, chic feet!  Plus, here comes the best part, Sole & Blues is having a HUGE sale on many of those same styles!  Check out what they had in store this week:

-Love the wedge!  It’s everywhere this spring and available in a rainbow of colors!

Luichiny open toe wedges $89.00

- How hot is this shoe?  Seriously.  Pretty hot!

Sam Edelman Lorissa studded pump $179.00 (rear view)

Sam Edelman pump (front view)

-  Okay, okay I know what you’re waiting for….ahem: Attention friends,  ALL WINTER TOM’S ARE 30% OFF!!  This includes both women’s and men’s styles:

Women's TOMS, left to right: red & black corduroy, grey herringbone, blue corduroy $37.80 from $54.00; red cordones $48.30 from $69.00

Men's TOMS, left to right: olive & black courdory $37.80 from $54.00; black botas $47.60 from $68.00; grey flannel $37.80 from $54.00; red plaid $37.80 from $54.00

- These darling Chelsea Crew styles were also on sale, marked at 20% off!

Chelsea Crew left to right: black & orange lace ups $48.30 from $69.00; tan open toe $55.30 from $79.00; green & tan open toe $48.30 from $69.00

- Boots, boots, boots!  Many winter styles are discounted 50-75% off!  Get ‘em while you can!

Poetic License booties left $64.50 from $129.00; right $69.50 from $139.00

Bernie Mev brown boot $43.60 from $109.00

Very Volatile taupe boot w/ cuff $13.50 from $54.00

Sorrel Fernie short boot $30.00 from $120.00

But enough about shoes you say?  Tell us about the clothes you say?  Allriighty then!  Sole & Blues has an outstanding assortment of designer duds.  On the apparel side of things, more big names!  Styles are available for both men and women in such brands as DL 1961, Hudson, Joes Jeans and AG.   Sole & Blues is also the exclusive St. Louis retailer for G-Star, a hot European line featuring unique apparel like jackets, shirts and denim.  Ask for Amanda,  she’s the go-to person for help with finding just the right look.

-Not only do they exclusively carry G-Star, Sole & Blues is also the only local retailer of Desigual, a Spanish clothing line.  Desigual combines a splash of vibrant colors and designs like you’ve never seen before!  Take a peek:

Desigual "Franklon" dress $69.00

Desigual short sleeve top $74.00

Desigual "Canchusi" dress $114.00

Desigual long sleeve top $74.00

-So our male friends aren’t feeling left out, let’s see what Sole & Blues has for them.  Guys, some really cool shorts and denim for you too, plus tons of message tees!

G-Star stripe shorts $180.00

Ames Bros. tee $39.00

Local Celebrity tee $36.00

Red Jacket tee $49.00

(Guess which one I got for Mr. M?  The Cardinals one!  Why?  Which one were you thinking?)

- Not to be outdone by the footwear, apparel was on sale too!  There were some HANTASTIC deals happening with markdowns of up to 60% off!

SkunkFunk violet dress $64.50 from $129.00

Esley dress $71.20 from $89.00

Esley dress w/ belt $71.20 from $89.00

Love Audrey color block top $29.40 from $42.00

G-Star jeans $71.60 from $179.00

Sole & Blues does right by all facets of apparel.  Offering everything from clothing, to shoes to accessories, this is a one stop shop for all your spring fashion cravings!  Add to this a helpful, friendly staff and this is one store you are sure to visit again and again.  Visit them on Delmar or online at http://www.soleandblues.com