Free Gift With Purchase?

I am a sucker for beauty product advertising and I'll try almost any product, once.  Will it even my skin tone...prevent wrinkles...make my eyes sparkle...last all day?  Well then let me slap down my debit card.  But what really draws me in at the department stores are the gifts with purchase.  I love the mini make-up kits, tote bags, umbrellas and even got a cute necklace free with a perfume purchase.  However, it seems like the new trend is that the free gift with purchase is not always "free."

A few weeks ago, I was at Macy's and stopped by the Clinique counter to purchase some powder.  The sales woman told me that they were offering a gift with purchase.  Woo hoo!  She then told me that if I purchased another $15 worth of product, I would qualify to purchase the "gift" set for $35.  Excuse me!?  I am spending money on your product and am then rewarding with the option to spend more money.  That's ridiculous and horrible marketing, especially with our current economy.

One week later I was in New Jersey for my sister-in-law's wedding and stopped by Estee Lauder to get my make-up done.  I don't usually wear Estee Lauder, but knew that I had to purchase a product or two since they were doing my make-up.  The make-up artist mentioned that they were doing a free gift with purchase.  But low and behold, Estee Lauder's gift was actually free!  Guess which company I am now going to purchase cosmetics from?





 

Target + In-Store Starbucks = Bliss

For the amount of money I spend at Target each week, I should buy stock in the company or at least be awarded VIP shopper status.  My local Target is now a Super Target with groceries and it just opened an in-store Starbucks.  I may just move in.

Ryan knows that whenever I make my weekly pilgrimage to Target that I won't be home for at a good couple of hours.  The addition of easy access to Starbucks caffeine will likely add on at least another hour.

Walking up and down the aisles of Target is oddly relaxing for me.  Yes, I embark on my standard route to get all of the staples on my list.  But in between, I like checking out the new housewares, decorations, clothes and sifting through the sales rack.  It is one of the only times of the week that I can just let my mind wander.  Plus, I can never resist a good deal or the dollar bin.  A purple faux snakeskin tote bag marked down from $19.99 to $3.99.  Infant tights for next winter marked down to $0.75.  Yes, please!

This week I had Piper with me.  I always talk to her throughout our shopping trips and this one was no exception.  We discuss different brands, what we need to buy, what's on sales.  Yes - people give us odd looks when they hear the full fledged conversations I have with an infant while shopping.  But who cares, we're having fun.

Piper is quite the flirt and likes smiling, waving and clapping for other shoppers.  She always makes lots of friends on our shopping trips.  The checkers all already know her by name.

Maybe I'll write Target a letter with the VIP shopper idea.  Although I can't claim the idea.  It was all my friend Sasha.  In the meantime, I'll continue to sip my skinny vanilla latte and enjoy a few hours of uninterrupted weekend errands and shopping.  My little utopia will now be referred to as "Tarbucks."

      

Sweet P is 1!

One year ago today Piper Ann arrived and brightened our lives forever.  From sleepless nights and poonamis to giggles and milestones, Piper has kept us on our toes.

Ryan calls Piper "Super Baby" because she started sleeping through the night at 2.5 months, loves vegetables, will take any combination of breast milk or formula (any brand) and beside the standard daycare issued colds/runny nose, Piper hasn't gotten super sick.  To say we're lucky is and understatement.

I remember the anxiety of taking Piper to daycare when I went back to work after three months of maternity leave.  How could I leave her with basically strangers all day long!?  Thankfully she absolutely LOVES her teachers and they love her.  We're beyond lucky in that department too.

At one-year, Piper already has a portfolio of artwork, two school photo sessions under her belt, a pumped up immune system and a flourishing social circle. Oh yes - she has a ton of little buddies...and they are almost all boys.  Uh oh - let's hope this isn't a reoccurring trend :-)

Over the past year, my life priorities and focus have changed.  My little Sweet P is at the epicenter and always will be.  I have enjoyed every stage and milestone so far and cant wait for what's ahead.  With the mischievous twinkle in her eye and spunky personality, I have no doubt life will always be fun and interesting.

Happy 1st Birthday to my beautiful little Sweet P!

Oprah's Surprise Extravaganza!

I woke up this morning still rubbing the stardust out of my eyes.  Tuesday was the filming of Oprah’s Surprise Extravaganza where a celebrity line-up representing the Oscars and the Grammys did not disappoint. 

Filmed at the United Center in Chicago, they had to reschedule a Bulls play-off game for the show.  Chicago locals will tell you that no one but Oprah could ever dream of making that ask.  Yes, Oprah knew about the show, but the celebs and their farewell messages were a surprise.  Check out a sample of the line-up. 

Beyonce, Usher, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Maya Angelou, Madonna, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Patty LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Rascal Flatts, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld, Queen Latifah, Kristen Chenoweth, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Fox and countless others.

Although celebs were the main draw, one of the most powerful moments of the evening was a presentation by hundreds of Morehouse State graduates.  Oprah funded a college scholarship program for young men who wouldn’t have the means to fund a higher education on their own.  Many of these men were in the foster system, homeless or gang members and thought they had no hope of ever earning a college education.

Because of Oprah, these men are now executives, doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, fathers and role models.  They filled the stage and brought Oprah (and the audience) to tears with their stories.  Education is the key and knowing that someone believes in you is what can push you to overcome barriers and succeed.  

In the words of Glinda from the Wizard of Oz (and Oprah’s favorite quote) - “You always had the power.” 

Two shows were shot over a five-hour period and will air on Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24.  Oprah’s final final show is top secret and will air on Wednesday, May 25.  Set your Tivo and DVRs!

BTW - in case you were wondering, there were no big giveaways.  Boo.  

Oprah - Here I Come!

Who has two tickets to be in the audience of Oprah’s Winfrey’s final show?  This girl!!!  I am so excited that I can barely stand it.  Plus, I am bringing my mom.  We are going to have a blast. 

About a month ago I visited Oprah.com and entered the online lottery for tickets to her final show.  I’ve tried to get tickets for years and haven’t been successful.  This time was no different.  I promptly got a rejection e-mail a few days later. 

Fast forward to Mother’s Day when I happened to check my e-mail early in the morning.  At the top of my inbox was an e-mail from Oprah Show Reservations informing me that two tickets were now available for the final show.  A mere stroke of luck or a miracle to mark the celebration of my very first Mother’s day?  I’ll let you decide.

I’ve been an Oprah fan for as long as I can remember.  I realize that not everyone is a fan, but for me, Oprah has always represented strength and opportunity.  She has taken risks and overcome adversity to pave her own path to success.  She makes it a point to encourage everyone to give back to their communities and always be proud of who they are and where they came from.  These are all lessons that I will teach the Pipernator

The moral of the story is that you can’t win if you don’t play.  In your personal and professional life, take some risks and challenge yourself.  Sometimes, your luck will turn around when you least expect it. 

 

The show films on Tuesday, May 17 and airs on Wednesday, May 25.  Check back next week for a recap of the show.  I promise to dish about all of the behind the scenes details of the show.  Fingers crossed for tons of celeb sightings and giveaways.

My First Time Celebrating Mother's Day as a Mommy

My house is a disaster zone - and I couldn't be happier.  Everywhere I look there are toys, bottles, tiny socks and cheerios.  Reminders of the little princess that is upstairs fast asleep.

As I celebrate my first Mother's Day, I almost can't remember what life was like before Piper arrived.  Sure, we had a clean house, disposable income, slept in on weekends, went out to fancy dinners and took last minute trips.  But what we have now is even better.  We have a family and I am a mommy.  Has it really only been less than a year that I became a mommy?  It's amazing how you can love some one so incredibly much and completely unconditionally.

My favorite part of the day is when I pick Piper up from daycare.  As soon as she sees me or even hears my voice, she goes crazy smiling, waving her arms and crawls towards me as fast as she can.  I seriously drown the poor kid in hugs and kisses.  Even if I've had the worst day at work, everything melts away as soon as I scoop up the little munchkin.

On this Mother's Day, I also want to celebrate my mom and mother-in-law for being such great wommy role models.  And thank you to Piper for choosing me to her mommy.  It has been quite a ride so far and I can't wait to see what's next.

Naked Baby at Applebee's

Naked babies and artichoke dip don't usually mix.  That is until Piper visited an Abblebee's in Niles, Michigan.

Piper recently embarked on her very first road trip - a five hour drive from Chicago to Livonia, Michigan to her Aunt Shanae's wedding shower.  Armed with food, snacks and toys, the drive there was a breeze.  Our superstar traveler slept and played for the entire trip.

After a great weekend of celebrating Aunt Shanae's upcoming wedding (of which Piper will be a flower girl) and receiving lots of hugs and cuddles from family, we headed out on the trip back to Chicago.  About an hour and a half from home we stopped for lunch at an Abblebee's.  Piper was in a great mood and excited to stretch her little legs.

Once inside, we were enjoying an appetizer when it became clear Piper needed to be changed.  I scooped up a diaper and a travel-size pack of wipes and headed to the bathroom.  My little angel had one of the worst poonamis to date.  We're talking poop squished up to her shoulder blades and out the sides of her diaper.  After I spent a good 10 minutes scrubbing Piper down with wipes I realized that the extra outfit I had was out in the car.

The look on my husband's face as he saw me walking back to the table with a naked baby was priceless.  It was the mommy walk of shame...and I was mortified.  By the time he got her a new outfit from the car, Piper was making new friends, had become the star attraction of Applebee's and she was loving every moment of it, waving and laughing.

I am going on record now with the prediction that Piper will grow up to be an actress...or maybe even a politician.  When she makes it big, I will be sure to embarrass her by sharing the story of the great Applebee's incident of 2011.