Wow, hard to believe we are just over a week away from Thanksgiving! And with Thanksgiving comes the official kick off to Christmas shopping! And with continued slumping sales, it is a perfect opportunity for each of us to get some amazing deals! Whether you are a “midnight madness” shopper, an early morning riser, or perhaps a cyber Monday shopper, one thing is constant: finding the right gift, for the right price. Now, for many of you this might be old hat, years of retail and BF Shopping has taught me a few tricks along the way that I would like to share.
First of all, you have to plan. I know this sounds simple, but it is so easy to loose track of time (and potentially miss out on a deal) in the madness that is Black Friday.
Before you look at an ad or a catalog, make a detailed list of those items you want to try and find. This will limit your impulse buys and help keep you focused.
Do your research! While many ads will arrive in your Thanksgiving newspaper, much of this information is already out there. One of my favorite websites is http://bfads.net/ I have found them to be incredibly accurate in what they show will be on sale and quite easy to navigate. You can also compare different stores to see where their sales are.
Compare those ads to what is already on sale-you might just be able to find a great deal ahead of time without dealing with the crowds!
Be reasonable. Yes, Wal-mart will likely have a fantastic deal on a fabulous TV or laptop however there are usually only a handful of those deals per store. If your heart is set on a specific item, plan on camping out in front of the store to ensure you are first in line-and perhaps call the store you plan on going to in order to find out just how many of those deals they will have.
Double the time you plan on being in a certain store. Inevitably it takes longer to find the product than you think, and the lines are often slower and take longer to get through.
If you are going to a major chain store, like Target or Wal-mart, try going to one that is a little out of the way or smaller/older than the others. The sales are the same and the traffic is often lighter and they tend to not to sell out as quickly.
If you are going with friends, recognize that you likely are not going to get to all of the places you want to when you want to unless you plan together. Take separate cars and plan a meeting place if you need to split up for any reason
Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!
Trace Designs is kicking off our Black Friday sale early! Check it out and enjoy the savings!!!
http://www.tracedesignsonline.com/
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Race to Bed!
say, this was one of the easiest murals I have done to date. I was
a bit concerned when my son decided he wanted the racecar mural, not
only because of the black and white checks of the flags, but simply
because at 3, he is one of the most particular children I know!
Now, he is also a HUGE fan of the Disney movie Cars so I wasn't entirely
sure this would fly. To overcome my fear of the checkered flags, I
painted the white first, allowing myself to go over the lines.
Once that was dry, I outlined the black and then filled in those
squares. It really was quite easy! The sparkles you see are
because he wanted it to "shine." I was able to accomplish this
simply by adding a little acrylic paint that I had left over from last
Christmas that was clear with red glitter! And I have got to say, he
LOVES it! It took me less than three hours to complete, and
that was with all three of my kids home interrupting me regularly.
I hope you enjoy!
We would LOVE to see your shots too! Send them our way!
Amy
Green Pea Nursery
Okay, I know I am a little late in sharing this, but I
absolutely LOVE how one of our retailers used our "Chalkboard Mural" in
their store. Green Pea Nursery, located in North Carolina as well
as virtually nation wide has added the "Chalkboard Mural" in the front
of their store to inform their customers of what is going on with Green
Pea Nursery. By painting the "frame" white, chalkboard classically
accents their earthy green walls! To get your very own
custom chalkboard, stop by Green Pea Nursery or check them out online!
Chalkboard paint can be picked up in your local hardware store or online
in various colors and select your own color for your "frame" to match
your decor perfectly! Thanks Kathy for the pictures!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Updated website!
Just wanted to say a quick "THANK YOU!!!" to Jennifer Meinking for her WONDERFUL job on our website! Looks great and best wishes for your upcoming due date:)
http://www.affordable-website-optimization.com
http://www.fingerprintsboutique.com
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Back to School!
For most of us school is either underway or just around the corner. Whether your kids are homeschooled or in public or private school, or elementary to college, there is no doubt that the transition from summer to fall can be rough. Many professionals suggest not only to organize and plan for the upcoming school year, but to involve your kids in this organization. I have added a few shopping tips of my own as well as a link to get your kids involved at all ages.
My dining room table is currently filled with pencils and notebooks that my children can hardly keep their hands off of! Who’d have thought paper would be so exciting! But it can get expensive. Use the recession to work to your advantage. Because of the financial crunch, people are spending less on back to school supplies and stores have to compete for our business Scour ads both online and in your papers to find the best deals on back to school supplies. Combine them with coupons from your weekly newspaper or sites like couponmom.com and you can save a ton! Also-don’t overlook places you normally wouldn’t look for school supplies either-I actually saved the most and got the best prices at my local grocery store!
Seriously-when did kids clothes get so expensive?!? Maybe part of it is I am multiplying it by three, but wow-talk about sticker shock! Two things to keep in mind when back to school shopping: 1.Don’t forego quality for quantity. You can find great clothes at reasonable prices-if you buy too cheaply made clothing-it is not going to last. And buy the clothes a little big-you want to make sure that you account for shrinkage and growth! 2. Never pay full price-seriously. Nearly every store has incredible sales right now, and a little search of the internet will likely save you a significant amount! If you cannot find what you want at the price you want-look around, and wait. Even stores like Gymboree change their lines every 6-12 weeks putting the previous lines on sale!
Most importantly-get excited FOR them! The more excited you are for them to start the new school year, the more excited they will be!
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/school/34528.html
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.retailmenot.com/
http://www.couponcabin.com/index.htm
Friday, July 24, 2009
Breakfast Under the Tree!
| Nothing is much more exciting than when we see a space transformed with our murals! Clearly, a lot of our murals work well in nursery's and children's rooms, but I received an e-mail this morning showing our beautiful Living Tree mural in a breakfast nook! 
|
| Thanks for the photos Mr.Reber! "...well pleased with the |
We would LOVE to see your shots too! Send them our way! Amy |
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Design {for} Baby
Thanks to Alexandra and Sherri of Design Baby we have been recognized on their excellent and informative blog. Check out our Product Review HERE.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Trace on First Coast News Tonight!
Trace Designs will be featured on First Coast News tonight at 6pm!
Here is the link to watch us on the local news portion of their web site http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=140473&catid=3 .
We are excited to spread the word and offer money-saving moms an awesome, easy and affordable decor choice!
Thanks Amy for reaching out to FCN!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer DIY...but not what you think!
When I think DIY I think about painting, repair, tiling and yard work. But what I didn't think about was Do It Yourself entertainment.
It's easy to rely on TV, movies, summer camps, and the back yard to entertain our kids all summer. But this summer I was going to spend as much time with my kids exploring the area we live but at low cost. So I researched and came up with an amazing amount of things to do where we live.
Here is just a little list of some of what are doing this summer:
Bowling
Storytimes
Blueberry Picking
Canning (yup- going to the local cannery to can our own recipes)
Chocolate Factory Tours
Flea Market
Free Movies at several theaters
Visiting nursing homes
Kids day at local museums
Hardware and Craft stores offering lessons for kids
DO SUMMER YOURSELF! You will love the time you invested with your kids and mighteven learn something!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Unique and Last Minute Gift Ideas for Dad!
Father’s Day for me always poses an interesting dilemma. Since my husband’s birthday falls on June 19th, we are usually celebrating both within a few days. Now, if your husbands are anything like mine (and my father for that matter) they not only are picky about what they like, but tend to have everything they want. Add to that my desire to find the perfect gift has a tendency to leave me stressed out! So this year I have decided to pull together a couple of lower cost, last minute gift ideas that have been successful in the past! Now obviously you each know your father/husband best, and while not all of these will work for everyone, hopefully it will help to generate some ideas!
For the sports enthusiast:
Surprisingly enough, I did not realize until a few years ago that golf courses offered not only gift certificates, but often day long packages (including lunch etc.) Check out his favorite course and make sure you buy at least two (for he and a buddy unless this is something you two readily do together). Then, and most importantly, check his schedule and book him a tee time. The better tee times are early in the morning and book up fast so you will need to plan in advance. One rule though, once you have booked his day, this is his day-no “honey do” list is allowed!
If he loves to camp and hike, get him a national park pass-they offer annual passes and can be used at any national park! http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
For the Sports fan? How about a sports package either via your Dish company or cable network? MLB.com has some great deals for the baseball enthusiast! http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&partnerId=ed-2652322-86196042&source=ed-2652322-86196042
Would he rather play than watch? Active.com not only is the online resource for races and events, they have also put together a fantastic list of summer getaways! http://www.active.com/outdoors/Articles/10_Amazing_Family_Adventures.htm
Sure, gift certificates are easy, but can quickly become impersonal if you are not careful. His favorite book store, running store or place for sports equipment can be great, but keep in mind you are also giving him the gift of shopping-which may or may not be appreciated! Instead of picking up a gift certificate in the grocery store, try being a little more creative.
Maybe there is a new skill he is hoping to fine tune or acquire? Pair a Home Depot Gift Card with a schedule of their “Home Improver Workshops” and he is good to go! You can even sign up online at http://www.homeimproverclub.com/
Online Gift Certificates are also a great option. Amazon sells just about everything under the sun and you can purchase and print your gift right from your computer! http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-Gift-Card/dp/B00067L6TQ
Finally, if you want something for him to unwrap check out some sites that offer unique ideas!
Popular Mechanics has put together a list of the top 10 gadgets and gifts that men are looking for this year. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4268553.html
A very cute website called Someonespoilme.com has put together a couple of great last minute and super unique gifts along with when you need to order them by! Is your man a cigar man, beer man or perhaps a bacon man? Check it out and find a great gift! http://www.someonespoilme.com/tips/spoilers/last-minute-fathers-day-gift-ideas/
A great website with the gift for just about anyone is gifts.com. They have a complete section for Father’s day! http://www.gifts.com/occasions/fathers-day/o12hraicp
So whether you attempt to order that last minute gift or schedule a special day, remember the most important thing is that we make sure the dads in our lives and our kids lives know just how much they are appreciated!
Happy Shopping, and Happy Fathers Day!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Trace Designs on the front page of HGTV!
This weekend, Trace Designs was featured on the front page of HGTV.com in the "Product Ideas" section. Our Decorative Initials™ Accent Mural was our #1 seller during this time! We want to say a BIG "Thank You" to HGTV for the kudos! |  |
Friday, June 5, 2009
COUPONS CODES!
Since we love to give out money-saving tips, here are some links to some great home-improvement coupons out there! Combine it with our 30% of Summer Kick Off coupon and save big!
Expiration:2009-06-10
Sears $5 off off $50 purchase expires June 6 2009 http://f.chtah.com/i/5/1194872179/SC_EAQ_052409.pdf
Sherwin Willams $10 off $50 purchase Expires Dec 31 2009 http://www.baton.com/common/sherwin.html
Michaels 50% off regular item Expires June 15 2009 http://img.dealspl.us/images/coupon/1243957634_2026.jpg
Monday, March 30, 2009
Trace Designs Prize Winner on Money Pit Media
Congrats to our winner on THE MONEY PIT Home Improvement Radio Show!Trace Designs was asked to take part in this exciting radio show heard on over 200 radio stations. We first met Leslie in NY at the Boom Boom Room. We were delighted when she took our product to try out and even more thrilled she loved it! Thanks Leslie and Tom!
Leslie Segrete: As designer and carpenter for TLC's hit series Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, Leslie designs, builds and creates amazing transformations to the delight of her homeowners and millions of fans.
Tom Kraeutler: Since 1994, Tom has given credible, candid advice, money-saving tips and hands-on how-to's to millions of Americans through his regular appearances on TV and radio, online, and in major print media. Tom appears regularly as a how-to guru on network and local television stations including CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV and the DIY Network.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Murals for Kids Contest
MURALS for KIDS CONTEST!
Don't you love those make over shows...yea the ones when a hard working mom or "neat-o" kinds of kid gets a room make over. I love seeing their face when they see the big reveal. Now is YOUR chance to be a part of a make over.
Mom Trends and Trace Designs is partnering up to present the MURALS FOR KIDS Contest. Send an email telling us who and why and the winner will get a mural of their choice and a $50.00 gift card to The Home Depot.
Click on the Murals for Kids Contest logo to read the contest rules and How to Enter!
Trace Designs to Launch on HGTV.com!
HGTV?!?!?!? Here we come!
Trace Designs products are coming to the following site next month!
HGTV.com
Amazon.com
DIYnetwork
Fineliving.com
Interested in adding Trace Designs to your product line? contact us at 877-75Trace or info@tracedesignsonline.com !
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Trace Designs Launches on The Home Depot.com!
NEWS RELEASE
February 4th, 2009
For Immediate Release Contact:Megan Marasigan
877-75-TRACE orinfo@TraceDesigns.net
Local Small Business to Grow Big on HomeDepot.com
Trace Designs Traceable Mural First of It's KindAvailable to Home Depot Public
February 4, 2009 (St. Augustine, Florida) SaintAugustine based Trace Designs owner Megan Marasigan and The Home Depot present traceable wall mural kits now available through HomeDepot.com.Marasigan says,"Trace DesignsTraceable Murals are for everyone. We recognized a need for family-friendly DIYwall coverings and Home Depot recognized us as an answer. Trace Designs is easy to do and yetthe result is sophisticated. Tape it, Trace it, and Paint it. Trace Designsreally is that simple."Includedin each kit are recycled paper design panels, friction transfer papers,instructions and a Free Make a Mural Party guide. As an added bonus everythingin the Trace Designs kits are reusable and recyclable. Setting herself apart, Marasiganhas not only created safe and sophisticated traceable murals but these "Made inthe USA" products retail between $39-$59; an average of 30% less thancompetitors.
TAPE it, TRACE it, PAINT it!
