I once saw a doggie in the window...and a pair of shoes...

It's harder than it looks, folks.
Walking away from the strategically colorful and beautifully lit displays of fashionable flats and stylin' stilettos was harder than I ever thought it would be!! I've been trying so so hard not to shop lately, in efforts to save for what Uncle Sam refuses to help me out with (ahem. an education). Hence the lack of Canny Chic posts, lately (which I am undoubtedly sorry for!!). But what made today even more difficult (even more difficult than a regularly difficult day) was the 25%+15% discount coupon screaming at me from inside of my wallet.
But I did it, guys.
I walked away without spending a penny on those cute little silver pumps.
But I have a confession...I didn't leave without spending any of my pennies. I spent a lot of pennies, actually. But it was well justified!
Let me EXPLAIN!!!

You might remember reading about my cute Italian boy, over at Pink Lemonade. Well, this little blogger got invited to prom! By who else, other than the cute Italian boy?! It wasn't too long ago that I was planning out my own fabulous Senior prom night. I was so super excited that I couldn't help but look at all the pretty, sparkly dresses.

I tried so many dresses on, but once I picked up this one. I got that undeniable wowza feeling! This. Was. It.

Of course, being the bargain shopper that I brag about being, I left the store empty handed to search for a better buy (spending 200ish dollars on a dress I'll only wear once was not exactly my idea of a savvy spend!).

Going back to the mall yesterday, I decided to stop by the store and just check to see if "my" dress was still there.
And sure enough it was.
And it was in my size.
AND THEY WERE HAVING A SALE!!
Hallelujah! They were having a sale.

And, turns out, by opening a store card that day, I would get 25% off of my purchase, upon approval, and an additional 15% off whatever I charged, that day.
$200 dress (minus) $50 dollar deduction for opening up the card (minus) an extra 22ish dollars for using the card = about 120 for the dress.
That's an 80 dollar savings, here, ladies.
So I caved.

The Look For WAY Less!

While casually walking around the local H&M outlet, after work, with my coffee in one hand and camera in the other (because that's how I spend my after-work time), I just so happen to find, what I thought was the cutest summer skirt ever!

It's got that perfect combination of cute, girly, funky and sophisticated.

Maybe it's because about 90% of my wardrobe is now black, white, or khaki (thanks to that lovely EX-work-dress-code) that kept me from shopping that day.

Or maybe it was that price tag? It wasn't so cute OR sophisticated. Actually, it was downright funky at almost thirty bucks.

Fast forward. Now we're casually walking around the local Kohl's store and perusing the clearance racks, searching for the cheapest finds (because that's how we spend our Saturday mornings). And we just so happen to stumble upon this baby:

Similar skirt. Similar style. Similar perfect combination of cute, girly, funky and sophisticated.
Much different price tag, at a stunning $4.40. Yep.

There you have it!
The same gorgeous look, for way way less.

New Year, New Possibilities ;)

So I finally have thought up a new years resolution! I'm not normally a "resolution" kinda girl (mostly because I have the hardest time remembering and sticking to 'em) but this year is going to be different.  This year, I'm going to try my hardest to shop less and blog more. I love blogging now. It's still all so new to me, but I'm really enjoying having that creative outlet and I love the community of bloggers that are just as enthusiastic as I am.
I realized this year though, after starting my Closet Challenge, that I shop too much. There..I said it. :( I am a shopaholic!! But, I love it. It's so much fun! So.....while window shopping shall always be an outlet for inspiration, I'm going to try super hard to slim down on my shopaholicness. Of course I'm not quitting..just slimming down. So I still plan on shopping about, I'm hoping to do it much more frugally and splurge much less! Whether or not I'll be successful...well, I guess we have all year to find out!

This year, I want to go real life Good Will hunting more often! The other day, I went in search grey slacks, and came home with a slew of dress clothes for all under $20 bucks. Did I mention that I forgot slacks? Yeah. My favorite item was the black skirt. You can see more about it here. But the bottom line is that I payed only three bucks for it! Awesome, right? :) I kinda thought so.

What is your new years resolution?

First Ever Blog Hop!

I've never participated in a blog hop, before. But, to celebrate the first of the month, Ang Hoo from Your Fashion Indulgence has invited CannyChic to participate! Ang Hoo was kind enough to feature Canny Chic's post, The Three C's, here, last week. Below, you should find the list of other participants of today's Blog Hop. Feel free to add your blog, to the list, and Happy Hopping! :)

And the winners are...

After much deliberation, the winners are finally in! I am proud to bring you a snapshot of the best fifteen blogs of the moment:

1. CarlyCristman
2. Cathy Kennedy's Blog
3. Diary of a Young Designer
4. Fuchsia Girl
5. Get your feast on!
6. Gigi's Gone Shopping
7. Health and Beauty
8. ice creamy world
9. Life of a Shopaholic
10. Mallie Girl Photography - Family Photographer in Southern Mississippi
11. Welcome to Fashion Court...The Verdict Is In.
12. Little Miss Dress Up
13. So Chic Bizarre
14. Diary of a Third World Fashion Designer
15. Lace and Leather

As winners, it is now your responisbility to share the love!
- Be sure to thank and link back to the person who nominated you.
- Share with your followers seven things about yourself.
- Choose fifteen other worthy bloggers to recieve the Versatile Blogger Award.
And finally,
- Let the winners know they've won!

Have a fashionable day!

Seven Things..

my first award :)
Originally uploaded by Canny Chic

I'm so excited! Andrea Marie V, of the Go Feast Yourself Blog, has just awarded Canny Chic the Versatile Blogger award! I'm so excited!! :)
As part of this award, I'm to list 7 things about myself, and choose 15 new winners of the Versatile Blogger award!
So here it goes...Step#1 - Seven Things..
1. I have been frugally shopping for nineteen years :)
2. My baby is a shih tzu named Pepper. Even she dresses to impress - I recently purchased her a bright purple sweater for the cooler weather!
3. I love taking pictures. There's just something exciting and nostalgic about being able to freeze a moment in time in a single snapshot.
4. I absolutely LOVE fall-time, and not just for the great deals! Some of my favorite pictures are of falling leaves. :)
5. I can't cook my way out of a brown paper bag. When you're looking at El Menu de Alynne, the Chef's Special is cereal.
6. I text as much as I breathe. But NOT while I drive, of course; that's when I hold my breath. ;)
7. Love the Broncos. Go Tim Tebow!! <3

Now to tackle Step #2...

Canny (adj.)

I will admit it: I'm addicted. I love to shop. I love to scour the racks and mix and match the new trends with vintage finds to create something new that is all my own. The creativity that shopping demands paired with the expression of individuality that it generates, is rewarding, making shopping worth all the sweat of running between the sales. But what I love even more than pairing the perfect combination of peices, is being able to pair those peices while spending next to nothing. Bargin hunting is my true addiction. NOTHING is quite as rewarding as being able to pull together a killer outfit for under $20. But, unfortunately, $20 outfits tend to add up, and credit cards can only cover so much before the guilt of spending sets in. So with this blog, comes my personal challenge: Enjoy shopping and outfit creating without breaking the bank! From now on, I will be the ultimate of Frugal Fashionistas, and the most savy of savers. I will be Canny Chic.