Payless? Is That YOU?

OK, I know I'm slow on this one. Though I am the "Diva on the Dollar," I'm sorry, but I had some skepticism about this! I guess I am still scarred from my Payless experiences in college: blisters on my feet, cheap soles coming apart, etc. But I decided to pay attention after seeing enough references to them on my fellow diva bloggers like Cheap Chica, Budget Fashionista and Serenity, and hearing about Payless hiring former Ralph Lauren designer, Laura Poretzsky, to create a new designer line for the company. Last weekend I went to Payless for the first time in about 8 years and was indeed impressed. After seeing these styles, you will be too!

"Instant" d'Orsay Pump - $16.99
Ummm, yeah....I'm going to say it: THESE ARE HOT! I am a little perturbed that I didn't see these at the Payless location I went to last week, but I do intend on buying some and rocking them this season.







"Naomi" Stretch Knee Boot - $24.99

These are a sleek addition to your fall/winter wardrobe. I love pairing a metallic shoe/boot with all black. These would be great with a pencil skirt too.





"Intellect" Patent Round Toe Pump - $14.99

I have seen this one EVERYWHERE and many of my blogger friends certainly beat me to the punch on this one. But how cute? They even come in black too, if you're afraid of wearing white in the winter!

Weekend Deals

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...school started and I've been kind of laxed. Here's some wheelin' deals for you!

Arden B

Don't you hate it when you buy something full price, later to find it half off and still just as cute!?! Well, I bought this 5 pocket pencil skirt as a birthday gift to self at full price ($68) because it was just too cute. Now, you can enjoy it for just $39.99.




Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works has their anti-bacterial soap on sale again for 4 for $10. They have all their yummy fragrances like cherry blossom, mango mandarin and warm vanilla sugar.





Nordstrom Rack
How cute are these? These formerly $88.95 BCBG Girls shoes are now on sale for $25.90. They are a steal!

Wine Finds

Many Diva wine connoisseurs understand that price does not always equate to quality when it comes to wines. But with so many types and brands of wines to choose from, it is often difficult to determine the good deals from the “cheapos.” I like a good white wine in the summer, so while we have a little bit of time before fall officially gets here, below are some of my picks:

Rieslings
My absolute favorite white wines are Rieslings and, it just so happens that these are all under $20 (some for under $10)!

Columbia Winery Cellarmasters Riesling

Refreshing and sweet (without being syrupy), this is my first Riesling fave. I have even seen people who don’t even like white wines fall in love with this one! This is a great one to pair with a nice salad, a spicy dish, or even to enjoy by itself. Magnifique!

Retail locations I have found this at are some Kroger locations in Atlanta, some Cost Plus World Markets (not all), and some Trader Joe’s. I have seen it range anywhere from $6.99 - $12.99. I found it on this site for just $7.99. Enjoy and tell me what you think!

Beware of imposters – there are many Rieslings whose vineyards have “Columbia” in the title. I have made the mistake by getting “Columbia Valley” by accident – YUCK!

Weber
So my Dad found this one (yep, the apple does’t fall too far from the tree!) and it is fabulous. It is more floral and complex than the Columbia Winery Cellermasters one, and not quite as sweet. I was very impressed by it, AND it is CHEAP (in cost, not quality). It is a German Riesling, and I was able to find it online for just $5.79!

Diva


With a name like "Diva," how could I resist? Gunderloch Diva Riesling Spatlese is the full name. I found it at a Central Market location in Austin, TX and was told it was the best Riesling there (and I must admit, I was initially skeptical when I saw the woman on the label). I bought it for $20, more than I usually pay in a grocery store, but it was well worth it. Another one on the sweeter side - but light and fruity. Spectacular – and only $14.99 online. Check it out!


Chardonnays

So I am not a huge fan of Chardonnays, but I have found a couple that I like:

Charles Shaw (also known by many Californians as “2 Buck Chuck”)

If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area and have never tried Charles Shaw wines – run to your nearest location! Granted, these are not the most “robust” wines, but they are EXCELLENT buys for your money. Named “2 buck chuck” by the Californians because bottles usually cost $1.99 in that state (that’s right, once cent shy of 2 bucks). Regardless of the location, you will never find a bottle for higher than $3.39 regardless of the location. Though they carry Chardonnay, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, my favorite is the Chardonnay. It is light with a subtle oaky flavor.

Here are the Trader Joe locations that carry Charles Shaw: Arizona (all stores), California (all stores), Illinois (all stores), Indiana (all stores), Massachusetts (Brookline, Cambridge and Framingham locations only), Michigan (all stores), Nevada (all stores), New Jersey (Westfield location only), New Mexico (all stores), Ohio (all stores), Oregon (all stores), Virginia (all stores), Washington State (all stores)

Jacob’s Creek

This Chardonnay has more fruit and less oak than your average Chard. Though I only can remember having it once, it was definitely memorable. It is really a great buy for the money – a great bottle to bring as a gift. I found this site that has it for only $8.99.

Back from Rio!

I missed you guys! I just got back from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and had a great time. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate in Rio. It was rainy and pretty chilly, but I did manage to walk on the beach and dip my feet in the ocean.

I didn't do a whole lot of shopping (can you believe it???). This was mainly because classes are starting soon and money's tight until I get my loan check later on this month :). I did, however, go to the Hippie Market in Ipanema. This is a MUST DO activity for my traveling divas who ever visit Rio over a weekend. The Hippie Market only takes place on Sundays and is a huge market consisting of a plethora of items including jewelry, sculptures, leather goods, hand-crafted furniture, glassware, beautiful oil paintings, and your standard souvenirs. I was able to find a great handmade wooden necklace and bracelet set for just 15 reais (about $7.50). I also bought two pairs of earrings for just R$5 a piece (about $2.50) - great deals!