GoShoppingNashville.com

Eco Conscious Fashion

OK, so I mentioned that I was at Bonnaroo last weekend. Being there for four days meant that traditional shopping had to take a backseat. However, that does not mind that I did not do any shopping. With that in mind, I thought that I would bring you some Bonnaroo-esque shopping in case you missed out on it first hand. If you did get to go and spent a weekend without your kids, a souvenir from Little Hippie and The Child that Rocks may be just what the doctor ordered! Little Hippie offers clothing that is eco conscious, created of sustainable materials and some of them are seriously cute. I understand that this isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for something a bit different for the younger members of your family, head to the Little Hippie website. I was excited to find a great sun dress that manages to be both summery and alternative at the same time. The sun dress features a flowered calaveras skull print. Want to up the girlie quotient? Have one custom ordered with the top of the dress in pink or lavender. I also found great hoodies for the little ones in classic colors with lightning bolt on the chest - too cute! Little Hippie offers t-shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, tops and more for all ages from baby to well beyond.

Big City Style, Small Town Atmosphere

Since I am at Bonnaroo, I cannot help but think of the comforts of being in a small town environment. Normally, Manchester is far removed from the hustle and bustle of Nashville - except for this weekend, of course. If you are looking for an escape from the madness, you may want to head over to historic downtown Franklin. I understand that you would like a break from the madness, but still want to find city style. You should head to Enjoue' at 400 Main Street in Franklin. It will draw you in with the crisp black and white striped awnings and the girlie pink sign on the windows. Once inside, you will find a carefully edited selection of clothing. Expect to see high end t-shirts, floaty tops, girlie dresses, and great denim. Enjoue' carries labels like French Connection, velvet, Red Engine, Betsey Johnson, Prophetik, JOHNNY WAS, and more. This shop is an enjoyable change of pace with prices that are fairly reasonable, given the quality and label. Find a good enough deal and you may have just enough cash left for a treat at Ben & Jerry's on the corner.

Bonnaroo Retail

Well, my shopping friends, I am excited to say that I am headed off to my first Bonnaroo this year. One cannot spend all of their free time shopping so I will be busy with music, friends, and festivities this weekend. If you are like me, headed to Manchester this weekend, I do have a great 'shopping' locale for you to check out......really it is more of a 'sipping' locale. Mr. GoShoppingNashville has family in Manchester, so we are there pretty frequently and try to get over to Beans Creek Winery often. Why? They have a wide selection of Tennessee wines made locally from grapes grown in Tennessee. I love semisweet and dessert wines and Beans Creek has some great ones. In fact, three of my favorites are award winning. For dessert wines, I absolutely love Wild Mountain Blackberry and Black Raspberry Rapture, both of which won bronze medals at the 2007 Wines of the South competition and the 2007 Florida State Fair. In the mood for a semisweet? Try Roseycheeks, a silver medal winner in both competitions as well. Why take the time to go to a winery when there is a music festival to get to???? Glad that you asked. My favorite wine vinted by Beans Creek is the Bonnaroo Red, which is offered in limited quantities during this special time of year. There is also a white version, but I prefer the red. Either way, they are both very good. Even more important for you festival go-ers out there, Beans Creek offers Bonnaroo Red and White in the normal glass bottle or in Bonnaroo friendly plastic so that you can carry it onto the festival grounds. While we were in earlier today, a nice fan from Maine was there and they poured his non-Bonnaroo wines into plastic bottles so that he could carry those with him as well. If you love live music, but find that Bonnaroo is not really your thing, perhaps you would enjoy the monthly Music on the Lawn at the winery. For directions, maps, wine lists, Music on the Lawn schedule, and loads more info, be sure to check them out on the web at  Beans Creek Winery.

Happy shopping ( and sipping)!

Good News, Bad News

The bad news is that Dillard's has officially announced that they will be closing one of the Nashville outposts. If you have been to Hickory Hollow Mall during the last couple of years, you have noticed a decline in the number of stores and the amount of items that many of the stores carry. Stores have exited or downsized their inventory in this location for some time now. On Monday, it was confirmed that Dillard's will now be among this group and will close the location by August of 2008.

What is the good news in all of this? The good news is for those of us who love to shop. The Hickory Hollow Dillard's has a lot of great deals. I have not checked out the housewares, but have heard that items can be found for about 25% less than other locations. Last week, I went to look for a dress of the more formal type. I found much more than I expected. I purchased a great black sequined Tahari dress for $34.95. I  literally did a double take when I saw the price tag. This is a current season LBD with a regular retail of $218.00. I am not sure if it will be worn at New Year's, on a cruise, or exactly where, but I could not pass up the price. I also spied a great blue mini that I have had my eye on since it came out earlier this month. At other Dillard's, this dress is currently selling for $150.00. At the Hickory Hollow location, it is down to $112.00. I am going to keep an eye on it. A little bit more of a drop in price and that dress will find a new home in my closet. So that is the bad news and good news. If you are in the area, it is worth a bit of searching to see what bargains you can spot!

Hot, Hip, & Highly Affordable

Last week, I headed back to West End in search of new items at UAL (see previous post). While I was there, I decided to step into Nashville Clothing Company (2922 West End). This is easily one of the coolest shops that I have visited in awhile. The place has an overall casual and trendy vibe and the prices are extremely affordable. They carry clothes for men and women and have their own line of  locally printed tees, which I found to be pretty fantastic - I do love a good t-shirt!. You can expect to find jeans from Silver, It, and Paper Denim & Cloth. They have an edited selection of cool band tees and great shirts for guys from Triple 5 Soul. For girls, there are jeans, skirts, tops, tees, and fun dresses. NCC stocks gear from Vans, Heavy Rotation, Industry, Hana Hattori (local designer!), and SkunkFunk. I loved their Maore top ($55) which I would pair with long jeans and great heels. They also have shoes from Converse, TOMS, Vans, Sugar, Gola, Royal Elastics, Harajuku Lovers, and more. Since we are in Music City, I would highly recommend picking up some accessories from Pink Lacey.....think earrings, bracelets, and necklaces made with guitar picks! As if all of these items were not reason enough to send you racing to Nashville Clothing Company, they are environmentally friendly while being easy on your wallet. Every time that you make a purchase at NCC, you will receive a locally printed tote bag in place of the usual paper or plastic. This tote bag is not just handy to use at the market or for work, it is also a built in coupon. Take your tote with you the next time that you shop NCC and get 10% off of regularly priced items. Be sure to visit their West End location or the newer shop located in Franklin at 420 Cool Springs Boulevard.

Prim & Paper

It seems like I have been involved in or attending a lot of special events lately. I guess it is that time of year. We always seem to be at a wedding, baby shower, or housewarming party. All of these occasions have me on constant lookout for that special something. While in downtown Franklin recently, I decided to head over to Prim & Paper located at 123 South Margin in search of something unique...that and I must admit that I am a bit of a sucker for paper stores. I am not sure why, but I love stationary. I don't actually use it, but I truly love it - nostalgia, I guess. Anyway, it had been awhile since my last trip and I had almost forgotten what a great little shop this is. They have some great choices for wedding and housewarming gifts. I loved the personalized clear serving trays and glasses - they seem just perfect for a newly married couple. Thinking of housewarming, I found great selections like Trapp candles and then spied some that can be personalized from Solebury as well. Who doesn't use candles??? My favorite for the housewarming bunch of gifts, however, had to be the personalized soap sets. They were a neutral cream color, came in a large variety of scents, and were absolutely adorable - a nice finishing touch in a new home. In terms of gifts, they also have some very cute items for babies. I fell in love with the personalized toddler dishes. They looked like adult versions (yes, they are breakable!), only cuter and divided so that the food doesn't touch - you are laughing as you read that line if you know me!!!

Prim & Paper truly stands out in their stationary and invitations. They have invitations for pretty much every occasion and range from elegant to modern to fun and everything in between. There was a great selection of invites for children's birthday parties, cocktail parties, housewarming parties, backyard barbeques, baby showers, wedding showers, engagement parties, etc. As I was browsing the shelves, I found myself trying to decide what type of gathering that I will be hosting so that I could pick up some great invitations. Prim & Paper is full service and will even help custom design invitations for your event if you can't quite find what you have in mind. If you are coming in to order your invites, don't worry about bringing the little ones....they have a play area where the children can play or watch TV while you finish up your errands. And though they are located in historic downtown Franklin, they have their own parking so you won't have to worry about walking. Be sure to check them out before you host your next event. I am certain that you will find something that you like in this great little place.

SHOES!!!

OK, OK, OK so I don't need any more shoes. Who am I kidding? There is always room for more shoes - especially these shoes. For those of you who are like me and love shoes and a great price tag, investigate Marti and Liz Shoes if you haven't already. I have been a longtime fan of this place. Consider yourself forewarned.....you will have to look often and truly pay attention when you are in the shop. I tend to go once or twice a week. Some days, I will come out with no luck. All too often, however, I come up with 4 or 5 pairs. Here is the deal with Marti & Liz....there are local outposts in Franklin (Mallory Lane), Lebanon (Main Street), and Murfreesboro (Broad Street). There are also locations in Cookeville and Tullahoma for those of you that live a little bit further outside of greater Nashville. Why do I go to Marti & Liz so often??? Uh, Kate Spade, Juicy, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Stewart Weitzman, Sam Edelman (most comfy flats ever!) Coach, Calvin Klein, Steve Madden, Kenneth Cole, Jessica Simpson, Aldo, Born, and many many more. There is more.....for most of these labels, you can expect to find shoes in ladies priced between $24.99 and $39.99 - that is correct, no typo there. If you have never been, you are probably thinking that you might find one pair of Betseys or Juicy. Well, most of the time you would be incorrect. You will more likely have trouble deciding which pairs that you are going to leave behind. Here is the part where you have to be diligent.....many of these shoes are used - think retail overstocks, model shoes, returns, etc. Also, beware of the mismatched size pair...and you will see some of those. Despite these minor issues, Marti & Liz is well worth several visits. Do not be frustrated if you do not find something that you like this time. They are always getting new stock so keep checking back. Ever since I got my first pair of Kate Spades - which were brand new not used for $24.99 BTW - I have been a loyal customer. I actually still have those shoes and wear them today. They are a classic black peep toe sling back with structural leather bows. They look great dressed up or down in the office or out on the town. I have been going back for more ever since. Most recently, I have picked up red Betsey Johnson pumps, Juicy Couture wooden mules with pink and navy grosgrain ribbon straps, Juicy espadrilles in a flattering faded gold, silver Jessica Simpson peep toe pumps, and black jeweled Sam Edelman flats.......my closet runneth over. Marti & Liz also carry sneakers and shoes for the guys and little shoppers. If shoes aren't enough, they also have handbags and a small selection of clothing.

We Are Marshalls

So you probably don't want to dress like you were in the movie 'We Are Marshall' but you DO want shop at Marshalls for some current trends and great prices. Like TJ Maxx, I frequent Marshalls and that is how I find some of my best scores. What have I found lately? In juniors and ladies, I have picked up great hounds tooth print cami and pantie sets by Hurley, board shorts by Roxy, t-shirts from Billabong, and a great summer dress from Ezekial. I bought all of those pieces at once for about $65!!! Sounds like a lot of skater chic, doesn't it? Well skater isn't the only kind of chic that I have found recently. About 3 weeks ago, I picked up a pair of Juicy Couture jeans for $39.99 - a far better price than their $210 Juicy retail tag that was still attached. Juicy is not a rare brand to find at Marshalls...when I take the time to look, I nearly always find at least a few shirts, shorts, and - of course - handbags and perfume from this company. Think that the chic finds are just for ladies? Think again. For men, we have picked up dress shirts from Sean Jean and Kenneth Cole and suit separates from Calvin Klein. Oh and my favorite, a pair of oversize Diesel sunglasses for Mr. GoShoppingNashville......shown here in a rather unconventional wedding (guests) photo!!!! Did I mention that they also carry Paul Frank, Diesel, Vans, Avirex, Hurley, and Billabong for the guys? There is plenty for the little shoppers as  well....think Baby Phat, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Hurley, Levi's, Carter, and more. Marshalls also has a sound selection of housewares, luggage, handbags, and shoes - especially if you visit the Franklin location where they house the local Shoe Megashop. With 4 local outposts - Charlotte Pike & Lebanon Pike in Nashville, Franklin, and Murfreesboro, Marshalls is fairly convenient and worth the trip. Maybe you will find something that will show up in one of your favorite photos with friends & family, too!

More Bargains, Please!

OK....so I have definitely gotten some feedback about bargain week - THANKS! After the final two comments of 'thanks for the bargains' and 'I wish that every week could be bargain week', I decided to keep them coming for just a bit longer. It is a short week, after all. While I won't have bargain week all the time, the least I can do is accommodate the requests of some of you loyalists out there. So you can look forward to some more bargains this week and then will head to some different shopping locales again next week. At any rate, I love hearing feedback, so please keep it coming!!!

Gear Up for the Holiday Weekend

I can't even believe what I am about to write, but in light of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, I thought that I would do a piece on Wal-Mart. Please do not misinterpret, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Wal-Mart. For those of you who know me though, you understand that I absolutely LOATHE grocery shopping and am not fond of people crowding me or rushing me when I shop. Even with all of that, I force myself to go every now and then out of necessity and I am always pleasantly surprised by some of the great items that I find. What does all of this have to do with Memorial Day? Well that is a good question. I was thinking about how each of you might spend your holiday weekend and how I could help, at GoShoppingNashville to make your preparations easier. Thus, we are at Wal-Mart. For many, this weekend represents the start of the summer season of fun and relaxation. That brings you to activities like going to the beach or lake, heading out for a camping or hiking trip, fishing, or just a friendly cookout or picnic. Obvious things first, you are probably going to eat, right? Well enter the aforementioned heinous grocery shopping - you can do that at Wal-Mart!!! You can also stock up on paper cups, napkins, flatware - or reusable plastic versions if you are environmentally friendly. How about a handy tote to carry them in to avoid more plastic bags? Check.Camping? They have tents, sleeping bags, bug spray (very important), camp stoves, and all kinds of goodies. Beach, lake or pool bound? Be sure to check out the health & beauty aisles to stock up on sunscreen. Then you can head over to seasonal to get some bright and inexpensive beach towels and chairs. Need a swimsuit? They have those too. Actually, they have some pretty cute ones right now. They have started carrying OP. Do you remember when OP was the swimsuit brand that you absolutely had to have?....oh, I have just dated myself, but I digress. The one pictured here looks a lot like versions by ROXY and Billabong that are also out this season. Only this one has a way better price of $30 for both pieces instead of more than that for each piece! Whatever you are doing this weekend Wal-Mart probably has some, if not all, of the items on your shopping list. I hope that you will have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. Seriously, Wal-Mart really isn't that scary. In fact, I think that you will be rather pleased to see how much you can get for your hard earned dollar! Oh and one final thought along those lines. If you happen to be by a Wal-Mart with a gas station - you may want to stop there and fuel up. At the time that I finished this blog, gas in my neighborhood was $3.65 per gallon. Just down the road a bit at Wal-Mart, it was $3.58 ($3.55 if you remember to get a gift card inside). It was enough to make me stop and take a look!