Have you gotten the email that's circulating reminding you to use all your unspent gift certificates and store credits? With all the store closings, it might be a good idea not to stockpile any store credits at this time. Let's see, Linens and Things, Circuit City, Bombay Company, J. Jill...and the list goes on.

Amidst all the doom and gloom...wow...a breath of fresh air! A new mini-mall consignment store just opened this week at 1517 Las Olas Blvd, where 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' used to be. I poked around on my way to work the other day, lots of great gift items, as well as what will be the ever changing consigned one-of-a-kinds.

Have a look, just west of the 7-11.

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Sur La Table, the fab store for cooks that I discovered in Pike Place Market in Seattle when I was a food editor, is set to open in Coconut Creek Nov. 6.

This is the third SoFla store. Others are at Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens and at the Shops at Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines.

What makes Sur La Table stand out from other stores for cooks is the fact that it was inspired by kitchen stores in Paris. It's a chain, but doesn't look or feel corporate. The sales people are trained well and can help you pick out what's best for you or a friend. I just love the place.

Here are a couple of items I especially like:

The La Rossa plates are an exclusive to Sur La Table that is inspired by traditional Italian designs. It's $19 for the salad plate and $20 for the dinner plate.

If your herbs always burn up outside, check out the AeroGarden Space Saver 6 Elite, which features a new advanced growing system. Comes with a Gourmet Herb Kit and two grow bulbs; accommodates up to six pods. Sells for $169.98.

The store is located at The Promenade at Coconut Creek, 4449 Lyons Road, Suite J-102
Coconut Creek, 954-247-2204.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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If you love the cottage look, celebrate.

Maine Cottage, which Furniture Today describes as a "specialist in upscale coastal home furnishings," has opened its first Florida store on Clematis Street.

The Grand Opening is today from 4 to 6 p.m., and the first 50 guests will get free Coastal Living beach towels.

The 5,000-square-foot store is also offering a 10 percent discount off all furniture orders until Nov. 1. Maine Cottage specializes in painted furniture like this (at left). Cool, isn't it? They also have rattan pieces that look like they came from grandma's porch. Say hello to Hasty, Beth and Annie, right, when you visit the store.

Maine Cottage is located at 312 Clematis Street West Palm Beach. Call 561-366.0033. See www.mainecottage.com.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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My friend and shopping diva Kathy told you about Filene's Basement opening Oct. 15 in Aventura. The other important date she left out is Jan. 16: The annual "running of the brides" sales event at Filene's Basement, this time in Aventura.

Many a movie and TV show have captured the scene: Brides-to-be wading through yards of white to find their dream wedding dress at a bargain Filene's Basement price. It's the only day of the year Filene's has bridal dresses, on sale for $249 to $699. (Yeah, guys, they do cost that much -- usually much more!)

Me? I wouldn't be caught dead there. But, knock yourselves out, ladies. -- Marcia "Bargain Hunter" Pounds

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I've heard so much about Filene's Basement. Never been there. I am really excited....I'm finally going to get to shop at Filene's Basement! It feels so...so...what's the word...so very cosmopolitan!!

I saw it on Biscayne Blvd the other day as I drove down to Bal Harbor Shops. Wow, my heart jumped...it looked open...too bad...not yet. A freestanding building on the east side of Biscayne. (17651 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura.)

I live and work in Fort Lauderdale, but it seems there are a few reasons to drive south for discount shopping. Loehmann's is down there, and now Filene's.

What do you think? Is Filene's Basement worth getting excited about? Is it all it's cracked up to be? Have any of you shopped there? Is there a good selection? What kind of things do they sell...Designer dresses...Casual clothes? Which do you like better, Loehmanns or Filene's?

What are your favorite stores for finding bargain clothes in South Florida?

Filene's Basement

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Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? To kick off the official launch of FAO Schwartz within Macy's locations there's a big grand opening celebration at Macy's Dadeland this weekend.

Celebrated author and mother, Jenny McCarthy, will be there on Saturday September 27th at 2:00 p.m.

Children and families are invited to join the fun and activities. There will be balloon making, face painting, and other family festivities.

Children will be invited to create their own version of the FAO Schwartz Toy Soldier hat for a chance to win $1000 shopping spree. Contest held on site and all decorating materials will be provided.

Heck, I want to win $1000 shopping spree!! Can adults play too?? What would you buy if you won a $1,000 and HAD to spend it?

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Are you a crafter or a sewer? Maybe now that we are all staying home more, I'll get back into it. If you've got the time, they have the stuff.

Two new Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft stores are opening Sept. 4 in Pembroke Pines and Margate. The Pembroke Pines super store is 27,215-square feet and is located at 11251 Pines Blvd. M’Liss Rae Hawley, author and quilt designer, will sign her books after the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting Sept. 4. In Margate, the 21,663-square-foot superstore is located at 3340 Northwest 62nd Ave. in the Margate Shopping Center. Hawley will sing her books after the 2 p.m. ribbon cutting Sept. 4.

Both stores will offer also free Jo-Ann creative demonstrations and free craft projects for kids, giveaways to the first 100 guests and $10 Chili's gift card to those who spend $30 or more beginning at noon each day (while supplies last). There will also be special sales.

Special activities run from Sept. 4 through Sept. 6. Doors open at 9 a.m.

Also check out projects like this tablescape at www.joann.com.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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I have been bummed ever since the Organized Living store closed in the University Commons shopping center in Boca Raton.

The silver lining in all this: The Whole Foods store took the space, making it bigger and better. But I digress.

Organized Living, which was forced to close some of its stores in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy organization, is opening a new store Aug. 16 at 14528 SW 2nd St. in Pembroke Pines.

They always had really cool stuff like the Foldable Acrylic Earring Screen I found on the company Website. It's acrylic, folds for storage and holds up to 128 pairs of earrings and sells for only $10.99 on sale. It was $12.99. You will just have to see it yourself at organizedliving.com

The store has two workshops on its opening day:
10:30 a.m. -- Secrets to an Organized Closet.
1:30 p.m. -- How an Organized Kitchen Saves You Time.

If you go, let me know what you think.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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HomeGoods has always been one of my fave places to shop for home decor. The prices are great, especially on some small furniture items.

If you live in Margate, you may want to check out the newest store, which opened June 22 at Coral Landings III, Sample Road and NW 62nd Avenue. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

The store PR machine claims that their prices are 20-60 percent below finer catalog, specialty and department store prices. That's a claim that's hard to prove because no one charges suggested retail these days. But I do know I have found some good buys at HomeGoods.

Check out the Website at www.homegoods.com for customer blogs and photos of their finds like this shadowbox.

XOXO-- Shopper Girl

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Remember the Arab oil embargo of 1973? Apparently, all the politicians forgot. So, as we struggle with gas prices over $4 a gallon, many of us are planning our shopping trips more than ever before.

We on the shopping blog promise to make your lives easier and to save you gas by letting you know about all the new store openings.

Here goes: A new 4,200-square-foot Lilly Pulitzer store will open on June 27th at The Terrace in Town Center at Boca Raton. The new store will have women's, men's and children's collections as well as gifts and accessories, including bags, shoes, jewelry and eyewear.

Palm Beach's Lilly Pulitzer no longer owns her namesake label, but the designers have taken her bright colors and fun patterns and updated them. I just love the look. Perfect for Florida -- then and now.

XOXO --- Shopper Girl

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South Palm Beach fans of Coldwater Creek now have a store at The Terrace at Town Center. No more trekking to Wellington to get your fix. (If you're a newbie to the mall or haven't been there lately, it's at the western end close to the new Crate & Barrel.)

This store has great style at fairly reasonable (not cheap) prices.

The current offerings for spring are a little too flowery for me, but if you like feminine prints you'll love the soft colors and the styles.

Money saver tip: Before you go make sure to get one of the coupons from design or women's magazines and you can save $25 on a $100 purchase.

If you, like me, prefer the offerings in the catalog to what you find in the stores, remember the stores will take returns and you can save the postage of sending items back to the ctaalog center. For a peak at some of the offerings, see www.coldwatercreek.com.

XOXO-- Shopper Girl

P.S. Typical of the deminine spring looks is this paisely skirt ($89.50).

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If you seen the enticing ads for Kohl's you're probably wondered why they advertised in South Florida when the closest store was Jensen Beach.

Here's the inside info: It's cheaper for a business to buy a regional or national TV advertisement than one for separate markets.

But soon we'll know if the realiity adds up to the hype of their enticing ads. Kohl's plans to open its first SoFla in April at the southwest corner of Congress Avenue and Gateway. That's the Catalina Centre, where the old Target store was located. The location is ironic because Kohl's is more like Target than Wal-Mart. For a look at what the store carries, see www.kohls.com..

Have any of you shopped at Kohl's? What should we expect. Please tell.

X0XO -- Shopper Girl

P.S. Here an example of what to expect form the Website -- a Splice Purple dress on sale for $34.99.

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Nancy Corzine, the Los Angeles designer that clients love for her sophisticated style with touches of Hollywood Glam, is opening her first retail location in Palm Beach on Nov. 23. I can't wait, even though most of the stuff is way out of my price range.

Why PB?

She says she has traveled to Palm Beach several times over the past few years and fell in love with its glamour, elegance and old world charm.

If you're a Corzine fan, this is the place to buy her furniture and lighting designs, beaded pillows, silver, crystal and antiques and collectibles. Prices range from $35 to more than $50,000.

Can'tt afford anything else? You may be able to spring $35 for a candle from her new collection.

But, if the hype is right, it will be more than a store. It will feature seasonal trunk shows and exhibitions of photography, illustrations, fine jewelry and rare collectibles.

The store is located ay 375 South County Road, between Chilean and Peruvian Avenues. The 2,000-square-foot space formerly was used by designer Lars Bolander. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. -- C.V.S.

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Fans of Sur La Table will have to wait even longer for their fave culinary store to open.

The company's public relations machine has informed us that the new store, scheduled to open Nov. 15, will now open Nov. 30.

Sur La Table is known for a good selection of tabletop, decorations, small appliances and cookware. It also offers demonstrations by nationally known cookbooks authors.

The store, located at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, is located at 301 SW 145th Terrace in Pembroke Pines. Hours will be 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

C.V.S.

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I've been a fan of Sur La Table since I discovered it at the Pike's Place Market location in Seattle. Well, I was a food editor in those days (the foodie 80s) and went crazy over all the offerings. (Remember the scene from Sleepless in Seattle when Tom Hanks was walking down the hill to the market? That's near my first Sur la Table experience.)

I can't say the experience was orgasmic (Can I? Sure I can. This is a blog after all.) But it was mind-blowing -- great service and the merchandise made me want to ship half the store home.

You find everything you need to cook, including small appliances, and great stuff to make your table look fab. Check out some of the holiday stuff like the turkey platter ($39.95), serving bowl ($24.95), gravy boat ($19.95) and blown glass pumpkin placecard holders (4 for $19.95). See more at www.surlatable.com.

Fans have been waiting for the announced Oct. 31 opening of a branch in Pembroke PInes because the closest store was about 50 miles away for the Broward folks at Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens. Then it was supposed to open Nov. 7.

Well, the PR folks tell us the opening has been delayed again. But you can get your fix on Nov. 15 when the second Florida store opens at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, 301 SW 145th Terrace. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

We'll keep you posted. -- C.V.S.

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