Top 5 Sites for online shopping for high quality brand name sneakers for boys

"You get what you pay for" is a phrase that never seems to go out of style. Sometimes, when hunting for a huge bargain, we end up receiving a cheaply made, low quality product that does not last. Often times, paying a little extra allows you to be provided with a product that can last much longer than the cheaper one. Nevertheless, you really score a great deal when you get that higher quality product at a much lower cost than typical. I like the stylish features and durability of shoes that are very well made. When online shopping for shoes for my sons, I have learned to weed out the sites that will not typically offer me the best deals and go straight to the ones that will. In no particular order (I have not ranked them), here are my top 5 sites for online shopping for high quality brand name shoes for boys.: 1. nordstrom.com

We shouldn't underestimate the value we can get in occasionally taking a look at the clearance prices at retailers we might typically think of as being less affordable than most. On several occasions, I have found some really great deals at Nordstrom.com. I considered these little kid boys sneakers from Nike to be a fabulous find. I like the brilliant colors of blue, yellow and black in this trendy combination. I purchased them a few months ago for $29 including tax and shipping. Nordstrom.com is one of the online retailers that offers free shipping on every purchase. 2. nordstromrack.com Considered to provide outlet items from Nordstrom at accompanying prices, Nordstrom Rack might be lesser known to many. I just found out about it and started purchasing from Nordstrom Rack myself not too long ago, maybe 4 months ago. If I had seen information about it prior to that, I did not pay it much attention and it is not memorable but now Nordstrom Rack has my attention and I will be shopping there again in the future. There I purchased Rebook little boys sneakers for only $16.97 in a blue color similar to the Nike sneaker above. The color combo is blue and orange (with orange detail and orange shoe lacings) as opposed to blue, yellow and black. They are bright but not too loud and have some suede as well. The music lyrics "Don't you step on my blue suede shoes" come to mind often when I help my son lace them up. On pitfall that you would need to look out for when shopping with Nordstrom Rack is that you must typically make a $100 purchase in order to qualify for free shipping. If you were to order just that one pair of sneakers like I did at the time, you will have to pay approximately $8.00 for shipping bringing that $16.97 up to $24.97 not including the tax. 3. shoebuy.com Another great online shoe dealer that offers lots of coupon incentives for purchasing nice, trendy shoes for the whole family. I have only shopped with them once so far but occasionally visit the site to see what's new and can imagine shopping there again sometime soon. What I purchased at shoebuy.com was a pair of Fila sneakers for little boys. They are navy blue with the white NY Yankees logo on the side. Very cute! Shoebuy.com boasts purchases that are tax free, with free shipping and if needed, free returns as well. I was given a $10 off coupon for shoebuy.com, from a Shutterfly photo printing purchase I had made, so thought I would try it out. Even with the $10 off coupon, this sneaker purchase did take me into the 30 something dollar range. I have since become even more frugal and savvy for a great deal so now, wherever possible I keep children's sneaker purchases UNDER $30 including taxes and shipping. 4. jcpenney.com / jcp.com I found some very durable Fila sneakers for little boys at this site. They are black with red detailing. They look great. They were only $19.99 at the time, advertised to be 60% off original price. This was a very good purchase. I recently revisited the site and this week, these same sneakers are on sale again but they are $24.99 not $19.99 so they are not at the best possible sale price right now. Additionally, with jcpenney, you must typically make at least a $75 purchase to qualify for free shipping. For lower priced purchases, you might be charged around $8.95 for shipping.

5. kohls.com New Balance has been one of my favorite brands for sneakers for years now. New Balance sneakers can often hold up really well for a long time. Found at kohls.com are New Balance sneakers for little boys. The ones I like most are black with the trademark "N" on the side of the sneaker. The "N" is colored yellow. These eyecatching black and yellow sneakers are awesome. Kohls has an offer that is advertised often. You can earn $10 Kohls cash to spend on a future purchase, when you purchase $50 worth of merchandise. On sale, the sneakers are in the 30 something dollar range. I have been seeing these sneakers at kohls.com recently but I actually purchased them at jcp.com if I remember correctly. Right now, they are no longer available at jcp.com. A couple of good additional websites to consider for sneaker shopping are: 6pm.com (outlet pricing) and macys.com (clearance section) I hope you found this helpful. Bye for now.

Rollback at Walmart - Fruit of the Loom t-shirts on sale for just $2.97 each

This past weekend, the family and I went shopping in the Walmart store. I shop Walmart online fairly frequently but in the past 4 weeks, I went to the store in person, twice. One of the good finds this time was a Walmart rollback deal for Fruit of the Loom t-shirts for boys. The already very reasonable low price of $3.47 per t-shirt was reduced to $2.97 per t-shirt! I think that anything under $3.00 is a truly awesome price for a child sized t-shirt. We might often think of Fruit of the Loom for underwear and under shirts only, but these t-shirts are not undergarments. They are good quality t-shirts for wearing in the spring and summer with jeans or shorts. They are available in an array of colors. I snagged a couple of blue ones and was pleased with the purchase. With the sales cycling from Sunday to Saturday, the price of this particular item might possibly go back up by this coming Sunday. I encourage all Moms with active boys to take a look at this deal. When strolling around the Walmart, don't forget to look out for those 'Rollback" signs indicating clearance deals. Where the $2.97 Fruit of the Loom t-shirts were set up, there were other display tables nearby with other t-shirts priced at $6.00 and up, so let's keep a keen eye for the best deals. Until next time...Cheers!

Update and brief review of the movie Belle

I hope everyone is enjoying Happy Holidays. As we are entering 2015, my Movie, Fashion & Music Reviews United blog has stayed dormant for so long. It is my hope to become more consistent with postings in this New Year. So much has happened. I have not one but two wonderful children now! They are sweet and loving two & four year old boys. While very busy with them, I have occasionally tried to post at the other writing platform I use. My profile link is journey.hubpages.com. There, you'll especially find a lot of recipes for food that I cook for my husband and children.

While I still pay attention to the current trends in men and women's fashion and occasionally purchase some nice items for my husband and me, I have become enthusiastic about the adorable fashion finds that are out there for my little boys. I also love a great bargain!

Please follow my blog to learn more as I share information about some of the best sales I have encountered to stretch the clothing budget farther. It feels good to provide the clothing your children need, while finding cutest fashions and saving money.

I've also been watching more movies geared especially toward children as I watch them with my little ones. So, I can only write what I know. It has been a really long time since I've watched any of the current mainstream Hollywood movies so I can't really comment in movie reviews.

Occasionally, I will rent a movie that is not specifically geared to children from the Red Box & watch it after they have gone to bed but there is not much time for that. The common advice given to mothers of infants and toddlers is "sleep when they sleep" and that is so true. I try to get my rest. It is not always easy when we have a lot of important things to get done but in my opinion, it is better to go to sleep instead of staying up to watch the movies or television. Finding extra leisure & entertainment time is not worth sacrificing sleep when you have to wake up early the next morning. I was not always necessarily onboard with such an ideology but I sure am now.

Nevertheless, I will always like the movies, especially the most meaningful ones. The last one that I was actually able to see from the Red Box was based on true history and films like these are of course important to provoke thought,discussion and remembrance more so than the feeling of being entertained. There is merit to the educational element as some viewers of the film surely learn much about historical information that may have once been obscure to them.:

Belle, rated PG, not visually illustrating the violence of slavery but narrating the tragedy of it...

The movie does not have disturbing scenes of violence. It speaks of the blossoming love story between a young Lawyer and a woman who was the niece of the chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the land (Britain in the late 1700s), The niece, Dido Belle, was a biracial woman left in her Uncle's care by her father after her mother died. Her father and uncle were White. Her mother had been a Black slave.

Upon reaching her Uncle's estate, Belle in many ways lived a very privileged & entitled life but it was still made clear to her that the color of her skin would cause her obstacles. The trauma of this made her very disturbed and self deprecating, at times wanting to rub off the color of her skin! She battled between trying to keep her confidence and despising the sight of herself in the mirror.

The penetrating race dynamics were highlighted for example in Belle's relationship with the Caucasian cousin raised alongside her like her sister, who was also left to be raised by her Uncle. Additionally, Belle was not able to eat meals with the family when they had company. She was not encouraged to eat dinner with the hired help such as the cooks OR with her family so for her, this was a time of feeling very alone.

Belle's bond with the young Lawyer began as he was under the tutelage of her Uncle. His passion for true justice caused him to be at odds with her Uncle namely as a verdict was being sought in the case of the Zong massacre. Belle's life of privilege had caused her to be naïve to many of the realities of slavery beyond the walls she lived in but she was deeply affected as she began to learn more. Her love for her mother and her heritage caused her to naturally become passionate about the horrific issue. In the past, before watching this film, I have written some about the Zong here: http://journey.hubpages.com/hub/Slavery-The-Zong-Massacre

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....Additionally....and what do you know, I am admittedly not the huge music fan I once was either. More than mainstream/popular/secular music, I now listen mainly to soothing tunes, gospel music & of course lullabies and nursery rhymes to share with my kids.

As I have settled into motherhood, I feel truly blessed. God is first for me & family is truly second. Spending that time with them & sharing experiences with them is priceless. Naturally therefore, I will be shifting the content of the blog to focus more on things geared toward children because now that is what I know most about in the latest trends.

So, I did not start writing this post intending to announce that my blog will change to a child focused and family oriented blog but inevitably it will. Take good care. Talk to you soon.

2012 Prom Dresses

While writing as Journey * on HubPages for the past 3 years, I have included annual articles regarding prom dresses. They have been opinion pieces on what I have considered to be some of the most beautiful prom dresses available on the market for the respective years.

I recently wrote about the prettiest prom dresses for 2012. Please see the article here.:

http://journey.hubpages.com/hub/Top-Ten-Spring-2012-Prom-Dresses

I hope it is helpful to you if you are getting ready for prom or you are a parent helping your teen to get ready for prom!

Joshua Ledet - American Idol star

Joshua Ledet gave an amazing performance of the song When a Man Loves a Woman on this evening's episode of American Idol. Contestants were asked to perform a song from the year they were born. Joshua, the youngest of 8 children in his family chose to sing Michael Bolton's version of the Percy Sledge original When a Man Loves a Woman. All of the show's judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson agree that Joshua's performance was excellent and should keep him safest from elimination among all the contestants this week! I totally agree.

They also thought Holly Cavanaugh's performance of Celene Dion's The Power of Love was one of this evening's best performances. I agree with that too.

Cheers. Until next time.

Season 10 of American Idol

Season 10 of American Idol is shaping up quite nicely with some truly talented individuals as contestants. Things are also progressing quickly as the first eliminations from the top 13 contestants (10 chosen by the public plus 3 given a "second chance" by the judges, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson) have already occured.

Regardless of how well they can sing, some contestants seem to have more stage presence than others. What they call that star power or It factor. I can definitely picture some of them as becoming more famous celebrities before others. For example, while Jessica Sanchez is a great American Idol singer with an awesome voice in her rendition of Whitney Houston's greatest hit song I Will Always Love You, Colton and Skylar are both examples of contestants with great stage presence. We've got to keep in mind that Jessica is also younger and the more mature contestants seem to have more of a command on stage.

Nevertheless, none should be underestimated. The show has been known to help contestants undergo makeovers in wardrobe, hair and makeup to achieve that superstar appearance:-)

One of the things I have been enjoying on the show is the revival of a lot of great classic and hit songs. We the tv audience are reminded of how wonderful some of these songs are that we haven't heard in such a long time.

We know that Ray Charles' song Georgia as well as many songs by Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston have been highlighted during the competition but one of my favorite songs to hear that I hadn't heard in so long and I started listening to again on YouTube is a song that was played by Colton earlier in the competition.

It is Coldplay's Fix You. Beautiful. Here is the video for you to enjoy.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Handbag

photo credit: ralphlauren.com

As featured in the April 2012 issue of Essence magazine dedicated to the late singer Whitney Houston, there is a pale yellow Ralph Lauren handbag that is absolutely beautiful for spring. I have added it to my fashion wish list.

In anticipation of what it might cost, I played the game of The Price is Right in my head:) before looking the handbag up online. I looked for this specific bag at the Ralph Lauren website but could not find it.

Then I checked back at the ad in the Essence magazine issue and it turns out that it is "premiering" on April 2nd. Let's be on the look out for this beautiful bag!

Meanwhile, pictured above here is a similar bag (not the same) in brown that I found on the website. It retails at over $300 which was not a surprise but while pricey, we know that these fine leather goods can potentially last a lifetime. This bag is the Bermondsey Leather Shopper in Lauren Tan.

Another shout out to Old Navy

photo credit:oldnavy.com
photo credit: oldnavy.com
I also love Old Navy's socks for toddlers. I last had the 8 pack costing $12 which I received as a gift and I liked them so much, I was headed to the website to stock up on some more. At the website, I found an even better deal that I decided to go with. For just $1 for each pair, I got several pairs of both of these super cute socks instead. Eight pairs of these would only be $8 and I don't hesitate to stock up on several pairs of the same socks. In case sides go missing, you always have another!

Best jeans for toddlers

photo credit: oldnavy.com

I am really happy with the Old Navy loose fit toddler jeans for my little one. They are very fashionable. They look so trendy. Baby won't care what he's wearing but he'll always be in style:)

Regular price was $16 a pair. I was excited to recently get them on sale for $10 per pair. I stocked up for sure on sizes 2T and 3T. You can check back with Old Navy periodically to look for this great deal.

$10 was really the lowest price I have ever seen them. They are currently $12 each for 2 pairs or regular price for one pair. Regular price is now up from $16 to $16.94.

Hanes Her Way is on sale at Walgreens

visit walgreens.com for an excellent deal on Hanes underwear for women OR men.

More practical than fashionable perhaps, these are nevertheless an awesome buy and now is a great time to stock up.

3 pack of ladies panties for $7.97. Buy one get one free. That's six panties for $7.97. A great BOGO deal.

Similar deals on boxers for men.

Color for Summer - Todays Fashion Find - Maxstudio Dress

As featured in the June 2011 issue of Marie Claire magazine, this Maxstudio dress, is a brilliant and daring green color, perfectly bold for wearing during the summer months. Of all the items featured in the fashion pages of this June issue of Marie Claire, this piece is my favorite. It is available at maxstudio.com for $128 in other colors including black but the green is my own favorite. Available in sizes S-XL, it is currently sold out but keep checking back if you are interested in this great dress, obviously a popular item. Click on the "long dress" link below to view.

Long Dress

Memorial Day Shopping - Today's Fashion Find (Plus Size)

(photo credit: igigi.com)
I'm greatly impressed by the structure and classy look of the clothing at igigi.com. As many of the users of the site comment, you can find plus size fashion there without compromising style. You can find an unbeatable deal in affordability if you shop the clearance and final sales merchandise. The dress above is one dress that is currently available for just over $30! You must however be a size 22/24 or above. As of today, those are the only sizes left available.
Happy shopping!

American Idol Auditions

Hope you are enjoying a happy new year so far. Blog posts will become more regular than they were in 2010. Here is the post for the day.:

The majority of Americans seem to enjoy the reality talent shows such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and Live to Dance. The latest season of American Idol is off to a great start. Paula Abdul has left the cast of judges to headline her own show, Live to Dance and the newest lineup of American Idol judges include Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Randy has been on the cast since season 1.

Just as the majority of Americans may like the American Idol show, the majority of them may have been touched by 26 year old Chris Medina's story and his audition. He sang beautifully. His song of choice was Break Even by The Script. The popularity of this already popular 2009 song will surely be revived as Chris sings it on television in 2011.

The lyrics of the song are heartbreaking with lines about lack of faith and hope and love lost. Nevertheless, as Chris's own story is featured on the American Idol show, there is video footage of a banner held high on the wall in his home, stating "I believe in miracles" a declaration of faith and hope even during difficult circumstances.

Fashion Find of the Day - Prom Dresses

Edressme (edressme.com) has prom dresses currently up to 90% off. There are some really pretty ones in the collection and most cost about $75. Happy shopping!


Photo credit: edressme.com

Fashion find of the day - Bella's Birthday Dress from Twilight New Moon Movie

I bet you thought this blog was abandoned but I promise it isn't however rare the new posts might become. Here is a fabulous fashion find that I am excited about and thought I would share. We all know about the Twilight phenomenon. This fashion find is inspired by the Twilight New Moon movie. It is a rendition of the dress the character Bella wears at her birthday party. Available at Torrid (torrid.com), the original price is $128 currently on sale for $47.97


Photo credit: torrid.com

In the trailer below, see the dress as featured in the movie. I really like its shimmery olive green color and detail.