Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 5: grandma

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

Here’s the run down of gifts for grandma:

Online
What: The First Snow Gift Box ($34.95)
Where: LUSH.ca
Cost: $39.49 ($34.95 First Snow gift box + taxes; found promotion code for free shipping)

In Store:
What: “Sweet Pea” Gift Basket ($34.95) and
What: Bath & Body Works, Yorkdale
Cost: $29.66 ($34.95 “Sweet Pea” Gift Basket @25% off in-store promotion+ taxes)

Outcome:
I arrived home from a meeting on Dec. 16 to find an attempted delivery notice from Canada Post notifying me about a package available for pick up the next day. The package was from LUSH and required a signature (I asked why some packages were left at my doorstep but not this one.)

Sure enough, when I opened the box, a lovely wrapped gift just like the one on the website appeared inside. Although it would have been nice to check that what I thought I was ordering was in the box, it was convenient to have it nicely wrapped with a pretty bow and gift tag. They also surprised me with two samples of hand-cut soap. I really liked how LUSH added a “Holiday” tab to their website with lots of great gift ideas, including a page for people who want to give holiday gifts but not necessarily for Christmas.

Had I ordered $100 or more, I could have used an advertised promo code for free shipping and guaranteed two-day shipping. Instead, I Googled “lush promo” and found a code for free shipping that still works.

LUSH doesn’t have a store at Yorkdale. I considered The Body Shop and Aveda but when I passed by Bath & Body Works, I saw a big 25% off sale sign caught my eye.
I’m less familiar with Bath & Body Works but they had a whole bunch of gift baskets displayed at the entrance, I figured I couldn’t lose. They had a whole bunch of large baskets, including a small picture frame, regularly priced for the same amount as the gift box from LUSH, minus 25%. Wow! The only thing I didn’t like was that the baskets weren’t wrapped. I would have preferred them with cellophane.

Donated to: Red Door Family Shelter, Dec. 22

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 3: dad and teen
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 4: young girl
  

ChickAdvisor Recessionista ShopCrawl

ChickAdvisor is having another exclusive Shop Crawl with a twist... this time around it’s moving uptown to Yorkville.

The ChickAdvisor team has a great evening planned with discounts of up to 25% off at several stores, goody bags and even an after party where you can win great prizes. More details to follow.

Did you go any other ChickAdvisor Shop Crawls? If so, what did you think. Will you go again? Leave a comment.

What?
ChickAdvisor Recessionista Shop Crawl: Bloor/Yorkville
• Guided shopping with a group, or shop at your own pace
• Discounts of up to 25% off at participating boutiques
• Over $100 worth of free swag (each)
• A private after party with a cocktail and snacks at Flow restaurant after the shopping
• A chance to win some awesome prizes including a fashion walk-off for the best outfit purchased that night
• Complimentary makeovers from our expert, Joy David-Tilberg will be available

Where?
Bloor/Yorkville (Toronto) shops including:
• The Body Shop - In addition to providing discounts in store, The Body Shop is giving each of you two full sized products from their Moroccan Rose line.
• Roots and Diesel - 25% off regular priced items and 10% off sale items
• The Stillwater Spa Boutique - 20% off all products they carry in the boutique & each of you will get a $25 gift certificate towards services in the Spa! Brands carried in the boutique include Dermalogica, Kerastase, Babor, Jane Iredale, Pharmacopi and more.
• Over the Rainbow and eleven Boutique - 20% off
• Nine West - No tax on all purchases; get a free Nine West tote worth $25 just for visiting in store
• Calvin Klein Underwear - 25% off regular priced jewelry, watches, sunglasses and hosiery and an additional 25% off sale items
• Banana Republic and The Gap - 25% off regular merchandise
• Capezio - 20% off all regular priced merchandise

When?
Thursday, June 18: 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
plus admission to the after-party at Flow

How much?
Tickets $25 in advance
Buy now!