Pink Tartan sample sale - Nov. 25 and 26

What?
Pink Tartan sample sale
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation

When?
• Nov. 25: 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Nov. 26: 12 noon-8 p.m.

Where?
27 Bathurst St. (map)
Toronto, ON

If you go, leave a comment and let us know what you find.

Holiday bargains for kids and babies

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny continues sharing her holiday shopping experiences...

This past weekend I officially started my Christmas shopping. A bit late, I know – many of the more organized moms I know (including my own) set and meet a goal of being finished by Dec. 1st. Most of these high-achievers are already wrapping up their shopping (pun intended).

I’m not nearly so motivated. Although I do have a detailed list with ideas and inspirations for each person, my actual shopping usually requires a trigger of some kind. Sometimes it’s an upcoming event at which gifts are required, and sometimes it’s sheer panic as the calendar flips over to December!

Whatever the trigger, my first stop for holiday shopping is almost always the William Ashley warehouse sale. Held annually, the sale features bargains of up to 90% off on much more than the expected china, silverware, jewelry and glassware. In addition to bath items, chocolates, gift wrap, holiday décor, and more, there’s a decent-sized toy section offering discounts on name-brand items – everything from Kushies sleepers and clothes for babies, to Gund stuffed animals, to a variety of Hannah Montana gear for pre-teens.

This year I picked up a number of items and managed to finish off about half of my list in one single, 2-hour visit. I’d love to divulge the bargains I scooped up… But my family reads this blog, so I’m going to refrain in order to avoid spoiling anyone’s Christmas surprise!

Friends of mine swear by the Samko & Miko Toy Warehouse this time of year. The toy distributor features bargains of up to 90% off name-brand toys, and there are multiple locations. I have to confess though, that reports of mile-long checkout lines even in the middle of the day have kept me away. If you go, or have gone in the past, please tell us about it in the comments!

If bargains aren’t your primary motivator and you’re more interested in finding something really distinctive for the little one(s) in your life, you can’t do better than the One of a Kind show and sale. You have to buy tickets (which allow reentry), but the amazing number of truly unique items crafted by artisans is unparalleled. You’ll be sure to find something for even the kid who has everything.

Do you have a go-to for your holiday toy shopping? Tell us about it in the comments!

The cheapest toys are the best

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny shares her thoughts about kids toys...

I was thrilled to learn recently about the newest entry into the American National Toy Hall of Fame: the stick.

“Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child's creativity. ‘It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price – there aren't any rules or instructions for its use,’ said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections.”

This is quite a contrast from the latest toys and gadgets for kids that are being advertised for Christmas… such as Kota the Triceratops, a “life-size” baby dinosaur that “comes to life with realistic electronic sounds and motion” available now for only $299!

As a cheapskate parent, I find this news very reassuring. Sure, I’d love to have the disposable income to shell out for Kota – and don’t tell my 4-year-old that such a thing exists or I will never hear the end of the plaintive pleading! – but I know in my heart that my little girl will have more fun and make greater leaps developmentally by using her imagination to turn a cardboard box into a fort, a string into a lasso, a coffee filter into a crown, and a stick into a sword.

But of course, my kid will not find a stick in her stocking this Christmas! More on bargain shopping for quality holiday gifts next week…

The Bargains Group 2008 warehouse sale

What?
The Bargains Group Friends and Family Warehouse Sale - Don’t miss this annual blowout! It’s a good old-fashioned warehouse sale with savings up to 80% off retail prices.

Bring the coupon above and you’ll save an additional $5 off purchases over $50 (excluding tax).
Ask for your free “Bargainista Fashion Gift.” (I’m not sure what it is but I’m told it has a $28 retail value.)

The Bargains Group is only open to the public once a year. Need to stock up on basics? Buying items to donate to charities over the holidays? If you’re a true bargain hunter, this is one sale you won’t want to miss!

When?
Weekends starting Nov. 14 thru Dec. 24
• Fridays: 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturdays: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Sundays: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where?
The Bargains Group (see map)
890 Caledonia Rd.
Toronto, ON
(south of Lawrence, betw. Keele and Dufferin)

If you go, leave a comment and let us know what you find.

Note: The owner is a friend of mine.

Tags: The Bargains Group, great deals, stocking stuffers, warehouse sales