The weekend, succinctly

The weekend was all about cutting back and cost-savings, both for the immediate-term and long-term. It included an attempt to have a stoop/sidewalk sale which washed out after the first hour because of a heavy storm. I made a whopping $4.50. Rather than go through all that work of setting up again if it cleared up, The Fella and I decided to donate to Goodwill whatever we couldn't sell/trade to used clothing and DVD stores in the neighborhood, or on Craigslist/eBay. It ended up being a very resourceful day despite the initial setback – probably more profitable than holding a garage sale – we'll get tax deductions for the donations, plus I made out with a very on-trend, leopard-print blazer by trade!

We recently received coupons for $5 off $15 purchases at ALDI supermarkets, which are said to be beyond cheap. That makes me ask the question, WHY, AND WHAT'S WRONG?? But, we decided to give it a chance on a small, fairly basic grocery list this week. True to my expectations, ALDI is incredulously cheaper than even my local Jewel supermarket, and is just fine for buying non-produce items, so we'll be back again. It's a small store with only the basics and they mostly carry only generic brands. If you're looking for anything more exotic than a staple, like shallots or fresh Parmesan cheese, you'd better look next door to funky Trader Joe's, another grocery store we had also never checked out until this weekend. They have almond butter!

With all this money-saving, we didn't feel guilty about ordering Chinese/Japanese take-out, while jumping on an *incredible* travel deal and negotiating additional cost savings for our vacation in January (the whereabouts to remain a secret until then!)...

... or indulging in a friend's 30th birthday party on a trolley that zipped us through the city for three hours, making pit stops at random bars along the way...

{ head to toe, White House/Black Market leopard-print blazer, Uniqlo layering top,
black miniskirt handed down from my aunt, camel-colored suede booties from Modcloth.com }

{ The Fella and I, enjoying a wild trolley ride around Chicago }

{ the view from the trolley window as we head down
Milwaukee Ave. to Salud Tequila Lounge }

And a classic finish to the weekend... discovered Sunday night that my car's front windshield was smashed in a seemingly random attack, and now we're going to be out several hundred bucks. Good thing we found some money-saving techniques this weekend.