What’s the only thing better than bringing the family to the Chicago area?  Taking the clan to a hotel in Chicago with an indoor waterpark!  Not only do the kids have a blast, but you don’t have to worry about driving to expensive amusement parks.

Look forward to an experience your family will never forget.  Make it an affordable one, too, by booking through Orbitz!  Get the guaranteed lowest rate on your stay and take an additional 10% off with Orbitz coupons.

Holiday Inn Elmhurst

• Mayan Adventure Indoor Water Park, Chicagoland’s first
• 24,000 square feet of fun with a huge tube slide, pool, lazy river & more
• 300-gallon dumping bucket next to the wacky jungle gym
• Spacious rooms with premium cable TV, coffeemaker, microwave & fridge

Sheraton Chicago Northwest Arlington Heights

• Coco Key Water Resort, a 65,000 square-foot facility
• 2 body slides, a 2-person raft slide & an adventure river
• Island with interactive play for the kids, plus a 300-gallon dumping bucket
• Spa for the adults with full treatment packages available

Tell Me What’s Going On

The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie at the Art Institute of Chicago (Now Until May 24th)

Take the kids to see a collection of works from one of the most prolific and successful children’s illustrators of the past century.  Bill Peet worked for 27 years as Disney’s lead animator before crafting books to entertain and educate children across the world.

For more literature aimed at brightening young minds, check out Scholastic.  Find books for newborns all the way up to tweens.  Get 30% off orders of $50 or more with Scholastic coupons!

Do you have a good-luck charm?

A guy I used to date had a horseshoe nailed to the roof of his patio. Looks like it didn’t work when I left him. For a full week, I carried around a fake rabbit’s paw on a keychain. But then I stopped because my cat freaked out. As you can see, I’m not crazy about good-luck charms – we all make our own fate.

Thankfully, you won’t have to rely on Lady Luck or a superstitious blow on the dice to score huge savings on cool spring and summer clothing! Redeem the free Lucky Brand Jeans coupons for 30% off your order valid today through April 5!

Get Inked! Your Mama Won’t Mind!

The Rhyme: Women’s Inked Triangle Top

The Reason: When you have this swim top, you won’t be sneaking off to any tattoo parlors! You’ll want to hit the beach during those beautiful days filled with sunshine. This one has a pretty-pink design and removable halter cups.

Show That You’re B-b-bad to the Bone!

The Rhyme: Men’s Rock Graveyard T-Shirt

The Reason: Rattle some bones when you’re wearing this hardcore tee that screams rebellion at the top of its lungs! Red text pops against the black background, and a graphic of a grim reaper smiles back at you. Sweet!

Whether your wardrobe is filled with pastels and florals or skulls and chains, you’ll find something that fits into your singular style when you shop at Lucky Brand Jeans today!

So, it’s not just the pretty people and hot gossip that keep people coming back to the hippest area code on TV. I’ve been sucked into a few episodes of 90210 myself, both old and new, and I’m amazed at what style this crew has.

In one episode Erin Silver (played by Jessica Stroup) is seen on the beach sporting a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in Camo. Why is this utmost cool? For two reasons:

1. These glasses were chic in the 80s, close to when the original 90210 aired (coincidence?)
2. You can use Sunglass Hut coupons for Free Shipping on your very own pair

Ray-Ban has brought back those classic Wayfarers that took the world by storm. And if Camo doesn’t match your shoes, there are a ton of other colors to choose from including Yellow, Green, Red or Tortoise.

It’s a beautiful moment when two decades collide to bring back much-loved lost styles like these glasses. And if your life gets as chaotic as the characters on 90210, all you have to do is take out your new Ray-Ban Wayfarers from Sunglass Hut and block it all out.

I’m a strong believer in the power of retail therapy. For a long time, buying Coach purses was how I got my fix. But in this economic climate, it’s no longer plausible for me to drop that kind of dough. So I needed to find another avenue that would give me the same sort of high, but for a fraction of the price.

Watch out, nails, because you’re totally getting polished! I’m not hitting up the local salon anytime soon. It’s DIY or die for me! Besides, with the cost of a professional manicure you could buy several brand-new full-sized bottles that will last you for years.

But some of the colors coveted by the hardcore nailphiles can be next to impossible to find or can even cost $30 and upwards! Yikes! That’s not very frugal. You know what is? Researching how to make finger nail polish. Here are some of my ideas for how you can get the colors you crave without the financial frustration.

Mix & Mingle: How to Make Nail Polish

How many times have you been deceived by the bottle color? It looked opaque in the store, but on your nails it’s still sheer even with 5 coats! Don’t toss it. Learn how to make finger nail polish that you’ll love!

By mixing in one or more of your other polishes, you can completely transform it into a color that you’ll actually enjoy wearing. Plus, no one else will have exactly the same shade. (Since I loved all the mushroomy and greyish purples from the fall, I’m trying to make my own version of Sephora by OPI Metro Chic and OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?.)

Some suggestions for frugally frankening nail polish:

• Reusable Artist Palettes - Use them to mix a small portion before you go full throttle. This will also save you money because you won’t have to keep buying & disposing of paper trays.
• Cosmetic-Grade Glitters & Pigment Powders - Add extra oomph to the final formula & make your very own version of Essie Starry Starry Night.
• Dollar Store Polishes - They’re super cheap & you’ll find a wide variety. They’re ideal for frankening experiments because you can buy in bulk without feeling guilty!
• Food Coloring - Create pastel hues by adding a few drops. A pack of the primary colors red, blue & yellow can cost less than $8! (Just remember to wear a good base coat so it won’t stain your nails.)

That’s all for now. Stay tuned tomorrow when I talk about finding cheaper alternatives for highly-sought-after colors like NARS Zulu!

(Click here to see Part Two!)