Feeling cranky? Maybe you need a good bra fitting. Credit: Jamiesrabbits, Flickr

By Amy L. Hatch

Warning: All you guys out there might want to look away. I’m going to be talking about underwear.

Ladies’ underwear. Specifically, brassieres.

All you women out there know that when you have an undergarment that is too big, too small, too loose or too tight all in the wrong places, it can make you feel a little bit like Dirty Harriet.

Go ahead, punk. Make my day.

I’ve been wandering around Chambana for the last three years wearing bras that do not fit. I bought three of them — white, nude and black — after Henry was born. I was so exhausted then that all I really wanted was something clean. Fit and fancy did not even come into play. I grabbed what I thought was my size, paid and I’ve been wearing them ever since.

Until this month, when every bra I own went haywire. Get it? Haywire? Like underwire?

I wish I was kidding but literally all my bras except for one super-duper uncomfortable one I bought at Target popped their underwires. Into the trash they went.

I’ve been meaning to make a stop at Confidentially Yours forever, but I don’t get up that way very often. The store, in the Round Barn Centre is waaaaaay across town from me, but recently I was up in that neck of the woods for a meeting.

I walked into the shop and I swear, I heard a choir of angels.

There was no blaring music, no distracting and nonsensical display of lotions and cosmetics, no underpants with questionable slogans emblazoned across the rear.

There was a lovely woman behind a counter named Allyssa who asked if she could help me, and then gently led me into a changing room to measure me.

And lo and behold, I have been wearing the wrong size bra.

This is not very shocking and, frankly, I’m sure I’m not alone. Lots of women just keep wearing the same size bra they always wore, but a couple of kids and some milestone birthdays can change a person’s … ahem … physique.

I didn’t have to hunt around for my size (incidentally, the most popular size, look at me I’m popular!), because Allyssa found a whole bunch for me. And she didn’t choose just the most expensive ones — she even plucked several from the extremely well-organized sales rack.

Heh, I said rack.

Anyway, the experience at Confidentially Yours could not have been better. From the merchandise to the sales person to the atmosphere, I can’t recommend this shop enough.

Now, before you go visit and then come back to yell at me, the bras at Confidentially Yours do not have Target prices. But if you think about how often you wear these items (um, every day, I hope) and the number of years you expect them to last, the math will make sense.

And, as I said, the sales rack was well stocked and extremely reasonable, with prices lower than a certain mall lingerie retailer.

The store also does a lot of work with breast-cancer survivors, and in fact Allyssa told me that many women mistakenly believe the shop only caters to that customer base.

That isn’t the case at all, and in fact if you have a teen-age daughter I would highly recommend Confidentially Yours for a bra-buying experience. The store also offers nursing bras and clothing.

Confidentially Yours is definitely a best-kept secret, and I’m so happy to spill the beans.

Full disclosure: Confidentially Yours is not a chambanamoms sponsor, but I really, really enjoyed my experience there. These opinions are all mine!

Related posts:

1. Best Kept Secret: Miniature Shopping Carts
2. Best-Kept Secret: Columbia Street Roastery
3. Best-Kept Secret: Philo Tavern

Editor’s note: We are proud to have Champaign Surplus as a chambanamoms.com sponsor. Need a last-minute gift? Champaign Surplus is the place to head this week, with gifts available for the whole family. 

Meet Shira Epstein, the third generation co-owner of Champaign Surplus, the area’s top destination for outdoor clothing and gear. Although she recently returned to town to join the family business, Shira is no stranger to entrepreneurship, having built up her own graphic design business over the past decade. In addition to her business acumen, Shira also inherited from her parents a true passion for the outdoors and nature, and in her spare time she loves to backpack and hike. Shira and her husband Dan are the parents of baby Jacob, who turns 1 next month. 

See why we think Shira Epstein is a mompreneur to know — and don’t miss out on this special Champaign Surplus coupon for chambanamoms.com readers!

Champaign Surplus co-owner Shira Epstein hiking with her son, Jacob, on the Appalachian Trail this summer. Photo provided

Q: What is a typical day like for you?
Totally crazy and much too short, of course — just like for every other working mom out there! But to be more serious, I am quite fortunate to be able to arrange my schedule so that I’m at Champaign Surplus working on the business 3-4 days a week, and at home with my little guy the other days. Not that my Champaign Surplus brain and world ever turns off! Just like with any entrepreneurial enterprise, there’s always a business trip, vendor order deadline, marketing item, staffing need or other To-Do that needs to be addressed and spills over into evenings and weekends. It can be challenging, since the juggling means I cant do everything to the full level I’d like to. But all in all, I’m lucky to be able to have the best of both worlds.

Q: Your son Jacob is not yet a year old. How has he influenced how you view the store and its future?
Entirely! Though Jacob was just a hopeful thought at the time, starting and raising a family in Champaign-Urbana was definitely one of the reasons my husband Dan and I made the move back to buy the business in 2010. As a mother now, I do find myself increasingly nostalgic about the family-owned, multi-generational enterprise. I loved growing up in this community, and being a child of the store — and I hope my son will feel the same way. My brother and I spent lots of time here as kids, playing in the warehouse or under my dad or grandpa’s desks. When we were on break from school, I’d sometimes stand behind the front counter with our longtime managers Theo and Patricia and put customer purchases in bags or help count the year-end inventory. I doubt I was much actual help — but it definitely made me feel special and part of the family business! I then worked at the store throughout high school and over summers during college. But what’s been especially nice through the three generations of Champaign Surplus is that there’s never been pressure on the next generation to have to continue the business. My grandparents truly viewed the store as a means to provide for the family and enable their four children to pursue an education in anything they wanted. My parents were exactly the same way. While I knew they’d love for me or my brother to come into the business, they always encouraged our own career interests. I want it to be the same for my kids… that Champaign Surplus is a very special part of their lives which provides for them financially, as a backdrop for fond experiences and life lessons, and allows them to pursue their dreams. Of course if they then end up wanting to become ‘Generation 4′, that would be wonderful, as well.

Q: Did you ever imagine you would come home to Champaign to run the family business?
I didn’t, actually. I was one of those lucky people who was entirely happy with what they chose to get their degree in, and absolutely loved my career as a Graphic Designer in Chicago. In fact, most of our family and friends assumed that it would be my brother Jonathan, who studied Wildlands Management and Long Range Planning and is a City Planner in Lakewood, Colo. But the store was a constant and appealing option in the background for me. After 15+ years of being what I call “creative on-demand” for my clients, I was getting a bit burned out and started to think a career change might be a treat. And as my parents started to consider their exit plans for retirement, it was very difficult to think of Champaign Surplus ceasing to exist. When I met Dan, who shared both my passion for the outdoors (and outdoor gear we sell at the store) and the desire to be entrepreneurial and work for ourselves, and when our two skill sets were the right combo for the business, it all just seemed to align perfectly.

Q: What are the challenges — and rewards — of working with your mom, dad and husband?
There are some challenges, of course. We each have very different work styles and have had to find ways to make that work for everyone. I think the biggest challenge may be that even when you are at home you never entirely stop talking about work. But the rewards are much more prevalent. Neither my grandparents nor my parents had any trouble working together. Dan and I talked at great length before we made the decision to purchase the business about the dynamics and whether we thought it would work. And it does! It’s been nice learning the ins and outs of how the business has run from my parents, and then to be able to bring our fresh perspectives to complement and build on that amazing 60-year foundation. I think what is the most special and rewarding about this latest generational transition is that each of the four of us have a totally different skill set that meets an important need for the store.

Q: You have owned your own graphic design business for many years. How have you merged that passion with your current role?
In lots of ways. Dan jokingly calls me the Marketing & Design Department. But, it’s pretty much true — and I love putting my design and marketing strategy skills to use for the store. When we first arrived, I designed our new logo and updated branding for the store, and started to apply it to our public-facing efforts like the launch of our new eCommerce website in July 2010, new building awnings and paper shopping bags. Basically, I handle all our many ongoing design and marketing efforts, including the website, all of our advertising, customer communications and mailings, in-store signage… you name it. I also continue to work on projects for Trillium Creative clients, which I very much enjoy.

Q: Do you have any advice for other women/moms who want to their own businesses?
One very important key is that you have to love what you do. If you’re not passionate about the business you’re starting, it will be impossible to get potential customers and vendors excited about what you are doing, or to keep the fire in your belly when tough challenges arise, hours are long or you’re having to sacrifice time with your family. I’ve been super lucky in that I absolutely loved running my graphic design firm and I love this new adventure of running Champaign Surplus. Another piece of advice is to be realistic and really do your research in advance. As a graphic designer, I worked with many start-up entrepreneurs over the years that came to me for their branding, all excited about their new business idea. I was amazed at how many of them hadn’t adequately researched their industry or competitive landscape, completed a proper business plan, or defined clear goals. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities and be passionate enough about the endeavor to not be entirely risk-adverse. But you also have to come from an informed place.

Q: What have been big sellers this holiday season – and do you have any recs for last-minute shoppers?
The major standout category for us this holiday season has been everything outerwear. Specifically jackets and coats from The North Face and anything featuring Columbia’s Omni-Heat technology. We were also excited to bring back a Kids’ outerwear selection this year. It has garnered a great response, so we’ll be able to continue and expand the Kids’ offerings next year.

Did you see the special Champaign Surplus coupon for chambanamoms.com readers? Check it out!

Related posts:

1. Shop Local — for Kids — at Champaign Surplus
2. Giveaway: Meet the Mompreneur Behind Village Wardrobe
3. Meet the Mompreneur: One Week Boutique’s Donna Pepper

Photo from Ten Thousand Villages

Last year, I wrote about how to choose teacher gifts. This year I have a slightly different perspective on the issue, as 1) I’m a teacher again, and 2) I work for a store with perhaps the best selection of teacher gifts in town.

Let me tell you a little bit about that store: Ten Thousand Villages (105 N Walnut, Champaign) is a non-profit, fair trade retailer. This means that we sell products created by people who live in developing countries and would otherwise have no means of life-sustaining income. They tell us what they need to earn to afford life’s necessities, and that’s what they get paid.

Most Ten Thousand Villages employees are actually volunteers. I am one of the paid staff members; my official title is Education Coordinator. My job involves, among other things, giving talks in the community about fair trade to groups that requests them.

And, oh, how I love my job. I can honestly say I would do it for free, because I have. I started at Ten Thousand Villages as a volunteer in the winter of 2009.

Now, without further ado, here is my top-five list of fair trade gifts that I, as a teacher, would love to receive (although, CMS girls, if you’re reading this, buy me nothing!!! Getting to be your teacher has been my gift).

#5: Painted Kisii Stone Hearts (Kenya), $5.00

These are gorgeous, and in high demand. A few of them make a pretty little grouping, but one by itself would be a great paperweight for teacher’s desk.

If we happen to sell out, a good alternative is one of our carved kisii stone paperweights. Though not colorful, they are etched with single-word inspirations such as “HOPE” and “LOVE.” (Oh, the fun I have when we’re sold out of one of them, saying in dramatic fashion, “We have no ‘HOPE,’ left! Is there no more ‘HOPE’ in this world???”)

#4 Any ornament (various countries, approx. $4 to $20)

Our ornaments are silly, sweet, whimsical, and beautiful. As I pointed out in the teacher gifts article, some teachers love getting ornaments as gifts, while others may feel that their trees are getting a bit too full. Two things make Ten Thousand Villages ornaments, in my opinion, good gifts for all: first, our ornaments often have fun stories behind their designs–and if they don’t, any teacher will appreciate the stories of the artisans who made them (ask for the sales clerk to print a copy of the information page accompanying your gift if you’d like this). Also, many of our ornaments are suitable for year-round decorating.

My two current favorites: cat-on-a-moped, and yoga giraffe.

#3: Multicolored Star Valance (Bangladesh), $8.00

This pretty doorway-sized valance of dangling stars would be a cheery addition to any classroom. We also offer a garland of multicolored stars, as well as red, gold, and silver star garlands.

#2: African Wisdom Desk

Calendar (Kenya), $12

We have three different versions of these page-a-day, reusable calendars. Each page displays a different African saying or proverb. All are thought-provoking, and many of them have a cheeky quality that my teacher friend Marla especially enjoys.

#1: A Ten Thousand Villages Gift Card

I highly recommend gifting teachers with these so that they can come into our store and fall in love, as I once did. Close runner-up: something from our sumptuous selection of fair-trade coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Rachael McMillan recently took part-time job number 5,482: teaching sixth- and seventh-grade history at Campus Middle School for girls. She also tutors at The Reading Group and serves as the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in downtown Champaign. She is totally in love with her Chambana life, which she shares with husband Scott, kindergartner Kate, and first-grader Jack.

Related posts:

1. Giving The Best Teacher Gift–EVER!
2. Top Five: Last-Minute Holiday Gifts
3. Raising a Little Mozart: Musings of a Passionate Piano Teacher

This year, Chanukah — the Jewish holiday that celebrates a historical military victory over intolerance — falls right over Christmas. The first night is Tuesday, Dec. 20.

We've got the lowdown on where to buy supplies for your Chanukah celebrations. Chambanamoms photo

Chanukah lasts for eight days and nights. It has plenty of customs and ritual, including the lighting of a nine-branch candelabra (Hanukkiah, commonly known as a menorah). There are traditional foods, games, and decorations. I’ll be writing more about Chanukah very soon.

In the meantime, if you are looking to buy Chanukah-related merchandise for your family or for a friend, here are some suggestions for how to do so in Champaign-Urbana:

1. Shop at the Sinai Temple Gift Shop Chanukah Showcase. This is without a doubt the BEST place in Champaign-Urbana to find merchandise related to Chanukah – candles, menorahs, dreidels (spinning tops), gelt (chocolate coins) and so much more — books, crafts, gifts, decorations, etc. Open on Wednesday from 4 t 7 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; the shop will be open next week as well. Sinai Temple is located near the corner of Windsor and Duncan Roads in Southwest Champaign.

2. I was blown away by the Chanukah selection at Target this year. They even have stuff in the dollar section of the store. It was actually a little unnerving! Some crafts, dinnerware, decor, wrapping paper and more.

3. International Galleries at Urbana’s Lincoln Square Mall has a modest selection of candles, menorahs, gift wrap and more. You can also find gelt and a few items for kids at Art Mart a few doors down.

Where have you found Chanukah merchandise?  

Related posts:

1. Being a Jew in C-U: What You Need to Know about Chanukah
2. Shop Local — for Kids — at Champaign Surplus
3. Top Five: Ways to Shop Local – For a Cause

I don’t remember the first album that I bought. Talking to my friends, this puts me squarely in the minority, as the purchase of one’s first very own vinyl was, for our generation, something of a landmark occasion. My purchase would have been around 1978, so it was likely “Sesame Street Fever” or “Grease,” or some awful K-Tel disco compilation that my rock and jazz-loving parents would never have otherwise allowed in the house. (I was 8, folks, cut me some slack).

And at the time, there were plenty of places locally to buy from. Champaign-Urbana was full of record stores, among them, Musicland at the mall, Record Service at both Lincoln Square and on Green Street, right in the heart of Campustown, and then, across the street, on the second floor above Murphy’s, there was the record store that was also a local cultural phenomenon: Record Swap.

The Record Swap was a mecca for local music lovers of the '80s and '90s. Credit: Record Swap

The very climb up the stairs to Record Swap told you just about everything you needed to know about how vibrant the independent music scene in C-U was in the ’80s and ’90s. Plastered over the graffiti covered walls were the posters for upcoming rock shows featuring Black Flag, American Music Club, Didjits, Dead Kennedys and Smashing Pumpkins. There were flyers looking for drummers, guitarists, lead vocalists to start a garage band in the hopes of being able to put up some of their own show posters.

And once you got to the top, neatly organized rows of albums, each with their own uber-cool hand-drawn tab. A 99-cent bin. Used records. Local music section. Rare imports. Independent and underground movies on VHS. Posters covering the walls featuring The Clash, Tom Waits, Bauhaus. T-Shirts. Buttons. Two resident cats, Marley and Phaser.

The employee likely to be working the front was Charlie the Quaker. Charlie was an enthusiastic fan of underground music, and played his favorites on the local radio show “The Quaker Goes Deaf” on the community radio station WEFT. He and owner Bob Diener, who was more the reggae-and-world-music fan, lovingly placed stickers on the sleeves of the records gracing Record Swap’s shelves: “Like Ministry? Try Manufacture,” so that ordinary everyday people, like yours truly, might be able to get a leg up on discovering great new music. They were our Pandora.

The music that you could find at Record Swap was new, even if it was old. Formative. “The Swap” provided a culture that encouraged you to find interesting stuff. And it was addictive. It had teenage boys riding their skateboards all the way from the Cherry Hills neighborhood to discover bands like Nick Cave and Scratch Acid.And have their musical horizons expanded. Carrying home plastic handled bags with the SKA-inspired logo of Record Swap showed that you were definitively and utterly cool.

Diener moved Record Swap in 1999 from Green Street to its new location at 114 E. University in Champaign. Its appearance is recognizable to those of us who grew up visiting that upstairs room, but the music culture has significantly changed, both in C-U and worldwide. And as a result, Record Swap is not the cultural mecca that it once was. But it has stood the test of time that all of the other area record stores have succumbed to.

From the street, its storefront might appear as an anachronistic curiosity to non-townies. Vinyl is just not the medium that we think of anymore when we are curious about finding new music. We can download nearly anything we want to our iPods; plug a few favorites into Pandora to automatically churn out some fresh stuff; keep it in the background as we go about our lives. It’s hardly the same as buying a new, exciting record and listening to it over and over until you can scrape up the money to buy another.

I’ll leave it to you to decide which avenue is superior. But luckily, Record Swap is still around so that we may have both.

Diener shared some words of wisdom with me recently during “Shop Local Saturday.” This same man who helped provide a musical education to so many youngsters in C-U, myself included, now spoke to me as a mom: “Encourage diversity in your kids,” he said. “You never know where that musical seed will sprout that will lead to a lifetime of music appreciation.”

My 4-year-old has become enamored lately of Queen. He can listen to “We Will Rock You” over and over until he’s dizzy from playing air guitar. He prefers the Pocoyo-animated version on YouTube, but I’m going to take him to Record Swap so that he can look for Queen’s original 1977 album “News of the World.” And I bet we can count on Diener to suggest something else he’d like, too.

Erin Nieto has lived in Champaign-Urbana for nearly all of her life, and heads Erin S. Nieto Fine Art Appraisal in addition to being a busy mom of two. More of her essays on motherhood and culture can be found at www.cheapisexpensive.net.

No related posts.

Here at chambanamoms.com, we’re all about local. We love to focus on what makes our community unique – and shopping is definitely one area where are there a lot of gems to find, if you know where to look.

The Crisis Nursery Children's Holiday Shop opens on Dec. 3 and continues through Dec. 10. Crisis Nursery photo

We’re lucky that some of our favorite retailers are supporters of this site and we are proud to support the local business community. (I knew my work was done the other day when, on entering our favorite big box store, my 5.5-year-old asked me if I knew the store’s owner!)

There are other ways you can use your holiday shopping budget to support Champaign-Urbana community organizations and institutions. Give your gift-giving even more meaning and shop your conscience. Here are five places to shop where you can support local non-profit charities and organizations, for the holidays or any occasion, plus a holiday-only bonus:

Promenade, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana: we love the little trinkets in this shop, and the unique items for kids as well. A must if you have a music lover in your family. Proceeds support Krannert Center programming.

Carle Auxiliary Gift Shop, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana: great ideas for stocking stuffers or hostess gifts (mostly for women or kids) at this little shop by the hospital’s main entrance. One of my favorite items: plush monkey slipper socks — for grown-ups or kids. Proceeds from the Carle Auxiliary Online Gift Shop are used to offset the operational expenses of the Carle Auxiliary Guest House, which provides a respite for the loved ones of hospitalized patients.

The I.D.E.A. Store, Champaign: Looking for gift bags, cards or wrapping supplies? Want to make a unique gift? Need supplies for decorations? The I.D.E.A. store is the place to go. Easy on the budget — and all proceeds benefit our local schools through the Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation. Open Tuesday – Friday 2 – 7 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Audubon Nature Shop, Anita Purves Nature Center, Urbana: 
Find a nature-related gift for kids or grown-ups on your list. This shop has a wide range of items including: bird feeders, binoculars, books for all ages, party favors and puppets. Operated by the Champaign County Audubon Society, all proceeds are donated to local environmental education or conservation projects. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Sunday.

Orpheum Children’s Science Museum Gift Shop, Champaign: The children’s gift shop in the Orpheum lobby that offers a selection of inexpensive educational toys, gifts and unique items. Great for young, curious minds! Open museum hours; proceeds benefit the museum.

Plus a bonus option ….

Crisis Nursery Holiday Shop, Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana: OK, this isn’t a year-round bricks-and-mortar store. But it’s one of our favorite Champaign-Urbana holiday traditions, and it starts Saturday, Dec. 3 and continues through Dec. 10. This is a great way for children 12 and under to shop for parents, grandparents and siblings – volunteers help guide the children through the shop while their caregivers wait outside. Items cost between $2-8 each; there is even a special night for parents to shop this year (Tuesday, Dec. 6). Proceeds benefit Crisis Nursery.

Related posts:

1. Shop Local — for Kids — at Champaign Surplus
2. Where to: Shop for Chanukah in Champaign-Urbana
3. 2011 Local Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Deals

Credit: AMagill, Flickr

We can’t remember a year when more Champaign-Urbana area businesses got into the Black Friday/Small Business aka Shop Local Saturday spirit. There are so many deals being offered, it’s a fantastic opportunity to keep your holiday spending dollars within our own community.

We’ve gathered as many local deals and steals as we could find for this holiday weekend. Now get ready, set … and shop local in Chambana!

Babyland, Savoy: Holiday Gift Sale – SAVE 10-50% OFF All Toys, Teethers, Books, CD’s, etc. Also select strollers, furniture and more on sale throughout the store. Cyber Monday: Save 10-15% Sitewide with promo codes that will be posted on the Babyland homepage. Promo code discounts will even be valid on sale and clearance prices!

Bella Bambini: From 6:30 to 8 a.m. get 40 percent off all items in the store (some exclusions apply) on Black Friday, and 20 percent off for the remainder of the weekend.

Champaign Surplus: On Black Friday, get a free pair of Merino wool socks (a $19.95 value) with any purchase of at least $5 (while supplies last). On Shop Local Saturday, get 25 percent off select Marmot jackets for men and women.

Mudpies ‘n Fireflies, downtown Homer:  Shop early for the best selection of Melissa and Doug toys at 30 percent off; buy two floor puzzles and get the third floor puzzle free.

6 Dimensions Wellness Coaching & Personal Training: Offering 15% off all packages! Visit their website on 11/26/11 and use the contact form with “small business saturday” as your subject line to receive this promotion.

Village Wardrobe, downtown Monticello: Black Friday Deals: Melissa & Doug 30% off, under $10 stocking stuffers, Door buster prizes for the first 25 people in the store; opening at 9 a.m.

88 Broadway: Two-for-one ticket deal: Buy two Buckey Covington tickets for $7.50 a piece. Get this Cyber Monday deal online at www.etix.com by typing in the promo code “Bucky.”

Art Coop, Urbana: Get a $50 gift card for just $35 on Small Business Saturday. The cards can be redeemed at any time, for any item in the store.

Art Mart, Urbana:  Buy a 5.5-quart Le Creuset French Oven,  get a stock pot. In toys: buy any single item at $75 or more and get a $20 gift certificate. Clothing — get up to 30 percent off your purchase: Buy one item get 10% off; but two, 20%; buy three, 30% off.

Bella Mia, Champaign: Friday – 40 percent off from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 35 percent off; 1- 7 p.m., 30 percent off. #0 percent off also on Saturday and Sunday. Some exclusions apply.

Charter Fitness of Urbana: Personal training for $25 and/or get 100 percent off the membership fee; other fees and restrictions apply. Offer available Black Friday.

Classic Home Consignment, Champaign: Black Friday deals available. From 9:00-11:00 a.m. – EXTRA 20% off; 11:01-1:00 p.m. EXTRA 15% off; 1:01-5:00 p.m. EXTRA 10% off.

Checkered Moon: Get the following discounts: 10 percent off sales of up to $150; $150 to $350, 15 percent off; and $350 and up, 20 percent off on Black Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Confidentially Yours, Champaign: Receive 20 percent off  your entire purchase in-store when you include two regular-priced bras, or online when you spend at least $110.00. Sale merchandise and gift cards not included. On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Findings Boutique: Shop the two-day sale Black Friday and Small Business Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Get 15 percent off all jewelry, 20 percent off all denim 25 to 40 percent off all clothing and 25 to 75 percent off all footgear.

Frogs & Fairies: Get 50 percent off beanies and headbands during the “Stocking Stuffer” event on Small Business Saturday.

Gameday Spirit, Champaign: Buy an Illini replica basketball jersey, get the name on the back for FREE. On Friday and Saturday.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Champaign: 20 percent off all holiday decor. Saturday only.

Harvest Moon Drive-In Theater, Gibson City:  Get five admissions and a free pop/popcorn for only $20.00 ($33.50 value); hoodies and t-shirts also on sale. Offers valid Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.- noon.  Call 815-268-4000 to place orders.

Heartland Gallery: Get a treat and some cider while shopping! Spend $50 and get 10 percent off the total; $51 to $100 to get 15 percent off; and get 20 percent off any total sale over $100. Offer good Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Hot Slots: Get 50 percent off slot-car track rental of either big track on Friday. Mention UBA Black Friday special to get this deal.

Illini Shop, Champaign: Buy any sweatshirt and get one (of equal or lesser value) free. Black Friday only. See store for details.

Illinois Men’s Basketball Tickets: Get a three-pack of Illinois men’s basketball tickets for $15 – three different games: Illinois vs. St. Bonaventure, Dec. 7; Illinois vs. Coppin State, Dec. 11; Illinois vs. Cornell, Dec. 19. Each three-pack gives one ticket for each game. Black Friday only.

Jane Addams Book Shop, downtown Champaign: Take 20 percent off throughout the store on Christmas cards, journals, local books, and bookmarks.

Karen’s Kloset, Champaign: Opens at 8 a.m. on Black Friday with doorbuster giveaways for the first 30 in the store. Get a $10 gift certificate for every $50 spent on merchandise or gift certificates. Black Friday only.

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Promenade Gift Shop: Get a free pen with every purchase on from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Michelle’s Bridal and Tuxedo: Get 75 percent off more than 100 in-stock bridal gowns; 50 percent off jewelry, veils, accessories and shoes; 20 to 50 percent off mother-of-the-bride dresses; and 50 percent off prom and homecoming dresses. Offer good through Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26.

Orpheum Children’s Science Museum: 10 percent off in the museum gift shop; 20 percent off for members. Free gift with any purchase over $50. Saturday only.

Ten Thousand Villages, downtown Champaign: All jewelry will be on sale buy-one-get-one-50%-off Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26. Shop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.

Wind Water And Light: Get 10 percent off any Larry’s Tees or Mary Tangora jewelry items on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Cyber Monday Deals:

Champaign Park District: All pool passes will be on sale (full price list here) plus any 2011 Pool Pass Holders will be able to renew their passes for an additional 10% off the sale price! This sale is only good on Monday, Nov. 28, and only online, so be sure you set a reminder and visit www.champaignparkdistrict.com to get a great deal on summer fun.

Little Theatre on the Square, Sullivan: Buy $50 in gift cards, get $10 free. Call the box office at 217-728-7375 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28. Please mention this offer with your order.

Know about a local deal? Please share it in the comments!

Related posts:

1. Top Five: Ways to Shop Local – For a Cause
2. Shop Local — for Kids — at Champaign Surplus
3. Best-Kept Secret: Saturday Art School

We’ve written before about the benefits of shopping at locally-owned stores and supporting businesses that, in turn, support our community. For the consumer, one of the advantages of shopping at locally-owned stores is the opportunity to interact with shop owners who know their product lines inside and out.

We are thrilled to introduce you to chambanamoms.com sponsor Champaign Surplus. Locally owned for three generations, you can’t beat their brand of customer service and the knowledgeable staff. Shira Epstein, store co-owner and mom of an infant son, shared with us her insights on some of the favorite products from the newly expanded kids department.

So whether you’re buying gifts for the kids or just are in need of quality children’s winter apparel, put Champaign Surplus on your list.  You can find it just south of downtown Champaign at the corner of Neil and White Streets. On Black Friday, get a free pair of Merino wool socks (a $19.95 value) with any purchase of at least $5 (while supplies last). On Shop Local Saturday, get 25 percent off select Marmot jackets for men and women.

Here’s Shira’s take on some of her favorites from the Champaign Surplus kids department:

North Face Girls' Aconcagua Jacket

The North Face Girls’ Aconcagua Jacket
Shira’s take:
“For the style and quality conscious…
Warm 550-fill down insulated coat, that has a water resistant finish, sewn through construction & is zip-in compatible. Has super cute baffle lines and a soft interior collar lining. What’s so great about Tne North Face kids’ line is that all the materials, construction and quality is exactly the same as the adult jackets, so they really last — no matter what your kid puts them through, and when handed down from kid to kid. And we have cute kids hats and gloves to go with.”

Patgonia Reversible Puff-Ball Bunting

Patagonia Reversible Puff-Ball Bunting,
Shira’s take:
“This one is major grandma-candy! It’s made of 100% recycled wind- and water-resistant ripstop shell and 90% recycled 100g insulation, so its incredibly functional. But the reversible patterns & colors give mom two fun options.”

UGG® Australia Kids’ Cardy II

UGG Cardy

Shira’s Take:
“Have a style-conscious daughter, niece, granddaughter? This boot has a knit sweater upper and multi-colored buttons. Love it!”

Columbia Boys' Steens Mountain Full Zip

Columbia Boys’ Steens Mountain Full Zip
Shira’s Take:
“Columbia outerwear is a good value choice for kids’ jackets, pants, hats & gloves, and infant buntings. You get the high quality Columbia product construction and warmth at their very reasonable price points.”

Bogs Insulated Waterproof Boots
Shira’s Take:
Really durable and warm boot great for any weather. And the side pull-on handles make getting them on and off easier for your kids.

Bogs

Mountain Mama onesie

Mountain Mama Organic Cotton Onesies and Toddler T’s
Shira’s take:
These make great gifts. They are organic, very soft, and sport outdoor alphabet illustrations, like ‘K is for Kayak’ and ‘T is for Tent’.

Related posts:

1. Meet the Mompreneur: Champaign Surplus’ Shira Epstein
2. Top Five: Ways to Shop Local – For a Cause
3. Where to: Shop for Chanukah in Champaign-Urbana

Meet Kate Boyer, owner of the Village Wardrobe children’s consignment boutique located in downtown Monticello. The Village Wardrobe carries a large assortment of gently used children’s clothing sizes infant through 14 as well as maternity clothes; you’ll also find gently used toys, baby gear and more. There is brand new merchandise as well, including great deals on Melissa and Doug toys.  We’re not sure how she does it, but somehow Kate manages to homeschool her children (five, ranging in age from 5 months to 10 years); be a Cub Scout leader; all while working in the three family businesses – the Village Wardrobe, Homer Soda Company, and their Harley-Davidson manufacturing plant. Don’t forget to enter the great Village Wardrobe giveaway at the end, an $80 value!

See why we think Kate Boyer is a Mompreneur to Know. 

Kate Boyer, mom of 5, is the owner of the Village Wardrobe in Monticello. Photo provided

Q:Why did you decide to get into the consignment business?

I’ve always loved to bargain shop, it’s almost an addiction!  Every weekend, my mom and I would spend hours hitting garage sales all over the county.  We’d come home with the best deals on everything, way more than we could ever use!  I began to purchase nice children’s clothing at the yard sales for quarters and sell them to a Champaign consignment store and make 10 times what I had paid.  At 12 years old, I thought I had hit the jack pot!  Even though I loved them, I never understood why the consignment stores were so run down!  I always hoped I would have an opportunity to open my own store that would look & feel more like a boutique.

We’ve made it simple to enter this great giveaway — get a $50 gift certificate, two Usborne sticker books and a six-pack of Homer Soda Company soda! Just leave us a comment and tell us: do you love to shop? Why or why not?

No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. Contest will be wrapped up by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by noon on Thursday, Nov. 10 or another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Prize is valued at $80. 

Related posts:

1. Birthday Bash Giveaway: Village Wardrobe Gift Certificate
2. Giveaway: Meet Mompreneur Rebecca Seymour, Shaklee Distributor
3. Meet the Mompreneur: One Week Boutique’s Donna Pepper

OK, we confess: we love Halloween. We looked around Champaign-Urbana and environs for some of the best Halloween “stuff” out there — clothes, accessories, decorations. Here are a few of the fun and unique things we’ve found:

Related posts:

1. 2011 Champaign-Urbana Halloween and Fall Events Guide
2. Birthday Bash Giveaway: Fashion Designer Gift Set From Mudpies ‘N’ Fireflies
3. 2011 Champaign-Urbana Area Trick-Or-Treat Hours