BORBA Coupon

Free Gift with 2nd order of $75 or more. use code 2ndtb. www.borba.com

No Hassle Dinner For the Singleton (and I guess the Doubletons too)

Given that I have an extremely low tolerance for (1) grocery shopping, (2) cooking and (3) cleaning up, this place was made for me. I check the menu online, place an order and go in one Saturday a month and pick up my food, then throw it in my freezer. Upon request they will separate the portions into single servings if possible. You can even actually do your own preparation in their space, which sometimes can be relaxing. They actually will host a meal prep "party" and you can BYOB.

Meal planning for me now consists of choosing which ziploc bag to take out of the freezer the night before. Love it. And the food puts Dinner by Design to shame. I've tried both, so take my word on this. Dinner by Design = tastes like frozen food. My Gourmet Kitchen = tastes like someone who actually knows how to cook just made it.

COUPONS

Here is the deal, these are various coupon codes I receive because I am a fab shopper - if you use a code, please leave a comment saying you used it and whether it worked or not. Feel free to leave other codes you may have too! Thanks!

Bluefly: 10% off womens apparel: SUN83 expires 8/15/08 at 6:30 am PST

Frontgate: 15% off $200 or more: R815A expires 9/15/08

shoes.com/ebags: $10 off order over $50: BTS8DGV82D expires 9/15/08

RUE LA LA!!!!! DAMMIT!

WHY OH WHY have my friends not ALL shopped on this invitiation only site? I have invited everyone I know and only like 5 people have joined, and only one has purchased. Come on people! This is like the creme de la creme of Bluefly falling in your lap in your size on a continuous basis. Every few days a new designer opens a boutique with their brand only and sells their stuff for super cheap (for example, I just purchased a FABULOUS OG by Oleg Cassini scarf print dress thingy for $48 - try to find a cute one that you would wear for that price in your size delivered to your door anywhere else, I DARE you!). The stuff sells out before the boutique closes so it makes it kind of fun if you are like me and get that extra sense of fun by having taken a good deal away from somone else.....should I be talking to my therapist about that?

Just try it people! If you don't have an invite, go to the site and click to join and use this address as your referral: ehardtke@yahoo.com. See Ya La La.

PS - 9.95 shipping no matter what you buy. 30 day returns. Ships by DHL. My DHL driver and I are now friends as a result.

Mexican Food in Ukranian Village

OK, I know that Ukranian Village has more than its fair share of Mexican restaurants, and I had already been partial to Las Palmas on North Ave, but I think I may have found a new winner, as long as I remember to bring my own liquor should I desire an alcoholic beverage. The phrase is so overused but trust me, this BYOB place is a hidden gem and the service is outstanding, I feel like I am part of the family already! Jose (well, I assume its Jose, he walks around like he owns the place) is always giving samples and will help you with your selection. It has a cute but small outdoor area and the inside would be wonderful for a large group dinner. Do not be fooled by the Italian signs outside, he is waiting to have enough money so he can change them over to Mexican signs - so bring your wallet on over!!! Spread the word - Jose Rules!

Eyebrows and Facials - anything spa related

Dita Day Spa. I am not sure why this place hasn't hit the spa maps yet. It has been open for I think 2 years but it never seems busy. That is partly because Drita and her staff give every guest super personal service, you can't beat walking into a place to a glowing smile and a hug. When I call for an appointment there is no shuffle of - please hold - who are you - what did you want, etc. etc. Drita used to do my waxing at Mario on Michigan Ave. and was bold enough to start her own day spa, which by the way is a great space right across the street from the Bloomindales shoe department. Not even close to the annoying flurry of activity at Mario, instead you take a private elevator up to the 2nd floor which opens into the beautiful spa that offers manis, pedis and the full menu of face and body treatments, for boys too!

Prices are right too - for example an eyebrow wax is only $16, and its is THE BEST in the city, believe me, I have tried so many, as my eyebrows can be quite hideous if left unattended.