Local shopping 101
I'll admit, I love the mall. Something about smelling a sterile Dillards on a sunny afternoon when I could be outside exercising and enjoying nature is exhilarating. That said, we Deal Divas are not slaves to big box and department stores. We love a good independent shop. Locally owned businesses are the lifeblood of America, and there's thrill in the quest of a special discovery that 600 other people didn't get on the same 75-percent-off rack.
Our friend Ester Venouziou, a Times designer and writer, is the master of the universe when it comes to local shopping. Check out her recent story on Tampa Bay thrift shopping. In her spare time, she's organized 450 Tampa Bay (and beyond) businesses into a cool website, localshops1.com. Want to know where to buy funky jewelry in Manatee, an odd teapot in Pasco or trendy beachwear in Pinellas? She's got you.
Check out the site, and send her your suggestions at shoplocally1@gmail.com!
~ Deal Diva Stephanie
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Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or 
Since she was a little girl Nicole Hutcheson dreamed of dressing like a Vogue cover girl. But her reality was more JCPenney catalog. The fact only honed her better ability to find luxury for less. Always on the hunt for markdowns on designer labels, this Deal Diva’s weaknesses are good jeans and killer heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8828 or 
Colleen Jenkins learned two invaluable shopping tenets from her mom: 1. Buy quality. 2. Get it on sale. Then she added one of her own: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! This Deal Diva’s idea of a blissful Saturday includes a trip to the Ellenton outlet mall. She loves mixing classic with trendy and cheap Target accessories with her markdown Banana Republic duds. She can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 