Five reasons to ditch the mall for a road trip
I'm a fan of malls, but not during the holidays. Too many people. Too many stores that are the same everywhere. (I love the deals, but my inner diva finds it distasteful that recipients of my gifts will know how much I spent on that discounted set of Bath and Body Works lotion.)
So this season, I plan to spend a little time cruising the boutiques along MacDill Ave. in South Tampa.
There are tons. Here are five that I plan to poke in:
The Royal Tea Room & Gift Shoppe: Gifts for the tea lover and the hostess gal. Take a shopping break for formal tea, by calling ahead for seatings at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30! (2719 S MacDill Ave, 813-837-3000)
Love That! Fashion, accessories and gifts for good girls who aren't afraid to be a little bad. (4109 S MacDill Ave, 813-902-0500)
DKM Accessories: Accessories for every trend. All that glitters and looks real, at prices that are not. (3104 Palmira Ave., right off MacDill Ave, 813-902-0044. Second location at 4017 Henderson Blvd.)
The Write Stuff: Pretty papers and pens, plus a growing collection of girly gifts and baby items. (3225 S. MacDill Avenue #107, 813-837-0400)
The Blue Moon Trading Company and Fresh Threads: Blue Moon has long been a destination for funky, vintage home furnishings and antiques. Not always cheap, but so much fun to look around. And now they have a boutique within a boutique, Fresh Threads, selling designer consignment at remarkable prices. Check out the $5 and $10 racks at their holiday soiree on Friday at 7 p.m. (4129 S. MacDill Ave., 813-839-2056)
This is just the beginning of the pickings on S. MacDill, not to mention the rest of South Tampa. What are your favorite boutique haunts?
Deal Diva Letitia
P.S. Don't forget to sign up for our new weekly Deal Diva email alerts. Never miss another deal and be registered for a $100 gift card to International Plaza!
(Photo: Love That!)
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 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 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
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