SHOPPING

As one of the most intimate and important spots in the home, the bathroom deserves to be a tidy and clutter-free area.

Houston Life’s Courtney Zavala caught up with the brand’s head designer for an inside look at their new location inside the Galleria Mall.

The Bayou City has so many gifts that you'll want to give and receive this holiday season.

Need more time to do your “Target runs?”

If you’re shopping for the holiday season, the FBI wants to warn you of a few holiday scams.

Second to Black Friday, Cyber Monday is the busiest online shopping day.

Shoppers said there were smaller crowds and shorter lines for Black Friday shopping in Houston.

If you’ve been watching Houston Life for some time now, you know all about our monthly series, ‘HL OBSESSONS.’

Today is National Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, so of course we had to spotlight a female-founded brand that has made its way to Houston.

With the holiday season officially here, many people are likely looking ahead to Black Friday, and anticipating all the deals and promotions we’ll be seeing next week.

<a href="https://www.houstonballet.org/about/nutcracker-market/" target="_blank">Nutcracker Market</a> triumphantly returns to NRG Center to usher in Houston’s holiday season and celebrate in-person and in style for the 40th Anniversary Nutcracker Market – <i>The Redo</i>.

Now that Fall is in full swing, many Houstonians will begin sorting through their extensive grocery list for holiday meals and start some early shopping to find the best deals on gifts.

The Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market ushers in the twinkliest season of the year. It’s the city’s de facto invitation to cast aside jack-o-lanterns, plastic pumpkins and autumnal decor in favor of tinsel, pine trees and all-things red and green.

With many parents concerned about the supply chain crisis, holiday shopping will start earlier than usual this year!

Nutcracker Market triumphantly returns to NRG Center to usher in Houston’s holiday season and celebrate in-person and in style for the 40th Anniversary Nutcracker Market – <i>The Redo</i>.

From princesses to superheroes!

Are you looking for a new family vehicle?

The Kingwood Women’s Club has been serving the community for 35 years and after one of their own charter members became a breast cancer survivor the ladies saw the importance of giving access to mammograms for all women.

Your next H-E-B shopping list may include milk, bread, eggs, and...jewelry?

Alice Thompson was awarded £185,000 after being told she could not work shorter hours to pick up her child.

From violent purse snatchings to robberies, we’ve seen videos of crooks targeting innocent people in parking lots.

Texans’ cultish obsession with Whataburger is an unparalleled romance for the ages. The chain is a true Texas icon. Its orange-and-white-stripe A-frames are just about everywhere in Texas, as are its fans. We double-patty dare you to find a Texan who’s not gaga for Whataburger’s honey butter chicken biscuits, spicy ketchup and Texas-sized burgers.

We somehow made it to August, which means it’s back-to-school time for students and teachers everywhere.

Très Chic boutique’s bi-annual FAB (fill-a-bag) sale will be happening this weekend, starting on Friday.

H-E-B was named Grocer of the Year in 2020 by industry publication Grocery Dive. In another recent report it was ranked the nation’s second-best grocer. Glassdoor ranked H-E-B the tenth-best place to work in the nation.

Here's a list to find the freshest produce in Houston's local farmers markets.

Fidget toys aren’t just the latest rage on TikTok, they are also a way great tool to reduce stress and anxiety in kids.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the nostalgia of an old-fashioned general store, we know just the spot. Nestled in the historic Sixth Ward neighborhood is a community gem boasting tasty bites and more than 200 locally sourced products. <a href="https://hkgeneralstore.com/" target="_blank">Henderson & Kane General Store</a> is a family run shop with husband and wife John and Veronica Avila at the helm, and Veronica’s younger brother Jesse Gallegos manning the kitchen. Together, they specialize in top notch barbecue and of course, supporting dozens of local small businesses.

Y'all, the next best thing to Christmas is quickly approaching: Amazon Prime Day 2021.

If you’re looking for gift ideas for dad and he loves drinking spirits, you can’t go wrong with a great bottle of whiskey.

Is your dad more sporty, more outdoorsy, more artistic or something else entirely?

After filing bankruptcy in 2019 and closing all its stores, Charming Charlie has returned to Houston.

Nearly 150 merchants from across the country will showcase their small business seasonal products. You can find home décor, food, apparel and more.

The shopping event is one of Houston’s longest running annual pop-up shops.

More than 197 million people visit <a href="http://Amazon.com" target=_blank>Amazon.com</a> every month and almost one in three Americans has a Prime membership with Amazon! With so much online spending happening, how can you save money on this site?

HOUSTON – Spring is the most popular time of the year for home maintenance and deep cleaning. To help you tackle your chore list faster and more efficiently, Kathryn Emery, home improvement & lifestyle expert, shares 4 products for an easy spring cleaning. Tackle deep cleaning with a battery-powered shop vac. Sylvania LightSHIELD Germicidal Light Bulb (Sylvania)Product: Sylvania LightSHIELD Germicidal Light Bulb“This is a revolutionary way to clean. Sylvania LightSHIELD light bulbs are everyday lights with germ-fighting benefits.

Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that starting March 10, business capacity limits and the state’s mask mandate would be lifted. H-E-B and Kroger responded to Abbott’s executive order saying they will continue to require all employees to wear masks while encouraging customers to do the same. We encourage all customers visiting our stores to continue to wear a mask to protect themselves, those around them, and our associates. As an essential service provider during the pandemic, H-E-B is focused on the health and safety of our Partners and customers. Additionally, we will still require all our partners and vendors to wear masks while at work.”H-E-B has largely required customers to wear a mask in its stores since last summer.

Kroger announced plans to reduce operating hours at store locations across Texas as a major winter storm rolls toward the state. All 109 Kroger store locations in the Greater Houston Area and SW Louisiana will operate with amended hours:Sunday, February 14: All stores closing at 8pmMonday, February 15: All stores opening at 9amSan Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B also reduced its hours in anticipation of severe winter weather. AdThe storm is bringing freezing rain and cold temperatures to many parts of Texas over the next several days. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings or watches for most Texas counties. The Houston area was forecast to have its coldest temperatures in 30 years.

Beloved Texas grocer H-E-B was recently named Grocer of the Year by industry publication Grocery Dive and in another recent report it was ranked the nation’s second-best grocer. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain is No.10 on online job-search company Glassdoor’s 2021 list of the 100 Best Places to Work. AdGlassdoor’s 100 best places to work list features employers across a range of industries, including technology, health care, biotech and pharmaceuticals, retail, travel and tourism, consulting and finance. Several other Texas companies claimed spots on Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work list, including Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (No. “A mission-driven culture, transparent leadership, and career opportunities are always hallmarks of Best Places to Work winners.

Whataburger released a line of Valentine’s gifts from jewelry to drink tumblers, so you can express your love while loving the Texas’ staple. Whataburger 'Love Me Like You Love Whataburger' T-shirt (Whataburger)Perfect for staying home on Valentine’s Day with your special someone. Whataburger "Day Dot" (left) and "I Heart Whataburger" socks (Whataburger)A great gift for both, or for a couple you know and love this Valentine’s Day. 'Spicy' or 'Fancy' Gift Pack (Whataburger)James Avery Jewelry CharmsChoose from ‘Whataburger Texas’, ‘Fry’ or ‘Whataburger Cup’ for that special someone to wear on the next date! Whataburger Makeup Bag (Whataburger)Check out the full Whataburger merch catalog here.

She teaches coupon classes for everyone who wants to save big bucks on their shopping list. Understand how sales at the grocery stores work. Check your grocery store’s website before using a coupon for delivery or curbside pickup. So it’s really important that you check your grocery store’s website for their most current coupon policy in your area,” she said. Mid adult Caucasian woman is using her smart phone app to pay for groceries in local grocery store.

HOUSTON – An outdoor pop-up market is coming to Houston. Eastside Pop-Up Shopping Market features over a dozen Houston vendors at Très Chic Boutique, which is located at 3414 Eastside Street. This market is in conjunction with the Tri Delt’s annual event “the SALE,” which was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Instead, the group created the outdoor market as an extension of the “the SALE,” in the parking lot on Eastside Street between West Alabama and Richmond, right across from Kirby Ice House. All customers and vendors will be required to wear masks during the duration of the event.

Five Houston women try one jumpsuit with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. COURTNEY:Five Houston women try one jumpsuit with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. I understand why there are three-thousand 4 - 5 star reviews.”MARZI:Five Houston women try one jumpsuit with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. It’s just here for show.”TERA:Five Houston women try one jumpsuit with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. LAUREN:Five Houston women try one jumpsuit with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.

The pandemic has hit many families very hard, but luckily the giving spirit is alive and well. Local fashion designer Chloe Dao shares insight into why she loves Houston and the creative way she’s giving back to the city.

It’s not every day that the Big Man in Red makes a visit, so it’s easy to forget some things in the excitement. Most area grocery stores and retailers will not operate on Christmas Day, but there are a handful of options for the forgetful. Scroll below to see the operating hours for some of the Houston area’s most popular retailers and grocery stores. ALDI: ClosedCostco: ClosedCentral Market: ClosedCVS: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Hours vary by location)Food Town: ClosedH-E-B: ClosedLowe’s: ClosedKroger: ClosedHome Depot: ClosedRandalls: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sam’s Club: ClosedStarbucks: Most locations will open on Christmas. Call ahead for specific hours.

Meanwhile, behemoths like Walmart, Target and Best Buy haven’t had to make big changes because they’ve already transformed their stores into shipping hubs for online orders. Retailers’ shipping networks were already strained when shoppers dramatically shifted their spending online during the early part of the pandemic — a savior for many who were afraid of going out. Goldberg says the shipping problem is so acute that even Amazon, which has its own shipping network, could run out of capacity, sending shoppers to places like eBay. Amazon hasn’t released a holiday shipping deadline yet, but said in a statement that it will be delivering packages up until Christmas Eve. Carriers have been slapping surcharges and putting limits on how many packages retailers can ship each day.

New stores are coming to several malls just in time to tackle your Christmas lists. Houston-area Simon Malls, including The Galleria, Houston Premium Outlets and Katy Mills welcomed several stores on their properties -- and they’re now open to shoppers. Katy Mills and Houston Premium Outlets each added one store to their malls, with the grand openings of Cosmetics Company Store and Versace. List of stores now open:The Galleria:BALENCIAGA - French-style fashion by Spanish fashion designer Cristobal BalenciagaGolden Goose - Venitian-inspired fashionDe Beers - Quality jewelry store with cut diamonds. Houston Premium OutletsVersace - Leader in luxury, international fashion

Learning Express Town & Country Owner Shannon Fritz shares some of this season’s top sellers, along with some special toy testers who are giving their honest reviews, the Armstrong family! From flying drones to funky furniture, Learning Express Town & Country Owner Shannon Fritz shares some of this season’s top sellers. From flying drones to funky furniture, Learning Express Town & Country Owner Shannon Fritz shares some of this season’s top sellers. I’m going to give it to my friends!”From flying drones to funky furniture, Learning Express Town & Country Owner Shannon Fritz shares some of this season’s top sellers. I can’t get them off of it!”From flying drones to funky furniture, Learning Express Town & Country Owner Shannon Fritz shares some of this season’s top sellers.

HOUSTON – If you’re anxiously waiting for holiday packages to arrive, now is the time to be alert and watch out for delivery schemes. Bloomer said cybercriminals are using the emails as a way to trick holiday shoppers into giving up their personal information. “They will try to ask you to put in payment information and take money directly from you,” he said. Bloomer said Check Point researchers saw a more than 400% increase in delivery schemes in November compared to the previous month. Tips to prevent getting scammedTo help users stay protected against phishing scams, Check Point is issuing these 6 tips:

(AP) – Is shopping in stores safe during the pandemic? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says holiday shopping in crowded stores is a “higher risk” activity and that people should limit any in-person shopping, including at supermarkets. Retailers have been doing all kinds of things to make shoppers feel safe, but they don't eliminate the risk. The plastic barriers between customers and cashiers also might not block all droplets from an infected person, Weisfuse says. Is it safe to stay in hotels during the pandemic?

Even though they look a little different, many people are starting to get their holiday shopping done. The FBI put out a list of tips that could help protect you from online scammers as you shop. Make sure the website is reputable before shopping or providing info like your credit card number. Be wary of social media posts (some posing as holiday promotions or contests) offering discounts, deals or free gifts cards/vouchers. Keep a close eye on your credit and bank statements to make sure no fraudulent charges are being made.

HOUSTON KPRC 2 is continuing to feature local businesses as the Houston economy re-opens. In this feature, we have listed some newly opened or reopened businesses in Spring to support. Address: Old Town Spring, 26408 Preston AvenuePhone: (832) 244-1516Hours: Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Address: 6633 Spring Stuebner Road #325Phone: (346) 236-6988Hours: Closed Mondays, open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Tapout Fitness - Opened September 2019Tapout Fitness offers explosive boxing, kickboxing, boot camp, and martial arts classes for adults and kids.

Today were featuring minority-owned businesses in the Katy area:Lone Star Bike is a brand new bicycle repair shop that specializes in repairing, upgrading and servicing road, mountain, cruise, urban and vintage bikes. Address: 23530 Kingsland Boulevard Suite 100Phone: (832) 844-1470This burger restaurant in Katy has a five-star rating on Yelp and Facebook. Text: (786) 302-7612This tire dealer and repair shop in Katy has a five-star Facebook rating. Address: 18703 W Little YorkPhone: (281) 656-8559Since 2006, this Katy shop has specialized in designing, manufacturing and installing contemporary modern kitchens, closets, bathrooms and more. Address: 21815 Katy Freeway Suite C-106Phone: (832) 291-3911

Brooks Brothers two-day flash sale offering customers up to 70% off ends Tuesday night. The offer applies to select merchandise purchased online or by phone only. The discount will be applied at checkout. The flash sale promotion can not be combined with student, military, or corporate membership discounts. Customers can take advantage of this promotion until 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

HOUSTON If youve been adding some weird things to your shopping cart while in quarantine, youre not alone. We asked our viewers to share with us some of their 'boredom buying purchases and were surprised at just how weird things got. Roast beef sandwich bath saltsYes... roast beef bath salts are a thing, and looks like our viewer Darrin bought them! A mini tricycle... for a stuffed animalBecause who DOESN'T need need a tiny toy tricycle?! A truck bed poolThis truck bed pool will turn any gathering into a PARTAY!

HOUSTON If you're looking for gifts and want to support a local business, there's a unique gift shop in town with a heartwarming story behind it. But even more unique than the shop is the bond between the owners of that shop -- a mom and her high school-age daughter with special needs. Valerie and Ellie Cassidy opened Pepperlou Gifts almost a year and half ago, a dream they had for years. Its a lot of the items that she picks herself, so theyre kind of more the fun items in the store. For more information about Pepperlou Gifts, click here.

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is here to encourage the holiday spirit of giving. Michelle Miller has more.