Patriots Day weekend brings lots of sales...Here are a couple to get you started:

J'adore Boutique opens its sister store, Willow Bath and Body, today. (It's located right beside J'adore in the old Making Faces storefront.) And J'adore itself is having quite the sale: 50 percent off already marked down merch. Labels include BCBG, Young Fabulous and Broke, and there are even a few Sweetees dresses (these are priced as marked, but still a steal). The sale will run until the items are sold, and when I stopped by earlier in the week they still had two racks full of pants, dresses, tanks and even a couple blazers. While some of the items are winter holdovers, there are definitely some spring and summer pieces from last year that are just waiting to be sprung from the hanger and into the sunshine.

Saturday is Record Store Day, which means free stuff at your favorite local (read: independent) music shop - think Bull Moose, Newbury Comics. Dylan Martin has full details here.

Also, if Suit Yourself wasn't enough to hold you over until yard sale season begins, check out the Clothing Sale Fundraiser for Capoeira Volta ao Mundo. It's happening on Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the World Arts Studio, 616 Congress. I'm not sure what you'll find, but they promise a selection of men's, women's and children's clothing, and at the price of $10/bag you can't go wrong. P.S. BYOB (That's bag. A brown paper one).

Sure I haven't blogged since February. Let's just get that out there. Sometimes a girl just needs a month off. Well, that's not true, but I'm back. Promise. This post isn't just some first of April tomfoolery, it's the beginning of ... Well, let's not set me up for failure. But, to the important stuff - and something I never joke about - a good sale:

This weekend - Saturday, actually, is the Suit Yourself Spring Sale. This annual event (held at Catherine McAuly High School, 631 Stevens Ave., Portland) benefits Dress for Success Southern Maine, the local affiliate of the national nonprofit that looks to provide women in disadvantaged situations with professional attire and career development tools. Shopping to support a most deserving organization? Yes, please.

The sale starts at 8 a.m. and I'd advise getting there as the doors open. I was there a bit after go-time last year and the room was already full of bargain-hunters. Clothes a-plenty have been donated from Portland boutiques such as Carla Bella, Spoil Me Rotten and Tavecchia, but you'll also find gently-worn togs in a variety of sizes. This year's flyer is touting plus-size clothes, so there is absolutely something for everyone. Not to mention the stock of shoes, handbags, scarves and jewelry - consignment as well as items from selected local artists.

But, if you're not an early-bird sale goer, no sweat, from noon to 1 p.m. (sale's end) you can fill a bag of clothes for only $10. No doubt everyone wins at this sale, and with free admission, there's no excuse for not attending. The blogging about it after, however, may be optional.

Congress Street is full of sales this week, and some of the best deals can be found at Allen & Walker Antiques (600 Congress St., 772-8787). This annual sale runs through Saturday (Feb. 2), and everything in the store is marked down a certain percentage (20 to 60), with merch ranging from house wares and art to jewelry and decor.

Now, I’d walked by Allen & Walker for almost a year before I went in, thinking its treasures would no doubt break my budget. But, during the November First Friday they held a tag sale next door, with items marked as low as $1. Now that gets my attention. After perusing the tag sale, I popped into the main store, and yes, prices there were higher, but definitely not out of reach. I left empty handed, but planned to return. And, their annual January sale was all the incentive I needed.

Perhaps not surprisingly, I’m partial to jewelry, and was immediately drawn to their case stocked with one-of-a-kind pieces – all marked 30 percent off. On my first visit it was all I could do to leave the pretty jade pendant, but I thought I’d be back to get it. (Turns out my now-married sister did some investigative shopping and purchased it before I could get back to it – and then gifted it to me as a MOH present. Thoughtful and sly, that girl.)

The store itself is chock-full of eclectic merch, such as this Taj Mahal-esque birdcage (Who cares if you don't have a bird? Make it a lamp! Something, anything, I love it. See image below.)

There are a lot of Asian pieces, mostly Chinese and Japanese, but that’s all cozied up beside pieces from America throughout the 20th century. And, with lots of smaller pieces under $50, it’s easy to add vintage accents to whatever your home’s style. If that feels too steep, there’s another Allen & Walker tag sale in our future – they are trying to do them quarterly, so look for the next one this spring.

P.S.The other sales abounding in the Arts District to check out: Happy Yogi’s Winter Clearance to a storewide, 25 percent off sale at Material Objects (500 Congress St., Portland, 774-1241),

Rogues Gallery, a t-shirt company that got its start in Cape Elizabeth, comes to Space this Saturday for one magical day of sample sales. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. you can buy the designs of Alex Carleton at bargain-basement prices.

A thinking man's t-shirt, Rogues Gallery will transform that oh-so-ordinary jeans and tee uniform into something a bit more intriguing. Carleton uses vintage tees as canvas, redyes them and then hand prints images torn from the pages of history – some New England, some nautical – all twisted just enough to offer a bit of commentary to the consumer. And, with retail prices that range from $49-$150, cashing in on the sample sale prices tomorrow will no doubt make your wallet happy.

So, if you're still searching for the perfect gift for that t-shirt lover on your list I'll see you there. I'm looking forward to a very Rogue Christmas this year.

Saturday is Shop for a Cause in downtown Portland. Participating stores will donate a percentage of the day’s profits to the well-deserving Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.

I know the holidays pull everyone’s wallet in a million different directions, but this is an easy way for your already-earmarked gift money to help local children. So, if you need board games anyway, why not buy them at Treehouse Toys this weekend?

Whether you're tired and weary from too much turkey or that way-too-early mall run, it's time to do a little yoga, eat some probiotics, hit the couch for (yet another) nap, or whatever it takes to get you recharged for the weekend. The usual suspects are still out there for sales, but we've also got a few specials this weekend. Check 'em:

Downeast Ski Sale starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. and promises more than 10,000 downhill, x-country and boarding goodies including boots, bindings, helmets and more. Need to upgrade what you've got at home? Today from 1-6 p.m. drop off any used (but not outdated or in total disrepair) ski stuff and recoup some of your cash. It costs $1/item to register and the ski club keeps 15% commission but the rest is yours to spend.

Need to try before you buy? At the Annual Demo Days at Sunday River you can test drive the products before committing to a purchase.

For the non-skiers, there's once again a bounty of craft and holiday fairs as well as the Antique Paper Show. With more than 40 exhibitors stop here for all your calendar, collectible and stationary needs. And just a little tip: if you're mailing out those holiday cards, it's never too early. Don't be the girl who has to justify the Christmas in July cards. It won't fly.