You guys, I have turned over a new leaf. In an effort to ease marital tensions around my house, I have embarked on a new project. No, not that kind of project, although if you have any suggestions in that area feel free to pass them along. The project of which I speak is deal-finding for housewares. I am already addicted to One Kings Lane, Joss and Main, as well as the "Home" sections of Gilt and ideeli, but I am taking it to the next level.
Etsy and eBay are my new stomping grounds. And I am doing pretty well! Here are a couple purchases I have made on Etsy with which I am very pleased. These lamps, for one:
As my mother immediately pointed out, they are imitation Chinese ceramic lamps. I don't care. They don't come with shades, and while I have at least 2 sets of extra shades in the attic (don't ask) I think these need the kind that snap on to the bulb, right? So I found these cheapies at Target:
I broke one of my cardinal rules about shopping for the home with these lamps, as I don't know where I'm going to put them once they arrive. But they were $50 for the set and I love them, so what the fuck. Eventually it will become clear where they are supposed to live. The other amazing find I made on Etsy was a set of bar tools for my new bar. I wanted a vintage set that was brass rather than chrome or stainless steel and that's harder to find that one might think. There was this gem at Matters of Style Marketplace:
I loves the wooden handles and base, but at $58 they were a little on the pricey side for a newly-frugal gal such as myself. Also, they weren't brass, and I figured I should wait for my perfect set of bar tools would come to me. And it did:
I love it. LOVE. IT. Even though it lacks a few of the tools included in the previous set, I'm OK with that. It has the cool "jigger" thing, a bottle opener, a lemon/lime knife/olive fork and tongs. And it's brass! And comes with a cool hanging stand thing. And at $28 dollars it was slightly less than 1/2 the price of the first one, if not strictly "thrifty."
Another cost-conscious design decision I made was in the bedroom. Now that it'sall mostly pretty, I want to hang something over each night stand table (and maybe get rid of that thing hanging in the middle....I haven't gotten there yet.) But I couldn't find anything I loved, and even the shit I didn't love was $$$. So. I found this website Paper Source and ordered some fancy paper:
I've ordered two pieces (19"x 25") for $8 each, and I think once I put 'em in a pair of matted frames that I already own, they'll look great hung above the tables on each side of the bed:
Actually, looking at this (pretty crappy) photo, it seems like they may look better next to each other above the center of the bed. Oh well, I can see. And it they look like crap no matter where hang them, I'm out $16 plus shipping and anyway, I can still use the paper as wrapping paper on gifts for people I really like. Win-win. Unless you get a gift from me and it's wrapped in newspaper and you put 2 and 2 together.
All in all, I'm pretty impressed with my new finds, and with how much they didn't cost. I also think Ted should be a lot more appreciative of this new development, and if he doesn't start showing a little more support this whole movement is going to be very fucking short-lived. So you guys want to drop a subtle hint, you know, if that's how you roll. I don't know. Maybe you thrive on other peoples' marital strife. I don't judge. I love you guys, all three of you!
XOXOXO
ABC
Etsy and eBay are my new stomping grounds. And I am doing pretty well! Here are a couple purchases I have made on Etsy with which I am very pleased. These lamps, for one:
As my mother immediately pointed out, they are imitation Chinese ceramic lamps. I don't care. They don't come with shades, and while I have at least 2 sets of extra shades in the attic (don't ask) I think these need the kind that snap on to the bulb, right? So I found these cheapies at Target:
I loves the wooden handles and base, but at $58 they were a little on the pricey side for a newly-frugal gal such as myself. Also, they weren't brass, and I figured I should wait for my perfect set of bar tools would come to me. And it did:
I love it. LOVE. IT. Even though it lacks a few of the tools included in the previous set, I'm OK with that. It has the cool "jigger" thing, a bottle opener, a lemon/lime knife/olive fork and tongs. And it's brass! And comes with a cool hanging stand thing. And at $28 dollars it was slightly less than 1/2 the price of the first one, if not strictly "thrifty."
Another cost-conscious design decision I made was in the bedroom. Now that it's
I've ordered two pieces (19"x 25") for $8 each, and I think once I put 'em in a pair of matted frames that I already own, they'll look great hung above the tables on each side of the bed:
Actually, looking at this (pretty crappy) photo, it seems like they may look better next to each other above the center of the bed. Oh well, I can see. And it they look like crap no matter where hang them, I'm out $16 plus shipping and anyway, I can still use the paper as wrapping paper on gifts for people I really like. Win-win. Unless you get a gift from me and it's wrapped in newspaper and you put 2 and 2 together.
All in all, I'm pretty impressed with my new finds, and with how much they didn't cost. I also think Ted should be a lot more appreciative of this new development, and if he doesn't start showing a little more support this whole movement is going to be very fucking short-lived. So you guys want to drop a subtle hint, you know, if that's how you roll. I don't know. Maybe you thrive on other peoples' marital strife. I don't judge. I love you guys, all three of you!
XOXOXO
ABC