Post-Christmas Sales

One of my favorite things about Christmas is definitely the after-Christmas sales. I love going out and finding all of the items that I'd been wanting for months marked down to 75% or more off! And I don't mind that I won't be able to use them until next Christmas. Knowing that I'm getting them for such a steal makes them totally worth the wait!

In December, Katie, from AllBowerPower, shared her AMAZING Potter Barn knock-off Advent Calendar, and I am determined to recreate it next year. Since seeing that beauty of a DIY project, I have been on the hunt for unique ornaments. I knew that my best bet would be to wait until after Christmas to find the best deals {I'll also be scouring Yard Sales this summer for Christmas decor}.

Unfortunately, we moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania right after Christmas, so I didn't have the time {or the moula} to immediately snatch up the post-Christmas goodies. However, I did stop by Ikea around the second week in January. Their Christmas section was pretty much picked over, but I was able to snag these $5 adorable ornaments on sale for just $1:

I wasn't able to go post-Christmas shopping again until last week {I have to go without my husband, as he considers hours of sale shopping to be grounds for Divorce}. Since it was already February, I was doubtful that I'd find any Christmas items worth purchasing. My first stop: Target. I walked around the store for awhile {it was a Target I'd never been to, so I wanted to make sure I hadn't overlooked anything} and finally gave up and asked one of the workers if they had any Christmas items left. She literally laughed in my face. I guess I should have assumed they would no longer be selling them, since their shelves were already stocked with Easter decor {Seriously, what is that about? Easter is still 2 months away!}.

Moving right along, my next stop was Pier1. After perusing the store and scoffing at their idea of what the word "sale" means, I stumbled upon a tiny display in the very center of the store. It was amazing! They had ornaments, plates, and tons of these sturdy silver branches {which I REALLY wish I would have bought, dang it!}. Here's what I walked out with:

Candy Cane Plates: Originally $8 each, on sale for $.78 each

Sparkly Silver Faux Plant: Originally $6, on sale for $.58

Metallic Ornament: Originally $2.50, on sale for $.18

My Pier1 finds spurred me on, so I then ventured over to Walmart...jackpot! They still had 3 aisles in the back of the store brimming with Christmas items: stockings, bows, garland - everything you could ever want, and more. All I had to do was root around until I found just what I was looking for {Hey, that rhymes! "No more rhymes; I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" hehe...Name that movie!}

Glittery Red "Noel" Sign: Originally $5, on sale for $1.25

Shiny Bows: Originally $5, on sale for $1.25

Grey Glass Ornaments: Originally $6, on sale for $1.50

Glittery Silver Sprig {to be used for Advent Calendar}: Originally $2, on sale for $.50

Silver and Gold ornament {Advent Calendar}: Originally $2, on sale for $.50

Bronze Ornament {Advent Calendar}: Originally $1, on sale for $.25

Snowflake Ornament {Advent Calendar}: Originally $2, on sale for $.50

White Stockings {will be embellished later}: Originally $5 each, on sale for $1.25 each

Grand Total Before Sales: $73.50

My Total: $14.07

Total Savings: $59.43

Wow!! Now that I know how much money I saved, I am even MORE excited about my post-Christmas purchases! I will definitely be hitting up the Christmas sales again next year!

Oh, and in case you were wondering why I purchased 5 stockings instead of 2: No, I am not pregnant with triplets {or any babies, for that matter}. I just like to think ahead! :)

So, did anyone else score some major deals after the Holidays?

Etsy Love + a Giveaway

Here are my favorite Valentine's Day themed Etsy finds:

{hooraydesignshop}

{diascographics}

{persnicketypelican}

{upup}

{jemellia}

{joshuabyoak}

{williamdohman}

...

In other news: Kelly {of Sweet and Simple} is giving away this adorable pale pink mum ring in gunmetal over at 6thstreetdesignschool:

I love the sweet color and elegant design. Be sure to enter the Giveaway by Sunday night!

Home Office

We're re-doing our office {just a few tweaks here and there} and I'm trying my best to put the finishing touches on it so I can share some pictures with all of you.

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite offices/office nooks from my inspiration files:

{NuestraVidaDolce}

{MakingitLovely}

My favorite characteristics of these offices are:

#1 ~ Use of interesting lamps and shades

#2 ~ Bold colors and patterns

#3 ~ DIY chairs and thrifted accessories

So, do you know of any other fabulous offices I should check out?

Garbage!

Rachael Ray charges $30 for this "Garbage Bowl"...

Do people actually buy these???

I can't decide which one I hate more! If you think this PLASTIC BOWL is worth $30, you are ridiculously gullible the ideal consumer.

Look:

I have a bowl that I use to hold discarded food...yet mine is from the Dollar Store! And guess what? My bowl does the exact same thing and I think it looks 10 times better than Rachael Ray's!

It just makes me sad that people are so easily deceived by commercials and gimmicks.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone who actually bought one of these garbage bowls. Please feel free to leave a comment, listing its redeeming qualities ~ if it has any ;)

Have you ever been suckered into buying a gizmo that you later realized you didn't even need?

Hilarious Blog + a Giveaway!

I stumbled upon this blog the other day and thought it was too funny not to share!

Maybe naming him Rimbaud wasn’t such a good idea.

haha, love it! Also, Dream in Domestic is having a Giveaway! Up for grabs is a $50 pillow from allmodern.com ~ swoon!

There are dozens of fabulous pillows to choose from, so hurry over and leave a comment on her blog...or don't...then I'll be more likely to win one! hehe ;)

Etsy Love

Here are some of my current favs from Etsy:

This print is lovely ~ not just for Valentine's Day, but for the whole year!

{MadeByGirl}

This necklace would make an excellent gift for a loved one ~ or for yourself!

{ChantelleNicole}

This pillow says it all, and with the aqua color, it's perfect for year-round decor.

{HoneyPieDesign}

This card really sums up true love!

{LovelyLittleNest}

Shameless plug: I now have an etsy store! I'll be selling cards, photos, and vintage finds. For now, I just have the aforementioned card listed.

It all started last week. We only use our debit card, so I asked Ben if he'd mind if I withdrew some cash from our bank account to buy him some stuff for Valentine's Day {that way, he wouldn't be able to login to our bank account and see what I bought him}. His surprising response was: "Please don't spend any money on me; Valentine's Day is for girls!" I couldn't just give him nothing, so I opted for a home-made card. After a little brainstorming, I decided to go with humor rather than mushiness. He always makes fun of me for being obsessed with Blogging and The Twilight Saga, so the card really says it all!

Question: Do you think Valentine's Day is just for women, or should it be an "equal-opportunity" Holiday? :)

Long Lost Twin

I've been wanting to buy a jewelry box for years, but something always stopped me. The ones I found were too formal or too casual or too small or too big or too expensive. Whatever the case, I haven't had a real jewelry box in about 10 years. Enter West Elm:

Don't you just love them?! The silver hardware, the beautiful lacquer finish. The white one is my favorite ~ so pretty!

However, I wasn't too keen on the $100 price tag.

Well, meet Joi {of Nuestra Vida Dolce} and her incredible Home Goods find:

I couldn't believe it ~ they're practically twins! But at $15, Joi's option was MUCH more appealing.

Unfortunately, if you've ever shopped at a store like Home Goods {or Marshalls or TJMaxx or Ross}, you know that the chances of finding the same thing in another Home Goods store are slim to none. So I didn't even bother looking.

Fast-forward 1 week. Ben and I had tried out a new church that just happened to be right down the road from Home Goods. I thought nothing of the jewelry box {since I'd already given up on that dream} and instead went in to window shop. While perusing a random isle, I glanced down and, hidden in the very back of a bottom shelf, was the jewelry box!! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say, I snatched it up and {after receiving approval from the hubbie} made it mine.

It now resides in our Master bedroom on my hand-me-down, bamboo Pier1 dresser:

Isn't it just divine? I love when my decorating dreams come true :)

Balance

Happy weekend to you all! :)

Turquoise!

In case you didn't hear...

Pantone Selects 2010 Color of the Year

The hue is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone's line of eco-friendly paint.

LAUREL PETRIELLO -- INTERIOR DESIGN, 12/14/2009

Hot and fresh out of the Pantone color guide is 2010’s color of the year, number 15-5519 Turquoise.

The global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, selected the luminous color based on its juxtaposition of tranquil blue notes and energizing green tones. In the essence of color therapy, the hue should evoke soothing, serene emotions, while restoring vigor, zest, and motivation.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many—taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

A universally flattering color with warm and cool undertones, Turquoise complements neutrals, reds, deep blues, greens, and yellows, making it exceptionally easy to translate to fashion and interiors. The hue is also one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of eco-friendly paint, which combine the accuracy of Pantone Colors with high-performance Dutch paints.

I have loved the color turquoise {and all of its similarly hued friends ~ aquamarine, mint, etc.} for YEARS, so I'm glad that the design world recognizes how wonderful it really is! :)