September Deals & Steals

So sorry for not posting on Friday, peeps. I had every intention of doing so, but got smacked down by a really random virus that clogged up my sinuses and made me into a zombie version of myself. I'm finally feeling like myself again - only took two days in bed, some NyQuil and extra strength Mucinex.

Oh, and some Starbucks. ;)

Anyway....when I wasn't feeling like a total zombie I got inspired by a fellow blogger (albeit a much better known one than yours truly). Some of you might be aware of Emily Henderson's Trolling Cragislist post series, where she posts the most intriguing Craigslist design finds from different cities.

I like it so much that I'm going to do my own twist on it: a monthly post series about some of the most character-filled bargains I've found in the Chicago area via a variety of sources, whether it be garage sales, thrift stores or Craigslist. Although, let's face it, a lot of the stuff I find will likely be on Craigslist because I don't have time to be driving all over the ding dang place looking for bargains.

Here's a snapshot of some awesome stuff I've found this week. Please note that some of these items may or may not still be for sale.

Happy bargain shopping! :)

1.) Two Butcher Blocks for $500, Craigslist. This would be a great addition to a cookie-cutter kitchen to give it a more rustic look.

2.) Pine End Table, $35, Craigslist. This would be an easy one to paint and add new hardware to in order to make it your own. Plus it's in really great shape!

3.) Solid Wood Long Dresser, $150, Craigslist. Ohhhhh my. I'm kind of in love with this one. I can SO picture sanding it down, painting it another color, and adding some nifty hardware to make it mine. 

4.) Unique Armchair, $35, Craigslist. Definitely a unique-looking chair that can be easily spruced up and re-upholstered.

5.) Wood Windows, $20 each, Craigslist. I can find about a dozen decorative uses for these puppies. Come to mama.

Anyone else find any awesome bargains lately (on Craigslist or otherwise)? Sharing is caring, my friends.

Another Day, Another Tchotchke for the Console Table

As I've told you before, I've been on the hunt for reasonably-priced, child-friendly decor for the console table I got for a steal from Pottery Barn a few months back. It's not like I go out of my way to find these kinds of things, since that strategy rarely works for me. To those that it does work for, I am immensely jealous and demand to know your secrets.

One day not so long ago, I decided to take a whirl around the clearance rack at Target (aka "Tarjay" for us fancy folks) for kicks and grins. I was pleasantly surprised to see this cute little number sitting there looking pretty. Checked the price tag, and it was originally $20....marked down to $5.

Ohhhhhhhh yeah. Come to mama.

Here's how the entire kit 'n kiboodle looks so far. Not to shabby, eh? I'm thinking one or two more decorative items should do the trick for the time being.

Anyone else find any steals/deals from Tarjay (or anywhere else) lately? Have any strategies on how to actually find what I'm looking for when I want/need it?

What's Old is New Again | Affordable Decor and Home Improvement Resources in Chicagoland

Although I have a tendency to invest in high-quality furniture that will last, I admit that I far prefer making something old new again. A lot of older furniture is a lot more solidly-built than it is nowadays (unless you want to sacrifice your child's future college education fund), and when I get it at a bargain I don't feel *as* guilty making it my own. In lieu of getting something old/used, I'm willing to shell out for a well-constructed piece - as long as it's super-clearanced. Because I'm cheap frugal and careful with my money.

If I may be so bold, I have a knack for finding deals and steals on furniture and other home decor. Often I'm asked where I am able to snag such deals. Well, today's your lucky day: I'm going to share my secrets to obtaining cheap home stuff. Some of them aren't so secret, and others may be a revelation. Either way, I'm hoping this will help some of you save some some moolah while sparking some creativity.

Are you excited? I know I am!

Source

1.) Habitat for Humanity ReStore - It shocks me how many people don't know about this place. It's essentially a thrift store for home improvement supplies and furniture. This is where I got my $10 lamp that I spray-painted for the kitchen. If you're doing a full-scale remodel, it's worth checking this place out for deals before heading to Home Depot and the like, especially on kitchen cabinetry.

2.) Crate & Barrel Outlet Store - It's super difficult for me to go into this store and come out empty handed. This is where I got my pendant lights for the dining room and kitchen (one was marked down to $30 from $249!!). I would highly suggest bringing someone rational with you so you don't get too crazy with all of the deals to be had.

3.) Land of Nod Outlet Store - This is a great one for kid furniture and decor. To be perfectly honest, the stuff at the outlet store is still expensive, but if you're looking for quality pieces that will last the duration of your kid's childhood that isn't as expensive as it is in their regular retail stores, this is the place to go.

4.) Craigslist - I know I'm stating the obvious here, but hear me out. Craigslist is great if you have something specific you want and are willing to wait until someone else is willing to sell for a good price. This is how I found the white dresser for Owen's room and my desk - all for $100! I basically semi-stalked Craigslist for about a week until I saw the dresser and desk I was looking for, and promptly pounced.

5.) Goodwill/Salvation Army/Other Thrift Stores - Again, stating the obvious. The key here is being patient and having an idea of what you want/need before perusing their shelves. Often I find what I'm looking for quite out of the blue when I least expect it, so make sure you build in that time.

6.) Moving Sales - Notice how I didn't say garage/estate/yard sales? Moving sales are where it's at, people. Usually the reason why this is the case is because when people are looking to get rid of stuff before they move, they have no room for them at their new place, which usually means the furniture is newer and better quality than what you typically find at garage/yard sales. I actually snagged a Pottery Barn side table from a moving sale for a cool $40 - I looked up the in-store price, and it was closer to about $300. Can you say SCORE?! You can usually find out about these sales either on Craigslist or in your local newspaper, or even just driving around and looking for moving sale signs.

I know there are lots more that I didn't include in this list - particularly a couple I've been meaning to check out in Lisle and Lombard - so, let's consider this the start of what will likely be a pretty lengthy list. Anyone in the Chicagoland area have any other suggestions? I'm all ears, peeps.

Knick Knacks and Odds 'n Ends

Remember when I told you about the console table we finally found a home for and that I was on the hunt for stuff to decorate it? I'm still on the hunt overall, but did end up finding this gem at Goodwill for the low, low price of 99 cents.

Granted, it didn't look pretty. What others saw as a sad excuse for a fake pumpkin, I saw a diamond in the rough. I ran out to Lowes and grabbed some navy spray paint and went to work. Since I wanted to be lazy efficient, I got the Paint & Primer in one.

Here's the final spray-painted product. Looks a lot less sad, right?

Since I've been on a bit of a nautical kick lately, I freehanded an anchor with acrylic paint. Just because, ya know, I can.

Pretty spiffy, eh? All in all it cost about $5 with the paint, and didn't take too long at all (like 15 minutes total....it took longer for it to dry than painting it!).

Anyone else spruced up any thrift store finds lately? Do share!

Why is it....

....you ALWAYS find the one thing you're looking for when you least expect it?!

Seriously, am I the only one this happens to? Like when we bought our couch. We searched for months for the perfect one and failed. Miserably. Then, one day at the mall we happened upon a Pottery Barn and fell exhausted onto the first couch we could find and it was like God Himself smiled down and said "THIS IS THE COUCH FOR YOU!!"

Source

Well, it happened yet again last Saturday when we happened upon a floor sample sale at our local Pottery Barn. We wandered in with Owen in the stroller and stumbled across a glorious console table that would look perfect behind our couch (or in our dining room, or as a media center...let's just say it has possibilities!).

The price at the store was $479. My smart, wonderful, handsome husband asked the saleslady if we could get it for $400. She checked and I think she was going to refuse us the discount until....

She saw THIS face.

And melted. We didn't get it for $400, but she did mark it down to $440! The lesson here folks? If you want an extra discount, bring something cute with you for the salespeople to gush all over, like a happy baby or a puppy (okay, maybe not the puppy...but you get the gist).

For those of you wondering how we were able to use our child's cuteness to score a decent discount, here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Before entering the store, make sure your child is fed and content, otherwise instead of getting a discount you could get kicked out and have no chance in hell at getting your dream piece of furniture. And we don't want that.
• Be polite and friendly – say hello to the salespeople, exchange pleasantries, talk about the weather, etc. But let’s be real – the true purpose of this is to let them get a gander at your adorable munchkin. Bonus points if you’re able to convince your kid to smile and wave.
• Wander around the store, peeking at price tags while simultaneously tickling/making goofy faces at your offspring. This will continue their good mood (see bullet #1).
• When you find the one you want, have one parent grab a salesperson while the other takes off with the baby. Again, going back to bullet #1 – you gotta keep the kid amused. You can also use this as an opportunity to change his/her diaper, further enhancing their mood and lessening any potential stinkiness.
• Go back to said piece of furniture while the other parent is in the heat of negotiations. Introduce yourself and your child.
• Watch your child work his/her magic on the salespeople.
• Achieve additional discount.
• Give your child a cookie and a toy with the money you saved from the discount.

Once we figure out where the heck we want to put it - and whether or not we want to remove the wheels - I'll post some update pics.

 In the meantime, any suggestions on where it should go?

Oy with the lighting already.

Anyone ever watch Gilmore Girls? It's one of my all-time favorite TV shows for so many reasons. It's so well written, Stars Hallow is super-cute, the townsfolk are such unique characters, and Lorelai is just so damn hilarious. Like when she spews out one of her many (many, many) one-liners, my favorite of which is "Oy with the poodles already!" And voila! Instant blog post title inspiration, courtesy of Lorelai Gilmore (well, really more Amy Sherman-Palladino, but same kinda thing, right?).

Source: http://oy-with-the-poodles-already.tumblr.com

So anyway, remember last week when I posted about my new super-awesome-happy-time kitchen pendant lamp I snagged at Crate & Barrel Discount Heaven for only $30? Well, on that same trip I also picked up another pendant lamp - not as super-discounted ($90, down from $199), but still a lot more reasonably-priced than it normally is.

I'll post more after photos of the entire room once I clear off the table and make it look less like a dumping ground for groceries that haven't quite made it to the pantry and more like...well, a dining room. Be glad I spared you the mess that's currently on it - we're all recovering from a wicked cold virus that has left us with just enough energy to keep us, the cats, and our child alive and mostly sanitary, which unfortunately meant the house wasn't as...er..."neat" as it normally is.

Quite an upgrade, wouldn't you say?

Maybe I'll even name the new lamp, since, like Lorelai, I have a penchant for naming inanimate objects (like my computer, which I named Fiona because it's an Apple. Get it? FIONA APPLE?! I'm sooooo witty).

Source: http://oy-with-the-poodles-already.tumblr.com

A spot for baby.

My son's room was one of the first areas I tackled when we moved into our house last year. I wanted a space that could grow with him - too often I see fancy-schmancy nurseries with chandeliers and lace and ruffles that have to be completely changed around once the kid grows out of it in a year or two.

Based on my experience, here are some words of wisdom to moms prepping their nursery for their bundle of joy. Of course, feel free to take these with a heaping grain of salt - always do what's best for you and your family!

• Try to buy most furniture used if you can, although you shouldn't get a drop-down side crib per the new safety standards. Craigslist is a great source for this kind of stuff - in fact, the dresser I bought off a Craigslist seller for his bedroom was only $50. That's compared to the $600+ that Buy Buy Baby wanted for something similar. 
• Make your own nursery art or support artists on Etsy or at local shops. That way, you'll have some unique pieces and (hopefully) won't overpay for cookie-cutter artwork. I created almost all of the art for my son's room, and not only did I have a blast doing it, but I'm stoked that he can point to them one day and proudly say that his mom made them for him. Ahhh the little things. :)
• Find one item to splurge on. For me it was the rocking chair and ottoman, which ended up costing around $650. It was a HUGE help in feeling comfortable while feeding my son, and I don't regret this purchase one bit. Heck, I feel like it helped prevent what would otherwise have been inevitable visits to the chiropractor. 

Just some samples of my quirky sense of humor.

We have a light!

The light fixtures in our house are so obviously the ones that came with it. You know the ones - brassy, with clear glass and light bulbs that will burn your eye sockets to a pulp if you dare to glance directly at them. Yeah, those lights.

In a desperate attempt to stave off the Seasonal Affective Disorder that I have been afflicted with for what seems like years at this point, I drove my family to a neighboring suburb and somehow blundered into Crate & Barrel Discount Heaven (otherwise known as their outlet store).

I knew I didn't want the typical chandelier for the kitchen/dining room areas, so I was excited to find the following too-cool-for-school option:

I'm sure you noticed the $249 price tag. Although this quirky bunch of teak love was right up my alley, there's no way I would ever spend that much on a hanging lamp.

I checked the price tag, and the total came to...

$30.

No, that is not a typo. It was indeed a cool $30. Granted there was some scuffing on the inside of the lamp, and a couple of minor scratches on the outside, but it was still structurally sound. My reaction can pretty much be summed up as follows:

My handyman hubby installed it later that day. I'm super in love with it, although I'm still debating whether or not to paint/stain the outside once the weather warms up....we'll see how I feel in a month or so.

*Please note that this is not an official endorsement of Crate & Barrel - these are my personal thoughts and opinions.