Mission: Furnish and Decorate a Home On the Cheap

As we inch ever so slowly closer to home ownership (a process plagued with hurdles and numerous hoops through which we’ve had to jump), I’ve taken to stalking Craigslist like it’s my job. A couple of weeks ago I scored this pair of solid oak end tables for $50. I basically stole them they were so cheap. Eventually they’ll be painted and get new drawer pulls, but for now they’re languishing away in our den waiting to be moved to the new house. Once they’re all gussied up, they’re going into the master bedroom where we’ve always been sadly lacking nice bedside tables.

Once I had acquired the tables, I couldn’t get lamps out of my brain. I fell in love with these jade colored glass lamps from Pottery Barn when Ashley of Ashley Brooke Designs posted a photo of her bedroom (and subsequently, the lamps) on Twitter. I was even tempted to get them when I wandered into Marshalls on a whim. Low and behold, they had two gorgeous turquoise lamps, perfect for the bedroom. They were $29.99 each, but only set me back $45 after using a merchandise credit from a return. The much pricier Pottery Barn lamps, at $99 each, were momentarily forgotten, but I think I have a plan for them in our living room down the line.

So I got home last night from shopping and running errands. Mike is out of town for a few days so I decided to watch Julie & Julia and bake cookies. I got dinner on the stove and was trolling around Craigslist, yet again, when I happened upon a table with four chairs for $150. The table in our house currently is our landlord’s so I’ve been keeping an eye open for a decent set that wouldn’t set us back thousands of dollars. With Mike out of town, I impulsively decided to call up the guy who had listed the table and chairs to explain that I wasn’t sure they’d fit in my Volkswagen Rabbit. He graciously offered to deliver them and an hour later I had a table and four chairs showed up at the front door. For $150. The chairs are my favorite part – they’ve got great Quaker lines, which I adore.

So there you have it, my recent cheap finds as I attempt to block out the stress of actually buying the house itself by dreaming up lots of renovation and decorating ideas. And stalking Craigslist on a very regular basis.

Holiday Decor from Anthropologie

Ok, friends, I promise my next post won’t be about the holidays. (No, really, I swear.) But, honestly, Anthropologie’s holiday decor is too good not to share. I love these pretty little ornaments and this very cool tree topper. I’d like one of each. Please and thank you.

{Photos from Anthropologie.}

Deliciously Girly Aprons at Anthropologie

I swear, one of these days I’m going to post about something other than things I want to buy. Today, my friends, is not that day. My latest obsession is the deliciously pretty collection of girly patterned and bow-bedecked aprons at Anthropologie. Yes, if you didn’t know, Anthro sells aprons. And, yes, they are fabulous.

As per my usual, I will take one of each, thank you very much.

{Aprons from Anthropologie}

Oh so fresh.

Last week I traveled to NYC for work for a few days. There isn’t typically much time for shopping or dancing about like a tourist while in town, but this time around I did manage a quick little trip around the block where I was hanging out for work to do some shopping during lunch. It was a hot, sticky and smelly day and feeling the need to smell something, well, fresh, I wandered into fresh on Broadway. I am basically in love with everything fresh makes, but somehow I had kind of forgotten that in recent months. (Funny how planning a wedding can suck the life out of your shopping obsessions, eh?)

I fell in love with their new Sugar Lip Treatment, but what I couldn’t leave without was their intoxicating Sugar Lemon eau de parfum. It is such a citrusy and vibrant smell, both deliciously fragrant but really sophisticated. I am basically addicted. It might be a little bit early for this, but I vote that Santa Claus (or my husband, for that matter) takes note and stocks up so my stocking is overflowing with goodies from fresh. Yum!