Shop the Unexpected

The summer has been busy as with the start of school, so I apologize for my disappearance. We've also been ill recently which hasn't helped with staying on top of the to do list. One thing I did want to share was a recent AWESOME purchase at a local resale shop. I am still in shock and still floating on cloud 9. I stopped in our Once Upon A Child (children's resale/consignment shop) to pick up a new rewards punch card and walked past Plato's Closet (tween resale/consignment shop) next door. I rarely, if ever, go into that shop but something inside me said to stop in. As I walked in, I looked around and thought, why am I in here...I'm not in the mood for clothes shopping...plus I really don't NEED anything else...until I looked across the store and spotted IT. Yes, the it I am talking about is an Orla Kiely square flowers midi sling purse in geranium.

I casually walked up to it thinking, they must have JUST put this out! Why hasn't anyone snatched her up yet?!? Expecting to be tackled for the find, everyone in the store continued to browse around as if I had picked up a plain black shirt. Still in awe, I checked it over expecting the price tag to be something like $85. I was just stalking, I mean - looking - at one on an online discount site. However, they sold out within 2 minutes of posting their sale. Ugh. To my surprise the price tag was $15 and it is in near perfect condition. Are you serious?!? I couldn't get up to the register fast enough. And then, get this...the girl rings it up and says, $7.87. Yes. I about fainted. It was 50% off...THAT day. Seriously?!? She asked if I wanted a bag and I mumbled something like I knew where my car was...that's how much in shock I was.

I left the store, got in to my car and let out a huge scream. I then drove to the nearest gas station and bought a lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn't win anything on the ticket, but finding that Orla Kiely purse at 3% of retail cost was just like winning the lottery for me that day. My advice ladies: listen to Clarence Clearance when he speaks to you and shop the unexpected. You'll never know what treasures you'll find!

Martha and George (x2) - sigh

Martha (Stewart) and two George (Washingtons), that is. Read on and then RUN, don't walk to your Big Lots store. Yes, you heard me correctly. Big Lots. For what, you ask? Well, two weeks ago I stumbled upon some very nice clearance items at our local Big Lots. MARTHA STEWART craft packages - all of her discontinued styles were nicely hung on two endcaps that literally called to me as we entered the store. What were we there for? I don't even remember I was so ecstatic after finding these...I think we were there for something to do with the moving sale or moving in general. It's all a blur after I found these...

But, I digress. I picked up a few of the awesome pink pom-pom kits that have been featured on blogs everywhere like here and here. And some really nice 'rainy day projects' making puppets and jewelry...some flower kits - you can never have too many of these. Prepackaged with the MS brand, makes for great last minute gifts for kids or hostess gifts.

And here's the stickler...all the kits are priced at only $2 each. Yup, you heard me right again. Two bucks a piece - two George Washingtons! Some are 90% off (oh the money you save!) Oh Martha...I've got my work cut out for me once we're settled at the new house...I will welcome winter and all the crafting I will be up to :) Check out this week's ad here. Like I said, RUN, don't walk - they won't last long at this price!!!

George and Martha were definitely made for each other this time around.

(photos courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Be sure to shop around!

So, paging through some recent catalog deliveries from the post office caused me to do a double take...if you are looking for a garden stool/glossy end table, be sure to shop around and let your fingers do the walking via internet before you hit the order button. Here's an example...I'm not looking to buy a garden stool, but was sure I had seen this in Tracy Porter's recent catalog (she's having a 40% ADDITIONAL off clearance sale - HURRY and enter clearance40 at checkout, she has some cute stuff left) and also in the latest Ballard Designs catalog.

Tracy Porter's garden stool comes in lipstick red (yummy) and measures 12" in diameter and 15.75" high...ceramic and priced at $360.00. You can get 20% off (purchases over $200, so this would qualify) and FREE SHIPPING...that red is just sooo nice! If you decide to order it, be sure to enter SWEET at checkout.


Ballard Designs garden seat comes in either lime or glazed white and measures 10.5" in diameter and 18" high...ceramic and priced at $139.00.


Depends on what color and size you want, but it sure does make sense to shop around to make sure you get the best deal for what you want.

(images courtesy of Tracy Porter and Ballard Designs)