The Thrill of the Hunt

I am an avid bargain hunter. As a lower-middle class kid, I was forced to do most of my back-to-school clothes shopping at thrift stores, which I loathed. Soon, I developed an eye for funky, vintage pieces and created my own, unique "look." Eventually, I learned to enjoy shopping at thrift stores and came to love the hunt for fabulous finds at bargain prices.

Today, I still love the hunt. I have more money than my family did then, but I'm certainly not rich. With a professor husband and me in publishing (not too terribly well-paid careers), I'm always on the lookout for a good deal. And now that we're beginning to spend thousands of dollars on trying to start a family, my hunting skills are in even higher demand.

So, on the chance that there may be some other bargain hunters out there, I've decided to start what will hopefully become a semi-regular post topic: The Thrill of the Hunt. With these posts, I'll share my latest killer bargain finds.

This week I found this cute little Moroccan Plant Stand from Collections Etc. It reminds me of the Moroccan Tables at Garnet Hill. The Garnet Hill tables cost $128, which isn't too bad, and they're probably made with higher quality materials. But if you're on a tight budget, the Collections Etc. table might be more your speed since it will only put you out by $14.99! Ah, I love a good bargain.
Happy Hunting!

The Power of Paisley

I must confess: I have a thing for paisleys, and you'll probably wind up seeing a lot of them posted here over time.

As Wikipedia will tell you, paisleys are Persian in origin, but their name comes from the Scottish town of Paisley. To many, it is an ancient symbol of fertility. To a few, it is a conduit for demons. To most of us, though, it's a curvy, versatile motif, at once funky and elegant.

I think paisleys look good on everything, and here are a few current examples.

Love this Paisley and Leather Settee from Horchow. In fact, they've got several really cool paisley items currently, like this collection of Paisley Gold Dinnerware and these nifty Paisley Desk Accessories, which I'll never be able to afford.



































For more lovely paisley prints, check out this Putu Weekender Bag from Wrapables, these Privo Paisley Thong Sandals from Garnet Hill, Charles Keath Penzance Chair Cushions, and the Bronze Paisley Charlotte Table Lamp from PoshLiving.

I Heart Cost Plus

Last month, James let me get the buffet and hutch I've been coveting (the Sourav from Cost Plus World Market). Of course, if money were no object and I could have the buffet and hutch of my wildest dreams, it would probably be some glorious antique or some intricately carved piece from Persia or something. But...money is an object, and luckily, Cost Plus has some really cool stuff in a range we can afford. I got the Sourav pieces during their recent 40% off sale. So, with tax and delivery (which we arranged independently), we spent under $800. What a deal! It's really well made too. The sheesham wood is very solid and very heavy. I was pleasantly surprised.

So, now I can move on to coveting the matching Sourav dining table and chairs and the beautiful Safi cabinet and side table. Unfortunately, I think they're phasing out the Safi cabinet, so by the time I've saved up for it, they'll probably be gone. Sigh....