Drinks, anyone?
Disclaimer: My taste tends towards the… whimsical, I guess… but any of the following would be fun wedding gifts for the couple who already has everything, I think. Or just, you know, fun to drink your own beverages out of!
The product box links to the white wine glasses in this series (it’s called “Cheers” and features a different etched pattern on each glass, which makes it easier to keep track of your drink). There are also ballon wine glasses, highball glasses, cordial glasses, double old-fashioned glasses, pilsners, and of course, the ubiquitous martini glasses.
Check ’em out. All are quality Mikasa lead crystal, and all the sets I’ve highlighted are half off and have free Super Saver shipping. (There’s more, too—have a look around.) And please… remember to drink and shop responsibly.
Beauty bargains
Save $10 off any order at Botanic Choice with code BARGAINS. Shipping is $4.95 in the contiguous United States; poke around for some good deals, like this beauty bag.
Not that I’m saying you have wrinkles, or anything. I just really like the idea of “facial mud.” Don’t ask.
Another weekend coupon from Overstock
Take $25 off of your $200+ order, from now until July 10th (at 2:00 PM EST, because Overstock is crazy like that).
If you haven’t caught on by now, Overstock does a promo coupon every weekend. Not that their everyday prices aren’t pretty good, already, because they are… but why not save as much as you can? I’ve got your coupons right here, baybee.
Don’t forget. . .
… about the Amazon Friday sale! Lots of neat deals to choose from this week, including a great starter sewing machine or (did you miss the sale on these, last time?) 600 thread count sheets.
Not that I’m encouraging you to spend money. I’m just saying, sometimes the bargains must be obeyed.
Bookcases should hold books, not particles
Stephanie knows where my Achilles heel is located. It is, in fact, quite a ways from my actual heel—about ten feet across the room, in fact.
I have a wall of books in my office at home, and my two children each have two shelves, which takes up about a third of my space. I want to kick them out of my bookcase and get them their own for their rooms so I will have more room for my books. Oh, did I say that? I meant, I want to get them their very own bookcases for their rooms so that they will be more encouraged to read and feel a sense of ownership for their books. Yeah. But they are so expensive! At super department stores, I find the ‘engineered wood products’ and laminate finish bookcases inexpensive, but they are cheaply made and not really very attractive. Where can I find real wooden bookcases that are big enough, sturdy enough, and doggone it, attractive enough, that will last them until I kick them out to find their own places (I mean, until they spread their wings and fly like the little angels they are into their own independent lives), and that will not empty the bank? Whew! Did you make it through all that? Like you don’t have enough to read during the day.
Right. Bookcases. Does anyone else wonder if the person who invented particle board was in it purely for the gag of the middle shelf bowing until all the books spill out onto the floor…? I’m sure particle board is great for lots of things, like… ummmmm… well, they sure do seem to use it a lot on design shows, but then the cameras leave before everything fall over… so… uhhh… okay, I’m not really sure where I was was going with that. Sorry. read more…
Oh, obviously. . . .
Thanks to Brenda for forwarding me the Daily Candy Weekend Edition. It features Tramp Lamps as a recommended buy, summing it up this way:
What: Teddies, bustiers, and corsets make for hilarious light fixtures.
Why: The lady is a tramp.
Oh, well then….
I’ll confess a certain ashamed fondness for Greta, but $145 for light-up lingerie? Um, no.
Used is not a four-letter word
Oh. Um, okay, yes, technically used is a four-letter word. But it’s not a bad word, is my point. Chag gave me the perfect opening to talk about this, although I guess I’m not supposed to mention that to his wife:
Mir–
I realize I am supposed to preface my email by telling you how smart and pretty you are, but since I’m a guy that might seem creepy. Plus if my wife were to read this… Can I just say I really dig your site?
Anyway, I haven’t seen you mention anything about the virtue of yard sales on your site. We buy most of our children’s clothing (they’re usually still in pretty good shape since kids grow out of stuff so quickly), a lot of our backyard playground equipment (I indirectly wrote about this on my site today; nothing beats paying $25 for a plastic castle that retails for over $350), and DVDs at yard sales.
Chag is wise. Listen to Chag. Yard sales can be your friend. But maybe you have some preconceived notions about yard sales, or other avenues of previously-owned items. So let’s really talk about this, the idea of buying things secondhand and being okay about it. read more…
Mmmmm. . . carbs!
I love bread. I love all carbs, but bread is my first love.
I asked for—and received—a breadmaker one year, long ago, when they were relatively new. It worked splendidly for about three weeks, then commenced burning the bottom of the loaf no matter what combination of settings I used. It was very sad.
I often think about replacing that breadmaker, and I still haven’t done it. This one here? It gets great reviews, it’s over 50% off, and it has free Super Saver Shipping at the moment. Plus it can make different size loaves without burning them, and it comes with an instructional videotape.
“Hey honey, wanna watch this tape with me? It’s all about how to best… bake bread. Rawwwwr!”
(Okay, maybe not. But it’s still a great deal for a breadmaker.)
Designer labels at department store prices
This is another of those “too rich for my blood” sorts of things, but if you love the big-name labels and have some disposable income on hand—though perhaps not enough to waltz into Nordstrom and grab whatever you like—check out the big sale at Scoop NYC.
I mean… I’m probably never going to own a pair of Kors Shoes… but if I won the lottery or something, I’d still wanna get this pair for $99 instead of $245. Just sayin’.
Freezers revisited
Ever since posting this piece on owning a freezer, I have gotten several requests for more information. Several of you have asked where to put a freezer if you lack a garage or a basement. Excuse me while I scratch my chin and look thoughtful.
(On the inside, I’m thinking: Really? No basement or garage? Where do you put stuff?? Also, what should I have for a snack?)
But back to you. It turns out that my financial acumen and general good looks just don’t translate into preternatural appliance feng shui, so the answer to “where else can I put a freezer?” is pretty much “heck if I know.” I mean, I wouldn’t advocate sticking a freezer in your bathroom, but other than that, if you can find the space and you’re happy with it, g’head.
I also opened up my big mouth and offered to share a freezer buying guide, and no sooner did folks chime in with “yes, please do that,” then I realized that my freezer buying guide goes something like this:
1) Decide what size fits in the available space.
2) Decide if that’s the size you really want, or smaller.
3) Compare prices/models online. (Remembering, of course, that you do not want a frost-free model. You want a “deep freeze,” whether a chest or upright.)
4) Go for the best Energy Star rating you can find.
5) Buy it during a sale (for stores like Sears) or with a 10% off coupon (for stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot).
And, um, I bet you knew all of that already.
But! Several people also challenged me on the cost of owning/operating a freezer, which was a very smart point to bring up. In digging around, I discovered that The Dollar Stretcher did a great piece on just that. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’m just going to point you over there. I mean, it’s not as entertaining as I am (and really, few things are), but there’s quite a few salient points deconstructed for consideration.
And I figured now was just the right time to share all of this, since many of you probably have hamburgers and hotdogs and other assorted charred foodstuffs coming out your ears at the moment. Land of the free, home of the barbecuers….
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