Decoupage gifts from Bombus. (A shop on the Etsy site.)

One of my favorites is the $1000 coffee table decoupaged in maps of London:



Leonard or Liz would enjoy the superhero platter ($84):



This is one craft I would seriously love to learn to do. I spent large portions of my childhood cutting pictures and comics out of the newspaper and making gluey collages.

Tags: links, shopping

We did not have a tree this year, but we will next year. The day after christmas, I scored a ton of 50% off holiday ornaments:
( Read more... )

As you can see, there is a theme of non-spherical shapes and glitter/decoration. Which led me to think hey, it might also be fun to buy some plain glass ornaments and paint them. Something Brian and I can do together next year.

I also went to the Hallmark store and got some 40% off wrapping paper, cards, and ribbon. This is really the best way to get this stuff. It's all part of my "next year I will be more prepared for xmas" promise that I think I probably make every year. But this is the first time I've actually gone out the day after christmas to get the half-price stuff.

Anyway. It's another quiet gray day and I have library books to read. Speaking of books, I joined Shelfari last night and spammed some of you to join up too. It's actually a pretty cool site. Hopefully they will launch more expanded browsing features soon.

Tags: shopping

I just went shopping online at the H&M of France -- La Redoute.

Backing up: a few weeks ago I discovered that I have somehow over the past five years or so earned 393 "rewards points" on my Visa, each the equivalent of a dollar. You can redeem them for cash or credit, but only in amounts divisible by 25. So, I redeemed $375 back to my Visa card and decided to buy some cheap fashiony clothing for fall.

Oh and also I used the promo code luckybreaks8 for an extra 25% off, AND didn't pay sales tax. Any of you girls out there, please be my guest and take advantage of that coupon. Here is some of what I'm getting in about ten days: ( the haul )

It was all so awesomely inexpensive, well, especially with the coupon. Having no income has finally put me on the cheap&chic H&M/forever 21/Zara fashion bandwagon!

I really hope it fits, but they have a good returns/exchange policy, so, no worries.

ETA: Before we moved I threw away/sold a LOT of old clothes, so this is going to help replenish quite a bit. As some of you know, I worked for Gap Inc for many years and the generous discount left me with a substantial wardrobe of their clothes. Recently I have been glad to branch out beyond those brands. I mean, they get a little boring, tbh.

Tags: shopping

There are certain things that, really, you only "need" one of. And yet, a lot of people have more than one. I was thinking about this the other day when I bought a second pair of sunglasses for the first time ever. It seemed weird to me to own two pairs. I dunno. Anyway I thought it would be a fun Friday poll. Whee!!!

Edited to add: If one of the extra things was a gift, it still counts. That explains my two digital cameras, by the way. Brian and I share the one we received for christmas a couple years ago, and I have a small cheapie one.


Poll #1008209 more than one
Open to: All, results viewable to: All

Do you own more than one digital camera?

Do you own more than one iPod (or MP3 player)?

Do you own more than one wristwatch?

Do you own more than one pair of sunglasses?

Do you own more than one wallet?

Do you own more than one computer?

Do you own more than one cellphone?

Tags: polls, shopping

So I went downtown today and did some planned shopping. I came away with a couple of cute summer dresses, hooray me. Then I had my makeup done at Laura Mercier. I had never tried this makeup before. It's actually pretty nice. So naturally I bought some eyeshadow, liner, and a couple brushes.

When I got home I decided to "edit" my makeup drawer. Or, throw a bunch of old stuff away. It felt both good and bad. I hate knowing that I probably spent $12 on some eyeshadow and only used it a few times and that was years ago so it's probably gone bad and I don't like the color anymore anyway. I dunno. I am not much of a makeup wearer. Especially stuff like foundation and concealer. I usually just do my eyes and put on some lip gloss.

I have gotten better about it though. No more impulse buys at Sephora, that's for sure.

Weather report: cool and foggy. I have just finished a bunch of housework. Brian is still at robot show. I think I'm gonna go out for a walk and get a cup of coffee. I don't think I can bear to watch the end of this stupid Giants game.

Tags: makeup, shopping

It's hot today and work has been boring. During lunch today I tried out some chanel nail polish. Very red.



Then I tried on this dress



Cute, but only with a cardigan, I think. I'm too modest for strapless, in general.

Then since I may have lost my sunglasses last week and it has been super bright lately, I bought some new ones (got 25% off, yay)



zzzzz

Brian is on his way to pick me up, huzzah.

Tags: shopping

I have been wearing the same $65 Swatch watch for like nine years now. I like it. It is now on its third battery. Nice work, Swatch!

I love my watch, but I think it's time for a second one. Maybe something different, more dressy, a different color, etc. I think I might get a stainless steel one from Coach that has a rectangular face and blue hands. I have a 25% off coupon I can use next week, I may just go for it then.

Or...

I was thinking, why not get this Cartier diamond watch instead? Amazon is selling this one for only $225,000 -- 19% off retail! And just check out these glowing reviews!

"I think that the price quoted here is wrong. I got this watch last year in China for $22.50."

"I recently came into some money and I was going to set up a fund to ameloriate world hunger, focusing primarily on Africa. I was also going to build a few schools in Cambodia. But then I saw this watch. Oh well."

"I took this watch home (delivered to work), and I laid it down on my rose petal-covered bed and made sweet, sweet love to it. After that, curled up on it, and went to sleep. I woke up in the morning, and it had gone out to forage for food...it came back and fried up a mess of game with quail eggs, and greeted me with a tender kiss as I yawned groggily. I smiled and caressed it's hand (the minute hand). Someone told me that money can't buy happiness, but my watch would disagree. My watch fights most of my battles for me now, and recently went out and stabbed my ex in the neck with a novelty letter opener. I love you, $1/4Million watch."

"I usually don't slum around with low priced watches like this, but I thought I'd purchase it as a gag gift for my wife. I know, I could've donated that money to a charity and fed a bunch of starving kids, but what fun would that have been? And cancer research is just soooooo 1990's, that I'd just as soon give the money to greedy orphans.

I do admit that it looks FAHbulous on my wife's wrist, but after wearing it for a few days, she wanted something a bit more high class. I was going to give it to the maid, but when I found out she would sell it to pay for her 5 year old son's operation, I realized she just didn't have the proper upbringing to appreciate such a fine watch. "Necessary surgery" indeed. I think it's sitting in a closet somewhere now."

Tags: shopping

I bought something from Bluefly.com a couple nights ago, and was dismayed to find this morning that they use DHL for their shipping carrier.

Everyone cross your fingers for me!

Oh and speaking of crossing your fingers and the initials D.H.L., my mom has a second interview today at a new dental practice, so please join me in sending as many postitive vibes northward as possible.

Tags: shopping

I got new sunglasses yesterday. They are green.



I am wearing one of my favorite t-shirts.

Today Brian and I walked to Tully's on Cole and had coffee, did a crossword together. Then Brian said he needed a better pillow, something with "memory foam". So we headed downtown on the train, straight for the home department in Macy's, which is the only part of that store that I like. We got some new pillows and sheets. It was all "on sale", but you can't fool me, Macy's, I know you pretend to do markdowns to entice people to buy. But it's cool. White sheets were needed. I haven't bought new sheets in years.

On the way back we were surrounded by people who had been to the parade, wearing green beads and hats. I kind of forgot to wear green... but my bra is sort of green, gray green...?

In other lingerie news: We ran the Roomba through the house this morning and it tried to eat one of my favorite pairs of black lace panties. BAD ROOMBA!! I saved them, though. They are just kind of dusty.

Tags: shopping