Category: Shopping

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Decorating Ideas

Although I don’t have a lot of money, I love to look at magazines and websites that showcase interior decorating. I like to fantasize about how beautiful my house could be “if only” I had plenty of money and the kind of family that wouldn’t break everything within two hours of the arrival of the items I had purchased! Today I was looking around at the domestications bedding section of a website that sells home and patio decor and was surprised to see that they were selling melamine serving ware for what I would consider a hefty sum of money!

I can remember when I first moved out of my parents’ house, my first set of dishes was melamine. I bought them because they were the least expensive set I could find. I was really pleased with them because they were not likely to chip or break, and they lasted a good long time. (I don’t remember whatever happened to them – did I donate them to charity?) Anyway, I was surprised to read the descriptions of these particular melamine products, how the descriptions said that melamine was highly valued for their durability. Made me wish I still had those plates (maybe they would be worth some serious money!)

But continuing to read the fine print about melamine, I saw that it is not recommended for use in the microwave, and that hand washing is recommended. The description said you could wash them in an automatic dishwasher but over time it would ruin the finish. Thinking about how almost all of my cooking is done in the microwave, and how much I use my dishwasher to wash my dishes, pots and pans, I was quite surprised to learn that there really is still a market for melamine dishware at all!

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Memorial Day garage sales

Around this area, Memorial Day weekend is the biggest yard, garage, estate and what ever type of sale one could ever want, weekend. I try to get up at the crack of dawn and get whoever is going with me around to be on the streets and roads by 8:00 am. It’s fun to make a girls day out of it. I’ve found though, lately my two sons have been wanting to come along. The problem with them going, is that they get tired of looking and road cruising, and then we have to take them back home.

This weekend, my daughters and I are planing on going to the sales and do some other shopping and errands that need to be done. It should be nice if the weather holds. Even if it doesn’t, I know of a lot of barn sales that are going on also. There are at least three flea markets we can hit that are inside, but with the temperatures staying on the warm side, it’s doubtful many garage sales or even tented sales will shut down.

 

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Looking for a You Tube review

I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned to rely on YouTube for product reviews on several things. Music instruments, for example. I will watch several YouTube videos about a product before deciding whether or not a product might be worth purchasing. Often the video demonstrates the product. So when Bob was telling me that he was thinking about buying a squier acoustic guitar for Jason, I went to YouTube to check out the reviews on the guitar. The only YouTube video I could find about that exact guitar was in Spanish. That was disappointing to me. The title of the video was in English, so I was expecting the guy doing the review to be speaking English.

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Easter and garden supplies out

I went shopping yesterday and could not believe it!! Easter items are out already. To me, this is getting a bit out of hand. I asked the store clerk how long they had been out, since it looked like the shelves were pretty much picked over and I hadn’t gone to that store in awhile. He told me they had stocked Easter things right after Valentines Day. (SMH)

The great thing though, is that the garden supply section is now nearly fully stocked. Looks like I’m going to get an even bigger jump on shopping this year for my garden. I’m at least excited about that!

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Bedroom and bed makeover

With the January sales upon us now, I’ve decided to get new bedding, starting with new mattress covers for my spare bedroom, which has twin beds. I know that I will undoubtedly have guests at some point in the near future, and since the spare bedroom has been needing somewhat of a makeover, I decided on starting with the beds first. There really isn’t anything wrong with the hand made quilts and such, but I want it to seem a bit more homey and inviting. Besides that, I use the spare room sometimes as a get away, to read and fall asleep in, and I want it to have more of my personality to it, along with a a touch of class, so to speak.

While I was looking for the covers, I found some really awesome satin pillowcases. I like these because I have really long and very curly hair, and if I don’t braid it before I go to sleep, I wake up looking sort of like someone who accidentally got stuck in a light socket. In other words, my hair is a total wreck, and I’ve found the satin pillowcases are great for sleeping on without wrecking one’s hair.

I’m also thinking about getting new bed skirts to match the quilts and comforters I have on the beds right now. The quilts are folded across the end of the beds in case it gets colder, and I really like the look of a bed skirts with the comforters. I’m looking forward to making this room more cozy, so I really can’t wait to go shopping for what I need. Who knows who the holidays may bring!

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Holiday shopping

Tomorrow I will attempt to battle the crowds and go shopping, something I’m not even looking forward to. I did get my youngest son the BMX bike he wanted already. He found one he’s wanted for months online, so I got that one for him. I think he’ll be a happy camper!

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Organizing the Spice Cupboard

This morning while I was looking for some cinnamon, I decided that I was in dire need of some kitchen spice racks. I opened the cupboard and I had an avalanche of spices fall out of it. My kids are all teenagers, or out of their teens now, and they have started to try their hand at cooking. Needless to say, they don’t put my spices back in the cupboard the way I like to have them, and since I have literally nearly every spice one can imagine, when they are finished cooking I can’t find what I’m looking for.

I have one wall in my kitchen, that I think a big wall spice rack would look great on and the spices would be organized plus close at hand for everyone to use. I like the idea of the spices to be displayed so we wouldn’t have to dig through the cupboard to find what we are looking for. I’m thinking about getting one for my baking spices, and then my cooking spices. Perhaps even one that would hold the various oils I use when I make candy.

My mom has some really nice looking spice racks that my sister got her for her birthday, and since she doesn’t have a whole lot of cupboard space, she has hung hers on the wall where everything is handy for her. I’m looking forward to getting rid of the clutter and have my spices organized.

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Portable battery chargers

My son was taking photos with my camera and even though I had bought really good battery’s they kept dying on him. He told me that I should get a portable USB charger battery. It made sense to me. With all the new items we have in the house and in the vehicles, getting one of the chargers would help a lot and cut down on the cost of having to keep buying batteries. I can’t believe the price of good batteries now and I really can’t afford to keep buying them. My camera was a major big deal to me, and I could not understand why the batteries kept being literally sucked dry.

I think my son’s suggestion is a good one, so I’m going to check it out. Certainly it will be less expensive than having to shell out money for all kinds of batteries like I have been doing. These would even help with cell phones dying and my laptop computer running out of power also. They work with MP3 players, iPods and other electronic items that the kids have. It gets to be an expensive pain, every time I have to run out to the store or shell out money for new batteries. So, I’m going to look into my son’s suggestion.

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Spring cleaning

Every spring I go through my house from top to bottom and throw out the old and bring in fresh new things. This year my focus will be getting new carpet in my living room and bed room. I will be looking for the best price and the best carpet when I start shopping for my new carpet. I have narrowed my choice of colors down to two shades of brown I need the brown due to my dogs and the amount of traffic these rooms have. As I get closer I will also look at the carpet outlets in near by Georgia to see if I can find a bargain.

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Finding Great Boston Luxury Real Estate

Okay I admit, I was  not “Big” on living in Boston or even visiting, until I did some reading about the lay of the land,  so to speak, and started looking into a site about Finding Great Boston Luxury Real Estate! Seriously folks…if you are the slightest interested in Boston big time luxury living, there are indeed places out there that are just right for you! Heck, I was even captivated by the homes presented to me!

What I saw were listings of some really awesome places that people could turn into homes in a heartbeat! Homes that would suit certain needs and wants without the hassle of trying to figure out the benefits all by one’s self.

I must say that I am impressed knowing I can get online and if I need to, I can find a great home to live in with minimal searching with this company!