I like free stuff.

This is a public service announcement to all who, like me, love free stuff.

First of all, the awesome Dina Kantor, who created this whimsical illustration for us, is doing a giveaway for one of her custom illustrations here.  I am, of course, totally entering.  Because Jellyby needs to be immortalized in one of Dina's fab drawings.

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Second, if you're celebrating Passover and need a little help, guidance, or inspiration, JewishBoston.com is offering a DIY seder kit, called "Seder in a Box."  It comes with all you need to run a seder, including a basic haggadah, seder plate, matzo cover, and even a few plastic frogs!  Best of all?  It's free!  Last I checked, they were running low on supplies, so if you want one, you'd better register now.

That's it: two opportunities for free stuff.  Don't say I never do anything for you.  ;-P

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End of Season Anthro Sale

It's a big sale day at Anthropologie today.  Here are my favorites of the sale items, including the oh-so-refined "Snowy Egret" dress.

Anthro Sale 11/23 by Jellyby featuring anthropologie jewelry

Did any of the items you've been lusting after make it on the sale rack today?

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Ooh! Gilt City Rocks Too!

Gilt City is having a promotion for $50 for $100 worth of merchandise at the Lauren Merkin online store.

Gilt.com

You might already know this, but I'm a bit of a bag hoarder.  And of all the bags I hoard, the ones that I use the most -- aside from the Orla Kiely shoulder bag I carry every day -- are my two Lauren Merkin clutches.

Lauren Merkin Louise Clutch

My black "Louise" goes with everything -- jeans, dresses, fancy things, casual things . . . totally all-purpose.

Eve Clutch

And for the extra fancy schmancy occasions, I have a gold "Eve" (like the "Louise" but slightly smaller) that is perfect with an LBD and high heels.

Need an invite?  Go here.

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Ooh! Groupon Rocks Today

The Boston Groupon today is $25 for $50 worth of merchandise at Nordstrom Rack.  Perfect for the jeggings I've been wanting.

You don't need to be in Boston to get the deal, so go there now.

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Cheap 'n Chic: Iron Ring Wall Mirror

I know giant starburst mirrors have been everywhere lately, and I don't blame you if you're totally over it.  And to tell you the truth, I thought I was too.  But then Copy Cat Chic found me an ginormous bargain over at HSN in the form of this Iron Ring Starburst Mirror, and suddenly I found myself unable to resist the starburst mirror trend.

Call up "Hoarders," because I have fallen into the rabbit hole that is HSN.  This mirror is, according to my husband, "heinous."  But I love it.  The frame is a coppery, rusty iron, which works well with the brass and patina that we already have going on in the living room.  And the rings are totally mid-century chic, bringing a bit of sexiness and curve to the area above our bar cabinet in the dining room.

Plus did I tell you that the mirror is $62.40, and is an uncanny replica of (if not exactly the same product as) this pricey Celeste Mirror, which retails at Williams-Sonoma Home for $195 (original price $350)? And don't forget the 2.5% cashback from Ebates.

Seriously, I am on a home decor bargain roll.

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Cheap 'n Chic: Lachlan Glossy End Table

I've been on the hunt for a Parsons end table that would fit over our subwoofer.  Sounds simple, right?  I found about a zillion Parsons-style tables, but all were either too expensive, like this Bungalow 5 one, or too small, like this West Elm one.

Then one night, in a fit of boredom, I surfed Overstock.com and landed on the Lachlan Glossy End Table, which came in white, red, and black.  It was $31.99, with $1 shipping and 5% cashback from Ebates.

Surely, I thought, this was too good to be true.  But the dimensions were exactly right for hiding the subwoofer, there was a sweet drawer for remote controls, and the red was not a bright fire-engine red but a more restrained brick red that seemed to not clash too terribly with our rug. And at $31.99, how could I not try it out?

And I'm pretty thrilled I did!

The table arrived today and took me all of 15 minutes to assemble.  It's got about the same footprint as the IKEA Lack table, but unlike the Lack, the similarly named Lachlan feels substantial, with the heft and feel of real wood.  And even though the table is made out of a combo of melamine and MDF, it looks like it's made of real wood -- you can even see the wood grain pattern through the shiny red lacquer paint.  I'm also pretty psyched about the color.

I'm fairly sure this is the smartest home-related purchase I've made yet, and I'm pretty proud of myself.  Woo hoo!  I think I will reward myself with a new Anthro purchase.

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Lay it on

There's kind of a ridiculous rug sale going on at Hautelook right now.  Here are some of my favorites, all at significant discount:

Rug market by Jellyby on Polyvore.com

Unfortunately, we need something a bit less graphic, more textured for our living room, so there's nothing here for us.

The shopping continues!

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Blissliving Sale at Rue La La!

Ruelala is having a SERIOUS sale today on Blissliving duvet sets, sheets, pillows, and shower curtains.

I loved chinoiserie pop of the "Ashley Grey" duvet set ($99!) and snatched it up immediately:

Ashley Grey Duvet Set

But how adorable is my eponymous violet birdies duvet set?  See:

Amanda Duvet Set

Or how about something with a mod, Viceroy Hotel look:

Anis Duvet Set

If you're into something a bit less graphic, more easy-living chic, check out the minimalist lines on the Lucca:

Lucca Duvet Set

For an unexpectedly modern throwback look, how about this toile-like "West Lake Royal" pattern:

West Lake Royal Duvet Set

I could go on and on . . . but you should just go check out the sale yourself!

We have Blissliving's Amelie duvet set on our bed right now, and it's not just lovely to look at but oh-so-soft to the touch.

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Rue La La Wedding Sale

Even though we got married over a year ago, I was nonetheless weirdly thrilled to discover that Rue La La is having a wedding-themed sale today.

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A number of gorgeous Nicole Miller dresses are on steep discount, including this Grecian number, which I will be wearing in the fantasy second wedding in my dreams:

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(Don't worry, in this fantasy wedding, I'll still be marrying my husband.  Unless he does something to piss me off tonight, in which case I'll be marrying Mark Ruffalo.)

Back to reality.

They also have some gorgeous china patterns on sale, including Lenox's "Chirp," which would be so adorable in the Anthropologie-esque house that Mark Ruffalo and I inhabit in my dreams:

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. . . and "Guilded Tapestry," which looks crazy busy in this photo, but is beautiful in person:

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Click here for an invite to Rue La La if you need one.

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Brimfield Reality

Sigh.  I went all the way to Brimfield, and all I got were these photos:

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.  Winnie the Pooh's head in the right background

Depression glass.  So named because their prices made me depressed.

Vintage Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books.

Shelves full of jadeite and milk glass.

Buoys!

Vintage Polaroid set, complete with camera, film, and carrying case.

Old chemistry paraphernalia.  Or a retro meth lab.

Bookends galore.

Spice, coffee, tea, and candy tins.

Vintage food wrappers and packaging.

A friend and I arrived at Brimfield at noon, which is fairly late by antiquing standards: from the accounts I've read of the Brimfield experience, the big-time buyers -- sourcers for major antique stores, decorators and stylists, et al. -- are in line before the fields even open.  Armed with a big ol' bundle of cash, they tornado through the 5000+ dealers, buying anything and everything great, until they have trailers full of stuff.

We, on the other hand, were left with the dredges and the goodies we couldn't afford (why, oh why, were a gorgeous set of brass penguin bookends $250??).

This is my second time at Brimfield, and while it's a lovely way of spending an afternoon -- lots of sun, kooky people, erudite and passionate vendors/collectors, and food (kettle corn!) -- I think I have to acknowledge that my eye is not sharp enough nor my purse deep enough to really do well at an antique fair.

Oh well, at least the chipmunks and I had a moment.

Have you ever been out to Brimfield or a similar antique show?  Did you have any success finding bargains?

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Brimfield Dreams

A friend and I were thinking of hitting up the Brimfield Antique Show later this week.  On my shopping/browsing list?

Mismatched vintage wood frames and mirrors.

Skona Hem

Skona Hem

Small tray table or funky wood end table.

Skona Hem

Emma's Design Blog

Mercury glasses and other small vases.

Skona Hem

An ottoman that I can refurbish.

Skona Hem

Of course, I doubt I will actually be able to find any of these items, but it's worth a look, right?  Have you been to Brimfield?  What's on your flea market/antique fair list?

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"I'm saving by spending."

As you know, I love to shop.  And even more so, I adore bargains.   This drives my husband crazy, as he is convinced, with all of his b-school training, that there is no such thing as a bargain: where there is a sale, he says, there was a mark-up.

"Is that a sale over there?"

Well boo to him and his nay-saying.

I just discovered today that Overstock has opened a new, invitation-only shopping site called Eziba.  I just checked out the site, and it looks like it's fairly similar to One King's Lane or the Gilt Groupe home sales section.  Today, for example, they had Kitchenaid mixers at 50% off.  And tomorrow (Friday), they'll have the Cricut Cake machine (which would be awesome if I could bake).  Here's an invitation, if you're interested.

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While I'm at it, I thought I might as well share my other favorite invitation-only shopping sites:

Gilt Groupe

Of course, my longstanding favorite is still Gilt Groupe.  When I was wedding planning, Gilt was the source for some of my favorite dress bargains, including the tres chic Badgley Mischka cocktail dress I wore for my rehearsal dinner.  Now that I am an old married lady and have no reason to dress up anymore, the section I browse first is the home sales.  I mean, how excited was I to score my new living room rug last week?

Here's an invitation.  They're having a Kitchenaid sale on Friday.

One King's Lane

One King's Lane is like Gilt Groupe (timed sales, some pretty great bargains), but for furnishings, housewares, and decor items only.  I haven't shopped from them all that often, but they sometimes have surprising sales on quirky and fun items like office essentials from Russell + Hazel or Orla Kiely.  I also like browsing their weekend designer tag sales, even though I could never afford to do anymore than browse.  (And if you like to throw $8000 on an old barn door, this blog is probably too ghetto for your tastes.)

Here's an invitation.  They're having a sale on teak outdoor furniture, among other things, on Friday.

Rue La La

Rue La La is a lot like Gilt Groupe: timed sales on men and women's fashion and on home goods.  Aside from shearling boots, I haven't purchased anything from them.  But there's always a lot of tempting goodies, like the Paige Premium Denim sale on Saturday!  Here's an invitation.

Haute Look

Like Gilt and Rue La La, Haute Look has timed sales on fashion and home goods.  The lines they feature don't seem to be as high end as Gilt, but consequently, the prices are somewhat more palatable.  I haven't made any purchases from them yet, but here's an invitation if you need one.

Ideeli

Ideeli initially had a two-tier model, in which those who paid for premium access had first dibs on sales, and all the hoi polloi didn't really have a shot of finding anything worth buying.  But they've recently changed their model to be more like Rue La La and Gilt, and I think they've done away entirely with the hierarchical sales access.  Here's an invitation.

Swirl by Daily Candy

Swirl is Daily Candy's attempt to seize on the Gilt Groupe trend.  I haven't ordered anything from there yet, but here's an invitation.

Snappy Tuna

Snappy Tuna is like One King's Lane, except its inventory is mostly kitchen stuff.  It's pretty new, so I haven't had the chance to familiarize myself with the site and its quirks.  But here's an invitation; check it out and tell me what you think.

Groupon and BuyWithMe

I've been finding my best bargains lately on Groupon and BuyWithMe.  Through these new social media bargain sites, I've gotten amazing deals on cupcakes, a photography session for Jellyby, and custom photobooks.

Ebates

Lastly, do you know about Ebates?  When you use Ebates as a portal for shopping, the site gives you a cut of their referral fee, which is a small rebate that is a percentage of your purchase.  There are so many stores on this site -- from Crate and Barrel to Ebay -- that it's silly to make any internet purchase without first checking whether there's a rebate via Ebates.  (Rebate via Ebates.  Say that a few times fast.)

Ok, that's all I've got.  Please share your favorite bargain sites!!!!!

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Surya Flatweave Rugs on Sale at Gilt!

If there's one home decor thing that I'm reluctant to spend lots of $$$ on, it's rugs.  In between all the visitors traipsing through our house and Jellyby the shih tzu using every piece of textile as her own personal napkin and backscratcher, rugs don't stand a chance of staying pristine in this household.  (Seriously, just as I was typing this, my husband just spilt a plate full of soy sauce on the floor. Charming.)

That's why I was pretty excited to see Surya flatweave rugs on sale at Gilt Groupe today.  We have this Surya in our bedroom (which I'd purchased previously through Overstock.com), and it's cheap, chic, and stands up to a lot of wear, tear, and scrubbing:

So I purchased one today in the same pattern but a different color for our living room:

A variety of patterns and colors are part of the Gilt sale, so definitely check out the possibilities:

All photos from Gilt Groupe

Not yet a Gilt member?  Get your invite here.  And see the rest of the patterns here.

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John Derian for Target . . . at Gilt!

I've been all tingly inside ever since I heard that John Derian, well known for his whimsical, decoupage-style home accessories, was coming out with a Target collaboration.  But then I found out that Target's corporate donation arm has not exactly been acting in ways that square with my ethics, and I'm not so excited anymore. :-(

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Anyway, this is just a PSA to point out that while the collection doesn't arrive in Target stores until September, Gilt Groupe is doing a sneak-peak and early access sale on items from the John Derian, Mulberry, and Tucker collaborations.  The sale starts this Friday, 8/20, at noon EST.

Here are the some items that caught my eye:

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I adore the phrenology tray (top right) above.

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And this maze tray.

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And the blue lattice frame.

Check out the rest of the lookbook here.  And get your invite to Gilt Groupe here.

Are you looking forward to Target's new collaborations?   Or are you staying clear of Target on account of their political practices?

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Holiday . . . it would be so nice.

For a bargain lover like me, this weekend is a very very special weekend.  No, it's not my birthday (though it sort of feels like it.)  It's not even an Anthropologie sale.

But it IS the annual tax-free holiday in Massachusetts!  (I know, those of you in New Hampshire are laughing at me, not with me.)

Since we're in the market for living room furniture, I've been talking with a lot of retailers in advance of the weekend.  Quite a few of them didn't know the rules, so ever the intrepid lawyer, I took it upon myself to do a bit of research on the mass.gov website.  If you'll be making purchases this weekend, here's what you need to know:

• Only certain items qualify for the exemption.  This includes items purchased for personal use only (not business).  Among the items it doesn't apply to are motor vehicles, tobacco items, services, and meals.
• The exemption applies only on qualifying items retailing for less than $2500.  BUT -- and this is very important -- if you're purchasing multiple items, so long as each individual item is under $2500, there is no upper limit on the tax-free amount you can purchase.  So don't let Best Buy or Design Within Reach tell you that they need to invoice each item separately.  That's just bullshit to get you to pay multiple delivery fees.
• Internet sales are also included in the tax-free holiday, so long as the item(s) are paid for in full this weekend and even if the delivery date is later.
• Unlike in previous years, alcohol is included in the exemption.  So purchase your holiday bubbly early!

If you're interested in the nitty gritty, all the details are available from the mass.gov website here.  The website also has lots of helpful examples to clarify the rules.  I'd suggest taking a printout of the applicable page with you on your shopping trips, so that you can gently, but authoritatively, remind clueless sales clerks of the rules.

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We'll be taking advantage of the holiday to splurge on my beloved Noguchi table.  Oh how it makes my heart go pitter patter.

If you're in Massachusetts, will you be going shopping this weekend?  What's on your must-buy list?

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Flor Sale

Remember our Flor stair makeover?  Those carpet squares are genius.  And now they're on sale.  

15% off all styles during the "private sale" (July 6-23).  Order with code FMQA3W at Flor.com.

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Le Creuset on Ruelala

Attention Kitchenistas: A limited selection of Le Creuset is on deep discount at Ruelala.

via Ruelala

Not a huge selection of colors, but some cheerful ones available nonetheless.  Here's your invite.

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