My dears, I am WOUND UP. My parents are in town, and my mother and I went shopping yesterday and we had one of those days when everything in the stores was there specifically for us. I bought a COUCH: we were at a consignment shop, and it was as if someone had designed a retro couch specifically with me in mind, and then priced it using some sort of bizarre retro pricing. It may or may not fit in our wee 1800s living room (actually a parlor) but WE SHALL SEE. Live recklessly, that’s the Swistle way for sure! Here’s a peek at the fabric, but YOU know how hard it is to tell from a swatch, so this is just for decoration and not for drawing conclusions:
I bought three sets of Cath Kidston (LONDON) Christmas pillowcases at HomeGoods, one set for me and two sets to give as gifts. I found two Paula’s Choice skincare items at Marshalls, and recognized the brand as one that William likes, and texted him to check to see if he would want those for Christmas, and he responded enthusiastically.
You know those big 99c reusable bags they sell at Marshalls and HomeGoods and TJMaxx? I like to have a few of those on hand, for when I need to transport a bunch of things and I need a sturdier and more handled bag than a trash bag BUT ALSO it would be convenient to leave the bag behind (e.g., bringing someone a bunch of handmedowns; making a donation to Goodwill; college kid realizes they need one more bag to transport stuff; etc.). They had rainbow LOVE LOVE LOVE ones, and I bought six. I found Kate Spade notebooks that match my cousin’s work tote, and bought two of them for her upcoming birthday.
Then: I came home, and I was looking through my Amazon cart to see if anything had changed price, and a necklace that has been out of stock for like a month was in stock. I have decided to dress as Barbie for Halloween, and I’m doing the pink gingham outfit, and my goal was to find a necklace with the FEEL of her pink-centered sakura-blossom necklace, but something more to my own tastes so that I could wear it again. And I’d put a bunch of possibilities in my Amazon cart, and then I decided on this one, and by then it was out of stock. I have been waiting, because we still have time before Halloween, but it was just indefinitely out of stock and the picture of that color had been removed from the listing, so I didn’t have much hope. BUT NOW IT IS BACK IN STOCK AND I HAVE ORDERED ONE:
(image from Amazon.com)
Happy day! I am addicted to consignment/ antique shopping for furniture and I have no space left in the house. I should open a store.
I need nothing right now but this post makes me want to SHOP!
I love shopping days like that! It sounds like the stars just aligned perfectly for you, and I’m so glad!
What an awesome shopping day!
Well! This is a very cheery way to begin the day! Now I want to go shopping!
Could you please send some of your Sofa Serendipity vibes in this direction? I am also on the hunt for a couch and all couches seem to be some combination of ugly, uncomfortable, and made-of-diamonds pricey.
Now I am feeling anticipatory glee about a photo of your new couch, perhaps featuring a kitten!
Kitten and couch! Kitten and couch! Give the people what they want! (please)
I love days like that! Marshalls is my go-to- when my daughter is home. : )
We always proclaim, “Visa, the goddess of shopping has smiled upon us” when things go so right. And on those days when nothing fits or sparks joy, “Visa, the goddess of shopping, has turned her back, we must seek her favor and try again another day.”
This is great!
Yes! I had one of those days this morning….I found hot pink-purple carryon size suitcases HALF OFF that will be perfect gifts to my two tween girls for Christmas, right before we go on a long trip! And a sewing kits for them, too, at $3 each instead of $15 each! Even the checker at the store couldn’t believe how much was in the kit for just $3!
Swistle, I can’t get past the fact that you’re living in a house from the 1800s WHICH HAS A PARLOUR. I just am sitting here with my mouth open in awe. A house! From the 1800s! I’m not even sure there is a house in this entire city I’m living in that was from the 1800s. I am WOWED.
Okay, moving on. Moving on! That necklace is perfect and I love that you’re dressing up as Barbie! Also a perfect choice!
Absolutely obsessed with the couch fabric. It is BEAUTIFUL
Also! I know you don’t usually post pics of yourself but I really really really want to see the whole Barbie look once it’s pulled together!
Ohh, I love it when the shopping stars align in our favor. I recently lucked out (online) a few weeks ago with some clothes from Loft – I was giddy.
Now I need to spend the evening shopping…
I love that you are going to be BARBIE!! Love it! What an awesome choice! (And give us photos, if you are comfortable doing so!) :)
Those Cath Kidston pillowcases are divine!
Here in Australia we’ve not had anywhere near the range of Christmas stuff that you do… but now we have TK Maxx (it couldn’t be TJ Maxx here for some reason!) and their seasonal stuff is fantastic. I was inspired by you last year to buy festive handwash, and no doubt I’ll be doing more shopping…. hopefully as successful as yours today!
Good lord, I am loving that couch.
That couch looks and sounds wonderful. I’ve scored some great furniture items at estate sales. I find it gives such a rush.
I’ve had those kind of shopping outings and I find them both exciting and troubling, as in ALL THESE GREAT THINGS START TO ADD UP, but I do not believe in passing up a good deal or a soon-to-be favorite item when I have the chance, so I bravely shrug it off. I took my girls on an overnight shopping trip to a little lake town in Wisconis days before school started as a very special treat. Well, it was glorious. We had a great time. I hope to make it a tradition, a re-grouping before one goes off to college sort of thing.
Way to go! I can’t believe PC is at Marshalls–I’m gonna have to start looking for it at bargain stores!