One Man's Trash...

Bored of those same ole' same ole' furniture and home decor items sitting around your place? Need a change of indoor scenery? Well then why no go and get yourself a brand new set of furniture?

Yeah, a new coffee table might add some jazz, or a new set of lamps, new picture frames, a new sofa. And not to worry, I (of course) know a way to achieve these dreams on the cheap - as a matter of fact, on the free.

freecycle.org is a great place to start your home makeover. On the site, you can search for a freecycle yahoo group near you. Join and search the postings for items you'd like. You can even post items you're looking for in case someone out there has the solid wood magazine rack you've been itching for collecting dust in a closet nearby.
craigslist is another great resource. Just click the "free" link under the "for sale" section - its a gold mine. You can find everything from rocking chairs to pianos to red brick to house plants - all free!

And don't forget to put the word out there. We're coming up on moving season - people changing cities, graduating from school, etc. When people move, there is almost always something they like to leave behind - why not have a look through? People also like to redecorate this time of year - again, more free stuff.

And if you're hell bent on paying money for something you absolutely fell in love with in the West Elm catalogue - take the advice I gave on shoes: google the make and model of your item - you're bound to find it for cheaper on ebay or craigslist or something.

Some free stuff waiting for you right now...
Imagine:

A new living room...





For a retro kitchen (yes, it still works! - and will probably work longer than any stainless steel one you'd spend $600 on today)


A new bedframe to create a new aesthetic in the bedroom...




Then invite me over to check it all out over tea and honey!

Bag Bag Bag

If you're anything like me, you change with the seasons. And with each change in the weather, you tend to lean toward a new color palate, a new set of shapes. For me right now, its burnt orange and bright blues. And what better way to express your current creative state than by sporting a new purse that just says what's on your mind for you?

Ordinarily, that means buying your purse of the season that you wear with pride for about three or four months that eventually ends up taking up space in your closet by the same time next year. Bags can be pretty hefty expenses and let's face it, sometimes you're just over a bag. It's not even that it's "so last season" or anything external like that, but oftentimes its just like a brilliant, beautiful leaf on the grand tree that is you. It shines in due season, and when its ready to fall, it falls. And it dies. Buried in your closet. Here's what I suggest:

Get a rental!
bagborroworsteal.com is the place to be for renting your now bag and returning it when you're done. Basically, you pay $5/month to be a member and they have every kind of bag from Maxx to Fendi.

Set it off at a special occassion with this killer clutch:



Set it off on the daily with this sleek stunner:



Or just show off with:



And the prices just keep going up and up. If you're into having your staple bags that work for you and you're totally comfortable and satisfied with interchanging them over the years then this is not the site for you. But if you find yourself looking at your selection of bags and being totally un-wowed by them, than guaranteed, you can find something to make you happy at this very fun and dangerous site. You can borrow up to five bags at a time so be careful!

Help me out, honey. I have a vacay coming up. Which bag should I borrow?

Fly the Friendly Skies (x2)

A friend of mine brought this to my attention as a possible blog post, and of course I had already taken advantage of this type of opportunity - but, he's right. It's time to share...
Have you ever been sitting around a crowded wait area for a flight that you learn is actually overbooked? Have you heard a flight attendant announce the situation followed by a request for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for a stay in a hotel, a meal ticket and a flight voucher? I have - and I was first in line at MIA to take up the offer on my way back from a vacation in the Caribbean. It was a great buffer between palm trees and snow plows.





...yup, that's me chilling in the *free* hot tub with a $300 travel voucher in my purse! A word to the wise:

Book an overbooked flight!
Chances are, there'll be more butts than seats. Many airlines will gladly offer travel vouchers, a free night in a nearby hotel and meal vouchers for any inconvenience their overbooking may have caused. Just be first in line when they ask for "volunteers" to take the next flight.

Pack Light!
I've heard that some airlines will only accept "volunteers" with carry-on luggage. Also, If you've checked your luggage, switching flights can increase the chance of your luggage being lost - and haven't we ALL been there?

And speaking of airlines...if you haven't already heard, Delta Airlines just gave the severance package to 30,000 employees. Even Bear Stearns bit the dust. Save that money, honey. Cuz soon, you and save-it-all Grandpa may have a lot more in common than you might like.

It's My Birthday (and I'll splurge if I want to)

It only happens once a year. And for the past three years, I've made a tradition of giving myself a much deserved birthday gift. And not just any gift, but the mother of all gifts - the gift that keeps on giving: my dream pair of shoes. Last year it was the ideal sneaker to stay fly on the daily grind (DC Shoes). The year before that it was the much needed winter white fabulous snow boot with fur trim (Coach). This year, I opted to get my grown and sleek on by purchasing these:


ooh, I can't wait to rock 'em. But there's a story that goes along with them (of course)...

I first saw these beauties at a boutique in Brooklyn for $125 back in the fall '07. I thought to myself - I really want those for my spring '08 look (I'm in love with chrome!) but I'll wait for them to go on sale. Besides, chrome is catching on, maybe I'll find a similar pair for cheaper around town. The winter has come and (is almost) gone and I have yet to see an affordable pair that even comes close in flyness. So, the other day I revisited this boutique to find to my delight that this shoe, once priced at $125 was now ON SALE for..get this $29.99!!!
So I asked the woman, "What's the largest size you have these in? (cuz I have supermodel sized feet, ya know -- no comments HaJ!!!)". The woman replied, "Size ten." Perfect, I thought to myself. I asked her to bring me the pair so I can try them on.
I sat down and began undoing my laces when she returned empty handed with that semi-sad face saying, "the largest size we have left is a size eight :("
Then why the hell did you tell me that you had them in a ten?
And of course they're not planning on getting anymore shipments because clearly they are trying to get rid of them. But I, hopeful, took down the make and model of the shoe and proceeded to search the internet for a good deal on them in my size and color.
I searched and searched and searched and searched. I saw them for prices like $37.95 and $64.99 and even $87.50...but again, only up to size 8 or 8.5. I ended up settling on a purchase from shoes.com for $99.99. I feel a little discriminated against. If I had size 8 feet, I would have my favorite shoes for only $29.99. But because I am of a larger metatarsal structure, I have to pay the price...literally.
Lesson learned:

Having small feet can save you money.
Okay, I'm not being cynical here...just making an observation.

Don't be afraid to find the better price.
Even though it didn't work so well for me earlier this week, don't be discouraged. If you see a shoe in a shoppe and you just fall in love with it, but you are really not in love with the price -- try it on, feel it out, then take down the specs, go online and find it cheaper. I mean hey, $99.99 is better that $125, right?

Have Patience
If you really love a shoe, let it go (on sale). If you come back to it, it's yours forever (until the heel falls off).

The chrome lining on my not-such-a-good-sale cloud: I got free shipping! And, of course, I will very soon have a wonderful new pair of shoes that will just help me feel fabulous, honey! Happy Birthday to me :)

Strictly for the Uninsured

Teeth. They are such an integral part of our overall health and well-being. If there's a problem in the grill, it affects the way we eat, the way we laugh, the way we kiss...not to mention the physical damage bad teeth can impose on the rest of the body. Living in a society where almost all toothpastes are infused with "whitening" (what the hell is whitening, anyway??), where photoshop-happy photo editors artificially brighten celebrity smiles and where coined terms such as "meth mouth" exist - there is a lot of pressure to keep them pearlies white.
And you don't need a sixteen minute debate over universal healthcare to know that the healthcare system in these United States sucks. How many out there by a show of hands do not have full dental health coverage?



Join the Masses, Take a Dental Vacation!
Crowns, root canals, fillings, veneers...that stuff can really add up if you're forced to come out of pocket. Do the math, with root canals averaging $800 and crowns going as high as $3100 a pop...why not make the most of your spending by taking a dental vacation? Believe it or not, there are countries out there whose governments actually care about the well-being of humanity and exhibit this concern by providing free or very affordable healthcare.

Some friends of mine just came back from a trip to Thailand...with brighter smiles. It's not a new concept, there's a whole industry surrounding this phenomenon.
Check out some of these options:
dental-offer.com
healthcaretrip.org
medcentrek.com
healthmedicaltourism.org
overseastreatments.com

And if you haven't already, check out Michael Moore's latest film SickO. It highlights Americans who travel everywhere from Canada to France to Cuba in search of affordable (or FREE) healthcare - and it sheds light on the shortcomings of the existing health insurance providers stateside. And what a sad state we are in. Just sad.

But keep smiling! We could all use a vacation anyway.