On Sunday afternoon I ran some errands and one thing on my list was trying to find some new dishes. I set out to find cute, inexpensive items that will spruce up my food photographs.
I mentioned on my Wish List that cute dishes were something I was in search of and not everything I found Sunday may necessarily be considered “cute” but they are functional. And sometimes being practical trumps cuteness. Sometimes.
Here’s the loot.
First up, a box for Skylar. I love her little art projects and artwork that she makes. But it’s everywhere. Not anymore. Enter: This Box.
Now all artwork will be contained in this box. I hate messes and random half scribbled on pieces of paper laying everywhere! Clutter, no more.
Next up, some napkins/placemats that will make nice backdrops for blog pictures.
70 cents? Score!
Next up: These pieces would fit the definition of “Cute Dishes” in my book.
A cute bowl with a ribbon threaded through it. I wonder how this will hold up in the dishwasher?
A cake stand. You know, for all those cakes I make. Kidding.
I am more of a Biggie Microwave Banana Cake girl lately but for when I do make that cake, the stand will be perfect.
I wonder how Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies would look on the cake stand? And call it a no-bake cookie stand, instead.
Finally, new plates for me!
I had no intention of buying new plates, but for $2.99 each, I couldn’t pass these up.
My everyday dishes are from Pottery Barn, circa 2005. They have been washed thousands of times and have been wonderful. But, they have seen better days.
Not to mention, the beige/pale yellow hue does nothing for food. Read: it makes food look worse.
I have no idea how I’ve blogged for almost 2 years with these dingy yellow plates, but for $2.99 x 4, I am now in business with crisp, white, square plates.
I didn’t “stage” this lettuce, i.e. I threw it on a plate while I was unwrapping my loot and snapped away.
And the photo was taken at night with zero natural light coming in.
Then I put the new green 70 cent placement underneath. And another improvement happened, I’d say.
Then, I put it all away.
And I remembered that I have dishes I don’t use. But should use. I did a post on Shopping in my own Kitchen (and Closet) and need to re-read my own post!
From my last post on 6 Words, thanks to everyone who played along with your six word phrases to describe life, happiness, and love. Some of you came up with some great ones!
Thanks for the compliments on the 6 word phrases I chose. Honestly, I rattled those off in like two minutes. That’s how my brain works. That type of stuff is easy for me. It’s things like physics or calculus that my brain doesn’t do well with.
But let’s not talk about physics or calc.
Let’s talk snacking: No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes
These take about 5 minutes to make. And I chose this dessert to show how the old yellow plate isn’t “bad”, it’s just the balls aren’t popping off the page or anything.
Questions:
1. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
Scoring at Marshall’s on my new dishes!
2. Are you off from school or work today?
I’m not. So don’t rub it in.
3. Do you like shopping at places like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, etc. where you can find great deals but the inventory is unpredictable from week to week and while you’re there, you have to be willing to root around and dig for the deals?
I won’t lie, when things are out of order, messy, (i.s. Skylar’s artwork laying everywhere), and I get overwhelmed and want to bail or not shop in places like that. And in my former life I did. I never understood how my mother actually liked going to places like that.
Currently, however, for household goods like dishes, kitchen gadgets, bedding; socks, accessories, luggage, purses, those types of stores can be a gold mine and I can hang. I scored all of my loot in this post for $32 bucks, after tax!
But I still am very overwhelmed by buying clothes there and usually don’t. I see sports bras packed into racks with workout pants hanging off with a man’s cardigan sweater on the floor with an odd white tennis shoe nearby and I am instantly turned off and can’t even sort through the clothes. Good deals and all. Oh well.
What’s your comfort level with the disarray and one-of-a-kind nature of discount stores?
Happy President’s Day to all who are celebrating it. Enjoy your day off!
P.S. If you’re just catching up on posts from the weekend, here are mine since Friday
I LOVE finding deals!!! I usually get my deals online though, since I’m with my girls 24/7, which also means I’m not off “work” today. It’s a bit hard toting three kids with me to a store. The best thing we did over the weekend was see Disney On Ice, Princesses – we got free suite level tickets from a friend…a great deal..lol! It was cute…but I can only handle so much skating back and forth.
3 kids = never go into marshalls with your crew :) i can hardly go in with my 1 kiddo for more than 10 mins!
back and forth, agreed. LOL
ugh those stores are the BEST! I say “ugh” because they eat my money :) I cannot walk out empty handed! if I dont find clothes, I find kitchen stuff or vice versa, or since I just moved things for my new apt! I love the sale stuff too…I mean its great for single living gals like myself where I could careless if things match! thats usually why they are on sale…just because there is only 2 of the bowls and not a WHOLE big set…well theyre mine!!!
I did work today! all done now, but it sure was quiet!
yeah the only have 2, not a matched set, etc…can be a big problem.
i know you’re the tj’s and marshalls queen :)
Love the square plates!!! I am horrible at discount stores!! The messes always overwhelm me!
me too…getting better but still overwhelmed at times!
I love Marshall’s! I buy a lot of plates / kitchen stuff from there, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Target. I love bargains :)
My college has a weird schedule, and we never observe one-day holidays :) But I have a new class today, so I don’t mind going!
I have a Marshalls back home that I love to hit up for clothes, but I’m trying to hold off on buying other stuff I want in there until I actually have a house to decorate. I’m living in a house off campus next year, so my time is almost here!! I’m going to go crazy on kitchenware and placemats!
I am definitely not off today… class and work for me!
I absolutely love your new white plates and that bright stripy napkin! Kudos for badass deals!
I am not a good shopper and those sale places make me a little overwhelmed. We NEVER shop on the weekends either. Tony and I will go out during the day to stroll with a cup of coffee and leisurely get things if we need/want anything.
This weekend I celebrated my dad’s 60th birthday. It was an amazing time! As a stay at home mom, I am NEVER off of work. ;-)
you and me both, plus i have the paid gig, too. Never a dull moment :)
I’m at work today so I feel your pain!
I love shopping at Homegoods, Pier 1, etc but yes, the clutter and disorganization/stuff in the aisles/all over the place drives me crazy. I can’t go to those stores + other errands – I need to go home and just relax for a while. I used to work for Pier 1 in high school and I would literally spend my entire shift running around cleaning/straightening and yet I would never finish because there was just too much stuff in the store. Period. That is how I feel about discount stores. Too much to look at.
Those cake plates with the ribbons are so adorable!
i would DIE if i would have to straighten someone else’s messes…as my job. Major props to anyone who works retail. Did it in h.s., could never do it now!
Wow Averie, you lucked on those plates, I love them and I like Skylar’s storage box. I never have much luck at TK Max and it’s always mobbed here so I don’t have the patience with the queues and lines in the store. I’m in work today and can’t wait to finish and get home. Had the Caribbean peanut butter chickpea dish for lunch earlier, yummy!
glad you had a great lunch…thanks for lmk :)
I love shopping anywhere except huge malls. I have been doing a LOT of random dish buying lately. <3 it. :)
Hooray for the new dishes! I’m all for anything with a bow and the white plates are gorgeous. I am not off work- I honestly think less people are off today then usual. Seems like a holiday a lot of jobs have taken back. Enjoy your afternoon
I LOVE tjmaxx, homegoods, and marshalls – I never know what I’m going to find — clothes, dishes, kitchen gadgets, picture frames, or even a globe — it’s such a fun place to poke around in!
those donut holes look lovely, no matter what color plate they’re on!
thanks– you’re too kind :)
I am completely obsesses with the home decor goodies at TJ max, Marshalls and Homegoods! In fact when I go to marshalls or Tj maxx I rarely look at clothes or anything else, I go straight to the home decor section. I am all for a good bargain! Those ribbon plates are adorable! I saw those the last time I was at Marshalls and thought how perfect they would be for Easter!
Easter, ribbons…didnt even think of that!
I love the box for S’s art–there was an article in the NY Times recently about moms who are saying “no” to the clutter their kids’ artwork causes!
wow, that’s hard core!
new dishes ALWAYS make me happy – And, hungry :) Love the square plates, those are great!