Cheap Thrills: Colorful Acrylic

Aren't these beautiful? They're acrylic. Really! This Salud Goblet is plastic and for outdoor use, but it's $3.95 so I'm OK with that. The Sabre spoons can be found at Anthropologie or Leif, but they're sold individually in different colors (forks, too!) over at Gracious Home for $4-$6 each.

Cheap Thrills: Traveling Paths Handbag

I spotted this brown woven bag in a photo today and squealed when I saw the price. $60 from Le Mode Accessories. This chick and her blog, The Daybook, are just adorable. I love the simplistic cool factor going on with this outfit. I could definitely see pulling something like this off at the Amos Lee concert tomorrow night.

Cheap Thrills: Backyard Campfire

"S'more to Love" s'more maker, $20 (found via outblush). Pendleton Motor Robe, $62 (on sale).
I really want to sit outside around the fire pit tonight, have some Oktoberfest beer, and maybe tackle s'mores making. That s'mores-making apparatus looks nifty. The weather tonight is going to be perfect-clear sky, chilly (but not cold), and no bugs! But a big wool blanket would be nice!

Cheap Thrills: $40 silk tank (with pockets!)

I am in love with this little tank/tunic. It's a silk sleeveless tunic from Ann Taylor in a great ocean green color. AND it has pockets! I love the length on this piece....and the price, it's only $40 (on sale). I am a big fan of having a really nice "solid staple" piece that can be either dressed up or dressed down. Yes, it says dry clean only, but you can actually wash it.

Here are some silk-washing tips that I use:

- use non-alkaline soap (meaning it has a neutral pH, I use Dr. Bronner's)
- don't soak, silk is a protein that breaks down.
- you can use a couple tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to get rid of soap residue when rinsing.
- when rinsing, rinse in lukewarm warm, towel dry or roll, never wring out or hang in direct sunlight.

Cheap Thrills: Cynthia Vincent for Target

The new Cynthia Vincent for Target line is uber cute. I couldn't resist buying these white and yellow thong flat sandals for $25 each. I'm going to get a lot of use out of these babies. And that's a good thing because it will take me a very long time to save up for REAL Cynthia Vincent shoes. HELLO, LOVER!


(the rug is from Dash & Albert and pretty cheap, too)

Cheap Thrills: IKEA Tekla towels

Photo: IKEA, Apartment Therapy, Metaphore

On my last IKEA trip, I picked up a short stack of these Tekla kitchen towels because they were only $0.49 each and I needed some better looking towels. Since I've had them, I use them for a million more uses than I had thought. I fold or roll them into napkins, fold them and line bread baskets, lay them on the coffee table for a placemat, use them to cushion vegetables in the fridge. They aren't real thick, but they are absorbent and do get the job done as far as drying dishes or cleaning up spills. And for $0.49, I'll just use two if I need to. They're already on my list for the next IKEA trip.

If I were at the Oscars.....

I am sitting here watching the Oscars, eating popcorn, and imagining what I would wear if I were there. I'm still hung up on that Dries Van Noten dress worn by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It's such a beautiful gown. Now that I can't wear that to the Oscars, here are my two other finds. The red ball gown is by Rubypearl. It gushes old Hollywood glam. The navy gown with red belt is from Sarah Seven, one of my favorite Etsy sellers. (I almost bought this wedding dress from her....I still want that veil, though)

Cheap Thrills: Anthro sweater and floral rugs

Q. What are my cheap thrills?
A. Finding good deals or good imposters.

This cardigan wrap was all over the wedding blogs a month ago but is now ON SALE at Anthropologie for $49.95! Hurry, I guarantee it will sell out.

Photo: Braedon Photography, Anthropologie


I am a fan of the chintz florals that are making a comeback this spring. The Anthropologie hooked wool rug on the right is $498 but the similar Urban Outfitters throw rug (on the left) of the same size is only $68.

Photo: Meljoy, Urban Outfitters