Goodwill Coffee Table

During a quick run through a less-traveled Goodwill in Arlington a few days ago, I found this steal of a deal.

This is a heavy table (I think probably hard rock maple). I love the lower level shelf which is a new requirement for all of my coffee tables from here on out. The price: $15!

Not sure where I'll put it yet but I have 2 or 3 options. I definitely needs some stain or paint but I'll cross that bridge after it finds a home.

Never Hurts to Ask

After my failed negotiation on the desk chair, I wanted to tell a successful negotiating story to prove my point.  This is the story of Alex's caboose poster.

We bought the poster at the Day Out with Thomas even at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore (a great place if you are ever in the area). I think I paid $12 for it. At the time I did not really have a plan for Alex's room but knew I wanted to do something with gray, blue and red so I knew I could make this work.

Fast forward 9 months and I am getting all of the pieces of his room together. This piece needed to be framed. I didn't want the standard poster framing but a real wood frame with white mat.  I head over to my local frame place which I don't frequent too often since I try to DIY my framing projects, but this was something I wanted done right. I pick my frame and mat, and the saleswoman measured and gave me a price of $275.  {Gag}  Not what I had in mind. In my head, I was thinking "There goes my $150 budget".  I understand that it's a large piece but that seemed extreme since I chose a simple frame and a single mat. I told her that I needed to think about it because it was more than I wanted to pay. She asked me how much I wanted to pay and I said $150. She walked over to her manager. I expected her to come back and say $200. Instead, she came back and said "Okay." I must have looked confused because she said "Do you want it for $150?" Ummmm... yes!  I grabbed the sales slip and ran out the door. A week later I picked up this beauty and I am so glad I went for it.

Never hurts to ask.  This is why it's great to deal locally and not use chain stores whenever possible. I'm sure this would not have happened at Michael's even with their 50% off sales. Guess what? Those prices are jacked up to begin with!

Any great negotiating tips? Good stories to share?

More on Alex's room here and here.

Den: Desk Chair Found!

On our way back from our ski weekend in West Virginia, I sweetly asked Handy Hubby if he would stop at a consignment store in Manassas, Virginia that specializes in model home furniture. For most Americans, the town of Manassas makes them think about a famous Civil War battle, but to me it means a large street lined with several great consignment and thrift stores. It takes me 40 minutes to get out there so if I'm in the neighborhood it's hard to resist. Of course, in the first two hours of the ride, I was thinking about which one I would ask (or beg if necessary) to stop at. Fortunately, the kids were fully engrossed in a movie so we made a quick stop!

Fifteen minutes later, I came out with this...

It was $99 so not dirt cheap but it's in absolutely perfect condition, it's comfortable, and the colors work perfectly for what I have planned in here. It looks more olive in the pictures than it is in real life - it's dark gray. It was still an impulsive decision for me since I can't return it but I think it works. I tried to negotiate the price down bit more to justify my impulsiveness, but they were having none of it. Occasionally that works so it's worth asking, right?  Not exactly like my other chair which was the hands down winner in the chair try-outs but I really like it.

What do you think? Does it work?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you had a really nice Valentine's Day. I can't say we really get into Valentine's Day anymore. We used to go all out and then we had kids and bills and other stuff going on!  Handy Hubby is always so thoughtful though and brought me flowers and the kids balloons after work today.  Nothing like a $2 balloon to make kids so happy!  I also attended the Valentine's Day party at Elizabeth's kindergarten class. I wish I could bottle their energy - I would be a millionaire!

Last night I made the kids and Jim homemade Valentine's to go with their Make-A-Plate kits, and left them on the table this morning for them to find at breakfast.

I love homemade cards!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  

Vacation: Ski Weekend in West Virginia

We took a break from house projects this weekend to go skiing in Canaan Valley, West Virginia at the Timberline Four Seasons Resort. I skied for the first time in nearly 12 years and my daughter Elizabeth went for the first time.  Fortunately we got 8" of fresh powder which is unbelievable considering that they had almost no fresh snow before this weekend. Unfortunately it was below zero with the windchill!  Yikes. The temps made me remember why I don't ski much anymore!

But, we stayed at this fantastic house with 3 other families. It was HUGE, beautifully decorated, and had great views. I took very few pictures inside the house but there are loads in their virtual tour (along with rental info) here.

Obviously there was more white than green when we were there!

Here's my little skier. Can't wait to take her out skiing again!

To prove I actually skied, we took these pictures with my wonderful friends and ski partners (Handy Hubby does not ski!).

I'm happy to report that I remembered how to ski. I have never skied on shaped (parabolic) skis and wow they make skiing sooooo much easier!  If you have been thinking about skiing again after a long time away from it, go for it. You might be surprised.

Since we got home on Sunday afternoon and we've been doing laundry ever since!

Have you skied this winter? Any great weekends away? Any mid-Atlantic ski areas that we should check out?