Resources, Scores, And Doggie Potty Solutions

Hello again. Whew! I feel like half the year is over and i'm only two weeks into March. For the record my wedding was spectacular, despite the tropical storm that decided to rain the entire three hours my family was on Vancouver Island and then let up to sunny skies the minute they left. But i'm not bitter...

I wanted to talk about resources, where I get my stuff and ideas. Most friends of mine know i'm deeply in love with the design world and terribly out of work in the real world. Which of course leads to me knowing loads of places to get good deals and blogs that show you how or give you inspiration for making the best of those deals. When I first began ogling DIY-ers and online decorators I had no home of my own....I had never even lived on my own. I would decorate my bedroom with all things nonsense and dreamed of the day I could truly DIY the crap out of my home. Still, Craigslist was a sketchy alternative, and shipping from online auction sites was out of the question. Now I have this fantastic flat and it seems the online used websites are endless. Let's review:

Used Everywhere-
Unf! My life hasn't been the same since I started using this website. I believe it's Canada and UK exclusive but I could be wrong. I...can't say enough good things about this website. I go here for everything! Furniture, lighting, antique chairs, dog things, and it is SO reliable. The listings are kept very current, so no stale ads like mr Craigslist. Pictures on nearly every listing, email and phone contact, maps to where the items are (Optional if you're not a business). I've been impressed over and over again with this website. I bought a french provincial green velvet sofa, love seat, and arm chair for $200! And the man I bought it from helped deliver them to my house at no extra cost. What a steal. So far the majority of my bought items for our flat have been from listings i'v found on this site. Definitely a must for me.

Kijiji/Ebay Classifieds-
Similar listings to Used Everywhere. I like the layout more than I like Craigslist but less than Used Everywhere. What I like about Kijiji is that, while I can filter on Used with price ranges etc, I can search filter simply low to high price etc. Again, budget freak here really likes to look for good deals so perfect simple opportunity. The downside for me is that while adds such as attack dog training and puppy mill sales might be posted on other used websites the moderation for Kijiji seems to be minimal. Meaning many listings especially scams are being responded to innocently despite victims reporting the posts. No bueno.

And finally

Craigslist-
I would say this is probably the most commonly known used website out there at the moment (Granted, this is USA/CA talk, I can't speak for the rest of the world). Meet people, buy stuff, find jobs. For me? It has been the least reliable as far as buying anything furniture wise/decoration wise. That is obviously a downside since I would use it the most if I only knew the minute I sent the email off I was bound to get a negative response. However this is probably the best place for anyone to look for housing! If of course you're like me and have a dog and don't want to sort through excellent pet friendly listings all at 1800+. When i'm looking for just about anything online that isn't housing this is my LAST go to.

Of course these are not the only used websites out there. In fact a simple search for "Used -my area-" on Google will yield more results than you might think. Obviously the popularity of a site greatly determines the reliability, but you don't know 'till you try!

Now, onto stores. For all the internet searching I do for furniture etc if i'm out i'm out. My dear husband has a terrible love of shopping and I have a terrible knack for deals. This generally equates to me coming home with more than I should and him wondering why we can't just browse. I'm a terrible browser. However this does mean I can compare stores, which is a huge benefit. My number one tip on retail shopping if you're going to go somewhere for your home-y needs is scout! I know I just said i'm not good at browsing, but browsing to me is taking your time, leisurely strolling down the aisle looking at many things you wish you could have. No. If i'm scouting i'm in and out of a store in 10 minutes or less. I spot the big items on my list be it cabinets, side tables, light fixtures, then I focus on the little things. Trim, spray paint, pillows, etc. Being in the city i'm in you wouldn't believe the places you can find these objects out of the blue for excellent prices but I truly believe it's about always keeping your eyes open.

This part is obviously a little bit more exclusive. Seeing as I live on Vancouver Island where we don't even have an Ikea the shopping is limited when it comes to large furniture and affordability. So far i'v seen some fantastic places such as  The Junction , The Fabulous Find , and my favorite of all Chintz n Co . I know that last one isn't a used store BUT they have the most spectacular feature. The upper story is the sale loft. I wish I could describe how dreamy it is. You walk in, you're surrounded by beautiful furniture in a plethora of patterns and shades, hundreds of mirrors and paintings cover the walls and luxurious rugs underfoot, then you ascend the stairs to- low prices. Not just any low prices, but amazing affordable low prices (Who hates a store with 50% off all items in store sales, yeah 50% off 3,500 is still 50% over budget). I have hardly been living here for 3 months and i'm still getting the lay of the land but once my wallet catches up i'll be on the prowl again and i'm sure i'll update the list.

Here are my top favorite deals!

One of the most used items in our house, our bedside tables. We scored this sweet pair of pickled wood bedside tables with little writing table fold outs for $99 each marked down from $450! Chintz and Co.

(Don't mind the poorly staged and lit photo. It's all i'v got till this darn room is finished.)

At the same trip to Chintz n Co's attic I also found a great area rug for our bedroom to cover the awful green-y beige carpet (ew...pet friendly in a bad way, sigh). For a quick fix it was a steal at $110 marked down from $375. Inset deal dance here. Sadly, I don't have any photos of that yet because as tradition deems it, the bedroom is the last to be finished. But soon!

Another favorite and daily used is our sofa. It came in a set (see my ravings of UsedVictoria above) and it is flawless. While everyone stayed in my home for my wedding it was slept on many times, held more than it's share of rear ends, and has held unfortunately several loads of laundry since. But it's a trouper! I hear no springs, see no nails, and feel no hard spots on the velvet which makes this a definite favorite. Used Victoria.

(Also don't mind this photo. Velvet is hard to photograph and so is my dog.)

On a stranger note, this fantastic ridiculous amazing Moon Globe. Blew my mind, I didn't know they made them. Now I can't think of why they wouldn't! It definitely fills my geek side even though I have no clue what to do with it decoratively...They where made in celebration of the first man on the moon and are wonderful. While this has seen better days it still is in amazing condition. The original plastic moonscape base is even with it! I'v seen several with rust, multiple dents, and missing the base sell online for upwards of $200 or more. Quite the gem, for only $15. The Junction.

Last but definitely not leave, my lovely trunk turned dvd storage-$10. Alright it's not anything amazing, but for the price it's serving me well! The hinges are still in tact and I can lock it shut when i'm not using it. Very useful. Also it's green and I have a bit of an obsession. Used Victoria.

Well, looks like I had quite a bit to talk about today. The last thing I had to cover was my pups potty situation. For my friends who live in rainy cities like mine having a dog low to the ground can be a big hassle when it comes to potty time. Noodle is probably the worst. I'v tried plenty of things but i'm raising my white flag. I may not have a backyard but I have a lovely deck which gives me no excuse for not making use of it for my pup. Some research online lead me to things like the Porch Potty, or Potty Patch, but these kits cost anywhere from $75-300! Ok $75 maybe, but for a small patch of artificial turn raised above the ground which you need to hose off every few days, buy new training pads to place underneath for, and will smell regardless? No thanks. I'm going to try to make my own and experiment! Thus far i'v spent $25 with $10 to go. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for tuning in.

-Julie.