Shop Happy

There are two good things about staying with my sister- one, I get to bond with my niece, Kaitlyn, whom I consider 1/3rd my child (as I have spent a lot of time with her. Nothing better than a grin from my little Reeves Mcadams!) Two is the shopping, as there are plenty more options to do so in her neck of the woods than mine. Mainly Ulta and TJ Maxx.

Last weekend, as a sort of late birthday celebration, but somehow still not really (I haven't figured it out yet, either), our mom and I were watching Kaitlyn as last minute sitters, and then going to eat and shop. If you're ever in Shreveport and don't mind casino buffets, I recommend the El Dorado buffet. So good. Plus, there;s a Swarovski Elements counter right outside the buffet, so come with enough money to buy a crystal-encrusted octopus or Hello Kitty. The Sunday brunch buffet is great, and this comes from someone who is not a big fan of breakfast foods. The fried fish is excellent, and they have enchiladas, which I didn't try but heard only good things about. I think I am going to insist Brian plan a trip for us there soon. I have dreams about that fish.

It took a near act of Congress to convince everyone to even drive to TJ Maxx, but it was worth it, as I found a purse, a laptop bag and a wallet (all by Betsey Johnson) for $80. If the "compare at _____" tags are correct, I saved $134 on everything. And there's an even larger BJ bag there I still want, and am debating snatching it up next time I go.

This trip did not involve Ulta, but I did find another Lampe Berger for my growing collection at a resale shop. It's a blue tassel-looking affair, in lovely shape, and didn't even cost $7. Next time I go to Beehive, I will be getting the oil to go in it. I love anything that makes the house smell....not like it currently does. I'm a big fan of Scentsy warmers and BBW Wallflowers, but seriously, catalytic fragrance lamps will fragrance your space quickly and effectively. If I keep finding them the way I have been, I'm on my way to needing a curio cabinet.

I hope next time I go to TJ Maxx, they have some BJ jewelry. I may have the taste of a high schooler, but hey, I know what I like!

Thrifting Log #1, The Lampe Berger

I forget when and where I first discovered the wonder that is the Lampe Berger, a catalytic fragrance diffusing lamp that allegedly purifies air and was used in hospitals many years ago. But I'm glad I did. I am slightly less glad that they tend to cost upwards of $100 (and the oils to go in them, usually $17 and up.) There are a few other companies making fragrance lamps like these; you can get one at Fred's for less than ten bucks (I have two of these), but they aren't true Lampe Berger.

But I found one for 99 cents at Goodwill.

Allegedly a real Lampe Berger, as it is on the lamp itself and the band around the top. However, color is flaking off of it (transparent yellow paint perhaps?), but I choose to believe it is the real deal until I find out otherwise. And even if it's not legit, it is pretty in a shabby chic, seen better days manner, and they are damn good air fresheners. I doubt either version actually purifies the air, but they do make a house with four cats and a dog smell better.

And did I mention, 99 cents?

I have yet to actually purchase LB brand oils to go in my lamps, I buy mine at Fred's. It's been a bit, but believe they are around 7-9 dollars a bottle. My favorites are the mixed berry and another one that is (I think) rum-butter-vanilla-sticky bun frosting. Something like that. It's probably well past time for a trip to Fred's. I'm sure there is some tutorial online about how to make your own catalytic lamp oils, I just haven't found it yet. Or, you know, looked. But! I did just come across a fragrance/essential oils site, Wellington, and that looks interesting. I'm very much into creating my own home fragrance. It'd be fun to see what I could come up with, combining my favorites and Brian's. Violet vanilla springs to mind. Link to Wellington Fragrance.

Speaking of home fragrances, Mary's Candles. Yes please. I've seen those little stands in grocery stores and WalMart for as long as I can recall, and everything smells so good around them. Then you run into the home cleaning supplies and you get a headache from all the Tide/Surf/Gain fumes. Dinnah likes the creme brulee scent, so when I noticed the little stand on my way to grab dog food, I grabbed a bag. Her house always smells good (brulee or no), and any sort of vanilla-y scent goes over well around here. I put the bits in my Scentsy warmer, and while the scent is nowhere near overpowering, everything does smell really good around it. Which I believe has more to do with my warmer's bulb being weak, and not the melts themselves. I'm going to add some to a tea light powered diffuser I have and see what happens.

So I'm happy with my new lamp, legit Lampe Berger or no. It will look sweet on a nightstand or side table, and as I've recently sort of decided on a decorating scheme for what will be the living room, its (flaking) yellow color will go well. Yellow, navy and white are currently my home decor faves :)