A good friend of mine introduced me to the site Etsy a few months ago and I am totally in love.  There are so many handmade, budget friendly finds.  Here are the links to today’s favs:

Basil Wooden Decorating Block $12.00

Custom Letter Pillow $22.00

Fancy Chandelier – Wall Decal $35.00

Pillow Cover in Blue Water Lotus, 18 inch $18.00

I have needed a bedding makeover for awhile and I finally did it! My well-loved jersey sheets and down comforter were looking a peaked.

Purchasing new bedding might sound like a simple task, but I have to say I was completely overwhelmed.  In a studio apartment, the bed becomes one of the focal points of the room.  I felt like I had to make so many decisions – color, pattern, thread count, pillow arrangement and I didn’t want to screw it up!

I finally decided on Parachute Bedding from West Elm after months of scouting online with trips to BBB and Macy’s.  While this was not the most budget friendly choice, my parents were wonderful enough to foot the bill for my duvet and pillows for my birthday.  But I couldn’t have a new duvet and pillows with my sad looking sheets and down comfortable.  It was time for an upgrade.  I became a comparision shopping maniac.  I found 1200 TC sheets for $89.99 on Amazon.com (orig, 349.99) and $59.99 down comforter (orig $199.99) on Overstock. Needless to say, getting out of bed in the morning has gotten a little tougher.

Free – Until it is your turn to hostess

Book – Renew your library card

I started a book club about a year ago and  I look forward to it so much each month.  Staring a book club is a great way to spend time with your friends without spending a lot of money.  We usually meet every 6 weeks and pick the next month’s book during each meeting.  During book club, we usually have a meal of some kind but it is up to hostess.

I included some pics from our last meeting. We read A Year in Provence and Katie did an amazing spread with various cheeses, olives, wines, quiche, and roasted veggies.

My friend Char is the one who turned me on to budget design and DIY projects.  I did a post on some pics of her apartment last year.  This post is actually one of my most popular posts.

Recently, Char moved in with her fiance.  As everyone who has moved in with a new roommate or spouse knows, the ritual of the “joining of the stuff” is very involved and usually involves a few hurt feelings.  “What do you mean that you don’t like my futon – it’s practical?!?!”  It is even more challenging when you are saving for a wedding and need to make do with what you have.

But Char took on this daunting task and did a wonderful job joining their things in a beautiful streamlined way.  For example, her fiance is from Texas and had a large Texas flag in his apartment.  What does Char do?  Frame it and cluster it with a few of her favorite pictures.

Cinespia – $10.00/ticket

I love living in LA, because there are so many unique things to do.  One of my fav things to do in LA is Cinespia.  Cinespia is an event where they show movies in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery every Saturday night during the summer.

This past weekend, a few of us went to see Dazed and Confused on Sunday night.  It feels like an outdoor music festival.  We got there at 5:00 and while the gates don’t open until 7:00, everyone hangs out and picnics before the show.  Our picnic spread included: wraps, pasta, humus, chips, mimosas, and chocolate covered pretzels.  We had so much fun hanging out, listening to the DJs, people watching and eventually watching the show.

Cinespia is a budget friend outing that everyone in LA should experience at least once.

Bird pictures – $30 for 4 pictures

Deer figures – $15 for both

This past weekend my friend Cedes and I decided to do some bargain shopping at the the Melrose Trading Post flea market.  I love flea market shopping.  There is always a lot of junk, but nothings beats a great flea market find.

This past weekend was my best flea market excursion to date.  Within the first 10 minutes, I found 4 vintage bird pictures that reminded me of my grandmother and 2 deer figurines.  While we kept shopping, I decided that $45 was my limit and kept the rest of my spending under control.  These purchases are the perfect accents for my book shelf.

Tickets – $12/ea

Tacos/Nachos – $5/ea

Water – $3

Cactus in a skull pot – $7

I am kinda obsessed with Westways magazine (yes, the AAA magazine).  It always has great suggestions for fun things to do locally.  This past Sunday, the bf and I drove to Oxnard in hopes of exploring the Strawberry Festival.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed.  I also realized during this excursion that I might not be a festival kind of girl.  It was REALLY hot, traffic was REALLY bad, and the line for strawberry funnel cake had 400 people in it.  It also didn’t help that I was REALLY tired.

I enjoyed myself for about an hour and a half; after that, I was ready to go home.   The highlight of the trip was the ADORABLE cactus I got for $7.00 from the Heritage Succulents booth – so cute and the perfect budget accessory for my book shelf.  I just have to make sure the cat can’t reach it.

Contact Info for Heritage Succulents:

HrtgSucculents [at] aol [dot] com

I came home from a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend to a huge puddle underneath my fridge, water in the kitchen wall and a very upset cat.  A few days later my apartment is a total wreck and the cat is still pissed.  There is a huge hole in my kitchen ceiling and the side wall of the kitchen is dirty and peeling because of the water leak.

I am very thankful that:

1)  I am a renter, so I am not paying for any of this.

2)  I have a great building manager who is getting the work done quickly.

3)  Nothing (except my cute bird decals) were ruined.

Now that I have mentioned all the things I am thankful for, I would like to complain that I JUST PUT UP THOSE DECALS 2 WEEKS AGO!!!!!!!  I loved the whimsical touch they added to my kitchen.  I have been searching The Selby for some inspiration and I found these amazing pics from rosa connell and bella howard.  I love their style.  I am considering covering my kitchen wall in pics.  Love it.

PC – The Selby

Los Angeles Magazine did a spread on “cheap eats” in their May issue.  YAY! Four pages of new budget restaurants to explore! Zankou Chicken is first on my list!

PC – Los Angeles Magazine

ONSCO Candle – $6.50

I want start off this post by apologizing for being so MIA for the last 6 months (my mom has been harassing me for not posting).  Life has become really busy and it is hard for me to find time to write.  While life is still crazy, I really missed my blog and I am trying to carve out time for things that are important, like blogging!

I wanted to write a quick update post to one of my most popular posts on “Yay! Old Navy Candles, Soap & Lotion.”  I became obsessed with the Sugar Plum Peony candles in this Old Navy line about a year ago.  I have 6 of these candles displayed around in my studio apartment (can you say overkill?)  Sadly, I think that Old Navy is discontinuing this line, but the silver lining is that the candles are now half off.  So these HUGE candles that were originally around $13.00, are now $6.50!!!!  Now, it is time to stock up! This line is not available online, but the Manhattan Beach Old Navy is pretty well stocked (even after my $40 candle escapade).

PC – Sweet Nee on Flikr