Chic Done Cheap

Goodwill: Your home for stylish bargains

2012-02-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

As much as I love going into a shop and scoring a deal on clothing or accessories (I never pay full price! Well, sometimes), I’m even happier when I find a great bargain at my local Goodwill store.

No nose-wrinkling allowed, shoppers—secondhand shops aren’t what they used to be. And as the DC Goodwill Fashionista, it’s my job to help you get the most for your hard-earned money. Goodwill’s your spot for nearly-new housewares and gently-worn clothing!

The key to finding designer items or new-with-tags goodies doesn’t depend on the time of day or day of the week. Goodwill staff members are always wheeling new racks out onto the sales floor. If you see a bunch of cars lined up to donate to Goodwill, you can rest assured that those donated items are hitting the floor ASAP! So keep a close eye on employees putting out new stock (but don’t tackle them, please).

Feeling like you have to flip through every hanger on the rack can be daunting, so stick to searching for pieces of clothing you’re hoping to add to your wardrobe. I’m always looking for casual, day-outside dresses and versatile blazers, so I hit those racks first and might skip sweaters, polos, and pants. On another day, I switch it up!

When it comes to the shelves upon shelves of housewares, trinkets, and doodads, I look for items that have multiple uses. Picnic baskets that are missing a few plates, vintage file boxes, and closet storage bins can be attractive items to grab for your home storage needs.

In the housewares section is also where you’ll find me constantly turning over items. If you scope out each and every clothing label at Goodwill, you know where I’m going with this—I look for maker’s marks or brand names on the bottom of everything! There are a lot of high-end bargains sitting on those shelves, so don’t be afraid to get touch things you might want to get. Just be careful with the breakables!

If you love discounts on top of those treasure-hunt bargains, here’s a cheat sheet to Goodwill of Greater Washington’s discounts on donated items:

Monday: Healthcare appreciation day—25 percent off with valid medical/healthcare ID

Tuesday: Customer appreciation day—25 percent off, everyone wins!

Thursday: 25 percent off with current military ID at our Alexandria store.

Seniors: If you can prove you’re 60, take 10 percent off, every day!

Capital One customers: Use your Capital One credit card at our Falls Church and Fairfax locations and get 10 percent off.

We Live Green: Show your membership card for 10 percent off.

If we’re pals online, you can save even more. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/theDCGF) and print out a coupon that pushes your customer appreciation day discount (on Tuesdays!) to 35 percent. We also have monthly specials on Foursquare, so don’t forget to check in while you’re combing the racks.

Lisa Rowan is the DC Goodwill Fashionista. Follow her adventures in frugal fashion at www.fashionofgoodwill.org/blog Fashion at your fingertips!

Buttons for my boo (and me, too!)

2012-02-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

Monograms have been a staple for generations of preps. These days, you can monogram anything: from the traditional oxford or canvas bag; to the modern: iPhone cases and car decals.

For his birthday this past fall, I gave the boy a set of monogrammed gold blazer buttons. After getting them attached, he ended up with an extra two monogrammed buttons. After a little thought, the boy suggested making the spare buttons into earrings for me, a sweet way to always keep him with me.

I loved the idea of cheap(er) personalized jewelry and wished that I had thought of it myself. Off to the jeweler: who says you shouldn't wear your heart on your ~~sleeve~~, ears?

I found some other cute ways to express your devotion to your boo on Etsy.

-Chic Done Cheap

'Spending Money to Save Money'

2012-01-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

is not a concept I neccesarily accept with ease: spending up front to save money in the future. Sounds like a scam, right?

Well, when the new year rolled around and Bruegger's started selling their Bottomless Mug Club membership for 2012, I was hesitant. $150 for unlimited coffee, tea and fountain drinks? How much could I really save? Well $2.50 for a large coffee every weekday for a year plus the occasional large Diet Coke for a late afternoon pick-me-up? That could run upwards of $800, yikes.

Pretty excessive, right? And yes, I could stop drinking coffee, but I'm not willing to face a February morning without it. Hopefully this bottomless business won't turn me into Kramer when he won free coffee for life at Javaworld.

So a quick swipe of my credit card and I was their newest member as well as one good example closer to believing that sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

Maybe for all of money I save, I can afford this for haute coffee? Or maybe just a free DIY would suffice.

Source

-Chic Done Cheap

Capital Consignment, Bethesda

2012-01-20T07:27:00.000-08:00

Capital Consignment, 4909 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, may be one of my favorite stores in the DC area. The well stocked store is constantly changing its inventory, you never know quite what to expect. Best of all. prices are extremely reasonable and the quality of the items is exquisite.
When I visited with Judith, the store's owner, I found some great treasures, take a look at some of the pieces that caught my eye:

Capital Consignment Hours:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday - 12: p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Moleskine 30% @BarnesandNoble

2012-01-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

Moleskine notebooks are my saving grace, I have one in my purse at all time, not to mention a couple in my desk at work. As a lefty, I have little patience for spiral notebooks or hard back notebooks that don't bend. Moleskine come in great, vibrant colors and don't have spirals or hard covers that bug me. Right now Barnes and Noble has a great coupon for 30% off their stock of Moleskines. I'm heading there to pick up a new sketchbook and notebook. Did I mention that you can get them with lines, no lines, storyboards? Tons of options! Did I also mention that I'm a little picky about my notebooks?

Get your coupon here. Happy shopping (and writing!).

-Chic Done Cheap

Guest Post from Savvy Young Something's Sarah

2012-01-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year chic peeps! I’m so excited to be back for another guest post. Today I’m here to offer some advice on refinishing furniture.

I love to take an old piece of furniture and give it new life. There are a ton of resources for refinishing furniture, so I’m going to share a few tips from my experience that you might not see in your basic instructions. Here are a few things I’ve learned from refinishing furniture:

Choose your furniture carefully!
The fate of your project is often decided when you pick your piece of furniture. Some furniture is better suited for refinishing and some isn’t. Here are a few things I think about when I choose to refinish a piece of furniture.

Veneer is OK sometimes. Refinishing anything made of particleboard is a universal no-no, but some antiques are made of solid wood with a layer of wood veneer on the top. Real wood veneer is still wood, but it’s easier to damage so I prefer to stay away from it when I intend to refinish something. I am open to refinishing pieces that have a little veneer here and there. For example, my bed has a solid wood headboard and footboard, but the bedrails have a veneer over them. Because they are almost always hidden, I was willing to take the risk and refinish the whole thing in a darker stain.

Beware of ornate details. If you’re refinishing your first piece of furniture, I recommend looking for something with clean lines and few crevices. Paint or finish can be difficult to remove from ornate details and even curves, which means your finish won’t soak into those areas as well as others, resulting in an uneven finish. Oh yeah, and you’ll probably get really, really sick of spending a ton of time trying to sand those areas.

Be selective. There are some pieces with great bones, but which would require a TON of work to refinish. Don’t choose a project that will quickly become the bane of your existence, and may not even look stellar when you’re done. For example, I picked a dresser for $15 on Craigslist. It was solid wood with a veneer over it. The veneer was chipped in a bunch of places, and the original finish was a mess. I knew it would require hours and hours of work just to make it decent enough to stain, so I painted it instead.

To strip or to sand?
Unless a piece of furniture has many layers of thick paint, sanding generally does the trick. The best way to decide is to take some sand paper to the finish and see how easily it comes off. If it sands off easily, sand off the finish. If it doesn’t, strip it off. I like to use a power sander when possible – it makes the process go SO much faster. I use this little Ryobi random orbital sander, which I bought off the shelf from Home Depot.
If you are working with a portion of furniture with veneer, then you might want to start with a paint or varnish stripper because too much sanding can damage the veneer. I recently started using Citristrip, which is an eco-friendly stripper, and was happy with the results. After using the stripper according to its instructions, you should still sand the surface to make it smooth.

Tools of the Trade

Foam Brushes. When I tackled my first staining job, I used a rag to apply the stain. It was a HUGE mess. Now I stick to foam brushes, which you can get really cheap at any home improvement or craft store. Just makes sure you pick a size that can actually fit in your can of stain because you’ll be tempted to buy a wide one that would cover more surface area.

Rags. My nurse roommie works in the operating room and brings home lint-free rags leftover from surgical kits. Whenever her hospital does a surgery, they open a surgical kit that includes drop cloths and lint free rags. They rarely use everything and can’t keep the excess for other surgeries because it’s no longer sterile, so they just throw it out. So, if you have a nurse friend or family member, see if they can snag you some drop cloths or rags—they work great and best of all, they’re free! Otherwise you can use old socks or a cut up t-shirt. DON’T use paper towels because they’ll get lint in the finish.

Gloves. Staining is a messy process, and it’s definitely not chic for your hands and fingernails to reveal your penchant for DIY projects when you’re out on the town or at work. I like to use latex gloves because they protect your hands but don’t get in the way like the big fingers on dishwashing gloves do. If you’re stripping the furniture first you will definitely want thick stripping gloves too.

Limited Outdoor Space and Weather Challenges
There are many reasons why refinishing furniture outside might be out of the question. Sanding can be tough indoors, and I don’t really recommend power sanding inside because you generate so much dust. If you do want to sand inside, some smaller pieces can be sanded in the (dry) bathtub, making for an easy cleanup. Just make sure to close your AC vent so that saw dust doesn’t end up in your ventilation system.
If you want to stain indoors, stick to non-toxic water-based stains over oil-based stains. Try to get as much light in your room as possible, and be careful of drips that you could track throughout your house.

Thanks so much to Maize for letting me share some of my furniture refinishing experience with you! Check out my blog this week, where I’ll be showing you one of my latest furniture refinishing projects (previewed here!).

If you’ve never stained before and you’re looking for some good basic demos, I’m a big fan of Design Sponge’s Before and After Basics tutorials. Check out their guides on stripping, sanding, and staining furniture.

Meet Brad, your wardrobe update

2012-01-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

The scrap booking brad is the hidden gem of the season; scrap bookers have been keeping this secret long enough. The variety of materials and sizes is almost endless and the prices are just right for a Chic gal on a budget. Read on for ideas about how to work Brad (and all of his friends) into your wardrobe.

Faux buttons

Scrap booking brads can be used as a trompe l'oeil buttons on shirts, sweaters and blouses. It could very well be the detail that makes your Old Navy sweater from high school feel brand new again. Some ideas include buttons on the hem of the shoulder, a couple of buttons down the back or a grouping along the cuffs.

Decorative elements

Proceed with caution here, too much could make you look like an eighties flashback who lost a bet with a Bedazzler. Some ways to carry this look off: if a dress has pockets, group brads along the hem of the pockets for an unexpected twist. That old blouse you don't wear anymore has draping along the neck? Attach some brads within the folds for some unexpected sparkle.

The benefits of using brads in your wardrobe are great, other than the brad itself there is no additional tools to buy, application is easy and it's not permanent. Check out some of my examples for inspiration and get to know brad!

Bon Voyage!

2012-01-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

I'm pushing off tomorrow: we (the whole family) are setting sail on a 5 night Disney cruise. With no access to Internet, I'm signing off the rest of the week. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time my sweet fam.

I hope your 2012 has started off well. Talk to you all next week!

xoxo Chic Done Cheap

Chic classes on the Cheap

2011-12-27T13:37:00.000-08:00

Want to learn some new skills this winter without spending any money? Whether you'd like to gain more knowledge in cooking, technology or home improvement, you're in luck, check out Chic Done Cheap's class guide below:

Williams Sonoma Technique Classes
Attend one of their popular free technique classes to learn the art and science of cooking from Williams Sonoma's culinary experts. Each class is dedicated to a specific culinary topic, from the best way to work with specific ingredients, cookware and tools to creative ideas for seasonal meals.

Hour-long technique classes are free and include tastings of prepared dishes. Participants enjoy 10% savings on select same-day store purchases. Available at all stores; class times vary by store location. Class size is limited – call store to register.

Apple Store
Learn something new by taking a free workshop at an Apple Retail Store. Our workshops are taught by people passionate and knowledgeable about Apple products and eager to share their knowledge with you. Sign up in advance or drop in. You’ll have a great time, learn new skills, and pick up loads of tips.

The Home Depot
The Home Depot - Do-It-Herself Workshops Take pride in your work with DIH Workshops The Home Depot is the only home improvement retailer offering FREE workshops especially for women. Build confidence in your ability to tackle home improvement projects with hands-on workshops led by our knowledgeable Home Depot Associates. Conducted in a female-friendly environment, each session provides you with tips and tools needed to help you save time and money by learning how to "Do-It-Herself."

-Chic Done Cheap

NYE Shindig Done Cheap

2011-12-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

With decorations going up after Halloween, I always seem to be ready for Christmas. New Year’s Eve on the other hand, seems to sneak up on me and leaves me without that golden ticket to a glamorous party.

But glamour doesn’t always equate dollar signs, especially for this Chic Done Cheap gal. I’ve compiled some ideas for a Chic Done Cheap Shindig. Best of all? They won't break the bank!

These appetizers (Parmesan Spirals, Butternut Bisque) can be prepped ahead of time and will warm up your guests.

Glitter covered candles (directions here) bring 2012 in with some sparkle, or repurpose some Christmas lights.

A signature cocktail like this Pear Rosemary concoction will be sure to please. A festive playlist from Pandora sets the mood for free!

What are your plans for ringing in the New Year?

-Chic Done Cheap

It’s all for pleasure

2011-12-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

It’s a quarter to 2 on a Sunday afternoon and I’m standing by the door, awaiting 7 girlfriends’ arrival. Copious amounts of baked goods, champagne and a couple rounds of CatchPhrase later, I’m preparing for another event. What happened to a quiet, restful Sunday? A glimpse into my week reveals two blogger events, an art exhibit and a showroom opening. As the stress and panic sets in, a phrase enters my mind; “it’s all for pleasure”. A phrase from my late grandmother who showed me that women could be both glamorous and funny, (not to mention sassy). It’s true, as much as my week’s schedule is hectic, none of it is mandatory; I just could stay home, put on my nightgown and watch Lifetime movies, so why go?

First of all, I’m working on becoming a woman of my word and secondly, it’s an adventure. You never know who you’ll see, meet or befriend. For instance, the Sunday night event, organized by the adorable AV from long distance loving, brought together a wonderful, talented group of women in the DC area. It was a great night of networking and making new friends; all in all a great end to a great weekend. Maybe next week I won’t schedule every hour of every day but next time I do (I’m a slow learner), I’ll take a deep breath, put my best foot (and attitude) forward and remember that it’s all for pleasure.

-Chic Done Cheap

Overwhelmed by 'extreme couponing'? Read on!

2011-12-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

I can't give you tips on getting a lifetime supply of toothpaste and deodorant for free, but I can share some tips that I use on a regular basis that help me rack up some serious savings. And with the holidays breathing down our necks, who wouldn't want some quick and easy tricks to save money?

1st Chic Done Cheap tip

Carry a plastic envelope divided into sections to organize your coupons: coupons are no use to you if you can't find them when you need them! Admittedly, it's not the most chic accessory in your purse, but if you organize your coupons and throw out the coupons when they expire, you'll have a several money saving opportunities at your fingertips. Also, when you receive a money saving offer or emailed coupon, you can print it out and file it away for future use!

2nd Chic Done Cheap tip

Patience is a virtue. Need the newest craft tool or supply? Wait until you have a coupon for Michael's or AC Moore and you'll save at least 40% on your purchase! And remember, most of those stores take competitors coupons. If you've read these tips in order you've probably already shredded all of your expired coupons, but one retailer, Bed Bath and Beyond, accepts expired 20% coupons and you're able to use up to three of these per transaction.

3rd Chic Done Cheap tip

Very rarely you do have to spend money to save money. One of my favorite tools for saving money is the Entertainment Book, mine always pay for themselves within a month of purchase (these are my own opinions, Entertainment Book did not provide any compensation). The books come with a ton of coupons, you probably won't be able to use all of them but the discounts cover everything from travel to clothing, to restaurants and hotels. Get one for less than $20, here.

4th Chic Done Cheap tip

Be selective in your coupon clipping: only clip coupons on items and stores you would go without a coupon. Saving money on things you don't need isn't saving, it's wasting. By only clipping coupons you'll use makes your process more streamlined and you won't be tempted to buy things you don't need.

To give you an example of this week's errands and money saving strategies:

I received a 20% off coupon to Payless via email, great for stocking up on my remaining gifts for the Angels I adopted through the Salvation Army for Christmas.
Once I make my purchases at Payless, I receive a coupon for $15 off my purchase at Office Depot, great for an upcoming craft for Christmas gift tags.
My Entertainment Book has several coupons for craft and fabric stores and I'll pick up some collar extenders for the boy for 40% off this weekend.
Target has an in-store promotion: $10 Target Gift Card for a purchase of $50 or more. Once you combine Target coupons and Manufacturer coupons, the saving potential is great.

Good luck! Would love to hear about your money saving adventures this week!

-Chic Done Cheap

This little blog 'o mine

2011-12-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

A recent conversation with some co-workers about making friends after college got me thinking. As a product of boarding school and college out of state, I don’t have a ton of close friends in the DC area. This little blog o’ mine has really made finding friends with common interests easy: I sign up to attend every blog event I’m able; it’s a great way to explore new venues in the city and to meet new people. This week is a rare but busy one: three blogger events in four days!! I’m stocked up on business cards but have no idea of what to wear!!

Anyone attending any of these events? Hope to see you there!

-Chic Done Cheap

Tucker Blair Belt Giveaway!

2011-12-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

Think your main squeeze, milkman or mailman would look great in a needlepoint belt this Christmas? Wouldn't it be great if you could get it for free?

All you have to do to be entered to win a free belt from Tucker Blair, is head over to Facebook and 'like' my photo, here. I need to have at least 100 'likes' before tomorrow. It's tough, but let's show those other bloggers that Cheap is Chic again!

Thanks for your support! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for each and every one of you.

-Chic Done Cheap

Guest post from the one and only @chrispatrickdc

2011-11-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Today we have a great guest post from Chris! Chris is probably the best holiday decorator I know (in addition to one of the best interior designers). His homes over the years have been impeccably decorated for the holidays, even if he does act modest. Check out his tutorial for a DIY garland using found branches from both the natural and retail world.

Everyone's on a budget for the holidays and this is a cheap way to get "fresh" garland. I picked branches from the bushes in my front yard and leftovers from my tree. But, home depot and others have their leftover branches out for the taking! I took twine to measure the distance I wanted on garland to be (with swags and all) then with florist wire in hand, I cut about four boughs to wire to the string, making sure the ends were wrapped tight. Then continue to add boughs (about 4 at a time) to the twine until you're all finished. I alternated between Fraser Fir and Juniper. But you could also add pine or holly or magnolia. Then hang and voila!

Check out Chris's blog, Blue Rooms, White Houses here.

Also be sure to check out his personal website, here, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Guest post from Filleviolette - C’est pas cher et très chic!

2011-11-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

In honor of the last session of my first French class at Alliance Française DC, I wanted to make my teacher, Ameneh, a thank you gift. She has professed her love for chocolate and George Clooney on multiple occasions, so I thought I would try to combine her two favorite things. Et Voila! Clooney Kisses were born.

Process: I did an image search for George Clooney (hard work, I know), created the template in InDesign, printed it on sticker paper, and stuck them to the bottom of Hershey’s Kisses. It was easy, cute, and the perfect way to say thank you to a fantastic teacher.

Follow up: Success! She loved it!

Thirty Seven West - your destination for personalization

2011-11-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out the good folks over at Thirty Seven West?

They have a wonderful selection of personalized ribbons, labels and stationery. And now, just for Chic Done Cheap readers, you can get an additional 10% off!

First, you need to become a follower of Chic Done Cheap on twitter, @chicdonecheap and then re-tweet "@ThirtySevenWest! New Collegiate and Sorority Products coming soon! blog.thirtysevenwest.com/?p=1655 @chicdonecheap" and I'll send you the code!

Happy shopping!

Valerianne - Chic Done Cheap in Vienna

2011-11-17T05:45:00.000-08:00

I tasked the lovely ladies over at Valerianne in Vienna to show off their best hostess presents under $100. Because, as everyone knows, being a guest who shows up empty-handed is not an option for the Chic Done Cheap gal.

If you are in the area, Valerianne needs to be on your list to visit. The store, tucked away on Vienna's historic Church Street, is pretty much every girl's dream. Valerianne is filled with amazing texture, pattern and colors. The store is curated with so much care and thought, no item is there by accident.

Check out the following items from Valerianne, sure to please any hostess this Holiday season. And if you stop by, tell them Chic Done Cheap sent you!

Baked terra cotta scented pomegranate for $60

Wax tablets for the closet, $30

House candles, each $53, set for $92

Adorable set of wafer soap for $22 and as additional bonus: it already comes wrapped in a sweet little box, ready for gifting!

This whismical fish salt and pepper set is $51, sure to have a place on the table year-round.

Citron squeezer for $33

Oil and vinegar set, each piece is $43

-Chic Done Cheap

This week on Chic Done Cheap

2011-11-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! Not excited about the work week starting so soon? Well stay tuned to Chic Done Cheap for some things that will make your week great!

First of all, I'm proud to present my latest jewelry DIY, seen on GlamourNerd's site, here.

Tomorrow I'm attending an event downtown by the Washington Post, all about saving money! I'll be live tweeting from the event, stay tuned to my Twitter feed for the details.

Thursday night, Martha is coming to DC. The Martha Stewart! Chris and I will be going, her new book in hand to get it signed, memories in the making, folks. Stay tuned for my write up on the event!

In addition to those posts, keep an eye out for my recap of my trip to Valerianne; a flea market survival guide and fun brunch ideas.

-Chic Done Cheap

Let’s go High School!

2011-11-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

When you went to boarding school, the term "homecoming" takes on a whole new meaning. It's a special thing to be always embraced from those who knew you as a teenager. I'm looking forward returning this weekend, a home away from home.

The High School’s Spirit weekend marks the 111th playing of The Game: the longest-running high school football rivalry in the South. Tomorrow's weather looks perfect for football and I can't wait to proudly sport my maroon and black. Let’s go High School!

-Chic Done Cheap

GlamourNerd Guest Post - Look for Less

2011-11-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today we have a guest post from Christa who is the driving force behind GlamourNerd:

GlamourNerd here. Christa that is. It's always a pleasure when I receive the opportunity to write on someone else’s blog. A new audience, a new theme, a new kind of fun. Always with a bit of your own style.

My original post was all about recreating a Catherine Malandrino look and feel with a few pics from Forever 21 but alas I’ve switched gears. Perhaps for the better I think.

I spent a few hours shopping online the other day looking for the perfect dress to wear to a dinner party I’d been planning for a month, thanks to a little site I refer to as Shop Style otherwise known as the “find-anything-site” I actually found it. A black L’Wren Scott pencil dress that sat mid-calf, touched the arm beautifully just a quarter of an arm’s length away from the wrist, hugged every curve like a glove and bore embellishment that was so polite, not too intrusive. It was a dream. A dream that was perfect for a dinner party, my dinner party. Then, something made the record skip (insert sound effect here) - a price tag of $2,935.

Being the Chic Done Cheap girl that I am, I couldn’t just toss the look out of my head. It was so appropriate, so fitting and when you find something that’s great, its difficult to part ways with it. So, I decided to find an alternative using the very same site I used to find the original. Here is what I came up with.

Source

Dress Sequins

Thanks Christa! You're going to look like a star!

-Chic Done Cheap

Hillwood - Where Fabulous Lives

2011-11-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

From Hillwood's website: "Founded by American collector and heiress to the Post cereal empire Marjorie Merriweather Post, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is one of the premier art collector's museums in the United States. [...] The collection includes Fabergé eggs, Russian porcelain, Russian Orthodox icons, Beauvais tapestries, and Sèvres porcelain. Encircled by woodlands, the twenty-five acre estate provides visitors a tranquil oasis of luscious formal gardens."

This past weekend I ventured to this wonderful estate to explore and it's official: I'm in love. See below for some pictures I snapped of the details that make up this beautiful place.

The trip ended as all good visits to museums do: at the gift shop. Not unlike the estate, the gift shop is curated beautifully and thoughtfully.

If you are in the DC area, be sure to pay a visit to Hillwood!

-Chic Done Cheap

Support Special Olympics!

2011-10-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

My buddy Thorne is competing in a race that is over 200 miles (insane, right?). But it's for an awesome cause, the Special Olympics. Check out their info below!!

Dear Friends, Family and Well-Wishers,

We are the Homolympians, a DC Front Runners team competing in the RAGNAR Relay (ultra) and running from Miami to Key West (200 miles) in a single day to support the Special Olympics.

Team members: Micah, Joseph, Ryan, Erich, Thorne, and Harry

We are trying to raise money to get the team down to Miami to benefit this wonderful cause. Your donation will be used to help fund entry fees and travel. Any surplus from fundraising will be donated to the DC Front Runners.

On behalf of Team Homolympian, we want to thank you for considering a donation.

Upcoming Fundraising Events

JR's 6pm-9pm

Friday, November 18, 2011

1519 17th St NW

Washington, DC 20036

(Dupont Circle Metro stop– Redline)

All you can drink for $15 and $5 goes to the team.

Again, any extra cash will be donated to the DC Front Runners.

Sincerely

Micah, Joseph, Erich, Ryan, Harry, and Thorne

Donate

PayPal Donation Link

Black and Tan - Scout Bags

2011-10-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of months back I purchased a Rue La La gift certificate for $20 for $40 credit at Scout by Bungalow. My issue with purchasing these deals? I’m slow to act; sometimes waiting too long and my deal expires. Well I acted and my forty dollars got me four of these:

You may ask why four of the same bag? After collecting reusable bags over the past couple of years from giveaways, tradeshows and stores; my collection was scattered and I was left seeking some uniformity. Enter the durable (not to mention adorable), Scout bag. Now my troop of reusable bags is ready to find deals and most importantly, help me save some Benjamins’.

-Chic Done Cheap

Young Hip and Handy Toolbox Essentials

2011-10-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today we have a guest post from Sarah from Young Hip and Handy, take it away Sarah!

Having a well-stocked tool box is essential for a handy girl that loves to take on projects around the house. If you’re like me, you may find yourself at Home Depot tempted to bring home tons of little tools that are supposed to make your life easier. But no matter how many tools I add to my collection, there are some basic staples that I always keep coming back to. Here are the top 10 things I think are essential in a tool box:

1) Screwdriver set – You can get a screwdriver with a removable bit, but I like the individual ones because a flat head screw driver can be used to pry open paint cans or pry staples or upholstery tacks out of upholstered furniture, and I find that the one-piece screwdriver is more durable for those tasks than the removable bits.

2) Wrench and socket set – Never underestimate the variety of bolts and fasteners you will have to remove from various things in your life. You would think nearly everything could be removed with a screwdriver, but you’d be wrong. I actually don’t own a set of wrenches and sockets, but I borrow my roommate’s set all the time.

3) Drill – A drill helps do simple things like hang a curtain rod, but it’s also a very basic tool to have if you want to do any kind of woodworking. I own a 12 volt drill, which is probably more than the average person needs, but I do a lot of projects so I decided to get a heavy duty one.

4) Craft knife – A small craft knife can be used to carve your own stencil, crop artwork and photos for picture frames, cut designs out when you’re making Christmas Cards or Valentines, and many other things. It helps to have a good straight edge to use your craft knife to make precise, straight cuts.

5) Paint brush – For any project that involves painting, you’ll need a good paintbrush for at least part of it. For things that involve flat surfaces you’ll also probably want to get a small roller, but the paint brush itself is the most basic painting tool to own.

6) Glasses and a dust mask – I know these are technically two different items, but I consider it the dust-protection kit. Whether your sanding a piece of furniture or drilling holes in dry wall, safety glasses help keep dust out of your eyes.

7) Electric Sander – This is a bit more of an investment, but if you like to refinish or paint furniture, it will save you so much time. I have a small Ryobi random orbital sander, but I used to use my parents mouse sander a lot when I lived at home and like that too.

8) Painters tape – While it’s great for taping off patterns that you are painting on a wall or other surface, it’s also good for taping anything to a wall temporarily. This is especially handy when you’re trying to figure out how to arrange pictures on a wall with templates. It’s also great to use to tape out the shape of furniture on the floor of a room when you’re trying to figure out how to layout a room, but you don’t want to move furniture all over the place yet.

9) Needle-nose pliers with wire-cutting ability – Needle-nose pliers are great for removing staples from upholstery, twisting wire to secure things (like garland to your railing), removing the wire, and just cutting wire. It also works if you need to hold something in place.

10) Hammer – This is a no brainer. A hammer can be used to hang pictures, close paint cans (best with a screw driver), knock loose furniture joints back into place, and I’m sure many other things.

There are a lot of other things I use in my projects, but you can’t go wrong having these in your toolbox. Thanks again to Maizie for letting me share this with you!