Getting Ready to Move!
In just three short weeks, the people who are living in my new apartment are moving out. My mom (who owns the apartment I'm moving into) has graciously agreed to let me paint in there, so I'll probably spend the last weekend of July in the place cleaning, painting and getting ready to move in. This will also allow me to get the cable and Internet hooked up before I move in and basically get everything ready to go. Hopefully, by then, my legs will be feeling nearly normal again and I'll have more energy!
I have some things for the apartment - my beautiful loveseat, a TV, a microwave cart and a couple "pantry" shelf thingies, but I've set aside a chunk of money (including the bonus I'm getting!) to buy a bed, a kitchen table and as many other things as possible.
One of the things I needed was a good set of pots and pans. When I moved to Boston I had a lovely set of Farberware pots and pans that my mother had given me. I gave them away to a friend before moving back because I didn't want to pay to ship them home. So I've been thinking about my definite lack of pots and pans since I learned I would be moving. I do very much love to cook, but it's awfully hard with nothing to cook in. The microwave and plastic bowls can only take you so far. The cookware I had was really pretty good and I was loathe to part with it; the pots and pans I've been using at my dad's have been adequate. So I've really been doing some surfing and shopping around to figure out what I really wanted to buy.
I knew I wanted to splurge and get some really high-quality pans and I knew I wanted stainless. I am really hard on cookware and I didn't want to deal with scratching the non-stick stuff. Plus, I just think stainless is generally more versatile.
Finally, this afternoon, I found what appears to be a pretty good deal. I was cruising around Amazon.com and came across this 14-piece set of Cuisinart "Chef's Classic" stainless steel cookware. The list price was $540, it was listed on Amazon for $169.49 and with the special Amazon coupon I also got $25 off and free, supersaver shipping! They are dishwasher-safe, can go in the oven up to 450 degrees, and have riveted, stay-cool handles. They should be here in a couple weeks and I'm looking forward to trying them out! Hopefully they're just on special and not on "clearance" because they're junk. They are Cuisinart, after all, so how bad could they be? (Wait, nevermind. Pretend I didn't ask that!)
The other thing I picked up today - using my $100 special gift certificate! - was a new duvet cover from Pottery Barn. I've been eyeballing this duvet cover for several weeks now and when I went back to Pottery Barn's site again today to admire it, it was on sale! For once, my procrastination paid off! Ordinarily I don't do a lot of shopping at Pottery Barn because the prices can be so ridiculous, but I really like this duvet cover and decided to treat myself with my special bonus money.
When all is said and done, I paid $24.99 for it, down from $179 - after the sale price and my gift certificate were taken into account. I'm also getting a couple shams to match (also on sale) and a down-free duvet. So now I just need to buy a bed! ;-) I've never actually purchased a brand new bed, so I'm looking forward to buying and owning my very first one... hopefully I can find a good deal on that, too. The plan is to paint the bedroom a creamy color (probably not pink) to match the duvet. I can't wait to see my pretty bedroom!!
Another item of furniture I'm going to need is a table and chairs for the kitchen. At this point I'm not even sure what size I need to get, because I need to actually look at the space, but I'm leaning towards something like this:
First stop, though, is going to be area thrift stores and garage sales to see if I can find it for less than $200+. As much as I heart Target and Fred Meyer, they sometimes price stuff a bit higher than I really want to pay. Especially considering I have to refurnish my whole apartment.
The other critical item is an air conditioner: my doctor was very adamant that I need to stay as cool as possible. So I'll be surfing the thrift stores for AC units as well.
Ahhh, nesting. It's fun, no!?
Comments
WOW you seem to be on a role for getting good shopping deals - I can't wait to hear what you find at the thrift shops! When I move back to the states in Oct I hope I'm able to find deals like that!! Course I do have a bed, pots & pans they'll just be dusty from a year in storage. Good Luck finding an A/C and bed!
Posted by: Sara | July 3, 2006 12:27 AM
Zee, thanks again for your pots and pans. :) My roommates and I heart having good cookware! Best wishes as you make your new apartment a home.
Posted by: Amy | July 3, 2006 08:49 AM
How fun!! I love the new duvet cover b/c of course it's pink. ;-)
I got some pink satin sheets on sale for $10 at Urban Outfitters this weekend. I'd also reccommend them for little trinket type things. Also, I got a great deal on my bed at Ikea and it was super-easy to put together!!
Posted by: Pink Hobbit | July 3, 2006 05:22 PM
I need to follow you around when you shop because you seem to be queen of the deals!
Posted by: Grins | July 4, 2006 02:32 PM