Clarizze @ Home

Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

Got some vanity cleaning done earlier. Gone are the “dilapidated” make-up case for which I have been keeping for years. Glad that I have found these two nifty stuff in a home depot for just a few pesos. Now, my vanity place is a little…organize I had junked other stuff that were seldom used. Alas!

Next on the list, a perfume holder. I have little perfume samplers that my sister-in-law gave me. I like to find them a good storage plus the regular sized perfume so that it will be easier for me to grab one.

After that chore, I will be coming off to the kitchen to do some “decluttering” and cleaning there. Perhaps I may to include in my task the kitchenaid dishwasher repair so that it will function the way it was.

A mommy always had the day’s full with house tasks.

And so, after the decluttering process, I had taken some free time and enjoy looking at luxury rentals paris on the Internet. Afterwards, it’s time to buy newer stuff. Discounted stuff.

It’s not that I needed newer items for the old items that I have either junked or given to others. If the items needed replacements, I’d go bargain shopping. If no replacement were needed, well and good. Money was saved.

I seldom buy home stuff. If I don’t see that an item is showing its wear-and-tear stage, then, it’s still of good use. I am too thrifty to buy even the smallest of items. And yes, more stuff means more money off the budget and eventually, more stuff means it need more spaces.

Neither do I buy stuff even if they’re carrying a too tempting price tags. I learned to practice restraint But when I ought to buy newer ones and surprisingly, I can find what I needed on sale, I’d be the happiest shopper.

Here’s the loot last weekend when we celebrate post Valentine’s day… Not huge. But, in their tiniest and simplest forms, they’re functional for me. Few kitchen stuff and organizers.I find them all in a thrift shop. I most particularly like the small rolling pin. It will be of great use to mixing small  amount of dough.

For the others like the two separate organizers, I place on retirement my old vanity organizers which had been sitting in my vanity for like 10 years old or more. Forgive!

White and blue organizer each costs 66 pesos. I particularly like this blue one. It’s a storage for pens and other school/office stuff, but I think, my lipcolors and other vanity-me’s would be just as nice in there.

Let’s get things all organize, then. Happy thrift and bargain shopping…

I always thank the Heavens for giving me a jack-of-all-trade husband. I always say this, we’ve saved a lot of money on repairs and even in small carpentry work. Whenever he thinks he can do it, he’ll surely tackle the work himself. Well, not all. Especially when it comes to ESET Endpoint Security, I have to rely on the experts regarding this.

But, for home works and repairs. He’ll surely do them without ANY qualms. For free. Er, lots of coffee when he is working So, one weekend, he did set up the lighting on our kitchen/dining area. Here’s the drop light in the middle area…

I tell you, I want a three-piece pendant light, but the husband would not agree. He says it will be too low because our ceiling is not that high. So, there. We get to agree purchasing that round drop ceiling light for $35.

Can’t wait for my camera to click…

And, because the newly repaired kitchen has a cove ceiling -I begged the husband for that- it needs at least 4 pieces of light fixture to cover the entire area. Too many lights means additional electric consumption. The husband suggested we look for T5 Lighting System. So, he installed 4 units of 28-watts tubes inside the ceiling.

Testing. Checking on how it illuminates the kitchen. It looks dimmer in photo but truth is, our kitchen has never been this bright at night! So far. So good.

Forgive the disorientation in my kitchen stuff. When the husband is working, he doesn’t want any thing on the counter, so I have to steer clear of stuff.

So, there, I guess the husband, my electrician (Oh! He’s hurt. He’s more than that. He says^_^) is finished here. I have saved again from the cost of hiring electrician.

Facts about T5 lights:

For those who may want to ask what the type of lighting we used for the cove ceiling, we purchased T5 at the hardware shop. It is those light units that are small in diameter but super high intensity lights used in commercial or office spaces.

• A set of this T5 lighting system includes the electronic ballasts and the lamp or tube itself. It has different sizes. We needed the longest one though for our ceiling.
• For a 4-foot size, cost is around 359 pesos. Cost is depending on the brand you choose.
• As for consumption, T5 is more energy efficient than standard tube lights. It has a higher output level which can distribute more light source to any room or space.
• Tubes are sold separately when they do get burn out. Oh! I’m sure that would take years.
• As for the color, there are blue, white and yellow tone for this type of light. We chose the white one to complement the color of the walls which is in the brown family. A yellow tone will make the area look dimmer. We do not want that. The reason why we chose a round pendant light. We try to distribute the light all over the area.

Next time, when we’re done with the fixing and the cleaning, I’ll snap better photos of my simple kitchen.

The advantage of buying at large shops? They have more designs to choose from. They have more available stocks. And yes, it’s okay to return items when you are not satisfied. As long as you keep the receipt (to show proof that you purchased the item there) and the item has no damage (damage due to improper handling or misuse may not be applied when returning merchandise).

Yesterday, we had returned the lighting fixture we had bought last week. We thought it didn’t jibe with the theme of the room so we decided to return it. Er, not actually return. Instead, we picked another lighting unit in exchange for the one that we returned. All turned out great.

The reason why the husband insisted we buy the needed electrical and other hardware at a bigger shop. The husband liked that there are many items available and on display. He can compare stuff right then and there. Compare as to design, quality, and the prices.

I was hesitant at first because prices in bigger shops, specifically those that are inside the malls, must have wide differences as compared with those found at hardware stores outside the malls. But, he insisted we go to the mall hardware for the reasons cited above.

I think he was right after all. I liked that I can actually see the items as everything is displayed albeit a little pricier. But, I think, it’s worth it considering the savings from gas because we do not need to scout through other shops around the city.

All things about our hardware needs are settled. It is time we check out acoustic guitar at wwbw. I need one for the daughter and at the same time it will double up as display piece in our entertainment room.

If there’s anything I would wished for this new year? Let me be a good gardener. Pretty please. Because the next time we visit Baguio City, I will bring home some of these pretty poinsettias. They’re so lovely. I just couldn’t take my eyes off them while we were visiting the gardens of Good Shepherd Convent.

Let me have the green thumb in order for me to give life to beautiful blooms such as these. I didn’t try to buy one because I’m afraid I might let it wither and die.

I content myself looking and taking them photos

Aren’t they so lovely in reds?

It was saddening not to be able to purchase the lighting fixtures I had plan to be installed on the living room. As I said, we had been to the city last weekend to buy electrical wires needed by the husband. He had to fix wiring installations as it had been shit off when our living room and kitchen were repaired last November. New pin lights were needed to be installed too. Aside from those stuff, we have cabinet handles and locks which were included in the list, too. So many stuff have to be bought that day. I was wondering if that patagonia down sweater sale womens I have heard from my friend a week earlier could be spared in my budget.

Yes. The husband was kind enough to give in to my little whims But, as I said earlier, I was kind of sad for not purchasing that pendant lighting I saw in the shop. Well, it is way beyond our budget. There was this lower price drop-light (for the kitchen ceiling) as suggested by the husband but, I didn’t like the overall design. So, we had to postpone buying. Maybe on our next hardware stop, there will be newer stocks to be displayed. I hope, our budget would permit us to bring home one.

Can’t wait for the living and kitchen room ceiling lights to be finished.

Lighting within design is extremely important. Lighting can be used emphasise or de-emphasise certain fixtures within a room, either bathing them in light or covering in a slight shadow. Lighting is concerned with enhancing what you already have, it isn’t concerned with being a centre piece but rather is the supporting act to accentuate what is already there. There are various retailers of lights and lamps, but in my opinion none as impressive and reliable as Geoffrey Harris.

The most important aspect of lighting is the experience. Creating a balanced setting, with a correct ambience for the situation is most important to the experience. How often have you been sat in a room and just felt out of kilter because of the lighting? An interior designer seeks to place lighting in such a way that it doesn’t become intrusive, but rather adds pleasure to the experience of the room. For example, a floor light next to a comfy arm chair can be perfect for a more relaxed atmosphere.

The model of the light itself is important. For when it isn’t switched on, the design affects the aesthetic of a room. Certain stylish design can add class and sophistication to a room with a contemporary feel. For example, the European designers Artemide have a wide range of lamps available. As do Anglepoise. The conception of Anglepoise was created by the former car manufacturer George Carwardine in 1932. Not only does the lamp offer a suave, sophisticated design, but it is highly functional. The moveable stem makes it perfect for a reading lamp.

Geoffrey Harris is an independent lighting company based in the South of London. They offer great customer service, really showing they care about how lighting affects our lives. To check out their webstore go to www.geoffreyharris.co.uk.

Tomorrow, me and the hubby will drive out to the city with two things in mind:

1. To buy lighting materials and electrical wires needed for our newly refurbished cove ceiling.
2. And, to buy cabinet handles, magnetic locks, and other accessories needed for the closet and storage cabinet in our room.

We plan to visit at least two of the biggest hardware stores to look for the materials that we need. I suggested we go and look at bigger stores because of wider array of designs available at cheaper prices.

I am hoping that we could find all the things that we need in one go so that the hubby could start working.

The next time we travel as a family, I will make sure to buy camp labels to be used in my kids’ gears, clothing and other travel thingies. I get irritated when they frequently call my name and asked for their things. That’s also the problem when the kids are too lazy to bring their own luggage. Their stuff are all stack in one big luggage carried by their dad. And there goes the confusion. Their stuff are all mixed up.

I’m sure going to find that labels next time.

Never will I ever buy some cheap Christmas lights. Ever!

For two years now, I haven’t had lights installed in the front garden. Because the Christmas lights were already “extinguished”. I haven’t bought new ones except the ones I placed in the small Christmas tree.

The reasons were for safety and more on the economical aspect. Lights, especially incandescent and blinking lights at that, eats out more electricity. As per safety, there were times we have forgotten to unplug the outdoor lights and although the breaker hadn’t tripped off, we found few burnt lights in the morning. That was scary.

But this year, due to constant badgering of the little kid, I get out to buy few pieces in order for our garden to bathe in total shine

Got me 4 pieces only (for 100 lights a piece) for 55 pesos a piece. It’s a brand suggested by a friend who bought the same and swear by its quality.

Call me Miss Unlucky, but 2 of the 4 I bought burnt out as soon as I plug them in.

Ouchy!

Money lost for some cheap buy!