Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

One of my all time favorite things to do is to go shopping without any agenda. Shopping just for fun, just for the surprise of seeing what’s out there. I discovered a charmer.

Violets are Blue is an eclectic mix of vintage and new décor items. There are household décor items from cups and wall art to antiques along side new amazing cute baby items. I found fashion jewelry pieces that had that special vintage look for much less than I expected. Though it’s a retail boutique, the pricing here is very reasonable and the help is amazing friendly. This beautifully decorated shop has is a treasure trove of special gifts and items in every corner.

Violets Are Blue, 3610 ½ Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta 818.541.1115

Having been bitten by the vintage bug at Violets are Blue, I then headed back to my home turf to visit a favorite vintage boutique in the Montrose Shopping Park, Patty’s Closet.

When I first moved into the area, this was one of my first discoveries. I picked up a pair of 1940’s alligator shoes for $15 on my very first trip. This eclectic store carries both used and vintage along with a great display of vintage costume jewelry and wonderfully odd home décor pieces.

This visit had me bagging a fluttery silk tank blouse and a vintage silk blouse with embroidered cutouts, both for $8.95 each.

Patty’s Closet, 2422 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020 818.957-5713

I ended my day with a visit to Once Upon a Time bookstore. This neighborhood favorite has a beautifully edited selection of kid’s titles from classics to new releases.

I pre-paid for the last of the Harry Potter Books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I also signed up my daughter and her friend Aidan and myself for the Harry Potter Midnight bash at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, July 21st.

They transform the book shop into Diagon Alley with all sorts of familiar shops – Eeylops Owl Emporium, Ollivanders Wands, Gringotts bank, Flourish and Blotts Bookshope, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, Apothecary shop, etc. They have a costume contest, Moaning Myrtle dunk tank, and other surprises! We went the last time a Harry Potter Book launched… what fun.

Once Upon a Time, 2284 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose CA 91020 818.248.9668

This morning I had two choices. One was to drive down to the OC and do some research as well as hit the Vermani Collezioni sale. The other choice was to hit Marshall’s. I am on their mailing list and got an e-mail notice about a huge shipment of Free People scheduled to arrive on 5/24.

Hmmm, I was just down in the OC last week, gas is super expensive and well, Marshall’s (Montrose location) is walking distance. So I figured I hit Marshall’s since both my daughter and I totally dig the Free People line. If I didn’t find anything then I should still have enough time to go down to the OC.

What a joke! There were exactly two pieces of Free People in the entire store at 10am. Their staff was in the middle of unloading racks of junior clothes. I kept waiting and waiting for the Free People to show up.

While I waited I checked out the handbags and almost bought a Dooney & Burk large hobo bag in cream for $199 instead of $350. It was really too big so I ended up passing. I also handled a couple of nice Maxx bags and a new Spanish designer bag that was well priced for well tanned leather but the interior lining was ultra cheap.

I checked the junior area again at 10:30am for the Free People line. They did unload some Von Dutch and other junior lines though…. But no Free People. I sifted through the new Von Dutch which I had already seen at the Von Dutch Sale. Been there, done that.

Killed a little more time by checking out the shoes and sauntering through the lingerie department. I went back to the junior department at 11am to see if there was anything new. Nope, nothing…. I‘d been duped.

So this dedicated e-mail I got was a bunch of bull. It was an enticement to lure me in the store without Marshall’s coming through on their promise. Nice job Marshall’s. Next time I won’t bother. Personally, I hate being lied to.

This week I went back and researched a terrific bargain source, Urbanism that I hadn’t been to in a long time. While I was there, I found a fabulous little table top organizer, perfect for organizing dvd’s, cd’s or computer programs. I normally pass on purchases while researching. But this décor piece stuck with me.

As I wondered around I was struck with how overwhelmed my home had become with my tiny home office spilling out into my living room. As BargainsLA has grown, I have been trying hard to keep some resemblance of a home separate from business. I started by purchasing an amazing Hooker computer armoire two years ago to hide a work station in my living room. That worked for awhile. I now have a 24″ IMAC on top of that. No hiding that. It’s pretty, but very obvious.

The chaos spread to my antique dining table that I had to cover with a garish oil cloth table cloth to protect it. I convinced myself that my recent purchase of an 1880’s antique Empire secretary desk would help clear that mess. Fat chance! You can’t even close up the desk drop with all the laptops and paperwork floating on it.

Now I am looking at coffee table décor item to help hide the business chaos that has taken over my abode.

Am I stubborn….? Most assuredly!
Am I focused on solving the dilemma….? Absolutely!
Am I living in reality….? Not a chance!
Give up on my quest for a normal home environment …. NEVER!

So I bought the cool décor item. At a deal of course. I paid $43 instead of the original $75. Gleefully I brought it home and gave it to my husband to organize. He did not understand my delight in the object and dismissed my cause. He’s living in reality and I am not.

What I really need is a larger home. I’ve started to read the Real Estate section. Guess I am still not living in reality.