Center Stage

Coffee tables have many responsibilities. Usually parked in the center of the room, they are a magnet for magazines, newspapers, coffee mugs, and other sundry items. Now on sale at Macy's a round coffee table with a beautiful cherry finish, shelves for storage, and castors for easy mobility.

Originally $500, now $297, it's the perfect piece for high traffic living or family rooms.

Sure to be a star in your home.

Men on the Go

Men can be hard to shop for. Finding a thoughtful gift that they will appreciate takes time.  Now at Pottery Barn, an  Ipod classic case in espresso for $3.99, regular price $12.00.  As an added bonus, the case can be monogramed, preserving those MP3 players in style.

Perfect for your man on the go.

Estate Sale

April has been a month of guests for us, and keeping the guest bedroom looking fresh and inviting is important. On Smartbargains.com, solid sateen "Grand Estate" duvet sets with intricate embroidery in chocolate, blue, or black. 68% off a 400 thread count duvet set with pillow shams. Grand Total: $39.97, regular price $125.00

Feel luxurious for a fraction of the price.

Tarshay

I love Target, or as the Gateauxfab pronounce it: Tarshay (with a french accent of course).  Low prices, high styles, it's a decorator's dream.  The other day I noticed after quite a bit of hunting, that their clearance section has a separate  75% off section. These are the deals among the deals and filled with finds for the family. Table linens for $5, simple baby clothing for $1.24, storage bins for $7.49, the list goes on.

There is only one catch. Unlike their standard clearance section, the 75% off section is not searchable by category. Today there are about 12 pages worth of sales to sift through.

Perfect for treasure hunters on the prowl.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Surprise! It's a new post! I know, I know: I've been MIA. As some of you know I am expecting a baby in August, our first little bundle of joy. We are so thrilled, but the pregnancy has been an exhausting one as most moms out there know.  Combine that with hectic schedules, major renovations to the house that required stripping the walls down to the studs, and loving family and friends visiting us on the weekends, I have not had a lot of time to write.  

I have been prowling the sale racks for the good stuff though.  And I hope to start blogging again on a regular basis.  If there are specific things that you want to read more about, please let me know. I would love to hear what deals you are looking for.  And some days I may not post, because honestly, just because something is 50% off, doesn't mean it's a great deal.

And now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

A True Aide in the Kitchen

I love my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. There is just nothing that puppy can't do, primarily because of its capacity and power. Finding discounts on these mixers is rare, unless you settle for a factory refurbished machine.  Today only on Amazon.com, a new 5 Quart, 325Watt, heavy duty 10 speed stand mixer for $170 (Free Shipping) in Imperial Black.  In addition, a pouring shield, which is not standard (a $20-$25 bonus attachment), is included. At this price, you'd usually have to settle for a 4 1/2 quart mixer with 275 watts.

Bring on the cinnamon rolls.

Yum-O

Rachel Ray is on sale.  Well, not her exactly, but her cookware. The weekend bargain on Amazon.com is her 10 piece non-stick cookware for $130 with signature orange handles. Not chic, but not shabby either. It's a great graduation gift for those young folks in your life.  Actually, I am more covetous of her signature "Garbage Bowl." The design is based on very pricey vintage pieces that sell for almost a hundred dollars. This weekend only, on sale at Amazon for $7.20, $10 off . 

"Oh my gravy!"

The $225 trash can

Today's mail brought no less than 3 Williams-Sonoma catalogs. This is a store that generally fascinates me the way toy stores fascinate 5 year olds. For one thing, there is the fantasy aspect: perhaps I do need a $170 risotto pan for my next dinner party, prepared by me in my spotless $36 apron and tasted for perfection with my $30 olive wood tasting spoon. 

Yeah Right.

But what really caught my attention is this $225 trash can. There is a paragraph describing its features, but the bottom line is: It Holds Trash.  I know that trash cans that match appliances and don't scream "ugly" are very appealing. But I'll pay $225 (free shipping!) for a trash can when it comes with a spouse that remembers to empty its contents on trash day. 

I do however need a trash can. And even the plastic models are $15.  For stainless steel, the cheapest I could find was this $40 model at Linen's and Things.  Assuming you could wall paper your house with their 20% off coupons the way I could, that comes to $32 for a 30L stainless steel trash can and a 3liter "bonus" can.  Not great, but not bad either.

Because nobody wants to throw their money in the trash.

Fit for a Queen

Before my husband and I got married, neither of us had much in the furniture department. When we bought our first house, my thoughts immediately went to a nice bedroom set.  But the prices for headboards, platforms, night stands, and dressers definitely made me pause. Nice furniture bargains require a careful eye, which is why this queen sized bed frame caught my attention.  Made of uber strong rubberwood, with a striking walnut cherry finish, this bed frame doesn't require a box spring. Regular Price $1082.00, it is on sale for $352, a $730 savings. A coordinating dresser and night stand are also available. Shipping is only an additional $2.95.  

At prices like that, we can all sleep like royalty.

Top Chef

It's all the rage in Europe and now it's finally here.  I'm not talking about Gucci handbags or Prada shoes, I'm talking kitchen appliances. Specifically, the Beaba Babycook, now available in the U.S. at Williams-Sonoma and Splendora.com. A French made blender, steamer, defroster, and re-heater all in one, it makes home made baby food a snap, and saves mom from having to clean a dozen different appliances, pots and pans. The steamer preserves the nutrients in fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables in just 15 minutes. The blender requires just a turn of the knob and when the light turns off, the food is ready. As an added bonus: home made baby food can save about $250 a year, and has been found more nutritious.

So easy a baby could do it.

Cristal

Let's face it, unless you're french, champagne is not an everyday beverage. Special drinks for special occasions, they deserve a special glass.  Crystal is the best, but buying a table's worth of flutes can be expensive. Unless you catch this clearance sale at Macy's.  Elegant, yet modern, these tall crystal flutes are etched with stars to mimic the bubbles in your bubbly. Marked 50% off, they are on sale for $20 a pair and make great gifts or additions to your crystal collection.  As an added bonus, purchase between April 2-6, and receive an extra 15% off.  Filled with my favorite gateauxfab sparkler, they are sure to be the star of your table.

Did someone say mimosas?