May 14, 2009

2nd Chances

So a couple of months ago at HomeGoods, I found a french grey & cream dresser/buffet similar to the one in this picture, but larger. I obsessed over it for a week but you know how that place is and you better buy it when you see or it's gone, and while I debated if I should part with the $500, it disappeared.

So I went in today and they had another one. They never have another one. And so the torture begins again. While I still need a dresser, it's still $500. I'm trying to convince myself that I can recreate that look much cheaper, only I hate painting furniture.

In other news, I bought a new swimsuit at TJ Maxx today and while trying on swimsuits has always been one of my least favorite pastimes, I'd rather have all of my wisdom teeth removed without medication while simultaneously giving birth to twins utilizing natural childbirth methods, today it didn't bother me. At all. Standing under that florescent light with my size 10 (on a good day) body and I didn't even mentally beat myself up. I think this might be a sign of a new era. An era filled with self love. Don't get me wrong, my hips and thighs are still big and I could still stand to lose 10+ pounds. But. That's okay. I like me.

43 comments:

  1. That dresser sounds awesome. I love the french/dove gray and with cream! That just makes it even better. Glad to hear about your swimsuit shopping :) I always believe in self love!

    All the best,
    Allison

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  2. I would be torn too! I always have those "well I could just MAKE it" moments, but I usually find that I never get around to it. Congrats on the newfound "self love"...I'll have to channel that when I go swimsuit shopping this year!

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  3. Size 10 is marvelous! No need to beat yourself up! Revel in your little frame! You are below the average size, you know!

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  4. You can do it, whether it's losing 10 pounds or painting a dresser. I know you can. By the way the dresser in the picture was absolutely gorgeous...tough call!

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  5. Oh you gotta get it. It's your second chance, and you don't always get second chances. True, $500, but...love is love!

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  6. What a fabulous "breakthrough"! You Go Girl!

    Stay Cozy & love, love , love yourself!

    Carrie

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  7. The home goods in west carmel is close to my house i could almost hit it with a rock. I stalk that place, I've been there twice this week. I understand what you mean about snapping it up before it's gone. On that note though I think I would have a hard time paying $500 for anything from that store. It's good smaller pieces, lamps etc, but maybe not for a $500 dresser. You might find a really cool one at goodwill or a yard sale this summer. A $10 can of paint and it's brand new again and just as awesome!

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  8. The dresser is beautiful!! Have you found anything even close on Craigslist? I just bought a chair I had been eyeing for a year!

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  9. Cream and grey...the perfect combination. So restful and classic.

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  10. That picture of the dresser is lovely! It is a big decision. I think I would just go with it and not beat myself up about the cost. Congrats for your "love of self". We have to love ourselves first and as we get older, that seems increasing more difficult. Thanks for sharing.

    Charla

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  11. That dresser is lovely.

    I vote "GO BUY IT!"

    I'm so proud of you for the self love. Wear that suit proudly.

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  12. This really is a dilemma...it is a beautiful piece but $500 is a lot especially at homegoods. You are very talented and I have no doubt that you could easily replicate this look if you have the time. I feel the same way about swimsuit shopping, I usually have great luck with the lands end seperates but I will have to keep my eyes opened next time I hit TJ's.

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  13. What a beautiful dresser. I love the color. Just painted a sleigh bed Shabby Chic white. They make it look so easy on t.v. and other blogs. I'm so over DIY projects (it was my first painting project), LOL!

    I LOVE your blog...

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  14. I am very confident you can recreate that dresser. I've seen what you can do!

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  15. the dresser is wonderful. I think you should make it a garage sale treasure hunt. :-) You could definitely do the finish.

    and as for the swimsuit, I too was at TJMaxx today and I saw the swimsuits, I thought about getting one, it didn't even occur to me to try one on, but decided to pass on the whole shabang. But, the good news is that I did go for a walk tonight and admired beautiful landscaping. :-)

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  16. I Love that piece! It would be so easy for you to paint it and soooo cheap! Jen

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  17. Great post!!! Go get the dresser, you deserve it with this great self love post!
    ♥ Jen

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  18. I'm drooling over a dresser at Pier One, the one that has reverse-painted glass panels on the drawer fronts and tops. The good news is, I have absolutely nowhere to put it. So I can just admire away and save my money for buying yarn

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  19. i think it's a sign :) i have that same dresser in my inspiration file!

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  20. I LOL at what you'd rather be doing than trying on swimsuits. :) I think most of us normal women feel that way.

    What a gorgeous dresser!

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  21. You know what? Feeling that way about yourself beats a new dresser any day! Congratulations on this revelation!

    Why not buy the dresser and have a big yardsale to recoup some of the cost? The sheer work involved will assuage some of your guilt for sure!

    Cheers,
    Linda

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  22. Good words of advice for me on the weekend before we leave for our beach vacation! I finally decided last year that if I don't look great in this swimsuit or that dress the fault is not with me. It's with the clothes. Either it isn't made well or it just isn't made to fit my body type. So freeing, let me tell you! I've *nearly* stopped feeling sorry for myself over the things that don't look good on me and started focusing on looking for things that make me look & feel fantastic. Sounds like you're on that path, as well. Let's call it the wisdom that comes with growing (cringe) older. :)

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  23. I love your blog just for this reason (and many more) I am the same way, I obsess over things like that, I hate it at times!!! but I have been in similar situations and to be honest I rather get an old piece and re-paint it, I know it takes more work, but the old pieces are so much more nice, more character and usually all wood. But I totally understand you!!!

    Good luck!!

    Chiara

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  24. I have been torn between saving or just buying also . What I have done is gone ahead and recreated the expensive item but then taken part of savings and splurged on something else I wanted. That way, I get everything and a litle bit more. :)

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  25. oh, Jen, that dresser is GORGEOUS! I'd totally be having the same argument with myself if I were in your position. on the one hand, I'd take it as a sign that I should buy it if it turned up again, but I agree with the ladies who say you can probably find a piece similar to that & give it an awesome paint treatment. I've never considered gray & cream as a color combination, but I love it. so peaceful!

    and good job on the self-love. I need to buy a new bathing suit this year (my post-baby-body has no business in a bikini anymore) and am absolutely dreading it.

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  26. I like your bathing suit story!

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  27. That dresser is gorgeous, so I can see why you liked the one at HomeGoods! :) I found your blog just tonight because I was reading about your potting bench on BHG! I love how you designed it! :) The funny thing is last night when I got onto the BHG website, the picture of your potting bench popped up on the screen, and I spent the rest of the evening trying to find it again! :) And I knew I'd found a kindred spirit in you when I saw that you feel happy when you have two projects going on simultaneously! Me too! :) (At least two!) Anyway, I'm off to add you to my Blog Favorites! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

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  28. Buy it!!! Life is too short for "What if's"

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  29. Girl, if you can pay cash and if the hubs is alright with it, get the dresser! And then be extra thrifty for a while. You're flowers are already ordered, so that should help.

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  30. Hi I found your blog today and truly enjoyed it. I love the dresser and I too hate painting furniture. Well I am glad to hear somebody had a good day trying on suits. It is right up there with finding a bra that fits.

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  31. hi there...i know how you feel about the dresser,the other i saw this beautiful summer sandals, i did not buy them so i went home could stop thinking about it,so i went back and i bought them , after all that i felt so guilty and returned them i couldnt justified the $77.00 for sandals??? what was i thinking????....anyways i love your blog and will definitely be back..have a great weekend and i'm glad you found a swimsuit i'm still searching for one that hides everything!!!!!lol...


    silvia...

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  32. You could SOOOOO create this look. I'm not a big fan of painting furniture, but the pieces that I have tackled have become some of my favorite ones.

    Is the piece damaged in any way? Sometimes I've gotten good deals when I've gotten the manager to give a discount on a dinged or dented item. (Promise me you won't go to Home Goods and "accidentally" rip off a knob or kick a big chunk of wood out of it.)

    Dawn

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  33. I have so many " I can make it myself" moments that never come to fruition. I would say BUY IT! Quick! Before it's gone! Besides, I am sure they may have a return policy if you decide against it.

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  34. That is a beautiful dresser! Decisions, decisions....

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  35. First of all....run...don't walk..to buy that dresser!!! Seriously. GO!!!! Secondly, I love the older I get the more I am ok with my imperfections. Pretty nice.

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  36. hi jen,

    if you love the dresser, i say go for it. rationalize anything you need to but if it's tugging at you, you should get it.

    i'll think of some rationalizations for you if you need 'em!

    xo

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  37. Don't buy it...It's beautiful but 500.00 at HomeGoods is too much. Paint one yourself..even if you hate to paint...on second thought.....maybe I'm just jealous of the pain-free swimsuit shopping!

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  38. You can do both!!! You can paint it yourself and lose 10+ pounds! Good luck!

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  39. It's a lovely dresser and I can see why you're coveting it. I bet you can recreate that with second-hand piece - you're talented! Also, LOVE your body image attitude. :-)

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  40. I love your post on the swimsuit. I love hearing that because I have been beating myself up under the florescent lights. I need to enter this new era also. Thanks!
    Amy

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  41. Oh my goodness, you're right, places like that never get stuff twice. Did you get it? I'm guessing not yet or you'd have posted a photo. It's sooooo beautiful.

    Congrats on the swimsuit. You've inspired me to be more accepting - even if I HATE swimsuit shopping. Especially now. Talk about unflattering styles - anything is better than maternity!

    I know you look absolutely beautiful, as always.

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