Go STATE! Go SHOPPING!

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, my alma mater, Michigan State University, had it's first home football game.  The hot day was perfect for a cold beer and tailgating with great friends.  We took the boys to East Lansing to enjoy the game.  Years ago, we decided to get 3 season tickets for my boys and my husband to have male bonding time together.  They all love football, me not so much.  It works out perfectly for our family,  I get to tailgate and socialize and enjoy the game day atmosphere, and when they head into the stadium just before kickoff, I hit the shops in East Lansing!

I live in Grand Rapids and it is not a big city.  We don't have big city shopping.  East Lansing is not a big city either, but between the two towns, you can pretty much get what you need.  So, while the boys were enjoying the game, I spent 3 hours at HOMEGOODS. 

If you are unfamiliar with this store, it is owned by the TJX Companies which own TJ Maxx and Marshalls.  Homegoods is basically an expanded version of the home department at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.  They have everything for your home from furniture to measuring cups.  Man, did I have a good time.  What I loved the most was finding miscellaneous items in the store that offer more than just their face value.  And a value it is - this place has CHEAP finds.

Take a look at this fantastic, huge, basket.  It's tough to tell just how big this basket actually was, but let me tell you it is big.  At first, I thought, how many afghans and quilts does one family need - the thing was 5'X3.'  Huge.  Then I took another glance at it because I just adored the color of the wicker - gray/silver.  Put a piece of glass on it and it becomes a terrific table.  Or just simply flip it over, add a stack of coffee table books and ta da - coffee table.  The best part - the price.  $59.  Unbelievable.

Next, I ventured to lamps.  Lamps, lamps and more lamps.  Holy smokes does this place have lighting covered.  But, I could not believe the prices.  Most were around $39 - for lamps you would normally see at prices around $150-$200.  Here is a picture of one aisle of just mercury glass type lamps. 

I think these are so smart.  The main reason is because they are non-committal.  By this, I mean you don't have to commit to silver of brass/gold (which you know is making a come back in a big way).  The mirror glass or mercury glass is somewhere in between and can mix and match with both finishes.  The lamp I liked the most was $49 and was a gourd shape with a simple drum shade.  Classic and beautiful.  A must have!  

Then, I was off to the glass area.  I know you have seen these glass vessels everywhere. 

 You might have thought to purchase one and put some sort of decorative balls or something in them.  But, seeing them all lined up on the shelf, I had an idea.  Purchase 3 or 4 in various shapes and sizes and place them on your mantel or open shelving.  Here is the idea: make your kids happy and purchase 4 gold fish.  One fish in each vessel.  Simple. No B.S. or crap on the bottom of the bowl like rocks or gravel.  Just fill with fresh, clean water and a brilliant orange fish.  It would be a beautiful statement and your family will have 4 new pets.  The punch of color and the movement of the fish is very cool.  Easy to clean, too, without all that junk in the bottom of the bowl to sift.  Can't you just see it?!  Fish bowls don't just need to come from the fish department at Wal*Mart.

One more cool thing I found was this piece of rattan.  It had a cool texture and interesting shape.  Decorating with different shapes and textures makes a room feel comfortable and not boring or sterile.  This piece could be used as art above a fireplace, or hung from the ceiling as a room divider, or from a tall doorway like a transom, or turned on it's side for a headboard, or hung in front of a window, or hung like a pot rack from your ceiling in the light of your recessed lighting to cast great shadows in your room.  It was in a brown finish, but could easily be painted red or any vibrant color - up against a white wall this piece could be modern and glam.  It spoke to me and had so much potential.  All this for $30.  Really. 

Here's the thing: I bet if you walked into HomeGoods by yourself, you would not have taken a second look at any of the things that I have shown you here, but with a little imagination and creativity, or somebody like me with you, the possibilities are limitless.  Next time, I'll shop for you!