Dare To Be Domestic

How To Save BIG On Flowers And Make Them Last Longer

Why in the heck do flowers cost so much at the florist?  Well I guess the answer is obvious; I call it a "convenience markup."  It's best to compare it to the prices you get at high end thrift stores in rich areas — yeah, it’s like that.  The good news is you can avoid this “convenience markup” on flowers if you live in a major city by going straight to the source:  the flower mart.  Plus, you’ll get a way bigger selection.  Combine those savings with a few flower arranging techniques, and your fresh-cut flower budget will last twice as long. 

Here are some things you can do the next time you buy flowers:

1. Try to buy direct from your local flower mart.  Go early in the morning and bring cash.  Small bills are best so you can have some room to negotiate.  Don’t show the salesman you have 20s.  Multiples of fives are good.  Other great priced sources are Trader Joe's, Home Depot, and Costco. 
2. Think about your color combo before you start to buy.  This will eliminate you getting home and not knowing what to do with what you bought.  Don't be scared of color.
3. Cut your stems under water and at an angle.  The water will prevent air from entering the stem and the angular cut will allow for more water absorption. 
4. A no-brainer:  Always place your fresh cut flowers in CLEAN vases.
5. Remove all the leaves from the stems that will touch the water.  This avoids bacteria from growing, and your flowers last longer.
6. Always ask for flower preservative packets.  They really work.  Another option is to add a little of clear citrus soda.  Not Diet!
7. Adding a ¼ tablespoon of bleach to your flower water will help the life of your flowers and kill any bacteria.

Flowers are a great way to make any room come to life.  Don’t be scared!  Make it a weekend event and get to the flower store.  Easy.

I decided to do an orange, pink and red combo.  Oh yeah, with a hint of green.  Trust me, it looks amazing!

You Make It, I Buy It – That’s Etsy. Ya Heard?

Last week I spent the better part of my weekend in mega stores looking for gifts, party favors and ugly sweaters – you get my drift?  Draining, unless you live for finding deals like I do.  But I must admit I’m always afraid that the gift I buy may be generic and the intended recipient may already have it or, worse, be unimpressed with my selection.  So, I'm gonna make finding a unique, eclectic gift easy.  In comes Etsy.

If you’ve never heard of the website Etsy, you need to get with it.  Who am I kidding—I just learned of Etsy myself, but I think it’s the future of our consumer experience.  Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade.  Its mission is to enable people to make a living making things and to reconnect makers with buyers.

So let’s suppose you’re not the most craft-inclined person and my frugal holiday craft gift ideas are just not rubbing you well.  Well, Etsy can help.  The site is chock full of original and off-the-wall gift ideas that will leave you saying, “That’s so cool, I have to have one of those!” 

On the flip side if you are an artisan you can join the thousands of fellow artists who make a living by selling on Etsy.  I’ve logged on and already have spent hours just looking around. It's kinda like thousands of small boutique shops in one mall.  The best part is everything is so reasonably priced.  Yep, you smell that?  It's a bargain!

Check out Etsy’s great features:

• search by category
• search  my gift type
• you can “pounce” on items that just sold
• you can “go back in time” and see gifts that people have been buying
• you can even shop from local artists in your hometown

So cool!  Here are some items a few of my friends might find under their trees:

1. I'm a big fan of simple jewelry.  When I saw the My Heart Belongs To... necklace it called my name.  Simple design at an amazing price.  Seller: chocolateandsteel
2. For all your coffee drinking, Starbucks and Coffee Bean lovin' friends this is a really cute, really affordable gift option.  It's the Reusable coffee sleeve by Amy Butler Lotus and it's so crafty and so original.  Seller: SeamsandSuch
3. Sunrise on the Temple Checkbook will have you looking good as you spend, spend, spend.   Seller: BCharmer
4. Original gear (clothing) always makes for a great gift.  The Tree of Life Species Phylum Vintage Science Diagram Illustration Graphic T-shirt is a really attention-grabbing tee.  I'd wear it and I'd definitely gift it.  Seller: isotope
5. The Spend Less leather billfold wallet is guaranteed to help your male friends "spend less." It's classic yet modern and very original.  Seller: treeswithknees

Remember all items on Etsy are handmade by talented artists who do what they do because they love it.  Now do your part and spread the word!