big box heaven
I have such mixed feeling about shopping at Target and Ikea. On one hand, I can hardly distinguish them from Wal-Mart and shopping there feels like cheating or that if I buy things there global warming is going to speed up tenfold and every local boutique will suddenly be choked out of existence. But large chain stores are sometimes hard to avoid: our local paint store charges $32 a gallon for flat paint and is closed on Sunday; Home Depot charges $18 and is open. I’ll buy produce every time from the local market, but they don’t sell meat, poultry or fish; Ralphs is the only store nearby that does. To make matters worse, I usually forget to bring along my Envirosax and end up putting all my purchases in plastic bags. So while I spent most of my weekend shopping at Target and Ikea, I didn’t enjoy it.
One of the reasons I went to Ikea was to find a tray for my dish rack. Design*sponge blogged about using a melamine tray from Anthropologie for her dish rack a while ago, so when I went to Anthropologie last week, I expected to find something similar.
First of all, their melamine trays are $50. I understand that she found hers “on sale”, but still, their sale trays were $30. I find $30 to be too much to spend on a dish drainer, let alone just the tray that goes under the dish drainer. Second, that shit was huge. The tray was like the width of my countertop. Thus, I bought this chrome masterpiece at Target for $8 and the tray at Ikea for $6. It’s the perfect size. Does the Anthropologie one look cooler? Sure. It’s a beautiful design. If money were no object, I’d pick that one, or anything, over Ikea. But money is an object, and that’s the point.
Note: the obsessive eye may notice that the basil on the countertop has been replaced by chives. These too will soon die and be replaced by something else, because I can’t keep a plant alive for more than a week. It’s unfortunate, but I have the anti-Midas touch concerning plants. Second, I’m just going to gloat for a minute about how we’re keeping the kitchen clean. Anyone who has lived with me in the past knows that I am a complete mess, and I make more messes wherever I go, and leave them there for the detriment of others. So there you go, Mom, I wish you were here to see this.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:42 am
You can’t get anything cheap at Anthropologie. I have tried many times and failed. Anyway, a dish tray is going to get all gross anyway. You really have to go for price+functionality there.
As for being environmental, I suggest getting a tote bag that gives you cache. I never forget my Believer/McSweeney’s tote because I feel so literary and awesome when I am carrying it around.
I think the way to approach your dilemma is to go to the small nice stores first, then fill in with the giganto-stores only when needed. Like today, when I purchased all of my food needs from the mom&pops I could walk to, but COULD NOT get beer or English muffins (instead I ended up with not-on-my-list doughnut, spreadable goat cheese, and pear nectar). A regular grocery store was needed.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I was really surprised when the doormat I got was only $30. For a nice doormat, this seems reasonable.
I think my problem with the bags is that they’re in a kitchen drawer behind the tea. How would I ever remember to bring them if I can’t see them when leaving the house? I’m creating a space for them in the landing strip and we’ll see if I can turn it into a runway as well.
I think I’m already pretty good at this method of shopping, I’m just using one day as an example and not giving myself enough credit. Sometimes I just don’t know where to go, though: I need a non-hideous laundry hamper under $30. Where would I find that around here without going to Target or Ikea? In the end, we’ll probably make one.
The meat/poultry/fish remains a problem, though. If anyone knows of a butcher or fish market in Venice beach, please let me know!