Shopping: Decorate inside and out for warm weather
Has all the spring sunlight filtering into your abode made you want to clean up, clean out and redecorate?
The cleaning part doesn’t cost anything but your time and energy, so that’s an easy place to start, right? Not in my universe. I’d much rather wear myself out shopping. All that lifting of bags and opening and closing the trunk ... I need a mocha latte just thinking about it.
Clean out the closet for a cause
Mark your calendar now for the Second Annual Give + Take Upscale Clothing Swap on April 21 at Peace by Piece in downtown Belleville. You have until April 16 to bring your clean, gently used, upscale clothing to the boutique and purchase a ticket to participate in the private event. From 4 to 8 p.m. April 21, you can “swap” your clothing for other donated items. Ticket are $10 with a clothing donation or $15 without one. All proceeds and remaining clothing will benefit the Violence Prevention Center. Go to peacebypiececo.com to see the details.
The great outdoors
Mitch Leachmann from the St. Louis Audubon Society has a free seminar at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sandy’s Back Porch in Belleville. He will talk about the Bring Conservation Home program created to address declining wildlife (songbirds, bees, butterflies). Learn how to create a wildlife habitat using native plants so that even in the smallest urban yard our winged friends will flourish.
Note: There’s a free Cooking with Herbs class at 10 a.m. April 9.
How much do you pay for a propane gas exchange for your outdoor grill? Quick shops charge as much as $24, while hardware stores may charge about $20. All Lowe’s locations are currently offering $14.99 for an exchange. You’ll get a full Blue Rhino 15-pound tank. This offer is good through April 11.
Decorate inside and out
World Market in Shiloh has a sale on hanging glass lanterns. They’re medium-size, come in a variety of colors and are just the right size for tealights or votive candles. Get them now, two for $10.
What’s a day on the lake, in the man cave or on the porch without a cold one? At HereToday in Fairview Heights, you’ll find a trio of bottle opener/wall plaques with something to say. Each is $12.99. I like the one that says “Stay Calm and Drink Beer.”
“Vintage” auto signs with LED lights are perfect for the garage, above the workbench or behind a bar. Look for them at Old Time Pottery in Fairview Heights. You’ll find ones that say “Route 66,” “Muscle Garage” and others for automakers, Pepsi-Cola and more. Each is $19.99 and measures 19 by 10 inches.
Decorating a child’s room means considering just how long a little boy or girl will want a bedroom to look like a fairy tale or a spaceship. Investing in inexpensive accessories isn’t a bad idea. At Marshall’s in Fairview Heights, I spied some very tasteful and fun wood bookends ($3.99 each), picture frames ($5.99) and storage boxes ($7.99). They’re all painted robin’s egg blue with a cream background and decorated with squirrels, foxes, butterflies and owls.
At St. Clair Square
Charlotte Russe has nearly all its booties on sale for $25. No doubt they will be back for fall, so buy a pair now for later. Sale ends Friday.
The Children’s Place has all its “party” clothes for boys and girls (most likely from Easter) on sale for half off now through Sunday.
Macy’s has the same idea: It’s half off all women’s dresses through Sunday.
Looking for bridesmaid or groomsmen gifts? Things Remembered has a buy-one-get-half-off sale going on through Sunday.
This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 6:50 AM with the headline "Shopping: Decorate inside and out for warm weather."