So I had forgotten that the one other thing I needed for my new little place was curtains for the huge window in my living/bedroom space.  I’m on the first floor and there is a lovely little garden patio right out said window.  The bright and shining morning sun streams right through this window as well.  All the curtains I own are wispy sheer things and I wanted something that would afford a bit more privacy and allow me to sleep beyond 5am when the sun streams through!

I picked up some super basic curtains at Wal-Mart–that being the cheapest place I could think of for curtains.  Ross couldn’t help me out this time   I wanted something bright and bold.  I get really sick of all the muted earth tones–sage, beige, taupe, pale lavender, slate blue–that bed and bath stuff comes in.  I mean really, where are people supposed to find the rich, bold, colors to brighten up their lives??

One night I was on my way to return lame curtains from Wal-Mart and I passed a Bed, Bath & Beyond and on a whim, I decided to go in.  Now mind you, I was WELL aware that anything I found therein would be waaAAAAaay out of my budget, but it never hurts to see what’s out there right?

So I arrive about 23 minutes before the store closes and I head to the clearance section.  Disappointed that I’m looking at more of the same blah colors I turn to leave…but what’s this?  A rich, bold, and sensual red catches my eye.  I pick it up and it is a delightfully perfect red silk panel curtain.  It has subtle pinstripes and has hues of purple when shifted in the right light.  Yes!  This is it!  Just what I’ve been looking for!  Bracing myself for the inevitable pain that will be me putting it down when I see how unaffordable this beautiful window textile is, I look for the price.  I see a sticker for $49.99 *gasp, cough, choke…and that is for only one of four to six panels that I’d need.  *Sigh…I lament my too-good-to-be-true curtains and toss it back to the pile.

But then an orange sticker caught my eye: $24.99.  And on top of that: $9.99.  And next to that “An extra 75% off lowest sticker price”  Hello fabulous curtains you shall be mine after all!

Only, then it was time to find another five panels of the same length and color.  Intense right, I know you’re just on the edge of your computer chair aching to know how this tale ends.

To my sheer (hahaha, not so sheer) delight, I was able to find the five more panels I needed.  I’m pretty sure I cleaned up on this particular brand.  But then again, the sign did say “Clearance” just trying to help ‘em out!  So I get up to the register and, this is my absolute favorite part, each panel rings up for only $2.5o.  Yep, you read that correctly: two dollars and fifty cents.  I got six $50 gorgeous silk curtains ($300 total) for around $20.

Sweet savvy success