Oh Dier! I Broke My Home Spending Hiatus

Confession: After 14 days, I slipped up and broke my self imposed home spending hiatus.

The hubby and I went to NorthernGrade on Saturday…the only 100% American-made pop up shop for men.  Harmless right?  You may recall when we went to SnowGrade (the winter popup men’s shop) and I came home with a set of containers and a pair of geese statues. Well, this time I was sure I could resist temptation, as most of the sellers would have men’s goods, like belts and shoes.

Then it happened.  I spotted the “shut the front door” sign and realized Oh Dier was in the house.  I have sort of been stalking them online for ages.  After hearing me exclaim, “Oh Dier!”, my two and a half year old started repeating “Oh Dier, Oh Dier, Oh Dier” and all I could think was oh dear, here goes the home spending hiatus.

Let me show you what I bought and then we can analyze how badly I slipped up.

I walked away with the hello sign I have coveted forever.  I have featured it in not one, but two mood boards for my living room.  It first made an appearance in the living room mood board and then in an accessories mood board for the same room.  This was the first time I saw it in person and I was still in love.

I also grabbed this Let’s Get Lost sign.  The font, the color…I could not resist.  Humor me for a moment and pop on over to the playroom mood board and tell me how awesome it is for that room.

Okay, time to analyze.  Yes, I broke my home spending hiatus.  Yes, I have been giving all of you advice on how to avoid unnecessary home spending.  In my defense, although I violated the rules of the home spending hiatus, I think my purchase was justified.  I may have dismissed the tip about avoiding limited sales.  Well, that is exactly what a popup shop is.  Honestly though, I did not feel any pressure to buy on the spot just because it was a two day popup shop.  I have loved Oh Dier’s wooden signs for a while and knew I could have ordered these signs anytime.

On the flip side, I think I also followed one of my tips for avoiding unnecessary home spending.  I suggested keeping things on a wish list which you review periodically.  Only the things that remain on the list for a long time should be the things you purchase for your home.  I consider my mood boards wish lists of sorts and that hello sign had permanent residency on my wish list.

The other factor in my buy decision, was getting to meet the sellers.  William and Katie were super sweet.  NorthernGrade is an amazing event to get introduced to new brands and meet the owners of some of the coolest American-made businesses.  Purchasing these signs was a show of my support to one of these businesses.

Enough analyzing and lamenting over my home spending transgression.  Let’s move on and look at how great these signs are in my home.

The hello sign has already found it’s spot in the living room.  It is the perfect piece to fill the empty wall space in the built-ins.  The welcoming hello is the perfect sign for this room, because this is the main area our guests gather.  What better way to say sit down and stay a while than a sweet hello sign?

If we zoom out just a bit, you can see how fun and happy the hello sign looks with the gallery wall near by.

The Let’s Get Lost print will eventually move to the playroom when it is ready.  For now the color is perfect in the living room, so I added it to the mantle.  It adds a nice layer in front of the DIY canvas art.

Just for fun, here is a wider shot of the gallery wall, built-in, and mantel.  They feel complete now.

Back on the horse.  Just because I slipped up, does not mean I have to give up.  I am determined to get back on track and finish out my home spending hiatus.  So, I re-pledge to avoid all home spending through the end of September.