Adventures at Ollie’s

This weekend, while wandering through what seems like an endless stretch of strip malls in a nearby city and attempting to shop for Andrew’s upcoming birthday, Chad steered us into an amazing new place.

Okay well it’s not new, but it’s new to me. Have you ever been to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet? It’s a place I’ve never been because really, from the outside, it looks sort of yucky (perhaps this is just the store closest to us and there are others that don’t suffer from being less than visually appealing). I was expecting piles of useless junk and all things knick-knacky (I am not a trinket girl – I don’t need more things to dust- sorry!).

Instead, as soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by BOOKS. Two huge floor to ceiling walls of books! Brand new books at that. That’s when I knew Ollie’s had me. Chad, Evan, and I (Andrew spent the weekend in the mountains; LUCKY.) took our time and navigated every aisle in the store thoroughly. There was something for each of us— and probably the most for me! They carry everything from cleaning products to pretty painted ceramic pots. There were overstock rugs in all shapes and sizes– and of surprisingly good quality! Patio furniture, kitchenware from Rachel Ray and Paula Deen, and hordes of picture frames happily distracted me.

Evan thumbed through a book of photos from memorable demolition derbies (one of our favorite things) and then discovered an aisle full of board games (Oh no!). Chad was sufficiently placated with gadgets and tools of all varieties. I spied an aisle of prints on canvas and fell in love with a painting of huge red poppies. It’s on my list of things I want to buy, but at $59.95 it didn’t fit into the budget this week. Sigh.

I would have snapped a photo, but I was busy trying to avoid an employee that seemed intent on running over me with a palate full of baseball helmets, mitts and other goodies. Sometimes bargain shopping is hazardous.

So here’s what I ended up with (besides a little heartache over a print of poppies that WILL be mine)…

The metal trash cans were so adorable I just couldn’t resist- the retro green and yellow flowered one will go to live in mine and Chad’s bathroom, the strawberries in our bedroom.

Somehow the children managed to snap the inside of the lever in their toilet; I’m pretty pleased with my $1.99 fix (thanks to free plumbing, courtesy of my handy boyfriend). The skewers I grabbed because it’s grilling season and they were less than $1. Overpriced local grocery store: take that! The cook book, of course, will soon make an appearance on Sugar Dish Me; there’s a Baked Banana Rum & Lime Crumble that is calling my name.

So Ollie’s is going on my list of super great and cheap places to shop for housewares; right up there with Target and Big Lots. No, I was not kidding about Big Lots; it’s where I’ve found many awesome picture frames for less than $5…

…and a whole assortment of decorative metal signs…

like this one that lives above the washer and dryer advertising laundry (like as if laundry needs advertising).

Where are your favorite discount places to shop for good, cheap housewares? What are your favorite finds?