I don't know if a lot of people have heard of ABC Distributing but I picked up a catalog when I was working as a veterinary technician and office manager in an animal hospital in Mesa, Az. back in, lemme think...1999.

Anyways I fell in love with ordering stuff through them because at the time, even though I was making $11.00 an hour (a big deal for me) I didn't have a lot of money and I was also on my own. By "my own" I mean I moved away from San Diego for a little bit and went completely solo in the living department. Besides my cat PB and my dog Chewy, I had the whole place to myself and for the first time in my life I was able to make my home the way I wanted it and no one could tell me nothin'!

I have said it before and I will say it again. I am a total penny pincher and bargain shopper. I am not ashamed of this at all. Actually I think people who spend a small fortune on an ugly lamp are insane. Again, I didn't mean that to be rude but I live in reality where every penny I spend and earn counts for something so I am particular about what I spend it on.

Doing a comparison shop on the Chelsea Nook Dining Set. I went to WalMart, Target and Sears looking at a country style bench dining table featured on the right.

• At WalMart I found it for $299.99.
• At Target I found it for $399.99
• At Sears I found it for $259.99 but in black. If you want it in Honey it is $80.00 just for the table. Add another $197.99 for the corner unit and you are already up to $277.99 and I cannot find the matching bench.
• On Ebay $319.00
• On Amazon $389.99
  
• At ABC Distributing I found it for $264.85.

Now these prices don't include shipping. I would love to give you the shipping price on all of them too but I can't do that since I don't know where you live. However, ABC has a flat rate on this product @ $14.00 per item, ships in three and Amazon will give you free shipping (at least at the moment it is listed for free shipping).

So with shipping:

• ABC is $306.85 + tax of course.
• Amazon $389.99 + tax of course

But if you want to pick it up, WalMart is the cheapest by far with free shipping to one of their stores but not by much.

As odd as it is, for a girl who loves punk rock, mohawks and rock shows; in my home I like good ole fashioned country living.  I know, it doesn't make sense right!?  I love cute little medicine cabinets, and country apple decorations.  How do you feng shui? 

I believe that every thing has a place and when I invite people into my home I like them to feel comfortable and happy because a happy home is an organized and clean one with an ora of good energy.  I know I have been to homes in complete shambles.  Answer me this.  Are you more likely to instinctively take off your shoes in a home that is neat and organized that feels inviting beckoning you to stay a while and have some coffee or tea?  Or are you most likely to stand at the door until invited in, in a home that is a shambles? 

In my families tradition, we always take our shoes off at the door.  Though some might believe that the only reason us "oriental" folks (lol, hope no one took offense to that slightly inappropriate use of the word oriental) take our shoes off is because we need to chase off evil spirits or something, we do actually have a logical reason for taking our shoes off at the door and while it is a respect issue, it mostly has to do with sanitation.

In other words, shoes are meant for outside to cover your feet from the dirt, why would you bring it inside? Duh.  It's my home where I rest, eat and raise a family.  I also believe in maximizing space.  I do like to have room to stretch my feet out and cannot stand clutter but at the same time some spaces need to be filled otherwise it looks unloved.  Nowadays, we don't usually use the term feng shui but essentially it is the same as homemaking.

While Target is my favorite store, I will comparison shop before I buy because one thing I cannot stand is to find out I could have gotten it cheaper. It drives me nuts. So before you finish shopping at least stop by ABC Distributing and see if you can find it there too. Who knows, it might be cheaper it might not but you never know until you look.

Happy Shopping!