I hate you craigslist

It all started yesterday when Husband went into his office and started working. I had nothing to do and thought I'd see if there were any good finds on Craigslist, you know to help me decorate our new home. I never know what to expect when I check craigslist and part of me wonders why I still look. I guess the stories of those people who find a 50 inch brand new TV for $200, or the very vintage and adorable couch for $50 make me stubborn and persistent. I want to find my special find.

I'd seen Matt work his magic on Craigslist multiple times and thought it looked easy enough. What's to it, right? Wrong. As I went through the listings I got as far back as the beginning of May, my first problem. Matt later told me if the add is that old and still hasn't sold...that tells you something. I wish I would have known (or thought of) that before. Because there among all the shabby wreathes, picture frames, and toilets (yeah, weird right? SO many toilets being sold in Santa Barbara) but there it was. This large and very gorgeous basket that looked exactly like the $98 dollar one I wanted from Pottery Barn:

but for only $10 dollars! I thought this was my great find! Maybe not as grand but I was thrilled.

So I started the process. When I called her to make the arrangements she sounded so nice...like a grandma or something. This eased my nerves a little, but let's be honest, I was still nervous! As we pulled up to her house I held the cash in my hand and for a split second thought, "you should give the money to Matt." Awe, if only I'd listened. So there we were standing on this cluttered porch waiting.

And then...

The next thing I knew this lady, who very much did not look like a grandma, answered the door, my hand was outstretched with the money and my other hand was taking the basket out of hers. She'd only gotten out, "Here's the..." and we were already turned around on our way back to the car.

I was shocked...and panicked. I was shocked and panicked!!

It wasn't until Matt and I both sat in the car that we looked at the basket, then each other, and then back at the basket. I seriously wish I had saved the picture she posted of the basket...so you guys could see what I saw!..and compare it with what I got. Matt thought it was hilarious and just laughed and laughed. But none of that matters now. What matters is the embarrassment and shame I feel every time I replay it in my head, over and over.

I know it was only $10 dollars and I shouldn't let it bother me so much, but it's the principle of the thing. This basket. This very crummy tiny basket isn't worth $10 dollars, it's not even worth $5! I maybe would have paid $2 bucks for this thing. Maybe.

So for the time being, pretty sure my Craigslist days are over. I'm going to leave it to the pros to find their amazingly wonderful TV's and couches and cute vintage things (can you tell I'm bitter? Haha) and I'll watch and drool, sitting safely on the side lines at Pier 1 and Bed Bath & Beyond.