Floral dreams can stem from the dollar store

My grown daughter, on one of her visits, spied this arrangement on my dining room table and wondered if the flowers were real, she thought them so beautiful. Nope, I got 'em at the dollar store.

My family is so used to that answer whenever something new catches their eye, it's a wonder they still ask. For me, the fact that they do keep asking is a testament to the fact that dollar stores have stuff that rivals the quality found in more expensive stores. The rest is a question of taste but I've learned that bouquets of the same or similar colors make an elegant statement. And, if I can learn, so can anyone.

So, whether you just want to add a splash of color to a room or you're planning something more ambitious like bridal bouquets, it can't hurt to check out the selection of posies at the dollar store first. You may find just what you need for a whole lot less.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes about home decorating using items from the dollar store on her website www.dollarstorestyle.com.