Chandelier Love and a WINNER!

I have been wanting a chandelier for my dining room for quite a while.  It was one of those things on my antiques wish-list that I wanted to cross off before I left Germany.  Now, I didn't take home one of those massive and gorgeous chandys from Karlovy Vary but I did get one from Germany.  I had so many chances to find one even at the Tongeren, Belgium flea market and Nurnberg trempelmarkt but I always passed them up.

A couple weeks back there was a festival in my little town with a flea market.  I was so thrilled that my little town was having one and they do this every year apparently.  I walked around not really expecting to find anything and then I saw this beautiful chandelier.  It was gold and had crystals dangling from it and looked old.  Now it's obviously not super old because its electrical but looking old is just as cool.  I really wanted it.  So I asked the seller what her price was.  95 Euro was too steep for me.  So I walked.

About 15 minutes later, I told my friend I was thinking about just asking the lady if she would take a lower price, which I normally would at a flea market.  But, I had a dress on with pockets and only had 65.50 Euro in it. I didn't want to low ball the lady.  But my friend insisted that I at least ask.  I can't believe I didn't listen to my own advice, "If you don't ask you'll never know."  But with encouragement I went and asked if the woman would take the money I had in my pocket.  She literally yelled, "Does anyone speak English?"  I know how to ask how much and say prices but my negotiating skills in German end there, so a man came up and translated for us.  "Well how much do you have?" our translator said. I sheepishgly pulled out the remnants from my pocket and showed her.  She almost immediately said, "Okay."  So I handed her the money and took my prize!

So I walked awkwardly proudly through the streets of my town with this heavy chandelier and went home.  Brandon looked annoyed, as he usually does with any of my purchases, but I as usual ignored his disdain and set the chandy on the table.  He sighed but then promptly went and wired it to the light fixture in our dining room and TA DA.  It worked!  Thank goodness, because I never would have heard the end of it haha.  I said, "Now don't you think we look all fancy and sh*t?"  He nodded his head which obviously meant "yes."

So that's the story of the chandelier that almost wasn't.  I have no idea how old it is (I forgot to ask) but it's probably about 20-30 years old if I have to guess.  And this just reminds me that it doesn't hurt to ask!

Have you gotten any super sweet deals just by asking that you didn't expect?

And a WINNER:

Now on to the giveaway winner.  Last week I decided to give away a vintage inspired clutch handmade by yours truly.  Well apparently we are calling it "Vintage Bouquet" because the randomly selected winner is:

Diane @ Diane's Vintage Zest!  

Congrats!  Diane is an awesome blogger!  And thanks to everyone who entered!

Oh and don't forget to check out my interview for Expats Blog which was just posted!  I talk about my life in Germany and tips for incoming expats! You can read the interview here!

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