Wherever you are in the country, there's a sale or shopping event to get you out of the house this weekend. From the Modernica Factory Sale in LA to the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin to a host of Design Week events in New York, there are plenty of reasons to get out and freshen up your home. Check it all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

This week marked my first-ever trip to the Brimfield Antique Show, the largest outdoor antique market in the world. With 20-plus fields and thousands of vendors, even a skilled bargain hunter like myself could use help from a veteran to navigate the six-day market. Here are eight tips for scoring deals and shopping outdoor shows like a pro.

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Emily

Location:

Boston, MA

Square Feet:

224

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I grew up in Los Angeles, where most apartment buildings are recent builds with grey carpets and stucco walls. When I moved to Boston I was struck by how much love and care was put into buildings. My apartment is a studio converted from the old living room of a brownstone house. I love the original window moldings, parquet floors, and antique fireplace. It makes me feel like I'm just sharing the space with the history of the house. When I decorated, I tried to fuse that history with my modern/vintage style.

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Sharon

Location:

Boston, MA

Square Feet:

500

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

The sunlight! It is amazing how much larger my house feels during the day when I have light pouring in from both sides. It was definitely one of the biggest selling points for me.

New York City — if you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere. But what if you made it there, and now you have to move?? Will you ever find a neighborhood in your new city that suits you as well as your NYC one did? 

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Hadley

Location:

South Boston, MA

Square Feet:

675

Division:

Little

What I Love About My Small Home:

I love my home for many reasons. It’s a second floor corner unit with ten-foot ceilings and gets great light all day long. I also love that I have an outdoor space where I grill, grow herbs, and plant flower boxes. My condo is within walking distance to the city, but the best part is, I’m just a few blocks from the beach. I’ve taken my time decorating because I want 1) every piece to be meaningful and functional, and 2) to explore what my style is exactly (it’s a work in progress!). Not rushing to decorate the condo ASAP when I moved in has allowed me to create a unique, organized home that’s my right mix of traditional and modern.

The first real taste of summer is here - it just feels like time to let off a little steam and get out there and enjoy. In today's calendar, we've got a full roster of ways to make the most of the weekend AND possibly pick up a few goodies for your home at the same time. Happy (finally!) May, everyone!

Soon we'll spend our weekends enjoying cookouts and beach parties. Until then, let's take the time to get our homes in shape for summer entertaining. To help, here are the week's best design-centric sales and events. Check them all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

Vintage collectors and bargain hunters rejoice! The arrival of Spring also means the beginning of flea market season. In anticipation of this exciting event, I've rounded up a list of some of the country's best flea markets.