For my other job, I've been spending a lot of time at thrift stores and flea markets (I'm lucky) armed with petty cash and a list to check off. Amidst the credenzas, lamps, chairs, dining room tables and vintage linens I'm shopping for, I've come across some pretty spectacular kitsch. With my partner in crime (who shall remain nameless) we've zeroed in on incredible cat decor that is awesomely bad.

We want to create a salon style hanging of all the great cat paintings we find and then balance it with a shelf full of cat figurines. Neither of us, however, is really dying to have more stuff, so we're satisfying this craving another way, one that is lighter on the budget and great for when you're traveling.

We're photographing our favorites and when this project is over we're going to create a virtual cat wall in photoshop. It's working out pretty well so far (we've caved and printed out some of the pictures and put them up on the wall to help wean us form the real thing), we've got quite a few contenders (including that top image, how awesomely bad is it!). It's a fun thing to do while we're working that doesn't really take up any time and it doesn't cost us anything.

So we've decided to apply this same idea to all the great stuff we're tempted to buy while on vacation. Something about being far away and knowing there's no second chance to go back and get something puts our impulse buying into overdrive, so now we're committing to photographing the finds instead of finding space in our wallets and suitcases for them. It's a way of putting the apartment on a diet and living with less (without having to give a lot up).

(Image: Laure Joliet)