Mommiedaze

Girl Talk: Shopping Trip

My husband Dave gave me the best gift EVER a few days ago. He sent me out for a night of shopping ALL ALONE, and he even gave me some money to spend GUILT FREE! In fact, he told me I had to spend it all on myself. I absolutely was not to use it for anything else.

It was fantastic to actually be able to take the time to try things on, and with out a three-year-old whining in the corner of the dressing room about going home. And then to make a purchase, and not think, “I should be saving this for something else.” Oh the FREEDOM!

It really wasn’t an enormous amount of money. I’m sure many people wear shoes that cost more than what I had to spend. But it was a lot to me. Way more than I would ever think to go out and blow on myself. Because it is our money, and I try to spend it responsibly. And, well, because I like to be able to eat and heat our house and other frivolous things like that.

But Dave insisted, and I did even protest a little bit. In the end I decided this was one time I ought to just shut up and do what I was told.

I was determined to stretch my little windfall as far as I could, so I studied all the sales fliers in the Sunday paper. I even managed to find a couple coupons on line to use at some of my favorite stores. I had a list of specific items I wanted. Mostly things I decided I couldn’t live with out after watching What Not to Wear.

On the top of my list was a pair of wide leg trouser jeans. Just the thing, according to Clinton and Stacy, to slim my chubby thighs. I must have tried on 25 different styles at five different stores. I have a few things to say to denim designers.

1. Wider hips don’t equal longer legs. Why does the length increase by, like, half a foot when the waist increases by one size?

2. Most of us do not need sequins and fancy swirls and flowers emblazoned on the back pockets thus drawing even more attention to the span of our rear ends.

3. Can’t you all get together and agree on a standard sizing chart, so that I don’t go into one store and try on a certain size to find that it’s too big, then go in another store only to find that I can’t even get that same size past my knees?!

O.K. I feel better now.

Anyhow, I did finally find a pair of wide-leg trouser jeans that fit like a dream. And they do take off at least 10 pounds. Everyone — short, tall, fat, thin — needs a pair of these. Well, maybe not thin, because if you’re thin you should be wearing those skinny jeans. You’re the only ones who can wear those skinny jeans. If you don’t wear them who will?

So, as I was saying, these wide-leg trouser jeans create a slimming, straight line from hip to toe, and if you wear them with a nice pointy heel, you look like you have legs that go on for miles. And you can dress them up or down. These things are right up there with the skirted tankini as far as fashion advances for woman kind.

I love my trouser jeans. I don’t want to take them off. I wore them three days in a row. But I decided I should take a day off from fabulousness, and wash them before they get up and walk by themselves.

I also picked up a pair of shoes and a few tops, a jacket and even a foundation garment or two. And with my coupons I managed to add an extra $32 to my little wad of cash. It was a shopping success all around.

I had so much fun, and it was nice to have some time away. So thanks Honey for the treat!

Now I’ve got to go get those jeans in the wash, so I can wear them on Monday. I have to hang them up to dry. I mean, you just don’t put risk putting pants that fit that well in the dryer.

Bookmark To:

Girls Talk: Shop ‘Till You Get Carpel Tunnel

Apparently Michigan now has a monsoon season. It poured down rain here for almost 72 hours. The deluge ruled out any outdoor activities, and made it miserable to even leave the house since just the dash from the front door to the car (attached garage too full of junk to park in) left us soaked to the bone.

That left me with lots of time to window shop on Etsy while David watched The Incredibles for the sixhundred-million-fivehundrend-thousand-fiftysix to the nth degree time. (That’s probably not a real number. I never was good at math.)

Anyway, I think I Etsyed for too long. My neck hurts. Not sure you’re supposed use a laptop while lounging on the couch.

But I did find lots of cool stuff. I was browsing through the clothes on Etsy. There are so many beautiful, unique designs on Etsy. You’ll definitely stand out from the crowd. Best of all, a lot of the fashions on Etsy are affordable.

So I started out searching for graphic Tees. I love the look, but most of the ones I see in stores are either inappropriate for a 33 year-old mom or sport skull and cross bones. I’m not a pirate wench, and I don’t want a shirt that says Flirt on it. Think the hub might not like that.

Rainbow Swirls has some of my favorite tees. I picked up this one for the bargain price of $12. (Shipping was only $3.) All of their items are reasonably priced.

I think it will look cute layered over a long sleeve Tee when it gets chilly.

I didn’t make anymore purchases, but I did find some other things to add to my wish list.

Vigilante Labs is a little more pricey, but they have some really fun retro-inspired clothes. They will custom make many of their designs to fit you.  I really like this A-line dress. I could see wearing it with a little button down cardigan this fall.

For something a bit more subtle, I like this Jersey Hoodie from Ellania Boutique.

Now everyone can use some cute PJs to snuggle up in. My SIL has a set for sale over on her blog. Custom made to fit, complete with matching slippers.

So there’s no reason to dress like the status quo this fall, or break the bank to look good. Now go forth and be fashionable ladies.

What’s your must-have fashion item for this fall?

Talk to me girls!

Bookmark To:

Sssh! Don’t Tell Anyone Where I Buy My Underwear

So in the name of honesty and full disclosure, I have a confession to make.

I LOVE WalMart.

WalMart is my second home. I frequent WalMart at least three times a week. I even go there for fun. If I get a rare hour all to myself, I’ll go and just browse, drinking in the rows and rows of cheap, plastic, Made-in-China stuff that we Americans can not live with out.

As I sit here, everything I’m wearing today, even my underwear, came from WalMart.

See I’ve been fairly quiet about this until now, because it seems that out there in the blog-o-sphere Target is where all the cool kids shop. I do go to Target. And I love them too. They certainly have the hippest clothing and home decor of any of the big discount stores.

But the truth is WalMart usually has lower prices. And when it comes to stretching our single-income budget, the money goes farther at WalMart. (No WalMart is not paying me to write this for them.)

I don’t like to clip coupons. That whole CVS program just seems like it takes way too much analytical thinking to figure out. ALDI’s annoys me because they don’t have bags, and I never have a quarter with me for the cart. I don’t have anywhere to store a year’s supply of toilet paper from Sam’s.

It also happens that I live with in 20 minutes of not one, but two Super WalMarts. Most of the other stores are farther away. Something to consider when a gallon of gas costs you your first born.

And if I go to Super WalMart, I can buy shampoo, dog food, a new TV and lunch meat all in one easy circle around the store. Another important consideration when there’s a cranky three-year-old in tow. Making stops at Walgreens, Petsmart, Best Buy and the local grocery would take me hours. By the time we got to Best Buy, David would be so ornery they’d call in the Geek Squad to escort us out of the store.

I’ve heard horror stores about WalMart. People say that they are dirty and sell rotten produce and meat that will kill you if you eat it. But our WalMarts are clean and shiny. I’ve never seen any rotting tomatoes or lettuce, and I’ve survived the ground round more than once without even the slightest touch of E. Coli.

I’m I the only closet WalMart shopper out there?

Anybody else need to confess?

Bookmark To:

Girl Talk: Isn’t that Cute!

Well, I missed Girl Talk last week because we were busy getting ready for The Fourth, and enjoying some family time since my husband was off work for a few days. Today we had the nicest summer weather we’ve had all season, and we were outside most of the day catching some rays and splashing in the pool. Tonight I need to spend some time on a project I’m working on for my husband, so this edition of Girl Talk will be pretty brief. Here’s a few “cute” things I found out on the web recently.

These Cupcake Bath Bombs from Sassy Pink Boutique look good enough to eat!

I found the Lil’ Evening Bag by Belle Bags at the Succulent Wife.

Liven up your next party with these Polka Dot Plates from Wrapables.

The Covet mary jane style shoe is part of Skechers line-up for fall. I need some new cool weather shoes, and these are definitely on my shopping list when sandal season comes to an end.

Poppies is just one of the unique women’s Tees offered by stellarocco. I may have to add this to the shopping list too.

Did you come across any unique or fun finds this week? Leave a comment and share!

Bookmark To:

Girl Talk: You Raise Me Up

*See Bottom for Update*

I have bras on my mind today.

Worn out from one too many washings and wearings, my favorite bra stopped performing its supporting role. I have other bras, but they just don’t stand up to my favorite. I’m forced to go shopping for a new one now.

Bra shopping is almost as traumatic as bathing suit shopping. You spend hours looking at yourself half-naked in a full length mirror while you try on bra after bra to find one that fits well, has just the right amount of lift and doesn’t poke or dig in a hundred different places. And despite a “uniform” sizing scale, fit varies between brand and style. It’s enough to send you to Walmart for a jog bra and one of those baggy house dresses that zip up the front.

The most popular and famous purvayor of bras these days is Victoria’s Secret. I won’t be shopping there.

About six months after my son was born I went to VS looking for something pretty to buy, to remind me that there was a women underneath the stretch marks and baby weight. I asked the sales lady to take my measurements. I didn’t nurse, and things seemed to have deflated to their original size, but I wanted to be sure.

The flat-chested sales girl who couldn’t haven been a day over 19, and I’m sure never experienced the body distorting effects of pregnancy, said, “You’re a 40 C. Sorry, but we don’t carry that size anymore.”

My cup size was back to normal, but the extra pounds had pushed me up a band size. “I’m sure I’ve seen that size here before.”

“We carried it in the past. But about a year ago we decided to offer less sizes so we could offer more styles.”

Busy buying maternity bras and extra-roomy panties at at the Motherhood store for the past year, I’d missed the changes at VS.

She must have noticed the confused look of disappointment that registered on my face, and dealt the final blow. “You might be able to find something in our catalog. Or you could try Lane Bryant upstairs. They have plus size lingerie.”

Yep. You heard that right.

Plus. Size. Lingerie.

That’s what Little Miss Mosquito Bites she said to me. She might as well have said, “You’re too fat to shop here now.”

Thus ended my love affair with Vickie.

VS sold out to the younger, thinner consumer crowd like so many other stores. Listen up retailers! Mom’s gotta shop somewhere too, and guess what? Mom’s the one buying stuff for those younger, thinner people. So why don’t you put something on the rack for her?

A couple other questions.

Why are they marketing sexy lingerie to teens who shouldn’t be worrying about what their underwear looks like, because no one should be looking at it besides them and their mother on laundry day?

And why are they selling push-up bras to girls who have nothing to push-up? When is somebody going to invent the I’m-not-pregnant-anymore-have-lost-all-elasticity-in-my-upper-torso-skin-and-put-on-an-extra-20-pounds Push-up Bra?

Whew! Now that I’ve got that off my chest…

I did go upstairs, but not to Lane Bryant. (Not that I have anything against them. They do have a nice selection.) I paid a visit to Frederick’s of Hollywood. F of H is like Vickie’s slightly trashier, naughty older sister who’s knows things that would make Vickie blush. But they have my bra size in the store. And they have many other women’s bras sizes in the store. They serve girls of all shapes and sizes.

So if you no longer fit the demographic of that other lingerie store, pay a visit to F of H. Even if you can fit into things at VS, stop in F of H for some more - um - mature underwear. Sometimes slightly trashy is good. Just ask your husband. 

Well, I’m off to market for a new bra. Have an uplifting day!

My husband does not like this post. He thinks it’s a bit crass. (I think he has no idea just how bawdy a room full of women can get.) He especially thinks the mosquito-bite comment is mean-spirited. Well, I was feelin’ kinda mean that day. Look, to my less endowed sisters out there, I mean you no ill will. In fact your fortunate, really. You can wear things I’d never dream of. Just don’t tell me I’m fat. Even if I am.

Want to join in on some Girl Talk? Post about anything girlie on your blog, let’s keep it PG-13 at least, and link back to this post. Don’t forget to sign the Mr. Linky form below and enter your post permalink. Feel free to grab the Girl Talk button and use it on your blog. I post this once a week on Thursdays, usually in the afternoon when my son is sleeping. You can link up any time between now and next Wednesday.

Bookmark To:

Two Places to Find a Good Deal Now

I was at the mall today and got a great deal on a winter coat at J.C. Penney. If you’ve been waiting all winter for those coats to go on sales now’s your chance. Almost every coat in the store is 75 percent off. They also have lots of other good bargains in the store.

Now this second place may cause you to laugh. Perhaps you’ve never even been inside this store before. But stay with me, and keep and open mind. TSC, yes that’s Tractor Supply Company, for all you city folk. I went there last night with my husband in search some tool that does something that I don’t understand. But they also have clothing, toys, housewares and decorative items. And it was all on sale. Some of it was really on sale. I bought three items originally priced at $18.83, $13.49 and $10.93, for grand total of $2.52.

If there’s a TSC in your neighborhood, put on your cowboy boots and stop in and check out the clearance racks. For those of you who like to plan ahead, they still had quite bit of Christmas decor on sales as well. Oh, and if your husband needs a thing-a-ma-jiggy to fix the what-ever-you-call-it, that’s on sale too.

Bookmark To: