Archive for the 'shopping' Category

Born without a shopping gene

contemplating an impending shopping tripThe baby’s baptism looms larger every day so I went to Macy’s yesterday to shop for new clothes.

You must understand that clothes shopping for me is an exercise in terror. While other little girls were matching separates, I was astride a horse. When they were grooming Barbie’s hair and collecting accessories for her dream date Ken I was reading a book. Where was I when they were applying their first coats of makeup? Oh, yeah. Castrating calves and mucking the barn.

Since I wasn’t born with fashion sense and didn’t learn the basics early on I’ve pretty much relied on others to dress me. From my mother to my best friend to Youngest spawn, I’ve cheerfully placed those decisions in the hands of people who know better than I the ins and outs of current styles and retail life.

Yesterday was a prime example of what happens when I live an isolated existence with no close friends at hand. Like I said, I hied my butt to Macy’s. First stop was the Ralph Lauren area -because they’re right inside the door. Those retail execution folks know exactly what they’re doing; it’s a hike to get to the cheap stuff - and the treacherous trail leads through exotic flora and fauna like Lauren, Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, DKNY and Michael Kors. I stopped at Lauren, of course. Bought two tops and a pair of slacks so expensive they would easily feed a small African village for a year.

Now I need shoes. Who said women like shopping?!? I’d rather be mucking a barn.

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Ads gone wild

Sometimes you just have to wonder what the advertising/marketing people are thinking. I mean, this ad I just found in my inbox is stunning in it’s undertones.

 
Frankly, the first thing thing that came to my mind: the über cheesy ads for ‘personal massagers’ that feature a model holding a bullet looking vibrator next to her face and smiling serenely. Like we don’t know what that’s all about.

The second thing? WTF? It looks like a bullet is going to take her eye out! A vibrating bullet! Again with the vibrating bullet! Is everything about sex? Wait… don’t answer that! LOL!

Sometimes you just want to sit back and peruse Brazil vacation packages because other stuff can get too complicated…

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Simoniz

The following [below the fold] is from my friend Anthony, who can’t help but buy stuff he sees on TV. as seen on tv

I remember once he purchased those long synthetic dusters… he said they worked great, but part of the process to get them to pick up dust was rubbing the things along your body to work up static electricity. Can you imagine what happens when the initial static wears off?

I could just see him rubbing those long, hideously filthy filament rods over his arms and shuddering… because he’s more like Adrian Monk than any other man I know.

Read more…

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etsy hangover

Remember how eBay used to be? Just some folks like you and I, it was a bit like a virtual garage sale. I don’t eBay anymore because everyone bought the ‘eBay business model’ and the prices in many cases are worse than retail.

Well, etsy is the ‘friends hanging out and having a cup of tea with you’ eBay. There, I’ve said it. And if you ask me how many hours this week I’ve spent perusing various artisan’s wares, I’ll just lie to your face. Er, screen. Whatever.

The draw is that everything is handmade by talented people, usually using local materials. It didn’t come off an assembly line in China only to end up on a shelf at Wal-Mart. Which makes me crazy. No Swiss Army knives, molded plastic kitty bowls or anything pre-stamped ‘made in’.

I’d love to link to some of my favorite items, but I’m buying Christmas gifts already!! I just bought my BFF her birthday present AND one of her Christmas presents… totally different sellers, different merchandise altogether!

Is there an esty 12 step program? Come January I’ll need one!

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HD support group?

I probably find myself in Home Depot more often than what is healthy, considering my bank account.

A partial list of what I’ve shopped for lately: a Char-Broil barbecue [hubby's fault], lumber for fascia board, Kohler faucets, potting soil, dremels, paint and ceiling fans. I wish I could afford a garden shed! Already have the perfect place picked out in the back yard; all I’d have to do is cut down two trees. But don’t worry… they’re really ugly washingtonia palms. Rats live in the dead leaves; I’d love to have ‘em gone!

Faucets… my house was built in 1976 and they are original. But when I look at the faucets I want they inevitably lead to counter tops, new toilet, scraping the tile off the walls, revamping the shower… it’s a slippery slope. But why put pearls on a pig?

It’s a sickness. I need an HD support group to keep me from the door.

But then I’d only go to Lowe’s.

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