The Demise of a Shopper

Apparently, sometime in the past ten years I lost my passion for shopping.  I know, devastating. But I realized something today, at the biggest mall in America, standing in the middle of Forever 21 while some band sung  oh-so-profound-yet-undecipherable lyrics. Shopping's not my thing anymore. And I imagine the  words that must come to my hubby's mind when he's forced to delight his senses at Bath and Body are,"This really sucks." (Insert F word if you're a realist.)

 I long for those Gymboree days with Raffi singing in the backround his while my mom and I oohed and ahhed over the daisy-print dress for Alex or a lime green sweater vest for Cole. Now we go into shops dripping with sex, and between the daisy duke shorts, disco shirts and stripper-studded ankle boots, I just can't get excited anymore. Once in awhile I'll point out a floral dress I don't completely oppose. That usually gets me a barf signal from my teenage rebel.

What about my stores you ask? The "mom" stores. Sigh. You can only package a banker in so many ways after 14 years.  I walk into some of my favorite stores-who I can only hope haven't sold their souls to sweatshops in China or India,btw... But I eye the racks.  "have this." "have that" "oh! My button-down shirt comes in purple (eggplant) this season? Fabulous! I only have light purple (violet), red (crimson), white(white), off white (butter), orange (melon),etc. I really do get the feeling that designers say, "It's for the working mom! She won't care...just add some cheap looking bling or a tacky print. It will make her think of her youth!" Really? Oh sure. Like watching Mrs. Roper on Three's Company.

Now, these are obviously the ramblings of a terribly ungrateful wench who has more than enough to wear. So let me end with something a bit more positive. There was one particular purchase that made me feel abundantly good. Have you ever heard of TOMS?

 I read about the company and the shoes in Oprah, of course. For every pair of shoes purchased, they make a pair for a kid in need. Yes, some kids in the world don't have shoes to wear. Can you even fathom?

Anyway, the marketing for toms is mainly word of mouth (Oprah probably tipped the scale a bit), but here is my small contribution as well: TOMS. So maybe shopping isn't all bad. I just needed a cause.

TOMS

Shopping Trip Report: Day 2

Yesterday was such a whirlwind, I'm not sure where to start. Let me see. It all began at approximately 8:00 a.m...

*With my husband's birthday approaching, I absolutely had to find a gift for him. Fortunately, the perfect gift presented itself in the form of a charming little book entitled "Fart." (He doesn't read my blog, so it shouldn't ruin the surprise.)
*With Doug in mind, I decided to once again attempt to convert him into the metro-sexual I want him to be and bought a few clothes that I hope I can talk him into wearing.
*We spent an inexorbinant amount of time at Charlotte Russe. At least Mom and I had some nice visiting time while waiting for Alex to perfect her wardrobe.
*Make-overs at Dillards! My cosmetologist was a sweet, young thing who didn't realize that glitter all over a forty-year old isn't always flattering...especially in 100 degree heat.
*The margaritas at noon were heavenly.
*Looked for a birthday gift for Cole...(Iowa girls don't belong in a skateboarding store in the city.)
*By late afternoon, it occurred to me I had bought no career apparel, which was one of my main goals for the weekend. My daughter and mother graciously trekked back to Gap to score a few more pieces. My two shopping cohorts are the absolute BEST in honesty. And it was humorous to see what happens when they disagree.
*Finally, we decided to catch another movie in attempt to dry our sweat. On the way back, I realized that I wasn't holding my $100 Dillard's bag of cosmetics. OMG. I ran back to Gap, searching everyone I passed for the sack containing MY products. What I would do to that person if I found them... I rolled in to Gap, butted in front of the line to ask if I had left my precious new tools cosmetics guaranteed to make me ten years younger. With a smile, the clerk handed me the sack. Gap is my hero.
*Saw Julie and Julia...weeped tears of joy all the way through the movie. Julie's progression as a blogger fascinated me. Oh, to have eight comments on a posting! Maybe someday.
*Ate a delicious Italian meal to finish the evening...wait
*Made one last stop at Forever 21 to finish the evening...wait
*Stopped at Cold Stone Creamery to finish the evening...really.
The weekend was wonderful, and we are exhausted.