FRIDAY FAST ONES

1.)  Just did a little chair dance with sound effects when I saw that John Irving has a new novel coming out next month.  I so love his books.  This while I have a new Ann Tyler waiting for me in my Nook.  Oh the riches of the Spring publishing season!

2.)  Speaking of Spring.  I provide this public service reminder:  When you put on that first slathering of self tanner, remember to wash well with soap.  I was very tired that evening and suffered the oddly stained hands for several days.  My legs looked pretty good, though.

3.)   Thursday was Hilda's Sweet Sixteenth birthday - it cost me $100.00.  Not because she figured out how to shop online or order Pay Per View but because she was lonely and barking and our grouchy neighbor would rather call the police than close his windows ( she is in our house with all of ours closed)
or call us on our cell phones, which we have asked him to do.  One more reason to move...

4.)  Jen on the Edge enlightened me to the eBay way to snag current styles shoes at discounted prices.  I am watching for the black and white ballet flats of my desire to drop under $80.00.  I had no idea that people had current styles on eBay -  am losing my shoppers touch!

5.)  We had such a mild winter here that I keep forgetting that it isn't even May yet.  I have gotten so many warm weather projects done already.  I refurbished my BBQ with new innards and scrubbed off the grease and crud.  I have planted a lime tree, a hibiscus and several herbs and annuals.  This weekend I hope to untarp my mosaic area and get to work making this:

Except covered with colorful tiles!

GIVING IN TO DESIRE

  I went into Marshall's last week in my quest to find some shoes to buy which will dispense with my desire for these J Crew flats which are just too expensive at $158.

I would wear them constantly. Really.



I didn't find any shoes but I did find a great purse that immediately became an object of desire.  At $130. I was equally put off.  But I just kept thinking about it. So I decided when I went back a week later for something else, if it was still there, I would buy it.



Not exactly the bag, but close. It has a couple of outside pockets and another band of white at the top.

 It was and I did. And I don't feel bad about it at all.

 I still want the shoes, though.

MY ATTEMPT AT REGAINING SOME STYLE

I've always liked clothes.  I learned to sew because It made it possible for me to have more clothes on my budget ( not something possible these days.)  I kind of gave up on being fashionable when I got so overweight and underfunded.

For some reason I became interested in buying some boots and trying the skinny- pants-tucked-in-boots trend.  I am concerned that skinny pants on my wide body may be a fashion don't - but I am going to give it a go.

I ordered a couple of tunic tops, some skinny black jeans and then set out to get boots.  That's when the trouble started.  I went to DSW with my coupon and none of the boots would zip up.  I had forgotten about the large calf issue.  Even when I was at my slimmest I had narrow feet, small ankles and shapely but muscular calfs.  Now they are even larger. 

I headed to the computer and shopped and shopped.  No one had my size in a black boot in the style I want.  I had ordered all those clothes with the boots in mind - I have to find boots!  I expanded my search and discovered some different terms for what I need and found a few pair on the Zappos site.  I couldn't tell for sure from the descriptions and review which pair was going to fit best so, due to their free shipping and returns policy, I ordered two pair.  This was on the night before Thanksgiving. 

On Friday morning FedEx delivered a huge box with the boots inside.  Ally was home and helped me pick the right pair, I returned the others this morning and now I await the rest of the outfits.  Hopefully I won't look silly, especially since the boots were quite a bit more money than I would normally spend!  That Ally didn't recoil in horror when I tried them on with my stretchy slim leg jeans makes me think I must have looked okay. 

I am being taken out for a birthday lunch later this week and I hope to fit in with my stylish sisters for the occasion.

BIRTHDAY MONEY FROM MOM!

My mom and I were talking a while back about our efforts to economize.  She said that dad wanted her to stop sending birthday checks to everyone but she wanted to continue with that tradition.  I must say that with 5 children, 4 spouses and 14 grandchildren - those are a lot of checks to send out every year.  But I am always so happy to see that check tucked inside my birthday card - even at my advanced age!

So what did I spend my birthday money on this year? Do you even need to ask? Shoes, of course!

I don't know why but I just wanted some oxford style shoes.  I think I just have so many cute little flats that my shoe wardrobe needed an injection of menswear style.  One of the comments on the Zappos site where I found them said that they were much better looking in person than in the photo - and they were right!  They are actually kind of dainty looking, and so soft.  Thanks Mom & Dad!!

I also had a credit at DSW and with my new job requiring me to be on my feet, like my old job did, I knew that some new Merrels were in order.  The ones I have now are about 7 years old and scuffed up.  I wear them around the house  but they are not suitable for wearing to work, so I have a new pair of these, too.

WHY OUTLET MALLS ARE WAY OUT THERE

Did you ever wonder why outlet malls always seem to be so out of the way? I always figured it had to do with the cost of real estate - building those big buildings in costly places would make the rents too high for all those low cost retailers...right? Plus, they can't be selling the discounted clothes and stuff right near the regular malls where they are selling the same stuff for full price...right?

Wrong. It is a psychological set up. Turns out we consumers believe those things, that the drive and inconvenience mean bargains - so we don't really question the prices.

In her book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture" Ellen Ruppel Shell's research shows that people perceive merchandise found at out-of-the-way outlet malls as being more of a bargain than they do if they see similarly-priced items closer to home. We overestimate what the original value of the item must have been and focus on the difference between that hypothetical price and the outlet price, rather than on the objective price itself.

The reason I came across this information was my interest in understanding something I saw when I was shopping at a DSW store. The tags all showed their "discounted price" and then underneath it, there was another, higher price which said "compare to." And I wondered what that was supposed to mean.

It turns out that this is addressed in Shell's book. She calls it the "Meaningless Discount" because the numbers are largely fictional. The "compare" numbers are like the MSRP, (manufacturer suggested retail price) and manufacturers rarely set the retail price of goods sold. But the consumer thinks there is an original price and a discounted price and is thrilled with the mark-down. Marketing research shows that people are fairly easily swayed by perceived savings, I am sure I have been - or at least used it as an excuse to buy something!

Like the shoes I got for $29.00 compared to $65.00.

BE HONEST WITH ME

In person this shoe isn't so white. It is what they call "stone" when it relates to khaki pants, which is what I had in mind for them to match.

I bought them because they were really highly rated and they were really cheap. Really extra cheap. And good "comfort" style shoes are usually so expensive.

Let me tell you. The ratings were right on. They're really comfortable. Wear all day with no socks comfortable.

So tell me straight. Are they really ugly?

P.S. Maggie - I already know what you will say....I won't wear them when you are home!

FAVORITE GREEN THINGS

Philadelphia Magic Garden, Suede Shoes, Puerto Rico Rainforest, Mosaic Ball, Birthday Cake

For more photos of green - go to the Green Challenge at the Colony.

PRIZE SHOES

I had the great good fortune to win a giveaway from The Woman's Colony a few weeks ago. It was a $200.00 gift card to Piperlime, an online store for shoes, bags and clothing.

I made that money stretch to cover 3 pairs of shoes!

These peep toe flats show off my red toes, but are they too long? I'm thinking when they loosen up, my toes will move forward a bit.

These giraffe patterned shoes will go well with my brown dress and, of course, all my black. I just love the texture.

These black shoes have a bit of a heel and are leather, suede and patent leather. Very elegant.

I looked at every shoe on the site, and believe me, I had about 10 of them in my basket and took a lot of time before I made the selections. These are the perfect additions to my summer flip flop collection and winter Merrills. I drooled over all the gorgeous pumps my feet no longer allow me to wear and the darling boots which make no sense in California. I hope the ladies of the Colony approve of my selections...

7 QUICK TAKES FRIDAY

1. I have this fantasy that we human beings could be self-cleaning, just like the oven. Throw back the covers in the morning and we are showered, shaven and shampooed. Just style and go!

2. My job search has stalled out. Careerbuilders.com appears to think so, too. Instead of an e-mail with job postings, I had one inviting me to check out other job options based on my skills and resume. I have a law degree, a journalism degree. I have worked in marketing and customer service for the most part.

I answered 6 questions. In dictating my interest in law, politics, writing, problem solving, interpersonal skills and the like. The list of careers that I should pursue included: Anesthesiologist, Electrical Equipment Assembler, Fish and Game Warden, Cashier and Geographer. Even Netflix does a better job of matching my interests!

3. I didn't realize that the Bible was up for revision. Just think of the possibilities. It could be revised women to remove the bias toward men. By perverts to make their kinks the norm. By PETA to ban the eating and wearing of animals. The mind boggles

4. My son called to say he had come up with the answer to a proof presented by one of his math professors which no previous student had ever been able to answer. GO MATH.

5. Shoes I chose with my Piperlime gift card from the Women's Colony gift card are on the way, will post early next week when I have tried them on!

6. This morning on The Today show they were talking about NASA's project to blast free some of the surface of the moon to gather more information on it's make-up. The "news team" cracked jokes and showed cartoons and said something along the lines of "hope they find out what they are looking for." I grew up in the 60's when we all took great pride in what NASA was doing and saw them as us. The can do spirit of this country. Too bad the cynics are taking over everything.

7. We are expecting rain on Monday. I plan to get the garden ready for it and start closing up my outdoor mosaic studio. Have a great weekend.

QUICK TAKES FRIDAY

After reading Suburban Correspondent's posts the last couple of weeks I checked out the site her 7 Quick Takes Friday came from and decided to join in. Everyone who posts a list then links from the site - a fun way to find interesting new blogs.

1.) Driving to soccer practice I saw a big banner stretched across the fence at the Middle School announcing the fall fundraiser. Last year it was cookie dough - this year it is MEAT.

2) We are now at the point where was can laugh about Ally backing into the garage door and damaging not only the truck she was driving and the door but the car inside the garage as well. We are calling it a "Garage Sandwich."

3) I actually won The Women's Colony raffle this week - $200.00 at the Piperlime website featuring shoes and handbags!!! I spent about 3 hours today looking at shoes and drooling all over my keyboard...I'll post what I choose.

4) The September heat has been climbing and will continue through next week in the high 90's and 100's. The brightside is that my tomatoes are finally ripening on the vine. I am looking forward to a Caprese Salad...

5) Has anyone ever managed to pick a really bad watermelon and then taken it back to the store? I am usually an excellent judge of melons, but I just cut my second bad one - it tastes unripe and sort of chemical. I think I will try to return it...

6) Watched Survivor with Tom last night. It isn't a show that I like much and last night reminded me why. There is a new contestant who is so smarmy and sexist that I was squirming in my seat. I don't think I'll watch with Tom again - at least until he is voted off the island!

7) Two soccer games this weekend plus picture day. Only 2 years and I will never have to be a soccer mom again!!!

PROMPT TUESDAY

I have not done a Prompt Tuesday as created by Sandiegomomma in a while...today's prompt:

Start a story with the sentence, “It was a dark and stormy night.“

Why? Because it is.

Try to write your entry in 10 minutes. This encourages top-of-mind, primal thinking before the ego and judgmental brain kick in. Just set a timer, make your kid count to 600 slowly, whatever. It’s an honor system. And I trust you.
Aim for 250 words or less.
Please have fun. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Together, let’s rediscover the simple joy in the writing process.
Post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments.

It was a dark and stormy night. The rain flooding the gutter, making it too wide to leap to dryer pavement. Wading through the only option.

All I can think of is the new pair of green suede shoes I want to wear.