I came across this not-too-surprising article on CNN about how choice can paralyze people from making a decision. Specifically, they were describing the drawbacks to online dating where people often can’t commit to a choice of partner because there are too many choices. More is less. Well, that’s why my overstuffed closet leaves me feeling like I have nothing to wear. I probably ought to clean it out instead of buy more clothes.

I just got back from a shopping trip to Ann Taylor. There was a recent article on the Post saying how women in this area LOOooVE Ann Taylor. Well I did love it but this recent trip was disappointing. Their quality has diminished noticeably. The material is of poor quality, like it wouldn’t survive many wears and cleanings, and the clothes appear sloppily slapped together. Just about everything is from China now too. I’m saddened that my go-to place for work clothes is nothing better than an expensive version of Old Navy. Now I’ll really have nothing to wear for work!

Last weekend we went shopping at Target. In an actual store! I was so excited about it, I bought like 2 different kinds of eye makeup remover, 4 different kinds of face washes, Boot’s powder foundation and eye cream, dish washing liquid, candles, and a whole bunch of other things. Listen to me, it’s now the end of the week and I’m still jazzed up when I think about that trip. It’s just walking in to all the possibilities of all these products that I may neeeed! So the reason I went was to try on their women’s shoes. I am in the market for a pair of nude pumps which apparently (according to fashion blogs) are all the rage and supposedly match everything and make your legs look long. I dunno. Not being one to plunk down gobs for shoes, especially uncomfortable heels, I decided to try Target’s. Only they didn’t have them. I did try their other pumps and they were relatively comfortable so I went home to order the nude colored ones online. Only to find out they don’t have them in stock there either. I didn’t know Target shoes were so popular. I walked out of Target that day with no shoes, but about $160 worth of other stuff I’m sure to need. That is the beauty of Target, you never waste a trip, but maybe just a little money. But then again, it’s not considered wasting when you really neeeed everything!!

“I don’t have any appropriate handbag to take for tonight!! I need to go shoooopping for something nice!”

“What? You need a Longcoach?”

“What’s a Longcoach?”

“One of those Longcoach bags.”

“It’s a LONGCHAMP!”

I may’ve been obsessing too much about accessory schtuff lately. It’s starting to sink in, albeit all jumbled.

Even if I could go shopping today, I wouldn’t. One experience of the mayhem was plenty enough. Sleep is so much better. If you go, share your story!!

There must be another blog entry with the same title, which just goes to show how much I heart TJs. I mean, if you can’t find me anywhere else, I’m probably at Trader Joe’s. So of course I had to go into the most recently opened one in our area yesterday morning to check out the new store. Even though the layout was a little bit different, the comfortable familiarity the staff has with all the customers felt just right. This is why it’s so different and so great. The only other businesses I’ve found this familial feeling are mom and pops and Southwest Airlines. Now if we could only have a bank that operates with that sort of corporate culture.

I love the layout of the lines in this new store too. It’s probably to save space and optimize efficiency. They queue everyone up in one line and then we go to the next available checker. They should all be this way.

They handed out reusable shopping totes and I got a bottle of TJ’s bubbly to celebrate the occasion.
Oh and I got just 2 boxes of cereal this time. A TJ run isn’t complete without some cereal in the cart.

A friend pointed me to a blog she found featuring petite fashions. I guess it’s a common topic that comes up amongst my petite brethren. Where do you shop? What we mean is, where do you shop for work clothes. It’s hard to get clothes that fit well and flatter without spending a fortune. Gone are the days of jeans and an old T, at least not M-Th. Work wardrobes require so much more thought. Everything down to the accessories. It’s such a chore and every morning, I stand in front of my closet yelling, “I have nothing to wear! FML!!” Anyway, I’ve been learning so much from this site, it’s giving me more ideas on what works and what I can finally get rid of without guilt or second guessing. I mean, button down cotton shirts for example. Up until recently, they’ve been one of my wardrobe staples – a pair of dress slacks and a button down shirt, professional and easy. But they slip out when you tuck them in and they make me look androgynous. And the worst of it, they require ironing. I stopped buying them and started shifting them over to casual-weekend wear. And now, with this fashion blogger’s blessing, save for a few cotton button downs, I am going to rebuild my work tops wardrobe with blouses and knits.

So where do I shop? Well recently, no where. Something about not having a car or shopping buddy nearby to egg me on seems to have put a damper on my shopping. I hit up drugstore.com like once a week but other than that, this period in my life I will call the shopping dry-spell.