Well, Hello There!

Holy cow! It's been almost a year since my last post, how about that! 10 days to a year to be exact! Crikey!!!

Clearly, I'm still around, and yup, this is what happens when real life takes over. Or should I say, when another blog takes over my non-work life...

Let's just say that this has kinda' taken over my waking hours, much to my hubby's chagrin *sheepish smile*...

My trusted Kobo reader, and my fairly new other toy... I've burned thru an android tablet last year and by happenstance, and I swear, pure happenstance, my rubber arms got twisted and ended up with the iPad Mini over Christmas *chuckles*.

And can't forget about my phone too. Seriously, I'm pretty sure if hubby can chuck them all, he would, considering the amount of time spent on those gadgets. Hah!

Anyhoot, they're mostly for reading my gazillion e-books (I wish I'm kidding when I say gazillion O.o), which pretty much translates, as a consequence, to copious amount of time spent on Goodreads to kvetch with my kindred bookworms; which then led me, crazily enough, to creating a book blog, imagine that! No, not gonna say which one, as I'm not prepared yet to mix this world and that... What? Me, hide something? Nevah!

So as much as I want to say that something super dramatic occurred in the last year which would explain my absence, no, not really... Unless you count the roller coaster of a ride I've been having at work as well. And by roller coaster ride, I don't mean the fun one. It's more like the scary gargantuan one. Seriously, I just want to make sure I don't lose my grip, in case I get flung around by accident. Just saying...

And on that note, I thought I'd end this with something representative of my handle name, the latest addition to my collection. Ok, it was bought over Christmas, but I'm still waiting for the right weather to wear them >.< {Un}Retail therapy or not, as far as I'm concerned, it's always, after all, about the...

Tory Burch ballet flats

Riiight?!? Riiight!!!

Happy Day y'all!

Might As Well...

*WARNING: Picture heavy

Oh by gosh, by golly... (is that right?)

Well, here I am, 6 months or so later, resurfacing, once again. *waves hello* Such has been my social media life, of late, I found, popping in and out, when I do find the energy to do so.

Anyhoot, thought I'd post one more time before the year ends and might as well end my blog post for the year with a bang, doing the very antithesis of my goal all this time... SHOPPING! *maniacal laugh*

Hey, I'm with the family for the holidays, and one tradition that me and my sisters have been observing the last 4 years is Boxing Day shopping! *grins* Like youngest sis said, this is probably the only day ever that none of us mind waking up at 5 in the morning. Oh shopping gods, that's gotta' count for something, eh?



Come rain snow or shine...

Aldo Huesca smoking slippers

Blondo Nikki boots, at Naturalizer

J Crew Outlet cardi and toque

J Crew Outlet Suede Studded Classic Ballet Flat

Sam Edelman Putnam Saddlered Sud, at Holt Renfrew Outlet

The Loft

 

... all while jostling thru' this crowd, eeep...

 

So there you have it, folks, my holiday un-retail therapy! *sheepish smile*

 

And before I end this post, thought I'd share some pics that show the impact of the recent ice storm that hit  part of the east coast. Fortunately, I missed it, so it was almost back to norm by the time I arrived.

 



On that note, I hope Santa has been good to you this year and that you enjoyed Christmas surrounded with your loved ones. I also wish you nothing but all kinds of good stuff for the coming year. Here's to a new year full of possibilities with new beginnings, new chances, new resolve. Here's to our happiness, health and wealth, always! Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I Think I May Have Spoken Too Soon

Not sure what happened but I've decided all of a sudden to get on the mint green skinny jeans bandwagon. I didn't feel like it when it actually first came out, what, like last summer, so why now? Hmmm... Mind you, I think what may have triggered it is the fact that I'm still seeing them in some stores. All kinds of pants in different material & cut, but alas, not the one I'm wanting. All while supposedly "trying" not to shop, yes.

So thanks to my mint green skinnies obsession, I think the shopping dry spell has officially ceased (oh noes!) and look what I found...

(American Eagle: top)

(American Eagle: jegging)

(Gap: neon belt)

(Old Navy: tube maxi dress, tank tops, $1 flip-flop; Jacob: bracelet)

I should tell you the side story about my Old Navy haul. The day after I bought these items, I received an Old Navy email alert that says 30% off total purchase for 2 days only. You have no idea the "agony" I put myself thru deciding whether to return the current haul, and re-purchase them at the new price, or just leave it be and just take advantage of the new sale with more a different purchase. CRAY CRAY, I know!!! O.o

Anyhoot, where's the mint green anything, you ask?!?!

(online purch)

Yes, I did end up using the Old Navy special. Aiyah!!... Well, I did end finding my mint green skinnies, ok?! Obsession satisfied... *sigh*


Do you succumb to these summer sales like I do? Please say yes... hehe... What's your summer sale shopping been like so far?

...It's A New Day, It's A New Life...

... ok not really...

I realize being away for a week from the blogosphere is like a month in real life, so imagine being AWOL for a month, let lone 5 months! A blogger might as well be gone for years, no? I guess that's just what happens when the blog world in particular has the attention of a goldfish... Not that it really makes a difference, does it?

It's been ages even I feel awkward, sheesh! What's up with that?!... Not really sure what happened. It just did, whatever it was.

Regardless, here I am, 5 months later. Reminds me of the time I used to have a journal when I was younger. Before I knew it, I'd just stop, then I'd be back a year later. It's quite an interesting read actually, only for me of course. It felt a little jarring since there would be such long gaps, but it also felt like no time has gone by, and there I was back again.

Christmas came and went, a fun time spent with family. Winter... Easter... Spring... And now here we are, here I am, and it's almost summer. Work has been really crazy busy, a major contributor to my absence here, that's for sure, but fortunately, with really happy result. I'm now in a different office, after what felt like almost a whole year of bouncing from one office to another, one task to another, one project to another, one position to another.

And I'm happy to report that my {un}retail therapy is kinda' sorta' working *insert googly eyes* Well, a tad... Since Christmas, I've been really good, I thought, up until a week ago. But hey, that's like almost 5 months! That should count for something, no?

Cynthia Rowley blouse (Winners)

Gap ballet flats

That's it, I swear... Although... (dum-duh-dum-dum) I must say yes, I have not been shopping per se, but I may have inadvertently found a new kind of retail therapy *eeep*...

Kobo Touch e-reader (Christmas gift from sisters)

... in the form of e-books! *gasp* Well, at least I'm feeding my brain, right?

On that note, will just leave you with these lovely thoughts I happen to stumble upon on my way home from work one day...

Who knows when I'd be back here again hehe... sooner rather than later, I hope...

Birthday Gift to Myself

Old Navy haul

Ok, not really. I guess I just said that to make myself feel better. Why? Do I feel bad? No. Guilty? No. Maybe. Who am I kidding? Well, actually I suppose you can say it is. I got a mailer alert week before last about a sale on their Rockstar jeans, placed the order last week, the week of my birthday, so yes, it is kinda', no? Again, who am I kidding?!? I know, no one!!! HAH!

What just happened?!? I don't even like online shopping!!! And not even really a big fan of Old Navy!!! AND I actually love my purchases!!! Eeeeek!

Rockstar Super Skinny jeans (in Grey), $16.15

I finally succumbed to the hype around these jeans. Now I know why. I got a size bigger 'cause that what seems to be the recommendation all around. Oh, plus it was the only size available when I bought it (popular sale was right!) hehe... Luckily, since their leg width tends to be on the tad narrow side for my built, it worked that I got the bigger size. The waist is a lil big but nothing that a belt couldn't fix. Whew!

Floral Chiffon dress, $23.80

I know summer's over but what can I say, the color and the flowers just grabbed me.

Cap-Toe ballet flats, $17.00

It had me at ballet. Then add the yellow on top of that. And I know it was comfy 'cause I did try it once at the store.

Why didn't I stop at just the jeans, when that's all I was really interested in? Do I need to answer that? Ok, if I must, the other 2 items are on sale as well, plus there was an additional 15% going on at the time, plus I didn't want to pay for shipping so I thought I'd meet the minimum purchase. So yes, rather than pay $8 for shipping, I spent an additional $40. HAH!

Am I smart, or am I smart!


Anyhoot, our wedding anniversary falls shortly after my birthday. We usually just celebrate the milestone ones (kinda' gives you an idea how long we've been married if we're now talking milestones, eh?) and this year was a quiet one. Didn't really expect anything.

Guess I was wrong. Definitely one of the rare occasions when I was happy to be wrong. HAH!

Eternity = 2 Weeks, Apparently

So! In the past, I talked about not shopping for a looooong while. I "promised" myself that I was going to stop, that I cannot go shopping again for eternity...

Did I stop? Hmmm...

A2 Aerosole wedge (Sears)

Jessica flats (Sears)

Classic black pumps (ok, perforated with wedged heels): $36.95















Flats, in color/print that I don't have yet: $26.87

Gap Iconic Stripe top

BR Gracie Crossbody bag

Another striped top (check out the elbow patch!), that makes me smile: $20.13





















Crossbody bag, which I don't have, and in navy(!!): $67.19

AE chambray shirt

Chambray shirt that I've been eyeing for like forever (but refused to pay full-price): $26.85

















My shopping brain all giddy, albeit bashful about it (and yes, embarrassed, ok?): PRICELESS

Is it?!? Is it really?!?


So what kind of excuses ran through my mind?

• The Sears store nearby is closing soon and everyday brings new kinds of deal and stores closing  nearby don't just happen everyday now, does it?... wonder what can I score on <insert day>?
• Hmmm, according to the email, up to 5 regular-priced item at 50% off at Banana Republic, only for a weekend!... Oh but wait, ok, it might not have been a regular-priced item, but at that sale price, that's even better than 50%!!! AND, it's not black!!! Navy!!! I don't have a navy purse, and crossbody at that, now that I think about it...
• What, Gap also had 40% off on the first item, and 30% off on the next 3 (but who cares about the 3)?!? Yes!!! I don't have stripes in that color combo!!!
• Oooh, sign says 40% on the entire store! Oooh, I can get the chambray shirt that I like,  FINALLY!!!

What have I learned now? That in my shopping mind, apparently eternity means only 2 weeks. How long ago was that? Give or take 1-2 weeks... Put that way, it sounds much longer, doesn't it? That's not bad then, is it? Or is it just me?

How's that for confounding my shopping brain, eh?

A Lil (Shopping) Indiscretion Never Hurt Anyone, eh?

Since July and August's shopping budget has been blown to smithereens at the beginning of July, or should I say end of June, I thought summer shopping was a lost cause and one I shouldn't even bother rectifying (how could I, unless I decided to up the budget but who would I be kidding then, eh?). If you can't beat them, ie, these semi-annual/summer sales, then join them, isn't that what they say?

J Crew bermuda shorts

Gap jeggings

Jessica seersucker jacket

Soludos by J Crew espadrilles

CK shorts and Fashion Forward belt
(Winners)

There goes another month's worth of shopping budget...

Holy moly cannoli!!! Now that I put the images in this way, clearance sale or not, what am I thinking?!? I guess I did kinda' up the budget inadvertently, didn't I? And you'd think that's it, eh? Sadly, no. Eeek!!!

Here's from the last (extra) long weekend *sigh*...

Expression sandals (The Bay)

Melia sandals (The Bay)

H&M striped shirt

H&M dotted blouse

Old Navy gingham shirt

Old Navy ballet flats

And there goes, yes, another month's worth of shopping budget... I'm telling you, the indiscretion would have been a whole lotta' worse if not for the misses *thankful sigh*

If it's any consolation, because of the awesome clearance sale, practically all the items (except the H&M ones, but it's H&M!) are 50% off, at the very least, or more. I know, I know, I did say IF it's any consolation. And strangely enough, the more I think about it, I seem to go thru this cycle of major shopping every other year. Which would make sense, I suppose, since I find stuff at the end of the season, at really low prices, but does not leave me much time to wear them for the current season but should find much usage come the year after, which would explain, I suppose, why I go for more classic cuts and colors(?)... blah, blah, blah...

And again, clearance sale or not, I know I'm calling myself out from here on out. I have to! Really, at this rate, there should be no more shopping til kingdom come...

When Multiples Go Bad

You know how they say that if a piece of clothing fits you well and flatters your body that it's alright to buy it in multiples. Or am I remembering that wrong? Regardless, it makes sense, doesn't it? Knowing that a piece of clothing flatters your body well, it will surely become a staple therefore more likely to wear out faster so why get just one? In theory, it all sounds good, eh?

But then what if there is a piece of clothing, or in my case, shoes, that in my head will be a nice addition to my collection but didn't bother to walk around it at length, realizing after one use that it they doesn't don't fit me quite well but since it was they were bought on final sale, I'm not able to return it them anymore? What then?

Talk about epic fail!

(all Soludos by J Crew)

First came the chambray and the mint green ones, both in size 38 which could mean either size 7 or 7 1/2, I find, depending on the brand. I'm a size 7, generally. What was wrong with them? The first time I wore the chambray one, I soon learned that the back kept sliding down, which to me, meant it was a tad on the big side. So what did I do the next time I was in the store? Why get a 3rd pair (the yellow ones), of course, in a size smaller! I had high hopes for the yellow ones, for sure. Oh, but guess what I learned when I wore them? The back still kept sliding down! Gah!!

So after use of 2 pairs out of the 3, I finally admitted to myself that it wasn't the sizing that's the problem, it's the design itself. There are brands I don't wear no matter how comfortable or pretty people claim they are because I know it doesn't suit my type of feet, one with narrow heels, that is. I guess this brand happen to be one of those, I learned after. Talk about smart shopping! (But then I never claimed to be a smart shopper, did I?)

It was weird enough that I bought 2 pairs off the bat without really trying them (but I thought to myself, who put that much thought into an espadrilles anyways, I was wrong). I just had to add a 3rd pair, didn't I?  Fortunately, they were inexpensive. And I haven't totally given up on them. I think I can still make it work by adding a heel pad.

And another fortunate thing? I had this other pair, even before I got those 3.

Gap

A pair that I love, fits me really well and is really comfortable. Guess I shoulda' stop at 1 pair, shouldn't I?

Lesson learned...