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...

What's the Skinny?

Thanks to a recent email alert from Old Navy, I dragged myself to the mall over the weekend to check out the merchandise. Was that a good decision, you think? Of course not!

Old Navy Rockstar pop pants (Super Skinny)

The most ironic part is that the discount I got on the email did not apply to my purchase. MUST always read fine print! {Un}Fortunately, I love these pants so much, extra discount or not, I figured I might as well get them since they were already way discounted to begin with. The way I saw it, I've spent twice the amount for just 1 pair in the past(!), that these were definitely still smart buys.

I seriously don't even know how I started accumulating so many of these skinny jeans, be it colored, patterned, whatever...

Gap Always Skinny

Got that some 2 or 3 years back. My first colored skinny jeans. And it continues to be one of my fave.

American Eagle jeggings

Then somehow, last year, I got obsessed with that cobalt blue one that I just had to get it. I suppose that was the end of it.

American Eagle jeggings
... what's with the awkward pose?

And so it goes...

Gap Legging Jeans in cords 

... on and...

J Crew Skinny Cord
... doesn't look too skinny, does it?

... on and...

Gap Legging Jeans

... on and...

Old Navy Rockstar jeans (Skinny)

... on and...

American Eagle jeggings

MAJOR sigh... and I have not even included the regular ones, as in regular denim in blue and black. Again, MAJOR sigh. And please don't bother shaking your head. Between me and hubby, especially hubby, there's enough shaking head to last me a lifetime.

The best part about this is I don't even really know if they suit my body type. They must since I haven't heard a scathing remark as yet. All I know is I like them (reallly?!?) They're so convenient, and comfortable. I wear them with flats in the summer. I tuck them in my boots in the winter. So I guess regardless whether they suit me or not, those are good enough reasons in my book. Besides, I've got them now, don't I?

HAH!

(On 3 now... *shake head*)

To Infinity (Scarf) and Beyond

Not sure what happened (pfft) but 2 years ago, I got meself an infinity scarf.

Zazo (Winners)

I loved it coz it kept me warm and it was a novelty item, for me anyway. Fast forward to beginning of fall this year.

H&M

H&M

Before I knew it, that's all I could see everytime I'm in the accessories area. When the second black one was bought, I said to myself that it was a different material, it's chunkier and totally different style, so that made it ok. Riiiight! And when my hand reached for the gray one, on a different day, and it decided to walk out with me from the store, I said to myself, hey it's gray. I don't have a gray scarf, or to be more specific, a gray infinity scarf. Riiight!

Then over the weekend, as I was buying Christmas presents, look what my hands gravitated towards.

Gap

This time, I overheard myself saying to myself that I don't have an orange one. And it's stripes on top of that!

Riiight!!!

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...

Shopping Embargo

So, cutting to the chase, I have pretty much shopped 2 months worth of (my) shopping budget. How? I'll tell you how.

Last Thursday, I mentioned how I met I my met a friend for lunch. Back from lunch, on my walk home, decided to check out the summer sales that's started. I figure, I wanted to avoid the crowd that most likely would have had the same idea came this long weekend past.

So was there really a crowd? Dunno, since I went days before. And was it the smartest thing to do? Of course not!

J Crew haul:
Soludos espadrilles (x 2)
Cab & Crystal bracelets (x 3)
Medium bangles (x 2)
Jeanine skinny belt

Gap haul:
Khaki boyfriend roll-up shorts
Casual web reversible men's belt

That was Thursday, June 28th, so technically, it was still June and that would have just made the month way past total write-off, considering the way I went about with it. And there I was, doing (relatively) well at that! For shame, indeed.

Oh and to add insult to injury, I returned to J Crew on Sunday since they made a pricing mistake on the belt (those items are all final sales, after all). And what went out with me along with the belt?

Ribbonstripe boatneck shirt (thanks to her:p)

So to make myself (a lil) better(?), I've made the decision to make this most recent shopping expedition to be the last one for a while. 2 months, for starter, since like I mentioned earlier, that's pretty much what I've spent taking my "budget" into consideration. Hopefully, longer than 2 months...

*grin*... *head bowed down in shame*... *happy sigh*... you name it, I felt it...

HAH!

Mailing List

Store mailing list, ah, the new bane of my existence. Ok, that's being overly dramatic.

Seemingly innocuous enough in the beginning, and useful (in my shopping mind), I'm now inundated with it, always announcing to me what good sales I am potentially missing out there, or I could partake in (depending on my mood).... What? Unsubscribe? Never! HAH! (never say never)...

Over the weekend, what with the semi-annual sales happening all around, according to my emails, I thought I'd refill our Bath and Body stash for soaps and what-have-yous. I did have a coupon after all, thanks to an email. And I figured, since I'm out and about, I might as well walk around to see where my remaining monthly budget can take me.

I walked into Holt Renfrew, Canada's answer to Harrods, only without the history, or to Bergdorf/ Saks/ Neiman, just because there is no Bergdorf/ Saks/ Neiman around here. Anyhoot, there I was, ready to live it large with my $27.24. Alas, that amount could not even buy me a heel of a shoe or a sleeve of a dress. What was I thinking anyways?

But I did find something elsewhere.

Gap espadrilles (on sale, $27.99, and the only pair!)

Now how much more summery can you get than that, eh? And within my budget too! Well, give or take a few cents. Cents!!! Pretty good, huh?

Now if only summer could have come yesterday... And if only July 1st could come tomorrow, you know, for a new shopping month. Kidding! No, actually I'm serious... Kidding!

HAH!

(and I guess all these summer colors just inspired me to get this color for my pedi earlier)

... too bad it didn't show how neon this orange is:p

C'mon, summer, just come, won't ya!

Small Victories

Yesterday, I happened to work in a different office. On my way home, I decided to drop by some stores to see what they have, and first stop was the Gap store. No, no, just to look around, I swear. I haven't forgotten that I'm still $2.88 over for the month of May, and there's still 2 days left in the month,  a fact I'm highly aware of.

So there I was, just browsing, when I happen to see the same dress I bought last month now on clearance. Practically half the (sale) price I paid for! Ach!

My brain, obviously, started churning. I haven't worn the dress as yet. It's still in the same shopping bag, for crying out loud. Yes, I do love this dress, believe it or not, but I thought, why should I settle for a higher price seeing how much it costs now. Needless to say, I got the same exact dress on clearance. And what did I do when I got home? Why, walked back out again and returned the same dress with a higher tag. HAH!

Having done so, I'm happy to say that April's shopping tally has now been readjusted to $128.85, instead of $145.32, which makes April's shopping only over by $28.85.

Small victory, no?

Then, on my way back after that exchange, what do I see on the window of the bookstore nearby? "Buy 3 and get the 4th free". The same bookstore where I happened to have bought 3 books over the weekend! Gah! Again, my brain started churning. In I walked to the store and talked to a staff about my teensy-weensy predicament. She then told me to bring my purchase back. Which I happily did. Walked out of that store (a second time, or is it third by now?), with 4 books. HAH!

Again, small victory, no?

{Un}Fortunately for me, these places happen to be all walking distance. 2 additional trips to carry out above transactions. Would I have gone to the same trouble if it was otherwise? Maybe not. Was it all worth it in the end? I think so.

Such is my exciting life, eh? HAH!

Week on a Blur

Not sure what is happening happened this week, but it sure is passing passed by on a blur. (I just realized it's already Thursday! Me, 3 days ago). All those times, I actually really thought it was just one of those usual busy week.  But by the time Wednesday came, I'd come home and I just had enough energy to make something that would pass as dinner (hubs would probably snicker if he reads this, although I did make up for it come Saturday dinner hehe).

And now that things have slowed down a bit, made me think of what I did. Ah yes...

Cruised around town in a co-worker's Mustang one afternoon. No, not really. He does have that Mustang, but no, we weren't cruising. A bunch of us actually had to go to a meeting after work, and the rest of us just happened to hitch a ride from him.

Happened to drive by one of these streets on the way home. I almost forgot it's still cherry blossoms time. Oh, the beauty of spring...

Stumbled upon this flavor by accident a few weeks back, seeing that it was on sale hehe

Oh. My. God. For someone who's not really an ice cream person, even in the summer, I had to exercise some self-control for me not finish the whole thing in one sitting. Yes, it's that good!!! (In my opinion, anyways.) And luckily, because it went on sale again, I was able to stock up. For how long? I'm not gonna say, coz I guess that will all depend on how quickly I can finish them, no? heehee

Then before I knew it, Friday came.

Met some friends last minute after work for a quick drink. It was nice as I haven't seen these friends in a while. Yes, just a quick drink {un}fortunately, as we all had something to do Saturday morning. Nevertheless, it was still nice. Nice way to relax on Friday evening and start the weekend right.

Then, yesterday, after my morning task, since I got this email from Gap about some sale they're having, I thought I'd walk through the mall. Care to take a guess what happened after?

Gap striped dress, on sale! ($30.56, with tax)

Hmmm... *sigh*... hmmm...

Ok, for starter, I knew even before this happened that I am going to buy this dress, especially after seeing it from her. It was just a matter of when. All along, the plan was to wait for the month of May, seeing that I went over my budget already (read here). BUT THEN, this email came along, with a deadline at that, which prompted me to check things out, and lo and behold, what do I see that's on sale, and with extra 30% off to boot?!?!

So now, what does this make me? A happy camper for sure, now that I have the dress, but all that aside, where does this lead me?

With a day and a half left in Apr, I am $45.32 over budget. In the grand scheme of things, it may not be so relevant, but it doesn't change the fact that I went over, period. My first month at that! Now, because I knew  I was over limit even before I purchased that dress, do I make myself pay for it by counting that purchase towards May?

Hmmm... *sigh*... hmmm...