Weekend Journal

I’ve been working all weekend, something I had vowed to cut back on, but until we get the childcare system set up (daycare starts on Tuesday), that’s the way it has to be. Okay, I didn’t work all weekend. There was time for a trip to the mall to pick some gifts for my cousin’s kids. So, this is a Lileks sort of post — things that I bought at the mall. BTW, he did some excellent blogging about his high school reunion last week. Worth checking out.

I am a huge fan of cheap clothes. Old Navy, Target, H&M, Payless, Zara, the Russian knock-off stores on 34th Street, street fairs in the Village. One of the best thing about Lucky magazine is that they pick out clothes from those places. Sure, you really have to try everything on and there are only a few things worthy of buying. It is also best to pair the cheap stuff with a nice pair of pants from Banana Republic. But how much fun is it to get a complement on your skirt, and you proudly share that it’s from Target? Waaay cool. But I’m easily amused.

Old Navy had a couple of nice silk shirts for $30. Got a brown capped sleeve number in brown. And their handbags are always the best. How about that mauve, quilted bag for $20?

FYI. If you get a Banana Republic credit card, you can load up on cheap clothes for the kids at Old Navy and then they’ll send you $10 dollar gift cards for the Banana. If you have a local Banana, like I do, you can stalk it regularly for sales.

At DSW, these strappy brown shoes called to me from across the store. Kenneth Coles for $44.

So, I like a bargain. But I’m not as bad as some members of my family.

My beloved Aunt once went on a vacation to Puerto Rico with a suitcase full of Cokes, because she didn’t want to pay for the over priced Cokes at the hotel. She visits T.J. Maxx everyday; she gets great deals, but she goes there every day. (She now owns three homes.)

My grandmother would have us sneak home-popped corn into movie theaters. She would peel off the wilted outer layer of lettuce in the supermarket aisles, so she wouldn’t have to pay for two leaves of bad greens.

My mom will call me to let me know what’s on sale at ShopRite. “Laura, there are having their Can Can sale. Make sure you stock up on Progresso soup.” “Mom, I’m like 40. You don’t have to call me to tell me what’s on sale.” “Yes, I do. Because if I didn’t, I just know that you would pay full price for cream cheese.” Man oh man. Paying full price is a major sin in my mom’s book. Up there with missing mass and not eating salad with dinner.

With a gene pool like that, I consider my Old Navy addiction to be quite harmless.