Notes on a Holiday Week

May I never see another fondue pot again.

Too many parties this week. Too much shopping. Too much family. Too much of everything. Good things should be parselled out in small chunks throughout the year rather than melted together into one pot of bubbling chocolate. I have a sore belly from this week and am positively dreading one more night of festivities. When it’s all over, I am planning on closing myself up in my office and enjoying solitude.

Let me just take a moment to brag about the bargains that I found on the 26th.

I come from a long line of bargain braggers. When we exchange gifts on the holidays, my family leaves the price tags on the gifts. Not only because it makes returns easier, but because it enables the giver to crow about the sales that were found. At first, this practice mistified and frightened my mid-western husband who was unused to shameless shopping. But now he shops with the zeal of the newly converted.

After Christmas, we each took separate trips to the mall. I was badly need of clothes for teaching, because my Old Navy t-shirts won’t do. J. Crew was having a 40% sale on their already marked down kelly green sweaters and other preppy goodness. I elbowed the crowd aside for a cashmere sweater for $35 dollars and cashmere gloves for $9. Half off some tailored pants from Banana Republic, because they have developed a line of pants that are sensibly labeled a size smaller than I usually get. Lets me feel forever skinny.

Steve went to Macy’s for his yearly purchase of socks, underwear, shirts, and pants. He won’t shop again for another year. Guys have it so easy. Very pleased with his bargains, he showed me the receipts when he came home.

Still, I overdid the bargain delights, like everything else this week, and I hope to not step foot in a store for another month or two.