What It Takes For Me To Find The Perfect Swimsuit

1. Prayer/the hand of God
2. Contortionism
3. Liquid dieting
4. The ability to stealthily maneuver past the "juniors section" that produces swim bottoms that offer enough coverage for the bottom of my heel
5. Black magic
6. Strategically placed ruffles
7. Mental questions that sound a lot like, "What waterproof material could I stuff here that would not disintegrate or float away when submerged?"
8. Countless dressing room hours
9. Countless internet orders
10. Optical illusions

What We Purchased From The School Book Fair

1. A birthday gift for one of W's friends who invited her to his birthday party this weekend- a paper airplane kit
2. Mr. Popper's Penguins
3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
4. The Cricket in Times Square
5. The Boxcar Children
6. Little House on the Prairie
7. The Phantom Tollbooth
8. A flash card game for R's 3K classroom that was on his teacher's wish list
9. A book about animals from the 3K teacher's wish list
10. An art book from W's class wish list
11. The kids each got a Leap Pad 2 Explorer for Christmas- pink for W and green for R
12. A set of phonics BrainQuest cards for W
13. An encyclopedia book about horses for R
14. Two early reader books for W- Biscuit and Mittens. My little baby girl is starting to read!

Things I Need To Return

1. The six pairs of tights I bought at Macys, Dillards, and Anthropologie for the wedding Friday night. That seventh pair (gray) from Anthropologie was the winner. I bought almost every color imaginable, from salmon to chartreuse.
2. 4 ceramic mini loaf pans I bought at Michael's, because I found metal ones at Bed Bath & Beyond I liked a lot more.
3. 2 regular-sized loaf pans I bought at Bed Bath & Beyond thinking they were smaller than regular-sized ones, only to come home to find that they were indeed not. (Today could be described as the day I was taken down by my obsession with the perfect sized loaf pans. I take teacher gifts very seriously.)
4. The quilt I bought from Pottery Barn Kids for W, because as much as I love it, the green and white dotted pattern on the edging that was hiding at the time of purchase is just a deal-breaker.
5. 2 sets of sheets from Target, because as much as I was wanting to go cheap on sheets after I went big on their quilts, turns out- I'm a bedding snob.

Christmas List 2012, First Edition

1. Green cords
2. Dress
3. Leather bracelet
4. Earrings

5. Vintage Smoke 
6. Leggins
7. Tory Burch bag
8. Galleria gift card
9. Initial Pendant
10. Cute purse

Some Summer Beauties

1. I'VE NEVER WANTED A SHOE SO MUCH
2. FANCY DRESS
3. THEY FOLD!
4. SO SO CUTE
5. BASIC SANDALS
6. PRETTY FOR SUMMER
7. TOO LOVELY
8. CUTE AND CASUAL
9. TUNIC DRESS
10. IF I ONLY HAD $450 TO SPEND ON CAFTANS
11. I BUY THIS EVERY SUMMER
12. STATEMENT

Things I Want

1. Some white short shorts
2. Black t-strap sandals
3. Workout clothes
4. Sunglasses. there are a pair of Vogue brand ones at Macys that I love.
5. Running socks
6. An iPhone case like THIS
7. THESE shoes
8. A new swimsuit
9. The perfect pool bag

What $100 Bought Me At Whole Foods

1. A banana bunch
2. Package of whole wheat organic tortillas
3. Package of Daiya cheddar shreds
4. 3 heads of organic broccoli
5. Package of organic white cheddar cheese
6. 2 boxes of Kashi original 7-grain crackers
7. 1 box of Annie's whole wheat bunnies crackers
8. 8 Naked Juice smoothie drinks
9. Bag of Terra chips
10. Large container (89 oz) of orange juice
11. Half-gallon of almond milk
12. 5 small containers of Wallaby flavored yogurt
13. 2 packages of organic whole wheat spaghetti noodles
14. 2 jars of organic tomato sauce
15. 1 quart of organic milk
16. Bag of organic quinoa
17. Bottle of wine
18. Reusable shopping bag
19. 3/4 pound of nutritional yeast
20. Fair trade/Organic (read: kinda expensive) baking cocoa
21. 2 pound bag of vegan cane sugar
22. Bag of organic baby carrots
23. Bag of vegan chocolate chips
24. A bakery white chocolate macadamia nut cookie

For Missy's Purse Search

1. Pretty and tough

2. An expensive beauty

3. this

4. My go-to company for bags

5. Cute

6. Why do I like this one? I don't know, but I do.

7. I like the "forest" color

8. Oh, Marc

9. LOVE this one

10. Just do it

11. A great wear-with-all

12. Reasonably priced

13. Basic, love the studs

14. Great bag

15. Like

16. I want this one for myself

Outlet Mall Finds

1. Robe and matching shorts from Banana Republic- me
2. Blouse from JCrew- me
3. Blouse from Old Navy- me
4. Super Grover shirt for R
5. Dress shirt and belts for A from Banana Republic
6. Plaid shirt from JCrew for A
7. Hoodie from Old Navy for A


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Shopping Notes

1. I like to shop alone best, but when my husband or someone else is with me, I tend to be more responsible and practical. That doesn't always make for a fun experience, though.

2. I usually always wear a tank top while shopping in case I need to try on something in the middle of the store or I need a layer in the dressing room.

3. I use the sales ladies in the dressing rooms and other people trying on for ideas, opinions, etc. I'm not afraid to have a worker get something for me, help me zip up, or help me take something off. Sales ladies earn their money when I'm at the store.

4. I also try to wear non-ugly bras granny panties since the sales people will more than likely see them.

5. The girls at Anthropologie are my favorites. They are not afraid to be honest. There is an older woman who works there that I love and only make big purchases when she's working.

6. It's nearly impossible to find my embarrassingly true bra size, 30A. Bras never fit this protruding-rib-cage-long-torso-skinny-flat-chested gal.

7. I never stay in the tiny fitting room when trying on. I always go out to the big 3-way mirrors.

8. Shopping, even just browsing and looking around, is very therapeutic for me and is how I usually choose to spend my free time.

9. I jokingly say that I don't like to shop in the sales section because I don't want to dress like a poor person. That's only 15% true.

10. I wear a small and my shoe size is 8. My stuff never makes it long enough to be on sale.

11. My favorite stores are JCrew, Nordstrom, Anthropologie.

12. My favorite place to shop is Wicker Park in Chicago.

13. I get too stressed out trying to shop in those big stores like Macys, Kohls, and TJ Maxx. So clearly, I'm not a Maxxinista.

14. I can take my kids shopping if we have the double stroller and if I make a mid-trip stop at Mrs. Fields.

15. My biggest shopping pet peeve is how tiny the Galleria Baby Gap is. Impossible to take a double stroller into, so I have to go alone. Which is annoying and causes me to do a lot of exchanges there.

16. I love shopping with my little sister. She has good taste and challenges me.

My Current Anthropologie Wish List

1. Bento Box Blouse

2. Tied & Tabbed Blouse

3. Dutch Yellow Shift

4. Lane Lines Maillot

5. Hypnotic Maxi Dress

6. With Ease Wide-Legs

7. Chevron Cardi

8. Flourised Hem Tee

9. Sky Stories Dress

10. Poolside Romper

11. Rugby Stripe Blouson

12. J Brand Ankle Skinny

13. Floral Sketch Tank Dress

14. Cultivation Skirt

15. Weekend Worn Pullover

16. Floristy Booties

17. Coining Necklace

18. Beads of Berry Necklace

19. Roped-In Tote

What My Parents Bought For Us On Their Visit Here

1. 5 meals out

2. Anthropologie gift card for my birthday

3. Spices at Penzey's

4. W a princess dress for her birthday (and a t-shirt and a dress at City Sprouts)

5. Groceries at Whole Foods

6. Whole Foods gift card

7. Little horses for my kids

8. Easter cookie cutters- W has been requesting cut-out cookies

9. Lots of snacks for the kids and me

All The Questions My Cashier At Culinaria Asked Me Today

1. Where's your coat?
2. Are garbanzo beans the same as chickpeas?
3. How old is he?
4. Where's his coat?
5. Where is there a Whole Foods around here?
6. Have you ever made your own hummus?
7. Do you always bring your own bags?
8. Do you want to donate a can to our food drive?
9. Do you need help out?
10. Do you like all kinds of beans? (this one almost threw me into a hilarious fit of laughter)
11. What's his name?
12. How did you think of that?
13. What's your favorite Christmas song?
14. Do you travel for the hoildays?
15. What are you going to do with these cranberries?
16. Do you have any coupons?

What I Bought From Wal-Mart

1. Organic spinach leaves

2. Whole wheat buns

3. Whole wheat penne pasta

4. Deli chicken breast

5. Ground cinnamon

6. Hair combs

7. Crafting sticks

8. Crafting pom poms

9. Eggplant

10. Soymilk

11. Minnie mouse sippy cups

12. Plain sippy cups

13. 4 oz Ball canning jars

14. A's vitamins

15. Bananas

16. Baby wipes

What I Bought Today

1. A backpack from REI for my soon-to-be-preschooler (just morning preschool twice a week, but a preschooler just the same)
2. Two Horizon Organic vanilla milk drink boxes from Starbucks to pacify my whiny, tired children
3. A raspberry green tea frappucino from Starbucks to pacify me (I'm also a bit whiny and tired)
4. Veganomicon cookbook from Borders. So excited!
5. A few groceries so that I can actually cook dinner this evening

Random List About Shoes

1. Reebok was a weird shoe name. Did it stand for something? Do those still exist? I would have cut off a finger to get a pair of the purple high-top princesses in 7th grade. My folks didn't see the draw like I did.

2. My mom and I had to convince my sister to not buy these shoes. But, if anyone could rock them, it would be her. Wait, the more I look at them, the cuter they get.

3. I have really, really tried to avoid buying leather and suede shoes as a part of my vegetarian lifestyle. It's just caused me to not buy shoes at all. It's tough!

4. Speaking of, we just got these for my hubby...I love them.

5. My favorite shoe is a peep-toe short wedge. Versatile and lovely.

6. I used to work for Keds as a merchandising consultant. I think they are cute. Don't hate.

7. So, I think it's cute that W LOVES these shoes that Googie and Papaw bought her.

8. I hate wearing socks. Don't wear even wear them with trainers.

9. I hate when people say, "Mama needs a new pair of shoes."

10. I keep all of my shoes in their original boxes.

11. The most popular brand in my closet is Steve Madden, with 8 boxes.

12. My kids both have chubby (not wide, but chubby-tall) feet and can't wear all types of shoes. I almost cried when after tugs and tugs and forcing couldn't get R's chubs into these.

13. My dad used to wear his railroad work boots everywhere.

14. My mom used to work 10+ hour days walking around in high heels.

15. I don't wear high heels. I don't know how to work it. My knees are all awkward.

16. It creeps me out when dogs wear shoes. In a moment of insanity, I did buy P some expensive rain/snow boots, but I took them back the next day.

17. I wish that we could just go barefoot everywhere when we want. I have no reservations about that.

18. I do have one fab pair of black high heels with a cute bow on the side that I bought for my sister-in-law's wedding. I don't know if I'll ever wear them again, but I'd like to think that I will.

What I Bought From Drug Emporium

(my new favorite store, by the way. little rock is so lucky)
1. Chia Seeds
2. Sucanat
3. Hulled Hemp Seeds
4. PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter
5. Metromint Waters (cherry mint and lemon mint)
6. Spirulina Powder

What R Got Today

1. Camo pants
2. Gray trousers
3. Fall jacket
4. Superman t-shirt
5. Batman t-shirt
6. Blue, collared button-up shirt
7. Lots of kisses
8. 3 compliments on his getting-curlier-every-day hair
9. Ice cream
10. Robot jammies
11. 5 poopie diapers. Unbelievable.

Our Babies R'Us Loot

1. A new, SIMPLE booster seat for W. The Mutsy one looked cool, but continually made me want to rip my eyeballs out.

2. A gift for my expecting hair stylist...a wipe warmer for her registry

3. A package of those take and toss sippy cups for the house

4. Various flavors of baby food pouches from Ella's Kitchen and Plum Organics for W, my stubborn eater who'll wilingly eat veggies and fruits in the form of baby food. Sigh.

Groceries Still On The Counter

1. 2 containers of Whole Foods two-bite brownies that I need to put in the freezer

2. A loaf of Companion's cinnamon brioche for french toast in the morning

3. A bunch of asparagus from the farmer's market

4. A bunch of bananas

5. 5 avocados

6. 2 sweet potatoes

7. A red onion

8. A small bag of Joe's O's

9. A bag of chickpeas

10. A bag of lentils

11. A bag of pinto beans

12. Green Mountain Gringo mild salsa- my favorite