A Developmental Leap is when a person reached a turning point between phases of life and makes a giant step towards growing up. It's exhibited in children by being cry-y, cranky or clingy. In adults* it's exhibited by being cry-y, cranky and get-the-f#ck-off-y.
I've noticed it as such:
1) You pass up worrying about preventing gray hairs and wrinkles for wondering how they show up so quickly and being generally in awe of the transformation. Like one of those pills that, when in water, becomes a towel or a foam dinosaur.
2) You start off conversations with coworkers with the phrase, "My financial planner says..." and you get worried about other people not having a retirement plan. For both their sake and yours. You don't want your tax dollars to compensate for their lack of planning!
3) You get hair cuts with the specific intent to not look like a mom**, not draw attention and not have to spend more than 10 minutes on it***. I got my hair cut last Tuesday and literally NO ONE has said a word about it. Except The Mr, but he's legally required to notice.
4) An invitation to attend an outdoor concert seems like a trick.
5) When you happen to get in a nap, you wake up in a state similar to the twilight between drunk and hung-over and you haven't had a sip of alcohol in days. And yet... it was a wonderful nap! Let's go for broke and call an 8:30 bedtime!
6) Shopping makes you nauseous for a combination of any of the following reasons: prices, sizes, tweens, the general public, florescent lighting, touching those credit card machine buttons with your bare hands or the ease of accessibility to drive-thrus.
7) You scold someone else's unattended children in public and feel no shame. ("Hey hey hey! Watch for cars!")
8) You recognize your own slow-creeping racism/sexism that is birthed from road rage.
9) You notice a hobo pooping in the alley behind your house and, while you are disgusted, you commend him for doing it in some newspapers and at least trying to throw it away. Never mind he placed it in the recycling bin.****
10) You keep a formula letter to the city and/or bookmark the 311 website so that you can easily report downed tree limbs, blacken street lights, graffiti or that damn noise from the neighbors having a party past 10 PM*****.
*Me
**My only real request
***Even for formal occasions
****Have you read "Everybody poops"? You've gotta hand it to him. Or don't. Ew.
*****The. Nerve.
Showing posts with label shopping advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping advice. Show all posts
Monday, September 16, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts.
I wrote a long tirade about consumerism and how I see it in my life and those around me (and through the internet), but I deleted it. Because I like brevity. Just watch this video:
One of my guilty habits is that I like disposable razors. I found that a reusable razor would get grimy faster and is harder to clean (you know, with those little groves and grippers for your hands?), so I switched to disposable. I'm going to vow to find a reusable, quality razor and stop buying disposable.
I wrote a long tirade about consumerism and how I see it in my life and those around me (and through the internet), but I deleted it. Because I like brevity. Just watch this video:
One of my guilty habits is that I like disposable razors. I found that a reusable razor would get grimy faster and is harder to clean (you know, with those little groves and grippers for your hands?), so I switched to disposable. I'm going to vow to find a reusable, quality razor and stop buying disposable.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Online Shopping Supports My Decision to Not Become a Parent
Searching for a gift for my niece's first birthday (Happy Birthday on the 23rd!), I narrowed my choices down to 3 and let the reviews do the choosing. Among other notes (usefulness, educational level and if it will be gender neutral to share with her brother), these negative reviews steered me toward an easy winner.
Bwahhahahah! My sister should thank me for avoiding the riotous, seizure-inducing, mouthful toys.
"Awful! Loud, chaotic, no real educational value, and worst of all not [the toy it advertised]."
"... a riot of crazy beeps, chimes, and voices goes off. We had it on the quiet setting and even so, it drove us crazy just testing it."
"...it just brings on another seizure-inducing round of flashes and shrill noises."
"... I am reluctant to let her play with it because she can fit the entire circle shapes (cookie and orange) completely into her mouth."
Bwahhahahah! My sister should thank me for avoiding the riotous, seizure-inducing, mouthful toys.
For the baby who has everything? A smartphone with 4-G, Fisher Price technology.
I'm seriously considering writing a check for her college fund. It's the ultimate educational gift and she can share with her brother, should he grow up to be a deadbeat.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Salespeople of the World, Stop Following Me Around Bed Bath and Beyond
Overall, I don't jive with people in sales. Some of my good friends have sales jobs and other good friends have the knack for sales. And I love these people. I just don't like whatever gene makes someone sales-y.
Allow me to explain.
Last night I got up the courage to go to dinner with friends. Anymore I find myself forcing it to just go out in public. I'm just going through a hermit phase/lifetime.
I knew that this dinner with friends was at a healthy restaurant and that there would be a little presentation about how some of the girls in attendance were doing a healthy cleanse with a few key products.*
I put that aside when I tromped out in the rain to a clustered part of the city for dinner. When I walked into the restaurant I found that the rain** had deterred many of the other ladies so I was front-and-center for a no-formal-pressure-but-really-there's-social-pressure presentation on the healthy products. Think Mary Kay but for fiber chews and protein powder.
I did my best not to grimace from the gross vegan food*** and the overly obvious sales discussion as the nice girl who was presenting was right in front of me and looking into my eyes often. I alternated between being mad at her for pretending to know me**** and pitying her for having to win over our small crowd.
You know how you sometimes duck into a Bed Bath and Beyond in an outside mall just to escape the summer heat or see what Yankee Candle is on sale but it's their policy that at least 3 sales people have to ask you if you need any help by the time you make it past the sheet section and by that time you are worried that someone thinks your stealing milk duds and who buys milk duds at BB&B, let alone steals them and you get so flustered you walk out...
What was I saying?
I hate sales people because I feel pressured and that assumptions are being made about me. I don't like feeling like I'm being sold anything. I want to make my own decisions at my own pace and I want to be informed about the products through my own research, not just take someone's word who's seeking commission.
But I did have a free, vegan chocolate protein shake this morning and it wasn't half bad.
* Writing on the gee-dee wall.
** And possibly the sales presentation
*** I usually like this kinda stuff, but I didn't like this place.
**** Girl, I watch more documentaries on how food is produced in our nation than you've got time for and have already cut waaaaay back on diary, red meat, meat at all and know how to bake gluten-free.
Allow me to explain.
Last night I got up the courage to go to dinner with friends. Anymore I find myself forcing it to just go out in public. I'm just going through a hermit phase/lifetime.
I knew that this dinner with friends was at a healthy restaurant and that there would be a little presentation about how some of the girls in attendance were doing a healthy cleanse with a few key products.*
I put that aside when I tromped out in the rain to a clustered part of the city for dinner. When I walked into the restaurant I found that the rain** had deterred many of the other ladies so I was front-and-center for a no-formal-pressure-but-really-there's-social-pressure presentation on the healthy products. Think Mary Kay but for fiber chews and protein powder.
I did my best not to grimace from the gross vegan food*** and the overly obvious sales discussion as the nice girl who was presenting was right in front of me and looking into my eyes often. I alternated between being mad at her for pretending to know me**** and pitying her for having to win over our small crowd.
You know how you sometimes duck into a Bed Bath and Beyond in an outside mall just to escape the summer heat or see what Yankee Candle is on sale but it's their policy that at least 3 sales people have to ask you if you need any help by the time you make it past the sheet section and by that time you are worried that someone thinks your stealing milk duds and who buys milk duds at BB&B, let alone steals them and you get so flustered you walk out...
What was I saying?
I hate sales people because I feel pressured and that assumptions are being made about me. I don't like feeling like I'm being sold anything. I want to make my own decisions at my own pace and I want to be informed about the products through my own research, not just take someone's word who's seeking commission.
But I did have a free, vegan chocolate protein shake this morning and it wasn't half bad.
* Writing on the gee-dee wall.
** And possibly the sales presentation
*** I usually like this kinda stuff, but I didn't like this place.
**** Girl, I watch more documentaries on how food is produced in our nation than you've got time for and have already cut waaaaay back on diary, red meat, meat at all and know how to bake gluten-free.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Spring Clean Week - Money Tip: Don't Buy The Small Stuff
Don't Sweat Buy The Small Stuff
I was out with some friends at The Container Store a few years ago. Despite being an organization store, this place is really interesting. Cubbies in every color. Hooks that hang on doors, drawers and walls. Shoe boxes that fit all styles and then tetris together in a neat cube! Fun and practical!
TCS had a line of acrylic boxes in all shapes and sizes with lids. I think that they were intended to be used for office supplies, but some of the boxes were so ridiculously small that not even a paperclip would fit. Fun and NOT practical? Let's all buy one!
So we all bought a tiny box for no reason and mine sat on a bookshelf for at least 3 years, collecting dust.
When it came time to purge it, I was reluctant to throw it away. I mean... its a durable, colored plastic box. And it's so cute. But what is it doing for me? Nothing! I never used it and I just ended up knocking it around when I dusted because it was so tiny, light and flick-a-ble.
I try to remember this item's trajectory through my life whenever I want to buy a decorative bowl from a flash sale site or Goodwill... when I think I could get a deal on a great pair or black flats... when I insist that I will use a milk frother at home!
I am challenging myself to leave a shelf empty, a wall bare and a corner vacant! I will throw away holey underwear, I will take that box to the thrift shop (saw Macklemore this past Saturday- waddup!?), I will hold back from buying seasonal/holiday*/temporary items (not that I do this much, but it IS tempting)!
And most importantly, I won't invest in small things. If it's not important or vital, I'll try to do without it. I may acquire things that are small in size, but big in value, but I won't deal with the petty.
*This could be another post. Do you buy holiday themed things that can't be used year round? Do you spend money on things that are disposable for the holidays? Do you throw parties with tons of trinkets?
I was out with some friends at The Container Store a few years ago. Despite being an organization store, this place is really interesting. Cubbies in every color. Hooks that hang on doors, drawers and walls. Shoe boxes that fit all styles and then tetris together in a neat cube! Fun and practical!
TCS had a line of acrylic boxes in all shapes and sizes with lids. I think that they were intended to be used for office supplies, but some of the boxes were so ridiculously small that not even a paperclip would fit. Fun and NOT practical? Let's all buy one!
So we all bought a tiny box for no reason and mine sat on a bookshelf for at least 3 years, collecting dust.
When it came time to purge it, I was reluctant to throw it away. I mean... its a durable, colored plastic box. And it's so cute. But what is it doing for me? Nothing! I never used it and I just ended up knocking it around when I dusted because it was so tiny, light and flick-a-ble.
I try to remember this item's trajectory through my life whenever I want to buy a decorative bowl from a flash sale site or Goodwill... when I think I could get a deal on a great pair or black flats... when I insist that I will use a milk frother at home!
I am challenging myself to leave a shelf empty, a wall bare and a corner vacant! I will throw away holey underwear, I will take that box to the thrift shop (saw Macklemore this past Saturday- waddup!?), I will hold back from buying seasonal/holiday*/temporary items (not that I do this much, but it IS tempting)!
And most importantly, I won't invest in small things. If it's not important or vital, I'll try to do without it. I may acquire things that are small in size, but big in value, but I won't deal with the petty.
*This could be another post. Do you buy holiday themed things that can't be used year round? Do you spend money on things that are disposable for the holidays? Do you throw parties with tons of trinkets?
Monday, February 25, 2013
How to Make Terrible Things Benefit You
Punchline: start a blog.
Basically it's the concept behind the phrase, "You may not find this funny now, but you'll laugh about this later."
It's like this:
When we were buying a car over the weekend (more on that tomorrow, I think), we were seeing what we could get for our '98 Honda as a trade-in.
We were hoping for a few grand as the car is under 150k miles and we kept it up pretty well and, well, its still running!
Then the dealers all showed us how we'd never be able to sell it for a couple grand...
because the odometer had "potentially" been rolled back.
Why potentially? It was so obvious that it had because the Carfax report showed it having lower mileage in 2004 than when we bought it in 2011.
Either someone rolled it back generously or the car was driven backwards and Ferris Bueller was totally right!
Fast forward to today and we were potentially driving a 200k mile death wagon. I mean, the car would just slow down sometimes for no reason.
Not to mention it rattled over everylittle big winter pothole at which the Chicago plows have chipped away.
Not to mention that the check engine light was on for so long that it eventually went off... like when you're telling a story in a crowded room, everyone sips their drink and looks away, so you eventually stop the futile story mid-sentence.
So the questions that we're all asking can be answered the same way.
Why did we think we were getting any money for this car?
Why didn't we run a Carfax ourselves? (The dealers told us that every yahoo buyer runs a Carfax*)
Why didn't we just ask someone to fit it for a pair of cement tires?
Why were we still driving the Honda death-ccord?
And why didn't we get so mad at the prospect of this car being a total waste of money?
Because it would make a great story for the blog!
And twitter.
One of my favorite tweets from the whole ordeal was when the dealer told us that it would cost them more to take the car to auction than it was worth. Basically, they wanted us to pay them extra just to take the Murder Accord off of our hands.
*Learned our lesson
Basically it's the concept behind the phrase, "You may not find this funny now, but you'll laugh about this later."
It's like this:
When we were buying a car over the weekend (more on that tomorrow, I think), we were seeing what we could get for our '98 Honda as a trade-in.
We were hoping for a few grand as the car is under 150k miles and we kept it up pretty well and, well, its still running!
Then the dealers all showed us how we'd never be able to sell it for a couple grand...
because the odometer had "potentially" been rolled back.
Why potentially? It was so obvious that it had because the Carfax report showed it having lower mileage in 2004 than when we bought it in 2011.
Either someone rolled it back generously or the car was driven backwards and Ferris Bueller was totally right!
Fast forward to today and we were potentially driving a 200k mile death wagon. I mean, the car would just slow down sometimes for no reason.
Not to mention it rattled over every
Not to mention that the check engine light was on for so long that it eventually went off... like when you're telling a story in a crowded room, everyone sips their drink and looks away, so you eventually stop the futile story mid-sentence.
So the questions that we're all asking can be answered the same way.
Why did we think we were getting any money for this car?
Why didn't we run a Carfax ourselves? (The dealers told us that every yahoo buyer runs a Carfax*)
Why didn't we just ask someone to fit it for a pair of cement tires?
Why were we still driving the Honda death-ccord?
And why didn't we get so mad at the prospect of this car being a total waste of money?
Because it would make a great story for the blog!
And twitter.
One of my favorite tweets from the whole ordeal was when the dealer told us that it would cost them more to take the car to auction than it was worth. Basically, they wanted us to pay them extra just to take the Murder Accord off of our hands.
*Learned our lesson
Friday, January 25, 2013
Flip-It Friday: Shopping Rules
I don't mean that like "yeah, Shopping RUUUULES! Working DROOOOOLS."
I mean that like "I need boundaries."
I don't like-like shopping. I like-like finding things that I can wear, but the hunt for them is often labor-intensive for me.
And its usually online.
I went to a TJ Maxx last weekend while in Boca and was only able to spend money on 2 tank tops and a skirt because I was (to quote the locals) schvetzing in my current clothes and needed a warm-weather shirt to hold me over.
And the vacation-spirit afforded me the energy to buy a colorful skirt at a discount. I felt like such a winner.
Until I had to carry that shiz around with me for the rest of the day.
"Oh no, I'm fine. I don't need to go back to the car to put these things down. I can carry them," said my stupid self.
So for all my ladies out there who can't stand shopping (all 3 of you - holler!), here they are...
My Rules of Shopping:
1) Only bother picking up the things that you know are in your color or a style that looks good on you. If you can't wear yellow, put down the yellow. If all else fails, go for over-sized shirt + tight pants.
2) If you are between sizes, take more than one size to the dressing room. If they only have size "wrong", don't even bother trying it on.
3) Try it on. Don't wing it. You know you don't want to come back here to return it. Yes, some girls can take it home to try it on, look at it in the right lighting, pair it with the right shoes. But you aren't this girl. You are committed. Or at least, you are are lazy.
4) If it fits and it comes in more than one color (that looks good on you - see #1), get 2 colors.
5) If it fits, you like it, it's in your color, it's affordable but you have no reason to wear it (pink Ralph Lauren ball gown that makes you look like Gwyneth), put it down. Why did you even pick it up? We don't have time for this!
6) Shop online. Put the items you want in your shopping cart and minimize/click out of the window for a few minutes If you still want the items after a bit, go ahead and purchase. If not, chances are you are just feeling fat/tired/bored/listless and need to go run/walk/doodle/write a letter/have a salad.
What are your shopping rules? What advice do you have for someone like me who gets overwhelmed with shopping?
I mean that like "I need boundaries."
I don't like-like shopping. I like-like finding things that I can wear, but the hunt for them is often labor-intensive for me.
And its usually online.
I went to a TJ Maxx last weekend while in Boca and was only able to spend money on 2 tank tops and a skirt because I was (to quote the locals) schvetzing in my current clothes and needed a warm-weather shirt to hold me over.
And the vacation-spirit afforded me the energy to buy a colorful skirt at a discount. I felt like such a winner.
Until I had to carry that shiz around with me for the rest of the day.
"Oh no, I'm fine. I don't need to go back to the car to put these things down. I can carry them," said my stupid self.
So for all my ladies out there who can't stand shopping (all 3 of you - holler!), here they are...
My Rules of Shopping:
1) Only bother picking up the things that you know are in your color or a style that looks good on you. If you can't wear yellow, put down the yellow. If all else fails, go for over-sized shirt + tight pants.
2) If you are between sizes, take more than one size to the dressing room. If they only have size "wrong", don't even bother trying it on.
3) Try it on. Don't wing it. You know you don't want to come back here to return it. Yes, some girls can take it home to try it on, look at it in the right lighting, pair it with the right shoes. But you aren't this girl. You are committed. Or at least, you are are lazy.
4) If it fits and it comes in more than one color (that looks good on you - see #1), get 2 colors.
5) If it fits, you like it, it's in your color, it's affordable but you have no reason to wear it (pink Ralph Lauren ball gown that makes you look like Gwyneth), put it down. Why did you even pick it up? We don't have time for this!
6) Shop online. Put the items you want in your shopping cart and minimize/click out of the window for a few minutes If you still want the items after a bit, go ahead and purchase. If not, chances are you are just feeling fat/tired/bored/listless and need to go run/walk/doodle/write a letter/have a salad.
What are your shopping rules? What advice do you have for someone like me who gets overwhelmed with shopping?
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Math, Math, Math ... Elvira!
I belong to flash sale sites like Fab.com, Ideeli, Rue La La, Jetsetter, Groupon, Joss and Main, etc.
And have logins to other favorite online stores like ASOS, ShopRuche, Everlane, etc.
I occasionally click on the email promptings or log on to see how I can spend my money.
I need a lot of things:
reliable winter tights
a rug for our living room
a trip somewhere tropical in February
a chandelier for our dinning room
scented candles for housewarming gifts
sweaters that pair well with button downs
comfortable flats for the office
Did I say need? I mean, first-world-need/want.
Thankfully I get overwhelmed when I have two things in my cart and end up closing the browser window in a panic.
Was I really about to spend $100 on 2 sweaters?
I know that this is a lot of money to some and not so much money to others. For sweaters anyway.
The past few clothing purchases I've made have been hit-or-miss in satisfaction. I even find that the more I weed my closet of the unwearables, the easier it is to get dressed.
You have one pair of black pants and 4 sweaters that look good with those pants and 2 pairs of shoes that hit the hemline just-so, so you only have ... math, math, math ... 8 options for an outfit. Easy!
But you know what I have no problem spending money on? Others who really need it.
I love to love people with my credit card. And I can't tell if that statement is endearing or sad.
So when I got an email prompting from Kiva this morning, I click-clicked through to find Elvira's story and click-clicked to help her buy charcoal to sell.
She lives in the Philippines where the average annual salary is $1175. She needs a $400 loan to continue her business (... math, math, math, that's 8 fancy sweaters).
So if you feel like going on a shopping spree to help people all over the world with a lil' micro-lending, check out Kiva. And when you get paid back (and I usually do), you can relend the money for even MORE giving and shopping!
---
I am in no way compensated for this post. I just really love Kiva and believe in their mission.
And have logins to other favorite online stores like ASOS, ShopRuche, Everlane, etc.
I occasionally click on the email promptings or log on to see how I can spend my money.
I need a lot of things:
reliable winter tights
a rug for our living room
a trip somewhere tropical in February
a chandelier for our dinning room
scented candles for housewarming gifts
sweaters that pair well with button downs
comfortable flats for the office
Did I say need? I mean, first-world-need/want.
Thankfully I get overwhelmed when I have two things in my cart and end up closing the browser window in a panic.
Was I really about to spend $100 on 2 sweaters?
I know that this is a lot of money to some and not so much money to others. For sweaters anyway.
The past few clothing purchases I've made have been hit-or-miss in satisfaction. I even find that the more I weed my closet of the unwearables, the easier it is to get dressed.
You have one pair of black pants and 4 sweaters that look good with those pants and 2 pairs of shoes that hit the hemline just-so, so you only have ... math, math, math ... 8 options for an outfit. Easy!
But you know what I have no problem spending money on? Others who really need it.
I love to love people with my credit card. And I can't tell if that statement is endearing or sad.
So when I got an email prompting from Kiva this morning, I click-clicked through to find Elvira's story and click-clicked to help her buy charcoal to sell.
from Kiva.org
She lives in the Philippines where the average annual salary is $1175. She needs a $400 loan to continue her business (... math, math, math, that's 8 fancy sweaters).
So if you feel like going on a shopping spree to help people all over the world with a lil' micro-lending, check out Kiva. And when you get paid back (and I usually do), you can relend the money for even MORE giving and shopping!
---
I am in no way compensated for this post. I just really love Kiva and believe in their mission.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
It's like I always said
"Vote with your wallet"
Corporations control this planet. Of the world’s 100 largest entities, 51 of them are corporations. Walmart, for example, is economically bigger than Norway. And virtually every major corporation is awakening to the fact that traditional advertising is no longer sufficient for building a world-class brand. Advertising is a $300 billion industry in America alone. More importantly, it is the connection point between consumers and trillions of dollars of commerce. But advertising no longer works as powerfully as it once did. Consumers have gone through a communication revolution, while advertising is almost exactly the same as it was during the Mad Men era. Consumers don’t watch or believe ads the way they once did. Technology gives them the truth in the form of ratings and reviews. So this generation’s Mad Men know that great brands are now built based on great corporate behavior, not on great advertisements.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Flip-It Friday: What's your shopping style?
S and I went on a mini shopping spree for him at TopShop/TopMan last night. His new job requires fancier clothes than he has, so he needed to spruce up about 5 days worth of work attire. That's a lot of clothing for one man in one shopping trip. More on what we bought, here.
We have different shopping styles, so I know that putting our nose to the grind could be a struggle. I get worn out with all the people early on and he gets worn out with the decisions and walking around. We have to do things quickly and efficiently - "Do you like this shirt? Yes or no!", "Would you wear these pants with those shoes? No? Then don't get either!", "These pants fit perfectly... lets get 3 pairs in different colors!" Bing, bang, boom, we're done.
What's your shopping style?
Do you make lists and are an in-and-out shopper?
Do you like to browse and could make a day of it?
If the former, how do you make decisions so quickly?
If the latter, how do you keep going after you've seen 100 pairs of navy trousers!? And how do you keep from spending a fortune?
We have different shopping styles, so I know that putting our nose to the grind could be a struggle. I get worn out with all the people early on and he gets worn out with the decisions and walking around. We have to do things quickly and efficiently - "Do you like this shirt? Yes or no!", "Would you wear these pants with those shoes? No? Then don't get either!", "These pants fit perfectly... lets get 3 pairs in different colors!" Bing, bang, boom, we're done.
What's your shopping style?
Do you make lists and are an in-and-out shopper?
Do you like to browse and could make a day of it?
If the former, how do you make decisions so quickly?
If the latter, how do you keep going after you've seen 100 pairs of navy trousers!? And how do you keep from spending a fortune?
We didn't get this bag, but I really loved it. It came in a weathered green version and a black version too. I liked the green, even if it is a men's bag :)
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