Shopping

We don’t go shopping. Ever. Clothes shopping, that is. We’ve gratefully received what new duds we have from our parents and have just made do with things purchased in the past. And besides, Jeff is turning into an old man with his style. Many trends I'd love to see on him - - he just doesn't like. And many trends I'd like to see on myself, he doesn't like either.

This tax season, we did get some money back. I was happily anticipating giving away a chunk to someone in need like we were able to do last year. That was, until Jeff reminded me of the upcoming hospital bills of our post-delivery and preparation for leaving for overseas as well as potential start up costs in our new country (deposits, new appliances, small electrics, etc).

I was bummed, but not for long. That joy stolen (though I knew he was right and we needed to save our money this time and not give it all away), I decided I needed to have ‘some fun’ for a change. My brother and his wife left on Sunday for a Chick-fil-A conference in California. They graciously allowed me use of one of their cars. Freedom, my friends, evokes a natural 'high' for me. I don't get out much, especially not during the day.

I’m not one of those women who spend money frivolously or without my husband’s knowledge; any money I spend Jeff is usually with me or knows about. And, technically, since I don’t have a car of my own, the only shopping I could do would be on the internet and to me, that’s just no fun.

Anyway, after I took Gideon to the doctor and it was confirmed that nothing was wrong with him and it was time to pull out “mean mom” and let him re-learn to comfort himself to sleep at night, I was ready for fun. Usually, I’m not an Old Navy fan because the pants never fit me right, but it was close to the doctor’s office, and I thought I might be able to find a shirt for Jeff on sale because, like my mother taught me, there’s no use paying full price for an item when it will be on sale in a few weeks. Wise woman, that Marta Lucy.

So, if you have any need whatsoever for men’s clothes, NOW is the time to hit it. Prices were dirt cheap, and as I was debating between khaki and navy pin striped pants, currently on sale for $6.99, a sales gal told me that all men’s clearance items were an EXTRA 50% off the lowest price. Now, I’m not stupid and I love a good deal; that was too much to pass up. I pulled out my crocodile hunter gear and examined every pair of men’s pants in the place and found 3 pairs for Jeff at a whopping $3.49 a pop, and I even found him a nice button down shirt for $7.00 (that was my expensive purchase of the day). I left the store gleeful -- do you ever get that way when you feel like you’ve gotten a one-up on a store? Obviously, they still make a profit, but it felt like a steal to me, and I was so exuberant I barely noticed my cranky children in the backseat.

Of course, when Jeff found out I “went shopping” he wasn’t thrilled and muttered something similar to my pappycorn about ‘money not growing on trees’etc., so I merely told him that if he came home, tried on all his new duds and still thought we should return them, we could. Pat me on the back for that reverse psychology, eh? Of course, when he got home and showered, I made him give me a fashion show. When he was through preening his cocky feathers and admiring himself, I asked if he still wanted me to return the clothes. He sighed that deep sigh of wistful resignation, and said “no, I like them and I guess will need some decent things to wear after I don’t work at Chick-fil-A anymore.”

It wasn't too difficult, therefore, to convince him to take me to the nearest consignment store to look for little girls' clothes...because Scarlett is into the next size and I don't have much for her little thickums self. Even at the consignment store, we were blessed. Of the few items I found, several were an additional 60% off...now that's my kind of shopping day!!