Shopping On My Mind...How 'bout Yours?

I love back to school shopping. Sure, I haven't been in any type of school since the early nineties, and my son's got over four years 'till he gets on a school bus. These facts don't stop me from roaming through the racks and stalking the shops for great fall buys.

I'm looking for the ladies that love to shop. Yeah, that could be almost all of us in one form or another...sometimes stereotypes (like women love to shop) stick. Some of us love to shop for apartments/homes, others shop for boyfriend's or spouses stuff, kids' shopping can be cute (when they are REALLY young and have no opinion---joke), but the kind of shopping I'm talking about today is shopping for you and me.

Clothes.
Shoes.
Bags.

Where do you do it? Why do you do it there? No particular price range---I'm looking for bargain shoppers and big spenders to spill their secrets. Whether you shop at superstores or small boutiques, tell me where to find what you love to buy.

I'll start with a couple. If I need to shop fast1) For trendy items I don't want to pay a lot of money for because they'll be out of style next year---Target.
2) For more 'timeless' or long lasting items (suits, work stuff, jeans)---Macy's.
I've just found that when in a jam to get something fast (that wedding or part event that's happening----THAT DAY), I can count on these two stores to have something I can find without a lot of try on or trouble.

So spill your shopping secrets ---small, medium, and large stores all in the mix. I'm looking forward to checking out your suggestions!

I Am The Birthday Bandit...and other news of the week.

I love birthdays. Not just mine...but all birthdays are to be celebrated. I never understand folks who are upset about their age or want to gloss over celebrating the day they were born. Unless you are a waste of a human being, be grateful for what you've got, and do it up as big as you can. Cake, candles, eat the ice cream, and accept GRACIOUSLY any gifts that you get. I HATE when you buy someone a gift and they make a big fuss about how you should not have bought them a gift because their birthday is not a big deal. AAAAAGGGGHHHH! Don't ruin it! Enjoy the moment and Happy Birthday!

--Got a great birthday treat. Boots botanicals. My future sister in law, Beth, has turned me on to these great products. She and my brother gave me a basket of products. Want to treat yourself to spa quality stuff, in the privacy of your home, without spending tons of cash at a spa, look for BOOTS botanicals.

--Oscar The Grouch Talking Alarm Clock. Yes, I really got one for my birthday. My husband found one on E Bay and decided a little return trip to childhood was in order. Oh, don't worry, I got jewelry too!

--The Geese Gotta Go. Just about the time I was saying to myself, "How bad could the goose poop be in North Park?", our lovely little playground was invaded by these feathered feces bombers. There's a great play area in Brady's Run State Park and we take our son there to hang out ---until the geese used the playground as their toilet. Can't even let our son go down the sliding board, because the geese POOPED on it.

--Are you going to watch the black n gold Sunday night? Do you have to feel the fall air to get into the mood or are you ready. I think, anything that puts the season if theOTHER black n gold team behind us, is a good thing.

--Got an idea for our next weekly poll. What will happen to Britney Spears? Jail? rehab again? Will she lose the kids for good? What happens to a person who has nearly unlimited resources and an emotional support system made of people that are on your payroll. On one hand, you say to yourself, "What 25 or 26 year old WOULDN'T be out of control with all that money, fame, and access to EVERYTHING?". Britney lost that excuse(rationalization) when she gave birth...twice. Sorry missy, you're a mom now, and if you don't want the job, then the LEAST you can do is keep these boys out of your messy man problems and personal pitfalls. Hire a nanny (or manny) that's not shopping a reality show and let him or her raise your children to be decent human beings. And get better extensions.