Campfyre Stories

Everyone knows what this is, even if they call it by some other name.  It’s when you go to the store (or mall, *shudder*) with a specific item in mind.  It’s all about finding the perfect jeans or a gift for someone or a cute little top to match the shoes you bought on a whim, and people hate to do it with me.

So many times I’ve enlisted the help of someone to go mission shopping, only to have the trip end with a disgusted "I am NEVER going shopping with you again!" cry.  It all comes down to, if I’m going to spend that much money on [whatever], then it’s going to be something that I unequivocally LIKE.

This time around, my mission was relatively simple.  An outfit to wear to two upcoming weddings (March 15 and May 9) and a pair of waterproof boots on clearance.  The boots were easy, and they are not only waterproof, but very cute and comfortable.  We will talk no more of the boots today.

So we started our mission at Lane Bryant, where my companion (who, due to the nature of her shopping shall remain nameless for this post) needed to purchase a strapless bra for the quite well-endowed lady.  While she worked with the saleslady, I wandered about looking for a nice skirt to start the building of my wedding outfit.  I found something beautiful.  Long, flowing, colors that work with my skin tone, but not colors I generally wear, but they don’t have my size.  Everything in stock starts at 2 sizes above what I need.  Ok, no worries, we can order the right size from another store, or from their online stock.  Fantastic.  I try on the skirt to check the cut (over my jeans and it’s still WAY too big) and to match a top.  It works.  Great, let’s buy it.

Except that it doesn’t exist online.  And none of the other stores carry it.  So that’s a good half-hour wasted, and nothing else in stock really works for my need.

Ok, buy boots, done.  Try Sears, who is having a clearance sale.

Two 3-piece outfits we found.  One with a GORGEOUS green and blue patterned skirt, but a white top and a navy vest which, to me, looks rather nautical.  Also?  I’m not so much of a vest kind of person, but I do like the skirt.  Second outfit has a grey/purple tartan skirt with a plum blazer.  I am already pretty sure that it’s not going to fit (because of the cut), but my companion convinces me to try it on anyway.

Outfit #1 fits, looks ok, still nautical.  Outfit #2, the blazer fits me perfectly (which is unheard of, I have a ridiculous time finding tailored jackets to fit), but the skirt won’t even really go on.  *sigh*  Such is clearance that there aren’t any other sizes in stock.  Outfit #1 it is.  Price tag says $32.99 and that’s still WELL under what I was expecting to spend (I was figuring all told it would be around $80), but wait, it’s CLEARANCE!  The outfit cost me under $25.  SCORE!  Still not entirely happy with it, but I still have time to find something else if I look hard enough and, at that price, I’m really not going to complain too loudly.

I still have to buy shoes, but I can do that by myself, and once my tax return comes, I’m going to try again to see if I can find something a little more…  a little less nautical.