BOOTS!!!

For years I've been trying to buy tall boots but my extra-large calves have held me back. I have ALWAYS had muscular calves, no matter what my weight, so finding boots has always been a disappointment. Most companies claim wide calf status when they make it about 16". I have a 19.5" calf, and it starts about halfway up. Pair after pair of boots have been ordered in vain only to find I can't zip them or pull them up.

I have just purchased my first pair of really nice knee boots (Land's End Diana Riding Boots, lined leather, yes they were on sale) because I found this great product that zips into the boot opening and voila, your boots fit! The Boot Band. How come I've never heard of these before? Apparently they were on the O List in O Magazine last Christmas, and they are mentioned this month in Woman's Day. I don't read either of those publications so I guess I missed out.

I just ordered a pair of the half calf elastic with leather border Boot Bands for myself, so now I can tell you about it! I have a feeling there's going to be a rush on these. I can't wait until they get here! I'll post a photo of me wearing my new boots with the insert when they arrive.

From dirt to skirts

I went shopping with a friend yesterday for all manner of things - garden and housewars and clothes and yarn. The last one was a bit of a falter in terms of my shopping list. We went to Michael's to get supplies for her new craft project, and I wanted to get two more skeins of Naturally Caron Spa, an acrylic/bamboo blend, for a lovely scarf I'm making. Well, Michael's didn't have that yarn but they did have some yarn priced at $.99 a skein, and I sort of fell into the bin and cleaned out most of their remaining stock. 6 skeins of black and 6 skeins of raspberry/maroon in patons Lacette, and 4 skeins of Patons Stretch Socks in Licorice. Maybe they're not carrying Patons anymore? I've been wanting to get some laceweight yarns and also some sock yarn for this pattern I found on Ravelry, and I think I did well even though I hadn't planned on buying it.

I'm trying very hard to make lists for shopping, make estimates of how much I think things will cost, and stick to that.

Also shopped at Ikea and Home Depot, and bought 3 skirts. Two of the skirts were ones my friend bought and didn't want, but they are perfect for me. I seem to be fitting smaller sizes lately, but when I check the scale I haven't lost any weight. Maybe I'm finally starting to see my body differently and buy clothes that actually FIT my body, not just float over it. Hmm.

Bubble Tea and Shopping

I went shopping on Saturday with a friend and had my first bubble tea. I was really surprised that I like the tapioca ‘pearls’ in the bottom of the drink. Sort of gummy, chewy, and not much flavor themsevles, but they make the drink experience fun. Is this the same kind of tapioca that my mom used to make pudding when I was a kid? I never liked the stuff. Now I’ve come to appreciate tastes that aren’t just sicky sweet. I ordered a Jasmine milk tea with ‘pearls’ and was pleasantly surprised.
I also found some great shoes for work, pictured here. Kenneth Cole Reaction black leather flats. They remind me of ballet toe shoes. They are just a little tight at the ball of my foot (what shoes aren't) and so I think they'll break in nicely. I also found these grey mary janes in clearance with Mel's help. I seem to be growing up - look at the shoes I'm buying! I had actually entered the store to find some banana yellow flats, for fun fashion-y kicky summer looks. I LOVE the black flats, and just now I'm remembering why I thought I needed some brown shoes. Duh, I have a lot of brown clothes, and having brown shoes would make sense.

Maybe I can get back out to the store and buy the same shows in brown.

New grocery baskets

Kristin, I thought you would get a kick out of this-

I went grocery shopping for the first time in a month(!) and discovered that there are new hand baskets. These have two kinds of handles, the standard middle basket handle, but they have this new long handle, and wheels at one end of the basket, so you can drag the basket behind you at the store. Too cute! I think kids would have fun with these, and I'm sure it helps the elderly while they are shopping.

My friend Andrea (featured in the horrible photo above taken wtih my cell phone) commented that these new baskets are double the size of the old, so her old gauge of when to stop buying won't work anymore.

Shopping crazy

This time of year always sends me into a shopping rage, wanting to buy new clothes to endure the hot summer, fun cheap shoes because hey, it's summer, and my financies surely know that I need to spend some extra cash. Last weke I bought 3 pairs of shoes at Payless. Yesterday I tried on cropped pants, capris, and was desperately searching for a fun but okay for work skirt. Do I need more clothes? I probably have enough cropped pants and things from last year left over that I don't need any more. But I don't think I even own a skirt, so I'd like to purchase and actually wear one this summer.

Why stop at clothes and shoes? I ordered a messenger bag from ebags.com that should arrive next week, and I have a whole list of books and music that I want to get. Most of those can wait though. Books never go out of style. :)

I did buy a book yesterday for a book club I joined through Meetup.com that discusses classic books. The book for this Sunday is Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse. I've never read his work but he has this reputation of being a deep thinker. I am only on chapter 4 so I doubt I'll finish the book by Sunday, but I have to try. This will be my first book club meeting ever, and I'm not sure how things work. Are there set topics? Do people talk in turn about the book? I'm hoping that it's not like some of the grad courses I took as an undergrad, where I felt like I was the only person in the room who wasn't up to speed. Ah, the pressure! I need to relax about it, go expecting only to meet new people, maybe get a good cup of coffee. And who knows, maybe I'll like the book! I haven't joined up with a group in the past becuase I had absolutely no interetest in what they were reading. This time, I figured I had to take the plunge.

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