Because all I want to do is crawl back in bed and feel like a kid again…

It’s been a hell of a day after the evening before today. I really need to remember that I’m in my mid-thirties and cannot (and probably should not, but whatev) drink like I’m 21 again. Or 19. Or 25. In lieu of being able to go back to bed and have someone take care of me, I was reading the Mental Floss blog and came across this post on back to school essentials. (I love me some Mental Floss… Just sayin’.) I always loved this time of year. Shopping for back to school supplies and clothing always made me happy. I suppose I can look at this life change as a sort of back to school? I wonder if I should get a new 64 pack of Crayolas to prepare. Now I just want to color.

Either you have it or you don’t

Photo: mikefats

The luck of thrifting, that is. I’ve got friends who can hit up a Goodwill, a thrift store, wherever and come out of there with fab finds (in their size, no less).

Me, not so much. I walk into a thrift shop and only find crap. Crap that doesn’t fit me or if it does, is insanely unfashionable. Mostly tents. Or muumuus. I know that when I walk in, I’m immediately at a disadvantage, because I’m larger than the average girl. Not insanely fat, just larger. Apparently, people who donate their clothing don’t come in my size until they are middle aged. Which sucks.

Of course I could go and buy clothing full-price and not have to deal with any of it, however, when you’re preparing to go out for job interviews for the first time in 6 years with not much money, you try to economize. I currently work in retail and don’t really own anything “interview worthy.” I’ve been able to work in jeans and a t-shirt just about every day for 6 years. I used to own suits, forever ago. Even if I still had them, I wouldn’t be able to fit into them. (I don’t mean for this to sound so down… I am very comfortable with who I am/how I look, and while I am trying to lose some of the weight for me, that’s not going to happen overnight. Plus, I’ll need a new wardrobe while my body changes, and I’m just not willing to spend a whole hell of a lot on it until then.)

For those lucky thrifters out there, what works for you? What tips can you give to someone who doesn’t visit the stores as often or is not the typical size?

Wine for Mother’s Day? Sign me up!

So a couple posts ago, I mentioned that I had joined the Clever Girls Collective and that occasionally I would be blogging something for them. This would be one of those times… but, it’s for wine. How can I not??

If you’ve ever ordered wine online, you know that shipping costs can be prohibitive.

• From now through the end of May, order 3 or more bottles of Tough Day Chardonnay and receive free shipping! (That’s such a big deal, they’ve never offered it before.)
• Order by close of business tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5 and receive your Tough Day Chardonnay in time for Mother’s Day!
• 2009 Mira Luna, Tough Day Chardonnay, from Sonoma Carneros, California: 91 Points ~ $17.99/bottle

Click here to order!!

About This Clever Wine

2009 Mira Luna, Tough Day Chardonnay, from Sonoma Carneros, California: 91 Points

This is not your average, grocery store California Chardonnay…not that there’s anything wrong with that.  But Tough Day Chardonnay is a delightful, summery, crisp white wine that scored 91 Points and took Silver at the World Wine Championship. Unlike super buttery, super oaky Chardonnays, Tough Day Chardonnay has “floral notes with aromas of golden delicious apples and bright tropical fruits entice the nose. Apples and more tropical fruit elements bathe the palate alongside mango and kiwi flavors. Even more rich and vibrant than you’d expect from Carneros, California’s great Burgundian varietal area.”

Bottom line: It’s a great, light sipping wine. Perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch with family. Or a Twitter party by yourself. Whichever.

While my bank account is looking pretty low right now, and the fact that my mom doesn’t drink at all (maybe a sip from my glass every once in a blue moon), I won’t be picking any up for Mother’s Day – but I will be stocking up on some of this later in the month! Oh, and if you get your order in by tomorrow, you’ll get the wine in time for Mother’s Day – not bad, especially if your mom appreciates a good wine. While oak-y Chardonnay’s aren’t my usual go to (I’m more of a Savignon Blanc and Viognier girl), this sounds too delicious to pass up. Go, order now!

Good marketing = sucker = me

Those damn Girl Scouts and their Damn Cookies. Yup, I'm blaming them and their excellent marketing for the fact that if I can wear a bikini this summer and not look like a beached whale, it'll be an Act of God. It's like they know that I'm a sucker and they place their most innocent and sweet looking girls out there with the most pitiful looks on their faces that just cry out "If we can't sell all these cookies, they'll take away my uniform! Don't let that happen to us!".

I say this having had both of my (now adult) nieces go through Brownies. Cookie season was big in our house because my parents felt obligated to buy assloads of Damn Cookies from their adorable granddaughters. Luckily, they moved and decided they didn't want to be Brownies/Girl Scouts in their new home. Which was good for my wallet and waistline, though I still feel obligated to purchase a box (or two) from the poor Girl Scouts out in the cold, wintery weather. 

Hence, their good marketing – they set up in front of the Suntrust bank, directly across the street from the Starbucks closest to the shop on Saturdays and Sundays. I could walk across the street opposite them, then cross, but something draws me to them… like a moth to a flame, to sound cliche-d. *sigh* At least I got away with only these two boxes – and one of them isn't even for me! (Not a fan of Thin Mints… I get them for the shop.) … And, I haven't opened either of them – yet. We'll see how long I can go.

Also, in the good marketing – good packaging. I am a sucker for some good packaging – especially when I'm ordering crap off of the internet. Last week sometime I woke up to an email from Daily Candy featuring a new lip balm by Sara Happ. I'd never heard of her, but hell, I love getting new cosmetics, so of course I looked – and discovered that it is sold at Blue Mercury in Georgetown. Now, I don't go into Georgetown if I can help it (hate the crowds – and it's only bearable in the summer if you're on one of the boats docked there for the day. Not that that will be happening this summer, but I digress) so I went into the shop and ordered it. 

This morning there was a little box from them waiting for me on the doorstep – I'd forgotten all about it until just then. (They also didn't send me a confirmation email or delivery email. Something to think about when processing orders, Blue Mercury.) On opening the box, a gorgeous scent of roses wafted out (I later discovered that they had included dried roses as part of the filler) and buried under the filler were these two boxes, with bows on them like they were gifts! (Yes, I am easy to impress. Tell this to the guys I date.)

Of course I tried them out immediately. The lip scrub has a delicious taste of brown sugar (which, admittedly was overkill with the brown sugar in my oatmeal this morning – but they have a ton of other flavors) which was really easy to use. Just apply on your lips in a circular motion and wipe off with a tissue. A little messy, but it left my lips super-soft and not chapped at all! The lip slip has a really soft, creamy texture (think freshly whipped whipped cream) that's extremely emollient, but a little too sticky for my taste. It leaves a nice shimmer, though. Now, the website says it can be used for hands and cuticles as well, and while that may be, I wouldn't do it. Too damn sticky. I'll save the body butters for that and put this on while I lounge around in a silk robe and be utterly decadent. Or just wear it daily, whatever.