shopping exploits

[chargirlgenius]

Mmm. Tea

During my shopping exploits at Tysons this weekend, I spotted the Teavana store. alienor has waxed poetic before about it, so, despite the iced coffee from Starbucks clutched in my hand, I wandered in.

I can see how it’s addicting. I left with two types of tea – Rose Marzipan Delight Black Tea, and Lavender Dreams Flavored White. Mmmm.

So, I brought them into work, measured out a little of the marzipan into my new tea strainer, set it in a beautiful crystal mug, and turned to the water cooler/heater.

No water. We’re all out of water.

NOOOOOOO!

Luckily, a coworker came prepared and give me a bottle, since I just couldn’t bring myself to use the unfiltered base water in that gorgeous tea. I haven’t decided if I’ll forego a second cup, or suck it up to try the Lavender.

alienor, if you would like to try either of them, I could bring you a few teaspoons of leaves and meet you somewhere in the parking lot.

---

In other random and unimportant news, I’m wearing pretty new shoes. They’re black and white polka dot kitten heel slides (These, but in polka dot). I feel like I should have pin-up girl clothes to go with them.

After my frustrating shopping trip for clothing, I realized why I like buying shoes so much.

They fit.

And if they don’t fit, I can go up or down a size. I’m not an 8.5 or 9 in all shoes, but chances are, I can just poke about for a different size or be ok. And while there are shoes that don’t look good on my wide feet, or just don’t feel right, I can still, for the most part, find something cute.

And that makes me happy.

And that’s why my new closet is going to have a big section just devoted to shoes. If we ever have to move, I think that closet will be what sells the house. (Paint is on and hardwood is installed. Yay!)

Comments

[jljonsn.livejournal.com]

"if you would like to try either of them, I could bring you a few teaspoons of leaves and meet you somewhere in the parking lot."

Mess with security. Put it in a small baggie, and be real secretive when handing it off.

[stringmonkey.livejournal.com]

Warped minds think alike--I was just considering a simimlar comment.

[alyclepal.livejournal.com]

Rurik took me to the Teavana store an hour away last weekend or so. We brought home 4 different tea mixes and a 32 oz pitcher that drains into a cup. This past week I found a cast iron teapot to bring to Pennsic for tea. It has a little basket to put the loose tea mix into and the water stays warm a long time. Wanna have a tea party?

[belfebe.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, pretty shoes!!!!

On the clothes department, I believe that it is frustrating all around. I spent about 4 hours last month roaming Tysons, just looking for a pair of pants that actually fit. After trying every pair of pants in about every store in the Mall, I reached a point in which I wasn't even looking at the price. I just wanted them to fit. Gah!

In the end, I did find a pair in Ann Taylor. I snagged them immediately, and then I went online and ordered another in a different color, since they didn't have it in Navy (but they had the black). Being a size 4, you would think that shopping for clothes would be easier. It's not.

My theory is as follows: When we make clothes for ourselves, the clothes must fit our bodies. When we purchase commercial clothes, our bodies must fit the clothes. Unless you are buying something shapeless or loose, the chances that something will fit without alterations are slim. Even in "What Not To Wear" they admit that clothes need to be altered. It goes with the industrial revolution: unaffordable clothes made to order vs. affordable clothes that may or may not fit.

Sigh.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder, though, if our definitions of "fit" are a little different from one another?

For me, fit means long enough, and big enough so that my legs don't look like sausages. If I can get either, I accept that I'm going to have to put darts in at the waist, or hem them. That's a given. If I go up to women's sizes, and figure that I'll tailor them in, they're never long enough. Or they're waaaay too long in the crotch.

There's also a limited number of stores and brands that I can even work with. For example, at Pentagon City there's a Guess Jeans store. Doesn't even remotely come in my size. B Moss? Doesn't fit. Limited? Nope. Ann Taylor? Still haven't seen a 16 in there to even try. Banana Republic? Carries up to 14. Avenue and Lane Bryant? If I can find anything I'm willing to wear, it's too short, way too big, or the fabric is paper thin and the quality awful. Even if it did fit, two whole stores? Oh, joy!

I agree that pretty much nobody can buy clothes that fit well. There are many of us, though, who have a really tough time finding anything even *passable*.

[maggiebowgirl.livejournal.com]

You know, I've had the best luck with finding talls at JC Penney. Granted, that means ordering online a lot, but they tend to have a decent selection of not just tall pants but tall tops! Also, I really like the Docker's ideal fit pants. they come in 16s and I think also come in longs/talls.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Sears at all? I've had a lot of luck with curvy clothes there, but I'm 5'4" so I have no idea how they do for tall clothes.

[belfebe.livejournal.com]

I hear ya. In my case, either the pants fit my butt and fall off my ass because the waist is too big, or it fits at the waist but are so tight that I look like the denizen of a red light district. (And I won't go into the topic of camel toes. Argh!)

[syaldia.livejournal.com]

Our Teavana is in the mall, across from Lush. It's a dangerous little section of mall.

[alienor.livejournal.com]

Teavana IS awesome, isn't it?

Thanks for the offer to sample your teas; I generally don't like flowers (jasmine is the exception), so I'll pass.

If you like flowers I have some Sweet Lily White (http://www.teavana.com/The-Teas/White-Teas/Sweet-Lily-White-Tea.axd) you can try. I hate it by itself, but mixed with Rooibos Tropica (http://www.teavana.com/Tea-Gift-Center/Gifts-for-Any-Taste/Gift-Ideas-for-Sweet-Friends/Rooibos-Tropica-Rooibos-Tea.axd) I find it drinkable. I wish I hadn't bought it, but I thought it smelled good and wanted something appley-lemmony. The lily is just too strong. I eventually went with Apple Lemon Pomegrante (http://www.teavana.com/The-Teas/Rooibos-Teas/Apple-Lemon-Pomegranate-Rooibos-Tea.axd), which I love (and should have bought in the first place, but I'm kinda iffy about rooibos).

I'll shut up now; I can talk about tea all night.