Future Shopping Expedition

So I'm headed to NJ this weekend for a wedding, and my mom is bringing me shopping. Aside from hopefully completing the purse purchase and black gladiator sandals that I've been talking about FOREVER, I have a few other shopping goals.

Before you think I'm insane, I want to point out that there is no sales tax on clothing or shoes in NJ. So I'm saving money by shopping there for things that I would have bought in NC anyway (or at least that's how I'm validating it to myself).

For Spring, my immediate goals are to buy: ballet flats, blazers, and new jeans.

I will tackle each of these goals individually. First, the flats. Basically, I'm over flip flops and Uggs are not practical in the spring, so I decided that I want flats. However, I have the same problem with flats as I explained about the running shoes in the previous post. I need them to NOT cause the back of my foot to blister. And so, I purchased actual ballet slippers with full soles. They are Capezio, and I am aware that the soles will wear out quickly and I'll have to replace them, but they were $20 so I don't care if they only last one season. I may go to my shoe guy and see if he can put something a little more significant over the existing sole just in case. Anyway, I got these in both black and pink. They come in wide width (score). And they will look totally cute with...

My new jeans. I would like to buy a good pair of long (for heels) and short (for flats/Uggs) jeans. My current ones are Gap, but I'd like something fancier. But I also want a pair of capris that I can cuff. Like these below. They will look wonderful with the ballet flats, a white t-shirt, and...

A fitted blazer. These are great because they can go with casual pants, work pants/skirts, and over summery dresses. I'd really like a yellow one and a blue one. The purple one below is fun, but it's not entirely necessary.

I think that's about it. I am SO READY to leave New Orleans. It's fun and all, but I would love to be able to make my own food instead of having to eat out for every meal. I haven't actually gained weight, but I feel like a fatty. I'll update again soon about my purchases and the wedding.

F.

I was all set to win some money in the basketball pool...and then Pitt lost. And i picked them to win it all. Bastards. Now I'm going to have to be able to afford a new spring purse all on my own.

Speaking of purses (which I realize I'm doing a lot of lately) I may have moved past my desire to get a yellow one. Here's the issue. The Kate Spade one below, which I love, is in no store anywhere near here. Which is a problem because with yellow you really need to see it to make sure that it's like a buttery soft yellow and not a bright neon yellow and you can't always tell on a website. Here are a couple of new Coach offerings. I can't tell if the pink one is bigger than the yellow one from the previous post (which I have seen in person and while I like it, I find it to be a bit smaller than I'd like), but the straw one is. Thoughts?

I went to the mall today expecting, once again, to get a price adjustment and leave, and once again I spent a bunch of money. Damn you, New Orleans. You cause me to be depressed and therefore to shop. And I'm going home for a wedding next weekend, so I'm definitely going to shop there. Bonus: I'm going to check out the awesome shoe store near mom's house and see what they have to offer before settling on a pair of black strappy gladiator sandals. I may also buy a purse. And a bunch of clothes (there's no sales tax on clothes and shoes in NJ and it is glorious).

I'm back in New Orleans this week and then NJ for the weekend and then in CLT for two weeks straight (yay). I got a pair of legit running shoes today so as soon as the rain subsides I'm going to see how long I can go outside and actually run for (estimate: 3 minutes). I'm actually pretty pumped about these shoes and may go get a second pair to leave at the gym. I have problems with running shoes a lot because in my regular size they always rub against the back of my feet and cause blisters, and in a size down they are always too narrow. But today, I tried on a pair of Asics in a juniors size 4 and they fit perfectly. Just like my kids size 4 Uggs. So if your feet are short and fat like mine, I highly suggest giving this a try. Bonus: they were $40 and the adult version was $65. Score.

Ok that's about it. I think I'll go to bed now.

One more quick update

I have found another yellow bag...and it's bigger. Thoughts? I've never had a Kate Spade bag before, but I definitely want a yellow bag, and I might like this one better than the Coach one. here they both are below.

Coach

Kate Spade

Brackets and whatnot

I've been gone for a while! I won't lie to you, March Madness controls my life. And we're already a full week in and I still have a decent chance to win the bracket challenge that my friends have set up! I'm usually way out of contention by this point, so I'm pumped. I'm hoping that I will win some money to assist me in my upcoming yellow purse purchase.

Speaking of purchases, I'm hoping to buy a pair of black strappy gladiator-type platform sandals. Here are a couple below. Which do you prefer? I like them both, but I'll probably just get the cheaper ones...the bonus for which is that I buy a lot of other BCBGirls shoes so I know for sure what my size is, so online ordering is not as scary.

Side note: are these not the cutest rain boots ever? I may have to buy some.


I'm in New Orleans again this week and I'm definitely starting to get bored of it. I got a taste of home last week and then it was ripped away. I'm here this week and then again next week and then I'm home for two weeks and away for the next 4 (one of which is vacation, so that's good).

Susan and I just went to W.I.N.O. for dinner...wine tasting, a cheese plate, and some bruschetta. best dinner ever. We will be returning. Delicious.

UGGGGH

You know what makes for a crappy start to a week? Getting a voicemail on Monday morning from your gym saying that they want to "discuss some upcoming changes to membership fees starting in April." Now, there's no way the fees are going down, so this cannot be a good thing.

Granted, my fees haven't gone up since I joined the gym in 2006, but they're already pricey. If they increase by more than $15/month, I'm quitting on the spot. The Y is about half the price (and only a few blocks further away) and actually, I've been wanting to force myself to become a runner anyway (it's the best form of cardio), and that would be free. Especially since we have a bench and free weights at home for lifting.

There is a great possibility that my "gym at lunch" routine will come to a close and I'll be on more of a run 3 times a week for cardio routine. If I can get my fat ass to run for more than 30 minutes at a time, this should work out pretty well.

I wish I had a house with room for an elliptical. Boo.

I've been gone a while, eh?

Sometimes I get busy and forget to update for a while. Sorry about that.

I will start by answering the question that I've gotten from numerous people, about the purse. I think I've settled on the yellow one, I would really like a yellow purse for spring (yellow looks like it's going to be spring's answer to fall's purple this year). I haven't bought it yet because I'm trying to behave myself, but it's only a matter of time.

Last week, the company I work for had layoffs. Over the 10 offices, 10% of employees were let go. I knew that the chances of me being let go were extremely small (I fortunately have a LOT of experience in the one type of client base that is currently making us money, thank god), but it was still quite the wake up call. It also caused me to become slightly depressed, because now no matter how much I'm asked to travel, or work 80 hour weeks, or work on clients that I loathe, I can't turn it down for fear of future layoffs. Don't ever not quit your job because you think to yourself "I could quit at any time, no biggie." Because eventually you come across a time like this, where there is no way out. My future at this company will be 100% based on how I'm treated in the current economy. If I am taken advantage of (as in "Jen, we're going to need you to travel 60% of the year instead of your normal 40%, which was already too much, because we know that you can't do anything about it"), I will quit the first chance that I have once things shape up. I hope that doesn't happen, because it will cause me to be REALLY unhappy while I'm still employed here, but we'll see.

I get to be in Charlotte this week, and then I'm out for 5 weeks. Awesome. I'm going to cook diner every night because I won't get to do that again for a while. Blake's family is coming in for the weekend (including his sister, who just got engaged, congrats Ash), and I have AT's bridal shower/bachelorette party on Saturday, so I should be pretty busy. And then I head back to New Orleans. I actually hated it much less than normal this time. I think I've become at one with it. I'd still rather be in Charlotte, and I would never voluntarily vacation there, but it's acceptable for work travel.

Ok, I have MUCH to do at work this week, so I must dash.

Belated update

Hello friends! I'm a bit tardy with my promised Britney update, but let me assure you, it was AWESOME. I wish she had done more old stuff, and she doesn't dance quite like she used to at 17, but it was damn entertaining. And our seats were fantastic. The $9 beers were not, but what are you going to do? Totally worth the $140.

I have a short weekend in CLT before I have to head back to New Orleans. Carrie will be there all week, which sounds fun but I'm still going to have to skip going out to dinner in favor of working overtime in my hotel room a fair amount. Which is lame, but that's busy season. I went to the mall today because stupid Banana Republic keeps sending me 30% off coupons, and I got a price adjustment on what I got last weekend as well as a new skirt, dress, and sweater set. For 30% off. But I have to at least attempt to behave now, especially with my planned purchases of the Coach shoes and bag, and a pair of new black sandals which is yet to be determined. Also, I came across these online today (I'm really liking the brand Report Signature lately) and I may get them too. Thoughts?

That's all. I'll try to check in from New Orleans next week. Ciao.