Adventures in shopping

I've never been a shop-o-holic or really into clothes, etc., but one of my favorite things to do when I was single was hit the clearance racks at Macy's after work on a Friday night.  This hasn't happened for a LONG time, mostly because I refuse to admit that I'm not going to fit into those clothes I've been hanging onto for the last 8 years

But I decided I deserved a pair of jeans that fit me NOW -- even though I'm working on dropping about 20 good pounds.  So, thanks to some wonderful childcare assistance, Mary and I ventured out to a local department store that I thought would have a good selection for a reasonable price.  I plopped her car seat into the stroller base, tucked the diaper bag below and marched through the automated doors. 

First I looped around the place letting my eyes wander through the goods and thinking of what kinds of things my family might need.  Found some casual shirts for Phillip (more than 50% off), nice dress socks for Russell (6 pairs for $14), and some cute ring-designed clear plastic tumblers for $1 a piece (I've decided to stock up on plastic drink ware since I have children.  and a tile kitchen floor.  and lots of children.)  Passersby gawk and coo at the sweet baby sucking on her fingers with wide-open smokey blue eyes.

Inevitably I come to the ladies' clothing and start pawing through the jeans.  I figure if I fail in this endeavor at least I haven't totally wasted my time because I've got some good buys in the bag already.  Of course, Mary starts to squirm a little.  I start selecting samples to try on.  I first look for the size I figure I should be.  They look awfully large, but then I really have no idea what size I am any more and I always remember that first horror when I bought new pants after Sarah's birth.  I also take a size down.  Several different styles and brands.  But all stretchy -- don't you LOVE stretchy jeans?  I'm so thankful to live in the 21st century where we've finally decided that pants should stretch.  Yay! 

So, in the dressing room Mary decides to start wailing.  I commit to trying on what I've got.  Non of them work.  Mostly too big, too long, too baggy, "muffin cap" issues.  Not pretty.  I head to the bathroom to see if Mary's hungry.  She's so happy to be free of her car seat she just smiles at me and giggles and has no interest in food.  Sorry, girly, we're on a mission.  Back into the stroller. 

With my previous dressing room experience I grab a few more styles/sizes and give them a whirl.  Mary is comforting herself with her fingers big time but is a trooper.  None of these I really like either so I head for the checkout.  On my way there I notice another rack of jeans -- halfway across the store from the rest -- why are these here by themselves?  What am I missing?  Maybe there's my size here and I can just buy them and if they don't fit I'll just return them.  Yeah, that will work.  Returning jeans that don't fit, when will I find the time to do that?  Oh well, maybe they'll fit?  These look good.  Good color, good cut, cute...

So I'm holding Mary as we checkout and she's smiling at me.  She loves me.  I pick up the kids from the babysitters, get them in bed and figure I'll try on the mystery jeans.  They go on smooth, button up a little snug, but remember, they stretch.  I really like them.  A lot!  Except for the fact that there's NO WAY this should actually be my size.  Oh well, yay for new jeans!  The ones I never tried on! 

Oh, and they were $18.99.  Score.