Monday, June 22, 2009
Shop Girl is MIA
Hi Friends! So I have been MIA for a few days. But stay tuned this week as I get ready for my annual beach trip. There will be lots of shopping trips to make for bathing suits (eek), beach chairs, hats, and lots of other fun stuff. I can't wait to tell you what I find so be sure to check back!!
xoxo
Shop Girl
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Weekend Romp(er) for Shop Girl
That's right kids...they're back. Rompers. But relax ladies...these are not your Laura Ashley rompers of the late 80s, with Mom and Daughter matching floral prints. Nor are they the wide short rompers of the mid 90's, that never quite fit right in the um....crotch area, for lack of a more lady-like term. No, these are a throw back to a more "Charlie's Angels" romper, designed to make the wearer feel feminine and sexy. So you may have seen the beginning of the Romper comeback on TV. I first saw it when watching the Bachelorette, don't judge, Jillian was wearing an adorable denim romper. It had a short-sleeve button down top ad short denim bottom...all in a sleek dark wash. It looked great on her...but what is she, a 100 pounds soaking wet? Everything looks great on her. I had pretty much told myself that the romper was not for me and I would ride this trend out.
So the other day, I got an itch for some Gladiator heels and decided to head to Monkees on the West End. Toryburch.com had some on sale and I thought Monkees might be carrying them. They weren't...so I started browsing the clothing racks. Usually, I find Monkees insanely out of my price range...but was pleasantly surprised to find some "reasonably" priced items. I spotted what I thought was an adorable strapless navy dress, with embroidery around the top and bottom...perfect sundress for weekend and beach wear ($75). But on closer inspection I realized it was...A Romper. I decided to try it on, just to see how this trend would pan out for me, but my hopes were not high. Into the dressing room I went and stepped into the romper...which looked huge but that was because it has to get over the hips (by the way I am 5'7", about 130 lbs, and I have exercised twice in 6 weeks. Needless to say, things aren't as "firm" as I would like, which is part of the reason I never expected what happened next. I pulled the romper up, tied the drawstring belt tight around my (sizable) hips, and looked in the mirror. Adorable! It was comfortable, it looked cute on me, and I could dress it up for night, but still bum around in flip flops! I stared in the mirror for a long time trying to decide if I was actually going to buy this trend which I had written off in my mind. I decided I had to do it, thinking that one day my daughter will go through my old clothes and think "what were y'all thinking?!" and that thought sealed the deal. The moral of this story is, give the romper or any other seemingly bizarre trend a shot. You just might discover a whole new look for yourself this summer!
Oh and if you had also decided that Monkees is out of your price range...I implore you to give it another try. While they still have the high dollar items, I found they have mixed in some more affordable and stylish options as well. Tell them Shop Girl sent you...it won't mean anything to them, but tell them anyway :-)
So the other day, I got an itch for some Gladiator heels and decided to head to Monkees on the West End. Toryburch.com had some on sale and I thought Monkees might be carrying them. They weren't...so I started browsing the clothing racks. Usually, I find Monkees insanely out of my price range...but was pleasantly surprised to find some "reasonably" priced items. I spotted what I thought was an adorable strapless navy dress, with embroidery around the top and bottom...perfect sundress for weekend and beach wear ($75). But on closer inspection I realized it was...A Romper. I decided to try it on, just to see how this trend would pan out for me, but my hopes were not high. Into the dressing room I went and stepped into the romper...which looked huge but that was because it has to get over the hips (by the way I am 5'7", about 130 lbs, and I have exercised twice in 6 weeks. Needless to say, things aren't as "firm" as I would like, which is part of the reason I never expected what happened next. I pulled the romper up, tied the drawstring belt tight around my (sizable) hips, and looked in the mirror. Adorable! It was comfortable, it looked cute on me, and I could dress it up for night, but still bum around in flip flops! I stared in the mirror for a long time trying to decide if I was actually going to buy this trend which I had written off in my mind. I decided I had to do it, thinking that one day my daughter will go through my old clothes and think "what were y'all thinking?!" and that thought sealed the deal. The moral of this story is, give the romper or any other seemingly bizarre trend a shot. You just might discover a whole new look for yourself this summer!
Oh and if you had also decided that Monkees is out of your price range...I implore you to give it another try. While they still have the high dollar items, I found they have mixed in some more affordable and stylish options as well. Tell them Shop Girl sent you...it won't mean anything to them, but tell them anyway :-)
xoxo
Shop Girl
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Shopper is an Artist
So when the economy is bad and your hobby is shopping you could find yourself in a Catch 22 of sorts. I have been feeling restless not being able to afford all the great things I see on my travels and was starting to get really frustrated when inspiration hit. My husband and I were walking through the Artisphere festival during a break in the rain, and I thought to myself "I wish I could do something like this." Then I started thinking about what was stopping me. My whole life I have told myself that I don't have any artistic ability and I think its because I was limiting myself to thinking that in order to be artistic I had to draw or paint things that looked exactly like my subject...which I can't do. But what was stopping me from pushing some paint around a canvas? So we drove to Michaels and I bought a starter kit of oil and acrylic paints and a whole set of brushes and a couple of different size canvases, all for $30! Now I am sure they aren't the greatest supplies in the world, but I'm not Van Gough either.
When I got home I thought I would just play around with some shapes and colors. But then I saw a photograph of my husband and my dog that I LOVE. And I thought I would try to paint what I loved about the picture, the colors and the image of the 2 of them laying in a hammock at the beach. When I stopped trying to make my painting look exactly like the picture I felt really good about what I came up with. A painting that captured what I loved and that used my strengths instead of showing off my weaknesses. All of that and I had a great time! I found a hobby and now I look at almost everything differently. When I see an ad for a beautiful dress or amazing bag, instead of feeling sad because I can't afford to buy them, now I see something that I can take and make my own in a different way. Plus...it's a lot easier on the check book. I will try and post some pics of my new hobby when I get a chance.
So take it from me...old dogs can learn new tricks. An environment that is limiting how much you can spend might just be an opportunity to find out something new about yourself.
xoxo
Shop Girl
When I got home I thought I would just play around with some shapes and colors. But then I saw a photograph of my husband and my dog that I LOVE. And I thought I would try to paint what I loved about the picture, the colors and the image of the 2 of them laying in a hammock at the beach. When I stopped trying to make my painting look exactly like the picture I felt really good about what I came up with. A painting that captured what I loved and that used my strengths instead of showing off my weaknesses. All of that and I had a great time! I found a hobby and now I look at almost everything differently. When I see an ad for a beautiful dress or amazing bag, instead of feeling sad because I can't afford to buy them, now I see something that I can take and make my own in a different way. Plus...it's a lot easier on the check book. I will try and post some pics of my new hobby when I get a chance.
So take it from me...old dogs can learn new tricks. An environment that is limiting how much you can spend might just be an opportunity to find out something new about yourself.
xoxo
Shop Girl
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Shop Girl and the Oysters
I promised this wouldn't be some ridiculously shallow blog about where to find the best maxi dress on sale. So here is a very very brief bio for now. I am not from Greenville, I would say where I was originally from, but on the off chance anyone is reading this, I don't want to give too much away. I got married almost 2 years ago to a man whose family lives not far from here. I am a little homesick, being an only child, and having a very strong sense of where I am from...and more so a very strong need to be near people who have known me for more than 3 years.
I am also an incredible homebody. I love my friends and love being around them...but it would suit me just fine for them to come hang out at my house rather than go out. I guess I am at the age that I just want to hang out with my friends and don't need to go bar hopping to have a good time.
I don't know where I am going with this awful post...I guess the thing is...I got married. I got married because I was so in love with the person I was with that I wanted to be around him all the time. But 2 years into this marriage...I have to beg him to come out with me...and even when I beg 95% of the time he doesn't come. And when he does come somewhere with me he makes me feel like he is doing me some big favor by being there. It was a friends 30th bday, I wanted to go for 1 drink and leave and he wouldn't come. Am I being a brat for feeling like if I wanted to go places alone, I would have stayed single? And if he asks me to do something I dont want to do and I say no...he wont speak to me.
So there is a little insight into my life...now you see why retail therapy is an absolute reality for me, which brings me to Oysters on the West End. If you aren't looking for it you will walk right by it. But on Thursday nights it is a hidden jewel in an already studded West End. Affordable beers, outdoor patio (covered and uncovered), and the coup de gras...karaoke every Thursday. One beer and a wink from Mark, the best bartender in town, and you will feel right at home. All this...and the food isn't bad either. Just stay clear of "Mean Eddie", a hateful local who hangs out at the bar by himself. Just believe me when I say you'll know him when you meet him. Thanks for listening. Even Shop Girl needs to vent from time to time.
xoxo
Shop Girl
I am also an incredible homebody. I love my friends and love being around them...but it would suit me just fine for them to come hang out at my house rather than go out. I guess I am at the age that I just want to hang out with my friends and don't need to go bar hopping to have a good time.
I don't know where I am going with this awful post...I guess the thing is...I got married. I got married because I was so in love with the person I was with that I wanted to be around him all the time. But 2 years into this marriage...I have to beg him to come out with me...and even when I beg 95% of the time he doesn't come. And when he does come somewhere with me he makes me feel like he is doing me some big favor by being there. It was a friends 30th bday, I wanted to go for 1 drink and leave and he wouldn't come. Am I being a brat for feeling like if I wanted to go places alone, I would have stayed single? And if he asks me to do something I dont want to do and I say no...he wont speak to me.
So there is a little insight into my life...now you see why retail therapy is an absolute reality for me, which brings me to Oysters on the West End. If you aren't looking for it you will walk right by it. But on Thursday nights it is a hidden jewel in an already studded West End. Affordable beers, outdoor patio (covered and uncovered), and the coup de gras...karaoke every Thursday. One beer and a wink from Mark, the best bartender in town, and you will feel right at home. All this...and the food isn't bad either. Just stay clear of "Mean Eddie", a hateful local who hangs out at the bar by himself. Just believe me when I say you'll know him when you meet him. Thanks for listening. Even Shop Girl needs to vent from time to time.
xoxo
Shop Girl
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