Outlet Shopping Center Sweep
Ssshh. Don’t tell anyone but (are you sitting down?) I hate clothes shopping. Honestly. I’m missing the shopping gene. I know, I know. Other women shop for fun. (I’ve tried to tell my husband how lucky he is but he just doesn’t get it.) I love having the new clothes; it’s just the whole process of acquiring them, especially the trying on, that does me in. If someone could magically find the clothes for me in my size and transport them to my closet, that would be my idea of a really fun shopping trip.
But I do love clothes, and better yet, getting them at discount. So that’s why on our way home from visiting our Freshman at college last week (and with our Lab Maggie in tow, no less), I succumbed to the lure of a just-off-the-highway outlet center. The deal was, my husband and I would each have 15 blitz shopping minutes in the Izod outlet store, while the other one waited outside with the dog (the Marriott had welcomed her with open paws for an overnight visit, but the stores were less hospitable).
Anyway, remember the old TV show “Supermarket Sweep?” Each contestant had something like ten minutes to run through a supermarket throwing items into a shopping cart; the one who rang up the bigger bill, won. (Savvy shoppers used to head straight for the steaks.) Our Izod shop was much like that, minus the food.
My husband went first and naturally, he took longer than we agree upon. So I cooled my heels outside while Maggie attracted lots of attention and squeals from the little kids being schlepped along from store to store. When it was finally my turn, I handed off the dog, and emerged fifteen minutes later with one yellow V-neck sweater ( "they" say yellow will be hot this spring, so I’ll be ready), a pair of black shorts, and a matching sleeveless top. My total? $49.00 (at retail, these items would supposedly sell for about $100 more).
When I came back out, my husband was in no rush to leave. He informed me that Maggie had been an unbeatable chick magnet. Let’s see, for me she attracted toddlers with runny noses, for him, buff babes in sports bras. What’s wrong with this picture? Of course, the outlet probably just attracts lots of women and kids. So Maggie and I, me in my new Izod yellow sweater, are gonna test out my theory during the hubby's next Home Depot run. I'll skip my sweep-shop, though. Light bulbs and plumbing supplies just don't do it for me, even at discount.
Comments
I hate shopping, too, but I love fashion(does that sound weird). I solved my problem. My mother loves to shop and knows what looks good on me, so she buys me all my clothes (no I'm not 12, I'm a 38-year-old mother and wife).
It's entirely possible that your husband has reached the age where he needs glasses, but won't admit it. Those "chicks" he claims to be attracting may just be figments of an active imagination.
Hey Gale, maybe he is a hottie, ya never know. Post a photo and let us babes judge for ourselves.
I hate shopping as well! Sandi, could your mother addopt me and do my clothes shopping as well? LOL
I am also missing the shopping gene. I keep threatening to join a nudist colony, but the family won;t go. If it wasn't for my mother in law my kids would be naked, she even takes my husband "school shopping". My husband doesn't need a cute dog to pick up chicks, he uses the kids to be a chick magnet. Our adorable 2 year old red head really gathers the babes around my husband. When I take him out I get the octogenerian set, but my husband is much better at it.
The only time I liked shoppins was after
I lost a bunch of weight. It was so
much fun when the clothes you tried on
actually looked good on you. Now that
I've gotten chubby again, I hate shop-
ping. Nothing looks good on and those
full length mirrors really tell the
story. The only fun in it now is if I
find something really nice at a great
price. I hate spending money. I was
raised poor and that fear is always with
me. The fear of spending money that you
may need tomorrow.
