A Lovely Life, Indeed: Fashion

I am not a shopper. When I go to the mall with friends, I follow them around, but I never buy anything. Often when I go by myself, I walk around with stuff, only to put it back because I don't really need it.

Today was different.

Actually, it started yesterday.

So much for a January, post-holiday spending freeze.

On my way home last night, I decided that I needed more Quest bars. I have been eating Quest bars since they were only available online from Quest years ago. They're the only bars I eat.

So, I stopped at GNC for a case of my favorite Raspberry White Chocolate flavor and a case of the Cravings Peanut Butter Cups. But then, I decided to try the Quest protein chips as well.

Not bad, but a little impulsive.

Since the wind chill was projected to be -25 to -30F below zero, area schools decided to delay classes or cancel altogether. Mine cancelled. It was a bright sunny day, so I decided to layer up, venture out, and go get the probiotics I was planning to start up again.

I started at Target...mostly because they have a Starbucks. Although I thought about the Flat White, I opted for the skinny mocha.

Fabulous!

Then, I decided to see what I could find on clearance....success...a long sleeved tee, compression shorts for the gym, a sports bra and a picture frame.

Then, I went to the Vitamin Shoppe in the same plaza. Kudos to the man working there today, because I asked, what seemed like, a million questions.

I got my probiotics.

Then, I thought I would explore Kohl's for work pants, since I had gift card. Apparently, Valentine's Day is in the air.

And flip flops.

In January in New England...that's optimism.

Nevertheless, pants, I found...and a foot roller that will hopefully alleviate recurring plantar fasciitis.

Thinking I would grab lunch at Panera Bread, I stopped by the mall; however, the 60% off clearance sign at Old Navy was too much to resist.

Long sleeved tees, a henley shirt, draw-string lounge pants, a button down shirt, a cami, a cowl neck pullover, pajama bottoms, and a package of Pop Rocks...because apparently, I am 5.

Next door to Old Navy is a Panera Bread, but there is also a brand new Burlington Coat Factory. Panera would have to wait.

Here, I found I could not bear to leave without gym socks, a new gym bag, a cooling towel, a weighted jump rope, a workout tank, a workout long sleeved tee, a draping cardigan, a sports bra, cute underwear and a work blouse.

I never made it to Panera Bread. I gulped down a Quest bar I had in my purse and decided to go home before I bought more stuff.

But, I did end up replacing old, ratty staples that I held on to far too long.

All in all, my snow-day turned shopping day turned out quite nice.

If this is all I buy for clothes in the next six or more months, it's not bad. Most of what I bought was on clearance and replacing worn out items.

Still, it gets my minimalist tendencies in a tizzy.

Are you a shopper? Do you have any non-shoppers in your life?

Fall is all about chunky sweaters and tall boots, but as someone with wide calves, finding the right boots can be a challenge. Even the boots labeled as wide calf in stores don't always fit right, so I needed to find places I could shop.

And I did.

Thanks to stores like Avenue and Torrid, and online retailers, like 6pm, I can find cute tall boots that fit me.

Sitting in a chair, measure the widest part of your calf with a tape measure. Then, you will be able to choose the boot with the shaft size that matches. Wide calf boot shaft circumference averages from 16-20 inches.

Keep in mind that many retailers base the shaft circumference on the foot size...the bigger your foot, the bigger the calf circumference...this gets tricky when you have a small or average foot and wider calf.

Here is a roundup of my favorite three from each retailer.

1. Avenue