Shopping

I went shopping today, and for once, it wasn’t all that bad.

Now, we’ve been led to believe that women are supposed to enjoy shopping. I always thought I was weird for not liking it until I read an interview of a local businesswoman today in Women’s Business Cincinnati. Ms. Sanborn doesn’t like it either, so I feel vindicated. If my clothes, groceries, housewares and gifts would just deliver themselves and bill me accordingly, I’d be thrilled. I don’t like bargain hunting and I especially hate haggling.

I guess there are two things I do like shopping for – shoes and office supplies.

The shoes, well, that’s a given. Most women like shoe shopping, even if they’re anti-shopping like I am. Shoes don’t make you feel fat when you try them on. Well, not unless you happen to be seven months pregnant with swollen feet and need shoes because none of your shoes fit anymore…but I digress. That was nearly ten years ago, and temporary.

Why office supplies? I have no idea, but I love walking into the Office Depot and browsing the aisles of paper, folders, pens, envelopes, boxes, dry erase boards…etc. I get all tingly, thinking of how I could use this or that, dreaming of needing those other products one day when my business grows, sniffing the leather desk accessories.

Today, though, I went clothes shopping. That’s something I do on a need basis only, often hunting frantically for an outfit the day before an event. It might not be so unpleasant if I were built differently, but it’s so hard for me to find clothes that flatter me – they’re either too tight or too sloppy-loose. I’m short, and while I wouldn’t say I’m fat, I wouldn’t say I’m slim and trim either. My waist is a little wider than it ought to be, as are a few other measurements. So generally speaking, if the length fits, the "width" doesn’t.

I did well today, though. I was looking for “professional attire” – things I could wear to a client meeting or networking event. I bought two skirts, three blouses, one dress, one pair of black dress sandals, and three pairs of pantyhose for under $100! Hooray for Target!

…and I didn’t buy a single thing for the kids. THAT is the real breakthrough!