Spring! Yes!

I am trying to forget that yes, it is snowing in my world today. Yes, I live in Minnesota, and yes, it does snow on occasion in Minnesota in April. I can deal. I know it won't last forever.

But in the meanwhile, I am cheering myself up today by shopping in my head. Care to follow along?

Firstly, I LOVE this. I don't know how, but I've been doing this for a season or two. I have found shorter chain necklaces while out thrifting and I wrap them around my wrist for a layered-chain look. Fabulous Dahling - to quote the verbose Mariah Carey (yes I'm still watching American Idol). This is an easy and beautiful accessory. I'm rocking it!

If I were tiny, effortlessly elegant, and wore Louboutins, this is how I would look. I will be doing my own version. Wowza on that bag. Check out Wendy's Lookbook for more.

 Spring coat fever. Love Zara. I am loving the jeans and heels. It's good!

If I ever got to have a do-over I would come back as this girl. I want to cut my hair and rock this. In my mind this will be my summer uniform. Maybe not quite so much sideboob hmm? Check out Karla's Kloset.

Summer hair c/o Ivanka Trump. We can all do this one yes? I kinda love her in spite of her dad. Or maybe because of her dad!

 Jean jackets are forever. Don't you love that frankly? Check out What I Wore.

 I have never had a classic beige trench. I have a white one. This may be my year to succumb. Lovely.

 Yes, these are back. What the hell are we calling them this time? I do love this look though.

Manifesting

I quit my job at The Turnstyle. I have something new burbling for me and I am excited beyond belief. They say it isn't what you know, but who you know and I recently proved that it's a bit of both.

My Alli McBeal had recently gotten a sales job for a great company and we talked about a hole in their process that she thought I could fill. She encouraged me to write her boss a letter.

Which I did.

And he actually responded.

And asked me to lunch.

So I had a new assignment given to me by Ms. McBeal. Write a business plan (after several revisions and prodding from Alli McBeal it was perfection - yes it was!) for myself, revamp my resume, and sell myself like a sales pro.

Which I did.

And got hired as a consultant on a project to project basis.

I had to drink not one, but two Maker's Presbyterians after that meeting. I do believe I was walking on air for over a week. Wait - let me check my feet - yup - still not touching the floor. I see much shopping and outfit creation in my future.

These people have no idea what's in store for them. It's the best day of their lives as well.

I am manifesting success - was it effective? Whoooo ha!

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The Turnstyle is a privately owned company and has about 14 locations around The Cities. I visited a different one from the one I used to work at yesterday and had a fun hour or so finding some lovely things. Groupons were burning holes in my pockets!

I had a couple of questions about the items I was considering purchasing and the Little Woman manning the register said, "Oh you'll have to talk to the manager about that."

I said, "I'd love to. Could you get her for me?"

Little Woman replied, "She's right over there."

I looked where she was pointing and said, "May I speak to her?"

Little Woman said, "Oh, you'll have to get her." She then shot me a look. Not a nice look come to think of it.

I said, "Would you get her for me please?"

Another look. A huge sigh. A stomping off to get manager.

I stood there waiting for the manager to come to the register, thinking to myself - why is the customer treated like this in a retail store?

I don't know why exactly, but I was shocked. I had a pile of stuff I wanted to get, I had a question. Was I seriously expected to chase down the manager, not knowing her name, carrying all my items with me, to interrupt her with my questions - rather than have her come to me at the register and deal with my quick questions on the spot?

The manager was very nice, answered my questions, and I went ahead with part of my purchases.

Little Woman was visibly annoyed with me. She rang up my stuff and I handed her my Groupon. Another look was shot in my direction. Another huge sigh.

I wanted to reach over the counter and ring the damn sale myself.

She completed my sale. My pile of stuff on the counter.

"Could I have a bag please," I asked?

HUGE SIGH FROM HER LITTLE CHEST

I get retail burnout. I worked retail for 15 months and some of the customers were nightmares. I could very well have been her nightmare for the day. But I was so sad to be treated like that.

So - the point of this ramble is a question for y'all. When presented with stranger rudeness, how do you respond? Do you stand your ground? Acquiesce? Stay calm? Become a bitch?

I stood there looking at the Little Woman. I smiled at her. Thanked her. Picked up my (bagged) items and left the store. I'm certain she thought me a bitch nonetheless.

There is lots of shopping to do in the next couple of weeks. I will manifest pleasant.

What Are You Doing Today?

I'm going to Ikea with my Bella to scope out utility room thingys. Wish me luck because WAH? We're going to Ikea on a SUNDAY? We must have a screw loose.

But we're going early, going to fuel up on their $1 breakfast (or whatever it costs), drink lots of their awesome Swedish coffee, and hit the ground running, elbows flying.

Not really. There will be no elbows. Or pepper spray for that matter. Did y'all hear about the pepper spray all over the country? I'm embarrassed to be part of the human race at times. I like a bargain, but I'm not going to risk getting shot over an Xbox. I'll buy my damn flatscreens at Costco thank you very much.

So, I'm drinking my coffee (yes!) and trying to pick out a white for my utility room. Can you believe this damn Benjamin Moore? How many whites are there?

I'm excited to go to Ikea, I can't lie. I love that place with a passion that is a little unnatural. Or maybe it is natural. To me anyway.

It's early - I'm rambling - I'm going to put on some jeans and wait for Bella.

What are you doing today?

You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

What to do when the going gets tough? Get out and get shopping.

So I did.

Not too much, just a bit.

What better way to cheer you up than a new pair of shoes, even though they are only from Target, to wear on a girl's trip I'm taking in late March or so.

I like to call these types of shoes 'drop me off at the door' shoes. Or I just call them 'stupid shoes.' As in, "Do we have to walk six blocks? I have on stupid shoes."

I'm loving the Adidas athletic socks with these so much! I won't change a thing. Ha!

Sock Monkey Madness

Indulgence

I don't really know why this tickled my nickle, but what better way to shop for shoes than by wearing comfy sock monkey slippers and drinking coffee? Bliss!

Zara.com

Every one of these looks is better than the last. Lovely lovely.

The sweater in the last photo could be my all the time piece for fall. What a perfect go-to outfit yes?