52:9 ShopaNOTic

Why does it seem like I always do my blogs on a Sunday? Actually this week I have an excuse; I have been preparing for a job interview, which is on March 10th. In addition to my meticulous preparations I also went shopping for a new outfit yesterday. There are some occasions where a new outfit is a must and a job interview is one of them. This blog however is not about the job - no doubt next week's will explore how wonderfully or terribly this interview goes - but it is about one of my most loathsome activities: shopping.

Me writing (moaning) about shopping is not a new thing for this blog. in fact back in June I wrote a blog call Confessions of a ShopaHateIt where I talked about: how clothes are only made for people with a cup size of C-D and casually forget the rest of us exist, how horribly unorganised the mess is that people call "the sale section" or "budget shops" and lastly how shopping reminds me of how low my self esteem can get.

In addition to these things I also have a ridiculous guilt complex about shopping. I feel awful spending money on something when clothes when there are children starving in the world. I love the whole idea of fashion and the art form behind creating clothing but at the end of the day it isn't a huge priority in the grand scale of global issues. For these reasons I usually spend a long time debating whether or not something is good value and either end up buying it but feeling guilty or not buying through fear of feeling guilty. Call me wishy-washy but that is just the way I am.



The shopping trip to buy my interview outfit however went really well. I think the main reason for this was going with my husband. I am sure he will deny this but he is also my 'gay best friend' (hate on me hater for the politically incorrect statement). For example when I was trying on a purple undershirt in one shop the sales assistant was smiling at us because James said "That would look really good with a statement necklace". I kind of love that man to death.

I also think perhaps my shopping trip went well because I knew I needed to get something and I knew along what lines that outfit needed to be. I knew I wanted something formal but with a bit of colour: I ended up getting a really nice dark grey trouser suit with purple undershirt and statement necklace (as suggested by my amazing husband of course). The whole trip went well and quickly with me making decisive decisions until James said the dreaded words: "We should also get some new shoes for you as well".

DUN DUN DUN.

Whenever shoe shopping is mentioned this is when the panic sets in. I suddenly find myself looking around the shopping centre for the quickest exit points or trying hard to convince my shopping partner that my second-hand five year old boots that give me a leg rash aren't actually that bad after all. However James was quite adamant that new shoes were a must and so, slightly hyperventilating, we looked around a shoe shop.

I have always hated show shopping because my feet are a weird shape. My feet aren't flat but they look it because my ankles roll in. Due to this my little toes never fully developed properly and instead I have a weird extra bit of bone that grows from the side of my foot to compensate. As such heels are a definite no-no, which is a shame because a) if I could where them I would have a total heel fetish because I think they are so sexy and b) most boots have at least a kitten heel or, if they don't, they look like they are designed for some kind of unknown heavy duty woman's boot wearing event that has no concept of the feminine.

You will be pleased to know however that I managed to find a pair of boots that had neither a heel nor were heavy duty wear, though they do have trainer soles and rock solid linings... but then I had to compromise somewhere. With a pair of thick socks or some party feet I am good to go. Considering i have had the same pair f trainers for about five years I think I have done pretty well this weekend!

I am still a shopaNOTic rather than a shopaholic but hopefully my new outfit will help me win over my interviewers by showing them what a lovely professional young woman I am. Or some shit. You never know.

VCB 11: Favourites with a U

I am not having a great couple of days and my blogging spirit has waned slightly. But don't worry! I am determined to complete the challenge! But rather than try and write a deep long blog while not in the mood - like yesterday's blog which received only two spambot comments - I am going to answer some questions that my friend Kayla did on her vlog. Click here to see it.

Q. Who was your favourite teacher?
A. Hmm, tricky one. I had a high school art teacher called Mr Jenkins who was pretty cool. He let us spend lunchtimes in the art room and we introduced him to the canteen chocolate cake. Whoever got to the snack trolley first had to buy everyone else one! Apart from the I guess my first ever teacher, Mrs Montague. I can't even remember why I liked her so much though!

Q. What is your favourite number?
A. I don't really have a favourite number but at a push I would say 7. I mean it *is* the most magically significant number (I am a Harry Potter nerd). I also like the number 129 because it is James' birthday and seems to pop up everywhere in our lives. For example when we first went to London our hotel room was 129! Plus James' favourite is 29 so I see it everywhere.

Q. What is your favourite fruit?
A. I LOVE strawberries in summer with a sprinkling of sugar or a dash of cream. Yumalicious. I also really love dark cherries - Blackforest Gâteau is the yum. See image below.



Q. What is your favourite holiday?
A. Well I think we would call these bank holidays in the UK as holiday to us is what people in the U.S. call vacation. Without a shadow of a doubt it is Christmas. I am a BIG Christmas person. I absolutely love it and we always have a fantastic one. This last one was the best ever because James' was there to share it with my family. He cried with happiness. He will of course deny this.

Q. What is your favourite store?
A. I don't really have a favourite high street shop but if I had an endless amount of money I would probably buy everything on Etsy. If you haven't heard of it; it is an online store that sells handmade goods from furniture to jewellry. It is well worth a look. You can find some really fascinating products. I just wish they would open a UK only store so I can view things in pounds not dollars! Click here to check it out.

Q. What is your favourite day of the week?
A. I guess I like Fridays because it can be either the end of the week or the beginning of the weekend to suit your plans. I don't like weekends when I have no one to share them with (big aww) which is most weekends. I end up sitting wasting my time! I actually look forward to Monday just to have something to do! This will change when James and I are together again of course!

Q. What is your favourite board game?
A. Settlers of Catan. I particularly like the Seafarers edition. If you haven't heard of Settlers of Catan (or have only heard of it because it is also Wheezy Waiter's favourite game) then the basic idea is to collect resources and use them to build towns, cities and connecting roads. It is highly addictive and once you have played it you get hooked.



Q. What is your favourite food?
A. Steak cooked medium. Fucking yum. And chocolate. Not with the steak of course. And when I say chocolate I mean anything other than Hershey's because Hershey's wouldn't know decent chocolate if it danced in front of its face singing "I am real chocolate"... naked.

Q. What is your favourite Disney channel singer?
A. I don't know any?! I don't have the Disney channel. And I'm... y'know... 24 years old! I'll go with Miley. No idea if she is Disney but she probably is.

Q. What is your favourite drink?
A. My favourite drink is tea. Proper English tea with milk. Really strong. No sugar. Can't beat it. If I don't get my cup of tea in the morning (double size with 2 teabags) then I can't function. I also really love milk. It is great when eating cheese, marmite on bread or chocolate. I used to love dry white wine but it gives me migraines a lot now - sad panda.

Q. What was your favourite subject at high school?
I really enjoyed art but not until Sixth Form when I was actually decent at it. Apart from that I enjoyed history, especially when we studied the history of medicine as well as the American West. I remember once playing a wagon trail game: we all had to write a list of things we would take on our wagon trail. Then the teacher read out different scenarios (such as bear attack or broken wheel) and we had to solve the problem using only what we had written down. It was really fun. I would have continued my studies of history into Sixth Form but you had to do boring stuff like the history of the Catholic church. I wanted to get stuck into Ancient civilisations!

Q. What is your favourite colour?
A. Purple or green. Short and sweet answer.

Q. What is your favourite season?
A. Winter! Because it is the season with Christmas in it! I also love snow and ice. It is a pain in the arse but it is so beautiful. This winter was a particularly cold one and the whole country came to a standstill (we only have one salt mine I think and no one has tyre spikes). James and I walked my mum to and from work and the trees and streets were so magical. It was like a fairytale.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE YOUTUBE CHANNEL?
My answer: I of course love the Vlogbrothers and Vlogtag (my collab channel - link to the left) but if I had to pick another one it would, without a doubt, be Wheezy Waiter. That guy cracks me up. You can check him out here.

VCB 09: Confessions of a ShopaHateIt

It is my friend Heather's birthday. Go read her blog and wish her a happy birthday.

For my birthday way back in May my parents said they would buy me summer clothes. And today my mum and I had a shopping trip to buy those clothes. It was really fun, but usually I hate shopping - this blog will explain why.

Now let me begin by clarifying something: I am like any other girl. Whether we admit it or not we all get a kick out of buying a new top, or a new skirt, or even a new set of pyjamas. New clothes can make a person feel confident, stylish and, lets face it, sexy. (Today I got some lacy leggings and my first ever rara skirt and I am fully prepared to feel fantastic in them the first time I wear them in public). However the actual act of shopping I am not so hot on.



My main reason is what I like to call 'the boob debacle'. Basically if you are not an exact C cup, high street tops are not really made for you - probably because they are trying to do an 'average' woman. Now if you are not aware I have qute large breasts. I cannot count the number of times I see a pattern, colour or style I like only to pick it up and see how my boobs would be about 25% covered, 75% exposed. And while indecent exposure is sometimes an exciting prospect - it isn't really for me.

I should say that my flat chested friends have the opposite problem i.e. extra material where it shouldn't be, which is equally annoying. Well I guess slightly less annoying. At least flat chester people can pad at little cost. Big boobed women simply have to buy a fitted top which I can tell you can cost a lot of money.

This is my main pet peeve. My other big shopping 'argh' is sales. I love a bargain like anyone else but the layout of a sale hurts my brain. Perhaps sales bring out the obsessive, anal side of my nature, but I just can't stand to look at a size 18 next to a size 6; a skirt next to pajamas; the fault goods mixed in with the clearance. And to make it worse sales-lovers are maniacs and for some unknown reason feel the need to leave at least two of the items they browse draped across the rail without a hanger, or worse on the floor.

Of course worse than sales are budget shops which is basically what I described above... but in the entire shop! Apparently the shoppers think that if they don't trample on the products and shove the other customers out of the way then it is not a successful shopping trip.

Shopping reminds me how I am not a confident person, although my fashion choices have got more bold in the last few years. I have been scared to try new styles. I find intimidated when I go into a shop with so many beautiful styles that I feel I could never wear. Deep down I know I could where them, if only I had that 'Carrie' confidence (Carrie from Sex and the City... not pigs blood Carrie).

Side note - I just did a review of Sex and the City 2 on my other blog. Click here to view it.

I did learn something today though - when someone else is paying for your clothes you are much more willing to try something new. Next time I go shopping I am going to force myself to try on things I otherwise would have dismissed, and perhaps I can understand the 'fun' of shopping and finally be a true girly-girl.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ITEM OF CLOTHING DO YOU WANT TO BUY BUT NEVER* WILL? *NEVER SAY NEVER.
My answer: I would love to buy a maxi dress but I am not convinced I could pull it off.