Chicago - here I come!

I am so excited to get my eat and shop on in Chicago. Stay tuned on the deals I find.
BTW, my list is a mile long for the eating...so I'm not sure I'll be fitting in any of the deals!
Hotels are cheap cheap and for the Midwest, Chicago is mighty fine. Here's my Chicago strategy:

Day 1:
Arrive and eat breakfast at Valoy's in Hyde Park, an Obama fav.
Shop! starting in the Viagra Triangle...hitting all the boutiques and Anthropologie.
Lunch at Minnie's and cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B's.
Shop on Mag Mile.
Dinner at Table 52
Show on Navy Pier, Second City.

Day 2:
Breakfast at Yolk, West Egg?
Four Seasons for some services...ahhh.
Lunch at La Frontera or Topolo.
Shop, shop - Nordstroms Rack and Filene's Basement....bargain hunting!
Dinner at Grand Luxe?
Show - Jersey Boys

Day 3:
Breakfast - are we still hungry?
Museums, Architecture cruise?
Lunch and Shop
Dinner and Show - what show?

Day 4:
Running the Shamrock Shuffle.
Brunch at Stanley's - can't wait to pig out after the run.
Check out and last minute shopping!

Are we missing anything, should we schedule some chillax time?
Can't wait!

The 19th Wife: a commentary on fashion....

NOT. This has absolutely nothing to do with fashion or shopping...but let me make a connection here and spew on my conclusions. I read this book, 'The 19th Wife' (pub. 2008). This is a part of my chosen religions past that I have only glazed over for fear of driving me into an endless and incurable spiral of loathing. That said, I have only pictured in my mind what has been delievered from the media...braids, little house on the prairie clothing (this is the only connection to fashion/shopping so stop looking :), BIG LOVE on HBO, and highly artileried fortresses in the middle of BFE. After reading this book...I have to be greateful for the current state of affairs we live. Because it could be worse...much worse. I could be a 19th wife.

I cannot begin to understand the conditions under which these women lived. There were some, obviously opposed to it when it began and then there are those, who still find liberation in plural marriage (?!?). I have come to conclude that I cannot ever understand this, but this book reminds me that our leaders are still human and men...double meaning intended here.

In this vein of thought (the historical and current repression of women), I was reading a blog tonight, that I have never read...and probably won't ever read again, but I found a quote on this blog from a Professor Laurel Ulrich who birthed the phrase "Well-behaved women seldom make history." And to that I must say - screw that, lets every woman everywhere make history. Let us all misbehave in this sense. I abhor the thought of (self or socially) imposed norms of behavior. Sure, there are moral norms that any bi-ped should innately follow. Although we are governed by universal truths, how can we expect progress or growth in any sense of the words by falling into line. A line, premeditated and cultivated by someone other than yourself. Sure, lets use the gospel and the teachings as the path, but I guarantee you the road is wide enough to fit a double team of oxen....and you can skip or run like Phoebe as you should like, making history.

On the black list...

Have you ever behaved badly at a store, restaurant (heaven forbid the floor spice), or salon that has marked you with a big fat 'A' (arschold)? Do the employees cringe at the sight of you? Do you feel a burning about the ears? If so, I feel for you...because I. have been there, done that. I used to be horrible to retail servants. I now realize the error in my ways, for my husband awakened in me an awareness...these people, these retail servants, they do not have a Masters degree - so cut them some slack. That said, it is not entirely undeserved in some cases. I'm not talking about the lady who can't add 1 + 1, or the man who thinks 50% and 20% equals 70% off. No, I'm talking bout the holier than thou retail goons who are personally affronted by your attempt to return something, complain or heaven forbid, have a question about something related to their area of "expertise*."
(*expertise used loosely in this context).

I have been a very well behaved consumer for quite some time now, not raising my voice or questioning the retailier's authority....even at times, acting stupid just to make them feel good. But yesterday at a well known retail store (rhymes with 'banana republic'), I took three relatively long receipts (aka, I spent a boatload) to get a price adjustment. Yes, I GET to have a price adjustment if within 14 days of purchase, check check. The MANager is soo agahst that I am receiving almost $100 in adjustments. He becomes instantly aloof, HELLO, I'm not trying to get your number or anything. When he finishes, he forgets to thank me...so I thank him for being so sassy. How'd ya like them apples?! So now, I'm pretty sure I'm on the blacklist. But you know what, some times it just feels good to slam an arschold.

Fo-eva 21?

Forever 21. You've seen it, the barganista fashionista's monument to everything that is hip, happening and hot for the 'Forever 21' set. Are you allowed to shop in the store if you aren't 21? Or (sigh) post 20's? What will happen to you if you go in, with your nada 21 booty be promptly racing back out the door cause you are uncomfortably older than the average clientele? The answer is a resounding NO. I've seen women (and men) of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages in Forever 21, for trendiness does not discriminate. Now, do realize that when you go into the store and look at the prices...you will have the purchasing power roughly equal to that of a small country (given the low low prices of these cheap cheap clothes)...that said, what will you do with all the options your riches affords? I'll tell you, it's a four letter word: E-D-I-T yourself!

Yes, I'm talkin' to you...the ladies out there that are waaaay too old to be rockin' a pair of skinny jeans with an Ed Harley t-shirt. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. So here's my shout out to learning and exercising the power of editing yourself into current trends.

Please do shop in Forever 21, you will fo-eva find good steals and current trends. But be mindful that their things run small and tight. So no you aren't that fat, you just aren't a 12 year old girl. Nor are you a 21 year old girl who wants her humps and bumps to be on parade. So here's your mission - head into Forever 21. Find trendy items to add to your age appropriate pieces and baddabing, you will be current without looking like Linda Hogan. But beware, you must try on before you buy, exchange only, no returns. Plus their clothes often fit odd, weird and some times downright bad. But then again, the clothes only last as long as the trends. So don't expect to pass on these gems to your posterity. Now, shop on!

**You may also find similar results in stores such as Gadzooks (same as Forever 21), H&M, TopShop, and Zara.