A to Z Challenge -The Letter S - Shopping

I am participating in the “April Blogging From A to Z Challenge” for 2018.  Except for Sundays, but starting with Sunday April 1, I will be writing a post each day in April.  Working through the alphabet, by the end of the challenge I will have posted 26 writings.  

Shopping

I was excited for the last four days of this week.  Here in my part of the world, Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 22  is the 2018 New Jersey Wool Walk.

And to top it off, today Saturday, April 21 (besides being my favorite granddaughter’s 14th birthday) it is the first “Local Yarn Store” day.   This is sponsored by The National NeedleArts Association. 

As noted on their website:

Local Yarn Store Day is a brick-and-mortar yarn shop appreciation day created by TNNA Yarn Group. The inaugural LYS Day will take place on April 21 and is designed to show support for small businesses while bringing together a unique community of knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners to drive awareness and celebrate the craft.

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do is shop at a yarn store.  I really didn’t need a special event to get me to go yarn shopping, but in some way I guess I thought of it as more of a party that I received a personal invitation to. 

Thursday was a cold rainy day.  But that didn’t deter us.  By us I mean Ross and I.   He is my patient yarn shopping companion.

We had our map.  There are 15 stores on the “Walk”.  It, by no means, should have been called a “walk”  because there weren't even two stores near enough to each other to be able to walk to.    My intention was to visit three of the shops on Thursday, one on Saturday and maybe a couple more on Sunday.

We did visit two stores on Thursday, Chelsea Yarns in Red Bank and Frame and Fiber in Point Pleasant.   I had never been to Frame and Fiber.  We had the opportunity to meet Paige, the owner.  I watch Paige’s YouTube knitting podcast called Paige TheFramer.   She is a great gal.  

Today, we went to what I consider my Local Yarn Shop, Woolbearer’s.  I’ve been shopping at Myra’s for the last 10 years.   I particularly love the yarn she hand dyes.  

I did a lot of shopping and loved every minute of it, but I think I am shopped out.  

My Pretties

Total Saved $139.72

Friday, May 31, 2013
Slow Rise 7:30

It’s going to be another hot 90 degree day. It’s time to shed the corduroys and wool.   I need want some new different hot weather clothes.
After no exercise for nearly 4 weeks, I’m afraid to try on last year’s summer things.  I’m debating on whether I should I go to Curves or go shopping at Kohls?
Logically, Kohls.  There’s nothing like  trying on clothes to motivate a renewed Curves workout.
Now where did I put that Kohl’s scratch off 15, 20, or jackpot 30%? off coupon?                                                                                          

I have found that shopping at Kohls versus shopping at say a Nordstrom’s is a totally different experience.
When I walk into one of the women's departments at Kohls, I am not greeted by a sales person.  In fact I am pretty much left on my own to wander from department to department for as long I want without having someone asking me if they “May help me find something?”
In Kohls, when I gather up an armful of clothes to try on, a sales person doesn’t offer to "start a dressing room for you?"
In Kohls there is a sign on the wall which advises, "Please be considerate of other customers by limiting 5 items in the dressing room".   But, no one is at the door, stopping me, counting my items or handing me a large green number.
In Kohls a smartly dressed sales associate is not there to offer her syrupy opinion of “Oh, I like that on you,  but I think you should try on the smaller size.”
In Kohls I make my own decisions.  I can, and usually do, select pants that I can button, and also make sure that there is a little wiggle room in case of “ahem”, shrinkage.
In Kohls, when I get up to the register, after waiting for the ten others in front of me to complete their purchase, I am warmly greeted with “How are you today?"  
In Kohls, while it’s true that my pants and tops are not individually folded, wrapped in tissue paper and placed carefully in a sturdy shopping bag,  they are put, hangers and all, into a roomy gigunda gray plastic bag.
And of course there is this:

Where else can you shop and save more money than you spent?

That’s not to say that I don’t, from time to time, enjoy the pampering and extraordinary customer service which is offered at say a Nordstrom’s, but today, it was a  “leave me alone” Kohls kind of day. 

One thing I don’t understand, and this seems to be common in all clothing stores, is why all of them have the brightest, most unflattering florescent lighting and mirrors that surely must be manufactured by the same companies who install mirrors in fun houses. 

Curves for sure on Monday!

                                        Rico sporting his new summer look.

                                   After

Before