I’ve got working on my mind and that drives what I’ve been purchasing. It’s okay to buy clothes that I can wear for work even though I have no income, right….?

Did I tell you what happened to our Roots gift certificates over the holidays? We were issued two $50 gift certificates when we redeemed some loyalty points but when it came time to use them, it turned out one of them was actually encoded for $150! Suddenly we had $200 to burn up at Roots where their best item is their sweatshirts. :S

I got two hoodies in Halifax and had to return to Vancouver and shop their “flagship” store on Robson to come up with the Equestrian Toggle Button sweater. Love it. It’s so preppy. The damn thing was $60 originally but marked down by 30% and then I had about $42 left on my gift certificate and only paid $2!

I’ve also been shopping at Jacob, a fantastic place to get monochromatic working clothes. During one trip with The Boy, I got a sateen skirt with side pockets on sale for $19.99. In another very thorough trip, I carefully combed their sale section and came up with three sale items. Then I gave the rest of the store a chance and came up with three less thrifty items. I’m happy nonetheless.

The purpose of that trip was to find a dressy button-up shirt to wear with my suit. That was accomplished for a heartbreaking $29.99 but the shirt is just the right thing: kind of peachy in colour so it matches the peachy pearl earrings and necklace set that Ray gave me a long time ago.

I got two “faux-wrap” items, as they happened to be called. That is, the flaps are stitched down but it looks like a wrap cardigan. The good thing about faux-wrap is that the flaps won’t budge. I got a gray long-sleeve faux-wrap sweater on sale for $19.99 and I got the following vest in black for – get this – $35. I was reluctant but had made decent deals on the other two items that day….

Most recently, I went on a shopping bonanza at the mega-mall, Metrotown, in Burnaby. I was on a rampage to get ankle boots or something from Payless and after carefully trying on several styles, I ended up with the black “shootie”, a cross between a shoe and a bootie. I love it. There is a little elastic around the tongue so the synthetic leather does not have to stretch and the coverage means my foot is not sliding in and out of the shoe. I couldn’t find it in my best size, 6, but am very happy with the 5-1/2 in a Wide width. Perhaps that is my best size (until too much walking makes my foot pinch no matter what).

It was BOGO time at Payless, as it is about 80% of the year, so I happy bought a black tote with a little bit of “bling” that is hopefully not easily identifiable as The Payless Brand. This will probably replace the $50 woven nylon convertible tote I’ve been using that slouches too much and just isn’t smart enough for girl my age.

Both items were $29.99 so I got $15 off.

I wish I could link an official photograph for the tunic I bought at Mariposa. (You mean the clubbing store?) Yes, I made a bee-line for the sedate section and saw a charcoal gray tunic with puffed bubble short sleeves, a mock turtleneck collar, and a keyhole on the back. It’s quite basic and looks knit and I got it for $27 less 20%. I’ve already worn it with black trousers and The Boy said it was quite slimming. That remark alone makes me want to go and get the red and black version but… we know how it turns out when I get duplicates… or should I?

I was chatting with BFF#2 and showing her the high-bling Swarovski crystal earrings (#1) The Boy got me as a Christmas present. Alas, I haven’t had a chance to wear them yet – way too shiny and big – and I found examples of earrings I MAY have preferred (#2,#3). But I was shocked and pleased to find that the ones he bought for me originally cost $105. Wow-ee.

I’ve learned that in a relationship, you can’t go exchanging EVERY present you get. #2 is close enough to #1 so I guess I’ll buy #3 for myself or hint later that I like that cluster style….

#1#2#3