Back To School: August 2004 Archives

We went to the mall in manassas. We had never been there, we wanted to go to Hecht's and it was closer than going to Fairfax. The younger girls got a new pair of athletic shoes at Footlocker. They were on sale, 2 pair for $49.99. J. got pale blue with white and Gracie got white with a touch of pink. At another shop they both got navy blue loafer type shoes to go with the winter dresses we bought. They also got a sweatsuit/lounge suit type outfit and J. picked out a skirt and blouse. I chose tights and completed the outfit. She looks adorable and was so proud to wear it. Her daddy was pleased to hear say she felt like a princess in her new outfit. Somewhere along the way she has this impression we are poor :-s ... we are not rich but we are not poor. We are middle class America and can afford to buy a few outfits for our girls. They choose what they would like then I impose restrictions or suggest other choices. The rules in this house are: 1. We try never to pay full price, but will pay a fair price. 2. I get the final word on clothing for the girls. 3. We don't buy grundge or clothing inapropriate for the age. 4. We don't show skin that should be covered ... bathing suits are a limited exception, we don't buy skimpy suits. 5. We don't buy things that won't last long or things that cannot be worn with other things we have. That's pretty much it. Decent, age appropriate things for girls. I did some shopping for Christmas when I could smuggle things past the kids. I got Gracie a beautiful red wool dress coat and J. one in ice blue. I bought them 2 sizes bigger so the girls would get a couple years wear out of them. I was looking for coats and found little to nothing under $285, I found these 2 at Burlington and paid $89 ... good deal, I don't believe I could have found them anywhere else for less. They are Rothschild's 100% wool and are BEAUTIFUL for young girls. They need a berret lol Our kids rarely ask for toys, they like books, clothes, jewelery. I think Santa's toy sack will be minimal this Christmas ... our fashion plates like to accessorize lol I have occassionally found great deals on books on Amazon, have a few pieces of small jewelery and perfume and now am buying things I know they can wear in a few months. I am usually finished with Christmas shopping by the first November and plan to be done by that time this year. Have you ever noticed how prices go up near the holidays and selections are limited? Take a hint: Buy books and CD's at Amazon from the dealers ... I have only been disssapointed once. I bought a used book and it was in gravely bad shape. Other thasn that, everybook has been new and sold for 50% or more less than reg price.

I think I waited too long to shop for fall clothes. Everything was picked over and the few things we found that were acceptable were limited. Gracie ended up with 3 pair of jeans, pink overalls, 2 dresses and 2 skirts sets. One dress and skirt was from the school uniform section but they are darling navy blue and white outfits and look so cute with saddle oxfords. I unearthed a pair of winter pj's from a stack and managed to find a long warm winter robe for Gracie. She and J. both need slippers. I ordered a lovely dress for them both from Dillard's at a fair price. The closest Dillard's is almost 70 miles away ... ugh ... I ordered all 3 girls snow boots for the season ... those things go fast in the stores! I tried to do as much shopping as possible for Gracie while J. wasn't here. Steven has reminded me often that school shopping is left up to her mother and is what he pays child support for. I know this but it is hard to shop for one and not shop for both. I know if she went with us she would be hurt and disappointed to get only a few new outfits for fall/winter ... what to do? We did get her a pair of saddle oxfords. She tried them on this evening and they were tight. Those where the only pair availble at the shop near us, so I ordered her a pair online and will take the other's back. Gracie found these cool clogs on the clearance at Marshall's. Colby and I found something similar. They are rubber and are made for inclimate weather. Funky but cute. Steven doesn't like them, J. says she doesn't either. Too bad, we like them.