It’s that time of year again… back to school shopping! Parents everywhere are rushing around to buy the correct size binder and protractor, and the latest kicks and backpacks. Kicks… did I spell that right? Is that what kids are still calling them (shoes, for those who are still scratching their heads at my outdated slang).

I still remember back to school shopping (from the kid perspective). But for me, it was usually school clothing/birthday present. My most distinct memory was fifth grade (ok maybe fourth-I don’t know.  It’s been a while). I remember it like yesterday. I went to Caldor (remember them?) with my mother. I convinced her that I REALLY wanted that plaid skirt and matching top with the scottie-dog on it. I SWORE I would wear the knee socks and those shoes. SO WHAT if I had not worn anything but stretch pants and over-sized t-shirts with dirty blue canvas shoes over ankle socks for the past two years. I was SO gonna wear those, I insisted, as I blew the hair that eternally hid my left eye briefly from my face – just to make my point. Right. That skirt was COOL (rad? awesome? what did we say in the late 80’s?). As I’m sure you may have guessed, this outfit probably never faded from too many washes. And I was NOT too cool for school.

Thankfully, those days have started to fade from my memory. And as I’m not yet school shopping for my own children, this season and it’s sales are a bit lost on me. But the good news is that since I’m not shopping for #2 pencils and 2″ three ring binders, I get to shop for much more interesting things! Like the grown-up version of the backpack. And as it turns out, I’m currently in the market for a new bag. My old “work” bag has had a few too many lunches spilled into it, and is about to graduate (or perhaps, retire). I’m looking for one that holds a legal pad, and all those other items that I drag to work with me every day. Ohhhh – look at this one! Handmade Jaquard Bag from Ten Thousand Villages – $48. Pretty! 

Maybe with this one,  I’ll get to sit with the cool kids at lunchtime!

Found this at a street fair in my neighborhood. MIGHT have purchased it…

I think it’s the perfect bag to carry to a Saturday morning/afternoon brunch in the summer. I bought one in brown/green, but this one is pretty too! I tried 9unsuccessfully) to find a screen shot of the green one. Too bad, since then the little play on words would have made more sense…

The bag is made by a little company called Engage Green. I found them at a street fair in my neighborhood, and the woman who sells (and designs!) them was super nice. My love for this company is threefold: 1) they are locally based, 2) their products are made from woven recycled paper, plastic, cork, cotton, and hemp, and 3) they are pretty colors!

Moral of the story: when green meets green, I am more than willing to shell out a bit of green.

I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am that spring is here! Even if spring in the city means rain, rain, rain, and more rain. All this dreary weather makes me just want spring to end and summer to get here!

So after almost two straight weeks of rain, I needed a little pick me up. So of course, I did a little “windows shopping.”  Are you Mac users jealous you can’t use that pun? …No? Well I thought it was funny…

Anyways. I found these!

Laidback Elegance Filagree Tumbler set. Available for $40  for thes set on UncommonGoods. Made from recycled glass. And so very pretty!

If I had these, all I’d need is a pitcher of something cold and delicious and three good friends. Oh yes – and a little sunshine!

It’s that time of the year again… Spring is in the air! And we all know what happens in the spring time…

Well, that too.

Today was the first day where I felt like it was really spring. I even went out without a coat! For the first time since moving to Manhattan I felt like I was finally able to enjoy walking down the street, instead of speed walking home so that my nose doesn’t freeze and fall off. What made today even better was the street fair I stopped at on my way home. Sun + street food + shopping = an amazing Sunday afternoon! And you thought I was bad at math.

My favorite vendor of the afternoon: avalove. She is a poet who prints lithographs on clothing. You can purchase her amazing wearable art on etsy. Her work is unique, and each print is made in limited quantities.

It was love at first sight! I didn’t want to spend the money to buy one, but I just couldn’t help it. I was twitterpated!

It’s that time of year again… Tax Season! In true form, I have yet to start on my tax forms yet. So I decided that the best use of my pre-April 15 time would be to go out shop with the refund money that I am hoping to receive.  Good idea, yes? Right.

As you may remember, I have been on the prowl for a fabulous dress to wear to a few summer weddings. Specifically, my little brother will be getting married. An as his older, (mysteriously) single sister from Manhattan, I feel the need to find something fabulous. I’ve been eyeing one at Anthropologie for some time, and decided today to take the plunge.

I went. I shopped. I purchased.

The winner is the Finely Furrowed Dress, available from Anthropologie for $168. So in love. Now I’m off to do my taxes so that I can justify this lovely little purchase. Then maybe I’ll browse the net for shoes, a bag, and a”plus 1″ to match the dress!

Shameless Plug.

Don’t get excited. This is not a post about lamps or any other electronic device, although I may re-use the title later if I find a fabulous lamp because I DO love word play. This is really just a shameless plug to let you know I’ve decided to start another, non-shopping related blog.

As you may (or may not) know, April is National Poetry Month or something like that. As poetry is an ever-dying art that I have had a certain affinity for since I was a little girl with a poetry journal, I decided to try out using my other wordpress blog, Stuzie Speaks, with a daily dose of poetry. At the moment: a Daily Haiku. I’ve never been one for follow-through, so well see how if goes. But if you have any appreciation for the dying art of metered verbiage, stop by and check it out! I’ve put a link on this page in case you ever decide to venture back to the page.

Now, back to what I do best. Shopping.

And now for something completely different.

Normally, my lust for material possessions is more focused on pretty and shiny things. As for the more everyday items: these I have (and can generally I can afford). Today I started my daily post-work, tea-and-internet time on the Onion. I (shamefully) admit, I ended up there today by following a link on a friends Facebook page. Judge if you will, but statistically I’d venture to guess that you checked your FB page at least twice today since lunch today…

Anyways, back to the shopping at hand. After browsing through a few breaking news stories, I ventured into the online store for some windows-shopping (Ha Ha. Play on words cuz I use windows. See it’s funny becuase I use windows… Nevermind.). Found a few mugs that I’d love to drink my morning coffee out of! Like this one!

This one is fun too! Especially considering my current level of caffiene consumption, which seems to be slowly working its way back up to it’s college-days level. Both mugs are  sold for $7.99.

Apparently the Onion is good for more than just hard-hitting, serious journalism. Fun for shopping, too!

In high school and college, I was one of those girls who wears lots and lots of rings. You remember those girls… silver rings of various sizes and shapes on 8 of my 10 fingers. Unfortunatly, I also had a bad habit of playing with the rings, and using them as a distratcion in class. So, over they years I want from owning 8 or 9 rings down to only 4 or 5. Sad. Then, as I started a job and felt the need to appear more grown-up and professional, I went down to only wearing 1 or 2 rings. Some days my fingers feel naked, but over the years I’ve gotten used to being a non-ring-wearing girl again. Every once in a while I throw one or two on for Saturday night just for jun, but these days I find myself wanting to wear rings that are a bit more grown-up looking. This means no more $10 rings from Claires. 

Found this ring today while flipping through the April issue of Lucky (guilty pleasure #16).

The Farrah Dragon Golden Moth Ring ($660). Available in silver too ($440). Sold by auto. Which brought me to this one, which I love!

Farrah Dragon Silver Poppy Ring ($638). I love this ring because it’s feminine and pretty. The sterling silver makes it a bit more grown up than the rings I wore as a teen, but it’s still fun! And a bonus feature: all of the metals are either 100% recycled or obtained from socially and environmentally conscious sources.

Discovering auto. could be dangerous, since I happen to live not far from the store.  I’m thinking a sunny Sunday afternoon walk thorugh the city could be dangerous if I’m in that neighborhood. That is, assuming that I manage to find a few hudred dollars to spare…

As of this week, I am officially planning to attend three weddings this summer. And it’s only March… I’m scared. They haven’t piled up like this since that last year of college, when so many couples I knew were forced to decide between long-distance communication and long-term commitment. So this means, of course, that I need to find a new party dress. I lied. I’m actually looking for two! (Two of the weddings are family: Girls, you know how it is… ). Although I’m not thrilled about attending three weddings this summer, I am SUPER excited for the excuse to buy fun new dresses. And of course, then I’ll need shoes to match. And then I’ll have to look into bags…

But then I’m diverting from the subject at hand. Dresses! I spent hours on bluefly today scoping possibilities. How cute is this one: A.B.S coral abstract chiffon strapless dress. Bluefly sells for $239 (retail value $400!).

Perfect for a summer afternoon party, pretty, and fun! Now, as usual, I’m left shopping for the perfect shoes and the perfect date.