CHARLESTON

This time last week I had no idea I would be in Charleston, but here I am. Beats sitting at the office going numb in the feet. We've been playing lots of bridge, eating way too much food (especially dessert), and sleeping enough. It's great. The BF's mother needed comfortable shoes right away, so I had to do some shopping right when we got in this afternoon. I bought her some Cole Haan Nike Air flats at Saks. They weren't on sale, which is totally uncharacteristic of me, but they were the only ones in the entire store that fit her and that she liked. I just hope they last her a while - she tends to shuffle her feet and they don't look as though they can be resoled. They're tons better than what she was wearing, these cheap heels that were too big for her and cut into her feet wherever they weren't gapping.

We ate dinner at Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.'s!), and I had too much food as usual. They are dessert people and I am not, but I have no willpower when it comes to creme brulee. It was perfect, in this shallow dish instead of a deep cup so that there was a lot more carmelized sugar on top. After dinner we walked out on the pier and swung on a bench swing and then came back and played a hand of bridge. I made my two diamonds by the skin of my teeth when I should have been set - I was very lucky and now I'm in bed in a wonderful mood and thinking about tomorrow. I have to check my bank balance before going shopping, and we may go to Fort Sumter later in the day. It's our only full day here so I'm determined to pack it all in. I hope he brings me to Spoleto again this year.

FEEBAY PET PEEVES

I hate it when I'm bidding on an item and it hasn't been bid up on the last day and the seller gets spooked and pulls the auction because of a "listing error." Give me a break. 90% of the bidding happens in the last ten minutes anyway. I hate being outbid at the very last second for something almost impossible to find. It's also wonderful when the seller gets back to me about an important question (such as measurements) after the auction has ended.

I love/hate it when an item is bid up beyond my limit on the first day of its listing. Sometimes when it is something I absolutely do not need, I bid it up to my personal limit very early and feel partially relieved when someone else overtakes me, only to go into a bidding war later on with other bidders. I'm sure bidders who would buy it any price hate bidders like me.

I obviously don't like it when I bid on something and then find it for cheaper at a retail store, or when it's packed and shipped as if it were run over by a bus, or when the only pictures available are stock, stolen, or blurry.

Selling-wise, I hate listing something for a pretty competitive price only to have another seller list the same exact thing for a slightly lower price. It's frustrating when something doesn't sell. Then I have to wrestle with whether or not I should just bite the bullet and relist. I hate foraging for suitably sized boxes or waiting in the godforsaken line when the auto-machine isn't working at the post office. Most of all, I hate hate hate the fees. They are getting so ridiculous.

SNAGGED: NINE WEST HEECH GLADIATORS AND HOT PINK BARBIE SHOES

Amazon is a great place to pick up shoes from Nine West, Charles David, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Bandolino, and other similar-tier brand names. All of the above are less than $20 apiece. It's difficult to rein myself in from shoes I'll rarely wear, like the sky-high croc bootie I bought and had to sell on eBay because I could barely walk in them, let alone imagine myself wearing them with anything in my existing wardrobe.

I don't have a lot of shoes, but even so I seldom branch out from my Asics Tigers for commuting to work, and the heels I wear once I get there. I'm trying to get better about this. Last night the BF took me out to dinner using a new app on his iPhone (he discovered Shazam). I put a bit more effort into my ensemble- J. Crew dress, Weitzman heels I got for $2 at a thrift store in North Carolina, Burberry coat, and BR Lexington bag. I'm back to being grungy today, but hopefully the inspiration will strike me once again later this week.

By the way, I bought #1 and #2.

SNAGGED: J CREW SWIMWEAR

I got this in black to go with the Tam Tam bottoms (see previous post). I'm getting older; I need a tankini in my life.


I wanted the yellow on the model but they were sold out in my size, so I got "Dark Cloud" -- which I'm assuming is grey. I like the neckline, the way it's kind of an off-the-shoulder cap sleeve. And it's machine washable, which is always a huge plus in my book. (Item #96100, Polka Dot Airy Knotted Blouse, orig. $59.50)

I also ordered a couple pairs of boxers for the BF at around $3 a pop, one patterned with English bulldogs in sweaters. I'm sorry but English bulldogs are my favorite dogs of all time, so maybe this was a selfish act.

SNAGGED: ONLINE WARM WEATHER FRENZY

I got the bottoms; I hope they fit. Ignore that girl's expression; I promise to not look like that when wearing mine. Picture courtesy of figleaves.com. They were $10; I visited again today and they were down to $5. Obviously I was motivated to go ahead and place the order. I don't know what to pair it with on top- I'm looking at some choices at Victoria's Secret and J. Crew.

Figleaves is having a major, major sale-- I think they're about to close down their US operations, because I'm talking about 90% off everything. The above bathing suit is $117.00 MSRP at Macy's (which is where the photo is from) but I bought it at Figleaves for $15. I really hope it fits and it doesn't look totally stupid on me. I don't know if I can pull it off but I'm willing to try at that price.



I also got the above J. Crew Sketchbook Roses Belle Skirt on a shopping trip with my sister. (Item #96173 orig. $140.00)