Last Time This Year

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On Thursday I set foot in the mall for what I am sure will be the last time this year.

Wire Christmas tree display with garland spun around it

On my list:

1. Nordstrom for Mousse Radiance

Mousse Radiance and Bi-Facil face product

And then I spotted the Clarisonic display and remembered that I still want one.  I’ve heard rave reviews about them from so many people including Katie and Christine.

Clarisonic face cleaning boxes display

I left Nordstrom and walked past Betsey J.  I wanted to go in but used some restraint because I knew I had lots of other temptations…

Betsey Johnson Storefront

I walked upstairs to MAC where I re-stocked my Prrr stash and Studio Fix.

Mac storefront

Line of pink and red lipsticks

And then it was onto VS where I didn’t buy anything to wear…

Victoria's Secret shelf

…but did pick up a few things to spray.

Pink perfume shelves

The new Angel Fragrance Mist

Angel Fragrance Mist and Incredible

Incredible Fragrance MistI am digging them both.  I have been wearing Bombshell and Bombshell Summer but decided to change it up a little bit.

Then it was onto the other Mac.  It was such a chaos-fest that browsing for a travel combo case to house my Macbook + Camera combo was not even worth it.  Walked in and walked out faster than you can say Terabyte.

Apple Storefront

Fashion Valley Mall has just about everything that could bankrupt you in under two hours has just about everything you could want.  But I still had to go grocery shopping.

The fun continued on at the grocery store and Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe's storefront and parking lot

After all that, I came home and dug into a Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donut with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donut with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

Questions:

Are you doing holiday shopping at the mall?  Online?  Maybe you’re not holiday shopping this year?

To say I ran a few errands is an understatement but I did it at warp speed while Skylar was in school.

I did not want to go to the mall on Friday or over the weekend.  The things I needed weren’t holiday purchases but just ‘everyday things’ I needed to pick up.

And next weekend, after Thanksgiving and with Black Friday and the holiday shopping season being in in full force, no way!  As it was, I drove around for about 20 minutes on a random Thursday afternoon just trying to find parking and in December it’s a 2+ hour event just to find parking!  Craziness!  And some times you don’t find parking.  Yes, one year on Black Friday weekend, I attempted to shop but left the mall premises because I couldn’t find parking after two hours.

So it was Thursday or never.  Or at least not til 2012 since we’re leaving soon.

I do love online shopping, big time.  Sometimes it’s nice to go in and touch and feel the merchandise, though.  And with things like makeup, fragrances, or even sometimes clothes, online shopping can be tricky.  But I am a huge fan of letting my fingers do the walking from the safe confines of my desk chair whenever possible.

Scott and I aren’t exchanging gifts nor are we doing so with extended family.  Everyone is older and we all know that we don’t ‘need’ anything that we haven’t already bought for ourselves.  Times are tough financially for so many people with the current economy and no sense buying gifts just for the sake of buying them, only to compounding to the stress.

Skylar got a new bike from her Grandparents and Santa has a few tricks up his sleeve for her, of course.

Thanks for the Healthier Snacks Giveaway entries and enjoy your weekend!

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Comments

  1. I love what you said: “I went to a mall for probably the last time this year” – I hear you, malls get SO crazy at this time of year! I find crowds a bit stressful so I try to avoid it. But you picked up some great goodies!

  2. I despise the mall this time of year! So this year, like every other, I plan to buy as many gifts as I can from artists that I know, artists at the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago next month that we will be vending at and small locally owned stores, boutiques, salons, etc. – both here and in NYC when we are there next month.
    I also really LOVE to make gifts for people, too. I feel like this all even more important this year, than ever before!

    1. That sounds great. I love craft fairs and my mom sews and sells her stuff at many craft fairs.

  3. Prrr and studio fix are my favorite things from MAC! I have oily skin, so the studio fix is the only thing that keeps in under control. I do the foundation and powder.

  4. I usually bake things for people because it’s usually all I can afford. Although, if I were shopping I would either shop online or shop in advance because I have absolutely zero desire to deal with crowds.

  5. you know, i genuinely cant remember the last time i was in a mall!?? maybe a little more than a year ago..although I live in NYC which is basically a giant mall so nevermind. this year, i’m definitely going to try to do most of my shopping on line so i don’t have to deal with it.
    i have a clarisonic…meh, i have really really sensitive skin and it always makes me break out and scrapes up my dry skin without really doing anything good for me. i just scored another one as swag at a gala and passed it off to my man, hope he has better luck with it than i do.
    have a great weekend babe!!

    1. that’s very interesting you have sensitive skin and don’t like your clarisonic…I sometimes will overscrub my face with a wash cloth on accident and it leaves me prone to breakouts then…so hmmm on the clarisonic for me too…thanks for this comment and info!

  6. Hi Averie. I was almost done with my comment and I hit something on my computer and I lost it all! What a bummer :( I guess I will try and repeat what I posted. It’s almost like when you leave a message via cell and it cut’s you off halfway and tells you to re-record your message. It’s never left with the same intensity as the first time you left it. If for some chance you get that comment, then please delete one of them.

    Anyway, I am right there with you about the malls this time of year. I live less than 2 miles from my favorite outdoor mall (love that about Cali), similar to your mall, and this time of year I either bike or walk there as I do not want to deal with the obnoxious parking lot. People are shopping out of obligation not fun this time of year and they are frenzied and stressed. I have become a big fan of on-line shopping as well as there are no crowds or lines to deal with. The biggest plus is it’s delivered right to your door!

    I have a MacBook Air as well. I just picked it up about 1 month ago and I LOVE it. I was chained to my bedroom desk anytime I wanted to get on the computer and now I can blog or type anywhere in the house. I am laughing as I write this now as my hubby and I are at the dining table, drinking our morning coffee and typing away on our laptops. He is doing work of course, and I am checking out blogs. I need a cute case to carry mine in as well, so let me know what you end up getting. I was going to check out some cases on-line as I want something girly and cute!

    OK, last but not least, I am a fan of the real housewives as well. My friends and I all kid that we would love to be on the show if they came to Marin. We know of course that we would not fit the bill as we lead pretty normal lives, actually cook for our families and we NEVER fight. We are all about love, peace and hiking. Not sure that is housewive material. The only thing I do not like about the show is all the catty fighting. I tend to fast forward during those scenes. I am hoping that the fighting is all scripted.

    Have a great Saturday. Its sunny up here so I am off for a run in the canyon.

    1. Sorry your comment vanished but I didn’t get the other one :(

      I think the RHW’s of Marin who live normal lives and cook and not fight would be a little too peaceful for ratings purposes..but sounds great for real life :) And yes, I’ve heard the cast has ‘story lines’ they are supposed to follow so it’s not scripted down to the last word but the overall vibe and story line, yes, I have heard they are ‘steered’ in certain directions…with most reality shows have heard that, too.

  7. Fashion Valley! Palm trees! Trader Joe’s! This post has warmed my heart so. A whirlwind tour of all my faves. (I miss them dearly). I’d like to suggest the: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=9&gs_id=y&xhr=t&q=olay+professional&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1116&bih=631&wrapid=tljp1321720515603016&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17175036390003215085&sa=X&ei=yNrHTpX5HtG2twfEsOCJDA&sqi=2&ved=0CJABEPMCMAM#

    Olay Professional instead of Clarisonic — it is great and will save you lots of $.

  8. My plan is to do a bit of christmas shopping while I’m here in Denmark. The Christmas celebration is HUGE here (so I hear) and has already begun with tons of markets and what not. Hope your having a great weekend!