Tag Archives: thrifty

It seems like just as soon as I clink the champagne glasses I notice they’re half empty.


Todays is a better day.  I am exhausted, bloated, and staring at $1000 dollars worth of textbooks on the couch.  Sounds like the ideal friday night, right?

Actually, it’s slightly refreshing to be completely worn out.

I finally finished my job hunt- I think.  I was asked to work for THREE different places.  It’s really flattering, but I forgot how much work, work is. If that makes sense.

I decided on taking jobs at Coach and BCBG, and thanking but declining Ann Taylor’s offer.  I was really excited about Ann initially, but did not expect the incredible response.

These job opportunities are making it easier staying home.  It gives me another purpose!  But, I have a feeling 2 20-25 hour a week jobs and 23 credit hours is going to make me declare an insanity plea.

In my Coach interview I did say my weakness was biting off more than I can chew.

Except you have to understand where I am coming from.  Coach only hired me for 2.5 weeks, seasonally.  And then they have to make the decision to keep me or let me go, and this goes through Coach headquarters.  The store is only allowed to ask a certain number of seasonal people to become part time employees, if any and I won’t know until February 3rd if I am one of them.  I couldn’t resist the job though, such a big job and a generous wage that I was unfamiliar with in small town USA!  I am taking the risk, but I changed my starting date at BCBG to February 4th in case Coach is not interested or I decide it isn’t for me.

I think it was a smart decision, that way I am not “looking a gift horse in the mouth” as my dad says.  I am happy with the outcome, although there are cons to working at such a strict serious company.  The dress code of indigo jeans, british tan or cognac shoes, white pressed and starched button down, navy cardigan or v-neck sweater (no sparkly buttons), light make up, only essie ballet slipper or really red nail polish, and understated jewelry is definitely preppy.. but I feel identity-less, even if it isn’t an atrocious blue pilled K-mart polo.  BCBG is flexible with leggings and dress pants, but there are cons to that too.

Don’t get me wrong, both stores are wonderful and as my contracts with both stores entail I am not revealing any company secrets or something..  I just forgot how nice not being told what to do was.  How working retail no matter the status is tedious and fake feeling..  It’s constantly about impressing people, and being treated like an ID number in some clock-in clock-out system.

I’m reading a book in Intro to Entrepreneurship about.. you guessed it: Entrepreneurship.  And I completely understand the appeal to being your own boss.  I don’t mind waiting on people, I just like being treated with respect.

And after a man rejected my 30% Coach coupon, because he did not need my pity cash (after purchasing nearly 1000 dollars worth of inventory, I think that’s incredibly dumb) and many people walked past me greeting them saying they were so happy not to have me job.. Respected wasn’t exactly what I was feeling.

So maybe that means I pay my 2.5 weeks dues, and move on to BCBG. But maybe it’ll be the same deal, just a little less pay. So is that worse?  I know I need to work, I need the money.

Or I want the money.

I need a thicker skin. I need a more positive attitude.

3 out of 4 locations I applied to at the outlet mall wanted me!

It seems like just as soon as I clink the champagne glasses I notice they’re half empty.

This week’s shopping critiques


Camped out under the blankets on my couch currently, I’ve been forbidden to go on the computer. It’s thundering and lightning like CRAZY out here. My bronzey sequined top and dark wash capris reflect the weather and the mood perfectly.
My dark wash jeans also look great with my NEW dark brown hair! You read correctly! I am no longer blonde. I had a long weekend away full of shopping and best friend time to distract me from telling you of my latest impulse change and for once it was a success!!
What else was a success?
Me purchasing the new rose gold and pearl watch from Fossil. I couldn’t resist… And even though I’m now a step farther away from a Mac? I’m a step closer to the wardrobe of my dreams. Accessories included.
Today I also got 2 sweaters for a total of $5. I’ve learned you can’t judge a store by its window display;

the more modern version of not judging a book by its cover.

DEB. (the store) Past the cheesy “made in china” sequinned surface are 50% off racks of wool sweaters with great winter designs, for $2.50. I’m not meaning to be so harsh on the brand, because in eighth grade I went through that phase.. But when a 50 year old women with a saggy tan and bleached white hair is sporting your style as well as the local 12 year old? I have every right to judge.
Anyways, go into DEB. Find some sweaters. And then never go in again…
I also found a lace sequined top in JcPenney. It may sound hypocritical since I just had a hating on sparkle session in DEB but everything is good in moderation and everything is even better mixed with lace. I’m a huge promoter of their new best pricing strategy.
Who am I not promoting if the typically low scoring stores are ranking high in my book?
New York and Company.
The colors theyre color blocking are hideous this season, the coupon’s small print is still infuriating me, and the local store smelled like old women. Nothing welcomes young clientele more..
American Eagle
The concept of their new skinny kick jeans was great, but not everyone is built like Shay Mitchell from PLL and where as I used to fit consistently in their jeans, now they’re much too long. AND I’M NOT A PETITE CHICK! At 5’7, I am the average hight of the American women and I shouldn’t need to buy a short in jeans. No matter how tempting the navy sequins on the back pocket logo are.
Well, that’s all of my critiques for tonight. The storm stopped and thumbs are going to get carpletunnel from typing on this tiny screen.
Your welcome.
Allison

Life is like a steak salad


Hey dolls!

Phew. This weekend hasn’t even felt like a weekend! Remember how I said I wasn’t scheduled to work except for Saturday to work? And how I was going to get so much done? Oh, I got a lot done all right..

Friday:

Our well water has some bacteria in it so we have to kill it.. and my shower, sinks, and everything reek of bleach. Nothing better to wake you up in the morning. And I have to brush my teeth with a bottle of spring water.

Feel like prison much? Nah, that was later on.

Yearbook ceremony.. in which I decided while everyone is getting teary eyed and emotional about being seniors I would just like to leave. Like years ago. But I am stuck fake smiling in this institution.. only 9 more days.

That further inspired me to go into work. They called me in after school 4:30-10:30 and I was fuming with highschool disgust at my classmates and decided I needed to take some of this frustration out folding clothes at Kmart.

Logical.

If I hadn’t come in, I would just be watching “Lie to me” this new show on netflix that I am absolutely obsessed with, for the whole night. (foreshadowing)

Saturdy:

I was exhausted from working that 6 hour shift.. and then got up for another one. Except 9 hours this time.

Beautiful.

Actually, it was like something inside of me just WANTED to work a 9 hour shift.. because I wasn’t scheduled until 11 and showed up at 10. Do you know what a difference that hour makes?

A big one.

An hour to sleep, shop, blog.. whatever it may be. It was an hour that would’ve separated me further from the 9 hour shift the night before.

But I toughed it out. I worked 10-7.. I felt faint and hungry. I stopped at Wal Mart (the best retail in the valley.. GAG) and bought kiwi, blue cheese crumblys, raspberries, and blackberries. I was craving a steak salad with the steak I had at home.. I sped to it. For at 7:30? I was being an overachiever. I was babysitting.

And it wasn’t even my own siblings.

Yea, I was late. I arrived at 7:40. I can’t lie. I was bitter and sat for approximately 30 seconds wallowing in the fact that I bought toppings for my salad and the lettuce was rotten.

Whatever.

I made it, I survived. I got home just before midnight;

like Cinderella leaving the ball, except much more scummy.

I felt like an hour later I was disturbed though. I woke up at 8:15 to a little boy and a bunch of squinkies in my bed.. if I aren’t familiar with squinkies, they are very annoying little rubber creatures. About 20 of them find themselves in my bed each morning with my brother Owen, and they’ll never be seen again.

I somehow fell back to sleep though, missing 9AM mass. My mom was bitter and took my phone.

It was really dumb, if we’re being completely honest here.

Thankfully, when I woke up at 10:15 and got my phone back, the rare ocurance of my father vouching on my behalf happened and off to 11AM mass I went.

It wasn’t like I was going to skip. Just a girl worked the bone NEEDS her beauty sleep.

The good news is, for some reason I was paid double what I expected, when I was babysitting.

Oh, and you know what else is good news?

I am guesting on a radio show for Teena Cathey June 6th, this Wednesday at 11 EST! Tune in on the link below: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-teena-cathey-show/2012/06/06/part-2-you-can-be-fabulous-on-a-budget#.T8kpZ4bSKfc.email

I’m going to dicuss frugal shopping and prom :).

Today:

I’ve been up to my eyeballs in homework interspersed with “Lie to me” episodes.

So this weekend has been interesting. My weekend has been busy and bustling and then completely dead.

My weekend has been like that steak salad.

Except I never ate the salad because the lettuce was gross. I had crumbly blue cheese, almonds and cranberries together. It was really good actually.. some black berries and raspberries separately and a cheese stick.

Last but not least, I’d like to leave you with some words of wisdom though.

When you have the desire to paint your nails at 1:30 am, make sure they dry before you fall asleep.

(whoops)


Allison