The Diaries of a Shopaholic

So the title of this entry isn't really accurate. I am not a shopaholic. In fact, I don't like shopping even if it is for things like groceries which are essential to living. I think shopping is somewhat useless unless I'm in the mood for it. Unfortunately, this is not how most people my age think. They, as well as I, have been bombarded by the media's portrayal of what we should waste our limited free time doing which is shopping. I am positive that I have never in my life uttered the words to my friends, "So like, do you want to go to the mall like later? We can sit in the food court and like eat New York Fries and like look at boys and gossip and like go to the Gap and like buy clothing that is like way too overpriced and like it'll be fun! Right!?!" If I see one more girl wearing a lululemon sweater I'm going to scream! They're not even that popular anywhere else except in Alberta! This is the reason we all have a skewed vision of what "pretty" is.

Anyway, so I went to the store the other day to find a winter coat. This has been, in recent years, a difficult task. It might be because I am a somewhat picky shopper and because its hard to find clothes in general for me, a plus size, five foot ten inch young lady who takes pride in the way she looks. (This statement may not be in line with the Ingrid that you know if you've worked at camp with me in the past couple of years. I looked especially unkempt this past summer but that's what working in a hot kitchen does to you.) Contrary to popular belief, we "big girls" have never been fans of muumuus. Anyway, I have had particularly bad luck with winter coats in the past because styles have been ugly. Times have been desperate though. I actually bought an orange coat that was two sizes to big in my second year of university because it was on sale. That was a mistake. I looked like a mandarin orange the whole winter. So, if you ever learn anything from me, it should be never buy anything because it's a good price. That advice is not just for clothes either. It includes groceries, cars, computers etc.

So, back to the story. I found TWO coats that I like this year. That never happens! Now it comes down to a choice. It is always so hard for me. I hate making decisions. I'm always scared I'm going to make the wrong one because so many times before I have. (ie, orange coat!) Either way, I will have to live with the decision. For Pete's sake there are people living in Africa that don't have running water and I'm complaining about a silly winter coat! The song "You're So Vain" by Carly Simone comes to mind right now. Choices and decisions!