everyone needs an outlet

Everyone in my house had plans. They were all going off somewhere, so I decided I'd take myself to the outlet center.
It's a little over an hour away and I only go if I know I need something there.

I made a little list:

Some of our Sausalito dishes from Pottery Barn are cracked. They always end up at my place at the table.

K has put his elbow through 4 shirts. I have repaired two of them and he has put his elbow through the repairs too.

The boys sheets are looking pretty awful. I think they must have talons for toenails and I only have one set for each bed. They've stopped sleeping with top sheets. Did you know it is nearly impossible to purchase (for a reasonable price) twin fitted sheets without the rest of the set?

I left after I drove boys to school and the train and I arrived just before the stores opened.
AND I TOOK PICTURES.
For you....

My first stop was Pottery Barn. For the dishes. Which there were none of. It's a good thing K didn't come with me - he would have been aggravated and this would have dampened my spirits for the hours of browsing I was then forced to do.
They did have some neat stuff at PB though -



I love the IDEA of this long sheet music. I don't necessarily LOVE this particular music, but I do need something like this for over our fireplace.



There were sold in sets of two.
I don't really need two - and neither of them moved me.
Also, it was fake piano roll music and that pissed me off.
Good concept, poor execution.



The shower curtains were nice. Well made. But at $30 I thought they were a little too expensive. $24.95 would have made me think twice.
(All this stuff ends up on ebay you know. People can be seen with giant carts full of stuff they are going to sell on ebay from this place - and now you know why it isn't especially cheap there either.)



I need two of these shadowbox frames for antique prints I have. They were on sale for $20 each. I didn't buy them.



I didn't buy this either, but we need one desperately. $53.00.
There was lots of Christmas crappe at PB/Williams-Sonoma. I had the sudden inspiration that I might find some of that peppermint bark. But it wasn't to be.



I ruined one of our sauce pans. It was Revere Ware and not heavy enough for our stove.
Some day I will replace it with one of these.

I stared for a long time at the dishes. They had Sausalito dishes, but not white ones. They had white dishes, but not Sausalitos.
I bought some cocktail napkins. $2.99.

My next stop was a Wamsutta outlet store that was closing. For the sheets. For the boys. It took some scrounging around but I got three twin fitted sheets in Egyptian cotton, in ecru, for $4.99 each. Three hundred thread count. I was very proud.

My next stop was Saks Off Fifth. I wanted to look at shirts for K. I was hoping they would have some Faconable shirts. They didn't. And now that I am home I realize that it is NORDSTROM that carries Faconnable. Damn it.

I had a great time browsing at things I would have no occasion to wear.
I saw a wonderful Prada bag. Imagine if I had a Prada bag? It's funny really.
I saw lots of sweaters that looked boring on their hangers -





they were $40 - $60, which is good, but not great. I don't need knits.

Saks is a fun place to look at fantasy clothing -



Each piece was $120. Marked down from three hundred. I didn't need any of them either.

I saw some nice Eileen Fisher things, but I was truly dismayed to see that they were poorly made. Now what am I going to wear when I am old?




I'm sort of stumped on the short sleeved wool jacket thing. I know if I was a tall thin twenty something with a cashmere tank top and skinny jeans tucked into boots that I wouldn't be stumped, but as a nearly 50, short, curvy mom who would go crazy if her pants were tucked into her boots, I DON'T GET IT.



There were WALLS of cape-coat things. The cape-coat - a whim that never really caught on. I thought I wanted one last year and then I went and sat in my car and tried to figure out how I would drive with my arms through those slits and THAT WAS THE END OF IT. Judging from the number of them on sale ($100) I'm thinking I'm wasn't the only person who figured that out.

I looked at lots of lovely outerwear and then WHAT DID I SPY?



A small, heavy, chunky Mischa Lampert scarf.



It was not in good condition...



but I was tempted nonetheless. You see, I know her whole story, Mischa Lampert. I know that her grandfather CARVED her knitting needles. Or something.
But the pilled scarf, an art form, really, was $40. Which is too much for such a silly thing. Besides, I like her hats better.

The J Crew outlet had nothing for me, though the corduroy pants held promise, I didn't feel like undressing. I scored a couple of shirts for K. Please remember, as you walk through Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers and J Crew that K NEEDS a pocket in his shirt. So. Don't bother with any that don't have one. Also? He doesn't like stripes or rugby shirts and has too many blue shirts. I know that limits us. DEAL WITH IT.

My last stop was the Barney's outlet. Barney's is very eclectic and I love it. There were wonderful handbags and blouses and shoes and coats there.



I always fall in love with coats at Barney's and this time was no exception. But I don't really NEED a coat.

Don't worry - I bought something...



I bought a hat.
And I luff it.
And I drove home in the rain, singing out loud to the radio and had a very nice time.
I was just in time to pick up a cup of coffee and meet the train.

And which of the items not purchased will haunt me?
The picture frames, the saucepan, and the coat.

But not for long.