Tag: shopping

My Top 5 Distractions

I looooove to procrastinate when it comes to chores and not-so-fun things I have to do or deal with on a personal level. My dad knows this, Daniel knows this, anyone close to me knows this. I’m not proud of it, but I am working on it. I thought I’d share my top 5 distractions these days and how I’m working on combatting them when they arise.

  1. Sleeping. This is my number one distraction, by far. I’m not sure if it’s due to a medical condition/conditions or what, but I’m working through that theory. Hence my surgery this week. So, that’s how I’m combatting that distraction…going down the line of possibilities and trying to eliminate them. Sinus infections/issues, hormones, Sjogrens, Hashimoto’s, etc. ALL THE THINGS. I use my weekends to catch up on sleep. You’d think I had triplets or something as much as I like to sleep on the weekends. This is another reason it’s taking me forever to unpack.
  2. Social Media is probably number 2. It’s not as bad as it used to be, thankfully, but I can still get lost on Instagram or TikTok for far longer than I’d like to admit. When I find myself spending too much time on them I put down the phone or close the computer and pick up something substantial – either my Kindle (if I’m still in a mind mood) or laundry or a box to unpack if I need to do something with my hands.
  3. Television is almost as bad as social media for me. Thankfully we don’t have cable or I fear it would be a lot worse. But we do have all of the digital stuff – Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, Disney+, and a lot of other channels on the Roku that suck me in too many hours that I’d like to admit. I allow myself some TV time, but I try hard not to watch too much “fluff” TV, which is my favorite. If I find myself starting down that path I try to at least change to something educational like a documentary or the like. Baby steps, ya know? lol.
  4. Shopping (window). I love to window shop online. I can spend hours looking at things I’d love to buy, but never do. Clothes, shoes, things for the home, places I want to go, etc. I put tons of things in my cart just for fun, but never check out. The only time I actually shop is if I have a coupon or someone is having a huge sale. If I am spending too long window shopping and I have something I need to get done I close my tab and lose my cart. It’s so sad and all my stuff is gone. lol.
  5. Literally anything else than what I need to do. lol. I am just a procrastinator. But, the reality is that when I finally do whatever it is that I need(ed) to do I’m so happy it’s over with that I’m ecstatic. WHY DON’T I JUST DO IT AND GET IT OVER WITH? I am my father’s daughter. lol. It runs in our family. 🙂 So, yes, we’ll still be unpacking boxes in 2 years from our move and we *might* invite you over in like 5 years to our *new* place. Hold your breath.

Clothes Shopping Makes Me Sick

plaid-dressy

Recently, my fashionista fab friend, Jennifer, asked me if I wanted to have a shopping field trip to my favorite store, Torrid. Let me preface this by saying I HATE shopping for clothes in person. I haven’t shopped for clothes in a physical store in years. As it happens a lot of time, when you are a big girl and the selections are limited, you want to go less and less. Add to that the feeling that nothing fits or looks right, and you pretty much want to bury yourself under your covers and never come out. But, women need clothes and I’m no exception. For me, clothes shopping is akin to going to the dentist – I never go with anyone because I don’t want them to see me cry, sweat, or scream and I get terribly overheated and come out looking like world’s largest radish. So, I browse and click from the comfort of my laptop and try things on privately in my home where I can prance and dance (or burn them) all in secret.

Poor Jennifer had no idea what she was asking when she extended the invitation. Since we are extremely close, I knew I could confide my apprehension to her and she would understand. And she did. But she also asked me to go because she knew I wanted help. I’ve told her more than once how much I love her style and how much I need some style tips and wardrobe suggestions. So, putting my fears and ill feelings aside, I agreed.

Still full of ickiness on Saturday when we met, I was soon at ease. She came in like a fairy Godmother – no kidding – bibbitying and bobbitying all over the store, gathering armfuls of clothes for me to try. Outfit after outfit went from her arms to the saleswomen to the dressing room. I went ahead to the room to mentally braced myself for trying on clothes in the store and in front of someone else that I knew. End result? No big deal at all! Jennifer put the cutest things together, was extremely sweet and supportive of all my insecurities, and quickly squashed any fears that lingered in the dressing room. I felt 16 again, giggling and trying on outrageous outfits alongside tasteful ones and even posed for pictures. PICTURES. AS IN EVIDENCE. AND MY SMILE WAS REAL IN THEM! (blackmail photo above)

She’s not a personal shopper by trade, but the girl has ALL the skills to be one and I know she’d love the opportunity to help anyone with tips and ideas. I asked her for shoe, jewelry, and outerwear advice along with the outfits we put together. We both left with some great outfits and I didn’t vomit. HUGE win. Because of Jennifer I can say with certainty that I will venture back into Torrid in the future to shop and try clothes on. Sometimes all we need is a fairy Godmother!

No Way! A Giveaway?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/8205052316/
Image by Steve Snodgrass via Flickr/Creative Commons

Anyone who has met me likely knows (already) that I am very excitable. Most every day I act like a kid on Christmas morning…animated, childish, loving, and happy. I am constantly in awe of things around me, full of wonder, and think miniature anything is the cutest.thing.ever. All that to say I am a kid in a candy store today, excited to be doing my first blog giveaway!

Thanks to my friend Rachel Callahan earlier this month I attended an Alabama Blogger event at The Outlet Shops of Grand River to get some fashion tips and learn about the newest Fall trends from Tracy James Robinson of Chic Made Simple. It was a gloriously successful day that ended with me discovering my new favorite clothing store, Maurices, and buying way too many cute clothes. In our swag bags, the Shops included a $50 Gift Card to give away to one of our wonderful blog readers. I’ve decided to make this a fun giveaway voted on BY the people, FOR the people.

Picture Perfect Holiday Giveaway

I’m sending you on a picture-taking field trip. Below are the criteria:

  • Picture #1 – Yourself with a holiday elf
  • Picture #2 – Yourself with any item sold at the Shops at Grand River or by any of the parent shops associated with the outlet stores found at Grand River. (Example: if you own a Coach purse or a piece of Le Creuset, take a picture of yourself with it. You can find a complete list of shops here.)
  • Picture #3 – Yourself with your favorite thing in or about Birmingham.

Bonus points for creativity and originality!

Your submission will be the 3 pictures emailed to me at sherri at yougotrossed dot com. All 3 pictures together will count as 1 (one) entry into the contest. One entry per person.

I will choose 3 finalists from all entries and post them in a new blog post on December 7th. I will then enlist you, my faithful blog readers, to vote on your favorite set of pictures in the Comments section of that post and the one with the most votes at 5 p.m. on December 14th will win the gift card…just in time to get some holiday shopping done at the best outlet stores around!

Happy picture taking!

If you haven’t visited the Shops yet, I encourage you to do so. Ever since moving back to Birmingham a few years ago, I’ve been a frequent guest of them. I love that I can tackle any and all gifts in one place at one time for any occasion. The drive isn’t far, the deals are phenomenal, and the selection is outstanding.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.