Retail Therapy

One of my biggest takeaways from spending all my free time at home is how much I value putzing aimlessly around stores. I get out of work at 3:30pm so I have a good chunk of my day left and wandering around a store is a good way for me to switch out of work mode and prepare me for the rest of my evening. Most of the time, I just pop into a grocery store to pick up fresh ingredients for that night's dinner, but other times I'll find myself wandering the aisles of TJ Maxx/Marshall's, a thrift store, or maybe a craft store. Possibly a book store. I don't always buy anything but I enjoy it all the same.

All that was to give my rationalization for going on a mini online shopping spree. It's not quite the same as going out of course, but it is a fun way to get a little retail therapy and switch brain-gears after work.

The recent purchase I am most excited about are THESE AMAZING SHOES:

They're leather and shiny and metallic and kind of match the rug in our bedroom. They're from the Keds site and I got them for a steal- only $27, much better than their original $99 price tag. I shied away from Keds for a long time because I thought of them as more of a preppy shoe- which is definitely not my style- but they have some amazing patterns and styles out now and I would highly recommend checking them out. They're amazingly comfortable (super squishy soles!) and I love the slight platform sole. I'm even considering some Kate Spade Keds for my wedding shoes!

My work requires me to wear shoes that allow for a wide range of physical activity so these'll get a ton of wear.  Because of that physical activity, I wear a lot of casual, easy to move in, I-won't-cry-if-it-gets-dirty-or-ruined clothes so I like getting shoes that dress it up a little while still being functional. Perfect! 

Another part of my work dress code is to go easy on the dangly jewelry which is unfortunate because I LOVE jewelry (jewelry-making is one of my hobbies!). I wear rings (engagement and one other usually), always a watch, sometimes a bracelet, never a necklace, and only stud earrings. It's not strictly forbidden to dangle but you run the risk of getting something yanked out/off and I'd... rather not have that happen. 

I've been particularly bored with my stud collection lately so I decided to go though everything and get rid of what I didn't want which gave me a good (sure...) excuse to get new ones. I haven't received them in the mail yet but check 'em out:

Live long and prosper! I got these bad boys from a shop on Etsy. They seem like they'll be a great size- big enough to see the print on it but not huge. They're a super classic shape but with a very me-approved twist so I'll get a ton of wear out of these. 

I love the idea of these earrings- a bookish step-up from simple silver studs. From the reviews, they also seem like they'll be the perfect size. For my 2 earring purchases I got in touch with my geeky side and my book loving side- can you guess how else I've been spending my free time lately??

I'm gonna lay off the shopping for a little while now but I'm pretty thrilled with my purchases and can't wait to get the rest in. As for right now, the pre-dinner cocktail my fiancé made me will help switch my brain out of work mode (Bombay Sapphire gin + Sanpellegrino Limonata- good for when you're lazy but also fancy). Cheers!

I'm definitely not crying... (source)