recycling isn't always a good thing...

I had a great need for a white shirt or two and time really mattered.

Since I don't drive and hopping the bus downtown would not have worked into my schedule I was left with waiting for Mr. Kaos to take me shopping one evening...  let's just say that wouldn't be on his list of things to look forward to.

But it occurred to me last night just before I drifted off to sleep that there is a women's clothing consignment shop a few blocks from my house.  I've often noticed cute things in their window but for one reason or another I've never bothered to stop by...

Until today that is.

After picking K up from her music camp she and I took a stroll down to The Silver Lining to take a peek around.  I figured it couldn't hurt.  Worst thing to come of it would be that K and I had a lovely little walk in the summer sun, found nothing and strolled back home.  Best case would be that I was able to find a white polo shirt and some khakis to wear to Camp Naughty.

The store was open and welcoming.  I expected it to be darker and for the clothing to be more jammed together but it wasn't.  The shop was light and airy and the clothes were in wonderful condition, wrinkle (and lint) free and displayed wonderfully.  I quickly found 2 white shirts to try for camp and then as I moved along into the store found a rack of khaki pants.  I picked up a pair of capri's and a pair of long pants and moved along.  Excellent.  Goal met...

Hoping that they'd fit I moved toward the dressing room when black and white silk caught my eye.  I found a lovely dress, then another, then another and then a fantastic black skirt just past knee length.  I couldn't just leave them there so I took pity on them and took them into the dressing room with me.

First I tried on the white shirts, they both worked and since they were very different and it was too hard to choose between them I took both.  This camp counselor will have two shirts to choose from.  I tried on the khaki pants with them (I've been assured by my husband that khaki pants are a must have for camp and since I never went to camp as a kid I was forced to believe him).  The capri's didn't sit right so I decided against them, the long pants on the other hand did some lovely things for my ass so I decided that I would be wearing them to camp.  Next it was the dresses...

Let's just say I didn't buy any of them and move on shall we?

But the skirt?  Oh the skirt... don't be surprised if every time you see me this summer you see me in that skirt.  It was made FOR ME.  It is wonderful and perfect and I love it.  That skirt and I?  We will be very happy together.

I was feeling good.  K (who had been with me the entire time singing about a flower she found on the way to the store) had been patient but it was clearly time to get her back to the house so she could move on to more summery activities.  I returned the clothing that didn't work to the shop keeper and then handed her the items that I did want to buy.  I was almost out of there.  I was spending just over $50 on 2 shirts a skirt and a pair of pants, all lovely, all high quality, all great brands.  They all fit great.  I was wincing a little of course because I wasn't planning on shopping for clothes at all but still, I was confident in my purchases... that's when it happened.

"You saw the room of shoes in the back right?"

I stared blankly at her.  Had I heard her right?  There was a room in back full of shoes?  Surely such a heavenly place couldn't exist...  I smiled, shook my head and indicated that I'd be right back.  It was indeed a room of shoes.  A small room of them, but a room none the less.  I looked for the shelf that said 6 1/2 and then for the shelf that said 7.

Phew.

I breathed a sigh of relief after trying on a few lovely pairs that would be a great addition to the floor of my closet.  I stepped away from the shoes knowing there was nothing there in my size that I had to have and was just turning to go when I saw it...

I checked the price tag, I winced, I set it down.

I looked at the purse I was carrying.  I thought of the purses I have at home.  I thought about the big red leather purse I didn't buy last week because it was too expensive.

I thought about how much this purse cost when it was new.

I picked it back up and opened it.  I looked inside.  I examined every inch of the $25 dollar beauty while telling K to stop trying on the strappy high heels that are so irresistible to children.

"Let's go" I said to K, purse resting comfortably, naturally, perfectly in my hand.  I set it on the counter and had a moment of doubt and then pushed it towards the shop keeper.  "No shoes I needed, but I love this purse"  She smiled and told me that people bring in the absolute best shoes and purses...

I was content knowing that I was shopping with a social and environmental conscience today by buying 2nd hand, buying locally and walking to the store.  I was taking recycling a step further than just adding my recyclable items to the bin.

I paid and walked out smiling with my purchases and then admitted to myself the real reason I had to think twice before buying the purse...

Mr. Kaos...  let's just say he's not as big a fan of purses as I am.

At all.

Still, I'm hoping the fact that he won't have to spend his evening driving me around to look for shirts will help to soften the blow just a little.