Forever 21? I Don’t Think So.

Lisa's Blog
14 Comments

For five weeks in a row I have to drive Jacob, number one son, to the big city to take his CLEP tests.  It goes like this: drive for an hour, kill three hours, drive another hour home.  Fun.

I’ve been taking a different daughter with me to enjoy one on one time with each of them.  Yesterday I took Faith, my mini-me.  She’s quirky, quiet and interesting.  Her pace is slow and she loves to look at clothes.  She and I are two peas in a pod.

We really didn’t have much to do while we waited for Jacob, so we decided to wander around the mall and drool over Anthropologie and Pottery Barn. But we never made it to either of those places.  We found something amazing…..Forever 21 has a bunch of reasonably priced vintage style clothing that is modest and adorable. No, I’m not kidding.

When I saw the store I remembered that I heard they sell stylin’ sunglasses for $5.  I need some new sunglasses, so we decided to pop in.  I had never been into Forever 21 because, well, do I need to explain?  Do the words old, fat, poor and good-taste give you a clue?   (speaking of forever 21, today my Gracie is 21….can’t believe it!)

We weren’t 2 steps in the door when we spotted a long dress that was really cute and cost only $13.  We looked at each other in shock and excitement.  We started browsing around and despite the jarring, irritating music, we were having a pretty good time.  We took armloads of things into the dressing room for Faith to try on.  But the dumb store only lets you take 6 things at a time.  This policy makes me crazy.

Note to clothing retailers: If you let me take more things in the dressing room…..I will BUY MORE!

OK, now I feel better.  What was I saying?  Oh yeah, cute clothes.

We got her a long, 70’s style maxi skirt that reminds me of the skirts I wore when I was young.  Groovy man.  Peace out.

After an hour in the young, trendy store we left to pick up Jacob (He passed his test…yahoo!  Homeschooling ROCKS) and drove back home.  We would have liked to do a little more shopping, but Jacob, despite my efforts to train him, despises shopping and the very idea of going into Forever 21 would have blown his testosterone filled mind.

Tomorrow I am heading with some friends to Round Top to hit the best flea market in Texas.  I can’t tell you how much I love this place.  I’m looking for some things to re-purpose and sell in Shop 24.  If you’re going to be there, message me on Twitter and we’ll meet up for some tornado taters, my favorite.

I’ve loaded the mini van with my Canton cart, my closed toed shoes, some water bottles, hand sanitizer and some fruit.  That’s enough to get me through a day at the flea market.  Oh!  And my Fossil purse that I can wear across my chest.  The one that makes me look like a dork.  So if you are looking for me, I’ll be easy to spot.  I’ll be the heavy woman in a skirt with tennis shoes and a purse across her belly.  And don’t forget the shopping cart.  Yep.  Look for the homeless person.

Early to bed.  Early to Round Top.

Se y’all when I get back!

14 Comments

  2. What a wonderful discovery! That is so nice. We don’t have that store here.

    Congratulations to your son for passing his test!! That is fantastical!

    Have a great time at Round Top. We want to live vicariously through you since we can’t go, so take lots of pictures. 🙂

  4. oh i am soooo jealous!

    hope you have the best time ever at round top!

    please tell me you are bringing your camera. i know you don’t like to bring that camera, but you should!

    i’ve never been in a forever 21…heard great things, but i guess it’s good i don’t know what i’m missing.

    xoxo

  5. I’m so glad to have the “Forever 21 Insider Tip For Modest and Budget Conscious Moms.” I’d never heard of the store either but then again, I’ve not heard of too many “cool” stores. (I’m not very cool.)

    Sounds like you have a great trip planned searching for treasures; that’s also one of my favorite things to do. And with all the exercise you’ll get tromping all over the place, you can stop for an extra yummy dessert on the way home. I hereby give you Yummy Dessert Permission!

    Becky

  6. Heather, my next adventure is lunch with YOU!

    Antbed, I love your word….fantastical. Can I use it?

    Kellie, wish you were going with us!!!

    Becky, I shall print out your comment for when I stop at Dairy Queen on the way home for a Chocolate Extreme Blizzard. Thanks! 😉

    Lisa~

  7. I love forever 21 & you are right, a lot of their stuff is fine to wear & it is cheap! They usually have a lot of clearance stuff too! And you can’t beat it for accessories!!!

  9. Just re-discovered Forever XXI for myself down in Texas earlier this month. My girls LOVE Forever XXI! Look on the bottom of their bag. (I recently shared a photo of this bag on a “Wordless Wednesday.”) John 3:16! Gotta love that.

    And a swingpack is the way to go– for shopping, for traveling, for life-ing. I have a Coach swingpack that I bought at an Outlet for less than $80. I’ve literally beat the tar out of it since 2006. It’s brown and goes with probably every single thing I own. (I don’t wear black. Brown is my black.) I’ve travelled all over North America and the Pacific Ocean with my swingpack. It’s become my purse-onal trademark. *HA* With its front and back pouches, brass rings and brass zipper, it ably holds my boarding passes, passport, the slim yet mighty Coach credit card/coin wallet, a small packet of tissues, an ink pen and a snack size ziptop bag filled with three things: mini santizer, chapstick and tube hand cream. Besides car keys, what else do I need? Makes for hands-free shopping and movement. YAY! Hmm. It never once occurred to me that it makes me look like a dork. I get compliments on my swingpack all the time!

    Have fun at the Round Top!

    Signed,
    Jealous thrifting champ

  10. Aaaagh! I’m being eaten alive be the envy monster. I’m so jealous, I wanted to go to RT…hubby and I talked at length about going. Who knows maybe in the fall we can go.
    It’s been on my bucket list for awhile now.

    Did you do the VIB promo so you get in free?

  11. Are ya back? Didja have fun? Didja spend a lot of money? Did you stop ten times to go potty? Were benevolent strangers handing you cash or offering to get you help?
    (I am happy to hear that at least some stores still carry SOMETHING our daughters can wear and hooray for Jacob passing the test!)
    Homeschooling does rock–I miss it sometimes…
    Can’t dwell there, or I’ll need some meds.
    I hope you had lots of fun and found some coolio stuff!
    HUGS!
    ~me

  12. I recently picked up a cute dress and gauzy cover-up type shirt-thing to wear over something sleeveless at Forever 21 and was impressed with the price but got a bonus smile when swishing my shopping bag back and forth and noticing, on the bottom. “John 3:16” printed there. 🙂

    Have fun in Round Top. I’m painfully jealous! 🙂

  14. Hi, me again. I replied to your comment on my page but thought it very unlikely you’d actually see it there, so: Thanks! You {totally} made my day. And I’m flattered that you want to link to it, be my guest (of course). Thanks for the encouragement!

    Again, have fun in Round Top. I was dying to go this year, being my first year in Texas and all. Maybe someday!

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