I am a snobby shopper.

I mean, I'm not a snob, I think I'm friendly to a fault to salespeople, but my comfort level definitely lies in shopping at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom and I sometimes find myself feeling decidedly uncomfortable when shopping at say, Mervyns or JC Pennys. To be fair, I grew up shopping with my mom at more upscale department stores, I didn't even know there WERE stores other than Nordys till I was 13 and went on my first shopping trip with a friend. It's funny to remember now how exotic and exciting those trendy shops lining the mall filled with neon pink and poorly sewn hemlines seemed to me at the time. I vowed never to waste another second in stuffy old Nordstroms again--especially since my hard earned dollar went so much further in these teenage girl focused shops.


Anyway, as I grew older and came to finally understand the importance of well made clothing, and now had the paycheck and credit line of a 20-something professional, I ventured back onto the gleaming hardwoods of Nordstrom and felt like I was coming home. And that feeling still holds true today. I love shopping at Nordstrom. I really do. I love perfect seams, I love free alterations, I love personal shoppers, I love salespeople that truly know the clothing line that they're selling (granted, I've had less than good luck with this in the juniors department, but I'll give it a pass since I never shop there anymore anyway), and I love love love their shoe department--best service ever and gorgeous footwear in size 11.



So, finally, back to my point. I'm poor. I don't use credit cards and I'm soon to be unemployed. I'm at a crossroads. My first choice is to just shop less, only buy things I really need but continue to look for the quality I've come to expect from Nordstrom. The problem is that I really don't have much self-control, I feel nervous about walking into a department for a new sweater and leaving with $200 worth of clothes. Plus, to be honest, at this point I really have zero budget for clothing, great quality or not. So when the need say, for a bathing suit or a new maternity dress arise, I'm really at the point of feeling like my only options are lesser quality stores. So three weeks ago I made peace with my lot in life and walked into JC Pennys to find a new dress. It didn't go well. I left with no dress, a screaming three year old, and a frustrated husband.



I wasn't trying to be a snob! Honestly, I just wanted a salesperson to point me in the right direction of the correct department. Then, having found the dress I was looking for, I simply needed someone to direct me to a dressing room. These should not be ridiculous requests! Especially in a teeny, suburb-sized department store! Ugh, it was so freaking frustrating! Finding what I needing, finding a person to ask questions of, finding a place to try the clothes on...None of it was easy. I ended up leaving my clothes hanging on a random rack and storming (quite diva like) out of the store.



I didn't want to act like a shopping snob! I really didn't and I'm truly embarrassed but my god it sucked in there! The racks of polyester were so closely placed that I couldn't even get my moderately pregnant self between them! I vowed never to go back.



Fast forward two weeks; I need a bathing suit. Ok, mind steeled for the worst I make my way back into Pennys. I know where I'm going this time and manage to pick out a few suits to try. (the facts that nothing was in order by size and that the entire department was completely unorganized--kind of like some one just threw the entire shipment of bathing suits into a corner and left them to die--will be left unmentioned ; or you know, not. Whatever) Ok, step one accomplished. Next step, finding a dressing room. The first saleswoman looked at me blankly. The second pointed me 1/2 way across the store to the lingerie department. (would it kill the company to have a few more freaking changing rooms?) When I got there the salesperson (after taking three or four minutes to finish counting something seemingly in her head out loud) informed me that there was a long wait but if I wanted to find another dressing room there was one on the other side of the store.

Ok. So that was nice of her to tell me I suppose, instead of just having me stand there in line. I was feeling really irritated with her but I guess she did help me out. So I make my way to the other side of the store and happily find an entire bank of empty dressing rooms; I go into the first open room and what do I find on the bench? A FREAKING BLOODY COTTON BALL STUCK TO ONE OF THOSE SKIN CLOSURE TAPES!!! OMG!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? Oh my god; like someone got a blood draw and then just threw their nasty bodily fluid on the bench in the dressing room. Who the hell are these people???

I have no words. Well, clearly I have a ton of words but the blood soaked cotton did leave me speechless for a good few minutes. Anyway, lesson learned, no more shopping for me. Not for a long time, not until I can afford to walk back into Nordy's. :(