Sharing

The whole sharing/trading/giving away thing has been happening quite smoothly.

Recently, a student gave me two huge bags of clothes. Another friend gave me two beautiful blouses. Another friend gave me a gorgeous velvet top. Another a book. And another, another book.

Some of these people know about The Compact, some do not.

A couple of us have decided to do a wardrobe swap instead of a Goodwill drop off. One student asked if she could post some flyers at the studio for a project she's doing in exchange for clothing.

It reminds me that the circle/cycle is wide and in constant flow. I've been thinning again, realizing how much I have that I don't wear/use/need. Even though I haven't acquired much, I still have excess.

It also reminds me of a statement I heard once from Wayne Dyer. He talked about how we often give away our old, used, unneeded stuff after we don't want it anymore. Yet real generosity comes when you give away the thing that is most prized and loved.

This comes to mind when someone compliments a favorite purse or outfit. Perhaps one day I will offer it right off my back.

For now, I will put things back into the flow... when I'm done with them.

Glory

How could I wait two days to write about my SHOPPING excursion!?

Finally, a consignment store that doesn't suck. Renaissance on Fair Oaks. They have shoes, they have purses, they have hats, dresses, pants and shirts.  Plus a sale section.

I bought two dresses, four tops, a scarf and two unreasonably cute sweaters (on layaway because I am spiritually advanced enough to appreciate delayed gratification).

My shopping partner, Tami, hit the big-time as well with 2 dresses, 2 tops and a necklace.

DAMN for not taking pictures.  Next time... oh, and there will be a next time. It was like brown sugar-sweetened chai on crack through a shiny black straw. Not that I've ever tried that.

Strawberry Bikini

When I was little I had a strawberry bikini: green bottoms (probably with a ruffle) and two red strawberries appropriately positioned to make the top.

I'm fairly certain that my bikini can be found in any one of the "vintage" clothing stores in Sacramento. It's too small for even your average sized vegetarian yoga teacher, it has fruit on it, it's primary colors, and you'd only wear it if you were 6. 

Finally I'm shopping... and these are the kinds of things available in the used clothing stores downtown. Call it "vintage," "retro," whatever the hell you want. It's really just bright, doll-sized, Cindy Brady-plays-the-fruit-of-the-looms-mascot ugly.

And where are these people during the day? Like, who wears these clothes? 

The white snap down dress (yes, snaps) in the shape of--and actually less stylish than--an old nurses uniform with mini green apples and pink unicorns sprinkled on it like polka dots.  Yes, miniature green apples and pink unicorns.

How about the canary yellow crocheted "dress" that would cover less than my strawberry bikini. If you're imagining something that could be cute, stop. It wasn't.

Or any one of the macrame vests with designs of flowers, christmas decorations, or, of course, fruit.

Don't think that I don't know cool retro when I see it. I know cool. My strawberry bikini rocks the fruit off of anything else in these stores.

Highly disappointing. And I must say, the new place across the street better get something in other than size 2 jeans and white Mossimo button down blouses--the other end of undesirable. (That totally sounds like an "or else" statement and I got nothin'....) 

What do all the cool people do with their old clothes???

The search continues. I have a little money burning a whole in my pocket. I'm aching for a new top. Or two. 

Can't a girl get something other than snaps and macrame?