I spent yesterday window shopping with the BF at a mall in Tampa. He had a dentist appt rescheduled so we had a bonus day off together. We had gone there before to go to Nordstrom to look for suits for him. Seems it's always in a rush to somewhere else - a ballgame or museum - so we never just browse around. Come to find out there's everything from an Anne Fontaine store to Burberry, Gucci and Coach. I didn't visit those but had lots of fun popping into Bebe and BCBGeneration and Guess! I actually felt and tried on a dozen leather coats and faux fur, including the vest from Forever XXI that I'd been debating on. The BF said I looked like a pagan ha ha ha. I agree it was too furry with my hair. I was drawn to the drape of a Tommy Bahama waterfall taupe coat but it was tissue thin at $500!
I really liked a faux leather and shearling cream coat at Guess, but xs was the only size in stock (on 40% off of $128!). It zipped up, but I wasn't wearing any substantial layer under either. The BF liked the merlot colored faux fur at Express except for the zip up closure. We both agreed buttons or open would have been so much better. EDIT: http://www.express.com/faux-mi...../index.pro

Through all this, he said," you know, you shouldn't just get the best of the lot that you can find. You should get what you really want. That is why we always have a closet full of Mo clothes that get worn a few times and then donated a year later." Smart man!!

The point of all of this is that after this long day of shopping (and eating mmmm!) I came home, logged on, and found out I became a veteran yesterday! What a perfect way to celebrate a year of being here. Smart shopping

(we both came away empty handed but it was a successful shopping trip in many ways!)