I SO need to learn to sew.

I realized this when I was in J. Jill and actually thinking of spending $59 for a really basic cotton skirt. I didn't, but I was so desperate by then I actually considered it seriously.

Shopping was so frustrating. This bright cheery color thing has been taken too far - every store at the mall looked like Lilly Pulitzer had thrown up in there. (Oh, and if you follow the link and see all those cute, trendy girls wearing this stuff, trust me, that's not who wears this stuff.) I love Shrek green and Dreamsicle orange and all the rest, I really do - but not on my entire body from head to toe, when I need to go to work in a law office. I would pair a lime green top with black slacks and a jacket, but not with the lime green floral pants that seemed to be everywhere. It's really overkill. Some stores nearly caused retina burn.

I did find some reasonably nice and feminine things to pair with the basic black I already own, so at least I didn't have to resort to dressing like a guy to buy anything at all, but as a major shopping excursion, this one sucked.

I left the house at 10 a.m. for my haircut. The Great One did his usual amazing speed cut and followed it up by not drying it any way I'd actually wear it. I always walk out of there looking like Betty Friggin' Crocker, but he does a perfect cut so I tolerate his quirks with the blow dryer. Wetting my head fixes that, but the right cut is everything. I'm growing out my super-short cut of last summer for something a bit more moderate - perhaps a layered bob somewhat like the Girlchild's great hair, but with long bangs. My hair grows too damn fast, it's like I'm shampooing with Miracle Gro - I would have to get it cut every 4 weeks like clockwork to maintain a short style, and my schedule doesn't permit that sort of standing appointment. So Betty Crockerhead went on to the Mall at Millenia to try to find something to wear. Anything. Please. I got home after 4, after hitting another mall and SteinMart and Ross, and the best score of the day was a new iced tea pitcher at Crate and Barrel. Clothing was a pain in the ass.

Even my mainstay Ann Taylor let me down - shocking, I know. It was full of really lovely summer dresses, and I do want some for church and socializing, but not for work. Otherwise it was totally "Eh." I really, really need to learn to sew.

I'm going to start with a week of fooling with the sewing machine while Men with Tools (thanks Bess) are ripping out my kitchen.