An open letter to 'Village Discount' with an addendum to its patrons...

Dear Village Discount,

It has been a long, rocky relationship, but we're through. At first you had so much to offer- your racks were plentiful and color-coordinated, your purses didn't have mold, and your shoes, oh! Your shoes. At first I was willing to give my time, energy and money to scouring your aisles in hopes of that one thrilling vintage find, be it clothing or a painting so odd I just could not dare pass it up.

Then, seemingly overnight, your aisles became piles of rags, your poor employees left to manage them. Your half price days ridiculous displays of human carnage, with patrons stopping where ever they pleased. Children running amok, despite your pleas in several languages not to leave them 'unattended'. For a while, I was able to over look this. Today, however, was the last straw.

Through the dust, grime and dirt; tirelessly, but politely, pushing through throngs of people; past an employee who actually threw a hanger at me and whacked my ankle, I saw it. The vintage find of them all- a cashmere, beaded, sequined cardigan. Could it be? Yes. My g-d, no stains. Satin trimmed edges. No frivolous buttons. Not one, solitary bugle bead missing. And in my size!

I die.

Wait. No! Don't end this sweet dream! Not another nightmare! Staples in the tag...evidence it was there...but where is the price? WHERE?!

Oh, Village Discount, I've endured your ridiculous policies before- remember the coat with the fur collar? How about that YSL dress you offered Jamie, then so cruelly took back? No price, no sale. No argument.

Sorry, VD, but I'm moving on to bigger better things. Real vintage stores. EBay. Maybe the prices are a little higher, but that's something I'm willing to accept for cleanliness, no children and someone willing to sell me something I deserve.

With a single tear,

Mindi

Addendum, posted to the asshole who removed said price tag:

Seriously. Are you an idiot, or just on meth? It is the Midwest, so maybe both.
No price, no sale. It's common knowledge. Don't think I don't know what you're up to- you see the item, think it's 'overpriced', try to remove the tag to argue with the manager, but oops. No dice. Well, don't f&*k it up for the rest of us, DB. We will find you, and hit you over the head with our thrift-scored Coach messenger bags. At let me tell you, those puppies hurt...when they're filled with bricks.

Dog sitting...

Links ahoy!

I'm dog sitting for the next week and a half or so on the North side of town in Lincoln Square. I tried to explore the neighborhood yesterday, but it was just a little crazy. It was a Saturday, so maybe I have to give it another go on a week day. I'd like to go back into Merz Apothecary to fulfill my sundries obsession (shampoo, facewash and soap, oh my!) and this place was cute (but a bit expensive).

At any rate, with some time to myself, and with E busy getting read for the Exquisite City show and creating the new Coathangers album cover*, I want to make some fun things for Halloween. I saw this post on Angry Chicken's blog** and the link that she gave to the Make website. YES! Shadow puppets! An excellent Halloween project.

*I love them! LISTEN TO THEM. NOW! Or don't, and miss out on the best song about boobies, ever.

**Take a few minutes (or maybe a few hours) to browse her blog. It's a fabulous resource for all things crafty, from making your own deodorant to the best method for sewing foldover elastic. Love it.

A day off.

Tonight is a beer night. A beer and chili night, in fact. The weather is changing (YES. FINALLY!) and today was rainy enough to have recess indoors. Subsequently, the kids were nuts after lunch. Nuts. Thank the heavens tomorrow is a day off.

Hence, the beer.

Just keep my slightly tipsy ass away from these:

(from Oliveshoes.com)
Hooray. With black opaque tights, the reason I love fall. That and pumpkins, the smell of leaves, the lighting, scarves...

Art.

I went to the Art Institute today. I had never seen

either of these paintings; the abstract piece, A Resonable Facsimile,by Arthur Dove, the landscape, The Artisit Looks at Nature by Charles Sheeler (both photos courtesy of the Art Institute's website).

I'm excited to see the new wing open in 2009, but in the meantime, the massive collection of the AIC is on a subtle rotation. For sure, you can still see the 'famous stuff' (Wood's American Gothic, Hopper's Nighthawks) but some pieces are making their way into the light, so to speak.

Love it.

I also saw some great clothing on the street. A girl wearing a fabulous printed wrap (or was it faux-wrap?) dress in orange and cream belted with a thin denim strip. Very inspiring.

Wow.

A girl can dream, can't she?

Listed on thefrock.com. Dior. Organdy. Amazing.

I have never, ever been a girly girl. Even when wearing skirts I tend to somehow make them more fun that flirty (odd colored tights with giant pink Orla Kiely rain boots? Check!). I have also never been one of those girls who thought much about getting married, ie. where my wedding would be, the 'colors', the 'favors', not even what I'd wear.

Then I saw this dress.

Holy moly. Seriously, it's Dior and, um, too small for me (le sigh) and really? If I ever spent $3800 on something it might be a car. MAYBE.

It got me thinking, though. Audrey is pretty practical and she was 'Captain Sparkle Boobs' for her wedding. I guess there has to be a wedding to dress for, first, and that takes too much planning. I'll just stare and wipe the tear from the corner of my eye.

So. Beautiful.

Latest web obsession (for when I have time)...

I love getting caught up in surfing the web. Reading my favorite blogs, and reading their favorite blogs. I've been so busy lately; staying at work far later than I should, making posters, organizing the lunch spray bottles, creating lesson plans. This website could take up the rest of my life, however. My friend told me about it, and was surprised (considering my interest in all things Scandinavian) that I hadn't seen it before.

I love the couple- what guts. It seems that in Europe (at least what I know of) that it's less about going with 'the herd' and more about going with how you feel. In that vein, the first thing I would do away with in American fashion is slogan t-shirts (adios, Abercrombie & Fitch! Ciao, most of Urban Outfitters!).

Oh, and if I had the time in the morning, I would do my hair like this every. single. day.

back to school

Summer is officially over, with school starting Tuesday. Although I hear it's supposed to be quite hot (more hot than it's been this summer! Wow, we really lucked out).

I was in Vermont last week, my yearly trip back North to visit my 'family'. I stayed with Colleen in Montpelier; that's the view from her backyard! I was also in Charlotte with Carmen, and in Richmond with Sasha and Ezra for a few days.

Activities included picnicking (uh, can that word be 'ing'd?), blue berry picking, walking, pizza making and lots of driving.

E is in LA for the weekend; kind of lonely here (never thought I'd say that!). I think I'm mostly lonely because of all the chores I have to do on my own tomorrow. Ugh.