Well, I had no big "plans" for my Labor Day weekend, so I lazed around this morning doing some laundry (oh that reminds me–gotta put that load in the dryer). I then motivated myself to seek out a lamp shade. You may recall the find from Salvation Army that I got, oh, nearly a year ago. It's been sitting on my dresser, unused. Part of the issue was finding a specialty shop to buy the shade in. I ended up driving out to Virginia to Lamp Factory Outlet. They were very helpful and had a wide selection of shades. After trying a trillion shades ranging from $15 to $60 in price, I settled on a barrel shade in white paper for $18. I liked the black silk with gold lining ones (those were the $$$ ones), but the shapes were all wrong. I felt this retro lamp needed a retro shape. All told, the lamp, shade, new harp, and new finial cost $25. I think I like the result. Not sure if I'll be keeping it where it is. Time will tell. What do you think? I think I may embellish the shade.
Here it is lit:
And unlit:
I noticed a shop called "Treasure Trove" a few doors down from the lamp store. Sounded like my kind of place. It was a hospital charity shop, and so of course I went in. I bought 2 bizarre things, a little hand embroidered picture, which I didn't buy so much for the picture as for the signatures and dates on the back. The artist died not even a year after I was born. It just broke my heart knowing it was there! Then, I stumbled across a 3-pack of floral hankies…loved the colors and figured I could use them for embellishing a pillow or something. Neither was a particular bargain considering this was supposedly a "thrift" shop, but not expensive either. If I don't use them, I can always post on Etsy!
Here's the sweet little embroidery:
And, why I bought it:
And the floral lovelies:
As is typical when I go to the suburbs on an errand, I feel the need to do more and make it "worth it." So, I stopped at a gas station to check my tire pressure. After filling 3 to the proper pressure, a guy comes up to my tire, and without saying anything, puts a gauge on it then OPENS my door to see what the proper pressure is and says "It's 30, what it should be at." Uh, who asked you, dickwad, and who said you could touch my car at all? I curtly responded "Um, I keep them all at 35" showing him my gauge. He said "oh, uh, I didn't see you had a gauge" and ran away. I must have looked helpless, you know, having breasts and a vagina and all. Must mean I don't know how to put air in my tires. Puleez. My brain isn't filled with air. It's one thing if you want to be nice and accost a female and ask if she wants help, but don't just go touching her car without asking!
This was in Springfield, which I call land of the lost, because I usually end up getting lost. No joke, I get turned around every time. I ended up doing the same thing I've done once before, and ended up driving onto 395 toward Washington. Instead of fighting it, I just went with it. I had some stuff to return and was going to go to Springfield Mall, but stopped at Landmark instead.
Do you ever feel overly positive about the economy? Question whether the mall is a dying retail form? May I recommend a trip to Landmark? Seriously, I wish I had a camera; it was pitful. I'd say it was 50% occupied, and what WAS occupied was filled with local retailers with names like "Streetz Clothes" and stuff like that. That isn't an actual business, but you get my drift. The national credit tenants were far and few between and I'm guessing that they were either stuck in a lease they signed awhile ago or paying nothing. It wasn't always like this. When I lived in Alexandria 7 years ago, it was a decent mall. Not high end like Tysons or Pentagon City, but decent. And, I thought it was going higher end when Lord & Taylor moved in. Guess not.
I did load up on enough hand soap for two years at Bath & Body Works' 5 for $15 special. I like their aromatherapy line best. Orange Ginger–yum. And, I loaded up on basic undies at Sears, which I found out were on sale from their normal cheap price as I was checking out, which is the best way to find out. Funny, I HATED getting clothes and underwear at Sears when I was little; now, I wish I could still buy the plastic-wrapped packs of cotton undies. I'm not one of those "oh, I love lacy undies" kind of girls!
Fortunately, my favorite fine dining restaurant was still there: I had a nice Chick Fil A sandwich before hitting the road. I continued my tour of the forlorn by driving up Duke Street looking for a car wash. I found Rita's instead and got a small gelati. I did find a car wash–on the other end of Duke Street–but one of those lame gas station car washes, which didn't really do a whole lot for the tree gunk on it. Oh well.
So there you have it, the first fun-filled day of my long weekend. I hope the next two are as scintillating so that I may share them with you, dear readers!