Blanket Bathrobe Sweater

 Two or so years ago I was in Walmart shopping for a couple of things that only Walmart carries. I had some time to kill so I wandered over to the women's department to see if there was anything fun on sale. I was in luck! They had a nice section of clothes on clearance. So I perused a couple of racks and then I saw it: this really nice, long, cozy knit cardigan sweater. Bingo! Checked the size: mine. Checked the price: $5 on clearance. Whoo hoo! I put it in my cart and headed for the checkout.

When I got home I showed Brie. "Look at my $5 cardigan! Isn't it great?" She agreed. "It doesn't have buttons though." "That's okay, for $5 I can just pull it closed. I am a great bargain shopper!"

I started wearing the cardigan the very next day. It was so soft and warm, and it had pockets. 😀 Lots of bang for those five bucks.

After a while though: I started to notice something. It seemed like the sweater was...growing. It seemed...longer. That was weird; but it could have been me! But Brie noticed it too. "Um mom...what's up with that sweater?" "I'm not really sure, but does it look like it's longer to you too?" "It majorly stretched so yeah: a lot longer!"

And over time that sweater grew, and grew, and GREW. Even the sleeves elongated, so I have to roll them up a couple of times to get my hands out. The pockets are now too low for my hands, and the sweater itself is below my knees and I'm 5'10". It's more like a blanket than a sweater; and I can wrap it around me like a bathrobe. So I'm not quite sure what kind of knit they used for it, but it's obviously a stretchable knit! It now looks ridiculous on me but I'm still wearing it. I'm getting every penny out of that $5!

Here I am in my bargain sweater. Don't be jealous over how flattering it looks on me! 🤣

Third Time's the Charm!

An email went out to the employees a couple of weeks ago. Once again, they were offering free headshots to employees.  The last time they did this was in May, and I was rather disappointed in the result of my new photo. Now was my time for redemption! I have a sassy new 'do, I'm feeling good and cannot wait to show the world!

Erin was doing the photos from 10:30 - 12:30, so I figured I'd go over a little early so I wouldn't have to stand in line for almost an hour like last time. Smart move on my part: I was the only one there, and got there before the photographer. I was wearing a new dress, hair looked good and even though I felt a little nervous, I was anticipating this new photo.

Erin came, he set me up and started taking photos. I felt really good. Then he showed me the small shots on the camera and we picked out two that I really liked. Then he sent me happily on my way and I waited patiently for him to send me my copies.

And waited. And waited. I wondered what was the holdup? The last time I had the picture the next day.

Then I began to worry: had he lost them? Did he think they were terrible and was hoping I'd forget about them? I could have sent an email nudge but then figured eh: it was what it was and if they came: good. If not: maybe better. So I went about my merry way.

Monday evening I happened to see that I received an email from Erin. It was my pictures! I eagerly opened the attachments -

And was crushed again. Don't get me wrong: Erin did a GREAT job. But here's what I keep forgetting when it comes to me. First of all: it's hard for me to see myself as others claim to see me. This is because when I was in college, a "friend" of mine told me that the guy I was seeing told her that "I was the most unattractive black girl he had ever met". If I'd had more self-confidence back then, I would have known that she only told me that (it was a lie) because SHE wanted to date him (never happened). So somewhere in the back of my mind, that little thought hangs out to this day. 

Plus: I don't wear facial makeup and never have. My reasoning for this is because that way what you see is what you get and it doesn't get any worse, haha. I knew someone who always wore heavy makeup. One day I went to her house to give her a ride to work and she answered the door without makeup. The contrast was quite jarring, to say the least, so I knew I was making the right choice for me to be bare-faced. But now I'm starting to wonder! And hey: I'm not 30 anymore so...it's all good.

I hemmed and hawed about if I wanted to post the picture. What the heck: it's me and as I used to say: the camera only takes what it sees!