bargains | Mama Cormier

…. couldn’t believe my luck when I stopped in at Marshall’s today

After getting my hair cut today I decided to check out Marshall’s which just happens to be located around the corner from the salon. Right at the front of the store there were a few ‘final markdown’ racks. I’ve never seen such reduced prices in my life. Who marks down a brand new sweater to $0.70? I checked the entire garment and couldn’t find any flaws. I took nine garments to the change room and decided to keep five of them.

A friend told me when I retire I won’t need as many clothes but I love to shop and since I’ve lost 32 pounds I love it even more because I have so much more to choose from. I’ve really hit a plateau with my weight loss. I won’t lie and say I don’t understand why. I’m really good for four or five days in a row and then I’ll have an off day or two with my eating. I’ve been trying to get out and walk every day regardless of the weather but I’ve missed a few days in the last couple of weeks. It’s become so icy outside that’s it’s actually become treacherous for walking. My husband hit a patch of black ice week and fell flat onto his back. He’s had quite the time recovering from this accident.

I’ve also been seeing an acupuncturist for the last 2 months to help me with a balance issue I’ve had for quite a few years. In the last year it actually got worse and I would get terrible dizzy spells during my yoga or exercise sessions. Back in December my personal trainer witnessed one of my dizzy spells and recommended I try acupuncture. I’ve always been open to alternative medicine and decided to give it a try. I’m happy to report that the spells are fewer and very minor in comparison to what I used to experience.

I don’t know if it’s the winter doldrums or boredom but I’ve noticed an increase in my appetite. If I can avoid sampling foods that are put out in front of me at social gatherings I can pretty much control my food intake but once I take my first bite of anything ‘forbidden’ I find myself on a slippery slope. I know that I won’t feel well if I continue to eat but sometimes I just can’t help myself.

I need to put myself into a different mindset. I’ve done it before and I know I can do it again. I just don’t want to wait until I start gaining weight again or worse gain it all back. Maybe I need to come clean and admit to how much I actually weigh. I’ve avoided it up to this point and kept telling myself that when I lose another 10 pounds I will reveal my weight. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I haven’t taken off any more weight….. the fear of the reveal. One of my problems is that I actually feel very good about how I look at the moment, even though the number on the scale should tell me otherwise.

I’m posting pictures of the garments I bought today. My daughter kindly took photos of me as I modelled the clothes for her. All the tops, except the workout top can be worn to work and some I will combine with a camisole or thin t-shirt.

Can you believe that I got all of these garments for only $14.70 before taxes?

…. went into stores that I never dreamed I would step into never mind try on clothes and actually buy from.

Yesterday I needed to buy my sister and husband some gifts so I headed out to Sherway Gardens with my 20 year old guests. I made all my planned purchases in one shop and returned an item in another and then my cousin and his girlfriend ushered me into numerous trendy stores that I’d never looked twice at in the past.

One of the reasons that I never set foot in them was that they were dark and forbidding and seemed to be inhabited by mainly young people who were more interested in the brand name and willing to pay a hefty price for the privilege of wearing it. The second reason was that these stores would never have carried anything in my size, 27 pounds ago.

Well it seems that this time of year there are actually some very good deals to be had in these stores where half naked men are displayed at the entrance and perfume is misted throughout the store. I tried on a shirt in a large that was okay but then I found a cropped sweat shirt in large that was perfect for my yoga classes and an excellent price to boot.

While waiting for my cousin to pay for his shirt I found a comfy leather chair to sit in and had a lovely conversation with a young lady who had obviously done a great deal of shopping that day as well and she was excited to show me some of her purchases. I found it very interesting that she was so open and friendly towards me and engaged me in conversation. I was at least the age of her mother or older.

Later that evening my sister and her son came to the house to meet our cousin from Germany and his lovely girlfriend. I gave her the present that I purchased earlier that day and then I proudly modelled the sweatshirt that I bought at H…..

As I slipped the shirt over my head I felt something hard under my arm and discovered that the security tag had not been removed. How I got out of the store without setting off the alarm I’ll never know. So much for security. I guess I’ll be returning to the store when I come back from the cottage. Who knows maybe I’ll find something else that I like and more importantly that fits me.