Neiman Marcus And Estée Lauder

I For quite some time, I used to go to Marshall Field's or Boston Store for makeup when I lived in the Midwest. Spring and Fall were good times to check out the colors of the season, and sometimes I would get a makeover - because it's fun, and because I liked to get advice on what works. There is always too much to pick from, and I wanted to get it somewhat right. I had my first makeup education in high school as the Maas Brothers rep. We did fashion shows and I had a part time salesperson's job. It was a great experience. So, since it was a year since I retired, it's been five years since the last makeover, my hair was chopped pretty short, and I had a new pair of glasses with a blue and copper frame, it was a good time to see the makeover lady - this time at Neiman Marcus at Tyson's. It was also the time of year when you get a "gift" package, so it was even better. My husband patiently waited in the lounge area of the mall with a direct view of the goings on. In the end I got a few things that might liven things up a bit. At the end, an Asian woman asked me if I was Chinese and then told me how much she liked my hair and makeup. It wasn't the first time I have been asked that. My siblings always said I had beatty eyes - and I have since found the best way to accentuate them.

An Unplanned Visit to the Finish Line at Northbrook Court near Chicago

We spent a lot of time in Chicago when we lived in Milwaukee for thirty years. It wasn't uncommon for us to visit downtown every six weeks or so. Oftentimes we first stopped at Northbrook Court for seasonal clothing - they had more interesting things for our taste than in Milwaukee. Last week we drove to Milwaukee from DC to visit friends and colleagues and passed through Chicago. Lately when we leave on a trip, we have been forgetting items. The last time was pills that required a prescription. This time it was walking shoes. So after we passed the very busy Windy City on our way north, we stopped at the old familiar stomping grounds at Northbrook. We never heard of the Finish Line sports shoes store, but ended up there and ended up with a pair of shoes on sale with socks to boot. On the way back to the car we stopped at my favorite shops and checked out the summer clearance racks as well as the new fall wardrobes. Nothing looked promising but we also felt compelled to get moving so we would make our 4 PM prearranged engagement with my colleagues from my health care days. Our visit was so nice this time that we considered the possibility of moving back. But the snow and ice and high property taxes snapped us back to reality. We'll have to see what comes our way in the future. Time to set priorities! 

Macy's Purse

I usually carry a very large purse and put everything in it except the kitchen sink. It weighs a ton but I always have whatever anyone needs from band aids to water. But during the week I don't need to carry around all that junk. I have a very small purse that holds the essentials but it's not quite big enough to fit in the umbrella or gloves when it gets colder outside.  And when we travel it becomes the primary purse and fits inside the big purse. So our mission today was to check the shops and hopefully find something to meet the need. My husband always comes along to serve as fashion advisor. We headed to Tyson's and checked Neiman Marcus, then Coach, then Cole Haan, then Saks. We finally reached the end of the mall and headed in to Macy's. It was there I found exactly what I needed at 40% off plus another 20%. Best of all it met all the specifications and more, and the price couldn't be beat. I hope it lasts for awhile, but at that price I just can't complain.