I have a new respect for outlet malls...

Today was a shopping adventure...really, a failed shopping adventure...

I had the idea that today was the day! I was going to go out and do some Shopping, with a capital S! I wanted to get some stuff for the people back home, and maybe find some clothes or fun stuff for myself. So I headed out.

As I was walking down the street towards the shopping district, I realized that there were a lot of stores that were closed...on a Friday...that's weird. Now granted, most everything is closed on Sundays and most stores close early compared to American standards, but usually things are open on Fridays. Then it dawns on me. Yesterday was labor day for Europe. And unlike in the US, labor day is not a consumer focused holiday. In other words, I'm guessing that many stores closed on May 1st and intended to stay closed for the weekend. Strike one.

But I figured, I'm on my way, I'm sure some stores will be open. And yes, some were. Many were not. I checked out every clothes store that was open.

Next was the size issue. I had forgotten/spaced/not realized that they size totally different in Europe. So when looking at dresses and pants, was I a 24? 38? 42? Strike two. I eventually found a store that had these fantastic tags that told what size the clothes were in something like 10 different countries! Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, UK, Australia (?!?), and the US (!) as well as some others. I figured out I was about a 38-40. Ok!

So now that I know what size I am, I start seriously looking for clothes. I eventually come to the realization that if its not in a teeny-bopper store, shirts start at around 25 Euro, pants and skirts at about 35 Euro, and I didn't see any dress under 60. Now those prices look reasonable if they were in dollars! But with the all mighty dollar running about $1.55 to 1 Euro, the word I'm looking for is "ouch!" Strike three.

Keep in mind that I haven't been seriously shopping for myself in a long time, so I was kinda flustered with the whole sizing thing in the first place. Add in the sticker shock and I was pretty much done. I spent about an hour and a half walking around to different stores and didn't find anything that I could bring myself to buy.

Now I know by this point my mom is probably either laughing at me or frustrated that I didn't buy anything, or both, but fear not! I haven't totally given up. I'm going to bring in the big guns next time. If there is anyone who knows how to spend money on clothes, it's Kristoffer. So the strategy next time? Bring the man.

And as a last note: Happy Birthday Grandpa! Thinking of you today!