(I'm supposed to be decorating wedding cake. But my buttercream is doubling in size under the ministrations of my Kitchen-Aid. Just time for a short post.)
I've never been a great shopper. An inherited trait, I think. Or nurture over nature.
Regardless, whenever someone compliments my dress, I have to say, "David bought it."
Over the years this has resulted in a complete lack of shopping confidence.
And the new economy isn't helping. Because now instead of just asking myself, "Is this cute?" I have to also ask myself, "Is this a need or a want?" And the conundrum of discovering if something is both cute and needed is enough to make my hands itch and my pulse race.
So the other day, (after an in-the-shower flash of genius) I was at an antique store looking for doorknobs, when I saw this apron.
Full-front.
Side Pockets.
Knee-length.
Old, well-washed cotton.
Over-the-head.
Back panels that wrap all the way around.
Darling tie in the back.
Right away I knew it was cute. I was drooling, which is always a give-away.
And then I thought, "Is it a need or a want?"
I wanted it.
Oh, baby, I wanted it.
But that didn't necessarily mean that I didn't need it too.
I tallied my aprons in my head. And remembered the last time David opened the apron drawer looking for hotpads and asked, "Do you really need all of these?"
I slowly put the apron back on the rack. And just in time CIM pointed out all the things I could do in it.
"Think how cute you'll look making the beds and sorting laundry and starting dinner. And don't get me started on how charming it will look when you fill the bottom with oranges and carry them inside for brunch. In fact, I think it's quite possible, that you could actually look forward to Monday mornings (my cleaning day) just so you can put on your lovely new apron."
That's true, I thought.
RIM cleared her throat and said with emphasis, "Is it a need or a want?" (With extra heavy emphasis on "a want." Which I ignored.
I took it to the front to pay.
The man there said, "I thought you were looking for doorknobs."
I said, "This is even better."
I paid my nine dollars and grinned all the way home.
And just so all you skeptics know, it was the best nine dollars I spent all week. My gross domestic product has gone up tremendously since then. Even David commented on my productivity, which is really saying something. (Usually my "amazingness" goes without saying around here.)
Now that's my idea of a stimulus package. Buy everyone a drooly, full-front apron with pockets. I think it could work.
At the very least, we'll all look cuter sorting the laundry. I certainly do.