I'm not usually functioning this early in the morning. But today I've been wide awake since 5:30, lying in bed reading blog comments on my iPhone. This past week it came out that a well-known blogger in the Anthro community had been taking people's money for her personal shopping service and then not delivering on her promises. Apparently everyone who was involved just kind of suffered in silence, thinking it was just a long string of mistakes, and that they were somehow at fault, and probably also a little scared to say anything, because of how well-known this blogger is. Then on September 13 one person had enough and chronicled her personal ordeal on her blog, and then all of the sudden there are like 100 other people with thousands of dollars being (hopefully) refunded. It was most likely criminal action, and I really hope someone pursues it legally, because the more you read, the more evidence there is that the months and month of lies, deception, and "lost" email, packages, tracking numbers, etc., amounted to more than accidents and mistakes. Now there's also talk that this particular shady blogger has a shopping addiction that fueled her lies, and possibly also was the motivation to start a "service," given her past behavior. Consumerism can make you do crazy things. Scratch that. She did crazy things because she is (probably) (a little, at least) crazy. Consumerism was the conduit for her crazy.
I wasn't involved in any part of this, except as a spectator, which is how I like my drama, anyway. You know me- I love stories that don't involve me. Anyway, even though I'm just a comments-reader in the whole ordeal, it has really got me thinking. The girl calls herself, essentially, and Anthropologie addict, and really, isn't that sad? Don't get me wrong - I have a very addictive personality, which has manifested itself in my work and in working out, and to some extent, shopping, but I'm happy to say I can definitely cut back/go cold turkey when needed, when it comes to spending money. Anthro is pretty and all, but really, most of it is not much better quality than, say, H&M or Urban Outfitters (the UO thing makes sense, since they're owned by the same parent company), but at multiple-times the cost. I'm also been outsized several times, especially in dresses, and I had recently fallen in love with a couple different pencil skirts, only to find some disturbing fit issues once I tried them on. I had a couple hundred dollars in gift cards I accumulated from birthdays and prior returns, and I'm down to about $50 and having a really hard time using it up. Between fit issues, quality issues, disenchantment with the "image," and now this whole scam thing, I just kind of have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to all things Anthro (not that Anthro was involved in the scam at all, but given their involvement with that particular blog, I really hope they take a stand and cut off ties). I definitely have a handful of skirts from the store that I still love, but it's really hit or miss, and really, even the better quality items are suitably priced when they're on markdown, and it takes a lot of time to weed through all the items that are not worth even their second-cut price. I don't know, maybe part of it is also that I'm more focused on nesting, for some reason. I feel more pull toward coffee table books and candles than turquoise pencil skirts that turn evil on you as soon as you put them on and striped maxi dresses I could find at F21 for $100 less than Anthro wants for them. So, long story short, goodbye, Anthro. It's not you; it's me. Well, it's kind of you.
The other reason I have been wide awake for so long is that I am a sad panda. The tagline for this blog is about being the person I want to be, and I am really sad to say that I failed to be the person I not only want to be, but the person I thought I was. I pride myself on being reliable and responsible and doing the right things, but at some point, several times, over the past week, I made the same mistake. I dropped the ball, and now I have lost something I actually really liked. Everyone who knows the story insists I didn't do anything wrong, and really, I don't know what I could have done to avoid this. I was conscientious and thorough, I checked, double-checked, and triple-checked, not one day but 2 days, and I missed something really important. And now I'm embarrassed and disappointed. I don't blame anyone else, though the people who know the situation maintain that someone else messed up and I took the farr, but I can't do that. Even if I wasn't wrong, then karma will work out someone else's mistake, and if I am, then the best thing I can do is own up to it and accept the consequences. I'm just sad that I feel like I let so many people down. And that's why I can't sleep. But I firmly believe that regardless of the how, the why is that there is something else I need to do. I don't know what that is yet, but when the door opens, I'll jump up and run through it, because it has to be good.
So, that brings us to 8:30. Got my coffee, got my puppy on my lap, getting ready for a Sunday Funday of... I don't know! Brady has people coming to look at his furniture (did I mention he decided he wants to change up his furniture and decor style? as someone who does not currently possess a penis and thus does not find comfort in cube-y black leather couches and maroon and hunter green accent walls, I am very excited about this. I know I have my own living room to decorate, but I really do spend a lot of time in his living room, and I'm excited to see Brady put his personal spin on his home - with some gentle nudging from me, of course). We'll also stream the Jags game - Brady's brother in law is starting today, and Brady wants to wear his jersey! Hope Craigslist shoppers are not Jets fans.
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