on shopping

Recently it occurred to me that similar thoughts go through my head every time I go shopping for clothes:

Why do I bother trying on shirts that have elastic around the sleeves? My big upper arms never look good with elastic squeezed around them, and I don't need to try the shirts on to know that.

Who is determining these sizes? I do not consider myself a large or an extra large person, so why are my clothes being tagged as large and extra large?

I always come away from shopping trips feeling like I'm out of shape and not very well toned and my tummy is poochy and . . . Yes, I could do better in the area of exercise, but I don't like that I always come away from the stores feeling sad because I don't look like what "the world" says I should look like. I don't like that it affects me so much, because I really shouldn't let that bother me. I mean, who decided that women aren't supposed to have muffin tops? Do I really need to worry about what those people think of me?

I am so glad I am not a college freshman. I hope that I am more practical and mature than the girls I see at the stores shopping for their dorm room. I've always felt that there's more to life than clothes and partying, and the impression I get is that there are a lot of 18-year-olds who haven't realized that yet. I guess I look at them and listen to them and wonder if they ever think about anything of substance.

Why are there so many ugly clothes??? I think the people who design the fabric these days take all the ugliest colors, swirl them around a little bit, and then make them into low-cut-paper-thin things that resemble shirts. All I want is a plain-colored t-shirt that I can wear without three more shirts underneath it. I don't think they make them in the east.

All that being said, I've had some really good luck at Target lately. They still have the nasty ugly stuff, but I've gotten some very good deals on nice, conservative clothes there. If there was a place nearby that sold Down East Basics, I would go there too. I used to go to the BYU bookstore and buy Down East Basics t-shirts for $10 apiece, and they fit me just right and were made of good quality, thick fabric. I miss that. Next time I go to Utah, I am stocking up.