Oh, Steph! I'm so glad you're ok and that the guy has insurance and everything.

Susan, do you guys have CJ Banks out by you? They're the plus size of Christopher and Banks, and I've had GREAT luck with them. Some of their stuff is ick, but they have fantastic sales. Really fantastic. Like, once something is on their racks for more than a couple of weeks, it gets marked down. I've gotten nice tops there for as little as $4.99. They've got a lot of basic stuff, and then, well, the ick. They like putting snowmen and leaves and Easter eggs on some of their clothes, and that's not my favorite (I call it Elementary School Teacher Clothes--no offense intended to our elementary school teachers!). But, their basic stuff is great. In just November, I got a burgundy suede jacket for $29.99. It's one of my favorite accessories now.

I'll have to take a closer look at the Newport News website, though I have to say the outfits that pop up on the homepage are all Not Me in a huge way.

ION, just got a call from the property manager. It sounds like the house may have sold. I was really hoping this wouldn't happen until we renewed our lease. I mean, maybe the new owner want to keep us on at the same or not much higher rent...but it's an added stress. Our lease is up 3/31, and I so don't want to move...

Susan, I suggest you try the Erinaceous Patented Wardbrobe assessment Technique: [link]

I shop at J. Jill a lot. It may be too lineny & artsy for you if you want a tailored look, though.

I'll have to take a closer look at the Newport News website, though I have to say the outfits that pop up on the homepage are all Not Me in a huge way.

It's worth digging around. Also remember that the Newport News photo stylists are frequently on the bad drugs; you need to be able to look at a photo and focus on the individual clothing items, not how they might have put them together.

Steph, I'm glad you're okay!

Flea, I bookmarked that!

Off to clean the house. Sigh.

Will possibly check craigslist rental listings first, just to know whether to be freaked out or reassured about having to find a new place...

Oh, another place you can get some good stuff if you dig around the sales racks is Coldwater Creek. And I second the J. Jill recommendation. I've gotten some great basics on sale there as well.

Oh, and one more thing about CJ Banks. If you're interested in them, you should definitely sign up for their e-mailing list. They sometimes send out coupons for things like 40% off your entire purchase--even the sale stuff. That's where I got my shorts for St. Thomas. They were marked down to $6.99, and then they were 40% off of that. It was crazy how cheap they were.

This is a complete drive-by, I don't promise to come back for a while (school planning has gotten CRAZY in the last few months, and doesn't appear to be settling down), but here is a Youtube clip of Pavarotti and Liza Minelli singing "New York, New York" together that is just too awesome not to pass on. Enjoy.

Teppy! I'm glad you're okay, but man, that must have been stressful.

I need to go shopping soon. Anyone want to go to Out Of The Closet with me??

I'd love to hit OOTC. The one up the block from the Castro Safeway, or the SOMA one, or both? There are also a couple of thrift and consignment stores I've never been to but am curious about. This weekend's out, but maybe next?

And, Susan, vw totally beat me to Coldwater Creek. And yesyesyes to what Jilli said about Newport News. Their stuff has been kind of hit or miss for me, but the hits are huge hits and if you get on their sale and clearance mailing lists, even the misses cost you next to nothing.

The Polk one, actually. OOTC, Fashion Exchange, La Maya, and Bargain Bank are all within 4 blocks of each other, plus there's the awesome hardware store, and I just love that neighborhood. Oh, and MasCara Vintage is only 3 blocks away from that.

Ooooh! We could even do Saturday brunch at the Belltower and then commence to the shopping!