Impulse buy

I consider myself to be a pretty frugal gal. I'm the annoying one who stands in Kroger for 15 minutes comparing the price per unit on two identical products. Is it cheaper to buy the smaller item for slightly less or the larger item for slightly more? I don't know, but give me a while of staring at the food aisle and I can tell you. I am also trained to never, EVER buy anything from the entrance of a mall store. When walking through the mall they will always play the same trick on you. At the entrance of the store will be a big sign saying that there is a huge, gigantic sale inside. But as soon as you step foot through the magical entrance you are faced with leather jackets in July and bathing suits in February that cost more than most home computer systems. When entering a mall store you must walk quickly and purposefully straight to the back of the store. (This is where the sale items are hidden). Do not make eye contact with anyone that works there and certainly do not slow down to even look at a price tag along the way. And being armed with this knowledge....they got me anyways.

I was in the mall with Easton and Camille. This was my first mistake. No support. No Daddy. I was pushing Camille in the (umbrella - woo hoo!) stroller and Easton was walking beside me. We went into Children's Place (my second mistake) to get Easton a backpack for pre-school. Nevermind why we had to get the backpack from Children's Place because I am weird and have a "thing" against character driven items such as Elmo shoes and Thomas backpacks and Wiggles sheet sets, etc. Children's Place is the only store that provides a plain, blue, child-size pack that does not cost a jillion dollars (i.e., Pottery Barn Kids or Land's End)

As we entered the store I started on my mission to the back of the store. But my plan was flawed by the boy. He was walking. And he got side-tracked by the Halloween costumes set up in the middle of August. He says, "ooh, mommy, this one is soft" I stopped to look. And it was soft. Very soft. And sweet and cute and cuddly and suddenly the thing had jumped off of the rack and into my arms. I dared to turn over the price tag. I told myself that I was NOT going to pay more than $20 for some silly costume that they would wear only once. I looked. $18.50. SOLD!! I do not regret my decision at all. Camille will be the sweetest duck you've ever seen. She will be wearning the duck costume non-stop from October 25 - November 1. Please stop in to say hello.