Down side to buying in bulk

Even though Zac's doing it... and despite having posted an article previously touting the benefits of shopping at wholesale places like Costco or BJs, I still wanted to share the following article with you as it presents an interesting, although contradictory view to buying bulk vs. conserving resources (money): Worst Stuff to Buy at BJ's Club and Costco

Personal finance gurus Ken and Daria Dolan weigh in on what you really shouldn't
buy at warehouse clubs like BJ's and Costco.

Their list, from a WalletPop post, includes gasoline (which they say is quicker to increase prices than other gas stations), fresh produce (which probably costs or less the same at a local grocery store if we're talking about in-season fruits and veggies), toilet paper and paper towels (just not that cheap at these stores), and jewelry and designer clothes (the poor quality often doesn't justify the "discounted" price).

Frankly, I question the gas thing. We belong to BJ's, and at least in my experience, the gasoline prices there are always substantially cheaper than stations down the highway. I've always assumed the store uses a cheap gas price as a ploy to get shoppers to come in—and it works. It's the same reason that eggs and milk are cheaper at these stores. BJ's attracts shoppers to come in and buy these items for less than they'd pay at a standard grocery store. It's no coincidence that the items being discounted are things that people need regularly. Therefore BJ's gets these shoppers in the door regularly, hoping that they'll look around and buy more stuff that they probably don't need. You're already there, right? Why not browse a few aisles? That's exactly what stores want you to do.

The Dolans also bring up the question of big versus many:

What's the better deal?

Just because an item is three times the size of the one you'd find in the supermarket, doesn't necessarily mean it's a bargain at the warehouse. In fact, many times that massive one gallon container of ketchup costs more than the shrink-wrapped bundle of six smaller ketchup bottles.

Not only can the multi-packs be the real bargain, they can also be much more
convenient. Those smaller containers can be much easier to use, to store and to
finish before they go bad.

Very true. One thing not on their list: stuff you really don't need. Go to the store with a shopping list—and stick to the list. Otherwise, you'll come home with an odd assortment of items you had no intention or need to buy. And that is the worst stuff to buy at BJ's, Costco, or anywhere
else for that matter.

Fur Hag Aspirations

Those close to me know, and even tease me about, my love of all things Olsen twin related. Whenever they come across an article or picture of them, they thoughtfully pass it along to me so as to make sure I hear about all Olsen going-ons.

On one hand, I really appreciate it.

On the other hand, it's really annoying when day after day, my delicate senses have to be offended with idiocies such as "Mary Kate And Ashley Olsen Branded Fur Hags From Hell."
It seems that PETA has targeted them to be the poster-children for NOT wearing fur, because, well-- they wear a lot of fur, fabulously.

Those assault-loving PETA idiots went as far as to deface their star on the Hollywood walk of fame. I can only wonder why they didn't go for the added insult of also throwing flour this time? Why so hurtful, PETA?

"The twins - who have been nicknamed 'Hairy Kate' and 'Trashley Olsen' - turned up for a signing of their new book Influence at Barnes & Noble in New York to be greeted by a herd of campaigners wearing Trollsen Twins masks and carrying signs calling them 'fur hags.' "

I don't care what the PETA mASSES decree, MK and Ashley always look beautiful. (Despite occasionally being markedly displeased.)

Unsurprisingly, as no one is safe from his acidic opinion, Perez Hilton is also guilty of nasty Olsen remarks when he sees either one in fur. A recent post of his went something (exactly) like this:

"Aww. She dressed up as an Ewok!


On Thursday, Mary-Kate Olsen gave PETA and other animal rights activists across the world another one-fingered salute. She hit the Belvedere IX party in NY in some sort of animal fur.
What's the animal you're wearing, MK Troll?
Any guesses?
We bet she had a big steak dinner later that night to top things off."

For serious-- aren’t there enough legitimately bad things going on in the world today for these lunatics to spend their time, energy, and media coverage on??


I feel like through all of their antics PETA is unintentionally doing to “fur hag” what Will & Grace did for “fag hag;” it's going to become a label that people strive for, aspire to be called, and want to be.

You have to give MK and Ashley credit though, as they are pretty young in the scheme of things, and you can just tell that they could give a rat (or mink’s) ass about what PETA thinks, and they just keep on keepin' the fur on.

Imsomniac Revelation: Old Clothes Made New Again

I could not fall asleep last night.

I watched two episodes of Chelsea Lately, read half of this month’s Book Club book and the entire new In Style magazine, and made it to level 15 in Tetris. It was a weird feeling to know that everyone else around me was fast asleep and unconscious, and yet I remained awake and listless.

As 3:30am rolled around, I turned off the lights for good and squeezed my eyes shut, determined to make my body do what I wanted it to. I started playing my favorite game with myself, “What Will Kelly Wear Tomorrow?” and mentally dressed myself in an array of different work appropriate looks. (The annoying thing is that although this helps me fall asleep, the cute ensembles I come up with are forgotten come morning.)

As per usual right before I fall asleep, my mind began to wander… and all of a sudden I was thrust onto a topic that got me all riled up again and there was NO way any sleep was occurring anytime soon… For some reason, I had found myself mentally reviewing my shoe selection, and unhappy with the realization that although I own a lot of shoes-- a bunch of them have seen too many nights out at dirty bars to be worn anymore. It occurred to me that I could spend a couple bucks and have a shoe-maker bring new life to my pre-existing shoes, instead of spending a lot of bucks on brand new shoes. (I already have a pair that I am so excited to resuscitate- cream round-toe Mary Janes, with a sexy stiletto heel and delicate lattice work around the edges. They look disgusting now, can’t wait to get them spiffed up and back into rotation!)

The idea of revitalizing shoes I already own lead me (slippery slope) to the idea of revitalizing clothes I already own… and that’s when the adrenaline started pumping and I sat straight up in bed, too many ideas racing around in my brain to track them all.

That vintage looking white dress with the puff skirt covered in blue flowers? I had only worn it once, despite it’s beauty, and written it off as being too conservative. But, with a shorter, flirtier hemline, and a thick brown leather belt-- I could wear that dress to death! Dinner, work, out… perfection!

That purple silk Rebecca Taylor patterned tank top I haven’t worn since college because it’s too short-waisted for today’s look-- that would look awesome cut down the front and transformed into a flowy, romantic vest.

Cute black Ella Moss empire tunic with the bat wing sleeves I decided I hated after purchase-- nothing a stapler can’t handle! (For real, this story is just between us because my brother would DIE if he knew I told this to anyone, but I turned the shirt inside out, and had him put it on. Following the shape of his arms, I stapled in the stitching I wished the shirt actually had, and made the sleeves fitted. Although my brother was happy to help, I could tell he felt a bit emasculated that I was using him as a model because only his arms were as skinny as mine.)

My white vintage Gucci floral bag with the long white leather strap would look sick updated with a pretty gold chain strap...

The possibilities are endless, and it’s so exciting because these are all things I already own—and all I’m doing is coordinating a little makeover action, and inviting these pieces back into my life. Money is saved, my creative fires are stoked, and I’m cutting down on my wasteful consumption while preventing lots of material goods from finding their final resting place in the bottom of a land-fill grave.

I can’t wait to take my favorite destroyed jeans –- so favorite that I have two pairs—to the tailor and having one pair made into a straighter, skinnier version. I am also looking forward to updating a slew of dresses to a more modern hemline, and never having to stress about what to wear during the summer again. (Note though- for things being hemmed I will ask for the material to only be sewed and not cut, so that when the styles eventually revert back, the hems can be let down and the clothing piece will still be relevant.)

Along these lines, stay posted for updates on more do-it-yourself ideas, in addition to profiles of clothing designers that are already doing this for you. For instance, check out the extreme makeovers at avant apres fashion- I am so jealous of this girl's style and skill, however she does set an awesome example of what can be accomplished with the things you already own and a good imagination.

Before and After #1:

(I love it!!!!)

Before and After #2:

Hot.

(Tip: she sells some of her creations on etsy.com, so some of her infinite style can possibly be momentarily possessed by one of us normal folk.)

Now-- hopefully after getting all this off my chest, I will be able to sleep like a contented baby tonight. Sweet dreams!

Keds Go Green

When the OC first came out, I was obsessed.

Since I liked it, it could do no wrong. The soundtracks were amazing, (I own all of them, including the Christmakkuh album which used to make me cry when I was PMSing, perhaps tmi?), Steh Cohen was hilarious, Rachel Bilson was sooo adorable, Josh Schwartz was the shizz, and there was no one prettier than Mischa Barton in the whole entire world. Sigh…

So, when I first heard that Keds had signed her to be their spokesperson, I was psyched for them- she was so pretty and cool, anything on her would look hot. Right? Not so much.

Um, what are these ensembles? Sadly, the tabloid rumors seem echoed in these pictures, as Mischa went far, far down Lohan Boulevard... and the innocent masses were exposed to the fact that the cokehead/alchoholic/anorexic combination is a better advertisement for DARE than retail products...

Seriously??

Given her substance induced haze, I wonder if she was also hired as the stylist for these shoots? It would explain a lot...

Want Keds now?

How about now?!

No? Oh.

Needless to say, despite my Mischa's obvious beauty, I was not inspired to buy Keds. Were you?

Luckily, there appears to be a happy ending. For Keds, at least.

After bearing witness to years of eyeball abuse with these Mischa/Keds atrocities, I was pleasantly surprised to come across this new Keds ad:

So cute! Finally! For the first time in about 20 years, I’m kind of wanting a pair of Keds again? (Jenna? Mary-Kate, Ashley? What are your thoughts?) Her outfit actually makes sense with the Keds, and she looks breezily put together.

And, these coherent accessories are “green” to boot! Indeed- the shoe laces are 100% recycled plastic bottles, the outsoles are 20% recycled rubber, the dyes are non-toxic and the cotton is all organic. Kudos Keds, keep up the good work!

kedsgogreen.com

A Gay (in the happy sense of the word) Marriage of Ideas

I don’t know how this girl at work does it, but even though her desk is separated from the hallway by a wall that obviously obscures her line of vision, she always calls out my name as I walk by. She doesn’t give off much of a creeper vibe, so I didn’t think she had cut out peep-holes through the office wall or anything, but I couldn’t satisfactorily figure out how she always knew it was me when I walked by. Finally, one day I just asked her.

“Dude, how do you always know when it’s me walking by!?”

She contemplated for a second, and then responded, “Well, different people just sound different when they walk.”

Hmmm, so simple, and yet intriguing. (And, also, a bit relieving to know that it wasn’t a case of super offensive B.O. that was pre-announcing my imminent arrival.)

I mulled this over as I walked down another hallway to the bathroom, my jumble of necklaces jangling with each step. She was right, I realized, my J.Crew obsession has made me a freaking, walking noise machine. Whether it’s the weird noise my skinny cords make when my legs rub against each other, the stomp of my high-heels, or the clink of my accessories against the over-sized buttons on a blazer, it is almost physically impossible for me to walk silently, and/or creep up on anyone.

It makes me feel better to be able to blame things on anything besides myself. My scape-goat for the noisy walking? Easy- the stack of J. Crew catalogs that I keep next to my bed (for getting dressed inspiration) dictate the varying textures and pieces I adorn myself with now.

So, if you’ve read my few previous posts, or been shopping within the last few years (whether in a mall, online, or just innocently peaking through the delightful catalog surprises that arrive right to your snail-mailbox), you have undoubtedly seen for yourself the handiwork and expertise of my burning girl crush, Jenna Lyons, the creative director of J.Crew. Under the support and watch of CEO Mickey Drexler, Jenna has beautifully and profitably expanded her company to now include cute (but noisy) jewelry, shoes, clothes, etc. In addition to her awesome additions, she is also the one to thank for making sure that everything is so expertly styled in all of their marketing pieces so that you can't help but drool over every page. (I am not exaggerating, I KEEP a STACK of J.Crew catalogs on my nightstand, for good reason!)

Jenna, in a completely non-creepy way, you are so my muse…

Although J.Crew stores can be found in most malls, the thoughtful details of the merchandise, and the personal touches incorporated into their mass marketing (catalogs and email blasts) ironically make this retail giant feel like your favorite neighborhood boutique. Lending to the boutiquey feel, all J.Crew outfits have an unique flair about them, there are personal shoppers readily available to personally assist you, and if you need help with anything- the appropriate J.Crew specialist is made to seem easily accessible with hand-written looking notes online and in the catalog to call “Ashley, the wedding specialist” at her desk number. It’s so smart! The merchandise is accessible to anyone in the country, yet despite this they have maintained an “one-of-a-kind” feel.

If I had to describe J.Crew’s aesthetic, after a lot of thought, I’d have to say that J.Crew’s emphasis is on timeless Americana, it's a style that a teenager, thirty something, or grandparent could all wear and make their own. There is a definite ‘prepster’ vibe to it, but it’s almost tongue-in-cheek making fun of preppy clothing, and depending on how you put the pieces together any desired look is achievable.

J.Crew’s emphasis and impact on “American” style could perhaps most easily be proven by the fact that out of all the clothing companies in the world- the new first daughters wore J.Crew children’s pieces for their father’s presidential inauguration.

Under the umbrella of “an easy American style,” J.Crew could easily expand to incorporate many successful “green” concepts and tactics. (At last, where I become relevant! ☺) There are so many avenues to go, it’s hard to know where to start with spilling my guts on this topic, but just a few- in rapid succession:

- They could create an internal organic clothing line (obviously I was going to say that one).

- They could design stores with all organic features- lots of windows for natural lighting, bamboo floors, recycled hangers. (Come to think of it, Jenna would probably totally love this idea- while researching (stalking) her online, I learned that she likes things to look a little lived-in.

“I like things that get better with age,” she has said. “Maybe it is frayed a little on the edges, maybe it is starting to wash down a little too much. I actually think that that looks good. That, to me, is classic.”

A store that used recycled wood pieces for hangers, and floors, and had threadbare oriental rugs and vintage chandeliers, and refurbished dressing-room doors and counters would be so cool to look at, shop in, provide new uses for pre-existing things, and be totally J.Crew.

J.Crew does not do any advertising beyond their catalogs and website. Staying within these parameters, there are cool marketing, eco-inspired methods they could take to increase foot traffic and sales.

- Already offering student and teacher discounts, they could offer an additional discount for bringing in an old J.Crew catalog with purchase. This way- the catalog is still serving it’s purpose by showcasing the clothes that make it necessary to go to the store, J.Crew can take all of those catalogs and make sure they’re properly recycled, and at the same time they’re getting tons of trackable info about their customers. Win, win, win!

- Along these lines, they could also offer some incremental discount for bringing in reused J.Crew shopping bags? J.Crew would save money on having to produce less bags, the shopping bags that do exist would get taken better care of- and if people were using them more often- it’s free publicity for J.Crew, and less junk taking up space in land-fills. Everyone’s a winner*.

- They could also take Juicy Couture’s idea of offering a discount for donating gently used J.Crew clothing to a charity of J.Crew’s choice. (While there are TONS of noteworthy charities throughout the world, I feel like their focus should remain on issues in America?) Again, they’d be increasing sales while doing good for the country, and at the same time they would be generating a “hey I'm doing something good!” feeling at point of purchase to stave away any feelings of buyer’s remorse.

Really, I could go on and on, but all I’m saying is that I love Jenna Lyons, and thanks to her I love J.Crew. In combining all of my loves- Jenna, J.Crew, shopping, fashion, the environment- I think there could be so many fun and exciting ways for J.Crew to go in the future.

Jenna once said that her goal was to be able to hear people say "Oh, my God, I have to go to J. Crew." Just from over-hearing passerby’s in the mall and purveying the shopping bags people are carrying while I people-watch in the food-court, I think that she is one of the lucky/enviable/extremely hard-working people whose dream has become a reality. It would be hard to improve upon her specific brand of perfection- but I’d certainly love to help contribute to a J.Crew “eco” expansion.

Hey, if I'm following the trends Jenna sets, I should dream big, right?

*Well… everyone would benefit, except the bag makers. But, survival of the fittest would force them to evolve and adapt- and either make more durable bags, create ways to make shopping bags more earth friendly, or… ?

Does this technically make me a "womanizer"?

I wonder what it’s like, to be relatively anonymous, and yet have so many people obsessed with you? Like, you’re famous, but the average Joanna Shmoanna on the street couldn’t identify you if she fell over you, and was head-to-toe wearing your creations?

It’s hard to imagine the thoughts that must go through my #1 gal’s mind. She can walk down her NYC streets, eat in the hot restaurants, go through an airport- and those pesky US weekly photogs and paparazzis leave her alone. She sees everyone wearing her clothes, and yet the paps don't see her.

Unfortunately- for me at least- I have yet to see her in the pages of US Weekly… (Maybe if she didn’t wear underwear, was in a tumultuous relationship with Lindsey Lohan, or hung out with Brit Brit we’d be more likely to see her?) And, as much as I personally would love more glimpses into her daily life, (even if it was only to see what she was wearing day-to-day, but god, does this make me a stalker?!) if she was always hanging out at Tao with Paris and K-Fed, and ergo plastered all over the daily mags, she just wouldn’t really be HER, would she?

Maybe she can go the route of Michael Kors, and star in an awesome Bravo reality show that would air in between seasons of "Rachel Zoe" and "Millionaire Matchmaker"? (Hey, a girl can dream, right?)

When I reveal her name though, it might be an anticlimactic moment for you.

“Who?” you may say. (Unless you’re in the fashion industry, in which case you probably have heard of her, as due to the millions of interviews and features written on her, it seems her notoriety and reputation precede her.)

My sister’s been bugging me for days, and at the climax of this, she too will be like, “ummm, from everything you say, she sounds like she's pretty cool… but who the h. is she?!”

Despite her relative anonymity, it’s highly likely that you all have at least one piece of her handiwork in your home at this very moment. Maybe even on your body? (I know I do!) Her genius has spread out, to encompass the perfect something for everyone in your social spectrum- from your favorite male, your nieces and nephews, your spoiled pooch, all the way back to yourself.

Drum roll please…. I am proud to at last annouce, that:

Kelly Green ♥’s Jenna Lyons! (aka, the Creative Director of J.Crew)
Admit it- J.Crew has done a massive 180, and now it is not only expanding- but getting better and better at every point along it's rise. (My nerdy love of word play and punnery is driving me to point out that the fancy dud's that Jenna creates and we all don, are the opposite of "duds". Ha ha?)

In list form, here are but a few of Jenna's most notable, recent contributions to J.Crew:

1. Wedding gowns and CUTE bridesmaid dresses. With my sister’s impending wedding on the horizon, um, I’m actually looking forward to bridesmaid dress shopping? (Never thought I’d be able to say that…) And, although I’m far away from wedding gown shopping myself, I will certainly keep in the back of my mind that J.Crew’s wedding dresses are made out of the same Italian Clerici duchesse satins that Vera Wang and Chanel use for their $$$ dresses.


2. Adorable childrens’ clothing that makes me either a.) wish I was still 12 years old and 4’2” so I could wear the line myslef, or b.) start popping out some babies of my own, immediately, just to play dress-up with.


3. Decadent, vintage inspired jewels and baubles. J.Crew’s jewelry line has proven to be extremely well-received by the it's adoring public, and profitable to it's nurturing parent company. By all means, check out their "jewelry" section on the website, and tell me that with their current creations you can really say you’re surprised?


4. Beautiful, “designer” quality, jeweled and embellished shoes. J.Crew makes their shoes in the same exact factories as does Gucci and Prada. Because J.Crew acts as both the designer, and the retailer, they have effectively cut out the “middle man,” and the consumer is able to reap the benefit of uber-quality shoes in significantly lower-than-Prada prices.

Really, I could go on and on, but as I’m trying to down-play my stalking here,(and reduce the risk of future restraining orders) I’ll leave you with just that short (and yet highly impressive) list of Jenna Lyons accomplishments.

☺

And, with that long lead-in, my next entry will feature my spin on where me and the environment come in.

Lord knows I ♥ boys. But...

At the moment, Robert Pattison and Zac Efron are aces in my book. (And no, sadly I am far from my tween years.) My crushes on boys (including the boys I actually know, the ones I don’t, and the ones I hope to know someday ☺) come and go like the changing of the seasons. Instead, it’s been my (non-sexually driven) girl crushes that make like an old Cranberries song and “linger,” on and on. (That song reference alone should be a good portent of my real age.)

From second to fifth grade, my super girl crush was on the perfect, tiny and angelic Kristen Coco. She was the smallest girl in the class, with blonde baby-angel hair, and therefore could pull off pretending to be a newborn bunny infinitely better than I could. And- she had a television in HER BEDROOM, on which she could watch “The Little Mermaid” tape (that she had gotten for her birthday), whenever she wanted! I used to yearn that someday my life could be as perfect as hers.

Then, as I got older, my admirations drifted from pretending to be a baby animal, to a mix of sass and gore… which could only lead me to Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Oh, Sarah Michelle.

How I love thee. No one will ever be able to kick ass with the aplomb and style which she did. She dated the cutest boys, always had the perfect quip, wasn’t afraid of anything, lived in a world where vampires were real (God! Why couldn't she have met Edward Cullens?!), and went through everything with the most perfect head of hair. While I will love Sarah Michelle (and any/everything she touches- “The Grudge”, anything Joss Whedon related, her taste in aesthetics, her hottie hot husband Freddie Prinze Jr… sigh. Her’s is a gifted existence, for sure) until my dying day- my new super-duper girl crush outshines even the space in my heart permanently engraved “S.M.G. 4-eva”…

My current girl crush surpasses any infatuation experienced before. (And, I haven’t even mentioned the longest running girl-crush possible [for me], but I am hesitant to open that can of psychological worms and actually admit that I’ve been obsessed [literally, since my day one] with my mother. Oh. Oops. The latter day version of Freud needs to come around and coin the term for a daughter version of the “Oedipus complex,” except… I don’t want to marry my mom. Ew! I just want to be exactly, exactly like her. Which actually serves as an excellent segue to the revealing of my new #1 gal…)

Like my mother, she’s tall. Like my mother, I want to be like her in a wide variety of realistic ways. Like Sarah Michelle, she kicks ass with amazing style, and like Kristin Coco, she has a pretty cool bedroom. (A picture of her “closet” is currently my computer’s wall-paper. I’m hoping there is some truth behind the good fortune that can come from the presence of an “inspiration board,” as recommended from such classics as Oprah’s touted book “The Secret” and the sophisticated sitcom “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”? )

Like all of my girl crushes, she inspires me tremendously. And maybe, like with the others, I kind of want to be her?

At this point, you’re probably wondering to yourself—“ok… how the heck does this tie into the environment?” Or, “If she says her new crush is on Mother Earth, I am out of here!” If you’re thinking anything along these lines- fair enough. However, despite my love for Rob and Zac, I don’t think I’m that cheesy…?

In an attempt to coherently draw together the strange synapses that make up my thought process, I’d like to share something someone famous said a long time ago. I’m paraphrasing this, but essentially whoever this sage was, said that in order to be successful, you need to take two steps.

1. Identify what you love.
2. Figure out a way to make money doing #1.

Can it be that easy? While I don’t want to “do” my new girl crush in the biblical sense, I am cooking up ideas inspired by this recommended plan of action, and her. (Sounds so romantic. It’s not?)

Her identity, and my plots, will be revealed later. In the meantime, please feast your eyes on my inspiration for today: her closet. (Please imagine a choir of angels and pre-pubscent boys singing now.)