Consuming and the American Dream?

After feeling an awful sense of guilt for EVER shopping at Walmart last week, a trip to Ten Thousand Villages in Central Park was a breath of fresh air. Ten Thousand Villages is a chain store that buys goods from artisans in other countries, sells them in the United States, and gives the artists a fair share of the profits. On Friday, I visited the store for a Students Helping Honduras fundraiser. 15% of the profits made that night went to SHH. I purchased two 12 oz. bags of Equal Exchange Columbian Drip Grind Coffee (try saying that three times fast!) Equal Exchange is a Massachusetts-based organization that trades directly with democratic cooperatives in foreign countries. They “provide alternatives for small coffee farmers by working directly with small farmer cooperatives, helping to built pride, independence, and community empowerment”. Equal Exchange buys and sells coffees, teas, cocoa, and chocolate. The variety of coffee I purchased is “known for producing a balanced cup, this distinctive coffee from the state of Caldas in Central Colombia delivers creamy body, mild acidity and subtle notes of ripe plum”. I can’t wait to try it! I purchased this 12 oz. bag for $8.00. It can also be purchased online for $9.00 (plus shipping). The product also comes in a 5 lb. size, which sells online at the EE website for $47.00.

I think organizations like Equal Exchange are very promising. Doesn’t it make sense to pay farmers fairly for their products? By making money on their own, a sense of pride is instilled in the workers, allowing them to suppor their families based on the money they earned. In a country that is so rooted in capitalist culture, we should applaud efforts such as this to help people become independent workers. Best of all, I can feel guilt-free while drinking my coffee in the mornings.

Not just for summer anymore

I bought these flip-flops for my husband ($6 at Family Dollar) because he needed new shower shoes for the gym.  Finding them took some doing, since summer is over.  It surprised me that Wal-Mart was not going to restock its flip-flop inventory, because flip-flops are enjoying a run of popularity—six out of 10 pairs of feet I see here on campus are sporting them no matter what the weather.  Flip-flops aren’t just for summer anymore.

            Back at the beginning of this semester, when I toured the UMW gym, I saw a bulletin about the “health hazards” of flip-flops.  Again, surprise.  I found this article addressing the problem; some podiatrists think prolonged flip-flip wearing can cause heel pain and strained arches.

            The flip-flops I just bought are knock-offs of the popular line of plastic shoes called Crocs.  Our chiropractor calls them all “death shoes,” because he believes that toxins in the plastic leach into the body through the bare skin of the foot. 

So I worry that while my husband wears them in a hot shower, the heat will release toxins faster.  If I ever come across the old rubber flip-flops I’m going to snap them up…although for all I know, the rubber could be toxic enough to take down an elephant!

I do not think I have ever seen the Wal-Mart on route three ever not be busy. Two o’ clock on Friday November 14, 2008 was not any different. There was overcast with rain periodically, but that did not prevent shoppers from going out. The parking lot was of course full so finding a spot was pretty much impossible. After parking all the way in the back I walked through the automatic doors and was greeted. On thing about Wal-Mart stores is you can find almost any find of person there. The shoppers range from all ages, race, and gender. It’s hard to identify what the shoppers in Wal-Mart were actually shopping for since there is such a wide variety of items. I did notice the sporting goods section was pretty busy, but this is because shot gun season for hunters comes in Saturday. There are numerous employees within the store walking around or stocking so if you were looking for an item in particular there is always someone around to help. They also have numerous checkout lanes open some being self checkout. The Super Wal-Mart stores which the one on route three is have set up their stores in way to really get shoppers to spend money. For example if you are going into the store to grocery shop all the groceries are on one side, but if you need toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc you have to go all the way across the store to get it. So on the way you have to pass other merchandise to tempt you to purchase more products. This always happens to me! I can go in for one thing and come out with ten. My roommate Bridget and I used to go to Wal-Mart around one in the morning after work to get something to make for dinner, but we would both end up spending hundred dollars on stuff that we “needed.” Trust me we didn’t need anything that we bought. Also since Wal-Mart is known for their low prices people usually end up buying more because they are saving. Wal-Mart saves people money! Price matters to consumers. Wal-Mart offers quality merchandise at the lowest prices from school supplies, household items, and groceries. Wal-Mart also offers auto repair, clothing, sporting goods, paint, home and garden supplies, lighting, hair styling, manicures and pedicures, entertainment, and even a McDonalds. Wal-Mart also gives back to their communities. They provide financial and volunteer support to more than 100,000 charitable and community organizations. Wal-Mart is convenient and affordable. I do not know anyone who doesn’t shop at Wal-Mart. The Central Park Wal-Mart is definitely ready for Christmas and their shoppers! Unfortunately I am not ready for Christmas!

I listen to music whenever possible.  So when my sister got me these Skullcandy headphones for my birthday, I was pretty stoked.  Not only do they look really cool, but the sound quality is great.  They also come in a ton of different styles and colors, so you can get the style that best suits you.

Now these headphones aren’t cheap, but for me they are worth the money.  Target and Circuit City both sell the style I have for $34.99, but there are also cheaper ones available if you don’t feel like shelling out that much for a pair of headphones.

I’m in desperate need of a new Minnesota Vikings jersey because my Adrian Peterson is getting used and abused. I also wanted to get a defensive player for the Vikings because I have only had offensive player jerseys so I figured I need to reverse the trend. My decision will be between home (purple) or away (white) jerseys. The Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield jerseys cost around $59.99 on ebay. Allen is the starting defensive end (7 sacks thus far) and Winfield is the starting cornerback (2 sacks and 2 interceptions thus far). Which one do I choose? Well, the choice is tuff, but if I had to choose just one I would pick Jared Allen’s because he just signed a long term contract and will likely stay in Minnesota the longest. Now which color purple, or white? Since the Vikings were once known as the Purple People Eaters I’m going with the BOLD purple!

Since Halloween, I have been in a phase of watching horror films.  I went to Giant the other day to see what they had in their redbox and I found out that they had The Strangers.  Liv Tyler is one of the main characters in the movie.  I have not watched the movie yet, but I am very excited to see it.  The movie only cost $1 dollar a night to rent.  If you like horror films or you are still in the Halloween spirit; I believe it would be a good movie to check out.  If you are really interested in the movie, you are able to buy the DVD at Best Buy for $20.

As the temperature keeps falling, out comes the sweaters, jackets, and beanies.  Time to put away the shorts, flips, and tanks and unburry the woven comforts of fall/winter.

For me being cuddly and warm in my room is the best feeling ever.  I can not wait to get into comfy sweats and slippers and curl up in my covers.  I love sweats and slippers! I discovered some of the most comfortable slipper shoes ever! They are Mukluk’s (or tall moccasins). Authentic Mukluk’s are made with reindeer or sealskin for Arctic Natives but now a different version has become a fashion statement.  These new slipper boots are made of wool/acrylic and come in many different colors.  You can find them in many stores, mine are a green pair from JCREW but they can also be found at Victoria’s Secret in the Pink Collection (where I really want to get another pair).  My pair were super onsale from last season and I got them for about $10 but sadly the ones that are out right now at JCREW are $85.00-$250.00 (YIKES!!!) but currently the ones at VS are only $34.50 (not bad).

Another pair of these magnificent slippers may be a xmas present to myself because they are the most magical things you can wear on your feet! So warm and so comfortable! I wear them in my room, to class, and even to the store sometimes!

Keep your feet warm during the chilly months, get youself some Mukluks!

I have been searching for the perfect dog bed for my beagle Itchy for a long time. Itchy is eight years old and is starting to have trouble getting on and off my furniture. I want him to be as comfortable as possible because he is my baby. I will be purchasing him his dog bed for Christmas. Instead of getting him a typical dog bed, I want to get him something unique and special. I just so happened to find him a dog bed that looks remotely like an actual couch! How cool is that. It is called the Humpback Dog Couch. This dog bed is very stylish. It is made with Microvelvet upholstery with foam cushioning. The base cushion is six inches thick and the top cushion is three inches thick. The top cushion is covered in soft fleece material. All the covers are easily removed and machine washable. This is very important in order for me to keep the bed clean. The dog bed comes in medium, large, and extra large. I will be getting Itchy a large even though he is considered a medium sized dog. I have to admit he has gained a few pounds and has become pleasantly plump! The dog bed also comes with accent pillows. How cute is that! The couch bed comes in a variety of colors such as blue, silver, khaki, Terracota, etc. You can also customize the Humpback Dog Couch with your pet’s name for only an additional $15. I have only found the Humpback Dog Couch online. The bed upon order ships in 14-21 business days, so I will have to make sure I order it early. The couch bed costs $199.95, but has free shipping! I know it seems expensive, but the bed seems to be well made and will last a long time with proper care. I am really excited about purchasing this couch bed for Itchy! I think he will really enjoy it. It will allow him to actually feel like he is lying on a couch, but it will be his own personal one. It will also help me out because he won’t be shedding on my furniture anymore. Another plus I won’t have to lift him up to get on the furniture. It gets tiresome!

Some people have absolutely no problem walking around barefoot, being in direct contact with the ground, especially in the safety of their own homes. I was once one of these people, part of a group that didn’t care about the comfort of their feet. Upon making a life-changing discovery, I am no longer that person. About two years ago for Christmas, my grandmother gave me pretty  much the greatest gift of my life: slippers. Now, I had owned slippers before, of course, however these were not ordinary slippers, but- considering my grandmother’s motto is: “never buy cheap”- slippers by the great Steve Madden himself. And let me tell you, I have been loyal ever since.

You may be thinking that it’s really not all that important to have name-brand slippers, and I agree that designer slippers may be superfluous. But if you are thinking that, you obviously haven’t tried these on. Magic, is really the most apt word I can dig up.

I don’t know how much regular slippers run for these days, but the Steve Madden Flicker is $24.95- a generous price in my opinion considering the overwhelming fluffy comfort sensation. 100% worth it. They come in various colors, and they’re conveniently sold at DSW. I must warn you, though: after this experience, nothing you put on your feet will ever, ever, ever match up. Ever.

About three years ago I was watching previews (who does that anymore?) and saw a preview for the film “Dear Frankie.”  I immediately went to my local Blockbuster and rented the movie, only to fall in love with it!  It’s offered on Amazon.com for $22.99 and on Walmart.com for $23.86 (both kinda expensive for a movie but since it’s an unknown I guess it costs a little more).

It takes place in Scotland and is about a nine year old deaf boy and his mother (Emily Mortimer).  In the movie she writes letters to him pretending to be his estranged father until one day the boy learns that the ship from which his ‘father’ is traveling on is coming to town.  The mother finds a no-name stranger (Gerard Butler) to pretend to be his father for a day.  The premise is quite simple and that’s the greatest thing about the movie.  It’s touching because you see the lengths people will go to for the ones they love, (and Gerard Butler is pretty hott when he uses his Scottish accent).

I recently rented this movie with my housemates and they fell in love with it too.  It just makes people feel good and is the kind of film you can watch bits and pieces of while you do work.  I would recommend it for anyone who just wants to watch a chill, feel-good movie!

Here’s the movie’s trailer.