A Denim Milestone

I broke out of my super deal-finder persona this weekend to achieve a denim milestone... my first pair of FANCY jeans.

For the last few years, I've coveted my girlfriends' 7 For All Mankind, Paper, Citizens of Humanity and Joe's jeans. I have wanted to buy a pair but haven't been able to justify it (either I didn't like the size I was, didn't want to spend $160, couldn't find a fit that I loved, etc.). I also realize that I've paid $20-$40 for about 12 pairs of jeans in the last two years that I haven't loved. I'm no math major, but this tells me that my so-so jeans have cost me more than a really great pair.

Well, this weekend, while helping my Aunt Vera (of VeryVera fame) out at Costco, I saw something that made me do a double take: a table of original bootcut fit 7 For All Mankind jeans... for $96! (FYI, ladies, I was at the Mall of Georgia Costco Foods in Buford, Georgia.) It was a little more work than trying a pair on at Macy's ("little more work" = no fitting room, had to buy a few sizes to try on in the bathroom, returned the ones that didn't fit) but totally worth it. That's like 30-40% off retail!

I was a little perplexed about what size to buy (did I want a pair that fit exactly right from the get-go? Or did I need a pair that was a little snug, knowing they would loosen up a little as I wore them?). I ended up with the slightly more snug pair and feel I made the right decision. P.s. the length is great for me because I'm tall (5'8) but even having to hem a pair of $96 7's would be worth it.

Doing jean-loosening stretches in my living room and pondering outfits.... eeeeeeeh!

Katy

Loving The Look for Less' Fab Holiday Finds Under $100

Still need to buy a few more holiday gifts for friends or family? Look into these great suggestions from The Look for Less (click to enlarge).

You really ought to check out The Look for Less' Fab Holiday Finds Under $100. I have done most of my holiday shopping but may have to snag a few of these great ideas for birthday gifts or for a few remaining friend gifts I need to get.

Misleading Info from the DeKalb Department of Watershed Management

While I've posted most of our home selling posts on my Katy Streams Her Consciousness blog, I though this particular piece was more fitting for this blog since it's more read by the local crowd.

In DeKalb County, Georgia, one must have certified low-flow toilets for a home sale to go through. My husband had no qualms installing two of these low-flow toilets in order to get our house sold, especially because he could install them himself AND because the DeKalb Department of Watershed Management would give us a $100 rebate per toilet. He purchased two nicer-than-required toilets at Home Depot for about $150 a piece, knowing that we would be recompensated for two-thirds of the total cost.

Well, it turns out that the Watershed Management Department is not giving the whole truth as far as the rebate goes. In fact, I would go so far as to say they're providing false advertising.

We got a letter on November 23 (scan of the letter is below - click to enlarge) saying that our toilets were verified as eligible for the rebate... but there are no funds left in the rebate account. Part of the letter reads, "...due to funding not being available in the rebate account, your application cannot be processed at this time" and "please note that you will not be receiving a rebate check within 60 days as outlined in the resolution."

My husband (Dan) called their office yesterday to discuss the sketchiness of their offer and how misleading it is that their Web site still advertises the rebate program. The account rep/office clerk he spoke with said she was sorry but that no funds were available. She did say that the board is voting in a few days to decide whether or not to add more funds to the rebate program. Dan pointed out that they should take down the rebate information until more funds are available. As of today, the info is still up there.

Dan did get a promise from this contact saying she would personally call and let him know if more funds would be available come December 8.

I wonder how many other people feel they've been ripped off?

The last bit of my 11/14 Last Chance finds

I am back on the interwebs! Pardon the interruption; the hubs and I have spent the last few days packing, moving and unpacking (our house sold — and we've relocated into an apartment). 

"A Life Fulfilled: Atlanta" will literally be "Atlanta" for a little while, as the apartment is in the Virginia-Highlands. The plan is to spend the next few months saving and house hunting — then we'll hopefully be back in Decatur in a jiffy.

Here's the last of what I found at Last Chance (Decatur) two weekends ago. Given it's nautical pattern (that's a black and white stripe), gold buckled belt and shoulder pads, I thought this Danny and Nicole dress would be a fun one to take home with me.

The details.

It's sad to see the yard that no longer belongs to us!

And an antiqued-looking shot for fun.

Dress: Danny and Nicole ($10 at Last Chance in Decatur)

Necklace: made at the Bead Shoppe in Avondale Estates (just a multi-shaped chain I made into a necklace) - $14

Shoes: Nine West platform pumps (via Ross) - $25

Pre-Thanksgiving Crazy Boot Wednesday

It may feel like a Friday... but it's still a (Crazy Boot) Wednesday... Thanks to the office ladies who participated in the fun. We were double up on participation last week.

(The boots third in from the right belong to my company's owner/CEO)

Sorry, AJ. Didn't mean to block your awesome wedge boots!

And e-mailing in from Tifton, Georgia, is a little man named Will. Check out Will and his super rad, super tough cowboy boots:

Rockin'

Pho Dai Loi 2: Vietnamese Comfort Food

Last weekend, I was feeling bleh and my usually chipper girlfriend Megan was feeling a little under the weather. We decided some comfort food was in order, but not the Cracker Barrel or Boston Market variety. 

We were thinking a visit to Buford Highway was just what the doctor ordered.

Based on a comment from Eat Buford Highway, we headed over to Pho Dai Loi 2 (near the intersection of Clairmont Road and Buford Highway). This little gem was abuzz with activity despite our later lunch arrival time. A host directed us to a table, pushed menus in our hands and asked us what we wanted to drink. Tea for me, please.

The scene: Pho Dai Loi 2 on Buford Highway

We ordered (shrimp) spring rolls to start. We spent the next few minutes checking out the scene. The patrons of this cafeteria-esque restaurant ranged from families and solitary veterans to college kids and what looked to be a pickup soccer team. And I don't know what this observation means exactly, but I saw more designer purses in that one-hour time frame than I did in Lenox Mall the week before. Hmmm. Interesting.

The spring rolls weren't much unlike those from my C'om experience in the recent weeks past, with the exception of these being more heavy on the lettuce. I could eat the dark brown peanut sauce on shoe leather (mmm... I think it's that good) but Megan felt overall "meh" about the flavor of the sauce. (I realize "meh" isn't a very technical term, so let's just pretend it basically equals "take it over leave it" or "so so.") The rolls weren't super special to me (and I couldn't taste the shrimp that well), but the price was noteworthy: a super minimal $2.95 for two large, fresh rolls.

Megan and I both knew what we came for entree-wise: the pho (pronounced "fah"). Not knowing which of the traditional, brothy, noodly creations would be most satisfying, I asked the waiter for his recommendation. He suggested the pho tai nam (#9 on the menu) because it came with both flank and round steak. I went for the medium-sized portion ($5.95). All of this talking about noodles, steak and broth got Megan thinking that the pho tai nam would be a good choice for her as well.

Our soup entrees came out of the kitchen almost immediately. I'll have to be honest in saying that I was rather overwhelmed at first; I expected bursts of spices and meaty flavors but mostly got a chicken brothy flavor, even after I added some of the garnishes served on the side (sprouts, lime, Thai basil, etc. — I held off on the jalapenos). 

Can you see that the thinly sliced beef is still just a little rare? It's cooking a little more in the hot broth (thank you, Megan, for pointing this out).

That's when my yapping did me a favor (you see, I'm quite the talker, even when I should be eating).

Like a nice tea, the longer the hearty rice noodles steeped in the lime juice, basil and other accoutrements, the better it tasted and the more infused the flavors became. Mmmmm. And the aroma that accompanied also felt comforting. The whole experience reminded me of eating a fresh bowl of chicken noodle soup, but of the Vietnamese variety. 

Megan and I agreed on the meat though. We preferred the the slightly tougher flank steak to the chewier, fattier round. Next time, I'll order just the round.

My lovely dining companion... Miz Megan.

The verdict: you hit up a pho spot (like Pho Dai Loi) not so much for the flavor but for the comfort and the warmth — and you can't beat the price. The popularity of this place also shows its strength as a Vietnamese staple on BuHi.

Pho Dai Loi 2

4186 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30345

(404) 633-2111

Yelp site: http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-dai-loi-atlanta

Savvy Shopping Tip: Stamps

Ever realize you're out of stamps — then remember that you would rather stab yourself with a sharp pencil than wait in line at the post office during your lunch break?

Well, then I think you Atlantans (and others in the southeast) will appreciate this tip: You can buy books of stamps at QuikTrip with no markup in price. That's right... QT keeps books of stamps in its registers for lazy patrons just like you and me. Pump that gas — and just as speedily as you can grab a 49-cent fountain drink, you can snag a book of stamps.

The more you know...