Thrift Shopping Buzz

In our hurried modern lifestyle, common etiquette is seldom observed.  Especially in the mall parking lot when we find ourselves in a rush to find the perfect gift during the holiday season.  Parking lot rage can lead to violence.  You don’t want someone vandalizing your car while you’re inside shopping.

If you would like to ponder the wonders of parking lot etiquette, here are some basic steps you can take.

Do not block other parking space seekers while you wait for a space to open up near the store entrance. The drivers in the cars behind you may be finished with their errands, and are ready to head for work or home. If the person is already pulling out, that’s one thing. But if you’re sitting there while they walk to the car you’ll be trying the patience of every other car behind you, especially if they can’t go around you.

Never let small children push the shopping cart for you. A loaded shopping cart in a hilly parking lot can end up crashing into and damaging vehicles. Children should also not be allowed to ride the cart back to the vehicle, with the exception of small toddlers or infants riding in the special seat built into many shopping carts, while a parent has both hands on the handle.

Center your vehicle in its parking space. Overhanging the stripes will tend to crowd the driver who parks in the adjacent space, and frequently leads to door dings in cars.

Never force your car into a space. In crowded, busy parking lots, special compact car spaces are becoming more common. Standard parking spaces are generally 9 feet wide while compact car spaces are only 7 feet wide. Obviously, a large SUV or Pickup will not fit easily in a compact car space, and quite simply put, they are not supposed to.

Watch for drivers backing out of blind spots. Small cars parked between larger vehicles like vans and SUVs often have to back blindly out of their spaces, so be alert and give them a break.

Park shopping carts, dollies, and baskets in designated areas. Many large stores have cart corrals for shopping carts when the customer is finished unloading them. Putting the carts in these locations will make it less likely the cart you were using will end up denting someone else’s car.

Keep children under control walking through parking lots. This will help protect them from inattentive drivers.

Resist temptation to blow the horn (or give the finger) to other drivers. You may feel like they were discourteous, but showing grace, rather than anger, shows more class and prevents reciprocal aggression.

Use your turn signal. Signaling to others when reaching a desired parking spot will reduce unnecessary confusion in the parking lot. It is often thought that when two cars reach a parking spot at the same time from opposite directions, the one that turns their turn signal on first, claims the spot.

Don’t pull too far forward If you drive a small car (Honda Fit, Smart Car, Kia Rio, etc.) do not pull so far forward that your car can not be seen as a person drives down the lane, looking for a spot. Pull into the spot, out of the lane of traffic, but not so far that your car is unable to be seen from the lane.

Even if you decide to adopt these courteous practices, don’t expect others to do the same. Be careful of letting your expectations for others’ behavior contribute to your own potential “parking lot rage.”

 

Fleece is commonly used all over the world, mainly in jackets and blankets as an insulating material during cold weather. Fleece jackets are fantastic for outdoor activity, especially when there is a chance of rain because fleece does not soak up much water. Not all fleece jackets are created equal.   Knowing how to buy a fleece jacket can help you score the perfect style for Fall 2011.

Choose your fleece material. Fleece is thought to be a singular term that describes a type of fabric, but there are actually multiple types of fleece. For the best quality, choose Polartec which is created by the originator of fleece, Malden Mills.

Choose the fleece jacket weight. Fleece jacket weights are divided into 3 distinct categories: lightweight, midweight and heavyweight.

• Lightweight fleece is great for insulating heat while remaining ventilated, allowing air to breathe through the material for improved comfort. Lightweight fleece works great as an inner layer of clothing during the colder months.  The lighter weight makes it easy to perform physical tasks, making it a smart choice for athletes.

• Midweight fleece is the most popular of the 3 weight categories. Midweight fleece jackets are commonly used to bundle up during the cold, worn between the base and the shell layers– between a t-shirt and an outercoat. The midweight is also useful as a simple jacket during the spring and fall seasons when the temperature hesitates between hot to cold.

• Heavyweight fleece is used when warmth and insulation are the most important concerns. Because heavyweight fleece insulates so well, it can keep you warm even when you are being stationary. This makes the heavyweight jacket a good choice for activities such as camping and picnics.

Consider extra features that might improve convenience.  Here are some of the features to be found on modern fleece jackets.

• A snug collar around the neck.  A snug collar–whether it can be folded down or not–can substantially reduce the amount of body heat lost through an exposed neck.
• Front chest and side pockets.  If you are participating in an outdoor activity–hiking, camping, etc.–you may find that a pocket or 2 will come in handy more often than you think.
• Windproof fleece. Even the heaviest fleece materials will allow wind to flow through the fabric, so fleece often loses its insulation value in high-wind areas–unless you windproof it. Some fleece jackets are designed to block out wind by inserting a thin windproof membrane into the fleece material.

Choose whether you want a zip-up or pull-over fleece jacket. A zip-up jacket allows you to wear the jacket open, which can help regulate your temperature more precisely when you get too hot. A zip-up jacket is also more convenient when you find yourself putting on and taking off your jacket frequently. Ultimately, the choice is up to your personal preference

Make a Simple Sweatshirt Special.