Do you play that game where you say, “What if I had $500 to spend at Target?” or “What if I had $200 to spend at Gymboree?” or “What if I had $100 to spend at Bath & Body Works?” or whatever? I love that game. And thanks to an aunt who gave us a gift certificate to L.L. Bean, I am playing that game FOR REALS.

I always start in Sale. ALWAYS. Even when it’s just a game.

Women’s Corduroy Belted Trench. Gorgeous. (Especially if we put ourselves into Autumn Mindset.) But I don’t think it would be gorgeous on ME. And I almost never close my lightweight coats, so then the belt would just be dragging, I guess? But it caught my eye. So pretty! This is what Non-Actual Me wears.

Mountain Laurel Fleece Jacket. Ah! This is more what Actual Me wears!

Girls’ Snowscape Parka. And THIS looks like what Actual Elizabeth wears. I could get this for her for next winter.

Freeport Ribbed Tank, Print. I can picture this going perfectly with about a dozen of her skirts/pants/shorts.

Ruffle Skirt. She has some cute suede boots in exactly this color.

Bean’s Petal Skirt. I seem to be finding quite a bit for Elizabeth. The sale section was skimpy on boy stuff and had zero plus-size women’s stuff, but there’s some cute girl stuff.

Original Field Coat. Out of the Sale section now. Paul has been wanting a field coat, so this is probably the moment to buy it. But man, the prices on things just kills me. This is the CHEAPEST L.L. Bean field coat (others are up to 2.5 times the price) and it’s $100. A hundred dollars! I could buy 5-7 pretty little skirts for that! Five to seven pretty skirts, or ONE boring field coat! Also, when I look at the photos of the coat on the model, the pockets look a little awkward. A hundred dollars for awkward pockets!

Or I could get him the Arrowsic Parka. That’s got a little bit of “Hello there, Mr. Firefighter” going for it, doesn’t it? Makes the purchase a little less boring.

Sunwashed Canvas Shirt. Paul has a couple of these already, but could use a couple more. He wears them to work, where the dress is casual but the boss has suggested the word “casual” doesn’t quite extend to Threadless tees. I like them because they don’t need to be ironed. (Not that I would iron them, if they did need to be ironed—but I’d feel like people at his office would think I should be ironing them, which would make me mad because why should I iron HIS shirts? …Keeping in mind that I’m completely imagining this entire scenario.)

Unshrinkable Long-Sleeved Tee. I’m drawn to these “buy 3 and save” deals. I have four boys, so three of something can easily be absorbed into the household. I wish they came in more colors, though: with six colors to choose from, and all of them kind of basic, it’s not very much fun to choose. Instead of a fun decision like “Ooo, maybe spring green and bright teal and this maybe-awesome-maybe-ugly color?,” I’m all “Well, not white, of course. And I’m tired of grey. So…I guess red and navy and yellow. Sigh.” It saves six dollars, but at what cost? AT WHAT COST?

Solar Emergency Weather Radio. We hardly ever even lose power at our house, but I’m soooo drawn to Emergency Preparedness Things. This one has a hand crank OR it can use solar power, and it has a cell-phone recharging port.

THIS LUNCHBOX. I LOVE IT. AND THERE IS A MATCHING BACKPACK.

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