Huzzah! And Shopping Questions

First, the Huzzah! I just made Lifetime at Weight Watchers and I'm silently celebrating at my desk with a delicious egg salad BLT wrap and diet black cherry soda! (For non-WW veterans, lifetime means I maintained my goal weight for 6 weeks and no longer have to pay them for the pleasure of getting weighed and going to meetings.) It feels really good to have followed something through to completion.

Now, the shopping. Two things I'm hunting for and would love opinions...

- Jeans. I wear jeans a lot. Too much probably. So, I don't mind investing a bit 'o money in a good pair. But, from my experience, it seems like the designer jeans (those ones that come in waist sizes instead of normal sizes) don't come big enough for me. I need a jean that works for curves - my waist is much smaller proportionally than my butt and thighs. Gap frustrates me because I find their sizes too inconsistent. Ann Taylor jeans fit me until I wash them then they are too short. Got any ideas of brands I should try?

- Stroller. I'm in the market for a new stroller. We have the Maclaren Quest which has been fine, but it's becoming unwieldy for me when I travel alone. I need a stroller that I can:

• Get down the subway steps with Spencer in it. There are two schools of thought for this - you can either get something super light that you can pick up and carry down (which is what I used to do, but can't really manage anymore with the Quest) or get something with the big air tires that you "bounce" down the steps.
• Fold with one hand. To get on the bus, you have to fold your stroller. So, that means, holding Spencer with one hand and folding/unfolding the stroller with the other.

Secondary considerations:

• It should fold relatively small. I don't want it taking up our whole car trunk when we go on trips.
• It would be nice if I were able to steer it with one hand while holding a coffee or umbrella in the other hand. The Maclaren is not great for either of these activities unless you have ridiculously strong forearms.

Any ideas? After doing a bit of internet research, I've come up with the Micralite as a viable option. It's a bit pricey, but could be worth it if it's good - a think a stroller in the city is almost akin to a car in the suburbs. We use it every day and couldn't go anywhere without it. But, I also wonder if it would be better to just buy a cheapo umbrella stroller that's super light and just use it for travel. Thoughts?

Comments

[Amy]

I'm no help at all. I have no waist and little hips, and a big dollop of butt.

As for strollers, we have the same Maclaren, sorry.

But congrats on the LIFETIME. Your success encouraged me and bit by bit I'm getting there. So thanks!

[Abby]

Jeans: You have got to try Lee Riders mid-rise bootcut jeans. They are the absolute BEST. And they run long, which is annoying for me but you will appreciate it. Walmart has them.... not sure who else - Kohls?

I can't help you on the stroller, as I'm in suburbia and don't do subways/carrying with my stroller - it's always in the trunk of my car.

[becky]

Congrats on your weight watchers success! That's awesome.

Jeans: I hear you on the designer brands -- I tried once with the fancy schmancy brands, but there is no way. They just don't fit me. I have had success with JCrew jeans, but I am short. I buy regular usually and they shrink to fit pretty nicely. So maybe long will work for you?

Good luck on the stroller hunt! Come back and tell us what you ended up with...

[meg]

I have the same problem! I actually LOVE a pair of dark jeans I got from Target (Mossimo?) and for more casual I like JCrew!

[EKL ;)]

Recently emerged from a pile of wedding planning and trying out this blogging stuff...

I've done my share of research on jeans and I think you should give a few of the designers a try -- my reccos are Citizens, Paige, and Ernest Sewn. I don't believe this "they don't have my size" business. Just try them, please.