Full-contact shopping

I wish I could say that my arm hurts from playing basketball or from doing 15 push-ups this morning (five more than usual, yes!). But the truth of the matter is, my bicep is aching from schlepping 15 pairs of designer jeans around the Fresh Pond TJ Maxx while I rifled through the acres of summer clearance racks.

In fact, I've been to three TJ Maxx stores (Nashua, NH, Allston, and the aforementioned Fresh Pond shop) and one Marshall's store (also Nashua) in the past five days. The sale is definitely on, with racks of shirts and skirts for $5, $10, $15, or $20 each. I was born with the bargain bug, because I can spend hours at a single store. Of course, I look through all sizes — from XS to XXL — in the event of a misplaced or purposely hidden steal.

Borderline crazy? Possibly. But I am now the proud owner of a yellow-flowered French Connection sun dress ($5); a black-and-white polka dot BCBG Girls dress ($15); a soft, black Velvet wrap shirt ($15); and a pair of patent leather t-strap peep toe heels from Elie Tahari ($29).

And, I'm convinced I could find a pair of Habitual jeans in a size 27 if I just went to one more store...

[Oh, TJ: "You're my obsession / Who do you want me to be?"]

File under: Confessions of a true shopaholic. I may need an intervention.