Retail Therapy Along Foothill Blvd.

"When the going get's tough, the tough go shopping."

I remember this adage clearly - something both my mother said, and my grandmother wore on a 90s T-shirt. Shopping is the panacea for a world of troubles, from toothache to heartache, from stress ... to boredom.

In any event, one escape that always proves transportive is shopping. So, for this week's escape, might I prescribe the fantastic shops along Foothill Boulevard.? My favorite is . I always find something at TJ Maxx. They have amazing deals on jeans, tops, purses and dresses (my favorite summer dress, circa 2008, was purchased at TJ Maxx for $5; you can't even get lunch for that).

But if chain stores aren't your fave, you may enjoy retail therapy at any of the the boutiques along Foothill Boulevard: Posh, Frockx, Fairy Tale Fantasy, Cowgirl Princess, Baby Cakes and so many more.

But back to my favorite. I love to wander through the paintings and explore the "home accents" section; you never know what you might find, from classy mint armchairs to velvet, lilac throws! TJ Maxx is also one of those great stores that has pots and pans in pink, and wildly decorated brooms and mops.

As you head to the register, you'll find candy, cookbooks, media accessories, candles and more (like the pearl-encrusted oil diffuser my roomate brought home last week, or the cherry-cupcake scented soap I couldn't stop smelling). Just be careful; you don't have to have it all (hey, but if you can afford it, why not? This is your weekly escape ... and it's all returnable, so if you go overboard it's not like you can't fix it).

TJ Maxx is open Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.