Shutting Down

After some serious thought, I have decided to end my blogging career! I have some serious family stuff going on and have neither the time nor the energy to devote to the blog. Thanks for popping in!

Casual Sunday

The outfits I've shown on my blog to date have been work attire so I thought I'd show an outfit I'm wearing on a Sunday afternoon as I'm heading out the door to run errands. The tunic used to be a dress with a hideous bottom, so since I only paid $2.99 for the dress from a thrift store last year, I figured I had nothing to lose by hacking off 6 inches from the bottom and turning the dress into a top. The merino wool of this tunic is so soft and comfy and I love the colours. Glad I tried a DIY to it!

The boots are the grey boots I mentioned a few posts ago - they are quickly becoming my casual wear work horses. They are sooooo comfortable, made even more so by adding my favourite go-to Dr. Scholl's gel insoles. 

The "jeggings" I just purchased yesterday during a very good sale at The Bay. They are the black jeggings from Jessica Simpson's line. I went to Gap and tried on the skinnies I hear everyone rave about but they did not fit me well at all. The rise felt a little too low for me and in order to get them tight enough in the waist so they didn't slip off, I felt like a human sausage. In all, I must have tried on 20 pairs of skinnies/jeggings yesterday from various stores. I was feeling quite disheartened when walking through The Bay back to my car, I saw these ones. I did think to myself "ummm...Shannon...you're almost 50...do you really think a Jessica Simpson item can fit you...???" But I liked the feel of the medium weight fabric so I thought I'd give them a try. They are a mid rise, fit everywhere perfect from the waist, to the butt, to the hips and on down. They were $69 regular but The Bay was running a 40% off sale on a couple of lines and this was one of them...whoo hoo...

Tunic: MSK (thrifted)

Denim jacket: Levis (thrifted)

Jeggings: Jessica Simpson

Boots: Sears

Necklace: thrifted

Purse: Danier Leather (thrifted)

Wardrobe Imbalance

I've always suspected this, but it is now confirmed that my wardrobe is imbalanced...so is my brain, but that's a whole OTHER blog!


What I've discovered through this exercise of reviewing my closet, counting my items, etc. is that I have more than an adequate wardrobe for work but very little for casual wear. There are a few items that can do double-duty and bat for either team, but other than those few, most of my closet is dedicated to business wear. I'm finding now that my teenage son is working and no longer needs his mommy like he used to (boo hoo...) I'm re-establishing a social life (or at least trying) and have very limited options for running about.


Realizing this has caused me to completely revise my list of needed items. What I do need - and I really mean NEED not WANT - is:

• Pair of good quality, dark wash, skinny jeans to tuck into boots
• A shorter winter coat to wear with said jeans and boots
• 3-4 long sleeved tunic tops to wear with said jeans, boots and coat

I bought a pair of "practice" skinny jeans a couple of months ago. Up until then, I had never even entertained the idea of wearing skinny jeans. Something about an apple-shaped-short-48-year-old just didn't scream SKINNY JEAN to me...go figure...anyway I decided before I invested any serious money to a pair, I would get a cheap pair (but still decent fitting) to try out and see if a) I was comfortable in them, b) didn't feel foolish in them, c) could work them into my casual wardrobe easily. I'm happy to report that I LOVE SKINNY JEANS!  Who knew? Does anybody else buy "practice or test" clothing items?

So these items will be the new hunt...wish me luck!

Pretty Pictures

I have fallen crazy in love with Pinterest (www.pinterest.com). I love looking at all the beautiful pictures...I'm such a visual person. There are often great, creative ideas - have a look for yourself...go on...I know you're dying to...

Is it self indulgent?

Today's outfit is something that I felt fantastic in all day. It was comfortable, easy to move about, and not overly warm (definitely a consideration in my menopausal heat-wave state!). This is the third item I have purchased from the Jay Manuel Attitude line sold through Sears. If you watch the Sears flyer, his line will go on sale for as much as 40% off at certain times. I scored this dress for a mere $47! I also have a pair of dress pants, an asymmetrical tank top and blouse (the same fabric as the dress). I find his clothes fit well, wash well and so far, seem to be of pretty high quality. The jacket was a Jones New York splurge about 5 years ago. I paid a ridiculous amount for this jacket but given that I love it 5 years later and it still looks fantastic, I'd say it was money well spent. It's hard to tell in the photo, but it's a cross between indigo blue and purple in colour. I'm falling in love with wearing booties with dresses and skirts. I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm getting a kick out of it (get it...."kick"....c'mon...). I do see when looking at the picture that the black tights might be a bit heavy looking. Any suggestions to alternate tights? It's too cold here now to go without.


I have been thinking lately though about this blog and my outfit photos. I'm wondering if it's too self indulgent (no offence to anyone else who blogs). Does it serve a purpose to anyone else but me? Just something I'm wondering about.


Dress: Jay Manuel Attitude
Jacket: Jones New York
Tights: Roots
Booties: Blowfish
Purse: thrifted

Party Outfit #2

This outfit at H&M has caught my eye and may be a possibility for my evening "tux" look for the Christmas dinner & dance. I'm not sure I can pull off the slouchy/low crotch pants being that I'm only 5'1" and not the slimmest gal in town, but they might be worth trying on. I like the jacket too. I would swap out the top in the photo with a sequinned tank (I actually saw a really pretty white sequinned tank in Sears of all places, that could work) and either animal print or red heels, if I can find at a good price. I'm also going to check out my favourite high-end consignment store to see what they have.


http://www.hm.com/ca/product/95851?article=95851-A

Speaking of consignment, I had an interesting dilemma today. Nordstrom's (a huge clothing store in the U.S. with many high-end design fashions) is having a major sale right now and there are many beautiful items to be had. My dear hubby suggested I order a few things as my Christmas present. First of all, the cost of duty and taxes was ridiculous so that ended that idea. But I also got thinking about the fact that the items I loved would still cost significantly more than what I'm used to paying and it sounds weird - but other people would be buying the same items. As I've said before, I thrift not only because it's less expensive and good for the landfills, but because the items I often find are unique. I have NEVER once run into someone who has the same stuff I have. And nobody points at me at work at chants "thrift girl...thrift girl". Nobody knows (unless I tell them) my clothing comes via thrifting. My dear friend Kristin commented on this today at work saying that I find the coolest stuff at the most ridiculous prices and why would I want to change that? Why indeed.


Update: So never mind H&M. Although there are some stores in Canada (in Alberta) they do not run a Canadian on-line store so I cannot order anything from them...ggrrrrrrr...

Party Outfit

December 10th is the annual Christmas Dinner & Dance thrown for my work. It's a fairly dressy affair - mostly cocktail dresses and the odd long gown. It's surprisingly fun, especially since there's some of us gals that go without our hubbies and just have a girl's night out. 


In the past I've worn a fairly typical cocktail dress - black, silver, black/white combo...you get the idea. And I purchased another little black dress back in the summer when I came upon it in a fabulous consignment store that carries high-end merchandise for this year's party. BUT...


...I want to wear something different. I'm becoming more adventurous in my style and like stepping out of my comfort zone. So I'm thinking of doing something like tuxedo pants and jacket, sequined tank or silky blouse, a statement piece of jewellery (fake of course) and some kick-ass shoes. Add a swipe of my new favourite red lipstick (Mac Bold Red) and voila - hopefully a stylish look but one that stands out from the rest.


The trick, however, will be finding these pieces at thrift/consignment stores as per my shopping plan. Do you think I can pull it off?

Goodbye Dear Man

My father-in-law passed away early this morning in his sleep. He'd been in palliative care for 11 days and when we were at the hospital last night, he was in such pain and had tremendous confusion. But he had a wonderful lucid moment where he recognized my son, called him by name and smiled. I'm glad we were there.


We cannot thank the staff enough for their care and respect. We're glad his time of suffering has ended. We will miss him.

Decisions, Decisions

So I realize I’ve cheated twice now on my no-shopping experiment. I’m wrestling with feeling a bit guilty about that and yet…NOT.

I’m wondering if I need to re-evaluate and re-define this “journey”. Perhaps I was completely unrealistic in thinking I could go until the end of March without purchases (other than replacement items). So in that sense, I guess I have failed. But I’ve cut down my shopping by about 80% and have only spent a total of $97 since I started three weeks ago. It may not seem like much of an improvement to you, but to a shopaholic like me it’s significant, so in that sense, I’ve succeeded.  And for that $97 I got: pants, jeans, dress, 3 purses, and a pair of boots…not bad.

Perhaps my goal to March 31, 2012 should be:

·         Not to purchase any items that are duplicates of something I already own, and that can be worn in a minimum of three different outfit combinations;

·         No full price purchases – clearance racks, consignment and thrifting only;

·         Has to be a 10 out of 10 in terms of fit and quality;

·         Stick to a budget of $100 per month ($50 per pay cheque).

What do you think? Is this more reasonable and achievable? Or is this “copping out”?

Hello Again

I've decided that I actually need to keep up with Cold Turkey because in a strange way, I find it therapeutic. My father-in-law is comfortable now in a palliative care unit, receiving end of life care and pain management. The staff are beyond stellar and we are very grateful that he is receiving such wonderful care from such compassionate people.


I originally said that I was not going to post for awhile while we spent time with family, but I've realized that I still need to take a few minutes each day for myself. And this blog is going to be that few minutes.


The outfit below is 90% thrifted. My husband actually offered to take the photo because he loves the colour red and gave me "two thumbs up" on the purse. I was trying to remember the last time I wore an outfit (including shoes, purse and jewellery) that DIDN'T have some item thrifted...hmmmm...nope, can't remember.


BTW - I did end up finding a pair of boots. They are dark gray, riding boot style, very simple (I didn't want any buckles or embellishments) and are extremely comfortable. They are faux leather but I decided that was ok since I'm pretty hard on my outdoor footwear in winter so if they only last one winter, that's ok with me. The best part? They were on sale for $44.99! You'll see an outfit post in the near future with them.


Jacket: Jones New York (thrifted)
Pencil midi skirt: Taifun Collection (thrifted)
Tights: Roots
Shoes: Indigo for Clarks
Purse: Kate Spade (thrifted...yes...a real, honest-to-goodness Kate Spade...for a mere $12.99!)

See you later

I won't be posting anything for a bit - my family is about to lose a loved one and time will be spent with family.

But I'll be back...

In studying my closet...

…I’ve discovered a few “holes” that require filling in order to maximize the items I already have. I need:

·         White button down shirt to wear with pants and skirts, even to dress up jeans.

·         Gray blazer – this would go with many items in my closet and probably add another 4-5 outfits to my rotation.

·         A pair of knee-high boots to wear with skirts, dresses and skinny jeans. The only knee-high boots I have are my trusty cowboy boots and the color does not go with everything. I’d be looking for gray or black I think – something very versatile to again provide many options for the items I already own.

·         Sweater dress – again, multiple ways to wear with different tights, different footwear, different jewelry, different belts.

So of course the question becomes – is this breaking my no shopping challenge? Technically they are not replacement items. If I were to hunt down these items, I would start with my favorite consignment shop. The clothing there is very up-to-date (no bad 70’s big shouldered polyester suits in that store!), in impeccable condition and usually very high end.

Or do I just leave these wardrobe holes and work with what I’ve got?

HELP!!!

That Purse Again

I wasn't able to get outfit photos done yesterday or today - too bad 'cause I liked what I wore. But it's difficult getting shots done and I may not do the outfit posts every day.

This outfit is what I wore on Monday. This is the type of "uniform" I can see myself copying over and over - dress+tights+booties=easypeasylemonsqueasy.

Scarf: Danier Leather (thrifted)

Dress: Gap (sooooo comfortable - like wearing a dressy nightgown)

Tights: Roots (I swear by Roots tights - they stay put, breath nicely and last)

Booties: Blowfish (my first pair of footwear from Blowfish - super comfortable)

Purse: thrifted

My Grandma Kay

I got thinking today (amazing, eh?) and wondering why I feel the need to be frugal with my fashion choices. Ever since I can remember, I have loved clothes. When my Mom bought me a pair of black patent leather Mary-Jane shoes with a velvet bow on the strap to wear to Sunday school, I was hooked. Once I started getting a decent sized allowance in my teenage years, I spent almost all of it on clothing but even then, not the same way other girls my age were. I bought mainstream items in "regular" stores but I also shopped at Army Surplus and would often deconstruct items and reconfigure them in different ways.

But the biggest influence on my thrifting was my Grandma Kay. Now she was not my real blood relative Grandma. This was a lady who lived next door to us (I'm from a very small village) and had taught my father in grade school in a one-room school house heated by a wood stove. She was married to a penny-pinching over-bearing verbally-abusive man who when he died, left her absolutely penniless. She owned three dresses: one black sensible dress for official occasions and funerals; one white sleeveless dress with yellow daisies on the scalloped bottom with a matching yellow jacket; and one chambray shirtdress. She had one set of good pearls and white gloves. This was her wardrobe. I never saw her in pants ("slacks" as she called them) and she never went out without her gloves on. Although she wore the same things over and over again, she always looked impeccable. Her hair was always done, her gloves always white and her dresses always clean and ironed. She grew a garden and kept a small jar of beet juice from her beets in the fridge and used to dip her finger in the juice and mix it with a little bit of her Oil of Olay and this would be her blush and her lip colour. She was a beautiful, stylish and kind woman and never complained. I went to her house every day and she would make me home made cookies (usually Scottish shortbread) and Earl Gray tea with one slice of lemon. And then we'd talk about my day at school - she was always interested in what I had learned. I remember when I was about 14 asking her why she didn't buy more clothes and she told me "A woman doesn't need to own a lot to be stylish. Style isn't about how expensive your dress is. All you need to be stylish is a kind smile and confidence". I think that has stuck with me more than I knew.

My first outfit post included a thrifted Italian leather purse that I called a mix of goth and Medieval. Here is a close up of the purse. It's not everyone's cup of tea (Earl Gray or otherwise!) but I love it, it's different and it cost me less than $10!

I'm No Kate Moss

This outfit is one I wore yesterday - which was "casual day" at work. I realized once I looked at the photo, the jeans are a bit too short and I should have worn my other skinny jeans which are a bit longer and provide some "scrunch" at the ankle, which helps to balance the look. Next time...

My husband (now sometime photographer) took the shot and thought we should try striking a model-type pose...and this is what we got. Face it - I'm no Kate Moss.

Leather jacket: Cleo Petites

Blouse: Attitude by Jay Manuel

Jeans: Calvin Klein (thrifted)

Leather Booties: Naturalizer

Purse: Guess (thrifted)

Why do I thrift?

When people ask me where I got a particular item, whether it be clothes, shoes, purses, accessories, and I respond with “Value Village” I either get “eeewwwww” or THE LOOK.  People have preconceived ideas and biases regarding thrifting. Often, they consider it to be unhygienic, dirty, smelly, unfashionable and cheap (as in poor quality). My son used to be one of those people. He’s 16 after all and fitting in and looking fashionable is of UTMOST importance. He one time asked me why I bought my clothes at Value Village and other thrift/consignment stores and with a look of total disgust commented that “other people have worn those”. I calmly looked up at him (he’s 6’3” after all) and said “do you really think that the jeans you just bought at West 49 for $90 have never had another bum in them, that other people haven’t tried them on – in fact in one day, there could have been as many as 10 people put those jeans on. It’s called a washing machine”. This was a complete revelation to him. I also noted that many times I have found items in thrift stores that still had the original price tag on it from the retail store. He now will take his allowance and head off to VV to see what treasures he can find – among other things, he’s purchased brand new Billabong t-shirts (at $5 each), a beautiful navy blue Diesel hoodie, an Adidas track jacket, and vintage Levi’s jeans that fit him perfect at $8. He’s never looked back.

But I don’t just thrift shop for the fantastic prices. My real reason is the uniqueness and variety. Anyone can walk into a mainstream retail store and find items that fit and look lovely and I certainly do my share of retail shopping. But I don’t want to look like everyone else. I enjoy finding items that I know I’m not going to see on someone else walking down the street. I will mix a thrifted vintage purse with a basic pair of black pants from Sears and a high-end blazer found in a consignment store and BAM…the outfit takes on a whole different vibe. I can often find an article of clothing that is high-end designer that I would never be able to afford otherwise. And because it’s high-end, the quality is superb and the item is in better shape and will last/wear much longer than the cheaper made brand new item. I’ve found Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Jones New York, Karen Kane, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Elie Tahari, Kate Spade, Gucci, and Prada clothing, jewelry and purses in thrift and consignment stores. I would not be able to buy these items at full retail prices.

I also tend to be a bit more adventurous with my style when thrifted. I have not invested a great deal of money on a singular item so if it turns out to be a “dud” it’s not a big waste of cash and I end up donating it back. No biggee.

I do have specific Shannon rules when it comes to thrifting though. They are:

·         I will not buy an item in a thrift/consignment store that I would not have bought when it was new. I have to genuinely like the piece – there’s no point buying something just because it’s inexpensive. If I wouldn’t have bought it new, then I shouldn’t buy it now.

·         I will not buy an item that is stained, ripped, missing buttons, has a broken zipper or doesn’t fit (other than requiring hemming, which is a given for me). Not only does altering an item add to the cost, but I just don’t have the time or inclination to get an item altered. And some things still don’t fit right once altered anyway. My one exception is a shirt or jacket that fits beautifully and is in great shape but I don’t LIKE the buttons – you can pick up new buttons cheaply and replace them. Sometimes changing the buttons on something can completely update the look of the item as well.

·         Do not forget the “smell” test. I realize this sounds disgusting BUT I once purchased a beautiful leather purse and didn’t realize until I got it home that it absolutely reeked of cigarette smoke. I tried everything possible to remove the smell, but it never did come out and I ended up re-thrifting the bag. Body odor and some perfumes can be just as difficult to remove. As strange as I look, I sniff everything before it leaves the store with me.

·         Items from different decades are sized differently. If you see an item you love but it isn’t your size, try it on anyway. I’ve fit everything from a small to a large depending on the designer and the era. In the same vein, wander through the men’s section as well. Some men’s button down shirts look fantastic on women, as well as small sports coats can make fabulous blazers (totally rocking the “boyfriend blazer” look). Vests are big this fall so don’t forget to check out the suit vests in the men’s section.

·         I will occasionally thrift shoes/boots but they have to be in excellent condition – the inside in particular. If the insole is in rough or disgusting shape, I will see if I can either remove it and replace it with a Dr. Scholl’s gel insole or if the shoe has enough space in it for me to put the gel insole on top of the existing. If not, the shoes don’t come home with me.

·         Always always always check out purses, jewelry and scarves. You can find some amazing items in these sections, especially if you’re looking for vintage. I have found some fantastic watches and all I needed to do was put a new battery in them.

·         Above all, be prepared to spend time looking. Thrift stores aren’t known for their great organization and you need to spend time looking through the multitude of racks. Just like finding your perfect mate, you have to go through a lot of crap to find the one “keeper”! Get to know the sales people a bit if you intend on going there frequently. They’ll start to get a sense of what you buy and will often point out items to you which saves you time and effort. And if they really like you, they’ll put items aside they think you’ll like as soon as received so they don’t go out onto the floor!

Has Anyone Seen My Comfort Zone?

Today at work we had a little challenge called "dress outside your comfort zone" day. We all challenged each other to dress in some way differently than we do all the time. It didn't have to be drastic - we weren't asking people who normally wear conservative work suits to come in hoochi wear. It just had to be something that you've wanted to do, but haven't quite had the gumption to do it.


I love the look of cowboy boots with bare legs and a dress but have never worn it. A couple of months ago I thrifted a beautiful pair of sandy coloured leather cowboy boots. They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable things I have ever worn on my feet. I can totally understand how people get hooked on wearing them and then become the crazy cowboy boot woman. Today was my day to try this look at work. 


I didn't have the exact right dress I would have chosen to wear but working with what I have, I wore the same black Alfred Sung dress that I showed previously in my first outfit post. I paired that dress with the lovely cowboy boots, black & metallic belt and a recently acquired taupe leather drapey jacket from Gap. Black and taupe normally are a little too neutral for me since I'm quite pale, but I paired this outfit with my red handbag and matching bright red lipstick to bring some colour into the mix. Ok...be honest now...what do you think of this look? I gotta tell ya - I felt fabulous and comfortable all day...until my sweet friend Kristin pointed out that I had a rip in my backside and my underwear was showing (see your mother was right - you should always wear your good underwear because you never know what could happen)!

• Dress: Pure by Alfred Sung
• Cowboy boots: El Gringo (thrifted)
• Black leather and metallic belt: Nygard
• Leather jacket: Gap (has a purple hue in the photo but it's really taupe)
• Red handbag: Nine West (thrifted)
• Red lipstick: MAC Bold Red

But it wasn't my fault!

A person really shouldn't angry shop. My son and I were not getting along tonight - he's 16 and head strong: I'm 48 and head strong...sometimes it just isn't a good combination.


Anyway...had to get out of the house so that I wouldn't say something I would regret, went to fill the car up with gas and then somehow that darned car of mine found it's way to Value Village...


So I cheated already (yes Kim...you can go ahead a gloat) BUT I only spent $52, it was all thrifted and this is what I got:

• Black Tahari dress pants ($9)
• Calvin Klein slim fit jeans ($6)
• Zara multicoloured dress ($12)
• Faux pearl & gold evening clutch ($6)
• Cleo green faux leather tote ($7)
• and the find of the night: a beautiful black & red Kate Spade purse ($12)

These are all items I can use, nothing requires alterations and all are in mint condition.


Lessons learned:

• send my husband next time to get gas
• never use shopping as anger management therapy

Fabulous or Just Furry?

Faux fur vests are HUGE this fall. It seems every designer has their own version and almost every store you enter has a rack dedicated to displaying them. I really like the look on other people if done right (love with skinny jeans tucked into boots) but I'm not sure if it would work on someone who is only 5'1" - I don't wanna be compared to an Ewok!


Jay Manuel's new line at Sears Attitude by Jay Manuel has some nice pieces, and before my shopping hiatus, I purchased a few. I'm impressed with the quality and fit for such budget-friendly options. His fur vest just came out...what do you think? Fabulous? Or just furry?

A Pleasant Problem

I've been eating a different way for the past 3-4 weeks. I'm not calling it a diet" because it's how I plan to eat for the rest of my life. I'm eating a low glycemic way to keep my insulin in check, get/feel healthy, and help rid myself of a few carb-laden calories that have gathered around my middle over the past year. I must say, I feel fantastic, have more energy than I've had in quite a while and am getting results. Although the number on the scale hasn't dipped by huge leaps and bounds, that's not really what I'm after. It's the "spare tire" I want to get rid of and that appears to be shrinking.

I'm thrilled with the results but it has presented a pleasant problem - some of my pants I wear to work are getting too big in the waist and butt. In fact this morning I had on a pair of black dress pants that I just purchased two months ago and they are way too big now. I'm wearing instead a pair of pinstriped Ann Taylor Loft pants I thrifted last year and had to put away because I couldn't get them done up. But I loved them and hoped they would fit again one day - that day has arrived!

So what do I do with this issue in relation to my no shopping policy? I did say I could replace an item with a like item if it was damaged. Does not fitting fit into this category as well? Before I skip on off to my favorite thrift and/or consignment stores, I will check out two pairs of black dress pants I had kept even though they no longer fit (Gap and Anne Klein). If one of these fits, I'll use them and not shop. If neither of them fits, I will have to get a pair I can wear now but will purchase via thrifting. Sound ok?

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Today we (hubby, son and I) spent part of the day at my in-laws. They have a large lot with many large trees and the yard is full of leaves needing to be raked. So we went over today and spent three hours raking the leaves and mowing the lawn. My parents-in-law were very appreciative of this assistance. My father-in-law is terminally ill and I suspect will not make it to see Christmas and my mother-in-law is 80 years old with half a lung missing from lung cancer years ago. Raking and bagging 36 bags of leaves (yes...that's how many we bagged today) is not something they can do anymore. I also took over a pumpkin pie I made earlier in the day so that we could, in our small way, celebrate Thanksgiving with them. They're not up to the big family dinners anymore - hosting or attending. My mother-in-law phoned me a few hours later and said they were enjoying the pie and thanks again for the help with the yard. Small gestures - raking and baking - and yet they were so thankful.


So what am I thankful for this year? Friends, my kitty cats, sunshine, good coffee, a warm bath and most of all...family.

Why do I shop?

So I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately. Why did I eat all the time? Why did I exercise to the point of blowing out my knee? Why do I wanna shop all the time? Well I've come to the conclusion that it's to numb my brain and keep me from having time to think. 


My sister's just finished reading a book titled "Addiction and Peace" and she was telling me that one of the big "ah ha" findings in the book for her was that people with addictive personalities are uncomfortable to be alone with their thoughts. We feel the need to fill every moment with something...it's called filling space, so that we don't have to let our thoughts be out in the open. When we're starting to think about something that makes us uncomfortable or stressed, we will fill that space in our mind with something else to push the thought back down. One of the things the author recommends is when you feel the need to pursue the addictive behaviour (shopping, eating, gambling, drinking...etc.) you go and lie down on your bed and just "be". My sister has been doing this. She said at the beginning it was extremely difficult and uncomfortable but over time has become much easier and is definitely a calming routine. 


People are always so busy...we're working, running kids around, running errands, looking after aging parents, trying to maintain households, going to the gym...and when we're not doing something we feel like we're being lazy or unproductive. We have lost the ability to just "be".


I'm going to work on this. And when my co-workers ask me in the morning "so what did you do last night" I'm going to say "nothing" and be proud of it.

Helpful Hints

A couple of tidbits:

Urge to Splurge

Eight Tips to Stretch Your Wardrobe Budget

Thrifty Thursday

Last night was Thursday night... "yeah...so?" you say. Thursdays are when the Value Village in my end of town puts out the new (to them) merchandise they've received over the past week. And if you want the good stuff...and there is A LOT of good stuff...you gotta get there on Thursday. On Thursdays in the past, I have bought (among many other things): a double strand of real pearls; a Gucci silver watch complete with a real diamond at the 12; a lovely taupe leather Guess purse; a beautiful pair of like-new sand colored leather cowboy boots; several Ann Taylor Loft/Jones New York clothing items; and one gorgeous silk Karen Kane skirt. It seems an absolute match made in heaven that Thursday is also payday...I mean, how wonderful is that??!!

But last night instead of heading out the door hollering to my guys "I'm off to VV" I watched True Grit (the newer version) with hubby and son - it was a lovely evening. See....you are therapeutic after all! 

Day #1 - Reality Check

So it's payday today...this is a good thing, right? Yeah...except my palms are getting sweaty and I'm a feeling kinda twitchy. Payday normally means "shopping day". But not this time. And it's like as soon as I wrote down I WILL NOT SHOP (like it's part of the Ten Commandments) suddenly I have the overwhelming desire to go shopping. To top it off, last night my son wanted to practice night driving (he's got his beginner's) and where does he decide to go....wait for it...wait for it...WALMART! Is this not like some sort of evil torture test? Now I am NOT a fan of Walmart but it's still a store...so I walk in with him and it hits me like a freakin' Mac truck...the sounds, smells, energy...low prices coupled with cute items...Good Lordie I was starting to hyperventilate. I literally had to say "I'll go wait in the car while you look around" and left. So to help myself out with this project, I'm going to enter stores as little as possible, I have deleted all my various store websites from my favorites list, and unsubscribed to all the online shopping sites I belonged to. I have removed my credit card from my wallet and placed it in a container of water in the freezer. I will also immediately throw store flyers from my mailbox into my recycling box. I'll test the saying People Don't Want What They Don't See.

Below is my first outfit post - sorry for the poor photo - it was taken at work by a co-worker (ssshhh...don't tell my boss) in my office and consisted of poor lighting, a phone camera and a I-don't-know-how-to-pose pose. I'll work on this end of things, I promise.

Outfit: Black knit dress (Pure by Alfred Sung, last year); denim jacket (thrifted); peace sign scarf (thrifted); red Clarks sandals; silver jewellry from my hubby; black Italian leather goth-meets-Medieval purse (thrifted).

Inventory

I decided before I begin my experiment, I should take inventory of what I have and give y'all an idea of what I'm working with - complete with a few pics of my closet and jewellery box. As I began to write down how many pairs of pants and blouses I have, I became a wee bit ashamed. I can't believe how much I have and wondered why I constantly feel the need to have more. It doesn't make any sense...I guess that's why they call it an addiction. I believe I have an addictive personality - it used to be food (so I lost weight), then it was exercise (until I hurt my knee), then it became shopping...I seem to keep trading one addiction for another. 
Anyway...here's the low down of what I have in my closet:

• 5 dresses
• 8 pairs of dress pants
• 15 blazers
• 6 skirts
• 11 sleeveless blouses
• 14 short/long sleeved blouses
• 4 pairs of jeans
• 6 sweaters (pull over top type)
• 9 cardigans
• 15 pairs of shoes/boots (does not include outdoor winter boots)
• 7 every day purses & 4 evening bags
• various t-shirts/belts/tanks & camisoles/scarves
• 2 cocktail dresses

The most mind blowing aspect of this inventory is that this is only my fall/winter clothing and does NOT include what I have stored downstairs for out of season wear.

After looking at just how much I have, I feel more strongly than ever that not only CAN I accomplish my goal of no purchases for six months, but that I NEED to do this. 
I've also decided that if an item does become damaged and requires replacement, it must be from a thrift/consignment shop or from a retail clearance rack...no full price items allowed.

What the hell am I thinking?

Hello. My name is Shannon. I'm a shop-a-holic (this is where you now say "hello Shannon").

I love to shop. For anything. I love the sounds of the voices in the stores, the feel of the shopping cart handle, the smell of the new leather shoes, the sparkle of the hardware on the purses, the weaving in and out of racks of clothing, the hunt for the perfect item...and then you spy it, out of the corner of your eye...you see another lady turn and look at it...you pick up speed trying not to run over the wandering toddler's foot as you whistle past the rack of hideous purple knit elastic-waist pants...ahhhh you've gotten there first, found your size on the rack and head to the change room. It fits. It's yours. Life is good.

At least until you get the credit card bill.

And therein lies my problem - even though about 80% of my wardrobe is thrifted (that's a WHOLE other addiction I'll be talking about from time to time) it all adds up. Even thrifting isn't cheap if you're going every week!

So I've decided to try this wee experiment of no shopping (if I don't put it in regular sized font, it doesn't count) until end of March 2012 (excluding necessities like underwear and socks, or replacement of an existing item due to something like damage). I have plenty of clothes, shoes, purses and jewellry and there's no reason I can't make this work. I will learn new ways to wear old things and try and experiment with different combinations of my current clothing items. This will be a fun challenge...hmmm....fun....it'll be fun, right?

So this blog is going to be my retail therapy. I'm going to chat about how I'm making it work without spending, rant some 'bout how frustrated I am over wearing those black pants AGAIN, and maybe cry a little over the loss of The Gap excursions with a side trip to Starbucks. Care to join me?