So I finally got onto Pinterest.
I swore I wasn't going to get on there due to it's addictive nature, but I caved one day and now I have fallen victim to it's evil clutches.
How else could I have found one thousand different projects that I will never do? Or how about those cute party ideas for the festive bashes I will never throw?
Or the outfits that should be filling my closet. sigh
I think that is the worst. I used to shop for clothes so much that looking at all the clothes is killing me a little bit.
Thank goodness I set up weight loss rewards for myself at the first of the year. I set aside all the gift cards that I recieved for Christmas to use as incentives to lose the weight I put on. Did you know it is possible to put on twenty pounds in only two months? Seriously! I think I deserve a medal or something.
Anyway, I have dropped the first ten pounds, now I can use one of my gift cards. This is such a big deal. I am agonizing over what to buy. I have dozens of items flagged between my inbox, Pinterest, polyvore and Amazon.
The good news is, that in the last six months, I have learned a lot about the quality of clothes.
I noticed which ones wore out and have already been removed from my closet and suprisingly which ones are still there.
I have learned that if you drink enough, even the most painful shoes become bearable if they make your legs look longer.
I have learned to let go of items that I think I love, but really only love the idea of.
White leggings, I am talking to you.
What about you? Do you have secrets in your closet that you would never wear, but can't seem to let go?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Mt. Donation
I'm not kidding when I tell you that I am serious about cleaning out my clutter.
My office has turned into the waiting ground for the donation truck.
Granted, my Christmas tree is in there somewhere, but the rest is on its way out the door!!
Even The Boss has gotten into the spirit! Yesterday she gave me two full bags of items to get rid of.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did go buy something this week. Actually, I bought a few things. Once again, I don't feel any guilt. I really wanted/needed these items. I went out with the express purpose of purchasing two new pairs of pants and a pair of shoes and that is exactly what I bought. I took on a new volunteer position and we have to wear a uniform, hence the needing of new pants.
The other item was not a need, but a want. There was a specific thing that I asked for for Christmas. I had not hinted or been vague about what I wanted, I had specifically asked for and even described this item. When the holiday came, I got something very close, but not exactly what I wanted. This week I happened across a picture of one in a magazine, the price was right, so I ordered it. I expected to feel guilty, confused or even angry with myself.
I'm not.
I'm excited, waiting for it to come in. I keep thinking that I hear the UPS truck rumbling down the street.
My office has turned into the waiting ground for the donation truck.
Granted, my Christmas tree is in there somewhere, but the rest is on its way out the door!!
Even The Boss has gotten into the spirit! Yesterday she gave me two full bags of items to get rid of.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did go buy something this week. Actually, I bought a few things. Once again, I don't feel any guilt. I really wanted/needed these items. I went out with the express purpose of purchasing two new pairs of pants and a pair of shoes and that is exactly what I bought. I took on a new volunteer position and we have to wear a uniform, hence the needing of new pants.
The other item was not a need, but a want. There was a specific thing that I asked for for Christmas. I had not hinted or been vague about what I wanted, I had specifically asked for and even described this item. When the holiday came, I got something very close, but not exactly what I wanted. This week I happened across a picture of one in a magazine, the price was right, so I ordered it. I expected to feel guilty, confused or even angry with myself.
I'm not.
I'm excited, waiting for it to come in. I keep thinking that I hear the UPS truck rumbling down the street.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Guilty by Association
So, The Boss and I have been hitting heads recently.
She seems to think that I have a never ending supply of money and time and should buy her each item that catches her fancy.
I have done this.
I know that this is a learned behavior. Once again, I feel like it goes back to an attitude of poverty.
Before we had The Boss and even during her early years, we didn't have much of anything. We made ends meet, but only barely most months. As she grew up, we became more established adults, money came easier, which meant, so did the "things". After struggling for so long, I was the first one to grab a "little something" for The Boss while we were out. Mr. Challenge was no better. We spoiled her, showered her and made her a brat.
We were riding in the car the other day and I was telling The Boss that I wouldnt't take her somewhere and buy her some new items for some craft project that she had decided must be done right now. I explained that it wasn't in the plan for the day and that I was still doing The Challenge and I didn't think that it was right that I kept buying her everything she wanted because we had about a million craft projects unfinished around the house....blah blah blah...you get the idea.
She then looked at me with these big eyes and said "That's right, you still aren't buying things are you?". She had completely forgotten. Of course she had, I was still purchasing her everything she could possible fancy. One item here, two little things there.
Wanna know why?
Guilt.
It all goes back to guilt.
I feel guilty that I yelled at her, that we couldn't go on a vacation in December, that I was so busy this past year, that I ran out of time and didn't play Just Dance with her yesterday, that she was punished for having a bad attitude, that I chose to go to the gym this morning and wasn't here to make her breakfast.
Anything and Everything.
So, I buy.
If you haven't read The Five Love Languages, I highly reccommend that you do. I read it and made each member of my family figure out what was their Love Language. Guess what The Boss's is...yep, recieving gifts. That's how she feels loved. Things mean so much more to her than to me. So, I'm caught in the middle of some sick game. The pull of "dont't buy more crap"--"let The Boss know that you love her"--"don't spoil the kid".
What about you? Do you buy things out of guilt?
She seems to think that I have a never ending supply of money and time and should buy her each item that catches her fancy.
I have done this.
I know that this is a learned behavior. Once again, I feel like it goes back to an attitude of poverty.
Before we had The Boss and even during her early years, we didn't have much of anything. We made ends meet, but only barely most months. As she grew up, we became more established adults, money came easier, which meant, so did the "things". After struggling for so long, I was the first one to grab a "little something" for The Boss while we were out. Mr. Challenge was no better. We spoiled her, showered her and made her a brat.
We were riding in the car the other day and I was telling The Boss that I wouldnt't take her somewhere and buy her some new items for some craft project that she had decided must be done right now. I explained that it wasn't in the plan for the day and that I was still doing The Challenge and I didn't think that it was right that I kept buying her everything she wanted because we had about a million craft projects unfinished around the house....blah blah blah...you get the idea.
She then looked at me with these big eyes and said "That's right, you still aren't buying things are you?". She had completely forgotten. Of course she had, I was still purchasing her everything she could possible fancy. One item here, two little things there.
Wanna know why?
Guilt.
It all goes back to guilt.
I feel guilty that I yelled at her, that we couldn't go on a vacation in December, that I was so busy this past year, that I ran out of time and didn't play Just Dance with her yesterday, that she was punished for having a bad attitude, that I chose to go to the gym this morning and wasn't here to make her breakfast.
Anything and Everything.
So, I buy.
If you haven't read The Five Love Languages, I highly reccommend that you do. I read it and made each member of my family figure out what was their Love Language. Guess what The Boss's is...yep, recieving gifts. That's how she feels loved. Things mean so much more to her than to me. So, I'm caught in the middle of some sick game. The pull of "dont't buy more crap"--"let The Boss know that you love her"--"don't spoil the kid".
What about you? Do you buy things out of guilt?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Ready for 2012
I went shopping the other day.
Antique shopping with my Mom. This has to be one of my favorite things to do with my Mom. I seriously love searching through the stalls in antique malls. You never know what treasures you may find. A Dukes of Hazzard lunch box? A candy dish that reminds you of your Grandmother's home?
This beauty?
No, I didn't buy it, but only because it was $125.
She would have looked hot on my dining table.
I didn't end up buying anything for myself. It was odd, normally I find more things than I can carry when I go to those places.
Was it just an off day?
Are my shopping habits really changing?
Well, I have 182 left days to figure it out.
That's right folks, we are almost halfway through the project.
I am packing up the Christmas decorations with less than I unpacked. I have already returned, regifted or donated the gifts that I recieved that I didn't have a use for. Plus, I have another six bags for the donation truck as soon as it comes through the neighborhood.
Yes friends, I am ready for 2012.
Antique shopping with my Mom. This has to be one of my favorite things to do with my Mom. I seriously love searching through the stalls in antique malls. You never know what treasures you may find. A Dukes of Hazzard lunch box? A candy dish that reminds you of your Grandmother's home?
This beauty?
She would have looked hot on my dining table.
I didn't end up buying anything for myself. It was odd, normally I find more things than I can carry when I go to those places.
Was it just an off day?
Are my shopping habits really changing?
Well, I have 182 left days to figure it out.
That's right folks, we are almost halfway through the project.
I am packing up the Christmas decorations with less than I unpacked. I have already returned, regifted or donated the gifts that I recieved that I didn't have a use for. Plus, I have another six bags for the donation truck as soon as it comes through the neighborhood.
Yes friends, I am ready for 2012.
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