Posts
A Month of Reflection
1 year ago
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Apparently my blog has been hacked. Suspicion drives people to do some crazy things. Anyone ever talk to old friends, boyfriends, girlfriends from the past. This day and age, this is how we keep in contact. Yes, I have been talking to LOTS of old friends both guys and girls. I don't have anyone to talk to at home, so what else do I do. I HAVE given up shopping....hello!
feb 10th
Did i mention i contact my old boy friend behind my husband back. and told him how much i still cared for him
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Dilemmas, dilemmas
Good morning friends. Well here I am stuck in a dilemma. See, our relationship has always been based on "I did wrong, now I'm going to buy you what you want and lots of presents". And I have always been soooo excited to receive something new and something I've always wanted. Well today, six weeks later, I have become a different person and also I have grown in the last seven years since the last time I tried to leave. That time I was promised one more baby which I desperately wanted and did get and am sooooooo grateful that I had her.
Well now my husband has decided to "buy" me little things. Saturday I got a bag of books. Over half I already read. They are still in the bag. In his defense, everyone is afraid to buy me a book. I am the classic hit or miss with that! Now last night he bought me two shirts. Like I need two more shirts. (Didn't he say he read my blog the other night for the first time???- I guess he was just happy to read that I wrote wonderful husband because I wanted to be like everyone else in the blogging world who writes that, which I erased). Anyway, he then texted me and said that I could return them if it's against my no shopping challenge. I said it was a gift so it doesn't really count.
But does it count? I now have 47 long sleeved shirts! I decided I have a choice! Yay me! I have a choice! I try it on, see how it looks and if I keep it it will be one of my 10 choices to keep. Or if I really don't like it I return it. One is a plum colored short sleeve shirt and I'm not so sure if I like it. Haven't gone through my t-shirts yet. I haven't really gone through my stuff lately b/c I'm really not in any mood. But I will buck up and try to do this!! Maybe it's easier to do when you don't care about much right now anyway.
As for the books, I think I should return them. Maybe get credit for later on. I don't need to bring any new books in my life right now. I'm already overwhelmed.
Now the problem lies in getting to the store. I think I only have 2 weeks for Barnes & Noble. I don't feel like going into any store right now. I barely made it through the grocery yesterday. I ended up spending $95 on God knows what.
The best part of all of this is my soul has finally settled down. Things I've supressed over the years are coming out. And you know what? I feels really good. Finally, life feels really good! Even in the midst of all this chaos.
Victoria
Well now my husband has decided to "buy" me little things. Saturday I got a bag of books. Over half I already read. They are still in the bag. In his defense, everyone is afraid to buy me a book. I am the classic hit or miss with that! Now last night he bought me two shirts. Like I need two more shirts. (Didn't he say he read my blog the other night for the first time???- I guess he was just happy to read that I wrote wonderful husband because I wanted to be like everyone else in the blogging world who writes that, which I erased). Anyway, he then texted me and said that I could return them if it's against my no shopping challenge. I said it was a gift so it doesn't really count.
But does it count? I now have 47 long sleeved shirts! I decided I have a choice! Yay me! I have a choice! I try it on, see how it looks and if I keep it it will be one of my 10 choices to keep. Or if I really don't like it I return it. One is a plum colored short sleeve shirt and I'm not so sure if I like it. Haven't gone through my t-shirts yet. I haven't really gone through my stuff lately b/c I'm really not in any mood. But I will buck up and try to do this!! Maybe it's easier to do when you don't care about much right now anyway.
As for the books, I think I should return them. Maybe get credit for later on. I don't need to bring any new books in my life right now. I'm already overwhelmed.
Now the problem lies in getting to the store. I think I only have 2 weeks for Barnes & Noble. I don't feel like going into any store right now. I barely made it through the grocery yesterday. I ended up spending $95 on God knows what.
The best part of all of this is my soul has finally settled down. Things I've supressed over the years are coming out. And you know what? I feels really good. Finally, life feels really good! Even in the midst of all this chaos.
Victoria
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Happiness Can't be Bought
Hi everyone! I apologize for my absence. Suffice it to say, I had an eye opening weekend, but now I'm back!
I was going to write about something else, but I feel I need to write about this. My not shopping for the last six weeks has really opened my eyes up to something. Happiness. I have discovered through this challenge that I am truly not happy. I have known it before, but I think I realized what my shopping was all about. I was trying to fill myself with love. I have read about this before, but like an addict, when you're still using, you can't see the forest for the trees.
See, when I went shopping, or my husband bought me things, it filled my love tank. Sadly, I only just realized this. Lately, my love tank has been sucked dry. I have nothing left to give. I can not put on the happy face I always put on. I do not have the energy nor the desire. I. Am. Done.
So this puts my marriage on the forefront. I have chosen to do what makes me happy. And that is not putting on the happy face. I am chosing to be the "me" that has been buried under the "us". Life is too short. Things don't matter.
No wonder my soul has been screaming to me so loud to "Stop it"! "Get off the rollercoaster"! Stuff does not mean anything to me anymore. I don't desire the crap anymore. I don't desire the "new outfit" to make me feel good or the shirt that is just so darn cute it'll make me loveable. My husband offered to buy me a new car! I don't want a new car. That will not fill my love tank!! It has in the past, but I was stuck in this warped thinking. It's like the drug addict getting the next fix because they want that "high" again, although you never can get that first "high" back. Ever!!!! I know because I was that addict. I was warned through treatment that you cross addict. And that is what I've been doing.
So I say to you my friends (even though my friends don't have this problem!), things don't make it better. They mean nothing. Being loved, and cherished and having a partner by your side through everything means more. This is what I want. Not the stuff! And this is what I have not gotten for seventeen years.
And by the way.....I hate lip gloss!!
Victoria
I was going to write about something else, but I feel I need to write about this. My not shopping for the last six weeks has really opened my eyes up to something. Happiness. I have discovered through this challenge that I am truly not happy. I have known it before, but I think I realized what my shopping was all about. I was trying to fill myself with love. I have read about this before, but like an addict, when you're still using, you can't see the forest for the trees.
See, when I went shopping, or my husband bought me things, it filled my love tank. Sadly, I only just realized this. Lately, my love tank has been sucked dry. I have nothing left to give. I can not put on the happy face I always put on. I do not have the energy nor the desire. I. Am. Done.
So this puts my marriage on the forefront. I have chosen to do what makes me happy. And that is not putting on the happy face. I am chosing to be the "me" that has been buried under the "us". Life is too short. Things don't matter.
No wonder my soul has been screaming to me so loud to "Stop it"! "Get off the rollercoaster"! Stuff does not mean anything to me anymore. I don't desire the crap anymore. I don't desire the "new outfit" to make me feel good or the shirt that is just so darn cute it'll make me loveable. My husband offered to buy me a new car! I don't want a new car. That will not fill my love tank!! It has in the past, but I was stuck in this warped thinking. It's like the drug addict getting the next fix because they want that "high" again, although you never can get that first "high" back. Ever!!!! I know because I was that addict. I was warned through treatment that you cross addict. And that is what I've been doing.
So I say to you my friends (even though my friends don't have this problem!), things don't make it better. They mean nothing. Being loved, and cherished and having a partner by your side through everything means more. This is what I want. Not the stuff! And this is what I have not gotten for seventeen years.
And by the way.....I hate lip gloss!!
Victoria
Friday, February 5, 2010
Laundry, Laundry, Laundry
I have been trying to figure out the laundry for about hmmm, all seventeen of my years of marriage. I have not figured out a system that works, although doing it everyday seems to help. It's just that it's always constant when you do that and never a day goes by that you don't do it! I think my husband wishes he could be the laundry! LOL!!
I had a friend tell me that a friend of hers commented on how much laundry she had one day. She told her she had too many clothes and that was why she had soooo much laundry. I was thinking about this the other day. If we only had ten items of each thing, there may not be soooo much laundry. Granted there are five of us in our family. That's a lot of socks! Everyday would be a small load to do then put away.
Hence my problem. I wash everything and it sits out because the dryer gets backed up. Then I forget to dry it because my day gets soooo busy and then my kids are asking for their stuff and it's balled up on the counter damp!
I can't let it go to once a week because I just don't have the time to do it all in one day. Plus, I do the sheets and towels on Thursdays and adding laundry to that day would be too much and not possible to get done!! I still have a half day kindergartener at home.
I also read that if you wear some items twice, that relieves the amount. I have been wearing my jeans twice, but it's hard to remember which tops I've worn once, so I do wash them after wearing. So I am trying to reduce my clothes and see if that will help with the laundry if I finish it each day!!!
So really there is no real solution for me because I just don't keep up with it. And if I do it everyday, there is no guarantee it will be dry!!
Victoria
I had a friend tell me that a friend of hers commented on how much laundry she had one day. She told her she had too many clothes and that was why she had soooo much laundry. I was thinking about this the other day. If we only had ten items of each thing, there may not be soooo much laundry. Granted there are five of us in our family. That's a lot of socks! Everyday would be a small load to do then put away.
Hence my problem. I wash everything and it sits out because the dryer gets backed up. Then I forget to dry it because my day gets soooo busy and then my kids are asking for their stuff and it's balled up on the counter damp!
I can't let it go to once a week because I just don't have the time to do it all in one day. Plus, I do the sheets and towels on Thursdays and adding laundry to that day would be too much and not possible to get done!! I still have a half day kindergartener at home.
I also read that if you wear some items twice, that relieves the amount. I have been wearing my jeans twice, but it's hard to remember which tops I've worn once, so I do wash them after wearing. So I am trying to reduce my clothes and see if that will help with the laundry if I finish it each day!!!
So really there is no real solution for me because I just don't keep up with it. And if I do it everyday, there is no guarantee it will be dry!!
Victoria
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Clothing......
I decided to talk mostly about clothing this month. I wanted to show you what my shopping over the years has done to my closet! Now I know why my soul is practically screaming "Simplify your clothes"!!! I'm always going into my closet with the determination to just be ruthless and go through it and edit and give away. Then I look at one or two pieces and say "oh, but I like that". Then I walk away and go focus on something else! Then I go shopping and pick up cute things at random, not that I need them, and wear them and add them to my closet. Well, I decided to go through each category of clothing and round them up and count what I had.
My first category is long sleeved shirts. I think I found every one of them (I will edit if I find more, which I really hope I don't). I have, drum roll please, 46!!! That is crazy!! Who needs 46 long sleeved shirts!! A couple of them are peasant tops which I really love, but don't wear??? I don't get that! Some have logos on them (like from Lucky). No wonder when my husband's mom gave me two more long sleeved shirts for Christmas, I wasn't over the moon! I didn't need them!!
So I decided on the number 10. I felt that would be a good number to start with. All this month I'm going to wear a different one, and take my pictures, and choose 10 out of the 25 I wear. Since it's February 3 I only have 25 more days. Yesterday I wore a black one I just got from Costco, Lucky brand, and while I love it, it's a bit too big. Should have gotten medium, but I don't like my shirts tight. I need to learn to try it on and return if it doesn't fit right, but I never do that and I just wear it and it never looks good. So I'm debating if I want this to be one of my top ten. Another buying mistake! But hey, I'm learning. The ones I decide not to keep as my top ten, I will store away and maybe rotate next year. I'm not ready to give anything away this year as I can't buy anything and in the last month of winter, I may need to wear these.
When I do get back into the "shopping" world, I want to have the "one new one comes in, one old one goes out". Then I'd really keep my wardrobe down. In my case next year, one comes in and five will have to go out! But hey, it will really make me think before I buy! Unless of course what I'm buying I don't have at all (tube top, leather pants! LOL-not in this lifetime!).
So this month I will try to edit and reduce my long sleeved tops to only 10. I'm also going to take inventory of my pants. Since these are the two things I'm wearing this month. Oh and sweats outfits. I will use the number 10 for my pants. My sweats I will use the number 5 because I don't have 10 of those ( I don't think!). Also, I don't need 10 sweats outfits.
I'm also going to look back over the pictures I took last month of my outfits and see what I really liked on me. Which I don't think was anything because I'm trying to get some of this weight off!! And if I didn't LOVE it, I'm going to store it away. Some of my long sleeved shirts I already wore, so maybe it will help and I won't have to wear it again or I will wear it again because I loved it!
So here's to finally reducing my wardrobe! I will succeed and get it down to a manageable amount of only things I love, love, love! Some of my favorite blogs talk about this. I really want to be simpler and in control and get dressed knowing what I'm wearing is cute and looks good!! :)
Victoria
My first category is long sleeved shirts. I think I found every one of them (I will edit if I find more, which I really hope I don't). I have, drum roll please, 46!!! That is crazy!! Who needs 46 long sleeved shirts!! A couple of them are peasant tops which I really love, but don't wear??? I don't get that! Some have logos on them (like from Lucky). No wonder when my husband's mom gave me two more long sleeved shirts for Christmas, I wasn't over the moon! I didn't need them!!
So I decided on the number 10. I felt that would be a good number to start with. All this month I'm going to wear a different one, and take my pictures, and choose 10 out of the 25 I wear. Since it's February 3 I only have 25 more days. Yesterday I wore a black one I just got from Costco, Lucky brand, and while I love it, it's a bit too big. Should have gotten medium, but I don't like my shirts tight. I need to learn to try it on and return if it doesn't fit right, but I never do that and I just wear it and it never looks good. So I'm debating if I want this to be one of my top ten. Another buying mistake! But hey, I'm learning. The ones I decide not to keep as my top ten, I will store away and maybe rotate next year. I'm not ready to give anything away this year as I can't buy anything and in the last month of winter, I may need to wear these.
When I do get back into the "shopping" world, I want to have the "one new one comes in, one old one goes out". Then I'd really keep my wardrobe down. In my case next year, one comes in and five will have to go out! But hey, it will really make me think before I buy! Unless of course what I'm buying I don't have at all (tube top, leather pants! LOL-not in this lifetime!).
So this month I will try to edit and reduce my long sleeved tops to only 10. I'm also going to take inventory of my pants. Since these are the two things I'm wearing this month. Oh and sweats outfits. I will use the number 10 for my pants. My sweats I will use the number 5 because I don't have 10 of those ( I don't think!). Also, I don't need 10 sweats outfits.
I'm also going to look back over the pictures I took last month of my outfits and see what I really liked on me. Which I don't think was anything because I'm trying to get some of this weight off!! And if I didn't LOVE it, I'm going to store it away. Some of my long sleeved shirts I already wore, so maybe it will help and I won't have to wear it again or I will wear it again because I loved it!
So here's to finally reducing my wardrobe! I will succeed and get it down to a manageable amount of only things I love, love, love! Some of my favorite blogs talk about this. I really want to be simpler and in control and get dressed knowing what I'm wearing is cute and looks good!! :)
Victoria
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Urge to Splurge!!!
Well, February is here. Wow! Time flies!! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so we will be having six more weeks of winter. We really need the extra rain here!!
The other day I was having my "urge to splurge" moment. When I used to try to cut back on shopping, I remember after a dry spell having a sudden urge to splurge and I would act on it. This time I didn't, but I did feel it. Mostly I wanted to browse Barnes and Noble (my favorite store) and buy some new books. Love the feel of a new book, but this doesn't make sense because I got the Kindle last year for Mother's Day and that was so I could make my life easier by not lugging around a bunch of books. Go figure!
The other thing I wanted to do was go to Panda Express to get dinner. I made dinner, but I was thinking, "if I could just go pick that up it would make life easier". In some instances it would, since my schedule is going to be really crazy the next eight weeks.
I do have a tendency to have splurge moments. Like I said I usually act on them and start saying my usual, "I deserve this", "I'll get in trouble later", and my famous "who cares"?
So I wonder when the next urge to splurge will show up. I managed to squelch this one. Maybe by doing that they will come fewer and farther between.
Victoria
The other day I was having my "urge to splurge" moment. When I used to try to cut back on shopping, I remember after a dry spell having a sudden urge to splurge and I would act on it. This time I didn't, but I did feel it. Mostly I wanted to browse Barnes and Noble (my favorite store) and buy some new books. Love the feel of a new book, but this doesn't make sense because I got the Kindle last year for Mother's Day and that was so I could make my life easier by not lugging around a bunch of books. Go figure!
The other thing I wanted to do was go to Panda Express to get dinner. I made dinner, but I was thinking, "if I could just go pick that up it would make life easier". In some instances it would, since my schedule is going to be really crazy the next eight weeks.
I do have a tendency to have splurge moments. Like I said I usually act on them and start saying my usual, "I deserve this", "I'll get in trouble later", and my famous "who cares"?
So I wonder when the next urge to splurge will show up. I managed to squelch this one. Maybe by doing that they will come fewer and farther between.
Victoria
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The end of the first month!!!
Wow! I can't believe thirty-0ne days have gone by already! I'm still going strong in my challenge. I have yet to add up all my grocery purchases to see what I spent in that area. I will reassess and see if I can save even more in that area in the month of February!! I have stuck to my weekly allowance and went over by $120. I used my credit card twice for a purchase at Target-$35 and See's candy-$25. I purchased all my gas on my credit card. Food and eating out are really my only two categories I have!!!
I managed to not buy clothes, books(the one I approved got cancelled because the seller didn't really have it!!!), music or clothes for my daughter! I didn't bring home one plastic bag(exception being the 8 produce bags I didn't count-I'll work on that one!). I only drank 4 cokes and I'm guessing I would have drank at least 15 if not more so that was good! I went to the gym probably 10 times. Another number I'll work on.
So overall, I think I did really well this month and I'm sooo proud of my accomplishments! Tracking my money has been very beneficial and it gives me a base to work on for February. I hope my receipt envelope is a bit skinnier!!
I'm not sure how this post will come out as I'm typing on my iPhone because I'm at the snow with my kids and the Internet is down! I wanted to get this in on the last day of the month!
Here's to an even better February!! I hope I'm encoraging some of you to stop buying and living life without materialism being the center!!
Victoria
I managed to not buy clothes, books(the one I approved got cancelled because the seller didn't really have it!!!), music or clothes for my daughter! I didn't bring home one plastic bag(exception being the 8 produce bags I didn't count-I'll work on that one!). I only drank 4 cokes and I'm guessing I would have drank at least 15 if not more so that was good! I went to the gym probably 10 times. Another number I'll work on.
So overall, I think I did really well this month and I'm sooo proud of my accomplishments! Tracking my money has been very beneficial and it gives me a base to work on for February. I hope my receipt envelope is a bit skinnier!!
I'm not sure how this post will come out as I'm typing on my iPhone because I'm at the snow with my kids and the Internet is down! I wanted to get this in on the last day of the month!
Here's to an even better February!! I hope I'm encoraging some of you to stop buying and living life without materialism being the center!!
Victoria
Friday, January 29, 2010
Things I'm trying to do this year......
I know this post will sound weird (I never said I wasn't!) LOL!! But I have some challenges I'm trying out this year. One is using my same purse all year long. I know, it sounds dumb, but I am the mom who's kids say "you got a new purse??? Why do you keep changing it"? Well, good question. Let me know when you come up with an answer. :) Reason: I get bored and while I was in _____ store, I saw this and it was soooo cute I had to have it and only $40 (or whatever at the time ). So for Christmas my hubby let me have my last splurge and for Christmas I got the Dooney Burke leopard purse with red straps! Love, love, love it!! It's big though, but great b/c I don't need a bag when I buy things! Kind of feels like you're stealing when you stick it in your purse though!! I do carry my fabulous Whole Foods reusable bag (the feed the children one I talked about). So, I plan to use that fabulous purse all year long!! No changing for me!! I did find a black canvas one I got at Walmart last year that is really cute and was only $10! I will not change to that one until next year and then I'll see if I last using that one all year!
Another item I'm wearing constantly is my beige converse. I've had these for three years and they have signs of wear, but I love them and I'm not sure if I wear them out this year I'll want to get rid of them. Hmmm. The soles are wearing down and I did get a half size too big, so maybe next year I will replace only those. I have a pair of the slipon laceless ones in the same color, but I always reach for these. So there you go! Another purchasing mistake again! I had a black slipon pair I got two years ago and wore them out completely and just replaced them last year, so those are a definite good purchase. See the things I'm learning people!!! I love this challenge!! It is definitely teaching me things already!!!
I have many jackets, but the two I reach for are an organic beige one I got at Sam's Club (although the sleeves are a tad too short) and a black down one I got at Costco. I love both of those and seem to leave the others in the guestroom that I hardly think about. Hmmm. Bad purchasing choices again?? Who me??
I have a bunch of jewelry, but only wear my diamonds (40 yr old bday gift from hubby!), my eternity ring (16 yr anniv), my absolutely favorite Tiffany ring from my really close friend with NY address on it (I went for my 40th with my other really close friend) and a coach pink heart (I love hearts!!!) ring with it, and my Lucy Leonard cuff bracelet with my kiddos names on it. That's it. Sometimes a necklace, but I don't have a favorite one. Need to work on that.
So these are the things I am constantly wearing and truly love. If I see all my other stuff, I'll say I love that too, b/c I do! I think I love everything! That's my problem and why I can't just pick a few things and be content. I will work on this all year and hopefully let go of a lot of things that I just can't possible love!
So now that I told you what I constantly wear, you should be able to pick me out in a crowd!! LOL. My "style" should never surprise you!
Victoria
Another item I'm wearing constantly is my beige converse. I've had these for three years and they have signs of wear, but I love them and I'm not sure if I wear them out this year I'll want to get rid of them. Hmmm. The soles are wearing down and I did get a half size too big, so maybe next year I will replace only those. I have a pair of the slipon laceless ones in the same color, but I always reach for these. So there you go! Another purchasing mistake again! I had a black slipon pair I got two years ago and wore them out completely and just replaced them last year, so those are a definite good purchase. See the things I'm learning people!!! I love this challenge!! It is definitely teaching me things already!!!
I have many jackets, but the two I reach for are an organic beige one I got at Sam's Club (although the sleeves are a tad too short) and a black down one I got at Costco. I love both of those and seem to leave the others in the guestroom that I hardly think about. Hmmm. Bad purchasing choices again?? Who me??
I have a bunch of jewelry, but only wear my diamonds (40 yr old bday gift from hubby!), my eternity ring (16 yr anniv), my absolutely favorite Tiffany ring from my really close friend with NY address on it (I went for my 40th with my other really close friend) and a coach pink heart (I love hearts!!!) ring with it, and my Lucy Leonard cuff bracelet with my kiddos names on it. That's it. Sometimes a necklace, but I don't have a favorite one. Need to work on that.
So these are the things I am constantly wearing and truly love. If I see all my other stuff, I'll say I love that too, b/c I do! I think I love everything! That's my problem and why I can't just pick a few things and be content. I will work on this all year and hopefully let go of a lot of things that I just can't possible love!
So now that I told you what I constantly wear, you should be able to pick me out in a crowd!! LOL. My "style" should never surprise you!
Victoria
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Striving for Simplicity
I read a lot of blogs on simplicity. For the last 10 years I have craved this topic and have read everything I can get my hands on about it. One area that has gone against the grain of this drive I have is my shopping. The two could not be more opposite!
Sometimes I feel if I just get rid of it all, my home would be less messy. True. I could get dressed easily in the morning because I would only have a few outfits I absolutely loved! True. I could easily make dinner. True. I could find an important paper in a moments notice. True. I could look at old photos anytime. True. Ok, now I'm getting into organizing! LOL!!
I don't live in a simple life because I am married, have three children, two dogs and a hamster. I would not trade my life for the world! I am busy and wonder how I could ever have a job? Where would I find the time to work? I lay my hands down to all you single parents and working parents. I am fortunte I can stay home. My daughter is in kindergarten half day, so my time is very short as to what I can get done. I think that is my problem: time. I don't have enough time in the day to do what I need to do. Next year when she starts first grade, I will have more time to clean, do laundry, make dinner, pick things up and run errands.
But I do long for a life that has less "stuff" in it. That is my mission this year: to go through my stuff, use it up, wear it then keep or toss, reduce what I can in half. I think this would help to make my life more simple. Then maybe I won't have to crave this simple life stuff I read and I can learn to be content. I just feel my soul screaming at me to pare down. Get down to the basics, reduce!! Maybe I just need to organize my life more. I just wish I could one day sit down and know that the house is clean, laundry done, dinner made, things picked up, and enjoy myself and my family.
I could do this........if I have less stuff.
Victoria
Sometimes I feel if I just get rid of it all, my home would be less messy. True. I could get dressed easily in the morning because I would only have a few outfits I absolutely loved! True. I could easily make dinner. True. I could find an important paper in a moments notice. True. I could look at old photos anytime. True. Ok, now I'm getting into organizing! LOL!!
I don't live in a simple life because I am married, have three children, two dogs and a hamster. I would not trade my life for the world! I am busy and wonder how I could ever have a job? Where would I find the time to work? I lay my hands down to all you single parents and working parents. I am fortunte I can stay home. My daughter is in kindergarten half day, so my time is very short as to what I can get done. I think that is my problem: time. I don't have enough time in the day to do what I need to do. Next year when she starts first grade, I will have more time to clean, do laundry, make dinner, pick things up and run errands.
But I do long for a life that has less "stuff" in it. That is my mission this year: to go through my stuff, use it up, wear it then keep or toss, reduce what I can in half. I think this would help to make my life more simple. Then maybe I won't have to crave this simple life stuff I read and I can learn to be content. I just feel my soul screaming at me to pare down. Get down to the basics, reduce!! Maybe I just need to organize my life more. I just wish I could one day sit down and know that the house is clean, laundry done, dinner made, things picked up, and enjoy myself and my family.
I could do this........if I have less stuff.
Victoria
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Use it up!!!
One thing I am doing this year is "using it up"! I am a person who while at Target or whatever will see something I use and get it just to make sure I have enough. Hmmm....therapy maybe.....making sure I have "enough". Whole other deeper post! I tend to overbuy in these instances. Like the lip gloss I talked about. I was looking for a badge I needed and in two purses I found six more lip glosses!! Yikes! So I am currently trying to "use them up"! Some I'm wondering if they are more than a couple of years old. I checked a website that told me about them and the date was 2008. Ewww!
Now currently, my feminine products are getting low, but I think I can squeak out another month. I really don't like to be caught without these things. Plus, I've changed to organic products and they are a little pricier. My makeup is going to last all year, no doubt. The good part with this is I'll know everything left is over a year old because I won't need to buy any this year and what I've already had was from last year. Again, I date my products along with food. It's amazing how old some things get! I may have to purchase mascara, but again, I'll see if I can squeak out a few more months! I don't wear it everyday afterall! What I can't understand is I have 2 bottles of liquid foundation and one I absolutely love that has a sponge attached, yet I bought the bottles? So now I have tons of foundation and again, I don't wear makeup everyday. I need to stick to what I love and stop buying the others just because!!!
Another thing I plan to use is my nail polish. Ok, get this! I buy nail polish and I always get a manicure and pedicure at a nail shop and use their polish! Where's the sense in this?? So I plan to do my nails myself because getting them done is not part of my challenge. I plan to use the polishes I have and paint my daughter's as well. I probably have 20 polishes. I'll count and edit to give a more accurate number. And the other thing, I only like pale pink and 19 of them are dark colors! Wow, I've really lost it! Someone commit me!
I've also been doing the "use it up" in my pantry. For instance, I have teas and instant coffees, but I would have my husband bring Starbucks home for me once or twice a week in the evening. I've had to throw these away because the date would be over a year old and.....well yuck! So, I'm using them up by making iced tea- hubby and I drink it everyday for our drink choice. And in the evening sometimes I'm using my Swiss Mocha mix. It probably costs 1/10 of a Starbucks latte, venti at that! Plus I'm sure it doesn't have as many calories. And the money I'm saving! Yay!
We've been using up our drinks-gatorades and cokes. I brought a coke with me Sunday to the snow (my third one this month!) and realized it expired in Sept. 09. (Do they really expire?) Shows you how long that's been in my fridge! Now the million dollar question- do I buy gatorades at Sam's Club or just a six pack at the grocery. Sometimes you can get the bigger one for a dollar. I only use them for the snow. I also read you can make them with a powder version. I may try that! My family and I drink water as our main drink. I'm also not buying water bottles anymore. The ones I have left are from what I bought last year. Also the kind I buy, Sam's Choice, was rated worst water on a website I read!! No wonder it tastes sooooo good!! I'm definitely not replacing the cokes. We don't need them. I'll only get them if we have a party.
So my main thing this year is "using it up"! I will not replace anything until it is completely gone. I'm running low on my Method wood cleaner and almost went to Target right that second to get more and realized I could probably get away with a few more squirts since I use my swiffer duster to dust most of the time. I use environmentally safe cleaners. They are pricey, but at least it's not changing my endocrine system when I clean!
Victoria
Now currently, my feminine products are getting low, but I think I can squeak out another month. I really don't like to be caught without these things. Plus, I've changed to organic products and they are a little pricier. My makeup is going to last all year, no doubt. The good part with this is I'll know everything left is over a year old because I won't need to buy any this year and what I've already had was from last year. Again, I date my products along with food. It's amazing how old some things get! I may have to purchase mascara, but again, I'll see if I can squeak out a few more months! I don't wear it everyday afterall! What I can't understand is I have 2 bottles of liquid foundation and one I absolutely love that has a sponge attached, yet I bought the bottles? So now I have tons of foundation and again, I don't wear makeup everyday. I need to stick to what I love and stop buying the others just because!!!
Another thing I plan to use is my nail polish. Ok, get this! I buy nail polish and I always get a manicure and pedicure at a nail shop and use their polish! Where's the sense in this?? So I plan to do my nails myself because getting them done is not part of my challenge. I plan to use the polishes I have and paint my daughter's as well. I probably have 20 polishes. I'll count and edit to give a more accurate number. And the other thing, I only like pale pink and 19 of them are dark colors! Wow, I've really lost it! Someone commit me!
I've also been doing the "use it up" in my pantry. For instance, I have teas and instant coffees, but I would have my husband bring Starbucks home for me once or twice a week in the evening. I've had to throw these away because the date would be over a year old and.....well yuck! So, I'm using them up by making iced tea- hubby and I drink it everyday for our drink choice. And in the evening sometimes I'm using my Swiss Mocha mix. It probably costs 1/10 of a Starbucks latte, venti at that! Plus I'm sure it doesn't have as many calories. And the money I'm saving! Yay!
We've been using up our drinks-gatorades and cokes. I brought a coke with me Sunday to the snow (my third one this month!) and realized it expired in Sept. 09. (Do they really expire?) Shows you how long that's been in my fridge! Now the million dollar question- do I buy gatorades at Sam's Club or just a six pack at the grocery. Sometimes you can get the bigger one for a dollar. I only use them for the snow. I also read you can make them with a powder version. I may try that! My family and I drink water as our main drink. I'm also not buying water bottles anymore. The ones I have left are from what I bought last year. Also the kind I buy, Sam's Choice, was rated worst water on a website I read!! No wonder it tastes sooooo good!! I'm definitely not replacing the cokes. We don't need them. I'll only get them if we have a party.
So my main thing this year is "using it up"! I will not replace anything until it is completely gone. I'm running low on my Method wood cleaner and almost went to Target right that second to get more and realized I could probably get away with a few more squirts since I use my swiffer duster to dust most of the time. I use environmentally safe cleaners. They are pricey, but at least it's not changing my endocrine system when I clean!
Victoria
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Excessive purchasing is a Mindset
Good morning everyone! I've been a bit tardy on my posts, or absent rather. It's been a busy few days! Took my boys and my daughter and my girlfriend and her boys to the snow. She tried ski school and was bookin' it down the mountain! Wow, that made me nervous. But she had such a great time! So yes, that was an extra purchase for us, but soooo worth it! She really had fun and stayed the whole time (last year she only stayed two hours, grrrr). We did buy food up there, but just the boys and they shared both items so it was only $15 total instead of the normal $45 we would spend. I know, crazy. We ran into traffic coming home so we stopped at McD's and a place that makes papusas. Let me tell you, if you haven't had an authenticly made papusa, go do it now! They are soooooo good! So my girlfriend and I each split the cost, so it was $20 a piece for McD's and papusas. I normally wouldn't have spent the extra money, but it was dinner hour and we were hungry and I've been wanting to try those papusas!
It turned out to be a very limited week with money and I sure felt the tight strap! By Thursday, I was out of money! It went that quickly! I was shocked. I also kept $40 in my account floating, because I wasn't sure if something I forgot about would come through and then I'd get dinged $33. Some companies ran the credit purchase through twice, but credited it, but if the money wasn't in there when they accidentally did it, I would have been dinged $33!!! So I really have to be careful!
Yesterday I met a good friend from high school for coffee! It was soooo good to catch up with her. We went to Starbucks and I made a conscience choice to get something cheap so I got green tea. It was actually good and only $2. I normally would get a grande fancy coffee and a sweet treat, but tea was good because I had already drank some coffee at home. Then my middle son was home and we had to return my older son's snowboard rental, so I took him to lunch. I ended up choosing a place that wasn't a sit down restaurant, but an order it yourself (it's called Urbane Cafe-so yummy!), so that made lunch cheaper by no tip and expensive meal and drink at a restaurant. Our $17 lunch would have been $37 or more! So good choice for me!!
So speaking of mindset..........I realized on Sunday, that the way I purchase is a mindset....I just purchase......no thought in it. You want a coke? I'll get it; you want some nachos? I'll get it.........I have an immediate response to situations in where I offer to get it. Not always bad, because I truly like doing that for people and my kids, but this is where I get into trouble foodwise with spending.
With any other purchases, such as clothing, I get, I have certain mindsets: Just get it, I'll get in trouble later, it's only $10, so what! I deserve it, I haven't shopped in a few weeks, I don't have that one, it's soooo cute! And my worst one is, if it doesn't fit right-I don't return things!! I'm horrible with that. So I just donate it! Or if it's nice enough I'll gift it to someone. That's just plain bad!!
So I am going to change my mindsets and think before buying, plan purchases first, think about the best choice and maybe what would be cheapest. I just bought a gift for my one girlfriend's daughter's birthday that is this Saturday. I already wrapped it and I'm happy with what we got her. I actually got the gift while I was out yesterday. (I'm sorry, but I can't take my daughter with me. She wants everything and I wasn't in the mood to take her with me and argue). Now my daughter just has to fill out the card (I just cut a piece of the wrapping paper to make one-kid's don't care!). It's all ready to go! Normally, I would put it off until Friday, wrap it minutes before the party and be all stressed about it! Stress no more!
I also ran into a snag last week with plastic bags. When I went to get my library books, it was raining and they were putting the books in plastic bags. I was panicking wondering what I was going to do! I had left my bag in the car. So I told her I needed to go get it and she said "we have plastic bags" and I said I couldn't bring plastic home this year. So I got my bag! Success!
Also, speaking of bags, I mentioned at the beginning of this challenge that I got one from Whole Foods. I carry that around with me whereever I go and it's perfect especially now that when I go to the store, I'm only getting what I need so it's never more than what would fit in the one bag. If I need more I get paper and those get used to collect my recycling in the kitchen! I know it's not perfect, but at least it's doing my part in helping the earth.
So my challenge this week is to work on changing my mindsets. I'm looking forward to this new way of thinking! I'm sure my husband would too!
Victoria
It turned out to be a very limited week with money and I sure felt the tight strap! By Thursday, I was out of money! It went that quickly! I was shocked. I also kept $40 in my account floating, because I wasn't sure if something I forgot about would come through and then I'd get dinged $33. Some companies ran the credit purchase through twice, but credited it, but if the money wasn't in there when they accidentally did it, I would have been dinged $33!!! So I really have to be careful!
Yesterday I met a good friend from high school for coffee! It was soooo good to catch up with her. We went to Starbucks and I made a conscience choice to get something cheap so I got green tea. It was actually good and only $2. I normally would get a grande fancy coffee and a sweet treat, but tea was good because I had already drank some coffee at home. Then my middle son was home and we had to return my older son's snowboard rental, so I took him to lunch. I ended up choosing a place that wasn't a sit down restaurant, but an order it yourself (it's called Urbane Cafe-so yummy!), so that made lunch cheaper by no tip and expensive meal and drink at a restaurant. Our $17 lunch would have been $37 or more! So good choice for me!!
So speaking of mindset..........I realized on Sunday, that the way I purchase is a mindset....I just purchase......no thought in it. You want a coke? I'll get it; you want some nachos? I'll get it.........I have an immediate response to situations in where I offer to get it. Not always bad, because I truly like doing that for people and my kids, but this is where I get into trouble foodwise with spending.
With any other purchases, such as clothing, I get, I have certain mindsets: Just get it, I'll get in trouble later, it's only $10, so what! I deserve it, I haven't shopped in a few weeks, I don't have that one, it's soooo cute! And my worst one is, if it doesn't fit right-I don't return things!! I'm horrible with that. So I just donate it! Or if it's nice enough I'll gift it to someone. That's just plain bad!!
So I am going to change my mindsets and think before buying, plan purchases first, think about the best choice and maybe what would be cheapest. I just bought a gift for my one girlfriend's daughter's birthday that is this Saturday. I already wrapped it and I'm happy with what we got her. I actually got the gift while I was out yesterday. (I'm sorry, but I can't take my daughter with me. She wants everything and I wasn't in the mood to take her with me and argue). Now my daughter just has to fill out the card (I just cut a piece of the wrapping paper to make one-kid's don't care!). It's all ready to go! Normally, I would put it off until Friday, wrap it minutes before the party and be all stressed about it! Stress no more!
I also ran into a snag last week with plastic bags. When I went to get my library books, it was raining and they were putting the books in plastic bags. I was panicking wondering what I was going to do! I had left my bag in the car. So I told her I needed to go get it and she said "we have plastic bags" and I said I couldn't bring plastic home this year. So I got my bag! Success!
Also, speaking of bags, I mentioned at the beginning of this challenge that I got one from Whole Foods. I carry that around with me whereever I go and it's perfect especially now that when I go to the store, I'm only getting what I need so it's never more than what would fit in the one bag. If I need more I get paper and those get used to collect my recycling in the kitchen! I know it's not perfect, but at least it's doing my part in helping the earth.
So my challenge this week is to work on changing my mindsets. I'm looking forward to this new way of thinking! I'm sure my husband would too!
Victoria
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Budgets.........what a lovely idea!
until one uses it up before the week's end! Which is easy to do when you have a very spendy week and find yourself by Friday with $20 left. I had my younger son buy our lunch before we went to the snow because I was afraid I would dip too low and get dinged $33! It's difficult to stay within a certain range, but it's good for me because normally I would just "get" more money! Now that does not a budget make!
I also realized something yesterday. I have a mentality of "I'll get some new ones next year". I noticed that when it was pertaining to my wannabe Ugg boots I was wearing. I wore them in the snow and I love the ones I got from Costco, because the soles are really thick and have nice "treads" so I wouldn't slip. Anyway, I thought "oh! I just got these, I don't want to ruin them", but the next thought was...I'll just buy some new ones next year. What a dumb thought! They weren't even ruined and I was already thinking about the new ones! I really hope to change those thoughts through this challenge I am doing. That's crazy! I realize I do that with everything. I'll just get a new one. Well, I really won't be able to get new ones because I got them in November last year and this November I can't buy any, so there goes that idea. Thank goodness.
Budgets also make you aware of what you buy and really make better choices. I do find I go to the grocery store more often. I used to do once a week shopping, and I found I wouldn't use half of it sometimes and end up throwing it away. I now go to the store and get only what I need. Some things on my list can wait until next week. This keeps me in check. My pantry is no longer stocked, but I find when it's stocked I don't use a lot of what I have! I've stopped buying things that are in the "oooh this looks yummy or fun to have" category. Especially boxes of baked goods stuff. I have a lot and need to work on making them! Well, actually I have a few now. I used to have a lot.
Which leads me to "bulk" buying. I've decided in the long run, not a good idea. I'm still eating frozen Spongebob gogurts. I have a platter in my pantry with "bulk" buying purchases. Still trying to get through them all. And I've given some to my nephew. The cracker/cookie box. I decided it's not worth buying that much. I end up with it for months and really, we don't need to eat more than a few of anything. It's not health and it just plain gets boring. I think it's cheaper to get MORE! MORE! is my mo. Gotta change that! In the long run, it's just a waste!
Which leads me to waste. Gosh, I feel like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book! Actually, I am that way......but that's a whole other post! I find that when I buy bulk, I end up throwing a lot of it away. I just see the dollars fill up in the trashcan. Or it just sits in my pantry for months. I actually started dating things so I could see how old they are. It's eye opening to do that. You're a bit apprehensive to grab the salad dressing when you find out it's 8 months old! Sometimes I am sooo shocked! So I choose not to buy in bulk. It's disheartening and frustrating. Dogfood, coffee, and laundry soap are about the only things I choose to buy in bulk, because they do get used up. But no more food stuff. It may be more expensive, but at least we're eating it and not tossing it!
So here's to Spongebob yogurt! Strawberry or Blueberry?
Victoria
I also realized something yesterday. I have a mentality of "I'll get some new ones next year". I noticed that when it was pertaining to my wannabe Ugg boots I was wearing. I wore them in the snow and I love the ones I got from Costco, because the soles are really thick and have nice "treads" so I wouldn't slip. Anyway, I thought "oh! I just got these, I don't want to ruin them", but the next thought was...I'll just buy some new ones next year. What a dumb thought! They weren't even ruined and I was already thinking about the new ones! I really hope to change those thoughts through this challenge I am doing. That's crazy! I realize I do that with everything. I'll just get a new one. Well, I really won't be able to get new ones because I got them in November last year and this November I can't buy any, so there goes that idea. Thank goodness.
Budgets also make you aware of what you buy and really make better choices. I do find I go to the grocery store more often. I used to do once a week shopping, and I found I wouldn't use half of it sometimes and end up throwing it away. I now go to the store and get only what I need. Some things on my list can wait until next week. This keeps me in check. My pantry is no longer stocked, but I find when it's stocked I don't use a lot of what I have! I've stopped buying things that are in the "oooh this looks yummy or fun to have" category. Especially boxes of baked goods stuff. I have a lot and need to work on making them! Well, actually I have a few now. I used to have a lot.
Which leads me to "bulk" buying. I've decided in the long run, not a good idea. I'm still eating frozen Spongebob gogurts. I have a platter in my pantry with "bulk" buying purchases. Still trying to get through them all. And I've given some to my nephew. The cracker/cookie box. I decided it's not worth buying that much. I end up with it for months and really, we don't need to eat more than a few of anything. It's not health and it just plain gets boring. I think it's cheaper to get MORE! MORE! is my mo. Gotta change that! In the long run, it's just a waste!
Which leads me to waste. Gosh, I feel like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book! Actually, I am that way......but that's a whole other post! I find that when I buy bulk, I end up throwing a lot of it away. I just see the dollars fill up in the trashcan. Or it just sits in my pantry for months. I actually started dating things so I could see how old they are. It's eye opening to do that. You're a bit apprehensive to grab the salad dressing when you find out it's 8 months old! Sometimes I am sooo shocked! So I choose not to buy in bulk. It's disheartening and frustrating. Dogfood, coffee, and laundry soap are about the only things I choose to buy in bulk, because they do get used up. But no more food stuff. It may be more expensive, but at least we're eating it and not tossing it!
So here's to Spongebob yogurt! Strawberry or Blueberry?
Victoria
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Lip Gloss galore!!
I can't believe how many lip glosses I have! And I'm not even a "go-to- the- makeup-counter- all- the-time" girl. I must have at least 20. I found them everywhere: in old purses, my makeup drawer, and the car. I know some of them are from when I went to Victoria's Secret and they have a bin full of them for I think $5. So when my daughter was with me the few times, I let her get one as well. When I would go to Target to get my face makeup (I told you I was a Target girl) I would see the lip glosses and get one or two as well, because Gosh, I hardly ever buy lip gloss! Ha! My main problem is I can't decide. Ooooh the raspberry is pretty, ooooh the pale pink will look nice, ooooh the light orange is right up my alley! and so on..... So I would say to myself, oh just buy them, who cares. Then inevitable I would come home, use them once, and either like them or not and in my drawer they'd stay. I don't even know how old some of them are. And some are just so darn sticky. Don't like that. What a waste because you can't even return them. Some of them burned the heck out of my lips and I kind of freaked out only to realize I bought a lip plumper. What??? I didn't know there was such a thing and it sure didn't make them look any "plumper"! What a waste! Who wants to sit there with their lips on fire???? I could rub cinammon gum on them for the same effect. Geesh!
I also have a lot of chapsticks. I use only blistex, but have an accumulation of soft lips, because oooooh, gotta try this one and this one. And the Kiss My Face brand because yum! who doesn't want orange pineapple or strawberry tasting lips? Now I have at least 8 in all my purses and drawers and I always go for the blistex. The one I truly like. Go figure!
So I am trying to use up the lip glosses I have bought throughout the year. The ones that I don't like I will just toss. I hope to find one I like, and then just stick to that. Meanwhile I will have the glossiest lips this year and yes, sometimes with a dreadful color.......
Victoria
I also have a lot of chapsticks. I use only blistex, but have an accumulation of soft lips, because oooooh, gotta try this one and this one. And the Kiss My Face brand because yum! who doesn't want orange pineapple or strawberry tasting lips? Now I have at least 8 in all my purses and drawers and I always go for the blistex. The one I truly like. Go figure!
So I am trying to use up the lip glosses I have bought throughout the year. The ones that I don't like I will just toss. I hope to find one I like, and then just stick to that. Meanwhile I will have the glossiest lips this year and yes, sometimes with a dreadful color.......
Victoria
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Yikes! A very "spendy" day yesterday......
Well yesterday was my Sam's Club day. I get my dog food there, so I was sort of "forced" to go. Anyway, I got dog food, laundry soap, coffee, strawberries and blueberries (yes, I know they are out of season, but it's part of my breakfast and it's healthy, so that wins out), and tortilla chips. This all came out to a whopping total of $90! Yes, I was as shocked as you! Now I'm pretty sure the dog food, laundry soap and coffee last for two months, but I'm going to date them and see. I also saw the cutest top in one woman's shopping cart that I wanted to go back and checkout! It was their Green Tea line, so it was organic too! I tried to see if it was a top, but thought I saw a zipper, so I tried to convince myself that it was a jacket and I didn't need it. That sort of helped, but gosh! it was cute and cream colored, so up my alley. Oh well, I survived, but I do really love the Green Tea line. I also went to Trader Joe's and spent $25. You can't beat TJ's! I'm always amazed by their prices. This includes lunch (soup and bread) and a spaghetti dinner not to mention my healthy snack of etaname (sp) and milk. I also got a couple of other things, but I can't remember. My boys got out early due to finals, so we went to In 'n Out for lunch. I had a gift card for $10, so our lunch cost $4.25. Not bad. Today we are coming home for soup, bread and mini corn dogs. One of my problems is when my boys get out early, I always like going out to lunch with them. I always justified it that they aren't off that often, so it's ok. If we had gone to Island's, that lunch would have cost us $35. Oh, I also drank a coke, but I needed it. The weather driving to get my one son was soooo bad, you couldn't see the freeway the whole 25 miles. I was stressed. So I got a coke. That's only 2 this month and 3 if you count the sip I took of my daughter's a couple of weeks ago.
My one girlfriend had a great idea. She said I should keep track of the money I would have spent when I don't get what I wanted to get. So I thought I'd start a sidebar with that info. Let's see how much Victoria saves by not buying! :) As a side note, these are all estimate amounts. I couldn't possibly know the true amount.
Oh and this weekend, my hubby and I didn't go on a date night, but we did take the kids and us to Sushi. Yes, we splurged, but considering how we used to eat out every night of the weekend, this was nothing. We also had to get dinner Monday night because my son needed a new cable for his computer and they had to search at 7pm to find one. We got good ole Panda Express for dinner. We have leftovers for today! Just thought of that!
Anyway, today is a no spending day. I don't need anything. It's also only 7:30 am, so hopefully we won't need to get anything.
Have a great day! Until next time......
Victoria
My one girlfriend had a great idea. She said I should keep track of the money I would have spent when I don't get what I wanted to get. So I thought I'd start a sidebar with that info. Let's see how much Victoria saves by not buying! :) As a side note, these are all estimate amounts. I couldn't possibly know the true amount.
Oh and this weekend, my hubby and I didn't go on a date night, but we did take the kids and us to Sushi. Yes, we splurged, but considering how we used to eat out every night of the weekend, this was nothing. We also had to get dinner Monday night because my son needed a new cable for his computer and they had to search at 7pm to find one. We got good ole Panda Express for dinner. We have leftovers for today! Just thought of that!
Anyway, today is a no spending day. I don't need anything. It's also only 7:30 am, so hopefully we won't need to get anything.
Have a great day! Until next time......
Victoria
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Receipts are eyeopeners!!!!
Good morning everyone! Hope you enjoyed your day off! It rained here all day, so my hubby and I decided to tackle the filing cabinet and shred all day! Wow! I have to say, it's a huge eye opener to shred receipts and bank statements and credit card statements. Not fun and kind of makes you sick to your stomach. Really. This made me REALLY not want to shop anymore. The amount of receipts for Target alone was nauseating. And it was just piddly stuff, but each receipt was no less than $50.00! A t-shirt here, a t-shirt there. They were only $8-10 each, but the amount of t-shirts I bought and skirts and clothes for my daughter, etc. I realized a major problem I have is, "It's only $5, $8, $10"! And I say that everytime I go in there! Which was at least once a week! I need to learn to buy quality items and have one I love, than to buy a quantity of cheap items that overwhelm me because they call to me to wear them and I never do! There are just not enough days in the year to wear everything I own!! And it's mostly Target, Walmart and a bit of Macy's and boutique shops mixed in!
Which leads me to my closet. As an ongoing project throughout the year, I'm going to count every single item I own and list them here. It's really going to be shocking at the amount of clothing I have. And it's overwhelming to me, but I keep buying more! What a vicious cycle! That's mainly why I wanted to do this shopping experiment, to get off that hamster wheel of purchasing and purchasing.
Since January 1, I've been wearing whatever I choose for that day and taking a picture of me in it. I mainly wanted to see how I look wearing it. Well, since I'm trying to get off a few pounds (who isn't?), I decided they all look horrible, but I'm not ready to get rid of anything, because of the, yes let's say it together, "I might need it someday" syndrome. Since I can't purchase anything new, I'm a bit hesistant to donate it right away, but I will start a bag and put the things I really don't like in it. Then I'll store it away and give it away on Jan 1 2011. Wow, would that be a relief to get rid of the things I really don't like and feed my soul by owning less, but feeling happy with less.
So my first item I counted was pajamas. I will need to comeback and do a more detailed edit, but I quickly counted them yesterday and it was 15 pairs. Winter and Summer. Wow! Most of them are the pants and shorts from Sam's Club (these are sooo cute!, haven't heard that before).
Others are from Target. Two from Macy's. One from New York (taxi cabs.....tooo cute!, yes I'm 41). And I believe one from the store Sarah Jessica Parker sold her stuff. Now only 3 of them are pants and top to match. The others are mixed pants and tops. Yes, I'm clueless when it comes to shopping. Some of the shorts for the summer are too big and look horrible, but I AM just going to bed. The others are too tight and look worse!! But I keep them anyway, because after all....I bought them. I guess I need to go somewhere where I can try them on and buy those instead of just grabbing them because they are cute and....oh, only $10! What a surprise.
So, yes these are my buying mistakes. We all have them, but mine are in excess. This is where the receipts come in. All of these things were purchased during the last few years, but why do I keep them when I buys new ones? I think it's because I'm not ready to get rid of them yet. So, the question is "why buy new ones?" and the same stupid answer is "because they are cute". Enough! I will try to get down to two each. One to wash and one to wear. So four pairs of pajamas is perfect.
Also, moral of this post: don't let your husband be involved when it comes to shredding receipts.....it only confirms where his money has actually been going......to Target. Not good.
Victoria
Which leads me to my closet. As an ongoing project throughout the year, I'm going to count every single item I own and list them here. It's really going to be shocking at the amount of clothing I have. And it's overwhelming to me, but I keep buying more! What a vicious cycle! That's mainly why I wanted to do this shopping experiment, to get off that hamster wheel of purchasing and purchasing.
Since January 1, I've been wearing whatever I choose for that day and taking a picture of me in it. I mainly wanted to see how I look wearing it. Well, since I'm trying to get off a few pounds (who isn't?), I decided they all look horrible, but I'm not ready to get rid of anything, because of the, yes let's say it together, "I might need it someday" syndrome. Since I can't purchase anything new, I'm a bit hesistant to donate it right away, but I will start a bag and put the things I really don't like in it. Then I'll store it away and give it away on Jan 1 2011. Wow, would that be a relief to get rid of the things I really don't like and feed my soul by owning less, but feeling happy with less.
So my first item I counted was pajamas. I will need to comeback and do a more detailed edit, but I quickly counted them yesterday and it was 15 pairs. Winter and Summer. Wow! Most of them are the pants and shorts from Sam's Club (these are sooo cute!, haven't heard that before).
Others are from Target. Two from Macy's. One from New York (taxi cabs.....tooo cute!, yes I'm 41). And I believe one from the store Sarah Jessica Parker sold her stuff. Now only 3 of them are pants and top to match. The others are mixed pants and tops. Yes, I'm clueless when it comes to shopping. Some of the shorts for the summer are too big and look horrible, but I AM just going to bed. The others are too tight and look worse!! But I keep them anyway, because after all....I bought them. I guess I need to go somewhere where I can try them on and buy those instead of just grabbing them because they are cute and....oh, only $10! What a surprise.
So, yes these are my buying mistakes. We all have them, but mine are in excess. This is where the receipts come in. All of these things were purchased during the last few years, but why do I keep them when I buys new ones? I think it's because I'm not ready to get rid of them yet. So, the question is "why buy new ones?" and the same stupid answer is "because they are cute". Enough! I will try to get down to two each. One to wash and one to wear. So four pairs of pajamas is perfect.
Also, moral of this post: don't let your husband be involved when it comes to shredding receipts.....it only confirms where his money has actually been going......to Target. Not good.
Victoria
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Time flies......and sometimes shampoo doesn't
Good morning everyone! I'm so amazed it January 16 already. Time really does fly!! So far I'm doing really good on this journey. I met a friend for coffee (my other friend whom I get together with occasionally) and my daughter came with me. I was really good and only got what I needed. We usually go to Panera bakery and when I order I usually get extra pumpkin muffins and cinnamon bagels cut up to bring home for my boys along with whatever my daughter and I order. Usually it ends up to be about $25 and this time I just got stuff for us and it was only $13 so that's progress for me! I know this probably isn't a big deal to some of you, but to me my problem is excess. I need to learn to just get what I need. We ended up at Pizza Hut for lunch because my daughter does their reading program and wanted to get her personal pan pizza. I now know why they do this, because you end up spending more! I had my son with me and we ended up getting a large because I thought I should bring some to my oldest (our leftovers). So I went out a lot in one day, but sometimes life just happens that way. It ended up costing 27 including tip, minus $5 credit because the man forgot to discount the free pizza for my daughter, so it was really $22. Not bad, but next time I'll just take my daughter and use the $5 credit for a personal pan for me and talk her into water only and not the $2 soda she didn't drink!!! How many of you can relate?? Normally I wouldn't care because I would drink the soda too and I would justify it that way, but I'm trying to cut back and she got root beer and I'm not crazy about it. I think I drank too much when I was younger. Nothing beats Coca cola!! Anyway.....
I know you guys are just thrilled to hear about my paragraph on lunch places!! :) I know this is crazy to talk about, but I noticed toward the end of last year how many bottles of shampoo and conditioner I had. I have, currently, a big bottle of Biolage, a big bottle of Nexus from Costco, a bottle of Bumble Bee, mini shampoos from hotels, and Bed Head. For conditioners, I have Biolage I'm currently using up (from probably four years ago and I'm not exaggerating), Bumble Bee, Fredrick Fekkai, and mini conditioners from hotels. Now, I got the Costco ones three years ago because an old neighbor mentioned them and I just had to get them! The Biolage are from when an old hairdresser said I should use them. Notice she said "use them", not buy and keep them! I bought the new Bumble Bee because my current hairdresser said I should use them. I went ahead and splurged. Did I need to get them then??? No. Why?? Because my cupboard was already full of shampoo. Not to mention the BB cost me $56!! And $21 more for some spray they have that I really never use!! Oh what a surprise!! The Fredrick Fekkai I used up the shampoo because it smelled absolutely delicious and I actually liked that the best. It is pricey. At Target it's $21. So, I'm on a mission and I'm using the mini ones first, then slowly getting through the rest. It's going to take me awhile as I've been trying to get away with washing my hair every three days. This year I definitely don't need shampoo. And when I run out, I'm going with the Fekkai. I apologize if I'm spelling it wrong!
I almost forgot to mention that I returned another book my husband got me called Liar. Anyway, I'm at the gym on the treadmill and I get to a certain point of the book and it's about werewolves. Well, I don't do werewolves. I got cash back and ended up getting an Amazon gift card and was able to order the Yummy Mummy book I wanted instead. I struggled with is this acceptable and decided it was, because if B & N had it I would have exchanged it. I still have $10 left over on Amazon credit, so I actually cost less and since it was a gift I felt I wasn't going against any grain of my challenge. It was swapping one for one! So that leads me to hopefully getting the other one at the library! The rest of the credit I will use next year. I can't justify spending it. I'm now going to make a list throughout the year of others I want or try to get them at the library. I'm going to miss getting books in the mail. That's my favorite thing! Maybe I should turn my favorite thing to "reading them"! I'm going to try to make a list of the books I'm reading on my blog, so that maybe you readers would like to try them! I may even start a giveaway of my old books I've read since I just donate them to goodwill. I'm not sure how to go about that, but I'll learn!
Well the weekend is upon us! My husband and I may go on a date night. Other than that, I think it'll be an "eat in" weekend. I don't feel like spending a lot going out to dinner anymore. It's just a waste not to mention it goes there!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
Victoria
I know you guys are just thrilled to hear about my paragraph on lunch places!! :) I know this is crazy to talk about, but I noticed toward the end of last year how many bottles of shampoo and conditioner I had. I have, currently, a big bottle of Biolage, a big bottle of Nexus from Costco, a bottle of Bumble Bee, mini shampoos from hotels, and Bed Head. For conditioners, I have Biolage I'm currently using up (from probably four years ago and I'm not exaggerating), Bumble Bee, Fredrick Fekkai, and mini conditioners from hotels. Now, I got the Costco ones three years ago because an old neighbor mentioned them and I just had to get them! The Biolage are from when an old hairdresser said I should use them. Notice she said "use them", not buy and keep them! I bought the new Bumble Bee because my current hairdresser said I should use them. I went ahead and splurged. Did I need to get them then??? No. Why?? Because my cupboard was already full of shampoo. Not to mention the BB cost me $56!! And $21 more for some spray they have that I really never use!! Oh what a surprise!! The Fredrick Fekkai I used up the shampoo because it smelled absolutely delicious and I actually liked that the best. It is pricey. At Target it's $21. So, I'm on a mission and I'm using the mini ones first, then slowly getting through the rest. It's going to take me awhile as I've been trying to get away with washing my hair every three days. This year I definitely don't need shampoo. And when I run out, I'm going with the Fekkai. I apologize if I'm spelling it wrong!
I almost forgot to mention that I returned another book my husband got me called Liar. Anyway, I'm at the gym on the treadmill and I get to a certain point of the book and it's about werewolves. Well, I don't do werewolves. I got cash back and ended up getting an Amazon gift card and was able to order the Yummy Mummy book I wanted instead. I struggled with is this acceptable and decided it was, because if B & N had it I would have exchanged it. I still have $10 left over on Amazon credit, so I actually cost less and since it was a gift I felt I wasn't going against any grain of my challenge. It was swapping one for one! So that leads me to hopefully getting the other one at the library! The rest of the credit I will use next year. I can't justify spending it. I'm now going to make a list throughout the year of others I want or try to get them at the library. I'm going to miss getting books in the mail. That's my favorite thing! Maybe I should turn my favorite thing to "reading them"! I'm going to try to make a list of the books I'm reading on my blog, so that maybe you readers would like to try them! I may even start a giveaway of my old books I've read since I just donate them to goodwill. I'm not sure how to go about that, but I'll learn!
Well the weekend is upon us! My husband and I may go on a date night. Other than that, I think it'll be an "eat in" weekend. I don't feel like spending a lot going out to dinner anymore. It's just a waste not to mention it goes there!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
Victoria
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Making Better Choices
Today is day 14 and I'm really doing good. When I go to the store, I get only what I need. I actually made it throught Walmart again getting Poptarts and candy for the snow. I know, it's junk, but it's what my kids eat in between eating healthy! Gotta pick my battles!
During these last two weeks I've been feeling really in congruent with my soul. I just feel a solid, happy presence in me. Not sure I'm describing it correctly, but I feel that this is what is feeding my soul: making better choices, only getting what I need, not shopping, eating food in my cupboards, caring for my home, staying home and appreciating what I have. I know it's early in this project, but I'm already feeling it. I would always hear my soul screaming to me to stop and just enjoy, but I would ignore it. Some of you may not be as spiritual as I, so I apologize for offending you. In a weird way I also feel happier.
Apart from getting groceries, I met a friend for lunch at our favorite chinese restaurant. I feel this is a need for me because this is how we socialize and she's really the only friend I go to lunch with often. So for me, it's going to be a treat now since our family is going to cut waaaayyy back on going out to eat.
Speaking of treats, we go out to eat waaaayy too much. It's gotten to be that we don't know where to eat anymore, because we frequent these restaurants way too much. Last weekend we didn't even go out. That's an amazing feat for us. In fact, we allowed one night on the weekend at the beginning of the year, and we couldn't figure out which night to go out because none of them worked. Then my husband mentioned how we didn't even miss it! And I wonder why my waistline isn't shrinking!
I'm also doing well on the "no plastic bags" and I'm proud to say my husband is too! They even carried the groceries for dinner Saturday in their arms.
I've had one coke (did I mention I was trying to stop, but decided I have too many challenges so I changed it to cut back) since the beginning of the year. Normally I drink it when we go out which translates to a lot because we used to go out soooo much. I now get iced tea or share my husband's tea. Tea is my drink choice at home, so I didn't have to get used to a switch!
I've also been trying new recipes. I'm queen of ripping out recipes, then sticking them in a drawer! So far my "out-of-the-box" recipes have been Shepherd's Pie and a lasagne dish using raviolis. They liked them! So I plan to drag out all those recipes and cook them, then make a recipe book so I can refer to them!
So that is what has been going on these last two days. Soon I will need to go to Costco and Sam's Club. Those are very dangerous places for me, but if I get what I need and leave, I should be ok!
Here's to a great day!
Victoria
During these last two weeks I've been feeling really in congruent with my soul. I just feel a solid, happy presence in me. Not sure I'm describing it correctly, but I feel that this is what is feeding my soul: making better choices, only getting what I need, not shopping, eating food in my cupboards, caring for my home, staying home and appreciating what I have. I know it's early in this project, but I'm already feeling it. I would always hear my soul screaming to me to stop and just enjoy, but I would ignore it. Some of you may not be as spiritual as I, so I apologize for offending you. In a weird way I also feel happier.
Apart from getting groceries, I met a friend for lunch at our favorite chinese restaurant. I feel this is a need for me because this is how we socialize and she's really the only friend I go to lunch with often. So for me, it's going to be a treat now since our family is going to cut waaaayyy back on going out to eat.
Speaking of treats, we go out to eat waaaayy too much. It's gotten to be that we don't know where to eat anymore, because we frequent these restaurants way too much. Last weekend we didn't even go out. That's an amazing feat for us. In fact, we allowed one night on the weekend at the beginning of the year, and we couldn't figure out which night to go out because none of them worked. Then my husband mentioned how we didn't even miss it! And I wonder why my waistline isn't shrinking!
I'm also doing well on the "no plastic bags" and I'm proud to say my husband is too! They even carried the groceries for dinner Saturday in their arms.
I've had one coke (did I mention I was trying to stop, but decided I have too many challenges so I changed it to cut back) since the beginning of the year. Normally I drink it when we go out which translates to a lot because we used to go out soooo much. I now get iced tea or share my husband's tea. Tea is my drink choice at home, so I didn't have to get used to a switch!
I've also been trying new recipes. I'm queen of ripping out recipes, then sticking them in a drawer! So far my "out-of-the-box" recipes have been Shepherd's Pie and a lasagne dish using raviolis. They liked them! So I plan to drag out all those recipes and cook them, then make a recipe book so I can refer to them!
So that is what has been going on these last two days. Soon I will need to go to Costco and Sam's Club. Those are very dangerous places for me, but if I get what I need and leave, I should be ok!
Here's to a great day!
Victoria
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
First snag.....
Well, I ran across two books I realllly want! One is Debbie Ford's 21 day cleansing challenge, as featured on Oprah's website! The other is and english book called The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy. Gosh! Normally I would just get them, but I can't! Not that I already have a lot of books to read, but the former is something I need and the later is the prequel to the one I already read called Yummy Mummy and I really liked it.
I also saw the cutest necklace at Lisa Leonard's website called Jumble of Charms!! Soooo adorable and just what I love!! I know I have a lot of necklaces, but this is one I'd wear all the time! Maybe for Mother's Day..............
Victoria
I also saw the cutest necklace at Lisa Leonard's website called Jumble of Charms!! Soooo adorable and just what I love!! I know I have a lot of necklaces, but this is one I'd wear all the time! Maybe for Mother's Day..............
Victoria
Monday, January 11, 2010
Stuff
Stuff. It is everywhere. It's seems there is no way around how much "stuff" one needs!! I experience this everytime I go some where for a long period of time. Whether it be a day trip, the beach, a vacation, or just a trip to a family member's or friend's home. We, our family or me rather, have to bring soooo much stuff.
Like yesterday, when I took the kids snowboarding. Of course they need their stuff, but I on the otherhand brought books, the computer, water, lunches (yay me!), my daughter's purse full of things to do, chapstick, wipes, wallet (necessary!), snacks, a scarf, mittens, my large purse full of stuff and it just goes on! I was thinking while most of it is necessary, wouldn't it be nice to just walk in with a small purse and a water bottle? When I go on vacation I think, wouldn't it be nice to just have a small suitcase and my purse instead of a carload filled to the hilt? I know people who live a simple life would say, yes! it is possible. But for me it's not. I'm already sucked into the need to have it with me, just in case. Or better yet, I'm prepared as in Boy Scouts, that I will have everything that someone may need at any given point of my day.
I read a lot of blogs on living simpler, but it seems to me it's easier when it comes down to just yourself. When you have three kiddos and a husband (actually he only needs a water bottle!), it's hard to be more simple. Granted my boys are older, so having just their ipod is enough, but my daughter is six and still at the age where you need a lot of stuff.
I sometimes wonder, if you get rid of all the "stuff" does one's home become neater? As I look around my family room every morning and throughout the day, all I see is STUFF! I put it all away and there is suddenly more stuff!! I always wonder what I would do if I had to start all over.....would I end up with all this stuff again?
I recently saw an episode on Oprah where she visited homes in Denmark. This one woman's home was clear of stuff! It was really more austere than anything, but all their "stuff" was contained in small cupboards. I loved the look. I want to contain all my stuff in the cupboards. I don't want to have any stuff laying all around the house. Then I want to lock my family out of the house after 3pm. Is that illegal?
Here's to stuff! No way around it. Literally.
Victoria
Like yesterday, when I took the kids snowboarding. Of course they need their stuff, but I on the otherhand brought books, the computer, water, lunches (yay me!), my daughter's purse full of things to do, chapstick, wipes, wallet (necessary!), snacks, a scarf, mittens, my large purse full of stuff and it just goes on! I was thinking while most of it is necessary, wouldn't it be nice to just walk in with a small purse and a water bottle? When I go on vacation I think, wouldn't it be nice to just have a small suitcase and my purse instead of a carload filled to the hilt? I know people who live a simple life would say, yes! it is possible. But for me it's not. I'm already sucked into the need to have it with me, just in case. Or better yet, I'm prepared as in Boy Scouts, that I will have everything that someone may need at any given point of my day.
I read a lot of blogs on living simpler, but it seems to me it's easier when it comes down to just yourself. When you have three kiddos and a husband (actually he only needs a water bottle!), it's hard to be more simple. Granted my boys are older, so having just their ipod is enough, but my daughter is six and still at the age where you need a lot of stuff.
I sometimes wonder, if you get rid of all the "stuff" does one's home become neater? As I look around my family room every morning and throughout the day, all I see is STUFF! I put it all away and there is suddenly more stuff!! I always wonder what I would do if I had to start all over.....would I end up with all this stuff again?
I recently saw an episode on Oprah where she visited homes in Denmark. This one woman's home was clear of stuff! It was really more austere than anything, but all their "stuff" was contained in small cupboards. I loved the look. I want to contain all my stuff in the cupboards. I don't want to have any stuff laying all around the house. Then I want to lock my family out of the house after 3pm. Is that illegal?
Here's to stuff! No way around it. Literally.
Victoria
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Bookstore, Grocery, Target...Oh my!
Hi everyone! It's been a busy week! First off, my car needed a new tranny. What a way to start off the New Year. Luckily we have a 15 yo son and we kept my husbands truck so no need for a rental car!
Had to go to Target and get my son a new sweatshirt and some Twix bars for the snow Sunday (the are a ridiculous price of 2.25 ea at the snow- I got six for $3). I ended up getting the wrong size, so had to exchange it, but first caught myself saying " I could use this one and get him another one." Huh, WRONG. I couldn't believe I thought that, because in all reality, I don't need it! But in my defense, I don't have a gray one. :) But I went in and got what I needed and left!
My husband had gotten me a book for Christmas that he picked out on his own. I was soooo excited at his gesture and the fact that he took the time to find one was the best gift because reading is my favorite thing to do. Anyway, it was called Spooner. I struggled to get into it and just when I started to like it some unmentionables happened. So I plugged along and when the dog died I couldn't take it. It also was taking me a long time to read and that is not normal for me. If I like something, I read it in a day or two. I was able to return it to B&N. They have a strict policy for returns and my husband isn't a receipt keeper. So luckily they looked it up on his card and I could get cash or credit at the store. I chose credit, so next year when I can actually buy a book, I'll use that. I figured the cash would just get used on something else. So now I'm 2 for 2! My two "can't go in there with out spending money" stores were a success! I would have gotten another book, but I have soooo many to read at home and from the library, I thought I'd wait. And it wasn't in the need category.
Went to Trader Joe's and actually got exactly what I needed plus some orange chicken and rice my son wanted to get. When the kids are with me it's harder. Especially my daughter.
So that is my week so far. Oh, I did take my boys to the yogurt shop on Wed. It's an expensive treat, but we really hadn't been there in over a month. It's nice because that is not something we always do.
My weekend should go well. Gotta get ready for my daughter's basketball game!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Victoria
Had to go to Target and get my son a new sweatshirt and some Twix bars for the snow Sunday (the are a ridiculous price of 2.25 ea at the snow- I got six for $3). I ended up getting the wrong size, so had to exchange it, but first caught myself saying " I could use this one and get him another one." Huh, WRONG. I couldn't believe I thought that, because in all reality, I don't need it! But in my defense, I don't have a gray one. :) But I went in and got what I needed and left!
My husband had gotten me a book for Christmas that he picked out on his own. I was soooo excited at his gesture and the fact that he took the time to find one was the best gift because reading is my favorite thing to do. Anyway, it was called Spooner. I struggled to get into it and just when I started to like it some unmentionables happened. So I plugged along and when the dog died I couldn't take it. It also was taking me a long time to read and that is not normal for me. If I like something, I read it in a day or two. I was able to return it to B&N. They have a strict policy for returns and my husband isn't a receipt keeper. So luckily they looked it up on his card and I could get cash or credit at the store. I chose credit, so next year when I can actually buy a book, I'll use that. I figured the cash would just get used on something else. So now I'm 2 for 2! My two "can't go in there with out spending money" stores were a success! I would have gotten another book, but I have soooo many to read at home and from the library, I thought I'd wait. And it wasn't in the need category.
Went to Trader Joe's and actually got exactly what I needed plus some orange chicken and rice my son wanted to get. When the kids are with me it's harder. Especially my daughter.
So that is my week so far. Oh, I did take my boys to the yogurt shop on Wed. It's an expensive treat, but we really hadn't been there in over a month. It's nice because that is not something we always do.
My weekend should go well. Gotta get ready for my daughter's basketball game!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Victoria
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Six days in and still going strong!!
Hi everyone! Well, I'm a little behind in my posts, but yesterday was my first trip to Walmart! Yikes! But I did very well. I refused to look at the clothing while walking past and I kept my focus on what I needed. I had to get two bday presents for the twins party my daughter is going to on Saturday and donuts for breakfast this morning. Success! Got what I needed and left! I also went to the carwash. That is a need for me as I don't like driving in a very dirty car (dirty is ok, but this was weeks since I washed it!). I went in the grocery and got only what I needed. Yay me! It was a bit of a spendy day, but I chose Tuesday to be my errand day!
I'm also focusing on another challenge this year which is to try not bring home any plastic bags!! So far I've done great and it really helps to make me bring in my own bags to stores. I purchased a bag last year at Whole Foods that is really nice and portable and big so I can fit a lot of things. It just takes up a lot of space if you have a small purse. If I just bring my wallet, I open it and wear it like a purse. It cost $10 and the best part is I fed 100 children by buying it! Love that!
Well, I was hoping for a zero purchase day today, but I'm out of apple juice and may need to pick something up for dinner, to make that is! I'm not sure if these small trips are good or not, but so far I'm only getting what I need rather than what I think I need or want. Hmmm, my cupboards are halfway bare, so I may have to do a big shopping trip in a couple of weeks.
Here's to another good day!
Victoria
I'm also focusing on another challenge this year which is to try not bring home any plastic bags!! So far I've done great and it really helps to make me bring in my own bags to stores. I purchased a bag last year at Whole Foods that is really nice and portable and big so I can fit a lot of things. It just takes up a lot of space if you have a small purse. If I just bring my wallet, I open it and wear it like a purse. It cost $10 and the best part is I fed 100 children by buying it! Love that!
Well, I was hoping for a zero purchase day today, but I'm out of apple juice and may need to pick something up for dinner, to make that is! I'm not sure if these small trips are good or not, but so far I'm only getting what I need rather than what I think I need or want. Hmmm, my cupboards are halfway bare, so I may have to do a big shopping trip in a couple of weeks.
Here's to another good day!
Victoria
Monday, January 4, 2010
Enjoying the last few days!!
Hi everyone! I know I've been MIA for a few days! Saturday I took my boys and their friends snowboarding. My daughter hung out with me the whole day. She was such a trooper. I managed to not buy any food for myself, but the kids wanted a candy bar there and McD's on the way home. I have not included them in my no spending money/shopping challenge. My husband and I went out to dinner on our "approved" one night a week to eat out rule. Got a DQ blizzard after. I know, my bad.
Sunday was a nice day. Went to see my grama. Didn't take her out to eat like I normally would. It was nice anyway because we just hung out. Came home and cleaned the house a bit. My husband took my son to get some pants. Glad I didn't go. I'm not ready to go to any stores because I think the temptation would be too great even though there is really nothing in the month of January to buy. But I'm sure I'd find something to buy!
I've been in search of Mrs. Meyers cleaners since Target doesn't carry them anymore. I'm out of the cleanser and was going to try Whole Foods when I happened to find an extra can of it under my kitchen counter that was full! I'm sooo happy because this means it will last awhile and I'm not going to have to tempt myself at Whole Foods! My problem when I go places is, "Well since I'm here, I may as well buy this, and this and this..." I need to learn to let things run out, then replace them.
So today my kids are back in school. My daughter goes to afternoon kindergarten. I'm excited because my plan is to come straight home and start working on organizing my downstairs closet in the guest room. All hodgepodge has gone into this closet. I also want to get my scrapbooking organized because I'd like to start that again. I decided to give the whole of January to this project. By doing this I hope to learn that it doesn't have to get done in the three hours of my alone time. I have 27 whole days to work on it. My other plan is to go through a drawer of receipts and add up last years spending. Ugh! I have a Target return, but I may do it tomorrow as I have library books to pick up and a car to wash. Yes, I decided that that is a need in life. I don't like driving a dirty car.
Well, here's to another day of no shopping! I'm hopeful I'll make it!
Victoria
Sunday was a nice day. Went to see my grama. Didn't take her out to eat like I normally would. It was nice anyway because we just hung out. Came home and cleaned the house a bit. My husband took my son to get some pants. Glad I didn't go. I'm not ready to go to any stores because I think the temptation would be too great even though there is really nothing in the month of January to buy. But I'm sure I'd find something to buy!
I've been in search of Mrs. Meyers cleaners since Target doesn't carry them anymore. I'm out of the cleanser and was going to try Whole Foods when I happened to find an extra can of it under my kitchen counter that was full! I'm sooo happy because this means it will last awhile and I'm not going to have to tempt myself at Whole Foods! My problem when I go places is, "Well since I'm here, I may as well buy this, and this and this..." I need to learn to let things run out, then replace them.
So today my kids are back in school. My daughter goes to afternoon kindergarten. I'm excited because my plan is to come straight home and start working on organizing my downstairs closet in the guest room. All hodgepodge has gone into this closet. I also want to get my scrapbooking organized because I'd like to start that again. I decided to give the whole of January to this project. By doing this I hope to learn that it doesn't have to get done in the three hours of my alone time. I have 27 whole days to work on it. My other plan is to go through a drawer of receipts and add up last years spending. Ugh! I have a Target return, but I may do it tomorrow as I have library books to pick up and a car to wash. Yes, I decided that that is a need in life. I don't like driving a dirty car.
Well, here's to another day of no shopping! I'm hopeful I'll make it!
Victoria
Friday, January 1, 2010
Here's to a Simple, Healthy New Year!!
Well, 2010 has arrived! I've been looking forward to this fresh start! I always love a new year. Clean start, new beginnings! I wasn't able to get my post in last night due to some technical difficulties. I was just going to say that I really didn't make an "approved" list of things I could buy this year. In thinking about it, it just seemed senseless. I likes how my son mentioned "only the needs in life" and I thought that would say it all.
So in the past two weeks I picked up things I'd needed and wanted and basically had my last hurrah so to speak. Ordered some books on Amazon and bought some clothes with my Christmas money. Basically bought more stuff. I'm sure I don't really need.
This blog may have a lot of complaining and whining, so I apologize from the beginning. I'm hoping to "find" myself through this experiment and not complain that I don't have time for me. I hope to stop looking outward for things and happiness and start looking inward and finding happiness and knowing that what I have is enough.
Day one, it's 8am and....so far so good!
Victoria
So in the past two weeks I picked up things I'd needed and wanted and basically had my last hurrah so to speak. Ordered some books on Amazon and bought some clothes with my Christmas money. Basically bought more stuff. I'm sure I don't really need.
This blog may have a lot of complaining and whining, so I apologize from the beginning. I'm hoping to "find" myself through this experiment and not complain that I don't have time for me. I hope to stop looking outward for things and happiness and start looking inward and finding happiness and knowing that what I have is enough.
Day one, it's 8am and....so far so good!
Victoria
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