One Year Complete

So, it is 11:59 pm as I write this note to myself.  A self-pity note.  A note of truth.

My year of NO SHOPPING is officially OVER.  COMPLETE.  FINI.
NOW.

I sucked.

Actually, I more than sucked.

I totally sucked.

There were days that I did really well at staying home.  Well, away from cash registers, anyway.  And some of those good days added up to weeks.  The weeks even added up to three entire months.  25%.  I had some will-power.  But not nearly enough...

Shopping lesson #1:  Be pregnant.  The morning sickness, daytime sickness, and evening sickness will definitely CURE you of the urge to shop!  However, I don't think I can spend the next 120 months being pregnant!!  Permanently pregnant; how's that for The Enquirer?  Perhaps there is a "pill" one can ingest to "fake" pregnancy when the shopping desire takes over one's brain.

Shopping lesson #2:  In certain weak moments, I kept finding "just one look" excuses shoved in my front pockets like lost pennies.  I had to use them.  On something.  Anything.  Because a penny is still a coin.  A viable coin.  Don't carry loose change.  You will want to spend it. 

Shopping lesson #3:  Tssk.  Tssk.  Tssk.  I'm thinking that my ex is probably quite glad he cheated on me. 

Shopping lesson #4:  The "two-bin" system exists in factories... but should not in one's entire home!!!

Shopping lesson #5:  Lean.  Sigma Six Strategies did not save me from the department stores, boutiques, on-line stores, or the Galleria!   I think I need a stronger intervention.  Like free-flowing WINE to keep myself occupied.

Shopping lesson #6:  Learn from your mistakes.  Control the amount of expenditure by setting limits.  For example, select ONLY one item vs. the-no-conscious-idea-of-what-happened-its-way-into-the-cart item. 

Shopping lesson #7:  Look at the total sale amount before you sign your name.  or before you get home.  or before you go to bed.  At the end of the month, the bill won't be such a surprise!

Shopping lesson #8:  Just stay home.  Get your pedometer and take walks.  It saved me the first month.  BUT... taking walks at the mall doesn't count.  I was doing great while walking at home, putting in a lot of miles, until a co-spender suggested I meet her at the mall to walk! 

Shopping lesson #9:  Just stay looped. 

Shopping lesson #10:  Try it again!  But let's begin on January 1st this time!  And we'll set new rules.  New accountability.  New ideas.  New standards.  MAYBE even a REWARD system!!!  I am dreaming of a visit to Tiffany's on December 31, 2011.  In fact, 'what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's"?  I think I remember the film, and as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it!!'   So TIFFANY's IT IS!!

Be.Thankful. {day twenty six}

I am thankful for Black Friday.

And the newly introduced Cyber Monday.

It is the perfect day to stay home.  OR...

To venture on a field trip while everyone else is shopping.

To breakfast in the city's most popular restaurant while everyone else is still shopping.

To sip coffee in the outdoor cafe while watching hostile drivers flip each other off.

To witness rudeness and flash an annoying smile in return.

I am thankful for this fun, once-a-year, only in America kind of day!!!

I love Black Friday.

You might want to pack some heat in my city! 

shopping update ... 20 weeks

Rough Day of Shopping

Well, the shopping -- or rather, the no shopping -- is not going so well.  The first sixteen weeks were positive.  I really made an effort; and the effort was good and rewarded with genuine happy smiles from darling husband.  However, the last four weeks -- combined with pregnancy depression -- have sucked.  There is no better word.  Or rather, I have sucked at "no shopping". 

When I was diagnosed with placenta previa, I panicked.  That is my excuse and I am sticking to it. 

The first couple of ultrasounds and their memento photographs are so charming and exciting... when you see tiny baby in a sac with little limbs, a head, a rump, and a beating heart.  Then the next few ultrasounds and their photographs (in 2D or 3D) are horrifying, in my opinion.  The head is quite skeletal with eye sockets and a mouth and nose.  The gender:  either lines or turtle-ish.  The photographs are NOT flattering. 

So, with each pregnancy, I choose to SHOP.  Unattractive baby in ultrasound photographs NEEDS some very BEAUTIFUL clothes.  And shop, I do.  (I suppose I could just hand-me-down since I keep producing baby girls... but each year, the girls clothing becomes more beautiful.  Damn you baby designers!)

The stores and their cute names suck me in like a windtunnel.   I walk by the store front and a gigantic Hoover Vac has its hose pointed at me and off I go.  I have no choice because I cannot fight the suction.  I suppose it would help IF I chose not to drive to the sites in the first place!

Anavini (one of my favorite smocked dress designers)
Janie and Jack (http://www.janieandjack.com/)
Bunnies By The Bay (http://www.bunniesbythebay.com/)
Zutano
Jacadi
Lily Pullitzer
Hanna Andersson
Gymboree (http://www.gymboree.com/) and don't forget the Gymbucks
... going on NOW, so you can come back later!!
Zoe and Jack
Babies on the Boulevard
Snug as a Bug
Strasbourg (more smocked dresses)
Kelly's Kids (http://www.kellyskids.com/)
Victoria's Kid
Kissy Kissy
Windmill Kids (http://www.windmillkids.com/)

And the list could go on and on...

But baby girl #3 will have pretty clothing despite her appearance!

three month update

The shopping, or lack of shopping, is going quite well.  I have been too ill (still) to think about blowing some money on frivolous, not-needed, extravagant crap.  In fact, I am trying to get rid of the excess stuff in my home. 

Garage sale?
eBay?
Craigs List?
Goodwill?

How should I get rid of the stuff?  It is all good, some unused, some barely used, and most in need by someone else.  I think. 

How do you get rid of your stuff??  Accepting any and all ideas, suggestions, or thoughts. 

Shopping Update... almost 10 weeks

I have been so busy drowning in my own "10 month" illness that I haven't even seen the calendar pages flipping by.  AND, yes, pregnancy is TEN months.  This is something they definitely don't tell you until it is too late.  280 days.  40 weeks.  10 months.  One pregnant woman must fulfill the ninth month in its entirety, if at all possible. 

Update on my shopping:

My "10 month" illness is keeping me out of the shops, off the computer, and at home.  Horizontally couch-bound.  My family barely gets fed.  Unless you count cereal, macaroni and cheese, sometimes just the macaroni, and spaghettiOs. 

Other than my IKEA breakdown (outdoor toys for the kids)... I have saved lots of money.  But I think my husband keeps spending it. 

Shopping Update ... almost 8 weeks

I have been very well behaved when it comes to my year-long "no shopping" adventure.  I have stayed away from all super centers, malls, boutiques, and on-line emails that are begging to be opened.  I am sure I have saved tons of money.  There is really ONLY one reason why I have been able to maintain my NO shopping adventure.  I have had the flu.  An on-going six week long flu!  Why won't this nasty flu bug go away?  Why don't I feel good?  Why does it affect my "mood" for spending money?  Why?  Why me? 

Except... on one rare "feel good" day...

I got three words for you...

"DAMN you, IKEA!"

14 day update

Only 341 days to go!

Every time I get an urge to "run" to the store, I have decided to take a walk.  The walk lasts until the urge passes.  The urges are becoming less frequent.  After all it has been 14 days.  And it takes 1 to 2 weeks to retrain yourself when overcoming bad habits.

Today, only 8 urges... so far!

8:00 AM      take a walk
8:25 AM      return home
                    use the bathroom
                    grab some more water
8:29 AM      take a walk
8:44 AM      return home
                    make/eat breakfast
9:03 AM      take a walk
9:27 AM      return home
                    watch Rachel Ray
10:01 AM    take a walk
10:42 AM    return home
                    clean home
                    prepare/eat lunch
11:09 AM    take a walk
11:37 AM    return home
                    children to nap
                    listen to TV
                    clean out two closets
                    call "L"
                    clean oven
                    children still napping
                    cannot shop online - avoid computer
                    clean out junk drawers around the house
                    children finally awake
1:48 PM       take a walk
2:25 PM       return home
                    drive to school to pick up older children
                     return home - with NO stops
3:23 PM       take a walk
3:59 PM       return home
                    thinking about holiday sales
4:25 PM      take a walk
5:30 PM      return home
                   prepare/eat dinner
6:45 PM     reading/homework/sharing and BED
                   I am exhausted.

PS  tomorrow, I will wear a pedometer!
PPS  I walked for 243 minutes
PPPS  doesn't that equal like 16 miles if you're walking approximately 4MPH?
PPPPS  the good news is that I did not venture to one store today.  Or for the past two weeks other than groceries = necessities.

December First

Happy December 1st!

Whew!  My year-long NO shopping project begins TODAY!

I am extremely grateful for PINK Friday and PINK Sunday's arrival before the first of December.

I will keep you updated via blog on my shopless life in the south.

Let the Countdown to Christmas BEGIN!

PS  I hope there is chocolate behind those little doors!