Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Money, money, money, money..



If you don't do the challenges or do them to her statifaction, you don't get the money.  If you have a bad attitude, you don't get the money..

There are a few shows that I am addicted to.  Reality shows like Kourtney & Kim take New York, design shows on HGTV such as Property Virgins or Income Property...but the biggest ones are probably 'Til Debt Do U$ Part' and "Princess"  hosted by the tough as nails financial guru Gail Vaz-Oxlade.  She helps couples and individual people take control of their finaces and 'move from red to black' and rewards them with cash [to pay down their debt] if they do everything she asks of them.  [Yes, EVERYTHING]

She also works with financially irresponsible  "Princess" type girls who act as though they're entitled to everything under the moon including your wallet.   What I love about her is how she calls bullsh** on the participants when all they do is point fingers, whine or make excuses.  It really makes for entertaining television and really, she's pretty much nothing short of AMAZING!

 Check out Gail's website here!

There are a lot of great things about this website.  Aside from the advise, tips and many, many other things; there are a number of interactive worksheets to help you budget, plan, calculate and 'own up to your debt'.  You can fill them out online and print them off or you can save a copy in excel format.  Theres also a quiz to see if you're a shopaholic!  [which i'm too afraid to fill out..]

To be honest, I use one of her budget sheets daily.  And I have been for the last couple of years.  It's SOOO helpful!  I track my spending religiously.  And it helps me budget and to stay on track.  I don't know how I did it before -- I never used to budget.  Even the concept of creating a budget was so foreign to me.    I use to be the type of person who didn't care where the money went and most of the time it was just going to clothing and bank fees.  However, in the last couple of years, I've definitely become extremely aware of my finances, debt and savings and continously try to be smart with my money.  It is my money after all, shouldn't I know where it's going? So pay off your debt and start saving! Nothing beats Financial Freedom!!


This is where being on a clothing diet really helps.  Clothing, shoes & accessories are my weaknesses.  I love the idea of shopping and having bright shiny new things.  I literally daydream about shopping and cannot wait until the day I can buy something.  I have been browsing website after website mentally stocking a wishlist of items I want to purchase when I am able to.  I CAANNNN'T WAIIIITT!

Until then, I will just have to balance my budget. 

Le sigh..


Saturday, March 26, 2011

Oh hi, it's you!..Hello again blog..

Hiiiiiii Lovies! 


Well it's been quite some time since I've updated this "blog".  I'm sorry if I haven't been the 'model blogger' or as active on the blog machine as I would have liked to have been.  It's not that 'blogging' hasn't been on my mind.  'Cause it has.  I guess it was just trying to find the inspiration to talk about something. I mean, yah I'm not shopping, and yaahhhh I'm struggling, but there are only SOOO many times I can blog about that.  Riiigghhtt?!?!  It becomes the same thing over and over again.  Yahknowhatimeannn??  Anyway, moving along..

Well, I'm more than ECSTATIC to report that no further purchases have been made..  Yay! oh YAY for me and my bank account!!  It's not that I don't want things, and it's not like I haven't spent an hour or so here and there putting items in my 'shopping cart' only to close the page before I could do any further damage. Trust me, I want to shop!  Like right now, anthropologie has the cutest summery tops and super cute spring dresses.

Question:  How are people content with not wanting to buy things??  How can I learn to be content with what I have?  Where does this all stem from?  Answers! I need answers PEOPLE!!

Friday, March 25, 2011

by the numbers:

84
days since I began this diet

49
days until i broke down and bought "something"

875
was what that "something"  cost.  shhh..

35
days since then

8
items I tried selling on eBay in hopes of M.M.M
[making more money]

1
number of items that actually sold [pair of jeans]

69.99
was what I sold them for

200
was what they originally cost

281
days left in this challenge!


happy friday lovies - heart, heart, heart

OUCH!!!..you're not a blog!

"Anonymous said...


I seriously don't understand why someone would start a blog and not make entries more than once or twice a month. This is not a blog! "

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Oscar Grush.

Happy Oscar DAY!!!

I'm so excited to watch the red carpet today!! I can't wait to see all the pretty dresses!  Awards season is the BEST!! 

You know who I'm really looking forward to seeing at the Oscars tonight??
Kate Mara.  She was in the movie 127 Hours that's nominated for Best Picture.  You might remember her from movies such as "Shooter" or "We Are Marshall".  She's cute and gorgeous at the same time [how is that even possible?!]

She'll be looking for redemption after her underwhelming appearance at the SAG awards.  I'm hoping she'll step up her game and show up wearing something a little more spectacular than this:



Yah, okay, the colour is kind of pretty...but not for her as it completely washes her out.  There's a lot going on with this dress that I don't like..  I don't like the Corset bodice paired with the frilly-frillyness of the bottom;  I'm not a fan of the mermaid style; I have a looonnng torso, so I generally tend to stay away from anything that emphasizes it.  Also, that clutch is pretty much the exact same colour of her dress which makes this whole look too matchy-matchy.  But the biggest question of all...what is up with that damn headband thingy?...



She's so gorgeous, but that headband seriously has to go.  It looks silly.  Blech..  I predict she'll show up in a bright saturated dress.. Perhaps bright pink or bright yellow...and if I'm wrong, I wear a head band like hers for a week.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Baby it's cold outside..


For some reason, I am like, freakish-ly addicted to wanting outerwear apparel.  I don't know exactly what it is about jackets and ski pants..but I want them ALL and in EVERY colour possible!!!  I find that even though I am on this "diet" I still spend mindless amount of hours on the interweb searching for that perfect jacket. 

Living in Fort Simpson [where it's cold 6 months of the year] calls for you to own very warm clothing.  And like any NORMAL girl, I like to have options.

Fort Simpson TODAY!! I think it's only -10 but STILL..that wind is especially gusty.



Looking out the window only witness this wretched weather made me want to buy a new jacket... and perhaps a new pair of ski pants..OBVIOUSLY I didn't.  But if I had, this may have been what I would have bought:

TFN - Kizamm Jacket

This jacket reminds me of Jamaica which reminds me of hot, hot, heat.. as in weather [not to be confused with the darling canadian indie rock band of the same name] therefore I'm absolutely sure I'd be nice and toasty while wearing it.  Don't worry, that totally makes sense.


Stoic - Bombshell ski pants
Pink is the new black.  I love the vibrant pink colour of these pants!  They're perfectly girly...and I wannnntttt themmm...

Peak Performance - Sundance Pant
Oh SNAP these pants are awesome!!  I have a similar pair [in colour] by firefly.  They were a lot cheaper, however these ones look as though the overall fit would have been more flattering than my existing ones.  Perhaps a purchase is in order at the end of this diet.
Lole - Styria Parka

Super cute!  This would be great for those days where ski-pants aren't a  necessity.  It's cute, girly fun!

Anyhow, IF I were able to buy clothing..these would be in my shopping cart.  But for now, they'll just have to be content with being on my ever-expanding wishlist.

Le sigh..

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Grushes:

[wino forever]


[number one groupie]

[super waif]

[rock spawn]

I decided to make up a word. I guess it's more of fusing two existing words together.

{GRUSH: To have a girl crush; to admire style, beauty, personality etc.. but in a completely platonic way.} Perhaps there's already a word for this, if so, fill me in.

These are my grushes today.

My friend thinks it's stupid but I think it shows promise. He's just jealous he didnt think of it first. SNAP-IZZLE!!

Friday, February 18, 2011

LUST it or LOATHE it?

Look at these earrings!  I want them on my ears right now!


For those who have been living under a rock; Kate is on the left.
Can we all just take a moment and inhale the beauty that is Kate Bosworth?!!  She is gorgeous!  Ever since I first saw her in "Remember the Titans" [as Gary Bertiers GF..I use to looove that movie sooo much and Hayden Panettiere was even in it as this little curly haired loud mouth - SO CUTE!] I've had this grush [girl crush - JUST made that up - COINED IT HERE FIRST FOLKS!] on her.  Although when she broke up with Orlando and was all like "I'm not skinny and I don't have an eating disorder" grush was most definitely off.

But these days she seems a bit healthier looking.  ANDDDD now she's 1/2 of JewelMint.  It's like online shopping and having your own personal shopper ie: KATE BOSWORTH.  For the low price of $29.99 per month!!  What happens is, you create a style profile and every month they recommend pieces from their jewerly collection that best match your style and personality.  If you don't like the selections picked for you, you can skip the month at zero cost. The best part is: FREE shipping and the jewerly selection is actually very beautiful!!  Why have I NOT heard of this site until today?!

I personally think that this is a great idea.  However, I would be careful as a one year membership would cost over $360.00.

Here's another one; just 'cause she's soooo pretty!

As Cher Coulter would say: "Have a fashionable day"

Day.Fourty.Nine

SoOoOooOoo I've done it. I have fallen off the proverbial wagon and bought something. 

Was it expensive? Probably...
Unnecessary? Probably..
Worth it? TOTALLY.

To be fair, this isn’t juuusst ‘something’ it’s more than that…I bought a limited edition type coat by Smythe for HBC.  It’s ABSOLUTELY 100% GORGEOUS!! And I LOOOVVVEE it and it LOOVEESS MEEEEE back! I want to have its babies! 100,000,000 of them!! So there! Try to get mad at someone who wants to have a baby with a jacket…that’s right, YOU CAN’T!

......…annnyywaaayyy.
 
Let’s slow things down with a little history lesson about this jacket: In 2009 HBC [Hudson Bay Company] asked 10 Canadian Designers to re-create one of a kind coats from an HBC Point Blanket.  Originally they weren't for sale, however, Smythe's jacket in particular was so popular that they made a special order of 100 coats and sold them during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.


[MIIINNEEE! All Miiinee!]

Anyhow, this is just one little minor blip on the radar. I will continue on with this challenge. After purchasing my jacket, I started thinking; I wonder what the success rate of this challenge is. I know you can measure ‘successes’ in a number of different ways yadayadayada. But if you measure your success rate as 100% = no buying anything and 0% = buying a new pair of Louboutin’s every week, what would it beeeee?!?!

Perhaps we can start a poll: For those on the challenge, how many non-essential items have you purchased? Don’t’ be shy, be honest…but be warned, I WILL JUDGE YOU! [just kidding, I won't - cubs honour]
  • Zero [Wow! Kick me in the crotch and spit on my neck am I impressed!!]
  • 1 – 4 [ok, alright...that’s a respectable number]
  • 5 – 9 [Not too terrible, but not terribly great either]
  • 10 – 14 [it’s a slippery slope...but keep on trucking]
  • 15 & Up [Highway to the danger zone!!! That’s right I just quoted that song that will forever be synonymous with Top Gun…deal with it. I heart you K-Log]
I suppose it was rather ambitious of me for thinking I could go an ENTIRE year without shopping. Mehhh…oh well, it was a good run; 7 weeks of zero shopping. That’s pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good…if I say so myself.  All in all, No regrets.  And whatever your number is; keep on keeping on.

Friday, February 11, 2011

LUST it or LOATHE it?

I want this entire look!  The dress, tights, purse..OMG! those shoes!!! I would wear this everyday if I could!  I love the fun bird print on the dress and the billowy sleeves paired with those textured tights.


CUTE! Do you lust it as much as I do?
Someday when I can buy clothes, hopefully I can put a similar look together.


I like stripes.
 Ron Mclean was wearing the male version of this jacket during the Hockey Day in Canada Celebration today.  It was part of the HBC apparel line for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.  Isn't it FAB?! He totally pulled it off. He is Ron Mclean after all; he can do NO wrong!! 

But it was actually Rachael Bilson that ignited my obsession with this jacket.
I like toggles.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Spend $300 and get $100 off!?! What a deal!... or is it?

Opening the mail yesterday I got the usual: bills; banking stuff; pre-approved credit card applications etc… however, I did not expect to be faced with 100% temptation.  COACH sent me this [ever-so-slightly-evil] promotional deal.  “Our Gift to YOU! Use this $100 card toward your purchase of $300 or more"

EVIL!!!!!

Whaaaaattt?!?! For realsies? Hmm... Well, I do really need a new purse.  I mean, not now, but sometime in my life I will probably need another one so why not get a head of the game? OMG, this MUST be a sign! This is the heavenly purse gods themselves telling me that I need to buy a purse! A $600 purse!!!! And I’ll get $100 off! Yesssss! It’s the deal of the century!  This is totally a one off; I’ll never see this kind of promotion again.  Ever. Everrrrr…!  Aghhh!! I need purse.  Must get purse:

[The $600 Culprit]


Luckily for me, I have a completely normal and rational boyfriend.  He flat out told me “NO, don’t do It.” and something like “What do you need a $600 purse for and $600 is a lot of money for a purse...blah, blah, blah” To which I quietly replied, “But... but I’d love it forever and it would last a lifetime; so the cost per wear would be incredibly low.” As I said those words, I realized that even I couldn’t convince myself that this was true.  I know I don’t need it; I probably wouldn’t even use it that often.  More so, I would most likely lose it, or have someone steal it from me.  

So if you’re interested, have I got a deal for you! If you want this $100 off $300’s spent, message me and I’ll give it to you for $50 bucks.  Don’t worry; you’re still getting a GREAT DEAL!!

What’s the moral of the story? Spending $300 to get $100 off is NOT a deal. You’re NOT saving money and you’re still spending $200 [or more] to get that so-called “deal”.  Common sense can be so difficult sometimes...

xoxo $ixHundredDollar purse girl.

LUST it or LOATHE it?

Hi Folks!

I've decided that since I want SOooOoOOoO many things in life, that I'd list a daily or weekly item of something that I'm currently lusting over.  Don't be shy; tell me what you think! 

So the first deliciously lustful item of the day is none other than:


G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S
Oakley "Fringe" Sunglasses.  They're somewhat expensive, depending on what you're used to spending on sunglasses, but they come in tons of different colours and they'd be great for summer days!  These just may be my birthday present to myself.  I know, I know, I'm on a clothing, shoes & accessories diet.. blah diddy bloo blah..  But I can't deprive myself of eye protection!  We're talking my HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PEOPLE!!  Do you really want me to go SUN BLIND??

I didn't think so.

Friday, February 4, 2011

I'm going to call this post: A day in the life of Susie's wishlist!

Two of my really good friends inspired me to to write today's blog. [Holla Lex & Alicia!]

So, as you guys must know by now, I LOVE to shop and want A LOT of things. Especially in the form of apparel.  But my wants also overlap in many other areas as well.  So I've decided to compile a picture blog of everything I want at this point in my life. I know, exciting huh? Bear with me while I go through withdrawals.  These are in no particular order and feel free to buy any one of these for me if you wish ;]

I loovee the look of bangs, I just hate the 6 month commitment!  The ones on the far right are what I strive for whenever I cut my own bangs.  I rarely get the same result, so having an option like the ones above, is very tempting for me and those not wanting the maintenance and commitment.  Apparently, with this brand, you need two of them to make it look as full as Jessica Simpson's.  I KNOWWW Riightt?!

I absolutely ADORE this table from WestElm and the trio of lights above it.  Please come to Western Canada; West Elm!!


Isn't this dress super cute? I love anything with sparkle and shine.  I like the bustier style of it paired with the slight sweetheart neckline.  Beautiful!  My only critique is, I wish it came in more colours than black.  Perhaps a blush colour of some sort.  We need colour in our lives!

Ohmigod - Dream couch at the moment.  I want [need] a couch soo BADLY!! It's only $4000.00 USD that's do-able right?  Presently we're using a not-so comfortable loveseat.  The cushions are deflating and becoming incredibly uncomfortable.  My birthday is in April. Do it.  Buy the couch. [for me]

My friend has this, and it's fantastic.  The boyfriend thinks it's too shiny and looks like it's from the eighties.  He even went as far as saying it was "tacky".  Say whaaaaaa???  It's amazing and I am diggin the grain of the wood.


Summer Lovin' - I love this hat!  I've wanted it for like 2 years.  I don't know why I havent bought it yet as it's only like $45.  It would be perfection for summer.  Casual elegance is delicious.

I want to learn how to make my own soap.  I even went as far as watching multiple videos on YouTube in an attempt to learn.  LYE is SCARY.  I can just imagine myself accidentally dumping it all over my legs or something horrific like that...So I pretty much scared myself out of it.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to do that though??

Holy gorgeous shoes Batman!  How would Rachael Zoe say it? "OMG I die, I die" "These shoes, I Die, I Die"  That's exactly how I feel about them also. They're nothing short of AMAZING.  Damn you JLo, damn you.
I have been looking for a snake-embossed handbag for so long.  This one in particular is a cross-body, which I love!

Obviously.

SoOoo... yeeaaahh...that is..well..um, what it is I guess.  A list of what I love right now at this moment. [9:29pm]
P.S. No products of any kind were purchased before, during or after this post.

Come back soon for more nonsense..
xoxo World Peace girl

Thursday, February 3, 2011

OMG, I’ve spent a lot on clothing, shoes & accessories!

I meant to do this before I started the diet but kept forgetting..

So, I’ve just finished tallying up the amount I’ve spent on clothing, shoes & accessories for the past year.  I’ve included totals from my bank account and my VISA.  I’m completely SHOCKED at the amount I have spent [nearly totaling 10K] in the last 12 months.  It might not seem like a lot of money to some, but to me it’s insane!  That’s over $800/month that could have been going straight into my neglected savings account.  But apparently, I decided at the time that it would be a much better idea to go out and buy “something new”. 

Ugh…this news makes me nauseous.  The worst part is; I can’t even really remember what I’ve bought!  I’m sure I’ve bought some pretty dresses and such, but that money could have been put somewhere else and I really wish I had done this diet sooner. 

Also, what really bothers me is I genuinely thought I was doing really well.  Tapping away at my little budget…thinking I had it all together.  But bank statements don’t lie.  In this case I kind of wish they did though.

At least I now know and that’s all that matters.  This new found knowledge will only reinforce my good shopping behavior and I will try my best to not let it get the better of me.  Learning from my mistakes; Check!  Not spending money on useless items; Check!  Nothing but good vibrations and happy thoughts; Check, Check! Huzzah! Starting ………………………………..................………….NOW!

Happy Not a Shopaholic Day!!!! 

~xoxo shopaholic girl

One Piece for me, OnePiece for YOUUUU!!!

So my utterly fantastic, amazing, thoughtful, surprising boyfriend has done it again! 

He showed up to my office [which I love when he does] with package in hand.  Let me re-phrase that: He showed up to my office with A package in hand.   For ME!  I looovee presents!  FYI, this was a Christmas present that didn’t arrive in time.  Who cares, with this thing on, its like Christmas everyday!!

The zipper zips the whole way up!!



Jumping for JOY!!

You may be wondering what in the heck it is I’m wearing.  SO let me tell you!!  This blue-striped swath of fabric covering 91% of my body is the one and only [that might not be true] OnePiece Jump in!  [Cue screams now]  What’s a “OnePiece Jump in” you ask???

It's basically a sweatshirt and sweatpants fused together; it's European [which explains a lot] and it's taking the world by storm!  Purchase your own here

You can do so many things in them; they're exceptionally versatile!  So many options:
Walk your pooch.
 
Have the most ultimate gaming experience EVERRR!


You could even do this!  Which is totally weird and I don't recommend

But this I HIGHLY recommend - Looks FUN and not dangerous at all! 

I like how they try to make it all cool and stuff.  And truth be told, they’re kind of pulling it off.  I know, right?!?!!  Most. Awesome. Thing. EVER!  I can feel your jealousy radiating through the computer screen.  I can also feel the warmth running through my veins as I type my blog today wearing said OnePiece.

I’ll leave you with OnePiece of advice…heh heh…get it? Instead of just saying “a piece of advice” I added the “One” in front of it…ha ha!  It’s a play on words folks!!  I’m freaking hilarious! 

Anyhoo, OnePiece of advice for all 3 followers: [Hi Alicia, Karen & Alex!] It’s a little difficult to go to the bathroom in.  I kind of wish that it had that lil’ back flap thing like on long underwear.  I don’t know if it would work, but it’s just a thought.  It’s great for guys, because it has that zipper but for girls…well, you have to try it to know what I’m talking about.

Now tell me what YOU think!?!

xoxo OnePiece Girl <3


Sunday, January 30, 2011

Patting myself on the back; It's been 4 weeks.

January 28, 2011

Zero shopping. Hundreds of things I want.

Four weeks seems like a tiny kilometer on the road to recovery when you look at the whole grand scheme of things doesn’t it? I always find that once you put a timer or clock on something, it seems as though time goes slower; creeping along at a snails pace. Then each day, afternoon, hour becomes an accomplishment; a countdown really.

As triumphant as I feel, I can’t help but think about these last four weeks and how I’ve dealt with them. I’ve been alright, I guess. Have I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs in agony?!? Rip out my hair in desperation? Have i wanted to binge, purge, binge and purge once more for good luck?? [clothing wise, of course]. WELL, Im not going to dignify those questions with an answer. A pictures worth a thousand words right?


Okay, okay let’s be honest; it’s been painful!! I miss online window shopping SOOOO MUCH! I use to spend so much time looking at beautiful clothing, shoes and jewelry; daydreaming about endless outfits. Wait..whaaa? “I use to spend so much time looking at clothing, shoes and jewelry; daydreaming about endless outfits.”?

WOW. No wonder I never got anything done. No wonder there was never enough time for laundry, knitting, scrapbooking, cleaning, spending time with the bf, sports, social life and weekends. It was always wasted in front of the computer; all of it taking a back seat to my shopping addiction. I would literally spend hours trying to find the best bang for my buck.

So, I say: It’s time to start doing something a little more proactive with all those extra hours in the day! Get off your computers, stay outta those malls!

xoxo - 4 weeks girl..

Birthday presents for oneself; acceptable?

January 21, 2011

I have this tradition: Every year on my birthday, I like to treat myself to a little present. And why shouldn’t I? I get up and go to work every day, be as good a person as I can be, I do my best to be eco-conscious, feed my dog, keep up with current events, floss my teeth on a regular basis…so I believe that as an outstanding citizen of the world [that’s right, I went there. I can be outstanding!] I should at least be able to buy myself something on my birthday. I certainly don’t expect anybody else to buy me a present. Don’t get me wrong – I love gifts, and as grateful as I am – for some reason I cringe at the idea of other people buying me things. I don’t know why, but having to open a gift in front of someone makes me feel SO awkward. Does anyone else share this odd behavior?

Anyhow, back to presents.

Right, so every year I like to buy myself a little gift.. Sometimes it’s expensive, sometimes it’s not. But it’s absolutely, 100%, pure self indulgent. I like to think of it as buying little pieces of luxury. If it makes me feel like the most beautiful person, then I’ve succeeded. [Not that I need nice things to make me feel beautiful, but you know what I mean.] It’s just nice to have nice things, whether it was $10 or $100. I figure, if you’re going to love it now & love it in 10 years from now, then why not? Agreed?

I guess if I’m being really honest with myself; I don’t need anything per se. BUT it’s my birthday, and I’ve already told the boyfriend NOT to buy me anything….and there are these wonderful little boots made by Quoddy® that would last a lifetime and they would look fantastic with the perfect skinny jeans and I know they’re expensive, but they would last a LIFETIME PEOPLE!!!!!…………………Really, a lifetime. I checked. They replace the soles if they ever get worn out. Which is awesome!

I understand TGAAD is what you make of it, and technically shoes are acceptable… However, the more I think about it, the more I’m swayed towards the conclusion of not buying them. They are a wee bit pricy and besides that, I can’t seem to shake this enormous cloud of guilt hovering over me as I contemplate the idea of spending money. Oh well. I shouldn’t be buying boots anyway, I need to save up for bigger, more important things… and trying to justify a $400 pair of boots won’t help me get there any quicker. Hmmph…I think I’ve just talked myself out of it. Hooray!!! Hi5’s all around!! Thank goodness my birthday isn’t for another 3 months! Whew!

What is everyone else’s take on buying yourself birthday presents while on TGAAD?

One day at a time: Cliche but SO true.

January 15, 2011

I’m so thankful for TGAAD! Being on this diet will help me focus on the bigger picture and personal financial goals.

1. Save, save, SAVE for a down payment on a house.
2. Be financially stable. Being able to stand on my own two feet is very important to me.
3. Start a travel specific savings account. I don’t want to go into debt just to see the Eiffel Tower.

In the last year and a bit I’ve completely changed [most of] my spending habits. Sure I still lust after clothing, and It’s definitely been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride, but nonetheless, worth it. I went from online shopping pretty much every day, to cutting myself off cold turkey, budgeting down to the last penny, paying off my VISA™ [finally], saving money, falling off the wagon and binging once or twice, getting back on the not-so stable wagon, paying off my VISA again, to finding TGAAD. So it’s been a pretty bumpy ride and shopping will always be something I struggle with, but as long as I can rationalize with myself and decipher needs vs. wants, I think I will be ok.

It’s funny, I‘ll have really good days when I’ll think “I am SO done with shopping” and truly believe that I have conquered this whole ideology of wanting “things”. I love those days. Then there will be a wave of bad, oh-so-terrible, self-indulgent days where shopping controls my life and is literally all I can think about… followed by the inevitable binge; and furthermore – buyer’s remorse. Bleh.

What’s the moral of the story? Today is a really good day. :)

xoxo one day at a time girl..

"This Just In!"

January 11, 2011

If anybody knows that slogan, you can feel my pain.

So: There’s this gorgeous Lululemon sweater that I, ABSOLUTELY. MUST. HAVE. You know the kind; It’s a: my-life-wouldn’t-be-the-same-without-it kind of sweater… It will complete me; people will start referring to me as “the girl in the neon sweater”. BUT!!… I can’t buy it. Ughhh!! Ugghhh..bleh..blahhh..blarrrgg. If I weren’t on this diet, I would have totally snapped it up like 5 days ago. Instead, I slipped a not-so-subtle hint to the BF that if he evvverrr wants to buy me anything, this would be it; in a size 4. That’s allowed right? Rigghhtt?. ..hmm..I’m going to say: yes.

For those who aren’t aware of Lululemon, it’s a FANTASTIC store from Canada that sells all sorts of athletic wear; mainly specializing in yoga apparel and accessories. They even have men’s clothing! Not to be biased or anything, but once you go Lulu, you never go back… Their design team really knows how to make clothing that is not only technical, but figure flattering [4 way stretch is amazing], breathable, and they also have a number of organic cotton pieces, which is a great alternative for those looking to lessen their carbon footprint.

Anyhow, I’m proud of myself for not breaking down [especially this early] and not so proud of myself for whining incessantly to the BF about said sweater…

So what did I learn? I learned that I need to restrain myself from online window shopping.. Le Sigh…

xoxo "This Just In" girl

Whatever, predictable is saving me $.$$

January 05, 2011

So today, I looked at my clothes with fresh, bright, optimistic eyes..  Until I was snapped back to the reality which is my closet.  Oh well, it was worth a shot.  In the end, I decided on a pair of jeans [my staple go-to pant; the new AE ones I was talking about..I can't believe how much I like them!], a flowy embellished chiffon tank, and a sparkly festive cardigan from Madewell.  Lovely if I say so myself.

..and then a thought creeped into my head: Kind. Of. Predictable. “Why?” might you ask?

Well, right now it’s VERY winter where I live.  There’s tons of snow ..and coldness.. like, I have to wear ski-pants on-a-daily-basis-type-coldness.  There’s definitely no cute winter outfits going on here or in the near future.  Theres no doubt that I lose most of my style ”mo-jo” during the winter months, since the main focus is to stay warm..

…Which ultimately leads me to no other choice but my tried and true outfit:  Jeans [of course..], a flowy tank of some sort.. paired with a cardigan.

At least I can take solace in the new clothes I ordered pre-diet that have yet to arrive :) :) :)  and as each day gets warmer, I will slowly swap ski-pants for skirts, winter boots for high heels, and sweaters for sleeveless tanks [not to be worn at the same time, mind you] :) and hopefully I can get the creative juices flowing.

Peace, Love & Happiness.

Progress is Happiness!

January 03, 2011

DayThree:

Three days in, and I feel GREAT!!! I’m feeling a lot more positive, and now truly believe that i can do this challenge. I guess it helps that I went on a mini shopping binge before the diet began, and now I feel refreshed and ready to tackle my closet for the rest of the year!

On my binge, I bought a few items [Jean skirt, High-waisted shorts, a Chambray shirt..which I wanted for like, eva!] that will make it easy to transition season to season..so, that gives me hope! Also, just the other day I ripped the tags off of a brand new pair of skinnys by Madewell and forced myself to wear them. THEN! I remembered that I have two boxes of new clothes that I bought online but didn’t really like at the time…so maybe I’ll pull them out and have a fashion show for the boyfriend…or dogs, whoever is more interested. Ha.

Good Luck everyone & Happy New Year!!!

Oops..

December 24, 2010


..soooo instead of buying 1 pair of jeans, which is what I totally intended to do…I..err..umm…kind of ended up buying 3 pairs of jeans and a really cool (if I say so myself) pair of red sneakers. Do people still say “sneakers” these days?? Whatever, I’m old okay. Don’t judge me.


This brings me to my next subject: Should I include not buying shoes and accessories into the equation? Or would that simply be too much to cut out of my life at once? I mean, It’s not that I go Cr@ZZYy over shoes and accessories.. I have some self control.. Its just that…I’m unsure that if I cut everything out all at once, will I be more likely to fail or binge? Perhaps it’s as simple as limiting myself to one accessory or pair of shoes a month.


Maybe this way I won’t have that lingering feeling of deprivation hanging over my shoulders..or at the tip of my fingers [hovering ever so precariously over that mouse button]


~Felix Navidad!~

Quite the predicament.

December 21, 2010

Okay, so with my last week and a half of technically being able to shop, I am faced with this decision: To shop or NOT to shop?

I think it may be my nerves starting to catch up with me, however I’ve been thinking..should I use these last days to “stock up” on items I already have in my closet but can use more of? For example, in my last post I talked about a pair of jeans I recently bought from AE for $49. In the past, I have never really been a fan of AE jeans as they never fit me very well. But these jeans in particular fit so nicely that it has me questioning whether or not I should purchase another pair………………………….ugh decisions!

Update! They’re on sale!! For $34.95

But wait, there’s more! You see, there’s this jacket.. and it’s beautiful. It’s something I most definitely don’t have a problem paying full price for and it’s in a wonderful tangerine-ish colour. It would be great for snowshoeing and other outdoor activities as its not too warm and bulky [which is what I'm struggling with in my current arteryx] so I’m playing around with the idea of buying this new one.

The Boyfriend thinks it’s a stupid idea since I bought my current jacket this April, but what do you think??

To buy or not to buy?

Saturday, January 29, 2011

ShoppingHolidays!

December 21, 2010


I’ve recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Ontario for a family visit with the boyfriend. Like I’ve said in an earlier post, I don’t have many shopping options here in my town and most of my clothing purchases happen online. So being in “civilization” kind of put me into shopping OVERDRIVE!!! Since I normally don’t have the luxury of being able to pack up and leave town whenever I want, being in any city with endless shopping possibilities is pretty exciting! Even the most minuscule mall can give me a rush!!


One of the reasons I chose TGAAD as my new years resolution was to ease myself into it without feeling too overwhelmed. Also, I figured since we had already planned this trip way far in advance, that I didn’t want to limit myself while on the second trip out of town this year…like I said, I don’t get out much.


So..First things first: Budget, Budget, Budget! I budgeted for the entire trip. I saved up a couple months in advance, made a list of things that I really wanted to buy annnd… I didn’t bring my credit card [that part was pretty easy since it's been sitting pretty in a block of ice in my freezer for the last year and a half].


So as soon as we got into the city[Day 2 of a 15 hour drive and at this point we had been up since 4:30 in the morning], we went straight for the mall. THE WEST EDMONTON MALL!! Oh the convenience! Oh the stores! Oh the humanity!!! Anthropologie! Victorias Secret! H&M! Lululemon!! Ahh there are too many to name! ShoesShoesShoesssssss!!! The one stop shop!


It was great and I loved it, and somehow I managed to buy more accessories [scarves, hats, jewelry, sunglasses..etc] and gifts than actual clothes. In the 17 days we were gone I came home with 2 sweaters; 1 cardigan – $12.99 at Old Navy; 1 long sleeved active shirt (perfect for under my hockey equipment) and a pair of AE jeans $49.50….Huh, go figure. One of the best purchases would have to have been the most darling of egg holders from anthropologie in this fab blue colour..it was something like $16 and I LOVE IT!


TenDays until the real challenge begins. EXCITED MUCH!?!?! xoxo

A little bit about my situation

November 29, 2010


Hello Again!


I live in northern Canada in a small Village called Fort Simpson. It maybe, maaybe, houses 1200 people…On a good day (and that’s probably pushing it). My community is on a small island where you can walk end to end in about twenty minutes. It’s fairly traditional with a good majority of the locals being First Nations people and the main economic contributors being the Territorial and Federal Governments.


With all this being said, you can imagine what type of shopping district we have here in town…I’ll give you a hint: It rhymes with Hero…now replace the “H” with a “Z”. The closest thing we have to a clothing store is our own trusty “Northern Store”. It’s the main hub of 2, yes TWO grocery stores. Let me tell you, the type of clothing found in said store is nothing to brag about. Actually, I’m pretty sure the Old Navy changing rooms are bigger than the entire clothing section in this store.


Anyhow, that’s enough background info for the day. Yay for not shopping!