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"

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.

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

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..

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..