Well, two things have become obvious to me lately.
Thing number one: Buying clothes from Athleta, looking at the catalogs, coveting their merchandise, these things helped me to stay fit. I wanted to buy the clothes because wearing them made me feel good about myself and all the hard work I'd put into my health and physique. In turn, they sell athletic clothing, hence I buy said clothes and work out in them. Aside from all the wasted money (and the now obvious time wasted on being concerned about what people felt about how I looked), really it was kind of a good thing. Buying athletic clothes that I loved made me work out all the harder so that I'd look really good in said work-out clothes. It was a positive cycle, overall.
Thing number two: Now that I'm no longer buying clothing, accessories, etc., I have found that I am excited to buy food. Not good, seeing as the positive cycle described above has now been terminated. I do the bulk of my grocery shopping at the farmer's market, getting fresh, organic fruits and veggies, whole grains like quinoa and steel-cut oats, and crazy awesome deals on every spice you could imagine. I also do a once-a-month visit to places like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Costco to pick up staples that are much cheaper and/or much healthier than the versions of items I could find at Publix or Kroger, but not find at the farmer's market (cereal for the kids, real maple syrup, organic 100% peanut butter, etc.). I should probably add here that there's a reason why I am now excited to grocery shop....
Apparently, the universe has decided that I've done such a good job, so far, raising my two boys, that I should go ahead and have one more little Flynn Fella. I did not know about the universe's grand plan, however, until about a week after beginning my blog. So, there's a wrench in the plans, so to speak. So far, I still have not purchased anything for myself as promised (with the exception of a much needed maternity bra, something I found zero pleasure in purchasing, and the need was completely out of my hands). But what I have done is find a new and exciting pleasure in shopping at pre-packaged amusement park style grocery stores like Publix and Kroger, where the vast majority of foods are processed, unhealthy, and OH SO DELICIOUS!!! The good news is that I'm stil within budget of my grocery budget each month. The bad news is, I am not always eating as healthily as I should be. Sigh. Goodbye Athleta model body, hello pregnant mama!!
I can finally admit to you my enormous struggle. How on EARTH am I going to make it the next 9.5 months not purchasing anything for myself?!? Thanks to my two sisters, I have a lot of clothing items I didn't previously. But there are some gaps. My younger sister is normally a size 0, so much of her maternity gear won't make it past, well, now. And my older sister is maybe a tad larger normally than I am, but she gained a TON of weight when she was pregnant, plus she worked through her pregnancy, so most of her clothes are a tad too big, or way too dressy. But I'm definitely managing. I need a bathing suit. One that doesn't look like a tent. One that fits me. I suppose I could live without one, but that means I can't get into the pool or the ocean with my kids this summer. I need shorts, unless I just want to roast in jeans or wear dresses all summer. I DID get some cute dresses from my sisters. Shoes. Come July, my feet are going to swell and I am either going to have to choose a pair of flops I love to let get stretched out or buy a cheap pair to ruin. And I won't even mention the unmentionables...but something will need to be done there, as well. Last, work-out clothes. I'm still running, weight-lifting and doing yoga. But my beautiful, lovely, perfect Athleta wardrobe has begun its rebellion. I can switch to regular t-shirts of my husband's, but what about shorts and bras? I'm in bind, I tell you, a blogging bind.
Mike and I are over the moon excited for our new addition. We've told the kids and they, too, are super excited. But I can honestly say, I do not know how this promise I made and this blog are going to pan out. I am trying my best, and so far succeeding. But this "bump in the road" (get it? bump? I thought that was clever) is a challenge for sure. But what am I if not one for a good challenge?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Temptations of Charleston City Market
First off, I sincerely apologize for my absence these last few weeks. I've been very busy - not shopping, though!!
This past weekend, the boys and I went to Summerville, SC to visit my parents for a long weekend. We had a very nice time catching up, and I was able to drive around and see how my old stomping grounds have grown.
On Monday, President's Day, we drove down to Charleston for the day to visit the fountains, swings, market, etc. The kids loved seeing the cruise ship that was docked (it even honked its horn "for them"). We walked the park, swung on the swings, watched the fountains longingly, as it was way to cold to splash in them. Then we headed over to the city market. I have always adored the market. It is several blocks of open air markets selling everything from hand-weaved baskets, unique jewelry, tasty local favorite treats, souvenirs, and everything in between. No matter what you find there, though, you can be sure it is unique. The hand-weaved baskets are a Charleston tradition. There are these shirts that appear to be really tiny because they are "accordioned," for lack of a better word. But when you put it on, it is flattering and fits nicely. There are these boxes that are hand-carved. Upon first glance, they appear to be really pretty boxes. But when you try to open one, you realize it's actually a puzzle. So you can put something secret in it and only those who know how to open the box can get into it. I could go on and on about the cool things one can find in the market. I lived in Charleston for ten years, and still find it remarkable.
I haven't been shopping in a while, due to my promise, so as I walked the market with my family, I actually had forgotten for several minutes that I wasn't allowed to purchase anything. I was creating a mental list in my head of all the things I wanted to double-back for before leaving, when I stopped and thought, crap, I can't buy anything! So I looked to my mom and was getting ready to start dropping hints. But I'm not allowed to do that either. People can only purchase something for me if it's a legitimate reason, like my birthday or Christmas. Unfortunately, President's Day did not fit the bill.
So I passed up the Charleston Receipts cookbook, which I've been meaning to pick up for years and years, a new viking wedding ring to replace the one I lost ten years ago, three different seasoning packets (buy two get one free!) with which to make dips, some hand-weaved coasters, which really do a nice job of keeping one's tables free of glass perspiration, a pair of black stretchy shoes that I almost (should have!) bought last time I was in town, and, oh, the list goes on. What could have been a gleeful extravaganza of shopping, was turning out to be a "why are we even here" kind of moment. That is, until, I realized my five year old was truly enchanted with everything in front of him. So I stopped sulking about not being able to buy stuff, and I started focusing my attention on enjoying my son's exploration. He was completely enamored with the magic boxes that he tried and tried to open, seeing all the bright colored clothing, watching the basket weavers' deft hands do hard work, tasting the samples of southern delectables, and running his fingers along the hand-crafted wind-chimes. When looking at the market through my son's eyes, I realized that it is filled with treasures to experience in the moment, and not filled with things that I must take home with me.
After the market, we had lunch at an old favorite, then made our way back to the car. On our path was a candy store and a bakery. I would like to lie and say I didn't purchase 3 kinds of fudge (buy two get one free!) and a super sinful salted caramel brownie. But this girl is only human, and we've all got to eat, right? My promise did not include food. It probably should have, but alas, it did not. :-)
This past weekend, the boys and I went to Summerville, SC to visit my parents for a long weekend. We had a very nice time catching up, and I was able to drive around and see how my old stomping grounds have grown.
On Monday, President's Day, we drove down to Charleston for the day to visit the fountains, swings, market, etc. The kids loved seeing the cruise ship that was docked (it even honked its horn "for them"). We walked the park, swung on the swings, watched the fountains longingly, as it was way to cold to splash in them. Then we headed over to the city market. I have always adored the market. It is several blocks of open air markets selling everything from hand-weaved baskets, unique jewelry, tasty local favorite treats, souvenirs, and everything in between. No matter what you find there, though, you can be sure it is unique. The hand-weaved baskets are a Charleston tradition. There are these shirts that appear to be really tiny because they are "accordioned," for lack of a better word. But when you put it on, it is flattering and fits nicely. There are these boxes that are hand-carved. Upon first glance, they appear to be really pretty boxes. But when you try to open one, you realize it's actually a puzzle. So you can put something secret in it and only those who know how to open the box can get into it. I could go on and on about the cool things one can find in the market. I lived in Charleston for ten years, and still find it remarkable.
I haven't been shopping in a while, due to my promise, so as I walked the market with my family, I actually had forgotten for several minutes that I wasn't allowed to purchase anything. I was creating a mental list in my head of all the things I wanted to double-back for before leaving, when I stopped and thought, crap, I can't buy anything! So I looked to my mom and was getting ready to start dropping hints. But I'm not allowed to do that either. People can only purchase something for me if it's a legitimate reason, like my birthday or Christmas. Unfortunately, President's Day did not fit the bill.
So I passed up the Charleston Receipts cookbook, which I've been meaning to pick up for years and years, a new viking wedding ring to replace the one I lost ten years ago, three different seasoning packets (buy two get one free!) with which to make dips, some hand-weaved coasters, which really do a nice job of keeping one's tables free of glass perspiration, a pair of black stretchy shoes that I almost (should have!) bought last time I was in town, and, oh, the list goes on. What could have been a gleeful extravaganza of shopping, was turning out to be a "why are we even here" kind of moment. That is, until, I realized my five year old was truly enchanted with everything in front of him. So I stopped sulking about not being able to buy stuff, and I started focusing my attention on enjoying my son's exploration. He was completely enamored with the magic boxes that he tried and tried to open, seeing all the bright colored clothing, watching the basket weavers' deft hands do hard work, tasting the samples of southern delectables, and running his fingers along the hand-crafted wind-chimes. When looking at the market through my son's eyes, I realized that it is filled with treasures to experience in the moment, and not filled with things that I must take home with me.
After the market, we had lunch at an old favorite, then made our way back to the car. On our path was a candy store and a bakery. I would like to lie and say I didn't purchase 3 kinds of fudge (buy two get one free!) and a super sinful salted caramel brownie. But this girl is only human, and we've all got to eat, right? My promise did not include food. It probably should have, but alas, it did not. :-)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
What if I Must Purchase - Part Two
This is not a full post - just an update.
I had a difficult time sleeping last night. I truly thought upgrading my phone would be ok to do in this situation. But after much thought, I realized that I would be very disappointed in myself if I did. So, for free, I was able to get the same iPhone I have now, with a 2 year contract. No upgrade, no extra space, just what I'm currently used to having. Also, I will be able to sell my current iPhone and probably make $150ish, even though it's not working (my husband just had this identical problem with his phone last month).
Since I'm always running out of space on my iPhone, this will give me an opportunity to purge a lot of things I think I need on it. This will help me to recognize what is really making my life better and what is getting in the way. I'm not at all happy about my decision, but it was the right thing to do. I AM really glad, though, that they had the refurbished iPhone 4 as an option. Otherwise I'd be carrying a flip phone again, and I wouldn't be able to make the decisions of what was really needed and what wasn't. I simply wouldn't have any of it. So, lucky me. :-(
I had a difficult time sleeping last night. I truly thought upgrading my phone would be ok to do in this situation. But after much thought, I realized that I would be very disappointed in myself if I did. So, for free, I was able to get the same iPhone I have now, with a 2 year contract. No upgrade, no extra space, just what I'm currently used to having. Also, I will be able to sell my current iPhone and probably make $150ish, even though it's not working (my husband just had this identical problem with his phone last month).
Since I'm always running out of space on my iPhone, this will give me an opportunity to purge a lot of things I think I need on it. This will help me to recognize what is really making my life better and what is getting in the way. I'm not at all happy about my decision, but it was the right thing to do. I AM really glad, though, that they had the refurbished iPhone 4 as an option. Otherwise I'd be carrying a flip phone again, and I wouldn't be able to make the decisions of what was really needed and what wasn't. I simply wouldn't have any of it. So, lucky me. :-(
Saturday, January 26, 2013
What if I Must Purchase???
The unthinkable has occurred. My iPhone has perished. Well, the actual cell phone feature of it is no longer functioning. I can still text and use all my apps, but the primary feature of the phone has passed on to the next life.
Here's my problem. As you all know, I made a promise that I would buy NOTHING for myself in 2013 that was not a complete necessity. A cell phone IS a necessity these days, but a smartphone is not. Whatever decision I make for a new phone, it is going to be my phone for the next two years, not just 2013, so I would hate to go backwards and either get the same model phone I have now, or worse yet, a (gasp) flip phone. I use my iPhone all. the. time. I mean, it's my mapping device, weather-checker, iPod when I go running, lesson-planner for teaching the wee ones, games for said wee ones when I need to shush them in a pinch, my go-to for recipes when cooking dinner. This list goes on. And on. When I promised not to purchase anything for myself, I did not intend to go back to the dark ages. So I think I've established I need to at least get the same model phone I have now.
So back to the problem. For over two years now, I have bitched and bitched and bitched about not being able to have the majority of my music on my iPhone (which also serves as my iPod, remember?) because it is so darn small. If I am to get a new one, I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to get a mac daddy size so I can finally put all my music in one place. I'm getting all swoony just thinking about it. And we no longer use cameras or video cameras - we use our iPhones. So why wouldn't I want to upgrade to the latest technology so as to improve these features?
I don't want to buy a new phone because the latest model just came out and I must have it. This is not a purchase for the excitement of purchasing something. But it is, in fact, a not-that-necessary purchase (assuming I upgrade). So am I going against my promise? Is this the beginning of the end? Do I unravel from here and slowly go back to my former self?
I think the real reason this is so difficult for me is because I do nothing half-way. When I make a decision, I go big or go home. People always say it's so easy for me to lose weight and/or keep it off, and that's true, because when I decide to exercise regularly, I do it every day. When I decide to eat healthy, not a morsel of negative food will pass my lips. I don't cheat. Not at anything. So it IS easy for me, but not because my body has a "fast metabolism" or "the scale likes me." It's because I dedicate myself to the task at hand - all the way. That's what this project is for me. Something to dedicate myself to all the way. I want real growth, not just a topic for blogging. But I didn't realize it may impact my life in a truly negative way. Or, maybe a better way to put it, I didn't realize I may have to make decisions that would drastically change the way I live my daily life (taking away my technology). When I came up with this idea, my husband's initial response was that maybe I should just reduce spending, not cut ALL spending. His m.o. has always been "everything in moderation." And really, that is the healthiest way to be. I know this. But I don't know how to BE this. I am an "all or nothing" kind of gal. I always have been.
So maybe the real solution to the problem is to upgrade after all. Maybe that's my growth for this moment. Or am I just trying to talk myself in to the iPhone 5?? :-)
Here's my problem. As you all know, I made a promise that I would buy NOTHING for myself in 2013 that was not a complete necessity. A cell phone IS a necessity these days, but a smartphone is not. Whatever decision I make for a new phone, it is going to be my phone for the next two years, not just 2013, so I would hate to go backwards and either get the same model phone I have now, or worse yet, a (gasp) flip phone. I use my iPhone all. the. time. I mean, it's my mapping device, weather-checker, iPod when I go running, lesson-planner for teaching the wee ones, games for said wee ones when I need to shush them in a pinch, my go-to for recipes when cooking dinner. This list goes on. And on. When I promised not to purchase anything for myself, I did not intend to go back to the dark ages. So I think I've established I need to at least get the same model phone I have now.
So back to the problem. For over two years now, I have bitched and bitched and bitched about not being able to have the majority of my music on my iPhone (which also serves as my iPod, remember?) because it is so darn small. If I am to get a new one, I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to get a mac daddy size so I can finally put all my music in one place. I'm getting all swoony just thinking about it. And we no longer use cameras or video cameras - we use our iPhones. So why wouldn't I want to upgrade to the latest technology so as to improve these features?
I don't want to buy a new phone because the latest model just came out and I must have it. This is not a purchase for the excitement of purchasing something. But it is, in fact, a not-that-necessary purchase (assuming I upgrade). So am I going against my promise? Is this the beginning of the end? Do I unravel from here and slowly go back to my former self?
I think the real reason this is so difficult for me is because I do nothing half-way. When I make a decision, I go big or go home. People always say it's so easy for me to lose weight and/or keep it off, and that's true, because when I decide to exercise regularly, I do it every day. When I decide to eat healthy, not a morsel of negative food will pass my lips. I don't cheat. Not at anything. So it IS easy for me, but not because my body has a "fast metabolism" or "the scale likes me." It's because I dedicate myself to the task at hand - all the way. That's what this project is for me. Something to dedicate myself to all the way. I want real growth, not just a topic for blogging. But I didn't realize it may impact my life in a truly negative way. Or, maybe a better way to put it, I didn't realize I may have to make decisions that would drastically change the way I live my daily life (taking away my technology). When I came up with this idea, my husband's initial response was that maybe I should just reduce spending, not cut ALL spending. His m.o. has always been "everything in moderation." And really, that is the healthiest way to be. I know this. But I don't know how to BE this. I am an "all or nothing" kind of gal. I always have been.
So maybe the real solution to the problem is to upgrade after all. Maybe that's my growth for this moment. Or am I just trying to talk myself in to the iPhone 5?? :-)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Root of the Problem
My skin has been going nuts for several months now. Way back in good ole' 2012, I was throwing money at the problem. Sephora and I became good friends. And after a couple of tries, I seemed to have found a decent cleansing routine to get the problem under control. Just in the nick of time, too, seeing as I've allowed myself to continue purchasing my "normal skincare routine" items. But now here we are in the shop-free year of 2013, and my skin is out of control again. Peter Thomas Roth is no longer serving me well, and I am unable to purchase a slew of new products to trial and error the issue. So what does a girl do? Two "ah-ha" moments came from this.
Many months ago, I became a gluten-free vegan. I lost the last 5-10 pounds I had been battling with and never felt better. But this was the beginning of the skin issue. Honestly, I thought being vegan, I'd have the prettiest skin around. Dairy is known for aggravating skin. So, thinking back, when I took gluten, meat, and dairy out of my diet, what did I ADD to my diet that may have caused my skin to flare up? I added tons of extra fruits and veggies. That's not going to cause break-outs. If anything, it would help, what with all the extra vitamins and nutrients. Something else I began eating more of was corn. I switched from pita chips to corn chips when dipping into hummus. I also began snacking on popcorn because it's high in fiber. And I began using corn tortillas regularly in my cooking, since I had completely eliminated breads. So maybe I'm allergic to corn? Another thing I added a bit extra of is sugar. I mean, if I'm going to cut out all meat, dairy and gluten, I'm going to treat myself to gluten-free dairy-free cookies! I have a handful of other treats that are filled with sugar, but are gluten-free and vegan. So I know I've upped my sugar intake. Obviously, being a health nut, I know refined sugar is enemy number one. But thanks to cutting out the other stuff, I was still looking and feeling great. Except when I looked at my face in the mirror, lol.
Several days ago, when my skin seemed like it was at its worst ever, I decided just to stop using all fancy products and stop wearing make-up. Just use plain old soap 3x a day and see if it would settle down at all. This is where my ah-ha moment #2 comes in....I was terrified to leave the house with such horrible skin and NO MAKE-UP. What would people think?? Then I got to wondering, is this why I buy so many clothes? Why do I always want to look my best? Is it for me or is it for others? Why should I care if others agree or disagree with my fashion sense? I want peoples' opinions of me to be based on how I act, how I treat them, how I interact with the world around me, NOT what I'm wearing or whether my skin is perfect. And do I judge others in accordance to what they are wearing? I can honestly answer that with people I know (friends, family, etc.) absolutely NOT. But with strangers and acquaintances? Yeah, maybe I judge a little. And I guess THAT is why I care so much about how I look out in public. So going forward, I am going to make it my personal quest to not pay attention to what people are wearing when I'm strolling the isles at Target and not purchasing anything fun. I am going to look into faces and smile.
My skin is still a wreck, but I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Something tells me it's the corn. As for my insides, I'm pretty sure I've grown a bit today.
Many months ago, I became a gluten-free vegan. I lost the last 5-10 pounds I had been battling with and never felt better. But this was the beginning of the skin issue. Honestly, I thought being vegan, I'd have the prettiest skin around. Dairy is known for aggravating skin. So, thinking back, when I took gluten, meat, and dairy out of my diet, what did I ADD to my diet that may have caused my skin to flare up? I added tons of extra fruits and veggies. That's not going to cause break-outs. If anything, it would help, what with all the extra vitamins and nutrients. Something else I began eating more of was corn. I switched from pita chips to corn chips when dipping into hummus. I also began snacking on popcorn because it's high in fiber. And I began using corn tortillas regularly in my cooking, since I had completely eliminated breads. So maybe I'm allergic to corn? Another thing I added a bit extra of is sugar. I mean, if I'm going to cut out all meat, dairy and gluten, I'm going to treat myself to gluten-free dairy-free cookies! I have a handful of other treats that are filled with sugar, but are gluten-free and vegan. So I know I've upped my sugar intake. Obviously, being a health nut, I know refined sugar is enemy number one. But thanks to cutting out the other stuff, I was still looking and feeling great. Except when I looked at my face in the mirror, lol.
Several days ago, when my skin seemed like it was at its worst ever, I decided just to stop using all fancy products and stop wearing make-up. Just use plain old soap 3x a day and see if it would settle down at all. This is where my ah-ha moment #2 comes in....I was terrified to leave the house with such horrible skin and NO MAKE-UP. What would people think?? Then I got to wondering, is this why I buy so many clothes? Why do I always want to look my best? Is it for me or is it for others? Why should I care if others agree or disagree with my fashion sense? I want peoples' opinions of me to be based on how I act, how I treat them, how I interact with the world around me, NOT what I'm wearing or whether my skin is perfect. And do I judge others in accordance to what they are wearing? I can honestly answer that with people I know (friends, family, etc.) absolutely NOT. But with strangers and acquaintances? Yeah, maybe I judge a little. And I guess THAT is why I care so much about how I look out in public. So going forward, I am going to make it my personal quest to not pay attention to what people are wearing when I'm strolling the isles at Target and not purchasing anything fun. I am going to look into faces and smile.
My skin is still a wreck, but I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Something tells me it's the corn. As for my insides, I'm pretty sure I've grown a bit today.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
What Do We Really Need?
I don't know if I'm better at this than I thought I would be, or if this is the calm before the storm, but I am totally fine with not buying anything. Really. Hence my lack of blogging. Sorry readers!
I'm actually taking this to a whole new level that I didn't even intend for. A few days ago, my darling husband busted our tire pump that we use for the joggers. My first thought was, well, now I guess we won't be running with the boys anymore once the tires start to go flat, because we're not replacing that pump! But I quickly realized that things like tire pumps are necessities and not luxuries, especially when we both run (with the boys) on a regular basis for our form of daily exercise. We don't belong to a fancy gym, we don't attend regular yoga or pilates classes. We run. So the $15 hand pump will be replaced.
Seriously, though, I am thinking about every. single. purchase. Is this necessary or luxury? Can I live without it? Is it about my ease of lifestyle vs. must-have? Thanks to questioning every freaking item I put in my GROCERY CART for crying out loud, I haven't even begun missing clothes shopping. What's next? Will I start making my own laundry detergent so that I don't have to replace the Tide when it runs out? Will I begin sewing my kids' clothes? To what end do I continue to fret over all the trivial things I purchase?
I don't know the answers to those questions, but I am finding that we have a lot of stuff. Just stuff. Even as a self-proclaimed non-hoarder, man do we have stuff in this house. How much stuff does a family of four really need? Why do my kids have 78 puzzles? And 600 books? They have six types of blocks. SIX. Had we taken the Lincoln Logs home from G.G.'s house last weekend, they'd have seven. So I'm figuring out that this isn't just about me and my love for new clothes and books I'll never get around to reading. This is about the whole house and everyone in it (minus my dear husband's wardrobe, he never gets new clothes because I can't shop for him and he never has time to shop for himself). As we spend the rest of 2013 cleaning and organizing room by room, AND not buying new things to replace the things we ditch, it will be interesting to see what we're left with. Aside from the proverbial health, safety and happiness, what will end up being the most valuable to us?
I'm actually taking this to a whole new level that I didn't even intend for. A few days ago, my darling husband busted our tire pump that we use for the joggers. My first thought was, well, now I guess we won't be running with the boys anymore once the tires start to go flat, because we're not replacing that pump! But I quickly realized that things like tire pumps are necessities and not luxuries, especially when we both run (with the boys) on a regular basis for our form of daily exercise. We don't belong to a fancy gym, we don't attend regular yoga or pilates classes. We run. So the $15 hand pump will be replaced.
Seriously, though, I am thinking about every. single. purchase. Is this necessary or luxury? Can I live without it? Is it about my ease of lifestyle vs. must-have? Thanks to questioning every freaking item I put in my GROCERY CART for crying out loud, I haven't even begun missing clothes shopping. What's next? Will I start making my own laundry detergent so that I don't have to replace the Tide when it runs out? Will I begin sewing my kids' clothes? To what end do I continue to fret over all the trivial things I purchase?
I don't know the answers to those questions, but I am finding that we have a lot of stuff. Just stuff. Even as a self-proclaimed non-hoarder, man do we have stuff in this house. How much stuff does a family of four really need? Why do my kids have 78 puzzles? And 600 books? They have six types of blocks. SIX. Had we taken the Lincoln Logs home from G.G.'s house last weekend, they'd have seven. So I'm figuring out that this isn't just about me and my love for new clothes and books I'll never get around to reading. This is about the whole house and everyone in it (minus my dear husband's wardrobe, he never gets new clothes because I can't shop for him and he never has time to shop for himself). As we spend the rest of 2013 cleaning and organizing room by room, AND not buying new things to replace the things we ditch, it will be interesting to see what we're left with. Aside from the proverbial health, safety and happiness, what will end up being the most valuable to us?
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Oh Costco, How I've Loved Thee
For her birthday, I gave my mother-in-law a membership to one of my favorite places on Earth, Costco. Today, the two of us went and signed her up, then spent an hour (at least) exploring the store. For the first time ever, since I normally have two small boys in tow, I had the opportunity to walk down every. single. aisle. Wow. What a store. Really. They carry everything!
Costco is a really difficult store in which not to spend money for a few reasons. First, the stuff they sell is GOOD STUFF. Plus, they rotate merchandise frequently, so something you see today may not be there next time, or ever again for that matter. Get it today or risk never getting the same deal again. Last, the prices are outstanding. How do you say no to such great deals, even if you don't need these items right now?
I really had an opportunity to see the store today in a new light. First off, like I said, I didn't have the boys with me, so we were able to take our time. But also, for the first time, I wasn't allowed to throw whatever I wanted in my cart. As we all know, there is an allure about the things we cannot have. Multiply that by, well, a zillion. I passed by this pack of felt floor protectors for just under $10. This was a ginormous pack of like 50+ multi-sized pieces, the majority of which I would have eventually used (I think). For under ten bucks! A tenth of that package at Target would have cost $5. Then I came upon my favorite Ticonderoga pencils. I don't need pencils right now, but these are really good ones and who knows if they'll still carry this brand the next time I need pencils. But I didn't need them, so I didn't get them. I completely passed by the book section, even though I could hear it softly calling my name. Lord knows, with 300+ unread books on my shelves, I really didn't need to even browse.
There were temptations surrounding me from all sides. Bluetooth speakers (which I wanted for Christmas but didn't get), iPad accessories, really cute puffer jackets (which I almost talked myself into needing, but then reassured myself the 12 jackets I have in the coat closet really should be sufficient). Rather than being sad for each item I wanted and couldn't have, though, I decided to be proud of myself and take joy in knowing I was strong enough to easily pass them up and move on.
My mother-in-law didn't fare so well. But then, she hasn't taken any sort of pledge, so in retrospect, she didn't do too terribly. She didn't even fill one cart. Thank goodness we had breakfast right before going, otherwise I am CERTAIN had she sampled the crab dip, chicken sausage, brie cheese and all the other assortments of goodies being handed out, she would have caved to many more treats.
Costco is a really difficult store in which not to spend money for a few reasons. First, the stuff they sell is GOOD STUFF. Plus, they rotate merchandise frequently, so something you see today may not be there next time, or ever again for that matter. Get it today or risk never getting the same deal again. Last, the prices are outstanding. How do you say no to such great deals, even if you don't need these items right now?
I really had an opportunity to see the store today in a new light. First off, like I said, I didn't have the boys with me, so we were able to take our time. But also, for the first time, I wasn't allowed to throw whatever I wanted in my cart. As we all know, there is an allure about the things we cannot have. Multiply that by, well, a zillion. I passed by this pack of felt floor protectors for just under $10. This was a ginormous pack of like 50+ multi-sized pieces, the majority of which I would have eventually used (I think). For under ten bucks! A tenth of that package at Target would have cost $5. Then I came upon my favorite Ticonderoga pencils. I don't need pencils right now, but these are really good ones and who knows if they'll still carry this brand the next time I need pencils. But I didn't need them, so I didn't get them. I completely passed by the book section, even though I could hear it softly calling my name. Lord knows, with 300+ unread books on my shelves, I really didn't need to even browse.
There were temptations surrounding me from all sides. Bluetooth speakers (which I wanted for Christmas but didn't get), iPad accessories, really cute puffer jackets (which I almost talked myself into needing, but then reassured myself the 12 jackets I have in the coat closet really should be sufficient). Rather than being sad for each item I wanted and couldn't have, though, I decided to be proud of myself and take joy in knowing I was strong enough to easily pass them up and move on.
My mother-in-law didn't fare so well. But then, she hasn't taken any sort of pledge, so in retrospect, she didn't do too terribly. She didn't even fill one cart. Thank goodness we had breakfast right before going, otherwise I am CERTAIN had she sampled the crab dip, chicken sausage, brie cheese and all the other assortments of goodies being handed out, she would have caved to many more treats.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)