Counting Down 284 - Day 81

I am sad, and when I am sad, I want to shop. Why is it when I am depressed or down in the dumps for whatever reason, I turn to shopping or eating? Eating is a horrible habit to break, and I am beginning to feel the same about shopping. Why, oh why, can I not be like one of those girls I know that refuses to eat when they are depressed? Why oh why, do I gain 10 pounds (OR shop till I drop) at the slightest provocation in my life?

To know the answers to those age old questions would make me a rich woman. 'Nuff said, I am fighting my urges this evening and have to leave the computer lest I drift into the nether world of on-line shopping.

Love,
S

- 297 and counting Day 68

Today I realized I am out of the 300's and into the 200's! How exciting is that? Today is also my sister P's birthday and my sister-in-law S's 50th Birthday! Again, excitement abounds...

Sister S is not so happy about this birthday so I am trying to do something very special for her. A shopping trip is in order, plus dinner out and flowers. I want to give her something to wear that will make her feel sexy and beautiful (which she is) and something she wouldn't necessarily buy for herself. We are the same size so I think I will head to Nordstrom and see what I can find that I would love and go from there.

I'll fill you in afterwards. It will be the first time I have really LOOKED at clothes since I started. Of course I have browsed but not dug in and really tried to find something.

Something else is really bothering me right now, though. I think I mentioned how much I want a new kitchen table, yes? Well, I also want new fixtures for my bathroom. It is niggling at me to look at the old faucets since I painted and put new light fixtures in last summer. In fact I am becoming obsessed with bathroom faucets and poured through the Restoration Hardware catalog like it was jewelry! Would new faucets for the bathroom really count?

Love,
S

D minus 307 Day 58: Ahhh, Christmas

Well, I made it through the gift giving and taking with nary a wistful glance, but with a few sighs of relief. I cut down on my shopping, only purchased a couple of small gifts for R, and one each for the boys. I allowed myself to receive 3 gifts; one from my dearest friend - (a beautiful plate with freshly baked banana bread), and a fire pit for our backyard from the Christmas Gift Exchange with family. The 3rd gift was for both R and me and was created with great care by oldest son and his GF. They put together a special basket with microwave popcorn and popcorn holders to eat it with, a copy of "Up", and a gift card to one of my fav restaurants. You can't turn a gift like that down! Oh, and two new tree ornaments, "I 'heart' my Grandma/Grandpa". Very cute and they are residing on our tree this very moment!

We spent the holidays with hubby number 1 and his family. I know that is strange for most people, but with son #2 home for Christmas, son #1 and gf being with the 'Dad's' family, it just made the most sense. We had a good time in the mountains at their vacation home and spent a good two days eating, drinking and laughing. Just the way holiday's should be.

Son #2 and I went to Best Buy AND the Mall on Sunday. He had a few return items to take care of and we wandered around the sales for a bit. Not a thing hit me as a must have, but I must admit The Gap had so little merchandise, it was hard to be enticed. Nordstrom was busy and I found a non-sale dress (of course it wasn't on sale) that I stopped to admire, but I didn't even check the tag. Still on course for success. I'm not even in the 200's yet, meaning it has barely been 2 months!

I really feel so much better with this new appreciation for non-consumerism. I honestly don't know how I will feel later but for now, this is making me very happy.
Love,
S

Countdown 322

I watched Julie and Julia yesterday. It was a howly kind of day, wind was blowing, non-stop rain, and it was the perfect day to stay indoors, light a fire and watch a really nice movie - which it was. I've read both books, My Life in France and Julie and Julia, but it was well before I started this project or had an inkling I was heading in this direction.

I think it struck me how alone Julie was in her attempt to make all those recipes in 365 days and how the blog was her salvation. Now I know she had her husband and her gf (and in the book, her brother for a lot of the time), but she was still alone in her single mindedness to finish her project.

I have told few people about what I am doing, or not doing as the case may be. I am having trouble deciding whether to tell people or just kind of ignore it. I don't know many that would understand. It has been met with some nods of the head and "Oh, so you are really doing that", type reactions. But I am not even down to the 200's yet and it IS hard. I am glad Christmas is in the first 1/4 of the project, rather than the end.

S

326 - Day 39

Oh, the holidays. I love 'em. The house is decorated, I have made one batch of caramels and am planning a second batch for tomorrow. 75% of my Christmas Cards went in the mail yesterday. I have a list of holiday favs to create in the kitchen and our plans are firm for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I should be set, right? Not so fast...

I am beginning to feel the "Christmas Noose" tightening. Aaarrrghhhh. I want to shop. I want to spend a day at Fashion Island in all the unique and funky stores. And it's not that I can't do it. Shopping for others is a pleasure unto itself, right?

It has only been 39 days, not even two months since I began. I am finding it much easier to shop on-line and be done with it all. But I so love the atmosphere, and I really want to not pay shipping.

Love,
S

Day 334 Countdown - Gifts!

I headed to the mall today to work my way through The Gap. I had a 25% off card that is good for today through Sunday and thought, what the heck. R was with me and we ended up buying him a couple of 2 for 1 shirts. The last time I was in The Gap they were running that same offer which makes me wonder if it ever went away. The cashier asked if I couldn't find anything for myself and I told her I wasn't shopping for myself today. R began to explain and realized it wasn't worth it, lol.

The bottom line is I found multiple items that would be great for stocking stuffers! There is a lot this year that I think would be good for small gifts for the boys. I didn't buy anything yet, but I am definitely heading back. I have always rewarded myself when shopping for my family with a little something for ME. I am sure I will find many little somethings over the next couple of weeks but I will satisfy ME with a skinny sugar free cinnamon dulce latte (my new fav), and call it a day.

Love,
S

Day 333 - New info from my sister

I just found out from sister 'P' that she is selling PartyLite Candles. I LOVE those candles and they have been my candle of choice for many years. As I was decorating the house on Sunday, I put out a snowman holder that requires one of the PartyLite 3-wick giants. The holder is supposed to have a red or green candle. All I have is a lite blue one. I kept thinking, "If I buy a red candle, I can use it all year and it is for the house, right?" Then I discovered P is selling them. I didn't cave, I am using the blue and have it with another decoration that repeats the blue and it will be fine. But that is one purchase I wish I had known I needed. P mentioned she started selling PartyLite right about the same time I started my Cold Turkey so she didn't even want to tell me.

Sigh, I hope she is still selling them next year.

Love,
S

336 Countdown - The Holidays

When I started this project, I thought I had plenty of clothes in my closet that would last throughout the coming year and I could just wear them. And I do. I certainly didn't foresee NOT being able to wear them. It is Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend and I am beginning to panic. The holidays are here, and I have already gained 10 pounds of ugly fat since last August! A series of vacations, business travel, illness, surgery and back pain have kept me from my usual 40 mile a week runs and I have put on pounds! My 6 pairs of jeans in my drawer are increasingly tight and I am SO uncomfortable. I gave away all my stretch Chico's clothing over a year ago and have nothing that doesn't bind my waist/hips. Not that I want to go buy bigger clothing, I have worked too hard for too many years to do that. I just need to refocus my brain on my healthy eating plan and stick to it.

So today I am counting points again, keeping track of my water intake, and saying no to R when he suggests his brilliant homemade pizza for dinners. Chicken breast, brown rice and veggies, here I come!

Day 341 - Mexico Would Have's

R and I spent a glorious week in Cabo San Lucas and I came home with one thing; I bought some Mexican Vanilla at the Duty Free Store in the airport. The vanilla is a high concentrate, great for baking and is not available in the US. Not a 'banned' purchase for my household if you ask me.

I looked at baby things, but came home with zero, nothing, nada. At this point, I am not feeling any pain when it comes to abstinence. I can only hope the next 340 days will be as easy.

Love,
S

Day 350 - Mexico Bound

Whoo boy. Spent the day washing and then packing what to take to Cabo in the morning. R and I decided to not take communication devices so I won't be posting until I get back.

What was interesting was the "what to take to a Mexican Resort" dilemma. I know it's November but I can wear white pants in Mexico, can't I? And I have had a very hard time deciding on shoes, which I would think would not be a problem. I don't know if we will be dancing at The Giggling Marlin (or wherever the hot spot is now) or hiking the hills. And this vacation is one where I can't just say, "well if I don't have it with me, I can just buy it there." That has always been my mainstay when packing. Oh, I can just pick up something there...not this time.