63 Days To Go

As August is winding down, I have been thinking a lot of fall.  I love fall.  Warm days, cool nights, and cool mornings for running.  Not quite cool enough in Southern CA to bring out the sweaters, mind you.  But it is time to put the whites away (although in SoCal, white seems to be worn all year round - but not by this native Northwesterner!) and think about the colors that come with the season.

It is also a time when I begin thinking about my hair color.  I have decided to move away from the blonde look, besides they don't really have more fun, and find a richer color for the season.  Lord knows what my natural state would be if I let it all hang out, and I am not going anywhere near there, but I am thinking of a richer, milk chocolately color.  I has helped that my stylist has been using Morroccan Hair Oil on me.  It leaves my hair with unbelievable shine and manageability.  The texture becomes what I have always sought, and I absolutely love, love, love the way it looks and feels.  The problem?  It is a new product and I am not allowed to make said purchase until November 1.

So, left to my own devices, I thought I would try something from my home kitchen.  I put a teensy drop of EVOO on my hand, worked it around my palms and then added my normal smoothing balm.  Worked them both into my hair and voila' - I had stiff, unmanageable hair.  Albeit shiny...

Not to be deterred, I tried again, with an even smaller amount of EVOO, a little water mixed in and more smoothing.  Results?  Better, but still not ideal.  Bottom line, I am waiting for November when I can have the soft, shiny, manageable hair of my dreams.  And I give myself points for trying.


Love,
S

PS:  If you haven't had the luxury of trying this, do it now!  Well worth the investment for the small amount you use.

69 Days and Counting

I spent a day last week pulling things out of my closet.  My goal is to have everything I haven't worn in the last year out by November 1st.  Noticing how packed my calendar is in September and October, I thought I better get the lead out and start now.  The bottom line is, I have some great pieces that I no longer wear, be it size or style issues.  There is a beautiful LBD and Blazer from J.Crew from the early 90's.  Neither fit and to have either or both of them tailored, I think the price would not benefit the outcome.  There is a beautiful silk Eileen Fisher Jacket and Pants - gorgeous really - but it is quite large and the jacket is entirely made of pintucks.  Again, prohibitive to have altered.  A couple of silk skirts from mid-90's J.Peterman, that I hate to discard, but they are so dated...I know I won't wear them again.

The bottom line is, I need to find a women's charity to take them to.  There are too many good pieces to just do the Goodwill thing and hope for the best.  Any ideas on charities that will take gently worn, beautiful clothes to help women get back on their feet?  I know there are places that do this work, I just don't know where.

Love,
S

PS: I am not done with the closet but I think the shoe drawers are next.

74 Days to Go

Oh my goodness, I can not believe I am almost done with this project.  I have been thinking about what I have learned over the last 10.6 months.  Here are a few "Shopping Lessons"  that will remain as blueprints in my consciousness:

1.  Just because it is expensive, doesn't mean it is the best style for me.
2.  Just because it is on SALE, doesn't mean it is the best style for me.
(Both ends of the spectrum)
3.  Cheaply made clothing from stores that are trendy do not suit me. 
4.  Trendy styles do not suit me.
5.  Bright colors, at least near my face, do not suit me.
6. A well fitting bra will change the look of my clothes.
7.  Spanx should be worn with everything.
8.  Never buy shoes just because they are cute if they hurt my feet.  (One would think I had learned that lesson years ago, and I had, but still...)
9.  Basics.  Basics can be mixed and matched.
10. Just because it looks really good on my best friend, doesn't mean it looks really good on me.

I have learned a lot more than this short list, but I can't process it all at once.  I am beginning a list of basics I have found I really am missing and will post that next.

Love,
S

88 Days

I have done so well, but the summer is really trying my patience.  I am so tired of wearing and recycling my closet.  I definitely have an idea of what works in there and what doesn't and I will be due for a major overhaul come mid-October.

I broke down today.  I found the cutest summer dress and not only did it fit perfectly, but it is on sale and an additional 30% off at the Donna Karan Store.  Not fair!  Last summer I spent 4 days at The Ritz Carlton in Dana Point with my best gal pals.  We went out for dinner one night and they were both decked in black knit dresses.  Not wanting to be the odd girl out, A loaned me her adorable Allan A dress.  I felt gorgeous in that dress and asked her to find one for me when she returned home.  Alas, the store was sold out and my on-line search proved fruitless.

Today I found a great substitute.  I called R and asked him to go buy the dress for me and hold it until November. R was very encouraging and told me I could just quit and go buy the dress if I really wanted it
but now I feel guilty and realize this sort of behavior is against the point of the experiment.   I haven't asked if he bought it or not.  I'm not going to ask. But tell me if you don't think this super cute dress is worth the very low price!  Versatile and summery.

Love,
S

 

Countdown to my last 90 days. Unbelievable

Honestly, this project is really taking a toll.  I certainly can't give it up now, I only have 95 days left.  Who would have thought I could actually do this?  Not only did I start, but I haven't slipped once!  Oh I have been sorely tried, believe me, it has been very difficult.  But with only 3 months to go, well, I just can't stop.

I spent the better part of the last two weeks in shopping mecca's, NYC and Chicago.  I didn't go into a single store in NYC. Instead, I spent my time doing what any mother of a baseball player would do...I went to see the Yankees!  It was a very exciting game, A-Rod hit his 599th Home Run and Derek Jeter hit an inside-the-park home run.  Not a common occurance.  So it was a very satisfying trip all the way round.

When I got to Chicago my resolve was tested.  One of my colleagues had her gf and daughter with her.  They had been shopping and shopping, since two days before I got there.  They knew where all the stores were and where the best deals were (and the not so best deals).  I pretty much avoided any shopping excursion until the last day.  I had time to wander, so I joined K and her gal pals, and away we went.  Ostensibly we were heading to Sprinkles to buy cupcakes and then lunch.  But along the way, there was Nordstrom.  Now I have been in a lot of Nordstrom stores, from NYC to South Coast Plaza, Seattle to San Francisco to San Diego.  I have pretty much seen what they have to offer when it comes to Salon Shoes, Womens Shoes and all the other shoes you can think of.  I had not been in Chicago Nordstrom before.  The Women's and Salon Shoe departments held the wonders of the world.  It was all I could do to walk away. 

They had flat black Paul Green Sandals I hadn't seen before.  They had Louboutin low heel black leather pumps to die for.  They had a better selection of Jimmy Choo's than the brand store at SCP!  I fell in love with shoes all over again.  I didn't tell K, K and C what I had been up to until we were heading out the door.  I didn't buy, I didn't cry, but I wanted to.

Love,
S

108 Days To Go!!

I had one of my best shopping experiences while in WA State recently.  I took my sister-in-law, L, shopping for underpinnings!  Oh my, how much fun was that?  Bra shopping is not the most elegant of endeavors, but I can highly recommend taking a close gf and heading to Nordstrom next time you are shopping for new ones!  Getting fit and having a sales person bring you armloads of lacy things to try on, couldn't be more fun than when you do it with a gf! The only thing that would have made it more of a giggle fest would have been a bottle of champagne to go with it.

We laughed, we cried and L got a little sweaty from the exertion.  But she was very successful in her two purchases of beautiful bra's that fit and make her look gorgeous!  Not only that, but two others she really loved are going to be on sale during Nordstom's Anniversary Sale.  Come to think of it, one of those is MY favorite bra, too...Chantelle Rive Gauche - beautiful!

Love,

S

255 Days without Shopping - 110 to go...

This week has been TOUGH!!  Good thing I have friends that are keeping me on track.  Last Friday I left a meeting and went to South Coast Plaza, shopping mecca in Orange County.  I hit several stores and ended at Ann Taylor.  I have a wedding to attend the end of the month and I am at wit's end as to what to wear.  The only dress I have that is appropriate is one that I wore 2 years ago to the last wedding I went to. Now this wouldn't be an issue but the wedding is for one of my BF's from said wedding party of two years ago.  In other words, most of the same people will be at this wedding as the last and I don't want my picture taken dancing with my gf's in the exact same dress!  And yes, they will notice.  My friends know I have gone Cold Turkey, but really, pictures?  Same dress?  Aaacckkkk!

So I called another friend after putting 3 dresses on hold at Ann Taylor and left her a message that I was desperate.  She texted back immediately and told me to not go back, to head over to her house and check her closet.  I have tried 3 dresses from T's closet and so far nothing has worked but I am not giving up.  I will try again.

I am really considering making a one time purchase, however.  All three of the Ann Taylor dresses fit like a dream, I could wear them for work, and they were very reasonably priced.  What to do?  Can I hold out?  I just don't know.  Help me...

Love,
S

-248 Down, 117 to go

Well here I am.  Not been shopping for a single thing for myself since last OCTOBER!!  I can hardly believe it.  If you read my last couple of posts, you will know I was in WA State with my family for a not so happy reunion.  My Padre passed into heaven and I could not be sadder.  However, being in said State with my family, provided a few very unique shopping challenges...and I persevered!

My second week in town I took my dear Madre to buy some new clothes.  We went to Kohl's.  Now I have never shopped at Kohl's, they don't have what I normally would consider appropriate clothing for my age or work status.  In other words, I love, love, love all the cute trendy tops, dresses and pants they have for the junior set, but frankly, I am trying very hard to stay away from those trends.  I am learning the things I buy on impulse, trendy, not my normal 'style', are the things that are hanging in the back of my closet.  And since I have been shopping in my closet, none of those things have seen the light of day.  I feel kind of silly and a bit over the top and might put them on, but they always come off before I leave the house.

The other specialty Kohl's has is the suburban housewife look, and I can not bring myself to even try them on.  But my sweet M sat on the bench in the dressing room and tried on everything I brought her.  She has the stamina of a horse, and I say this with the best of intentions.  She tried on 14 pairs of pants and several tops.  I ran the floor looking for sizes and styles.  In the end, we went home with 3 new pairs of slacks, including a new pair of denim jeans (not Mom Jeans!), and 2 new tops.  I was so happy to be buying clothing!  Even though it wasn't for me, it hit the satisfaction bone.

Next post will be underpinning shopping with my sister-in-law.  Too much fun!

Love,
S

-135 = Day 235

I haven't posted but once this month.  My focus has not been on shopping or on what not to wear.  I have a marathon to run in 3 days, and I am sorely unprepared.  It is a good thing I have 7 hours to complete the race, otherwise I might just drop out. 

I am sitting in my Madre's dining room using her computer.  I rushed here a week and a half ago from Southern CA to be with my folks during my Padre's last few days on this earth.  He has been very ill for months, and it was only at the end that anyone would really acknowledge what I feared.  I am blessed to have had him all these years.  He has molded and shaped me in more ways than I can count.  His constant support and guidance will always be with me and have an impact for the rest of my days.

My father was a kind, gentle, and wise man.  He was a scholar and a teacher.  His influence over others was subtle but lasting.  He was the kind of man that could command a room.  He was respected in his work and all that met him, whether through his work, or in his personal life, were impacted by his wisdom.  He was humble, he was gracious, he was fair, and above all he was kind.  He accepted people and their foibles and helped them overcome their weaknesses, playing to their strengths.  He was my Daddy.  I miss him.

Love,

S

Countdown - 221

When I started this blog, I thought it would be all about me, and my angst over not shopping.  And it IS, it's just that right now I have other things on my mind. 

My Padre is in hospital.  He has been very ill for quite sometime and I am beside myself with worry.  I spoke with him a week ago and he was in such distress, I was ready to jump on a plane and rush to my Home State.  It is disconcerting to say the least, to hear your big strong Papa say he needs help.  It causes one to pause, and think about the bigger picture.  At least that is what it has done for me.

Under normal circumstances, this situation would have driven me straight to one of my fav boutiques to do a little stress shopping.  In times of unhappiness, stress, and worry, the immediate gratification of buying myself a little something 'new', has been a great source of temporary relief.  After almost 7 1/2 months of no shopping, I am realizing the shopping part is very temporary.  It has been during these types of stress shopping spree's I have made some of my worst purchasing decisions.  I am learning to deal with this in a new way.

I am praying more.
I am running more.
I am cleaning my house frequently.
I am working harder.

I am hoping some of these lessons will be permanent.  Mi Padre can't stay in this state forever without some sort of resolution.  As long as I don't 'eat' my way out of the stress, I think I will be ok.

Love,
S