VINTAGE - NEW FAVORITE WORD!

This past week was test of the WILL!

Each outfit I had to "pull together" for work tested my  desire to shop.  Literally, I was uttering "oh, this old thing" when several colleagues said they liked/loved my LOOK.  The sad thing about it is that all year, every outfit will be an "OLD THING"!

Thus, the term VINTAGE.

Vintage MK. Vintage Kate Spade. Vintage GAP. Vintage BR. Vintage Kenneth Cole. Vintage Anne Taylor...

Can I say VINTAGE WALMART ?

OR VINTAGE TARGET?

I do have a pair of GAP jeans that I have had since the 90s that remarkably still fit!  Since I dry clean almost all my clothes, they held onto the dark color.  I do love them!  Are they real vintage?

Do you have a vintage piece or outfit that you just love?  Share!  Let me know wearing old clothes is in!!!!!!

OCCUPY MICHAEL KORS! OMK

With the OWS taking hold of every issue out there and losing focus, I want to throw into the ring MK - for me. Since I am  not shopping, a chapter of OWS that has money needs show up and spend!  OCCUPY does not have to be negative!

C'mon!  I can't shop for another 7 months, and it hurts. I am aware this hurt, this pang of loss, this desire I shut down like I did to every -well not every - BAD BOY - is self inflicted, it is still real.  Actually, I am withdrawing from fueling the economy.  I do buy from farms all year since I buy organic meats.  I do try to support local stores with our house hold needs.

 When President Bush announced in 2001 to get out there and shop, Ted cringed.  The fact he never told us to stop shopping was my excuse to keep truckin'.

Michael Kors needs to be occupied by people who are willing shop.   OCCUPY does not need to be a negative connotation - I personally would love to OCCUPY MK.

I support the initial concept of the OWS.  I am excited to see the people taking to the streets to say enough is enough.

To see live feed from people shopping at Mk would have me drooling  - yelling hockey phrases, "AND SHE SCORED!!!!"

When I do go shopping for dog food or wine - my choice of shopping these days - I see malls packed. So occupy MK and keep him going so on June 26, 2012, when I can shop, his stores will still be there!

PS- I have not shopped for me for eight weeks.  I know, that is not much. In dog years, however, that is 56 weeks....

Bucks are Adding Up!

Right now I have 3,000 dollars more than I did at this time  last year!  For me, that is really good.  I don't get a big check at the end of year like most teachers;  I save all year.  The truth is I did not save all year;  I bought what I wanted when I wanted to shop. I just knew I needed X amount of dollars to be in the bank by June 25th.  Right now, I am only a three thousand dollars away from my summer funds!

I am not a Kohls-kinda-gal: nothing against it, but the sizing did not work with my body and frankly, I want a bit of quality so the item  lasts.

Are you cutting back on your shopping? What are you cutting out?  What is motivating you to save and spend less?

And PLEASE !  iF YOU SHOPPED, SHARE WHAT YOU BOUGHT!  I SO WANT TO BUY SOMETHING FOR ME!

 

Bank Account Growing

I have never worn my earnings or have been house poor.  Ted and I  - well, Ted taught me, I should say - do not use a credit card for anything we can't pay for when the bill arrives.  I did that in my younger days.  I worked one summer school session to pay the card off.  I have learned to be wise with my money.  We pay cash for our trips, our home improvements and if Ted had his way, our cars.

I just received my first paycheck from work.  I paid three bills - the cable, the phone, and my car insurance.  I went to the grocer today - a whole other story.  That is it.  My bank account is growing.  As a teacher, I don't get the BIG CHECK AT THE END OF THE YEAR.  I actually save all that money all year long.  So, unlike many who would not know how much they saved by NOT SHOPPING FOR ONE YEAR, I will.  This year, I hope to have thousands more than I usually save.  Stay tuned.

FINDING NEW IN THE OLD

Yesterday, while I was looking for something to wear, I discovered a pair of Privos, a pair of brown boots, and a pair of brown shoes all still in the boxes tucked deep in the back of my closet.  I can honestly say I have no idea when I bought them or why I bought them.  I have two pair of Privos that I love.  Did I buy them simply because they are Privos?  I have three pair of brown boots - too bad they were not black since that is what I am telling myself I NEED. I also have  eight pairs of brown heels. Why did I buy these shoes?

Since the purpose of this journey was well planned, I am amazed that these buys had no purpose or reason attached to them.  I simply must have wanted them whenever I bought them.  This journey has already connected me to the here and now, the emotions I am feeling, and the difference between necessity and desire.  I actually felt guilty and embarrassed as I took  the Privos out of the box.  I don't need them - at all.  The boots are cute, but I have a pair I love.  The brown shoes are just another pair of brown shoes. Lesson learned.

IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE -UMMM.... NO

I am not a fan of this sentiment at all.  No, I am not stingy with giving; as a matter of fact, I am quite generous and even down right thoughtful with all the gifts I give.

With Christmas right around the corner -  according to displays in stores - I already have my list and checked it twice, but this year the monetary tally will be sufficiently lower since I will not be picking THINGS UP FOR ME. My Christmas shopping is always completed by Halloween. My presents are wrapped by Thanksgiving and mailed by December 10th. I hate crowds and hate even more not finding a good parking place. 

I always hit the list first to make sure that I have not left anyone out by error.  Then the fun begins;  I circle round each store again, tossing in items just for me.  "This is cute," "This is so me." and "OMG! I have to have that" are favorite utterances that come bellowing out of me, often to a tune of a Christmas Carol.  "It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year" truly rang true to me!

I would rush home to show Ted all the THINGS I bought - as if he cared.  I would try my boots on for him, coats, dresses, pants, and then declare I am now done shopping for Christmas.   All the while I would be belting out Christmas tunes!

This year, I will still have my shopping done by Halloween, my packages and presents will be wrapped by Thanksgiving, and I will meet the deadline to get them shipped out by December 10th.  Hmm... doesn't seem to be so joyous right now.  I probably will still belt out the tunes.  I know.... something will be missing.

The BIG TEST is just around the corner when I have to purchase the gifts for giving and NOT RECEIVING.  It is really gonna suck.  I really like IT IS BETTER TO GIVE TO ME than to simply give. There is the hope that Ted, who hates to shop, will just give me a gift certificate to shop! That won't be cheating since it is a gift for me by him!

STILL HAVE TOO MUCH

Last night I discovered two sweaters - one light grey and the other light pink - in my closet.  I vaguely remember buying them at the The Gap last June and actually bragging about the bargain price.

Today, I gave away the two sweaters I have never worn to a colleague.   I won't miss them - I did not even know I owned them.  I never wear any hue of pink - ever. They were too big for me.  I must have been in that "mindless buying state of mind."

I hesitated only once about sending a message to a colleague to inquire if she wanted them.  I quickly stuck to my resolve to rid myself  of them and she was grateful for the new sweaters.

I am Jonzin' to shop, no doubt about it.  I have been to Target a few times for dog food and cereal - great prices, by the way.  I look at the clothes and continue on my way.  My friend and a dynamite fashionista had on new boots last week and I was in awe.  I actually heard the Angels singing when my eyes made contact with them!  It was heaven on earth.  I hope she wears them a lot this year!  She felt bad telling me she just bought them, along with a new Loubutin purse.

No one should feel bad about shopping.  I am just going to save money this year and wear my clothes more often-  Minus two sweaters I did not know I owned.