The Ocho (the eight)

Today marks Aaron and my eighth anniversary of wedded bliss.
I admit there is no true " ....and they lived happily ever after" as every marriage has its ebbs and flows.
But I'm gonna take a wild stab at this broad, sweeping statement by saying we are still pretty flippin' happy with each other.
In this day and age I'm super proud to say that I still look forward to coming home and seeing my Aaron after a long day away.
I know , I know... I'm somewhat of a "smug married."
Anyway, this quote made me think of our marriage and the for better and worse (but mostly better) parts of it.

So with all of that being said, I just had to say "Happy Anniversary Aaron!"
Love you (English accent used here) and I'm excited to see what this year holds for us!

My outfit Monday

It appears there is a week missing from this blog.

I could say that I have a really good reason for my abscence.

The computer deleted it.

I deleted it. 

Anything.

But I don't even have enough creativity cards stored in my wee little brain to make up a legit reason.

I flat out don't have one other than I did nothing of interest and was thus uninspired.

There! Are you happy now?

But I did get dressed....so I have that to start this week off right.

Cardigan: Gap; striped shirt: Old Navy;
orange tank: Maurices
Locket: gift
Skirt: Target; Boots: Bass Outlet

Day 25...

And I'm feelin' good

It has almost been a month since I started the no shopping challenge and so far I haven't been so tempted that I've found the need to talk myself off the ledge.

Of course it helps that I've hid my only remaining credit card so well that I can't even remember where it is.

But I can't take all of the credit.

And I shan't.

I get by with the help of my friends too!

You see, my dear friend Amy bought me the locket that almost killed me  for an anniversary gift..all without me even knowing it.

So that softened the blow of never thinking I could own another piece of new jewelry a bit.

I'm so excited about it!

I love it by the way and will be incorporating it into many an outfit.

Maybe all of them

(but not with my scrubs....ewww).

Also I have planned a celebratory day of shopping with a few girlfriends - to be done a few days after the challenge is complete.

The date is set.  Plans are set.  There is nothing I can do to alter the course now.

I just have to continue to not shop another 75 days and stay occupied in other  ways.

My outfit Monday

If you've been around here for a while, you may recognize this skirt from the other challenge.

I've had this skirt for quite some time and still like it a whole lot.



Cardigan: Loft; Shell: Eileen Fisher- thrift; Scarf: Fred Meyer
Skirt: Calvin Klein- Ross; Tights?; Shoes: Born



The last time I wore this skirt was in the summer.  I've always worn it in colder weather because of the colors.  This is the Fall/Winter way I wear this skirt with a few new additions to the mix.

That's all I have to say about that....

Sing-a-long Saturday

One of my guilty pleasures?

This song:

When I hear it, I just can't help myself.

My head nods to the beat and all my attention is directed to the song.

What can I say? Us older girls who look 12 have to stick together.



Put a scarf on it!

Previous outfit posts have been from a couple of my "dressed up" days.

But the outfit that follows is my typical go-to outfit: T-shirt, jeans and a smirk.

What can I say? I live in a very small town where there is little need to dress up all the time.

However, I've seen enough fashion blogs to know that I could do a bit better with my usual outfit with the help of some accessories.

AND...since no new shopping will be done for a couple of months I figured I should dive deep into my closet and see what I could pull out to make a pretty boring outfit just a little more interesting.

So step one was to add a scarf to the mix.  In fact this has become my number one rule: When in doubt, just put a scarf on it and it will make the outfit look way more pulled together.  As a result I own at least 20 different scarves and really do love every one of them.

Earrings: Local shop; T shirt: K mart; Vest: Eddie Bauer;
Scarf: Made by me; Jeans: JCP and Shoes: Converse

Then I added my "all purpose" vest and a pair of turquoise earrings for contrast.

And voila! - The epitome of dressy casual for a small town girl.

Day 16 and loving (hating) it

I know all five of you who regularly read this blog are dying to know how I'm doing on my

"no shopping"detox.

True to the title of this post, it's only day 16.  Upon finding that out I cried out loud " I can't believe it's only day 16. WHAT?!"

After my initial meltdown after realizing I will most likely not own a watch-necklace I've been coveting, I've done well.  Until today.

You see, I just got the new Spring 2012 Boden magazine in the mail and decided to flip through it for "fun."

Little did I know that my idea of fun would flip into my version of torture.

There are so many cute things in this catalog that I love.  I mean pretty much every stinkin' page contains at least one item I want.

Here's a super cute blouse that wants to live in my closet:



via Boden



But to be honest, the cost of many of the items is far beyond what I'm willing to spend anyway.

So at least I have that, right?

So this is what Wednesday feels like



Dress: JCP; Cardigan: Old Navy; Scarf : Ross; Tights: Old Navy; Shoes: Famous Footwear



I spent all of yesterday thinking it was today.

I even trained a new employee according to Wednesday's schedule instead of Tuesdays.

So you can imagine my dismay when one of my co-workers finally asked me what I was doing and then informed me it was only Tuesday.

Oops.  My bad.

Things became blurry and I don't remember what happened after that.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

On a side note, in the picture above don't my hands look like this lil' guys below?



via

And that's what my Wednesday feels like.

Confusing.

My outfit Monday

It has been a while since I posted an outfit.

So I figured better late...or sporadic than never.

Right?

It's only too bad I haven't figured out how to improve my photos yet.

Oh well.  At least you can still see my outfit.



Sweater:  Gap; Scarf: local shop; skirt: J Crew; tights: not so sure; shoes: Ross





Sing along Saturday

This is another new to me and possibly old to you song.

Oh the joys of satellite radio in a small town where the same music has been played since the early '80s.

Can you say Bon Jovi- Bed of Roses?

I keep discovering music that will never- EVER- be played on our lame radio stations.

Oh well...at least I have the rest of the world to provide "new music."



Temptations all around me

Today I'm home alone and getting over being sick. AGAIN!

When I have days like this I have several options:

1. Do nothing...always a viable option
2. Do everything.  It takes a lot of time to catch up from the nothing days.
3. Do some things and then play on the internet the rest of the day.

It is turning out to be the latter and there lies the temptation.

You see, as I travel the great, wide, web I stumble upon many things I want to buy.

Sometimes I even buy them.

Remember how I declared I'm placing myself on a no shopping challenge?

Yep.  I'm still doing that. And today is day 10 ( only 90 days to go!!).

So imagine my irritation when I got an email from ModCloth telling me a watch pendant necklace was back in stock.

And there is my big temptation.

I've agreed to buy nothing of the sort and so.....will not.

Can not.

I just had to share it with you! 

In fact if you like this thing go buy it, enjoy it and never EVER tell me.

What I don't know won't kill me.

But not buying it and knowing I could just may.

Not my cuppa' tea

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

I. Love. January!

It really is the time for fresh starts.  So it was fun ( or maybe just funny) for me to go back almost an entire year to see what my goals for the next 365 days were and to see just how much I had accomplished.

Hmm....well it seems the only thing I have going for me is my wish to spend my life with Aaron and to do so with humor and dignity.  Oh and love.

Still going strong....so...check!

I guess the other thing I'm improving on is my personal style and trying no to worry so much about what everyone else thinks about me.  I did manage to cut my hair shorter than it's ever been in quite awhile despite some negative opinions.  And I really don't regret it.  In fact I want to go even shorter.  Something like 'zis?

Take that all you short hair haters! (this apparently includes my own dad.  Oh well.  Ah-haaa...)

However...
My other goals such as moving (?) improving my sewing skills, losing weight (did that) and keeping it off ( did not do that) and re-decorating multiple rooms in my house remain untouched.
What can I say?
I guess I'm lazier and way less motivated than I thought.
So the same goals stand in addition to new goals I still haven't thought out yet.
I just thought of a new one:
Think of new goals!
I'll get on that and let you know!
Have a good one!

It takes how long?

No actual research has been done to back this statement, but I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere it takes 21 consecutive days to do something new to make it a habit.

If that's really true I only have 16 more days to make not shopping for clothing a new habit.
Can it be done?

I've made it 5 days already and it hasn't been uber difficult.  In all honesty, it hasn't been all that easy either.
I've had a few temptations but either turned the other way (literally....what if I saw something I really wanted??) and/or didn't even set foot in stores when others were going.
All in all a success.....so far.
Only 95 days to go!
Ugh!