The end.

Finally...finally, I have reached the end of the hundred day, no-shopping challenge.

My last day was actually Saturday, but I literally had no time to really shop until today.

I'm so proud of myself that I managed to do something, or in this case, not do something for over 3 months!

It wasn't always easy, but it wasn't all that hard either.

Sure I had days where I felt maybe I could die a sad girl because I didn't impulse buy a shirt that was "so cute!"  But I had others where I realized I needed to find things to do other than shop and was completely okay with it.

But the strangest thing has happened.  Did you notice I said I didn't have time to shop to celebrate my last day of therapy?

The "old Whitney" would have made time, would have sacrificed everything to buy something...anything!

Now? I can't find a thing I want to add to my closet.

The price is too high, the skirt to clingy, the top makes me look bad, the tank does nothing for me....I now have standards of what I will buy.

It has to fit me now.  It has to match at least two other things in my closet.  The quality has to be pretty good, but I also don't want to pay much for it.

I'm so very glad I put myself in check and did this challenge.  I'm not going to lie, I've missed shopping, but I've also really liked the money left over after bills to do other things too!

With that being said, I have a little shopping trip down the road and hope to find something that is worthy to add to my existing clothes.

If not? No big deal....there is always plenty more to work with.

Only 22 days left.....

in this forsaken 100-no-shopping-challenge( I joke, I joke....a little bit) and I.Can't.Wait.To.Shop

(even if it is just a little bit...like a scarf or something)

I even pushed the envelope a bit and walked into an Old Navy with a friend.

It may be a bit like bringing a recovering alcoholic to a bar, not the best choice.

But I didn't cave!!  I was strong!

Afterwards I got back in the car where Aaron was waiting and said:

"Oh my goodness!  I want to buy SO much here!"

But then I was reminded just how many clothes I already own.

Case in point:



The upper right corner does not hold my clothes.....that's it.



So I'm trying to remind myself to stay content, to make new and exciting outfit combos

(although tough when things don't fit so well....)

I'll keep ya' posted if I pull this thing off!

My outfit Monday

Today marks the 61st day of my "shopping detox."
(AAK! Has it really only been 11 days since my last post on this subject?! COME ON!!!  This thing is taking FOR-EV-ER...)
Since I'm on the subject of not shopping, I felt I should also inform you that I went to a town highly loaded in retail stores and did not buy one single article of clothing OR accessory.  Thank you.  Thank you very much!
I was and am pretty proud of myself, although Aaron is to be credited as well.
You see he text me to come pick him up at the exact moment I was briefly "checkin' out" the Jason Wu collection at Target.
Coincedence? Probably.....
So anyway, here's the outfit I conjured out of my own closet out of my own brain.

Earrings: Etsy, Cardigan: Gap, Blouse: Ann Taylor-thrifted
Skirt: J. Crew, Tights:??, Shoes: Madden Girl- ??



Sorry Pinterest...you don't get to claim all all of the inspiration....my brain still works.....sometimes.

Day 50 of the never-ending challenge

Yes it is only day 50 of my 100 day challenge

and yes I'm afraid I will drag this "no shopping" theme into my blog posts for as long as I prevail.

After all, I'm not one to suffer in silence.  I like to make others aware of my misery (at the very least), if not miserable themselves.

But enough of that!
How have I done so far?
I haven't caved yet!

I'm really doing okay......yes, okay with this whole thing.

So far.

But I've come to realize what I miss the most and I have to admit I'm surprised.

I don't miss malls, internet shopping or amazing retail stores of that type but

I miss my thrift shopping!?  Yes, despite the screaming kids and some creepy clothes that should be tossed, I miss finding some awesome, one of a kind deals that give me serious street cred.

I miss is so much that I'm pretty sure a little part of me dies every time I read on someone else's blog that their shirt or skirt has been thrifted!
What?! Lucky....

But alas, I have started a list of things I'd like to be on the look out for when I can shop again.
Here's my little listy-loo:

A mint colored A-line skirt

pinterest

A black blazer

pinterest


Yellow flats

dsw

and last but not least.....
A navy polka dot dress (or shirt or skirt...or both) AND a yellow cardigan



polyvore

 And that my friends is all I can think of tonight!
Only 50 more days to go!

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.

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?

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.

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!

Drumroll please....

 I've been thinking a whole lot lately about being better with my spending habits.

Much better.

All of the sudden the brilliant and challenging idea of a 100 day stretch of retail detox (as I've been following on Unpretentious Teacher) came into mind.
I had an Aha! moment. 
In fact the opening statement of her blog post declaring her retail detox idea and the reason behind it really hit home.  She said "I have a lot of clothes.  I don't have a lot of money. I have some debt.  I would probably have a lot of money and zero debt  if I didn't spend it on clothes." 
Talk about hitting the nail on the head!
So starting today, I've decided to embark upon this journey myself.
My last day of the challenge will be April 9, 2012.
I will not shop for clothes or accessories from anywhere. period.
(unless I need nylons, socks or undies....some things take priority here...)
I simply do not need the rest of them.
Want is a different matter and that is what I'm trying to teach myself: the difference between true need and want, especially in the area of clothing.
 Every once in a while I hope to keep you posted about this ongoing challenge and how I'm really doing.
Talk about a shock to my system!
But like they say, go big or go home.
Either way, I guess I'll be doing both.