This Life, Redefined...: Cop-out

Friday, July 29, 2011

Cop-out

I have several things I'm working on right now, and no real desire to do an outfit post today. So instead, I have a question and a link, instead. First, the question...

Lately (which I'm sure has been super obvious, with the buy! buy! buy! theme my posts have been running the last few days...), my shopping has gotten a little (or a lot?) out of control. I set myself a budget at the start of the year, and I've pretty much lost all track of that. I swore I'd do a better job of 'shopping my closet' instead of shopping the mall, and that hasn't happened. I just really, really love to shop. And I'm ok with that.

But I need to dial it back a little.

So my question is, of the various blogger-run 'challenges' (for lack of a better word) that you've participated in during your internet life, what are your favorites? I need something that will help me to focus on what I already own, but will also keep me interested enough that I don't miss shopping. Not that I'm giving up shopping, by any means, because giving up shopping has the same effect on me that giving up sugar does, and I always end up over-doing it in the end. So, lay it on me friends...how do I change things up?

And, as a reward for helping me out, I'll leave you with this...

Did you know that while at the University of Michigan, Darren Criss (from Glee) co-wrote a stage musical based on Harry Potter? And not only did Criss and his group do one Harry Potter musical, they apparently came back for a second? And you can watch it all (in eight-ish minute increments, that is) on You Tube?

You're welcome.

5 comments:

Style JourneyJuly 29, 2011 at 9:58 AM
We hear you on the shopping. That's one reason we started the blog to force us to shop our closets a little more. We like Megan Mae Daily and Casual Chic Kiki's fashion challenges (they did fruit inspired and trends just recently). We haven't participated in Two Birds fashion inspiration, but it seems like a lot of bloggers do this. Also, J's Everyday Fashion is a good source of inspiration. She uses a TON of photos from magazines and the internet.

Kayla and I have a binder FULL of photos from JCrew catalogs, sale ads, magazine photos, etc and we look at this a lot to recreate looks with items we already have in our closet.

Heather
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TiffanyJuly 29, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Ha! I try to put myself on a spending freeze like every Monday. And every single week, I fail miserably. I think that if I did the 30x30, I might be able to keep from shopping, but I'm too scared to commit like that to only 30 items!

You know what helps me with things though? When I have someone to be accountable to... So, if you want to go on like a month long spending freeze, I'll join you. Just tell me when you wan to start and then we can be accountable to each other! =)
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kimmieJuly 29, 2011 at 7:45 PM
I liked the 30 for 30 the first time around that I did it, but not so much this time. I'm just running out of ideas this time, and putting together boring outfits that I'd otherwise not post on my blog. Plus, Kendi's "no rules!" thing just threw me off and I shopped a ton anyway.

I really really need to stop shopping as well. I told my husband that I wasn't going to shop for a month, and guess what? Went to Target two days later and left with a pair of new shoes. 50% off! How could I resist?

And I'm just the same as you. If I don't shop for a while, I go crazy when the ban is lifted and buy a ton of crap to make up for not shopping. Doesn't work at all.

If you ever find a solution, please let me know :)
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ClaireJuly 31, 2011 at 7:48 PM
i have so much trouble not shopping as well! i was able to do it during my 30 for 30 remix challenge. i've also been trying to do my own remixes on Tuesday (i call them my 2 Way Tuesday outfits). so that helps me cuz i remix one thing i wore already on my blog and post the pics of both outfits. i also do Inspiration Monday (from Two Birds), Everybody Everwear, Bloggers Do It Better.

Maybe you should try and come up with a challenge of your own? you could do it by colors, or pieces (skinny jeans, vests, etc). it's so hard. i was thinking of starting my own challenge for a bit to keep me using my own closet as well. it hasn't happened yet :)

i also have a HUGE shopping problem. sometimes i will buy things and keep them hanging in the closet for a few days and if i still want them at the end of the week i will keep them. if i'm not super excited about them anymore i try to return them. it's hard though. also, thrifting has made it a little easier on the wallet.

anyway, i totally understand your pain. it's so hard NOT to shop!!! but i've found once i do get myself to stop sometimes it just becomes easier to not do it for a while. it's like an addiction (or i guess it is).

Claire
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ClaireJuly 31, 2011 at 7:49 PM
i just read Tiffany's comment. i'll join you too if you decide to stop shopping for a bit!!!

Claire
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2014 List

1) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages.

2) Be nicer, in general, to my husband and family. They deserve a much less crabby me than the one they were stuck with for most of 2013.

3) Make more of an effort to communicate with the long-distance people in my life. I got away from facetiming with my sister on a regular basis, and I miss it. Plus, now that she's making me an aunt, I think it's even more important that we get back into the habit of seeing each other every week. I do not need her new baby asking 'are you SURE you have more than one sister?', just because Aunt Mary lives in Indiana and Aunt Tara lives all of the way in Georgia.

4) Call or email or even text my friends from college more than I do now, which is hardly at all. Just because we can pick up after not talking to each other for months like no time has passed at all does not mean I should keep letting all of those months pass without the talking. I'm afraid the picking back up can't keep happening in a friendship like that.

5) Do one fitness/health related challenge each month. - You know all of those '0 to 1,000 sit-ups in just 30 days!!' kind of schedules that pop up on Pinterest all of the time? I'm going to start doing those. One each month. Fifteen minute plank? I'M COMING FOR YOU. I'm also throwing my meat-free/sugar-free/alcohol-free months in this category, as well.

6) Run another organized 5K. - It was so much more fun than I expected. Minus the running up a hill part, anyway.

7) Renew my vows with Steve, in Vegas, by Elvis, for our 10th anniversary in October.

8) Create an art wall somewhere in my house.

9) Organize a workspace for me

10) Attend The Blathering in Seattle. - Charleston was such a great time, I'd love to make it back for the Seattle trip.

11) Read at least two books a month.

12) Take Brigid camping.

13) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly.

14) Write something, anything, not blog related.

15) No spending money on new clothes this year. Using gift cards and rewards points are fine, but I need to get out of the habit of spending money on new stuff, just to make myself feel better. I swear, shopping is my addiction, but the high I get from buying a new sweater probably isn't enough to justify the amount of money I spend on clothes I don't need.

16) No buying anything at all unless I absolutely need it. I have a bad habit of stocking up on things at sales (candles, lotions, make-up, beauty products), even if I have a cabinet full of the same stuff already at home. I will use the cabinet full of crap before I add more crap.

17) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag.

18) Find a general practitioner and get a physical.

19) Post at least one picture a day on Instagram, to get myself into the habit of taking more pictures of my sweet girls, since I find entire events have passed where I've forgotten to photograph said events. Like Christmas. Sadly.

20) Get a haircut. - You can laugh at this one, if you must, but I did not get one single haircut in 2013. In fact, I haven't had a haircut since before Caitlin was born in November of 2012. I do not even know how this happens, but I know it must end. Soon. I think a Locks of Love kind of donation might be in order. My hair, it is long.

21) Make an effort to get to know the neighbors. - I tend to not get dressed/leave the house on the weekends, and this extends to not fraternizing with anyone who lives near me, because I'm afraid people will judge me for my make-up free, sweatpants clad weekend laze. I should probably get over that.

22) Write more thank you notes. - I am terrible at writing thank you notes. I should not be so terrible.

23) Buy new rugs for my new house. - The sunroom and foyer, in particular, need something fun.

24) Be more fearless in forming and maintaining relationships. - There are many times where I think of something I want to send to someone, whether it's an email, text, card, or what have you, and I don't, because I'm afraid I've maybe overestimated whether we have the type of friendship where I can do something like that. I don't want to worry about stuff like that anymore.

25) Put together an Advent/Christmas activity calendar for Brigid and Caitlin. - I did that for Brigid when I was home on maternity leave after Caitlin's birth, and it was so much fun. I didn't get the chance to do it this year, and I feel like I missed out on some part of the excitement of the season. I'm bringing it back.

26) Institute a once-a-month date night with Steve. Or date lunch, I guess, if necessary.

27) Institute a once-a-month girls' night, whether it be with my old college roommate, my SiLs, or the neighbors. I should get out of the house at least once a month with people who do not live in my house.