What happened to efficiency weekend?!

Turns out, I had to work. (no time to do-my-own-tuneup on my car)

Then I remembered I can't buy anything brand new. (can't buy a spiffy new clothesline)

So I rummaged through the shed and found just enough rope to string between the shed and a tree. This is going to be one heck of a clothesline! 71 feet! I'll end up putting it up just when it's in use, then take it down because it's pretty much in the way! But hey, we don't use the yard a whole lot except to mow anyway, so it's all good!

Then the ticking clock reminded me that my hubby and I are doing the motorcycle safety course this coming week, so I really needed to get my embroidery floss out of the way so I could finish our coats...

And what could a long straight piece of wood have to do with embroidery floss storage?

Well, to be exact...it ends up, four long straight pieces of wood helped me keep all the floss in order and stored on top of my shelving unit out of the way:

I did come up with an effective way to get mystery stickiness off one of my "new" thrifted pitchers: spray/drip all over with goo gone, all the while stray sprays and drips fall on the rag or towel under the object in question.

Wrap in said rag or towel.

Tie securely in plastic bag.

I forgot to take an after picture, but I set it asside for a few hours last night before I remembered to get back to it. It didn't just wipe off, I still had to rub a little but I wasn't scrubbing!

Sunday I'm back to work for a couple hours after church, then I'll finally get to pick up groceries and start my price book!

The Old Red Barn Quilt Giveaway and a rainy edition of Lunchcapades

I wonder if a bribe would do any good?
I keep checking back at the Old Red Barn Quilt Giveaway. The youtube videos are fantastic! At first I was completely against the notion of doing a video about why I want to win the quilt, but my creative juices got going and I think I could manage something! The only problem is I'd need my hubby's help with the camera because there's no way I can do a sock puppet interview and hold the camera too!
Today at lunch we had a bit of rain. Or should I say a "splash" of rain. I sat in a parking lot waiting to go into a store for 5 minutes then gave up, put my hair up and made a run for it! Normally a little rain wouldn't bother me, but it was the kind of downpour that makes cars pull over on the side of the road, that when you have your winshield wipers on full blast, it's still kindof hard to see...really coming down!
Come to find out...the store didn't even have what I was looking for! Rrrrrr...




And I have to vent a little about the loss of the best antique shop I've EVER been to! They tore it down to put up this...



They completely cleared the tall old pine trees and leveled the two long barns that had been converted into the store. Yes, you heard right...two of them! All of this landscaping is new, the traffic light is new...at least they kept the one hardwood tree! Now don't get me wrong, I'm totally excited about the new Michael's they're putting in and I'm sure there's a strong market for the new Circuit City, but did they have to put it THERE?!
I stopped at another antique shop though. Not nearly as big, not nearly as much charm, but still a great place to find antiques. I found these treasures:



A pack of red vintage seed beads for $2 and an amber and gold bangle for $3. Not sure of the age. It has a tag with a "Rick's" logo. Either way, I love it.



Fieldbook of Natural History, 1949 for $1.60.




Girl Scout Handbook for $4. I don't recall the age off the top of my head.





And this treasury of beads for $5!


Many of the beads I'm not crazy about, but these two blue and white ones really caught my eye! Plus there's a whole strand of smokey grey ones that didn't photograph well that I completely adore as well.

Included in the box were these pieces...a blush cameo, rose and bow pins.

All in all, I'd say it was another successfull lunchcapades!

Lunchcapades...I did good!

I went to the craft store because I had to make sure the material I was going to use to back the baby blanket was machine washable...and it isn't!! I'm so glad I checked. I don't want it to be one of those blankets that gets tucked away or hung on a wall. It should be used! What new mom is going to want to hand wash the silly thing? So I got a flannel backing in a yellow print to coordinate with the yellow stripes on the front. I was going to need to get the satin blanket binding anyway, I was just waiting until I knew for sure what color the back was going to be. So I got that and a couple ribbons in coordinating colors for the small square I'll also make. (The materials I was planning to make the blanket are in this post, but you have to scroll quite a way down to see it.)

What I hadn't planned on in today's crafting trip was the addition of another new hobby.

: s

I was in search of sewing technique books and passed the "learn to crochet" booklet section. Hm. Those pictures look gorgeous! I'm not talking about the sweater-type crocheting, though it's beautiful, I'm talking about the lace trim type of crochet. The thread crochet. So I priced out the thread/yarn and the hook and away I went! I decided not to spring for any of the $7-$19 learn-to-crochet books because I'm pretty sure I have a book about crochet, embroidery and something else already. (And then I was looking through the sewing techniques books and remembered I already have two of those somewhere at home too!)

Considering I planned to get most of what I got and I didn't get a lot of what I saw and wanted to get, (still with me?) *deep breath*, I think that was a minor victory. Or at the very least it wasn't a complete failure!!




In an aside, I thought I'd share one of my organizational techniques I'm currently using. Actually, it's not so much organizational as it is "in-car clutter maintenance." It's just a small box sitting on my passenger seat. I put my lunch bag in there, loose papers, directions; anything small that would otherwise just be floating around the place, getting lost in nooks and crannies and such. It just keeps it contained. I have to make sure I empty it out at least once a week though, otherwise I'll simply end up with another "box 'o stuff." And it's not a trash bin! That's behind the passenger seat! Can you tell I hardly ever have passengers?!

I don't think I posted these pics from my MIL's garden...

Free Rice and Deep Thoughts

First, Free Rice. I remember my little korean sister playing the free rice game last fall and thought it was a great idea...then promptly forgot about it! There is a link on my sidebar that will bring you to the site. The basic premise is that for every correct answer you give, 20 pieces of rice will be donated. For any more information on who is donating what to whom, go to the site and click on FAQs on the top menu bar. (More about my little korean sister later.)

What I like about it (besides the donation) is that it strengthens your vocabulary. What you should know before you "play" is that you can quit at any time. It will never ask you for your e-mail or give you a score or anything (though it tracks your vocab "level" on an ongoing basis). I didn't realize at first that there was no end to this game and just kept on going. I had it on my computer pretty much most of the morning and kept going back to it while I was on hold (on the phone) or waiting for my computer to think about what I wanted it to do (don't get me started!!). So you can quit at any time without your accumulated donation being forfeited!

Second: deep thoughts.
We went to our 4th marriage counseling session yesterday afternoon. We'll call this counselor "Phil." One thing Phil said which really struck me is that it's not enough to identify a problem, habit or behavior. It's good, but it's not the end of the growth process. We have to then get to the root of why it's become a problem. Otherwise, even if we change, if we don't also address the underlying cause, lasting & effective change will not occur. Maybe we never regress back to that problem, but a new one likely develops to replace it.

Take, for instance, ice cream (gee, how did I think of that?). Even though I'm no longer eating ice cream, doesn't mean I've addressed the underlying problem. Now I'm replacing it (and clothes shopping) with becoming a craft store junkie! Oi.

Right after our session, I went to the store and was pretty contemplative, having just gotten some somewhat unsettling news. This was all on my mind as I perused the materials and patterns and notions. I think it's telling that I put a lot back before I checked out. I also think it's telling that I went there without having planned it. So I'm making a little progress, but I've got a lot of work to do!

Old Red Barn Quilt Giveaway

Personally, this may be TMI (too much information), but I'm drooling right now. Wishing I had the talent, skills, gumption, and imagination to even conceive of this, much less the courage to actually attempt it! (Much less finish the fantastic piece!)

Click on the "Win this Quilt" graphic to the right of the page, at the top...and get even more incredible, yummy, awesome views of this magnificent treasure! It will bring you straight to Dana's Old Red Barn blog. Do it. Right now. Seriously.

What are you waiting for, Christmas? You don't have that much time!!! The contest ends July 22nd. (My 8th wedding anniversary, by the way.) Do it now!!

Wouldn't that be a great anniversary present? I mean, 8 years! We made it (barely) through the 7 year stretch and we're still going strong! What an incredible accomplishment! Especially if you'd been listening to me 2 months ago! (pre-How To Grow Blogspot)

Maybe I should consider the youtube video after all...or you could enter the contest in my name! Wow, what an incredible token of friendship! (if you don't know what I mean by the youtube video, that means you haven't checked out the contest site!!!!)

; )

This gal also makes yummy soap (but don't eat it) and seriously, if I don't get the quilt, ... well, I'll be dissapointed, but if I get one of the gift certificates instead, I'll not be too terribly dissapointed! What a great consolation prize!!!

I so wish I could post pictures of the quilt and soaps here, but I don't want to do anything to jeapordize my chances of winning! Just take it from me...it's fantastic!

Acutally, don't take my word for it, see for yourself already!!!

Setting Boundaries

I've decided to use an organza type material for the tie-backs on my previously dubbed "interview shirt," but that would require another trip to the craft store. What to do, what to do.

I may limit myself to going with my hubby. He's good at standing there and saying "what are you going to use that for? do you really need that? are you sure you need that much?"

I know it will be a bit of a sacrifice for him, but maybe I can make it up to him by going to the Hobby shop with him afterwards!

I've been reading Boundaries lately. In a very teeny tiny nutshell, it's about setting healthy parameters on your relationships. Like saying "I love you Mom, but right now's not a good time to visit. Thanks for dropping by, let's get together tomorrow." Instead of allowing her to just drop in for an unannounced visit while you are trying to clean the house and bake brownies for the PTA meeting and get those birthday party invitations ready before the mail carrier comes.

I'm on the chapter dealing with setting limits on your personal behavior, like your relationship with food and shopping! It's quite interesting to be doing all of this when I come to this chapter. Interesting and revealing! I highly recommend the book.

"Thank you, thank you very much..."

I have to say, I'm proud of myself.

I know, I know, pride is bad, but this kind of pride is the result of something good. And it's not like I'm strutting around, broadcasting it to the world.

Well, I guess I am. Hm.

So anyway...

I'm still not liking how my interview shirt is coming out with the satin trim and my interview is, well, it's tomorrow. Sunday when I arrived home bleary eyed and foggy-brained I accepted the fact that my interview skirt wouldn't be done in time. No way was I working on it in that state of half-awakeness. I told myself I'd just have to use my Wardrobe Refashion Get out of Jail Free card for a skirt or something. Then I realized - I have nice black pants that the shirt will go fine with. And they look really professional. So, I conceded that I didn't actually have to use my one chance to shop for clothes on this interview. I'd have the great newly tailored shirt and I'd look fantastic.

Enter knit shirt, serger, pleats, bad serger setting, puckering, lettucing, satin trim stretching the knit too much, etc etc etc. *shaking head, sigh*

It's all a part of the learning experience, no? I really wish I'd learned this a Looooong time ago!

I'm keeping pretty well in perspective though. A few months ago, I'd be very tense and crazy right about now, trying to manipulate the time to finish the darn thing before the interview instead of realizing some plans just don't work out and I have plenty of other shirts in my closet. Yes they fit, yes the are professional. Yes, they kind of make me look like I might be pregnant, but they fit, they are professional and otherwise they look really good. (Except for the preg-o part!)

Again, I was very close to using my one chance to shop for new clothes in this two-month period of the Wardrobe Refashion Challenge, but I realized I really don't need to. My time will be better spent plucking my brows, getting a good night's sleep, and practicing up on those hard interview questions. You know, the ones like "What's your biggest weakness."

*Gasp* Can they even sleep at night!?

I was doing laundry last night and recalled something I read about the cost of laundry soap. I know, I've been talking a lot about laundry soap lately and it's not like saving hundreds of dollars every month, but it's a snapshot of the world.

And it's my blog, I can write what I want to! LOL

I recall reading somewhere (sorry - I've read so much on this, I can't find it again!) that not only is commercial laundry detergent more expensive, but we are probably using far more than necessary. I actually thought "I'm pretty sure I don't use too much, but I should check that out next time I'm doing laundry." So sure enough, I remembered to read the label. On my particular bottle, it said for a regular load, fill to the bottom line, heavy to the second line, and extremely heavily soiled loads should get enough detergent to fill to the third line. Except the lines weren't lines around the cap like a measuring cup. They were like bars on a bar graph. And they didn't stick out in any way from the rest of the surface. It was like they used a denser plastic mix in those areas so if you hold it up to the light, you can see a faint shadow that shouldn't be there.

NO JOKE!!!

I was perplexed at the time. Like do they really think that's helpfull? Are they serious? Is this normal laundry detergent cap-marking practice? Seriously.

And do you know...the lowest "bar" on the "bar graph" is like a 1/3 of an inch up from the bottom of the cap? Do you know how much I usually use?! Do you know how much extra detergent I've paid for in the last however many years?!? Do you know how angry I'm getting just rehashing this from last night?!?! Do you?!?!?!?!?!

Do you know how much extra you've been using?

Oi. *Sigh*

I went back to the craft store at lunch today. I gave my hubby fair warning. I had to go. I simply had to.
We are taking a motorcycle safety course in the begining of august and we need jackets (per the instructions in the course description). Have you ever bought or priced out biker jackets? Oi. We went a few weeks ago to see what options/sizes/types/materials there were in the motorcycle jacket market. Boy, what variety! Even on craigslist it's hard to find an affordable jacket, so I thought - what about my hubby's old carhardt? Actually, he's worn through two of them. I keep them around to use to patch up heavy duty items like car seat covers, jean patches, etc. But even the older one I've only torn the pocket off, so it's structurally sound.
No, I'm not going to make my hubby show up to class in a torn up winter jacket in the middle of the summer. My plan is to wash it with soda ash then dye it, hopefully making the patch of never-before-seen-and-so-pristene carhardt material less noticable! I also plan to take out the insulation and liner and add a new liner out of more breathable fabric. The whole reason he stopped using the coat is because the zipper broke, so I'm going to rip off the velcro patches that no longer stick and put on heavy duty snaps.
Which leads me back to the craft store. Heavy duty snaps and a snap plier tool.
Then I found button covers, remembered I needed beading needles (don't know where my needles went!!!), saw the prettiest filigree clasp, and three different color collections of large glass beads. Wow. What a find!
$58.20 later I slinked out of the store shaking my head. Problem. Really. *sigh*
Then I got back to work and thought - what if I could make it from scratch? What if I could find the polyester mesh and neoprene and kevlar materials they use for the summer-type jackets that breathe really well? Why not? So I may have made that trip for nothing! (But it will ALL be put to good use!)
At least I didn't buy more fabric!
I'm not posting pictures for today's lunchcapades because I left my memory card in my laptop at home again. Oi.

Lunchcapades

Hi, my name is MJ and I'm a craft store junkie.

(hi MJ)

I first came to this realization on July 11th, 2008. After a week of blogging about how I needed to cut down on my craft spending, I took another "quick trip" to the store for one little thing and left with $27.71. Just a wee bit of baby stuff. That makes it all better, right? But spending is spending and I knew I was simply justifying myself.

(stay tuned for more of my recovery story as it unfolds...)




Yes, you see more beading supplies. Four flannels. For baby stuff. Really. From the top:

1.) Green flannel has flowers and butterflies in darker green. My SIL LOVES green, so I thought this might make great burp cloths. (She also is not big on "cutsie baby stuff") It wasn't on sale though, so I only got half a yard and paid $2.50.

2.) more baby food flannel matching what I'm going to make bibs out of...I'm going to use this yard to make my own matching bias tape! So cool! I got the last of the bolt and got about 1 1/5 yard for $1.79.

3. & 4.) yardage for baby blankets. Total 4 1/2 yards for $5.37.

Maybe I should think about selling at craft fairs this fall in order to support my habit.




And of course, Wendy's! (No, still no frosty!!!Woo Hoo! I can quit something!)

I also got off white grosgrain ribbon to make my own "Made By" tags. I looked at the small selection and decided I could make my own. (and a lit less expensively!) I love to cross stitch and can personalize it really well myself, making it even better!



And my gas. My precious gas. I'm thinking of trying all the hypermiling techniques floating around out in cyperspace these days. I'll see if I can stretch this tank a little further than normal! (and my uber-curvy self reflected in my clean black car. Oi. I have curves where I shouldn't though!)



Meanwhile, the inside of my car really needs a good cleaning!!



Can you tell how much I love my sunglasses?



What's in my purse:
notepad to write down prices, lists, poems, things I need, etc..., my journal, (the cover of which says "Life is just so Daily!") The Joy of Beading by Anna Borrelli, lots of loose papers, my password notebook, cell phone (of course), and lots more stuff buy you can't see it!

either you need it or you don't

I went to the fabric shop again today. As mentioned earlier, I needed iron-on adhesive. I got in, found it (finally) and turned to go back to the register and somehow ended up in the clearance section. "Just in case there's something dirt cheap that I might need."

Might need? No. There's no such thing as "might need."

Oi.

On a more positive and productive note, at the grocery I found everything I need (yes, need) to make my own laundry detergent. I was concerned about the recipe because I don't typically use powdered laundry detergent due to the fact that I use cold water for everything. However, Jen says she uses it with cold water and has never had a problem with it not disolving. Jen's site is also where I got the recipe. I checked out other recipes for powder and liquid alike and Jen's looks like the most straightforward.

I'm so psyched to make my own soap! It's getting increasingly hard for me to find laundry soap because my hubby and I both are sensitive to dyes, perfumes and harsh detergents. Plus I'm looking at a possible job change that would mean a positive change for home life, but comes with a price tag - a big cut in pay! I figure a happy wife is worth something though!

I also picked up two small spray bottles. I know, I know...I could have held out for an old cleaner bottle or a yard-sale find, but they were only a dollar each. I've decided to make my own household cleaners as well. It started this weekend when I was putting together my craft space and cleaning out the storage area of the basement. I found a full-length mirror left behind by the previous owners. It's cheap but works! But we'd run out of glass cleaner so I looked it up online! The simplest recipe I could find was 1 part water & 1 part vinegar. No worry about bleaching fabrics, fumes, or anything else. And it worked great! So as I run out of other cleaners, I'm going to make my own.

I don't as yet have a rotary cutter. It was on sale for $9.97. As far as I've seen, that's pretty good. I've also been looking for antiquie hooks and doorknobs. I'm going to dedicate a wall to hanging my bags instead of just leaving them half-emptied out all around the house! Should be functional and artsy at the same time!

Mmmm...york!

Mmmm...chicken!

This ended up being $1.24, regular $9.99. It's the panels to make a fabric book and it was discounted due to damage. I figured I could do something with the panels individually if I couldn't find a way to work with the damage...but I couldn't figure out what the problem was! So it looks like I have a perfectly good panel at a huge discount!

My big purchase was $36 on "sale" beads. Oops. But there's 9 long strands of these great beads! (and mounds of beads at home too...right.)

My new friend

Well, I finally made friends with my sewing machine last night. I had to get the book out again to figure out how to thread the bobbin and all the other start-up stuff, but I did it and it worked, and I managed to sew a straight line (the third time) and I'm psyched! It's funny, the whole time I was threading the machine, I was thinking "I could just hand sew the darned thing!" but then when I sewed a seam in 10 seconds, I put it all in perspective!
I don't have any pictures of last night's portion of the refashion process because I missplaced my memory card. (Found it this morning!) But I almost finished my refashion from a few weeks ago on a skirt which I've never worn. It was white and flouncy...too flouncy. I was told that because of my wide hips, I should wear a-line. I took it to the extreme and picked up this skirt that was just so poofy it was ridiculous. Plus note to self: never buy anything you intend to wear without trying it on first!! Of course, that doesn't apply if you're just looking for things you can refashion, but you get the gist...
So I took out the waist pannel to shortten it and all the triangular panels and I was still left with an A-line skirt! (Tells you how poofy it was!) I did a lot of the seam ripping a few weeks ago, plus a dye job - my first! Came out really well! It's now a light blue and I love the color! I also had to take the top band panel out in addition to the silly oversized wrap/ties. Yeah. I don't need anything else to help make me look wider, thank you very much!
The only thing I need to finish is the closure. I hand-stitched in hook and eye loops but now I see why they aren't used in leu of zippers. It leaves big gaps, so I'm going to have to break down and put the zipper back in after all. I think I'll spring for some iron-on adhesive. Hopefully it doesn't push me too much over my WR budget! I learned this zipper trick from Darling Petunia. She's fantastic and all her stuff comes out looking great!
All in all, I stayed up way too late, but I wanted it finish it! It's not done, but only because I need that adhesive strip...pictures tomorrow as long as I get to finish it!!

Okay, no turning back now!

This is it! This is my Two Month Wardrobe Refashion Pledge!

I, MJ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed, MJ.

The rules go as follows:

1.
No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
2.
In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
3.
You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
4.
You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

My Lunch-Break Shopping Spree!!

I went to JoAnn's for a small amount of satin fabric to use as a sash for an alteration I have to make on a BWR (Before Wardrobe Refashion) purchase from a few weeks ago. What I left with, 45 minutes later, was this: (from the bottom, up)

1 yard of Soft flanel baby food print which I'll use to make bibs 'n things for my new niece or nephew coming in the fall ($1.50)

3 yards of blue/green checked cotton I may make into a skirt or jumper or something. Not sure yet, but I love the colors and couldn't pass up the price! ($1/yd!)

2 yards of what they called "Short Hair Poodle" on sale that I think will make a great baby blanket. ($3/yd)

1 yard of "Mint Borouque Satin" for the sash that I need to make. I decided on a whole yard because the fabric is just so yummy and the absolute best color, so I will definitely use the rest for something!! ($4.99)

A remnant of Indigo/White striped vinyl. I have been looking for something to cover up my hideously uggly stress-mat that I use in the kitchen. My feet hurt ALL THE TIME, so I picked up an industrial-grade mat to stand on when I'm cooking and baking. It makes a bigger difference than I had anticipated, but it's uuuuuu-gly! So I'll use the vinyl to cover it up! Stay tuned for how I make it happen! It was a dollar something, but then it was on sale too, so I got it for 66 cents!!! Wooo-Hooo!

My hubby took issue with the pins in our bed this weekend when I used our bunk to do my sewing on. Oops! He said the tomatoe pin cushion I have should be magnatized, so voila! I also got myself a grabbit.

Then of course, is the big splurge: The Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and York Peppermint Pattie. Well, I didn't stop for ice cream!

Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch & Other Good-But-Bad-For-You Things in Life

I didn't plan it this way, but I find it interesting that within minutes, I found myself thinking about two of the areas of life I'm "working on" right now. Yesterday was a bust as far as starting an eating journal, and today might be as well, but it's still very forefront in my mind. I was taking my mid-day break, went to the bank, stopped at the grocery for some seltzer water and a pint of ben & jerry's; and was heading back to work. I passed by Fashion Bug with window signs advertizing a 40% off sale and I was tempted, but they have much better sales from time to time that are worth holding out for. It wasn't until a minute or so later that I remembered I can't go there anyway because I'm participating in Wardrobe Refashion and therefore I'm not buying new clothes for two months!

So I'm still driving back to work, one red light later, and I find myself contemplating whether to stop at Dunkin Donuts for an iced coffee or not. Now remember, I've got a liter of my favorite seltzer water (ruby red grapefruit!!!) and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heathbar Crunch sitting next to me. Do I really need an iced coffee?

I resisted temptation and headed straight for work. I'm proud of myself in the sense that I didn't spend money on clothes and food I didn't need, but had I succumed to temptation, would it have been an emotional response? I simply don't know.

Over the last week, I've thought a lot about this. I know that there are certainly times that I eat and shop due to emotions, but a lot of times I think I just eat because it's habit. I have a pint of ice cream almost every afternoon (yes, a whole pint...don't judge me!) .

Or I shop or eat because it's there. I go to the department store on break for shampoo or something and walk past a rack of fantastic jeans and I find myself in line with the jeans, three tops and a skirt.

Or simply because it's enjoyable. Well, the shopping part isn't the highlight of my day, but wearing the new clothes for the first time makes me feel awesome and eating is certainly a pleasurable experience. It's a treat.

That's what was calling my attention today at Dunkin Donuts. It would have been a pleasurable treat. Maybe it's because we didn't have fast food in Seward, Alaska when I was growing up in the 70's or maybe because we didn't have snacks because we were pretty poor. I don't know. I'm not sure if it matters or not.

What I am sure of is that even though it's pleasurable, doesn't make it good for you. Unlike the old adolescent-minded saying: "how can it be bad if it feels so good, man?"

So I didn't check out the sale at Fashion Bug and I didn't get an iced coffee, but as I sit here on my lunch break, I've finished half of my chicken salad sandwich and am making good headway on the Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream!

Two out of three ain't bad!

Awareness

I've become more and more aware of my shopping-as-therapy activity lately. It's not so much the shopping, it's the clothing. I'm not happy with my body, and it's going to take a LOOONg time to change my body, so wearing something new makes me happy. Therefore, I shop for new clothes and get a quick hit of gratification that first few times I wear them, then I'm back where I started...back at the store, looking for something new again to soothe my unhappiness with my body.

Perhaps actually attempting real lifestyle-type change would be in order! (Rather than "dieting") While I do plan to make a series of food-related lifestyle changes in the near future, I am also looking at this whole shopping thing. It has such a negative impact on so many areas of my life, including (but certainly not limited to...) finances, my marriage (hiding my purchases when I don't feel like justifying them...because I know deep down I can't justify my purchases!), and the attitude that I can ignore the real problem and just keep buying clothes!

In a way, it's fortunate that I'm, well, oddly shaped. There, I said it. Let's just get it out there on the table! I'm short and stout. I will take 10 or more items into the dressing room and MAYBE come out with 1 or 2. I say this is fortunate, because it keeps me from buying out the store!!!

I'm large but petite...another contradiction! I'm 5'1" and, let's just say...Queenish. And I don't mean that in a royal way. But you know how pantyhose comes in A, B, and Queen? I love that! I would never have thought of naming a size Queen. And certainly not a large size! Maybe they should rename the "A" category "Princess!" Guess not. Right, so...it doesn't stop there. I'm bottom heavy too. And my arms are larger than their normally corresponding torso, so any tops I get "off the shelf" have to be a bit big in the torso so as to allow for a roomier sleeve. Then my waist is a much narrower size than my butt and thighs. Even when I was thin, I lamented my huge thighs. (I promise, God, If I'm ever size 4 again, I won't complain about my overly muscular legs!!!) So if I can manage to get pants or a skirt over my hips and thighs, the waistband is usually saggy...and since I'm petite, it's often at-or-above my belly button. (think old man pants!!!)

To clear up, I would say I have a size 16 waist, but have to wear 18 to not make my butt and thighs skin-tight. I could fit into size 10/12 (Large) shirt, but now need to wear XL (14/16) to allow for a normal range of motion in my arms!

A few years ago when I was given my new sewing machine, I got real excited (see last post). I had these plans of customizing patterns for my shape and maybe even designing my own clothes. I had so many ideas of necklines and dress styles, seriously. So many! And then I started cutting out a pattern and, well...it took too long and my scissors slid all over the place, and there wasn't enough room to block out the whole pattern, and the sewing machine was taking some getting used to and....well, see my last post.

All this explanation leads me to this: I found, quite by accident, Wardrobe Refashion. I was wearing a brown-toned top with black slacks one day earlier this week and was feeling a bit "what not to wear-ish" and decided to google "fashion rules." It was then that I stumbled upon this fantastic, amazing site/challenge/community! You have to check it out for yourself, I can't do it justice in the few words and minutes I have left to make this post...please check it out!!!

So I'm going to make friends with my 2-year-old, brand-spankin-new sewing machine my hubby got for me and take the challenge...no NEW clothes for two months! I don't officially start until July 1st, but I'm already starting on two projects.

*just lost the rest of my post for the 3rd time!!! oi.*

So, what I so-eloquently said (and lost 3 times!!!!), in a nutshell....is that yeah, this could end up really bad-looking, but I'm already wearing really ill-fitting clothes, so why not take the challenge for just two months? I'm not that great a seamstress, but this will also give me the chance to get better at it!

I can't wait to finish up my first two projects and move on to the other 20 in my head! (only half kidding!) And I'll add my progress here...it's really very exciting! The key is going to be doing this without getting obsessed about it!