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A Journey

July 9th, 2010 by Selise
Birthday pinata fun times.
 

So I got sicker. Ick. I’m on my second day at home and still can’t pronounce the letter “n”. But I’m able to sit in front of the lap top, which is good. I won’t subject you to awful pictures of me looking like death after 15 seconds in the microwave. Instead I’ll tell you about a little, journey, that I am embarking on.  I’m giving up shopping for a month*.

The first picture I ever took for this blog. I never ended up posting it, or the outfit. 

When I first started blogging I noticed a bunch of people doing things like this. Saying they bought too many clothes or blogging caused them to spend too much money. And I thought, wow. I really couldn’t relate. I was good at using what was in my wardrobe. I definitely wasn’t spending outside my means. In fact, I wasn’t really buying much new stuff at all. I preferred the challenge of working with what I had.  Somewhere along the way that changed though.

Accessories in my wardrobe. This does not include the accessories on my dresser. 

A couple of weeks back it all got to be too much. My wardrobe was full (I have wooden hangers so when there’s no more room, there is no more room). I had 2 washing baskets full of clothes to put away. There were clothes waiting to come in off the line and more in the basket waiting to be washed. Not only that but I also knew that there was half a closet in the spare room full (we’re talking packed suitcases) of clothes from other seasons, or that I just wasn’t really feeling right now. I was overwhelmed. I physically felt stressed out.


My “sub-belt” drawer. That is, belts in addition to the 24 (I just counted) currently hanging in my closet. 

The problem wasn’t that I was spending too much. I can honestly say that I have never spent outside my means. One of the girls at work commented a while back that she wondered where I got the money from because I always had new things. I told her that nothing I was wearing cost over $20.  And therein may be lie problem. I am very good at buying things on sale. In addition to that, blogging has allowed me to explore styles and pieces that I never would have given a second thought before.  No one held a shoe to my head and forced me to buy these things but wanting to do something different every day certainly encouraged this.


 Side view of hanging belts 

I knew that the end of financial year sales was a bad time to impose a shopping ban. Plus we were taking a trip to Melbourne with the pure purpose of shopping so I have waited until now to put the ban into action.  I am not worried. I have been in positions before were I couldn’t buy anything for months.

 Hats share space with cardigans and long sleeved shirts. 

Don’t worry, the outfits I post won’t suffer. I’m actually looking forward to it. It will be good to stop, take stock and make a conscious effort to appreciate what I have.

 
*Obviously this excludes necessities like food. And foundation with I need to pick up next week. Also, The Man’s birthday falls within this so I can buy presents for him.

14 Responses

  1. Ebony says:

    I've seen so many of these posts lately from fellow fashion bloggers. I really can't relate because I 1)Hardly ever photograph my outfits and 2)Don't live near any stores where I can buy fun things to post about.. Haha.
    But I say GO YOU! You can do this! Maybe try Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 challenge – that way it will be funner than just "I'm not shopping for the sake of shopping", it will be "I'm not shopping for 30 days coz I'm gonna remix the same 30 items! Woo!" 😀

    I wanna see this outfit now. The first one. Looks fruity and fun! Oh and your accessory collection is amazing. I'm not really an accessory person – I've bought a few pieces online that I wear regularly but when I walk into a store like Diva I just get overwhelmed and walk out with nothing! 😀

    I'd say goodluck, but you totally don't need it. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend and feel better soon 🙁 xx

  2. Ebony says:

    Sorry to be such a pain but I got your awesome comment, approved it and then it dissappeared! A lot of girls have been having this problem, so I'm going to take approvals off (I only just put it on so I could keep up with comments, haha)… anyway, the pt is, I lost that link you gave me 🙁 Would you be able to email it to me @ ebby_brooke@hotmail.com
    I was so looking forward to looking at it. I love Keiko! Thanks xx

  3. Pia7 says:

    Poor sick you.. hope you feel better soon. Good on you for not shopping.. I have regular clean outs, but still have 2 packing boxes full in the garage that have to go to Vinnie's or someone. My size keeps changing so my clothes have to too. Gone are those beloved days of size 8 fits me every time! Sigh… get better soon! x

  4. Eleanor says:

    Feel better, and wow you have a lot of accesories!:P
    Great blog

    http://eleanor-fashion-nerd.blogspot.com/

  5. Kimberellie says:

    Oh, I want to stop shopping too. I do! I do! But I won't. I won't. I can TOTALLY understand your clothing mess/overwhelmingness! It is mine ALL THE TIME! Oh, you inspire me.

    And your pics are awesome. Love this post.

    Mostly though, I think you have inspired me to clean and give away. Stopping shopping would kill me. I know it would. I know.

    ps: "shoe to the head" LOL.

  6. TheMadTwins says:

    those glasses Ö awesome Ö

    xxx

  7. Catherine says:

    Oh haha chill. . .As long as you have space it's actually fine, and only buy things you REALLY love!

  8. Chloé Bradshaw says:

    http://145thandchloe.blogspot.com/ I think you'll like it 😉

  9. Prutha says:

    i am seriously proud of u for trying this non-shopping thing.. i need to too… i really do!!!!

    must try must try must try must try… if u keep saying it over and over again, i maybe will!! 🙂

    good luck and feel better missey!!

  10. knk says:

    wow cool stuff looks great in party

    hugs
    http://smsjar.blogspot.com/

  11. tough girl says:

    I envy you having these amazing accessories! Love the glasses!

    tough-girl-being-tougher.blogspot.com

  12. kristen marie. says:

    i hope you're feeling better!!!!!!

  13. Tili says:

    I hope you do feel better
    Those sunglasses are too cool btw

  14. Ruta, Look Ugly in a Photograph says:

    That's an awesome endeavor and i hope you succeed, which I'm sure you will. Keep us posted.

    I didn't shop during the school months, so it was sort of an unofficial ban. Besides birthday gifts that I bought, I bought nothing for myself. Summer is when I load my wardrobe up I suppose. BUt usually only basic items.

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