I've been a little bad lately....
I've broken my shopping ban in the worst way...
I've actually retailed, which I usually don't do.
Typically, when I start a shopping binge, its an indicator of stress or pressure that I need to attend to.
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| Scarf, handmade and purchased at dance studio. New York & Company tee shirt, New Balance yoga pants |
The past year was tumultuous (losing my mom, her financial problems, my sister's drug addiction) in so many ways and I think that I've used shopping to cope.
I am happy to say that I don't ever used credit cards anymore and about 85-95% of my shopping is thrift. I even purchase some household items thrift (not just clothes)....if it can be immersed in water for cleaning, I'm ok with it).
Thrift shopping is a mood lifter; I have fun finding great, high quality pieces at dream prices..but thrifting isn't helping right now, so I have to really dig deep and figure out exactly what has motivated me to fall off the shopping moratorium and use shopping to soothe my soul.
..... I need to understand what has triggered the retail binge.
Sigh. In the meantime...here are a few of the outfits I've worn over the last few days.
I'm not wearing my beloved dresses lately.....its been too cold and I've been busy preparing for the competition with extra lessons. Its just not practical to wear dresses to practice in during comp time because of the intensity.
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| Add caption |
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| Ralph Lauren dress |
I'm working on this, but in the meantime.....here are a few of my dress choices ....
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| Michael Kors dress |
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| Gotta love the black kineseology tape on my leg. I need all the help I can get at the moment with this injury) |
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I intend to do some digging to see what is going on...why I'm using retail shopping as therapy.
In the meantime....I've also been practicing for comp on an injured leg and its concerning, considering the comp is less than a week away.
An athletic trainer/sports medicine trainer thinks its either a muscle tear or a stress fracture.
I'm dancing anyway.
Well, dear readers, I can only forge ahead with a positive attitude and try to work through the muck....achieve my dance goals and set a new restriction on my shopping.
One beautiful thing in life is that there are many second chances...
I intend to keep taking those second chances until I get this right!
I'm moving forward positively to ease my psyche restore and my physical self to 100%.
I'm renewing my shopping ban and my commitment to thrift and resale. I'm going to dance this comp AND be the best I can be.
Thank God for allowing us all to try and try again.
Lisa - I applaud you for your commitment to shopping to thrift shops! For me a complete shopping ban would be more harm than good. I am planning to rein in my shopping this year. So far so good...we will see. Stay strong!
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
Alice....I'm trying so hard to be "good"! Your comment makes me think that maybe its unrealistic for me to stop "cold turkey" as they say. I just need to LIMIT my shopping, not cut it out altogether.
DeleteI hear where you're coming from and you really have had a tough year my dear. I fall into retail therapy when I'm stressed or sad too. But I find that a complete shopping ban always results in a binge at the end that was worse than if I hadn't gone on a ban at all. Women are prone to retail therapy as I think we're so busy being troopers holding everything together and being the strong ones for others.
ReplyDeleteI think many of us need to learn the get the retail therapy buzz more often from our wardrobes than the shop and you have lovely things in yours - and your post has encouraged me to think about my shopping habits too. I love your bauble collection and you look amazing in that orange peplum dress!
Thank you...your comment, and Alice's comment (above) have given me something to think about...
DeleteI DO tend to go more overboard with shopping if I try to ban myself completely....then I end up bingeing. I need to find a way to balance it. Stick to a budget and shop as a reward maybe on a particular week or day of a month. I'm not sure what the right balance is....but I need to try something different.
And you are right....I do have a nice closet full of clothes.....mostly thrifted!
I definitely use shopping as a way to de-stress which isn't a good thing. Hopefully you are able to find the source of what triggered you to start shopping again.
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous in the peplum dress and sending you wishes for a speedy recovery with your injury. Heather
Thank you, Heather. Its easy to fall into the habit of shopping as a stress reliever; we love clothes...and can kind of justify buying them....but then in my case..I keep buying. I need to work on it.
DeleteThank you for the compliment, Heather.
I certainly shop for stress release. Sometimes I'm good and only window shop and sometimes I buy stuff I don't need. It happens.
ReplyDeleteMonica
www.pear-shaped-gal.com
I know....I just have to try harder to curb it!
DeleteYou are so lucky, I love your necklace and the peplum dress so much, I wish I had the funds right now...still, blogging helps me as well, I just wrote a post where I included all the things I am obsessed with right now haha
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend,
Mary x
Someday I'm sure you will have many of your wish list items.
DeleteUnderstanding our motivations, anxieties and psyche is hard work. Often we are enigmas to ourselves. Good luck with your search. In terms of vices, shopping is pretty tame so don't beat yourself up over it. At least you didn't kill anyone!
ReplyDeleteI suppose there are worse things...but I still need to get a better handle on it!
DeleteI am truly envious of your thrift stores ... we just don't seem to have any decent ones close by. I often consider starting a consignment store but I don't know how successful that would be.
ReplyDeleteLove the orange peplum dress ... btw ... I'm in the paddle boat with you as I also broke my shopping ban in a rather big way! But damn, I'm so good as my excuses to myself!! I'm quite shocked.
Hang in there sweetie - I can see why you tipped the boat but don't beat yourself up too much.
Hugz
We all break our resolutions from time to time. We did the same thing, Wendy...broke it in a big way.
DeleteWell...we do love to look pretty and its hard to resist lovely clothing that looks so good on us.
You have had a terribly hard year...I think shopping is an instant feel good for us....I know it is my way of reaching for comfort too! Hence my focus on being thrifty and frugal. I , like you have to keep it under control. However, a reasoned spend is good for the soul too, especially when things are tough. Be kind to yourself and enjoy your purchases too. Onward and upward my blogging friend. You are amazing. Xxxxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement. I must start all over, but I will. The majority of my shopping is thrift...so when I do retail binge...I feel really bad; kind of like breaking a streak of really healthy eating by gorging on a whole cheesecake!
DeleteYou've got some great dance legs:) I bet you've gained a lot of muscle tone dancing. I really need to work on this and stop thinking about it. It's kind of like you have to commit to it. I like to do Pilates but haven't been doing it regularly for the last few months. I need to get back into a routine with this because I certainly love the strength and stretch I get from it. I love your shirt you pictured in the first image.
ReplyDeleteJoanna....I know I can do much better than I have been doing. Discipline is hard!
DeleteDear Lisa, you have my understanding 100%. I have been a stress shopper ever since I began working (and thus had money for the first time in my life, even if it was a very small pay cheque at the time). I don't stress eat or have any other vices that surface when I feel a great deal of stress, worry or anxiety, but sometimes in such situations, I will feel the need to shop (online or off). I've gotten better at curbing this in recent years, especially since I admitted it both to myself and my husband, but I sense that troubled times will always make me want to spend as well. I'm always here for you, if you need to discuss this with an understanding friend, sweet Lisa.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Thank you, Jessica. Your last sentences speaks so much truth....troubled times will always make me want to spend.
DeleteIts tough and we all have out vices. I'm thankful that my vice or addiction is one that doesn't ravage my psyche and my body. Either way, I do need to work on it.
I will email you soon and maybe we can support one another in this!
Dear Lisa, don't be too hard on yourself it sounds like you have had a very hard year. My impression of you is that you are a very strong woman! I am sure that you can make a fresh start, and be able to cut down on your purchases. Personally, I have to refresh my health goals over and over again!
ReplyDeleteYour dress collection is amazing!
Thank you, Anna. Its been a tough year, but I can't use it as an excuse. I shouldn't anyway.
DeleteI will start over...and over again if I need to. I am pretty strong, but still need a stress outlet!
I also have to refresh my health goals too...that's been a struggle lately also.
You really have had such a stressful year, losing family members really does take a toll on you and it's strange how the pain can resurface out of nowhere, even after a while. (And family trouble is always hard.) It might all jut be piling on top of you, be sure to take time to yourself to breathe and to take care of yourself. (It doesn't help that it's wintertime, I don't know if it's the same down there but a lot of people get a seasonal disorder up here that has to do with the cold and dark that really depresses people. that could possibly be piling on top of everything as well for you.) Take care and I really hope that everything goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteKatie...I do agree that wintertime adds and additional burden to my stress load.
DeleteAnd you are right about pain resurfacing. Its been four months since I lost my mom; not a long time, but it still feels fresh at times. I think about it too much and the tears just come.
I am moving forward, but I goes it will hurt for awhile.
Thank you for your support!
The green Michael Kors dress is fabulous!!!
ReplyDelete