What wagon?

Hey friends, How are you? The weather has been LOVELY here (Wow, I wrote this part EARLY last week) and it just makes me happy.

You know when someone is trying to stop a bad habit, like eating, or smoking, or um... shopping and when they have a bad day (or four) they say well, I've "fallen off the wagon" or do they say they're "back on the wagon"? I can never remember...

Anyway, just wanted to confess that I've been shopping just a *bit*. Yes, of course I know all about my "NO SHOPPING CHALLENGE". Let's just say I'm doing better than I used to. Does that count? I'm planning to, I think it is, "get back on the wagon" TODAY. I just feel like I need to confess...

I'll list my stuff later... I've been busy with Pampered Chef and it has been SO fun. I really like running a business and choosing my own hours and seeing people excited about the products and well, a little extra money is always nice, right? I think I'm giddy from a bit of spare change in my pocket...

Okay.... I'm finishing this post in two days...

I'm back. Today, I woke up with a bit of a cold/allergies... I'm trying to clean my house, but it just feels so much nicer to sit down.

Okay, here I am confessing.... I'm going to add all of these "confessions" to my list as well.

On Gabe's birthday (has it been THAT long since I blogged? about shopping? probably.) I just HAD to find a green scarf to go with the skirt I was wearing that day before we went out to dinner. And now, I'm having serious buyer's remorse about it. It just wasn't what I was looking for, but it was only $4. I can move on.

Remember how I said I was going to give myself permission to buy a new white shirt? Well, I did. So that's "okay". It was on sale for $15 and I really like it. I liked it so much, I bought another one just like it, only turquoise..... oops. Another $15. I'll spare you the pictures, because, well, there was this gray sweater thingy I found on clearance that just goes so well with BOTH of them. It was only $12. I "NEEDED" a few things to update my wardrobe, okay?

And then, last week, I went to the thrift store looking for a bike for Zoe. She's all legs right now and her old one is just bruising her knees every time she pedals.  So, I found a great bike for $30 (I'm not confessing this nor counting it as part of my "NO SHOPPING" -- this is okay shopping, but I'm just telling you why I was at the thrift store in the first place.) So my first mistake was "just looking" at the shoes...

And this is what I came home with: ($4 each!) You should have seen the purse I put back... the clerk thought I was nuts... I'm mumbling to myself, "okay, you can't get everything... put the purse back, good girl... ohhhh." I have enjoyed the shoes SO much... is it sad or wrong just how much a new pair of shoes can make you so happy? No, I don't think it is either.

Okay, and then my dear friend, Tawnya, gave me THE most adorable skirts... she is so good to me. And well, one of them is this lovely tangerine color and I just happened to be in Seagull Book looking at scriptures for Kaia's upcoming baptism and I found this scarf:  Let me just say it was only $5, people!! They have LOTS of different colors.... you should go get one (or two).

 It's kind of a swirly Creamsicle color with embroidered flowers...

Okay, maybe it doesn't really go with this shirt, but I was trying to hurry with the picture. By the way, the other day, I asked Zeke, "Do you honestly think I dress frumpy? I just don't know sometimes." Being the good and wise husband he is, he said, "No, not frumpy, maybe wacky, but I like it." Wacky is good.

I love the fringe at the bottom (see my skirt!!)

 And then, last month, I ordered a really cute custom sign from my good friend, Sharon. I love the saying. I'm going to chalk this one up into the "self-help/therapy" category. It's hanging in my living room and I truly love reading it every time I walk by.

and well, I just HAD to get this cute little bird to go with it...

I think I spent $20 for both. Her shop is called "Paisley Cinnamon" on Etsy -- you will LOVE it!

Okay, so if my math is right.... I think that's $83... what the!!!!!!!!! YIKES. That looks really bad all totaled up like that. Mind you, this has been over the last two months. You know, I kinda hope Zeke doesn't read this post... when I fall off the wagon, I really fall and hit the ground HARD (with my head, I think). But after the shoe spree, I promised myself I would get back on the wagon and stay there. Oh man,  other than the green scarf, I enjoyed every $79 I spent. Okay, carry on.

P.S. I just wanted to share a WONDERFUL blog post written by my dear friend, Lora. I think this is an important one to read. There are so many couples out there struggling with infertility. Past and present and beyond. Lora is truly amazing... go check out her blog, you will love it!

Back to your regularly scheduled blogging...

So, I just wanted to let you know, I've made some new "PAGES" on my blog.
Why? Because I have this great need to organize things in my life and organizing my blog is MUCH more fun and satisfying than trying to organize my house...but alas, that must happen very soon as well.

The first one is a (tentative) BLOG SCHEDULE:

This is what I might be blogging about on a particular day of the week...

Monday Musings: whatever is currently on my mind...yeah, could be scary.

Tuesday Tips, Tricks, Tools, and Treasures: cool ideas about cool stuff

Wordless Wednesday: Special Photos; I want YOU to come up with the captions

Thursday Threads and Things: Crafts, Sewing, DIY stuff, etc.

Favorite Food Friday: I'll share a favorite recipe (or two) with you

Anyway, so if you're only interested in crafts or something to do with making stuff... read my blog on Thursdays... you get the idea, right? However, I've never really been good at sticking to a schedule... it's more of a guideline really. I'll try.

So I'm going to label this post: Tuesday Tools. There.

So this Blog Schedule created the need for me to make another "PAGE". This one is for "Favorite Food Friday" and it's just called "Recipes". I'd like to keep track of the recipes I post on here and of course make it easier to share them with you. :)

Also, if you read my post yesterday about giving myself a "NO SHOPPING CHALLENGE" for one year. I talked about not buying any clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc. I'm REALLY excited about this challenge. I think it will be a good way to practice using my word of the year, DISCIPLINE. Well, I would like to ADD to that challenge. I'm also going to include: NO i-tunes or other music purchases, NO books or movies (other than rentals), and NO home or holiday decor-type purchases (this will not include flowers for my yard -- I will limit myself to filling the existing pots on my porch.)

I've been trying to come up with a cute little icon or logo or something and I've asked Zeke to help me make a button for my blog for those of you wanting to join me on my "Uphill and Smiling 2012 NO SHOPPING Challenge" you can add it to your blog. You're welcome to modify the challenge any way you want for YOU -- I just want people to step back and look at their consumption and excess and what they can do to minimize purchases, use restraint in shopping habits, and simplify their lives. Basically, to try and "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

This leads me to the other new "PAGE" I've created, "NO SHOPPING" Challenge. This is where I'm going to keep a running total of how much money I am saving by NOT buying things I want to.

I hope this helps you (and me) to better navigate my blog and therefore, (hopefully) enjoy it more. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please let me know...

It is such a beautiful SUNNY day here... very unusual for January in Logan, but I LOVE IT!