Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Urgent Update

Just kidding...

Wanted to get your attention...

A friend was wondering about this blog, and I realized I hadn't posted anything for awhile.

A few things to report:

1) I have become a rock-collector. Your dad and I have loved finding stones while on our beach walks! And, guess what you will be getting for your birthday?! Lucky girl! (I'm serious.)

2) My work-out clothes are quite holey, faded and stretched out.

3) The sense of freedom I am experiencing is, well...FREEING! :-)

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Two Down...

...Ten to go!

So far, so good! No...Great! I am loving this, Ali! Sometimes, I just get this feeling, this sense, that I would have been a great pioneer woman! Or, even an adequate Amish woman!

Then...

Yesterday, as I was making (for the very first time) homemade laundry detergent, my Cuisinart (yes, my Cuisinart) was acting up. Because of a chip in the plastic, I had to use both hands to hold it, to make it work. I kept thinking/saying, "Oh, crap!"

Maybe not so pioneerish or Amish of me...

Next task...homemade body lotion! I'll just go on line, order all the supplies, maybe use my Cuisinart. Very pioneerish, right, Ali?!


Monday, February 20, 2012

Funny Thing

When we women get together, I have noticed this "thing" that happens...

Standing around in a circle, one woman will comment to another woman, "Oh, I love your necklace! Where did you get it?"

Or, "That is the cutest sweater! Anthro?!"

Or, "LOVE the shoes!!! When did you get those?"

Note to me: For the next year, I will NOT be the woman who is singled out to receive the compliment, as I will be wearing nothing new.

Reality check: I have hardly EVER been the one singled out, new or not. But...now I'll have no (secret, embarrassing to admit, "pick me, pick me") expectations. :-)

FREEDOM!!!

(Funny thing with you, my dear one...No matter what you are wearing...new, old, fancy, casual...you get singled out! May have something to do with your stunning "I love Jesus and He lives inside of me" beauty, inside and out! Who knows?)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Story

So, there's this girl.

She told us she was going to go a whole year without eating chocolate...A whole year!

"You're crazy," we told her.

"There's no way we could do that!"

We continued, "Sometimes you just have to have chocolate. And, it can be good for you!"

She's made it for a month and a half so far.



Recently she admitted to me that she hates chocolate.

Going a year without chocolate? Wow...Big deal.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Final Straw

As I mentioned earlier, this idea popped into my head in December.

I tried to ignore it.

No shopping for a year?

No way.

That's silly.

Not realistic.

Then, a moment of inspiration!!! I was reading an article in People (SO not proud) about the Bachelor (so VERY not proud...actually quite embarrassed...really not knowing why I'm admitting to this...could have brushed right over this without anyone ever knowing...sigh...). The following article was about a family of four, in Mill Valley, CA. A photo of them with a year's worth of their trash not even filling up a plastic (plastic? maybe it was glass) jar. A YEAR'S WORTH OF TRASH!

As I take our trash out to the curb every Tuesday evening, my conscience is just a bit agitated at the full bin of trash our family produces. So much talk of our world's overpopulation. What if that really isn't the problem. What if our wastefulness, our consumerism is the issue??

Just a thought...

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Exceptions

1) Walking shoes (I go through a pair a month)

2) Jog bras (Gotta support)

3) Swimsuit (Kind of live in those in the summer)

4) Wedding gifts (Can't think of anything I could make that I'd be proud of for years to come)

5) Baby gifts (Want to keep supporting Lori's business)

6) Candles, mason jars (Can't just give sea shells as gifts)

7) Frozen yogurt (No need to explain)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Birthday Gift Shopping

Just wanted to thank you, Sweetie, for going shopping for birthday gifts with me!

I have loved our long walks on the beach at low tide!

Love the variety of shells we have collected!

Now...can you look on Pinterest and see what we can make with shells?! Maybe a mason jar...with a candle...surrounded by Solana Beach, Cardiff and Encinitas sea shells?! Let me know what you find!

And, what fun it has been solving all of the worlds problems as we shop!

Let's do it again next week!

Love you, my sweet one!~oxo

Thursday, February 2, 2012

More Freedoms?

Made it one month! All confidence and smiles! Considering more freedom...

"news-free" year? (Then I wouldn't feel so foolish when I can't really remember who our governor is. I'll just say, "I'm having a 'news-free' year. Maybe next year I'll know all those kinds of things.")

"petition-signing-free" year? (Then I could just explain to all of those folks in front of Trader Joe's and Target, "I'm sorry I'm can't sign your petition. I'm having a 'petition-signing-free' year.")

"negative-thought-free" year? (When my mind wants to criticize, judge, I'll just tell myself, "You'll have to wait until next year to have those yucky thoughts, because you're having a 'negative-thought-free' year! Remember?")

"coffee-free" year?...No way. That wouldn't do anyone any good.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Different Glasses

So strange...I walked downstairs this morning thinking, " I LOVE my house! I love the bright light that pours in! I love how uncluttered (undecorated some would say) it is! I love how all of the windows in the back of our home face our beautiful, private canyon!"

In the past, I have walked downstairs thinking, "This carpet is gross. That fogged window needs replacing. When are we going to have the strings on our blinds fixed so they work? When can we redo our 26 year old kitchen?"

Same house...Different perspective.

I like this freedom I'm experiencing in seeing my house as it is...loving it as it is...not always thinking about what I'd like to change! Yes, today I am really thankful for the idea of a "shop-free" year (or month)!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Big Challenge

Last week was Carol's birthday. I have always assumed that "gifts" are one of her love languages. She shops throughout the year for the "just right" Christmas gift for her family and friends. I mention something I like, and, next birthday it's mine! So, I wrestled with what to do, this "shop-free" year for my dear friend's birthday present.

What I came up with was a brown gift bag, filled with some of Carol's favorite foods...Dark chocolate covered pretzels, kettle corn, a chocolate bar. Using a beautiful photo of sunflowers that your dad had taken, I made "Thinking of You" note cards and packaged them with envelopes. I found two of Carol's favorite shells, soaked them in bleach, then wrapped them in a cellophane bag. Tied a big bow, signed a card and...a "shop-free" birthday gift for my precious friend/sister! And, I think she liked it!

BTW...One month down! Eleven more (maybe) to go! I'm liking this! A lot! (Another note to self: It's only January.)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Feeling Free...today

There's something about knowing that I may be "shopping-free" for a year. That thing is a GOOD thing! Usually.

Many of the days this past month (Note to me: It's only January), I go into my closet and think, "Well, what can I put together today?", instead of, "I really need to update my wardrobe. Time to get rid of lots of these clothes." I liked that!

Preparing for our dinner party last night, I was thinking, "I like the look of mismatched glasses!", instead of, "Need to run out to get enough matching glasses." I liked that!

(Note to me again: It's only January.)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Spilling the Beans

On our walk a few days ago, I finally came clean to you. Yes, the words came out of my mouth about my idea.

"I'm considering taking a year off of shopping for clothes, things, gifts."

There. I said it. It's out.

Thanks for your enthusiasm and support! Wow! You even thought of possibly joining in. Let's go for it! Two girls...One year...No trips to the mall, clothing stores...Very few trips to Target, Bed Bath and Beyond...What do you think? Are you still in??!

BTW, glad this is just an idea and not a plan. Plans are meant to be followed. Aren't they? :-)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Malls & Coupons

Two things...One a thought and one an action.

1) After I dropped your dad off at the airport yesterday, as I passed the mall, I thought about how I didn't have to think about possibly stopping by, since I was so close, to get something I may (or may not) need! I liked that! One less thing to think about!

2) I cleaned out my wallet of (almost) all coupons...Gap...Tilly's...Good coupons...20% off. But...there was just no way I was going to part with my "Buy one, get one free" Swirl's coupons. We all have our limits.

So far, so good!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

My Experiment (maybe)

The thought popped into my head in early December. I didn't take it too seriously. But, it kept reappearing...Again...And again. In a weak moment last week, I shared the thought with your dad. He suggested that I go for it! And, blog about it! I thought, "Shoot. Then I may have to actually act on the idea. Shoot!"

Well...the first step was taken today. I went to www.catalogchoice.org and unsubscribed to a clothing catalog...A store that sells things that I buy...With great coupons...Yep! I took that first little step.

If I had taken this thought seriously in December, I would have done things differently. Like that last detox/cleanse your dad and I did...The night before we started I went WILD. I mean really WILD. I ate enough candy to toxify me for months (NOT proud). So, if I had known I was going to give this idea a try, I would have stored up, like a squirrel, or a bear.

Yes, it's the beginning of 2012, and I have great ambitions! I can do this!

Maybe...