The countdown...

7 weeks until I am out of Estevan indefinitely...18 more days until I get to go back home for the long weekend. I swear. The weekends KILL me! I can honestly say that I am a well rounded girl, who won't end up in a strait jacket, banging my head against the wall if I am left alone, but these weekends really do shed some light on why people would do that!

Let's see, what makes this weekend so much more unbearable than the last month I've spent here? I think it's that I am didn't smoke today. Yep - I threw out pack #4 before I finished it. Instead, I listened to Monique and picked up a bottle of wine. That enjoyment lasted all of 30 minutes and now it's only 6:38pm and I am wondering what to do with my time again.

So far, I've watched: many episodes of Dexter S3, rewatched Sliding Doors and went to the gym and watched some of the FIFA final game (NED vs SPA).

What I should have done was get a life and golfed. It was a perfect day for it. Only, I am now extremely lazy and haven't been out other than to get food and work. Depressing! I know. sigh* Two more weekends of this and I'll be home.

After the boring afternoon in Regina, I don't even really want to go back there...even with the promise of sushi, viet, korean, african, greek, italian...etc foods.

Ok, I need to stop and find something to do before I go out and buy another pack. Ciao!

with it!

So I have officially been in Estevan for 11 days. Feels longer then that.

In my spare time (which I have a lot of now), I am fully immersed in the social media craze. Made a TWITTER account yesterday!

http://twitter.com/franpark

Feel I'll put some funny day to day happenings on that as blogging is definitely more effort. ;)

In this secondment for work, I have actually indirectly been forced into a detox of shopping and the only mega store here is Wal-Mart!

This past week, shopping for me consisted of shopping for food and household items, which I expense back to the company anyway :) SCORE!

So hopefully this summer will indeed be a detox of many things in my life...hope I don't pick up any other bad habits.

Day 47

I really do love fashion blogs - esp satorialist and garance. le sigh* it all looks so fabulous! no wonder I love to shop - vive la haute couture~

Day 40 or so?

Oh My'lanta!!

So Jen and I have officially called off the bet.

Trips shouldn't count! Back in TO, I will resume my strict regimen - $100 a month.

I will endeavour to continue my detox efforts while at home, but like I say (and like some of my friends say) Trips don't count!!!

Day 38

May the Force be with me in Atlanta!

Not sure I can do this. Already my mind swam to "well if I forgot something, I can just buy it!" Also, thinking I may finally pick up that Longchamp tote that I've wanted for years (lightest bag I would own).

Ah!!!!

Day 36

Haven't bought anything since Anthro pants last week. Guess it's because I've been working all week and haven't stepped into a store. :P Well actually I lie, I went to Forever21 and didn't get a thing *A-mazing*

So BIG tempation coming up next week - ATL baby! I have to admit with the dollar doing well so, it's a tease. le sigh~ I need to hold out til LA.

Which reminds me...need to pack some super cute (strictly dress to impress) outfits for my Cali trip. At least I can do laundry there so worst case, I can wear everything twice. In different cities. Ha!

Day 31 - 1 damn long month!

I am shame faced.

Amanda took me to Anthro yesterday so she could get HER dress and I (of course) HAD to check out their sale section. Found a pair of navy khaki's on sale for $20!!! WTF? Of course it fit me like a glove. $20?

So anyway, Amanda was going to buy it for me, but after I called to check with Jenn if this was "allowed". She said it was cheating. So Jenn and I decided - we should re-evaluate the rules.

Here are the NEW rules (much more realistic):

1. Each mth, get $100 to shop

2. If you don't use up the $100 w/in that mth, it can carry over into the next month

3. During the next 5 mths (Mar-Jul), we are allowed 1 big ticket item that has no cap.

4. At the end of 5 mths (the NEW extended deadline), we put into our savings $500 + the value of the big ticket item into our savings.

Deal? DEAL!

So I lasted 1 mth without shopping.

Here's to a less aggressive detox plan. Cheers!

Day 30

My dilemma now - as mentioned in the last post is spending way too much on food, but also, now that I'm not shopping, I feel like I have a free rein to spend $ on foolishness.

Prime example - who got suckered into a college basketball fantasy pool and playing the lottery with a bunch of co-workers!?!? NC double what??

WHO AM I?

First of all, I don't watch NBA or even care for the sport as a whole. So why the hell am I betting on a whole bunch of teams I don't even know. Beats me :P Apparently without shopping I turn into a gambler! haha

Day 29

Woot Woot* Almost 1 whole month of not buying: makeup, bags/purses/clutches, pants, jeans, tights, skirts, tees, sweaters, hoodies, tops, jackets, scarves, hats, underwear, bras, lingere, pajamas, workout gear, accessories, dresses, shoes, shoes, shoes...

Sigh - I have a sneaking suspicion that where I saved in clothes, I will have spent on food this month.

My two remaining vices ;)

I may have to concentrate on that next. Kill those two and I will be on top of the world!!!!! (And probably afford that downpayment on a condo..ha!)

Day 28

Resisted shopping in MTL (pat on my back)

Lusting over this clutch, maybe if I can last until Cali, I will treat myself to this...and a new camera lense (35mm f/1.8 nikkor)...

Day 20 - shopaholics anonymous

Out of curiousity, I googled shopaholics anonymous:

http://www.shopaholicsanonymous.org/

On it was a "compulsive buying scale", I took the quiz. Here it is to see if you fall into a compulsive buying category. Sorry the formatting is kinda wonky because I just copied and pasted: (I have also kind of tweaked the definition of the rating scale)

Compulsive Buying Scale © Valence. D’Astous & Fortier

Please express the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Please place an X on the line that best indicates how you feel about each statement.

• That's me! (5)
• Not all the time, but sometimes (4)
• Meh - I don't have a strong opinion about that (3)
• I kind of don't agree that I'm like that - rarely?! (2)
• Nope, that ain't me, sista! (1)

When I have money, I cannot help but spend part or all of it. (Uh hello! Money in the wallet = money out of the wallet. That's why I try not to keep too much cash in my wallet - maybe not on shopping but definitely on food or other stuff)

I am often impulsive in my buying behavior.(Ok yeah, I don't sit there and mull over if I want something for days. If I want it, like it, I buy it!)

For me, shopping is a way of facing the stress of my daily life and relaxing. (So occasionally, after a stressful week, I will go get myself something - perfume, book, clothes, etc. Add a couple glasses of red wine in there as well)

I sometimes feel that something inside pushes me to go shopping.(Usually not inside, but outside - my friends! ha)

There are times when I have a strong urge to buy.(Yup! Albeit - much less often then before)

At times, I have felt somewhat guilty after buying something, because it seemed unreasonable.(Yup! Did I really have to get another pair of jeans?)

There are some things I buy that I do not show to anybody for fear of being perceived as irrational in my buying behavior.(My mum, my Dad)

I often have an unexplainable urge, a sudden and spontaneous desire, to go and buy something. (Yup! Especially when I feel like there is nothing in my closet that I can wear that I haven't already worn a million times)

As soon as I enter a shopping center or mall, I have an irresistible urge to go into a shop and buy something.(Well now, I wouldn't be there in the first place if I didn't want to get something, no? What a dumb question.)

I am one of those people who often respond to direct mail offers.(Hmm...not sure what this means, so they mean sales? )

I have often bought a product that I did not need, while knowing that I have very little money left. (Ok,not that I have very little money left, but I have bought stuff that I didn't necessarily need - see below)

I am a spendthrift (Def: someone who spends money wastefully. Wastefully - defined as of no use, worthless. Maybe....thinking back to when I bought a box of Febreeze - still in my room rotting away, or a few dresses bought over 2 years ago that are still hanging in my closet with the tag on :P)

I have sometimes thought “If I had to do it over again, I would…” and felt sorry for something I have done or said.(Who hasn't?)

Calculating your score:

• • Each X that you placed corresponds to a number: 5 for “strongly agree”, 4 for “somewhat agree”, 3 for “neither agree nor disagree”, 2 for “somewhat disagree, and 1 for “strongly disagree.
• • Add together the 13 numbers for your Xs to get your total scale score.
• • Compulsive buyers tend to score 42.2 or higher.

Where do you fit in? LOL - I have a funny feeling that a few of you are "compulsive buyers" as well *wink*

I won't name any names *ahem*

Day 18 - TGIF

18 days. sigh*

So I'm off work and recuperating next week. That should be an easy way to get to day 27 w/o shopping. I will be home all week catching up on reading and watching shows/movies online.

I've found a way to get a book that I want; by asking my sister to buy it for me as a gift ha! Pfft, that's not cheating. It's a legitimate gift. A get-well-soon one. ;)

Apparently this book will change my life - or rather my health issues "the hormone diet". It will fix me.

Going back to our pact - Jen is itching. She's mentioned to me how BCBG is having a temporary outlet sale at Eaton Centre and debated if we should make the length of the blackout period only to Apr 1, instead of May 1. This was on two different days this week.

Nope! No change - 71 days of no shopping continues. I'm starting to think that I was insane to think I could go to ATL and not shop. What was I thinking? Clearly not.

Back to the cost of the chairs. I told the story at my team meeting today. It was a hoot!

The magic numbers are 4857 (that's not including taxes). $4857... for one f-ing chair!?!?! Is that not insanity? It was gorgeous mind you, but you MUST be mad. I may have paid $485.70 but even that would be a stretch.

Day 14 - shock

OH MY F!

So guess how much that beautiful chair that I referred to on Day 10 is...please, take a wild stab. Actually take a pinata swing at it.

I walked in today after work because I had time while waiting for Jen and Amanda. I went to see if there was a price tag (Nada. Always a bad sign) so I proceeded to approach the guy working there to inquire how much this future chair of mine is. I brace myself, this is Rosedale after all, he goes to check his price book. He tells me how much it is. I don't react.

He repeats himself. I don't react.

My non reaction is actually a big reaction....it's shock.

Let me remind you, this is 1 dining chair I was inquiring about.

Guess...

Day 10 - Must have

I have been looking for a new "office" chair for my room for THE longest time...well...since my last chair's leg broke. You may remember if you sat in this chair over the last year. It's the one that if you sat on it and moved the wrong way it felt like the chair was going to crumble under you? Yeah, well since then I have had the oogliest oldest wooden chair (circa 1980's, if not 1970's!).

I dunno if it's just a shopping itch...maybe? But here I was, minding my own damn business, walking across the street from work and I see it...it's the One, the one that I dreamt of finding but couldn't find anywhere. I looked at Eq3, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and even Ikea!


It's a dining room chair - showcased in from of the display window.

http://1212decor.com/

I didn't go in to check how much, but seriously, if it's not there in May, I will cry. This entire store epitimizes how I want to decorate my future home. There's a picture of the chair on the website. If you go to "products" and keep looking for a photo of a staged dining room. Crystal Chandelier. Chanel perfume bottle lithograph prints hanging in the background. It's the one with blue/cream upholstery, backed with covered wood and silver studs. Love! *muah*

I can't wait to get it. Watch me go in, check the price, and faint. This is Rosedale after all. ;) Even worse, if they only let you buy the set and not just 1 chair. sigh*

Day 9 - Olympic Spirit

I feel like I need to get some HBC Vancouver 2010 Canada gear to appropriately cheer for Team Canada...esp when watching Men's Hockey!!!! Go Canada! :D

Is it just me or does her coat look a million times too damn big!

http://www.laineygossip.com/Hayden_Christensen_and_Rachel_Bilson_in_HBC_Olympic_clothing_after_leaving_gifting_suite.aspx?CatID=0&CelID=0

Day 8 - how ironic

I just received my free prize that I won at a conference: a LG blu ray player. Value $150 CAD (before taxes).

Now, I just looked on Best Buy and saw the matching LG tv - 47 inch HDTV 1080 is on sale - save $300. Value $899 (before taxes).

This stupid free gift is going to end up making me spend hundreds in order to get a TV that plays it properly. Oh! The irony!!!

Day 7 - 1 week!

Week One: no withdrawal symptoms yet. I was probably too busy dealing with my lovely monthly symptoms to notice anything BUT how fat I felt, how much I wanted to keep eating, and how annoyed I was.

I avoided shopping this past weekend only to spending all my cash on alcohol! Hmm...alcohol vs. shopping. Not sure that was the best investment of my money (literally pissed it all away!) I should have just shopped and been left with something in return. ;) Like a new top or maybe even something useful like dry cleaning all my clothes.

The next week should be a breeze! Other then the fact that I need a helmet for boarding though...hrm...anyone have one I can borrow until I can buy my own? ;)

Day 3

I have been duly warned, my upcoming trip to ATL will have a trip to an outlet mall. That will be an accomplishment which I am pretty sure most of you couldn't come up against. It's like Lindsay Lohan going to a club and not drinking a lick of alchy! Oh c'mon, you say...it's not THAT hard. Chew on this: insanely cheap (insert item of desire), that is oh so perfect for you AND will match everything currently in your closet AND you know you will never find it in Toronto AND (here's the kicker)...it's 70% off!?

Ek*

My plan of defense is to play with the yet unborn "K" the whole time and shove all my favorite foods into my mouth so my seratonin levels are high. BTW, Gifts don't count...I can get stuff for the baby! ;)

So I did a bit of research on what an "addiction" is clinically defined as. Wiki says:

A positive addiction is a beneficial habit--where the benefits outweigh the costs. A negative addiction is a detrimental habit--where the benefits are not worth the costs. A neutral addiction is a habit in which it is not clear if the organism (or species) benefits from the activity.

At this point, I think my shopping habit as I like to refer to it, is mostly...?

I'm not exactly suffering from debt issues, but at the same time, it's not exactly helping build my funds either. Hence, let's go for NEUTRAL! Neutral Addiction* that has a nice ring to it.

Further reading on addiction makes me a bit nervous. I see where this is leading..."FP is not only dependent and compulsive when it comes to shopping, but also with eating and food, writing things down in her agenda..." (you get my drift). Really now, I am making myself sound crazy or something.

On a different note: watched Carmen (opera) last night...THE BEST I've seen to date! Seriously.

Day 2

Dum dee dum - at work, obviously NOT doing what I should be (which is figuring out some insanely complex excel formula "IF AND cell, cell + cell , IF AND, etc ERROR!"). I think I need a break. Interesting, so I sent you all a link to my new blog. I have officially become a blogger! Ha! In addition to all my addictions - maybe this one will also catch on.

My friends' reactions ranged from:
1. OMG, you gave up shopping?! How?!
2. You are so gay!
3. That is a great idea!

Either way, I hope you guys find this amusing. :) Luckily, some of you have committed to keeping me on track. So just so everyone is clear...this is only shopping (like pants, skirts, bags, shoes, etc). I can still eat out to my hearts desire and spend money on necessities like gas, groceries, necessary toilettries, etc. Not spending money would be a miracle that I don't think ANYONE who lives in Toronto could accomplish. How would one live???

So Today is Ash Wednesday. I'm not Catholic, but I don't mind giving up something for Lent...SHOPPING! Only Lent is 40 days, and I want to go approximately 70 days. So afterwards if I succeed, I will not only be richer, but also feeling a tad holy.

At lunch today, I was waiting for my friend at St. Clair and walked into Town Shoes. I saw a big "40-60% off selected items" sign. :P I was a good girl, I think I took about 10 steps inside and thought to myself...hmm...I don't think this would help. But, I did find something cool that made me think of Donna. I don't remember the brand name, but they had shoe clips! Like brooches for shoes. (I thought of your Miu Miu or Prada shoes that you lost the shoe brooch on. You can go there, get a pair and replace it so your shoes are wearable again). There were a couple cute ones. Only $15 bucks! :)

Anyways, off to the Opera with my mom. No worries there as there is absolutely nothing to buy. ;)

Day 1 - The Goal

After repeatedly, year after year, setting the seemingly impossible goal of reducing my shopping habit, I have decided to blog it. Firstly to put it out there what I am going through and partly to motivate me; as I know that people can see this public declaration of resolution. Also, hopefully to get a few encouraging comments in the darkest moments when the stores beckon me. To date, in all my years (29) to be exact, I have yet to go over 1.5 months without shopping. That is the extent of all my "control" or lack thereof.

So...I will start from today...as I shopped just yesterday and feel major guilt pangs. After repeated "New Year's resolutions" on the Jewish New Year, the Jan 1 New Year and most recently the Lunar New Year, I will succeed!

First, baby steps! My friend and I made a small bet. No shopping for 2 months and 1 week. We built in a buffer for her so she can get some last minute "must have" items (nude stockings and flat tall boots). ;)

If we both succeed...well, more power to our piggy banks. Whoever falls first - treats the other for a delish Italian dinner.

My unofficial goal is to go as long as I can. If I can go until the end of the year...well...I might just treat myself to a Chanel bag. All the months of not shopping would probably afford me a very nice one indeed!

So at the end of Day 1 - so far so good. All my purchases this weekend still aren't even showing up on my credit card and the shopping itch is calm.