Confessions and K-Love

I'm really excited :-) Pourquoi? Well b/c tomorrow i am (finally) going to the dentist to get a cracked crown replaced. Since my dentist is way up north and work is downtown, i brought stuff to work on in the morning and will go to the office post-lunch. THAT means i can do a little sleeping in which in turn means i can do a little staying up late. (And by late i mean midnight at the latest - so sad.) This also means i have time to write this blog post that i've been meaning to write for awhile. This, my dear friends, is a confession to you.

I quit the shopping challenge.

OK "quit" is the wrong word. Let's just say that i decided the way i was going about it wasn't really the best way... at least for me. Remember how i said i was an "all-or-nothing" type of girl? Well the shopping challenge is more evidence of that. Going cold turkey, however, has brought out some really ugly parts of my personality. I've also found myself compensating by doing what i do best - excessive eating. Food and shopping are my biggest vices... when one goes away, the other explodes. It's no bueno. Also? I created a "THINGS TO BUY POST-CHALLENGE" document and added to it DAILY. The sad part? I know i would've dropped some serious cash on all those things the minute this self-imposed shopping ban was lifted. That was NOT the point. The point is NOT to be so focused on buying buying buying. The point is to think about my purchases ahead of time. The point is to save more, spend less. I was spending less, that is true, but only temporarily.

I realize this sounds like i'm just giving up, and believe me, i felt SO guilty about it, esp. after you guys were so supportive and enthusiastic about it! But just b/c i'm not going cold turkey does not mean my intention has changed. A dear reader told me that she waits one week to make any purchase over $75 - i think that's BRILLIANT. I will do that! Setting food and entertainment budgets and using a cash only system? Also REALLY great and i will definitely continue to do that. Debiting loan payments and other fixed costs as SOON as i get paid so i can't spend that money other things? Absolutely. I've set up automatic payments on pretty much everything. My point is - i am making significant changes. Gradual changes. I can't turn into a frugalista overnight, it's just not realistic. And for once i want to find my way to a livable middle ground instead of trying to immediately jump to the opposite end of the spectrum. Do you get my drift? Do you have more suggestions? Do you think I suck? (Tis OK if you screamed "OUI!")

Now - we are changing the subject completely.

Just wanted to send out some K-love (that's my nickname for Korean love ;-)) to Nina from Femme Rationale. Hers was a style blog i discovered awhile back, and i'm hooked. She's a gorgeous Korean girl in SoCal, living (from what i can see) to be a wildly creative life. Normally i'd hate someone like her (major jealousy, yo), but the thing is, i can't, because she's just SO NICE. And cool. So if you're into the fashion blogosphere, i highly suggest you check her out.


P.S. This week, despite its horrifying start, has been great! I am taking control at work, keeping busy, and remaining optimistic. Yay.