Conversations with a Conservative

Well, it is time for an update.  So far, I have done pretty well.  I will confess my purchases and then share my outfit for the day, but first a few of my random thoughts.  I know this is going to be hard for me, especially as Christmas sales start hitting my inbox, but I'm determined to have a healthy relationship with shopping once again, and this is my first baby step (not really the whole stretch, just starting it!) I like what Misty said on the weekly link-up post today (go here to read and see other "stretchers").   She talked about the freedom in not feeling like she needs to keep up with a trend or run out and try to find something she saw online - I wanted to yell, "Amen, sista!"  That has been the biggest thing I have noticed this last week for me.  I think my head was even trying to will myself to want things, but I just couldn't find that much that I wanted.  Mostly, I think I am over the current offerings in sto...

So you may remember that I started WeightWatchers a few months ago, and I have continued following my plan.  This summer has been a struggle for me, but I sit at 136 lbs right now.  My goal from the beginning was 132 so I’m going to see if I can get down to that now.  Even if I never do, I feel great and I’m enjoying seeing my body change and become more tone.  I have been working out almost every morning, and I plan to continue on that for the rest of my life if possible.  I feel like I’m finally making a lifestyle change. Well, my mom started WeightWatchers a bit after me, and than my oldest sister followed.  My other sis hasn’t actually officially signed up yet, but over Labor Day weekend we decided that we were doing this together.  They need motivators and I needed extra motivation so helping them helps me.  Since I have been doing it longest, I’m motivating my sisters to workout and eat better (and more just helping my mom be accountable a...

Photo from here . This may not be of interest to many of my readers, but I am just getting sort of frustrated and tired of all the conference changes.  I thought sports were supposed to be about fun and competition, and who doesn't love a good rivalry.  Instead, it has become about the money.  Isn't that what always happens? I'm also sad, because it seems that yet again, my lovely home state of Kansas is going to be kicked to the curb as always.  I know Kansas isn't as exciting as NYC, and no, we don't have any beaches, but I LOVE Kansas.  Unfortunately I don't get to live there anymore, but I will always be a Kansan, and I have tons of pride for my state.  It is full of hard working people, and maybe we just prefer a simpler, quieter pace of life.  I miss that living in a big city.  Plus, with the Internet and UPS, I have determined that I could shop anywhere, even in fashion lacking Kansas (we used to get stores later than other places). I ...

If you read my post yesterday, you know that I put myself on a shopping ban.  Well, I was also super behind on blog reading and just happened to read Misty’s post from last week talking about the 100 Day Stretch (see button on the side).  Yes you read that right – 100 Days.  Basically, it means that we are going 100 Days without shopping.  I kind of can’t believe I just said that, but as I said yesterday, it is much needed.  Sometimes I really think God works in the small things.  I need to do this detox, but I wasn’t sure I could do it alone.  Now I don’t have to thanks to Misty! So how did this all start?  Well, I have always loved shopping, but online shopping was just becoming too much of a hobby.  Also, looking, or should I say hunting, for a good deal became almost a high for me I think.  Anywho, this really kicked into gear a few months ago when I lost weight and needed to replace some clothing.  Well, I got a little crazy ...

Hello lovely readers, I didn't intend to take a blog break.  I was out of town for Labor Day weekend, and then work got crazy busy.  Anyway, things should be back to normal now and hopefully the fall won't prove to be as busy as spring.  However, I did join a book club, we have football games, and the husband and I are doing this marriage class group thing.  They are all good things though, and I feel like I'm getting more and more involved at church and with friends, and that is what matters in life, right? So yesterday (after I had a mini life meltdown), I started cleaning and organizing again.  You see, I deep cleaned my house about two weeks ago, but then I was either dealing with that time of the month or too busy to clean the last couple of weeks so it kind of overwhelmed me yesterday.  Mostly what overwhelmed me were these piles of unread magazines from the last two years and a stack of recipes I tore out from them.  I finally decided that I...

So I skipped out on another day this week.  I didn't participate in wear something on your head.  I had a meeting yesterday and didn't think a scarf, hat, or flower pin was meeting appropriate.  I thought about a headband, but they kind of hurt with glasses.  Oh well.  I did participate in Sunday shoes yesterday instead!  I love how heels look, but I don't always like how they feel so I don't wear them too often.  I love the shoes I chose for this challenge, but if I had to be on my feet all day they would be a no go. Outfit Breakdown Tank: Coldwater Creek, $10 Sweater/Cardigan: Lands' End Canvas, gift Jeans: Gap, $20 Shoes: Talbots, $30 Necklace: Forever 21, $5 So the first picture is how I normally look at work - wearing a sweater when it is 105 outside because it is FREEZING inside.  I also tried to take a couple of pics of my shoes since they were the reason for the outfit.  This outfit is pretty simple, but I like.  I als...

I have a confession - I skipped a challenge day this week.  Yesterday was supposed to be "take something from your mending pile, fix it and wear it."  I have said pile, but with getting ready for upcoming festivities this weekend, I just didn't get to mending anything.  Plus, I feel like whenever I sit down to sew, I owe my husband some hemmed pants first.  Anyway, all of that to get to today: statement jewelry.  Over the last couple of years, I have started collecting a lot of fun necklaces, but I had one in particular that recently made its way to my home but hadn't see the light of day yet. Outfit breakdown Top: Lands' End, $5 Skirt: J.Crew Outlet, $20 Sandals: J.Crew via ebay, $6 Necklace: Anthropologie, $10 I had loved this necklace in all colors for a while, but I just couldn't bring myself to even spend $30 on it (the first cut price at Anthro).  However, when I saw it hit $10 a couple of weeks ago, I jumped on it.  I love how it kind of...