Shopping. An outlet or an addiction?

I can say I am at a good place right now. I feel healthy, I look healthy, I am healthy. It’s a good place to be. I’ve lost some weight and my self-esteem has improved. So for my birthday Shane took me shopping. We had not done this in months because the financial situation at home has been MORE than tight. It was the first time in a looooong time where I could go out and actually buy whatever I wanted (within limits of course…). I found sooooo many cute things! In fact I can say that SINCE my birthday (exactly one week ago) I have NOT repeated an outfit and have only worn new things. I am getting compliments and I feel proud of my fashion choices! So where is the problem you ask?

I WANT TO KEEP SHOPPING!

That’s the problem. Yes I got a lot of stuff. Stuff that will last me for years to come. Stuff that is fashionable and trendy yet classic and elegant. Items that I can wear to work and mix them up and wear for drinks (diet coke preferably!). So if I am “all set” with every item I possibly could ever need, then WHY do I have this urge to go shopping?

Retail therapy. That concept has never appealed to me until now. Don’t get me wrong I have subscriptions to every fashion magazine out there, but I never really considered myself fashionable. I was always your basic, simple  girl! Ha! Not anymore! This little amazing thing called retail therapy I have discovered has gotten me more compliments than highlights ever have! I’ve noticed it’s not how you look (in terms of weight, skin color, hair color) but HOW you present the package!

So… even though I am not rushing to the store to buy new duds, I am rushing to my closet every time I get the urge to release my tension. Looking at my new beautiful possessions definitely puts a smile on my face!

I realize that this post sounds a little bit materialistic… but you have to understand that I have NEVER felt the satisfaction of having someone compliment me on my choice of clothing. I have always flown under the radar… well… not anymore! Yay!

After all how can you NOT  fall in love with THIS beautiful skirt?

Until next time…

Your friendly neighborhood SW!

3 comments October 14, 2010

Pumpkins, breasts, and non-violence.

Today was a pretty cool day at work. I had to run groups which is definitely not my forte (Hey! Every good social worker has a weakness!)… but somehow someway something that I was dreading turned out to be an amazing experience. We talked about the importance of the month of October while decorating pumpkins to get in the festive spirit. (You can see my masterpiece below…)

Apart from being the AWESOME month I was born in, October is pretty jam-packed by awesome awareness causes. There’s Breast Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness and Coming out Day. Even though almost every other month has pretty cool awareness causes as well I hold a dear place in my heart for this special PINK month. Breast cancer awareness is very important to me. I once found a lump on one of my breasts and thought I had BC for days. It was the scariest few days of my life. I was uninformed and younger. It turned out to be a cyst, but I have never been the same. I am an advocate for the cause. I buy everything related to it. (Yup… it’s PINK overload around my little corner of the world!).

I was really dragging having to take time out of my busy paperwork-filled day to run a group and cover for someone who did not go to work… but what I expected to be a “blah” day turned out to be an amazing experience.

I am so thankful for days like that!

Until next time…

Your friendly neighborhood SW.

1 comment October 13, 2010

Getting old. Not Really.

Apart from being a flake when it comes to blogging (see I can call myself out on it!) I have to say that I have been VERY busy. Some of that busy time can be attributed to the dreaded turning 26 crap I’ve had to deal with the last couple of weeks. You see, last year I was ALL EXCITED about turning 25. It was the quarter of the century birthday. I was lucky enough to have great family and friends who walked me through 25 and made me feel sooooo special. I actually and honestly LOVED turning 25. 2009 was a great year.

Then 2010 happened. Yikes what a year. This was supposed to be the year where I got my $h!+ together! Yet it has been one of those years where you sit back and think… “did this really happen?” Being 25 was a blessing but it came with a lot of realizations. It came with growing up. It came with financial strains, it came with a bunch of different “situations.” I am thankful for 25… but Oh boy am I glad that 26 finally made it around the corner and caught up with me!

26 better be better or else! 26 better bring forth less drama than 25 did. So far… it hasn’t been too bad… but then again we are only 96 hours into 26. This new milestone in my 20s feels like an important one. I am no longer in my EARLY 20s (GASP!). In fact I’m on my way to 30! In four short years I will be 30 years old. 26 comes with a sense of adulthood. It comes with a warning on the label. That warning reads “you better not mess up this thing we call life… you’re a big girl now.”

26 also comes with a lot of hope. I hope I can make this year better than last. I will make wiser decisions throughout the next 361 days. I will stand up for myself more. I will take better care of my health. I will think before I act and I will figure some of this hot mess out. Or at least I will try to.

Here’s hoping…

Until next time…

Your friendly neighborhood SW!

1 comment October 11, 2010