Saturday, January 24, 2009

Confessions of a Reforming Shopaholic?

If you like free swag, before you read this, go to the post below and leave a comment for my itty bitty giveaway. It's not massive, but happy mail is always good mail, right? Is there a woman out there who hasn't read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella yet? And the rest of the novels (so far)? And who is going to see the movie that comes out in a few weeks?
I must confess that I have read every last novel, drooling over the shopping escapades of one Becky Bloomwood and cringing as I wondered how she was going to dig herself out of debt. She always manages to rise to the occasion, but not before I almost get heartburn in angst over it. And it's a fiction series!!!
Even though I'm a thrifty, flea market girl at heart, I have my full retail habits. Under my favorite websites I have saved, there is an entire section for make up and skincare. Hubbie worries when he hears the associates at Sephora call me by name. I'm trying to save my pennies until mid-February for when MAC Cosmetics releases their Hello Kitty line because I want it almost as much for the cute packaging as the make up. I'll skimp on butter to save a buck, but my skin is priceless. I wasn't born blessed with dewy, poreless skin. I'm not going to add insult to skin injury by bargaining with it.
And CHA starts tomorrow. I've said it before, I have NO business even considering purchasing any art supplies that aren't staples, but I'm feeling that frisson of excitement with each email containing a spoiler alert for new product. My inner Becky Bloomwood is making a list and planning to purchase as soon as it hits the stores.
But, I'm trying to be more conscious of my spending habits.
I'm really curious to know if anyone else looks to the era of the 40's when people were planting Victory Gardens, using ration books and repurposing everything with a bit of admirable envy?
Does anyone else worry that our consumer driven society has crippled us as we live through this time of recession? Do we still have that can-do spirit?
I'd like to hope that we can and will rise to the occasion.
Now, why do I have no business buying any art supplies? I have a room that is bursting at the seams with lovely things that rarely see the light of the work table. I've been making an effort to use it up. Tossing an empty package into the wastebasket is a most satisfying feeling. And really, when the creative session is over, I don't feel the least bit deprived for not working with the latest releases, but I do feel the satisfaction of creating AND utilizing my older, but still gorgeous stash. Now that puts a big Cheshire Cat grin on my face (you know, the face with pores big enough to drive a Hummer into?).
This is one of 6 Valentine's cards from old supplies....
All old stash: old cardstock, patterned paper, rub-ons, ooooooooooooooooold...The rub-ons for the sentiments are 5 years old! And they still went on like buttah...
Punched those tiny hearts out with the very first incarnation of the Quickutz. Yes, I still have an original handle. Still works!

10 comments:

DebW said...

Loved the SK Shopaholic books! I too love Sephora and will not deny myself that luxury.;) My MIL talks about the victory gardens that were in her neighborhood when she was a child. Love the stories.I also have refrained from purchases to get my stash used!

Sherri said...

Love the V Cards! Oh I am TOTALLY using my 'stash'. Of course, I'm on this junk store kick. But I'm hoping to get back into creating some things soon too. Now that my studio is organized!

Nancywithajones said...

caaaaaaaauuuuttteee and ughmm no havent read or watched yet but ughmm (I STILL THINK I NEED IT ALL) but IM tryin to scrap up my stuff so I can get it hehe) Im on a restock my cards stash mission this weekend.

DD said...

Casii- thanks for your comments on my blog! http://averagejanebeautyreviews.blogspot.com - I am a Sephora addict. I heard that Lemon Aid was good. I will test that out next time I am there. Eye Bright rules...you have to try it next time you go in.
Danielle (ddnbanjo)

~kellyann~ said...

Oh, I am sooo bad when it comes to scrapbook/artsy shopping. My depression-era grandma would cringe if she saw my stash.

Your cards are beautiful and no one, except for a fellow scrapbook hoarder, would know all those goodies are 'old!'

Pam said...

Gorgeous cards! And...I haven't read the Shopaholic books! Ack! There's always a 2012 or WWI book somewhere calling my name.

But on the other hand, I'm definitely inspired by what people in the past had to go through and I tend to save everything. I have a whole room of random things I brought home from my retail job that was going to be tossed. Not to mention the free door I brought home, that's out in the garage.

Mom to 4C boys said...

I know what you mean about the satisfaction of throwing away an empty package. One of my resolutions this year was to use up some of the old crafting supplies I have. I keep trying to remember that feeling when I am drooling at the store.

And the card is gorgeous!

Wingnut said...

Love the card!

j said...

My buddy Jerri has SO much talent repurposing various things. I haven't arrived yet in that area but I save all sorts of odd things for when I do get a hang of it.

And the movie and the books are probably over my head. I am just not a big shopper. Except for craft stuff. I have more scrapbook paper than I could use in a lifetime.

TJ said...

I admit to having never read the books, I've looked at them, but never read. I'm not a huge shopper though.

I am a retro girl. I love my retro cookbooks especially the ones with all the tips for using everything, and try to plant my own Victory Garden each year. It's pretty pitiful, but I keep trying.