Our No-Shopping Experiment -- Part 3

I went to Target to get diapers, we were out. They are a necessity. I bought a package of 75% off caramels. I love caramels. It didn't even occur to me that I wasn't supposed to be shopping. I also bought a gravy boat on clearance. It is white and cute, and so it was a necessity because my current glass one has a crack in it.

What, you don't have a gravy boat, and you are okay? Who wouldda guessed?

My experiment is really not going well. I think I'm going to postpone my experiment until the last 2 weeks of January and first two weeks of February. Wait, will that interfere with Valentine's Day? What four weeks are the least likely for me to want to shop?

Our No-Shopping Experiment -- Part 2

On New Year's Day, we were discussing resolutions. Matt's brother said that they had a FHE on resolutions and they all set some. One of his daughters set a goal to have 20 Daddy Daughter dates this year. I asked him how often they had "special times" (which is what they are at our house because we do dad and mom dates).

He said and I quote,

"That was her resolution, not mine!"

Well, this little shopping experiment is turning out like that.

I discussed it with Matt. He listened without much comment but the heaviness in the air that meant he was not wholly on board. So I asked what he thought.

In a nutshell, he thinks it's great if it doesn't affect him. He pointed out that

1. He's been purposefully waiting until after Christmas to buy new fish and a tank heater

2. He's still having dates and going out to eat.

3. We were planning on organizing our craft/exercise/future guest room and he's ready to do it now.

4. If we are just putting it off until February, what's the point.

5. If we can get stuff on sale now, why wait until February (or next Christmas season) to buy it at full price.

6. If I don't buy any house decor or scrapbook stuff, he thinks it's a great idea.

So our experiment is not going well.

Our No-Shopping Experiement -- Part 1

Have you heard of Judith Levine? She wrote the book Not Buying It. She went a whole year without buying anything that wasn't a necessity i.e. food, gas for her car, etc. I had heard of it, but not much about it. But I am thinking of doing this for a month. So, I looked her up.

There were a great many criticisms of the book and her experiment. One was her categorization of needs. For example, she deems her $55 haircut a necessity. She also, with her partner, have 3 houses and 3 cars. Of course heating and gas are necessities, even for 3 houses. Another was her rather-off topic rantings (politics).

Anyway, I'm not reading the book, I'm just thinking about not shopping for a month. I'd eat, but not fancy foods. I'd keep my house running as it is. I wouldn't cancel my high-speed Internet (like she did). But I'd not buy all those great deals on whatevers (house stuff, crafty stuff, etc).

What do you think? Would you give it a try? Why or why not?

MaLM - Our Christmas Holiday Highlights

Make-a-list Monday -- Our Christmas Holiday Highlights, 2008

1. The Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, always wonderful, always inspirational
2. The Nutcracker with the Utah Regional Ballet at the Covey Center, beautiful music, fabulous dancing, and my girls' shining eyes
3. Our ward Christmas party, just adults, where we met a new couple in our ward, our 2nd cousins! followed by seeing Twilight (uhhh, maybe not a highlight, but a mid-to-lowlight)
4. Christmas Eve with our parents
5. Christmas morning with everyone thrilled, including me!
6. Christmas dinner with family in Salt Lake (followed by a hazardous, death-defying drive home through snow steeped passage ways and swirling winds)
7. Christmas vacation in Paris with family (after the crazy 5 hour drive through the snowy river and woods)
8. A New Years Sleepover
9. A great vacation full of family time, happy music, delicious food and relaxation.
10. Lots of nights by the tree with our sweet family, my favorite!

If only all this didn't have to end with Christmas cleanup. . .

Andrew's shame

During the fall on our semi-annual trip to Arches National Park, Andrew had a moment of three-year-old-ness. Matt told him to "come sit on this rock and hide your head in shame," very tongue in cheek.

Andrew slowly walked over and then dropped his head into his hands. It was so hilarious, we all cracked up. It must have made an impression.

Last night he was having trouble staying in bed. After a few interventions by Matt, he seemed to stay. But,when I went in to kiss him, his head was buried in his pillow, his bum high in the air. I kissed his bare neck, and he turned over. He looked at me sadly and said "I did hide my head in shade 'till you got here."

A kiss, and a hug, and a suppressed laugh later, all was well with Andrew.

Funny Christmas Cards

I thought these cards were pretty hilarious. There are more here.

MaLM - December Fun

Make a List Monday --December Fun

We've had a lot of fun this month (along with the stress). I wanted to list all the great news!

1. Matt's work party in Midway at the Zermat Resort. This is the same place it was last year when we had our magical date. I still think of that night as near perfect.
2. Our ward party (just for adults) where we had a blast visiting and even found a new second cousin in our ward!
3. The First Presidency Christmas Devotional
4. The Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, which was phenomenal as always.
5. Met our new niece/cousin this week, congratulations Rochelle and Mike!
6. Got our first lasting layer of snow, beautiful and cold!

Still to go:
Caroling parties, lots of Christmas movies (Mr. Kruger, I'm looking at you next), Dawn's school party, the school Christmas sing, and lots of present/card work.

Hope you are enjoying your December, too.