Of the Month

I was browsing around, online shopping if you must, after I found a bit of money burning a hole in my pocket. I have been extremely good this year – Santa, can you hear me? – in not spending those hard earned pennies. Even when I found all my cashmere and wools had been violated by moths. I merely trudged on.

When I needed new pants or work gear, I became a frugalista.

When I wanted new funiture, I thrifted.

In trying to find a home for that money burning so hot I stumbled upon an ultimate gift. Shoes. Every month. For a Year.

It’s almost too much to bear, until you reach the price tag. For a mere $1,800, I could have a new pair of heels delivered to my door each month of 2010 – that works out to $150 per pair. Yikes! I do not currently own any garment that I paid more than $100 for, and those are the heavy hitter items – coats, cashmeres, etc. – and even those I stalked until they were around $100. But $150 pair of shoes each month? I’m sure they’re just gorgeous – especially after having seen all the shoes that came out of their catalog this previous year – but I think it would be daunting to wear a pair of shoes that cost that much – mostly because I would see every pair as having cost $1,800. Though I’m sure I would get over it…

This puts Fruit of the Month clubs to shame!

Yellow

I’m making a concerted effort this week to trot out my lesser worn shoes. These don’t really qualify as lesser worn since I only bought them on Saturday, but being that they are highlighter yellow, safety yellow or day-glo (take your pic — but they’re not green!) they deserved some attention. The only thing I don’t like is that, because they don’t have a heel, I feel like i’m almost waddling around. Flat shoes make lady-like walking difficult. Flat sandals are even harder.

I think I could feasibly wear a new pair of shoes everyday for a month and not repeat. Scary, huh? Which brings me to my point.

Mom and I went shopping at the St. VDP thrift again and I got some killer deals – highlighter sandals withstanding – such as an Oscar de la Renta silk scarf for $0.63, some great italian ankle boots and a really nice suit. $50 and I believe I am outfitted for the rest of the summer and fall.

Thrifting is fantastic for a multitude of reasons. Not only do you get a hell of a deal on whatever it is you are buying, you’re almost guaranteed that no one else will ever wear the same thing as you, because you didn’t shop from a rack with 20 of the same shirt. Plastic fast aside, unless I am buying staple items that just have to be purchased new, I think I could make a lifetime of good choices just by staying out of the malls.

I’m off to Happy Hour now. It’s the start of a fantastic Birthday week for this girl.

Highland Dryland

Though my collection of wellies is neither as vast or as visually interesting as this photo implies – I do have a collection of wellies… And though ‘collection’ may be a bit of a strong term as I have just two pairs of the English Gardening favorite – and two pair seems to be enough as I can never remember to wear either set.

Living in Pittsburgh, they are a necessity for the Springtime when the sky can open up at a moments notice and drop a few ounces of cold water on your exposed toes and recently refurbished leather heels. Way to go me.

But the point here isn’t so much Pittsburghs weather (believe you me, that needs an entirely separate and solitary entry) as it is collections.

I’ve recently realized (and been told) that I have a lot of things in my apartment. And I do, I’m not denying it. Things that I’ve held on to for years and years for one sentimental reason or another, as well as the accumulation of other things without a sentimental reason (not to mention those that I’ve held onto for sentimental reasons but can no longer remember what that reason was – frustrating!) I’m not so bad that if something breaks I hold onto it instead of pitching, but I have a lot of junk taking up prime real estate in my already small apartment.

I have three closets in my apartment – none of which are large or in my bedroom (a true disadvantage for a “collector” such as myself) – and the only one I use on a regular basis is a regular nightmare. The two closets in my living room are now cleaned out, but the “walk-in” in my hallway is still screaming for a facelift – erm – floorlift (let’s not even talk about the holiday decorating fiesta currently housed in my basement storage unit). And so I’ve begun to purge.

And man alive does it feel good – it helps with the plastic fast and with the prime real estate recovery – I thought I was going to have to move! Shoes that never really fit? Gone. Belts I wore once in college? See ya. Clothes I can’t put on – let alone pull off? Hello Goodwill!

I’m only halfway through with the overhaul and am getting ready for the first-midnight-over-stuffed-car-trip-to-the-donation-center-run. Initially I was thinking I would donate in person and receive the tax credit but then part of me thought anonymous might be better – lest I be caught …

Quit your day job

Joe Appel Photography

Recently I got to do a photo shoot for the newspaper and I was able to work with two great photographers – Heidi Murrin and Joe Appel.

I’ve had a bit of experience with Joe before, as he was the photographer at the wedding of my friends Allison and Brennen, becoming a seamless part of the day (while the rest of us scurried about) documenting the event perfectly – even managing to capture a few moments the bride and groom missed as they were so busy.

I thought everything he photographed that day turned out extremely well, especially considering the weather hadn’t really been in our favor for the first half of the day, so I was very pleased when he was the photographer for the second day of shooting on the little black dress story.

Heidi had great conditions with Nordstrom – neat props, make-up artist, good looking art – and I had been extremely happy with her photos (I only wish I had something I needed head shots for!) so I was all the more excited to see Joe’s photos after having seen his work from Allison’s wedding.

Both photographers did a beautiful job and I would work with either one again in a heartbeat. It is funny though, that as I look at each photo I can see a different person. I know it’s all the same person – work with me here – but in each outfit it’s a different personality coming out. I guess clothes can make the woman!

Joe posted them here on his blog, with the full photo slide show available here of both sets of photos from Heidi (Nordstrom) and Joe (Macy’s).

Day 15

Loopholes.

I’ve spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out if there are any in the shopping suppression. The reason for the debate? eBay.

Wikipedia states that a Loophole is a weakness or exception that allows a system, such as a law or security, to be circumvented or otherwise avoided. Loopholes are searched for and used strategically in a variety of circumstances, including taxes, elections, politics, the criminal justice system, or in breaches of security.

I concede that Lent was not among the things listed but I’ve lingered on the words “searched for” and “used strategically” for two reasons: 1 – I am still wanting to be “searching” for shoes and 2 – all I can hear in my head when I get to that point in the sentence is Will Ferrell saying “strategery”, but oddly enough it’s in the voice/tone he used while playing Alex Trebeck on SNL Jeopardy. Go figure.

I was checking my email – something it looks like I haven’t done in days – and attempting to delete 50 or so emails (sale notices) waiting for me when I noticed an email from eBay letting me know my watched auction was coming to a close. Soon.  Bid now.

Which started me thinking about the last time I had been on eBay. I know it’s been a while, but for an auction to be on my watch list, it would have to be up for a month and I would have been on eBay about 3 weeks ago. Shortly before I made my fast, I logged into eBay to take a peak at a few dresses and put a zillion of them (with matching shoes) in the watch list. The dress left in the list, well, it’s pretty damn expensive. Not something I could afford, regardless of Lent, I was probably thinking that if it didn’t sell, being in my watch list it would pop back up relisted … maybe at a lower price. In 9 days, we’ll see.

But the conundrum is this. Another item I had been wanting closed for a mere $10.50 and shipping. Something that would have originally cost over $100.

Back to Loopholes.

My theory is this: A loophole will work if it is able to be applied across the board to all who have given up something. If someone were to generously offer purchase something for me and hold on to it til easter, I could, at that point pay you back. Then, I haven’t technically bought anything.

So, if it can be figured out how I can eat the sweets and treats others have given up for Lent and pass the enjoyment on at Easter, I’m golden.

Day 14

Saturday turned out to be a pretty good day – albeit a short detour in the middle almost cost me my sanity.

I met my Mom at her house and brought lunch, the good little daughter I am, and watched Becoming Jane while we munched. She had a couple of errands to run (pick up donations at church, pay bill at JCPenney, look for something for Easter) and I was going to tag along.

After a few comments (criticisms) about directing, editing and lighting we were on our way. The run to the church was quick as there was nothing to pick up – lucky us – and headed to the mall.

dunt dunt duhhhhhhhhhhhh

We went in to pay the bill at JCPenney (slight furniture shopping spree between the two of us last August) and decided to look around at a few things for her apartment. Note: When she is over at my house, we don’t watch tv – her fast for Lent – yet when I go to her house we have to go shopping. Is this fair? I ask you! Mom? Really, I’m asking!!!!!!

A few beach hats and “oh aren’t these cute?!?” espadrilles and we were on our way down the main hall of the mall. To Macy’s.

The lower level is where we needed to be. Women’s wear. Men’s wear. Formal wear. Nothing I could get into trouble with. So of course we walked in on the upper floor.

And Macy’s had to be having the biggest sale I’ve ever seen. I swear, all the winter coats Macy’s sold this year – well – it was like a Coat Convention (which if they ever have I am sooo going). AND SHE MADE ME TRY THEM ON. ALL OF THEM.

Ok. That’s a bit much, but she did have me try on the Top 10. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Wish you were here. And she was laughing the whole time. “Oh! Here! Try this one on!!!” “Look at your face!” (chuckle chuckle) “Oh that one fits you so well!” and my favorite “LOOK! Houndstooth!”

I finally convinced her to stop making me try them on (though, true, I was a bit complicit in my torture) and leave the department. Do you know what department is next to Outerwear and was also having a huge sale. Shoes.

My Mom is hilarious. Not.

Day 3

All women covet this closet. If they say they don’t, they’re lying to you.

I love Heineken advertisements. They’re always so dead on in regard to the sexes. I only wish my walk-in had this many built-ins.

Day 2 – They Know

I might as well have sent up a flare that said I gave up shopping.

I turned on my computer and coffee pot this morning to indulge my two a.m. needs: education and stimulation. And this is what met me in my inbox. Before 9 a.m.

At 8:42 a.m. there were 11 emails offering coupons and in store discounts. 19 more would arrive before noon.

The hardest part, and this could be because I haven’t had a weekend of “fasting” yet, is that I can’t look at all the websites I would normally check on during the course of the day.

No skimming through j.crew’s online sale – their email said it’s fantastic and I should drop by – or following hyperlinks to see how much the outfit cost and where I could put it together for less – thanks People.

Just an innocent pair of $300 shoes dropping by my inbox to say hello, asking a simple question. “What’s new?”

They have to be at least $300. They just look like something I couldn’t afford. Rock-chic. Well balanced. Braided leathers with studs. Sandy colored and a platform to boot. Someone put me out of my misery and compare them to rent. Or food. Or ANYTHING.

Or else I might keep thinking how well they’d go with my blue silk dress.

2 down …

Day 1 – What?!?!?

Day 1. Big Day.

Ash Wednesday. First day of Lent. First day for giving things up.

Useful things. Needless things. 40 days of going the distance. Can you do it? Can you give something meaningful up and regardless of missing it, wanting it, needing it make it to Easter Sunday without indulging.

When I was kid there was always the “Give up TV” rule instituted by the dictatorship. I think that would last about a week before the TV started to stay on slightly past the 6:00 news and slide down the slippery slope towards prime time.

When that didn’t work, things “given up” became more service minded – Mom asking for 40 days of peace in the house – minimal petty arguing among those in the peanut gallery. Riiiight.

Then, as you got older, you started to use Lent to redeem your New Years Resolution. “Well, I was going to start eating better and working out – I know! I’ll give up sweets!” So you stop swinging by the office candy desk – we’ve all got one – and try and make an extra trip or two to the gym in the course of the week and, by the home stretch, well you’re not exactly eating the forbidden Girl Scout Samoa ice cream, but a hershey kiss won’t hurt anyone.

Except I don’t hanker after sweets. Well, ok, maybe once in a while I get into that mode where if I don’t have chocolate now, heads will roll, but that’s very rare. So giving up sweets really isn’t the way to go. And I could say instead of giving something up, I’ll just make a concerted effort to do something better – generosity, forgiveness, etc. But it’s not enough. I mean it is. But it isn’t.

So this is how I stuck my foot in my mouth – Or took my hand out of my wallet as it were.

The conversation went (something) like this:

• Me: How’s the brownie?
• Lunch Buddy: Eh. It’s ok. I think it’s from yesterday.
• Me: Bummer. I could use something sweet. Gave it up for Lent though.
• LB: Really? You don’t have much of a sweet tooth. You should give up something else.
• Me: What?
• LB: Yea. Something big. Sweets are small.
• Me: Something big? What? Like, shopping?
• LB: (Huge Eyes accompanied by a shriek.) YEAH!!!!!!

Everyone knows the economy isn’t doing well, poor kid, but that really isn’t the reason I’m doing this. And getting further out of debt is just a side bar – my original New Years resolution (btw) that I have kept up with – this truly will be a test.

How do I know?

Well the reaction from just about everybody I told started with the same air gasping shriek. Followed by “Seriously? You’re not going to be able to do that!”

I’m not a credit card wielding, couture buying, sample sale fighting diva. I’m a bargain hunting, sale watching, price adjusting shopper. But either way you can get yourself into trouble if you’re doing the a fore mentioned methods of procurement.

I’m not in serious trouble, but I have had to push off a few major purchases because of a killer pair of boots I’ve just picked up or a skirt that was so dirt cheap on sale you can’t make it yourself for that price.

My point is that shopping is a big part of my life. I use it for stress and celebration alike, shopping for myself or for others, so giving this up for 40 days is going to be difficult.

Extremely difficult. And I know this.

There will be no new shoes. There will be no sale rack hand bags or jewelry bin deals. There will be no shopping. For 40 days.

There are ground rules. I am allowed to pay off debt with money usually diverted to shopping, as well as maintain my normal monthly bills. I am not allowed to hand over my credit or debit card for anything which has a price tag on it that needs to be removed. No new houseware items. No new clothing. No new shoes – that one hurts so much I’ve said it twice. Nothing second hand either. No loop holes!

39 and counting… Here we go.