I have a problem. No, not my need for anger management classes, nor my need to build social skills (I’m not anti-social, just socially challenged). These two things pale in comparison to this problem of which I speak. My problem is called “Retail Therapy.” You know the trite saying that girls eat ice cream and watch sappy movies to feel better. Not this girl. I shop to feel better. Not like I need a reason to shop to begin with.
I’ve perfected the art of shopping – Window shopping, Flea market shopping, Boutique shopping, Department store shopping, Dollar store shopping, Corner store shopping – I am what you call an equal opportunity shopper. All I need is a room with things that have price tags on them and you got my attention for a few couple of hours. I don’t discriminate on stores...some of my best pieces were either got from the most unlikely shops or at a crazy bargain!
So my retail therapy problem is thus: If I have a bad day, I shop. Someone gets on my nerves, I shop. I get bored, I shop. Its a nice day out, I shop.
Its not that I am financially irresponsible but shopping to me is what AA is to an alcoholic or rehab is to a drug addict. It heals me. Tammy Faye Baker had the right idea when she said “shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.” Not like I know what the hourly rate is to obtain a shrink is but I reckon it probably is more expensive than the kinds of shopping I do. So I should carry along and indulge right? Wrong.
Getting upset + Shopping = Happiness seems like a good equation and one can argue that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, there is a missing variable in that equation and its called Discipline. I have come to realize that this habit of shopping in order to release happy hormones is trés problematic (albeit the current economic situation played a major part in ‘shoving’ me to this realization! :-).
Up until a few years agoI used to suck my thumb to feel better (yep a FEW years ago...and?) . No harm there as I was young enough not to know any better and quite frankly the only harm that caused was a slight overbite. Everyone besides my dentition wins! But now, as a young adult, this road to self appeasement, as anyone will agree, is far from functional! Therefore in order to avoid being a hypocrite and in order to practice what I preach on my blog a propos functionality, I have decided to stay away from the shops...
...until September (i’m trying to be self-righteous not mad!)
Hence my experiment commences. Hopefully, I find a way to placate myself when times get rough that does not have to do with expanding my closet. Hopefully I don’t regress to sucking my thumb, or end up on a psychiatrist’s couch – I heard they are pretty expensive.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
What Do You Love Most About Your Age?
This was the question I came across whilst reading the July issue of Vogue. I read this question with amusement as I had never REALLY thought about it. I mean i love finally being able to rent a car without the extra 200 dollar deposit for not being of age and many a times when I see an older person who seems so dated or a young person talking about not being able to buy alcohol, i think WOW i love being 20 something :-)
However as I pondered upon this question, I brought out a piece of paper, just as I do when reading those forwarded emails. You know the ones that promise to reveal your one true love after writing down your favorite color, food, name of your best friend, and numbering 1-50 etcetera etcetera (you get the drift). Anyways, as I pondered upon this question, I decided to write down at least 10 things I liked about my age. Here goes...
#1. My independence (for now)
#2. The feeling that I can do anything I want and be all that I can be (even though the feeling is fast fading!)
#3. My looks (although the jury is still out on what the next 15 years would bring).
#4. Being hip enough to buy my nieces cool stuff (may I never become the old dated aunty singing Rihanna's umbrella song 10 years from now!)
#5. Having a new crush every week.
#6. Looking young enough to be hit on by 20-somethings yet old enough to be hit on by 30-somethings. (hopefully i'll be off the market long before the 40-somethings start with the "hey baby heaven must be missing an angel" lol).
#7. Being able to shop in the Juniors department without looking like an old fool :-).
#8. Being in love.
#9. Being smart enough not to think i'll forever be in love.
#10. Be at an age where I can convince myself back to believing in Forever Love!! lol
Whilst reading through my list, I became a bit nervous as I realized that I may just be in my best years yet. It all seems to be going downhill judging by all my comments in parenthesis. But in re-reading it I further realize that it can only go uphill from here!! Another thing I love about my age...
...My unending Optimism :-)
--Life is sometimes hard, and you have to laugh your way through it!
However as I pondered upon this question, I brought out a piece of paper, just as I do when reading those forwarded emails. You know the ones that promise to reveal your one true love after writing down your favorite color, food, name of your best friend, and numbering 1-50 etcetera etcetera (you get the drift). Anyways, as I pondered upon this question, I decided to write down at least 10 things I liked about my age. Here goes...
#1. My independence (for now)
#2. The feeling that I can do anything I want and be all that I can be (even though the feeling is fast fading!)
#3. My looks (although the jury is still out on what the next 15 years would bring).
#4. Being hip enough to buy my nieces cool stuff (may I never become the old dated aunty singing Rihanna's umbrella song 10 years from now!)
#5. Having a new crush every week.
#6. Looking young enough to be hit on by 20-somethings yet old enough to be hit on by 30-somethings. (hopefully i'll be off the market long before the 40-somethings start with the "hey baby heaven must be missing an angel" lol).
#7. Being able to shop in the Juniors department without looking like an old fool :-).
#8. Being in love.
#9. Being smart enough not to think i'll forever be in love.
#10. Be at an age where I can convince myself back to believing in Forever Love!! lol
Whilst reading through my list, I became a bit nervous as I realized that I may just be in my best years yet. It all seems to be going downhill judging by all my comments in parenthesis. But in re-reading it I further realize that it can only go uphill from here!! Another thing I love about my age...
...My unending Optimism :-)
--Life is sometimes hard, and you have to laugh your way through it!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Blacklist
As a little girl, there were two things I hated wearing - hats to church and fancy dresses. You know the kind you had to sit still so it didn’t as much as get a wrinkle in it much less a stain! The kinds that came with the frilly socks and patent shoes. I hated those two things. Not really sure why I hated wearing hats but I know I hated dresses because they took away a freedom. Kept me from being myself for fear of a whooping should I get the darn dress dirty. I hated watching my brother carry on while I was forced to sit pretty because of a stupid dress.
As a teenager, I still hated wearing hats to church and dresses. I also added purses and makeup to my objects of disdain. Well maybe not makeup in general but specifically lipstick and nail polish (does nail polish count as makeup?). I hated purses because like dresses, they took away my freedom. See, I had gotten to an age where my mother could no longer carry my junk yet I never wanted a purse because (1) I hated always having to keep an eye on my purse so I didn’t lose it and (2) I always lost it. Lipstick and nail polish made my list of things disdained just because they seemed unnatural to me.
In the present time, I still abstain from lipstick and with the invention of French manicures, I too can have pretty toes. However, for the most part, my blacklisted things are now my most coveted things. I cannot do without a really hot purse and pretty dresses have become my weakness.
(FYI: any of the above dresses can be purchased at http://www.victoriasecret.com/, and the Prada purse (preferably in black and gold) can be purchased at any fine retailer that carries it. Please contact me for size and delivery address :-)
It has been said: know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. I can say with all certainty that nobody know me pass me!* I have discovered that I am my own best friend and my own worst enemy. But most of all during my process of self discovery, I have discovered that clothes are inevitable and however you choose to adorn yourself reflects to a certain degree, the person you are.
To be a functional woman (not as in the pages of the glossy magazines, on television or on your movie screen) is to know yourself, know what you represent, and know what works for you. For me – Dresses work and in the spirit of summertime I would like to leave you with two important words of advise:
#1. Your dress should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you’re a lady; and
#2. When in doubt, wear pink!
L’été sera chaud...
To be a functional woman (not as in the pages of the glossy magazines, on television or on your movie screen) is to know yourself, know what you represent, and know what works for you. For me – Dresses work and in the spirit of summertime I would like to leave you with two important words of advise:
#1. Your dress should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you’re a lady; and
#2. When in doubt, wear pink!
L’été sera chaud...
*translation: I know myself more than anyone else on this earth.
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