I'm so cold!

This is part of a vintage yarn painting kit - um, Last Christmas anyone?

It started raining this week. I guess it's rainy season now, since it went from lovely spring temperatures for President's Day, which I spent at a bicycle race out of town, to today, where I only wore a sweater to work, and I looked awful because I was so cold. Someone even commented on it at the market where I was getting a burrito for lunch (my new favorite place - it's awesome and close to work), because I was chattering and moving back and forth trying to stay warm. Ridiculous. Totally ridiculous.

I have a small heater in my office, which gets used to abate the chill that occasionally takes over the room, and I kept it right next to me today, along with a cup of hot tea. If my appearance weren't so important at my job, I would wear a ski sweater, and a knit hat, and jeans, and boots every day. I can't even think about it - it sounds sooooooo nice.

I don't know why I'm so susceptible to hot and cold. I got over it a few years ago. Going on insulin made it livable in the summer, but the cold is definitely still difficult.

Maybe I'll start wearing a hat. I think that's a good compromise. I can rock a hat. I'm gonna need to start looking for some more hats then :)

It's so hard to be frugal.

 

Oh-mg. I was at the mall tonight, and there was a big (30-70% off everything) sale at a women's clothing store that has clothes that look nice on me (i.e. long pants), and I was so longing for new clothes. I had that moment, that I have sometimes, where I wished that buying new clothes didn't bother me so much.

I have been going through a bit of a shoe craze lately, though. I've bought Dansko clogs and galoshes in the past month on eBay. I've also completely lost my black slacks. Has anyone seen them? I have also been buying clothing for work even though I could wear the same thing every day and it wouldn't matter. It's a bit compulsive, in my opinion. I've been so hyped up about buying a new car, but when it comes right down to it, I can't do it. I want it so bad, but it just won't work. I can't afford to add that much money to my monthly budget. So I think I have to keep the Rabbit, the car with no working doors, no speedometer, no heater or air conditioner.

It's so sad to admit, but I can't afford more than what I have, and I have to live with what I have.

How often do you purge?

One of my aunts once told me that every time she buys something new, she gets rid of something old. I think that she was specifically talking about her wardrobe at the time; get rid of a pair of shoes when you buy a new pair; new pants, old pants, and so on. This seemed genius to me.

Of course I have quite a book collection, and it isn't entirely for me, so that isn't something I purge from very often. My clothes are definitely possessions I go through regularly to get rid of what I don't wear anymore, doesn't fit right, or isn't looking as good as it once did. Since I've been buying all of my clothes at thrift stores, it seems apropos to just thrift them back. "From whence they came..."

Moving is the best time to purge of course. Spring cleaning, or something similar, will also do quite well. I myself have begun purging mid-November because I watched Hoarders for the first time, and it made me anxious.

Final note: If someone could please give me an appropriate range of "number of pairs of shoes allowed one individual female person", that would be very helpful to me (I tend to return to my feral child roots when I'm unsure about something). It may be helpful to know that I am a professional person. I try really hard to live simply, but I just bought another pair of (used) Dansko clogs, and now I'm up to three pairs, and I'm feeling like that may be too many, but I don't know which ones to get rid of.

Mantra #1: Donate what you don't use!

Mantra #2: When in need, always ask for help!