RE-vamping

Can you re- something if it never was? 

My sisters will tell you.  I make questionable wardrobe choices.  Shopping is often painful for me.  I am attempting to enjoy it and find things I truly love and will wear and be able to remix in other outfits so it doesn't seem as though I'm wearing the same tired old shirt.  I will tire out an outfit like you wouldn't believe.  I will love it so much til I hate it and create some vision in my head how the outfit now all the sudden negatively shows parts of my body it initially complimented.  The outfit will make me stick out like a sore thumb and people will no longer want to be my friend.  That may have to do with the fact they've seen me wear the same outfit most days for a month and are wondering if I washed that peanut butter stain off and if that is a new one...

Here are some of my gripes about shopping...

Trying on dresses without the right footwear.  Or any outfit for that matter.  I try to make my dressing room trips conclusive and swift.  That typically means leaving on socks.  Plus that is a dirty floor.  Wow that number looks great with my mid-calf striped winter socks.  I love going to a store that has helpful sales people offering to find a pair of heels in your size so you can better picture yourself in the dress.  This typically happens only in this store.  I love Jennifer Reale Design and wish I could purchase all my dresses from her.  Alas, my pocketbook will not always allow such spending.  Trying to find a cheap-o dress in Charlotte or Forever 21?  Forget about it.  You and your calves are on your own.

Sales.  You get wicked excited by the plethora of well organized goodies on the 75% off rack, then you look and it is only size 0, 2, some 4's, and 16.  If I keep eating BBQ utz chips for breakfast I'll be able to soak up the benefits from this rack but there is no way in hell I'll ever be a 0 or a 2. 

Bargain shopping.  Some people love the discount stores like TJmaxx, Marshalls etc.  I can't spend much time in there.  The lighting and disorganization in it all sends my calm mood into pure chaos, much like the store.  I really have to be in the right mind set.  I have found some great workout gear in said stores.  And I typically do shop only the organized racks they have on the outskirts of the department, hiding those massive long unorganized racks.

Questionable quality.  I sound like an old lady.  They just don't make things to last like they used to.  Some stores I enjoy the styles that they offer but then I think about items I've purchased before.  Hems have fallen out, shape has been lost, even small holes arise.  Not worth it. 

Sizes, schmizes.  I really don't think these numbers mean ANYTHING.  Especially when you try on one size, it is too big and accentuates your thunder thighs with its baggy-ness, then you try on the next size down and hello muffin top and flat mom butt.  I don't get it.  The larger size, I need a belt, but this smaller size, one fricken size down, I need to wear spanks or some sort of girdle to make them fit appropriately?  And now my ass is smooshed down into my mid thigh.  Thanks.

Wide feet.  It is hard to find comfortable shoes that look great.  I abhor shoe shopping more than any other shopping.

This year I have purchased two tops and a pair of jeans.  Flares are being sold again!!  I haven't bought jeans in three plus years because I can't really do the skinny jean thang.  Not flattering to saddle bags.  This is probably another reason why my sisters question my fashion sense.  My resistance to current styles. 

SOOOOOOOOO
I will work on being more open.
Having patience with the shopping process.
Leave expectations behind.
Be less critical of myself.
Find a mantra to repeat over and over and over and over to mentally prepare myself.
ENJOY SHOPPING!

Talk amongst yourselves...

Do you like shopping?  What helps you get in the mood?  Do you have any words of wisdom for me??

Writing it down…

Making it happen?!
I hope so. If I publish some New Year goals/intentions/ideas/resolutions maybe I'll stick to it. I usually do well with resolutions. I gave up french fries for a year and I think after the year of completing that goal, I only indulged in fries if the restaurant was indulging as well, i.e. using peanut oil or truffle oil. I eat fries now, although about once a month. They are never as good as I remember them. Potato chips and I have an unhealthy relationship. Maybe I should find a meeting…
Last year I went vegan. I had quite the cheese hangover on January 1, 2010. No, it wasn't the wine. I had half a glass. It was the cheese. Every course of my meal had cheese as the main attraction. Two weeks into veganism I had withdrawals and wanted the comfort of a grilled cheese sandy. But no. I worked through my cravings! And then, I discovered Daiya. At this time, Daiya was not provided by supermarkets but that soon changed. Hopefully it will be available in all supermarkets one day, not just Whole Foods. I also discovered other foods that did not involve cheese at all and fell in love with being a vegan.
2011 begins a whole new decade. So many exciting things are going to happen in the next ten years. Instead of dreading of the big three-oh, I'll be looking for cheap botox and the newest thigh master to beat the big four-oh. What will be the shake weight of 2020?
I thought maybe I should kick things off with a resolution to be friskier. That was quickly shot down as I don't quite have a handle on appropriate times to be more frisky. Why is it not always appropriate to repeatedly slap your partner's behind?
Here are some goals I will work on this year. These will not get shot down…

1. I want what I have.
   Be present. Although the future is exciting and life would be easier if I was already finished with school and well established in my career, I will focus on enjoying day to day life. This will be especially challenging for a dreamer like me, but it is probably the most important thing I can work on.
2. Bike and run a combined 500 miles.
   I hate running. But I love how I feel after running. I want to run a race this year. At least one race! Originally I thought I'd like to run 500 miles this year but once the warmer weather arrives I'm going to want to spend more time on my bike. I'm excited to see what I'm capable of!
3. Spend 200 hours on my yoga mat.
   I've already spent 1.25 hrs there. 198.75 to go! Yoga is something that helps keep me well and fit. It pushes my physical, mental, and emotional boundaries like nothing else. I've meandered off the mat the past few years and I'm looking forward to getting back on. My spring semester schedd seems to welcome this challenge. J
   
4. Thirty day challenges!
   Last year began with this challenge and it was a unifying event. Andrea did a thirty day yoga challenge. I've already begun one 30-day challenge, but that is for another post. These challenges will range from anything I want to work on from a fitness goal, spiritual goal, and maybe even some fashion goals! I should be on What Not To Wear and hopefully some challenges I put myself through this year will change that. I found a new-to-me fashion blog, Kendi Everyday, and she issued a 30-for-30 remix challenge where a heck of a lot of other bloggers participated and documented. I think I'd just need help getting those 30 pieces.
5. Push boundaries with yoga and spirituality through trying new things and taking classes.
   Group and guided meditations really help me sync into myself. I think it is something about the collective energy in the room. I need to do this more. This past year I took two different yoga workshops and am looking forward to doing more. Maybe I'll finally get my Reiki II! There are many possibilities…

Of course there are the read more, create more, healthy more ideas. I'd like to focus more on classics but I'd really like to find my reading niche. I often get caught up in a series, and then mourn the loss once I've closed the last book. At one point in my life I was really into film. I'd like to rekindle that love. Lack of time and a partner that doesn't quite have your taste in movies kinda put a damper on time with the big screen. When it comes to being healthier, I just want to cook more for myself. I've conquered many bumps, and quite frankly pot holes and boulders, already on the "be-more-healthy" road. Now I just need to find more time and energy in meal prep.
Any ideas for 30-day challenges? Anyone want to run a 5k with me? Who wants to redo my wardrobe?
xoxo