What I'm Not Buying this Weekend #4
Welcome to my shopping game that I hope will partially fill the hole left behind in many of our formerly shopping-oriented lives. I believe you may find this exercise to be superior to mere window shopping. And if you fall off the wagon and literally buy something, not to worry. Tell us about that too, so others can catch a bit of the thrill while you were at it. And remember, you’re helping the economy!
To play, please grab the What I’m Not Buying this Weekend badge, located in my sidebar, or just use this link. Then leave a link to your post about a recent shopping experience with Mr. Linky, or tell about it in the comments.
It all started innocently enough. Princess Sparkle and I were running early for her appointment to get 10 inches of her hair cut for Locks of Love. Okay. Not really. About the running early part. We got all ready to leave for her 10:30 appointment, and when at the last second I checked “the calendar,” which in this case meant rummaging through “the important papers area” for the appointment card with the exact time written on it. I realized we were running an entire hour early. This is seriously unheard of, around here.
Keys in hand, I stood frozen in the middle of the kitchen. Sparkle, being the younger, and quicker on the reboot, said, “Why don’t we go not buy something?”
Duh! Why didn’t I think of that? She offered this just in time too, or I was going to end up way too involved watching the bevy of pregnant squirrels that have taken possession of our backyard, plot against the determent spikes on the bird feeder for several hours. If we stopped moving at this point, there is no doubt in my mind we would have been late.
She did it! And look how gorgeous she is with her sassy new do and holding her TWO ponytail donations with our amazing hair stylist, Richard. Do you notice the display over to the left? Of course, you do. It’s almost the color of a Tiffany’s box, and there is that large “M.” It’s got to be a sign. “Margo.” “Mom.” “Mother’s Day.”
Moraccanoil $20- 60 These styling products will make everyone in the world’s hair look like Salma Hayak’s. It says so in a magazine, so it must be true. I use the styling creme, and I’ve blocked out how much it cost, but I’m sure my husband thinks I look just like Salma. Or maybe I mean I’m sure my husband does NOT think I look just like Salma. Richard and Kai, just to give me even more things for my To Not Buy list, tell me Moraccanoil is about to launch a shampoo and conditioner. No Fair! But the cool thing is, I can NOT buy it now!
So, where did Sparkle and I go before the appointment? A favorite standby: SteinMart. That is where I found the first thing to get me in the not buying mood – this shoe. Yes, just one.
Have you ever noticed how on What Not To Wear, Stacy and Clinton are always referring to clothing items that come in pairs in the singular? They’ll say, “She needs a nice, low heeled, pointy toed SHOE to go with this crisp linen blend PANT. And to give a touch of sparkle, how about this EARRING to go with?”
And, last but not least, this lightweight cashmere wrap. (At 20 % off, it was a great impulse item to not buy)
Now, according to Nordstrom, I am ready for a lawn party. Whatever that is. They are mentioned often in all the best online dress descriptions this season. Maybe it means that while my husband is mowing the lawn today, I’ll have to go pretend to make myself useful, while showing off everything I didn’t just buy. I’m almost sure I’ll look fabulous, even though I’ll only be wearing one shoe.
Virtually Saved:
Moraccanoil shampoo and conditioner $Who knows?
Shoe from SteinMart $ 44.95
Tory Burch Amalia Linen Dress $395
Two Tone Cashmere Wrap $89.90
Total amount: $827.85
Check out Heather Cherry and Moi’s new Clothing Swap Blog. I wish I wore their shoe size! Anyone out there at 5 1/2? I’ll meet you over there!
One shoe, one earing, and one pant leg! It’s all very peg leg pirate! You’re so hip Margo! I need to get my act together so that I can join this my dear!:)
I’m not buying anything this week end just vegging out so I can recharge for next week.
Such a great and funny post.
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
You are hilarious. What a witty idea, and so frugal out of respect for our ailing economy!
Your daughter is adorable.
My husband and I used to play a game where we’d pick out the most god-awful thing in a store window, look into each others eyes and say sweetly “Never, EVER buy me that”
You are hilarious. What a witty idea, and so frugal out of respect for our ailing economy!
Your daughter is adorable.
My husband and I used to play a game where we’d pick out the most god-awful thing in a store window, look into each others eyes and say sweetly “Never, EVER buy me that”
Cute! I am doing some light blogging this weekend. I’ll link up hopefully this summer after school is out.
I am also trying my best not to buy anything….but I did buy a camcorder yesterday
Not cheap. My kid has a couple solos with his sax this spring for band. I can not miss it!! I would feel horrible.
I love that you call your daughter Sparkle. And her new ‘do is fabulous! Go, Sparkle! Everyone’s a choppin’.
Just one SHOE? Nevah!
I’m up.
Marie, yes! the pirate look is very current. Come play sometime!
Dorothy, vegging out is a great time to not buy anything. Thanks for visiting
Ann, Thanks! It’s suprisingly fun to not buy stuff when the mood is right. It’s our gathering instinct, I think
Hit 40, the video camera thing is the new black
Got to have latest and most operational for capturing all those special moments. Jump in and play sometime when ever you have the chance. xxx ooo
moi, I’m kind of in the mood to chop my hair now, too. I don’t have enough for LOLove though… and I don’t think they take color treated. Sparkle, if you were to ever know her, definitely earned her nickname! Thanks for playing again. Your Frank Lloyd Wright home is stunning!
I do so adore your blog! And congratz to your daughter for donating her hair to such a worthy cause. WOW!
Sparkle looks radiant. Dare I say it? She…sparkles!
You will look lovely yourself even without your pant,shoe and earring
Luv the fresh “do” and so does Locks for Love.
Hi Margo, I’m participating for the first time. Must say you have great taste in vitual outfits.
Heard tonight about a couple that will not buy cards for one another. Instead, on significant holidays, they go to the store and show each the card they WOULD have bought each other, then leave, purchasing nothing. What do we think of this?
See, I think those are the styling products that I need to buy to tame my hair. But there is no way I can fork out $40 for cream. Oh well. I’ve made peace with the fact that my hair is a giant puffball. *Sighs*
Your daughter is so pretty!
I can’t wait to post my dress…if only I could find A SHOE to go with it.
Great post…promis I’ll post today…it is what I’m not buyng this weekend… Sunday may be mother’s day but it’s still the weekend!
Yea Sparkle! You look fab!
Mom and I have always noticed that bit about Clinton and Stacey. Unfortunately I’ve seen every ep ever made and thus the repetition has implanted itself in my brain so I now say things like “what a great shoe!”
Oh and thanks for the plug!
Beth, thanks so much! I’m very glad to be getting to know you too
Pricilla, sparkle does sparkle. If the “shoe” fits
Now that it’s monday it’s back to the real world… I’m barefooted.
phdyogurtry, I think LOL will appreciate it, and I’m very proud of her! I’d want her hair!
viridian, thank you so much for playing! Seriously! That sewing/embroidery machine is amazing. I’m still recovering from the sticker shock. Congratulations on not buying it!
dawn, I find it interesting, but I kind of like it. It sounds more heartfelt than grabbing whatever is in front of the display at the last minute to avoid saying something of substance. not that we’d ever do such a thing
whisperingwriter, there are a couple of puffballs around my house too. There’s this cheapo olive oil stuff with the 2nd tier products at CVS that we use that’s worth giving a try.
ps, good luck with the shoe. Don’t forget a nice earring.
Heather, Clinton and Stacy have definitely changed the way we speak about “thing”. And I really enjoyed your new site. Can’t wait to follow as it becomes filled with all kinds of things that maybe I will buy!
enjoyed this story so much!