Confessions of a Shopaholic

I must make a confession - I LOVE to shop. I love to buy clothes, shoes, purses, makeup, perfume, housewares, books, office supplies, ok - must I really go on?

One of the reasons I am in the financial state I am in is because of my luxurious shopping and traveling habits of my 20s. I still am paying for things that have long since vanished - sold on ebay, given away, etc. Since I decided to finally get some help with my credit cards 3 years ago, I have basically withdrawn myself from that nasty habit. I have not used a credit card since, well really because I can't, but I pay for everything with cash. Ok, so I have had to borrow money once in a while to get through the month, but mainly everything that I have is paid for and mine.

How does one transition in life from buying Coach purses, Ralph Lauren clothing, and Franco Sarto shoes to shopping second hand and clearance shopping drooling for the latest bargain? Well, when you do not have a choice, you just HAVE to.

Yesterday I fed my little shopping habit by going to the Goodwill store. For $33, I bought 2 pairs of jeans, 2 sweaters, a t-shirt, 2 purses, and a pair of shoes. Ok, I could have done without the purses, but they were too cute and cheap to refuse! Here is one of the purses, I picked it up for $3.59 and it is brand new - the little silica pack was even still in it!! Is this purse TOTALLY me, or what??


For those of you who don't know, one of my favorite games to play is Scrabble...so when I saw this for 99 cents - I just had to buy it!



I actually made it through the jeans part of shopping with out crying...."Halleluijah!" I found 2 pair that actually make my ass look hot! Well, in my eyes anyway - and that is all that matters! The only downside is that they are way too long. Ah yes, one of the pitfalls of my body type - regular sizes are too long and petites make me look like Urkel. Seriously, if I could afford it - I would have custom jeans made.

You are probably asking yourself - why are you out shopping for yourself when it's the holidays and you are supposed to be shopping for others? Well, cause, that is what I do. :) I don't exchange gifts with most of my family anyway - not for a lack of wanting to, but it just makes sense we hold on to our money and save up for visits and trips. One day, we will be able to go back to exchanging gifts - soon, I hope, very soon!!

Now that I have fed my shopaholicism, it's time for me to get back to feeding my other disorders: ADD and OCD.

Ahhhhhh........

That great feeling you get when you wake up after a great meal and 12 hours of sleep!

Yesterday started out with Bloody Marys, which is a family tradition that I CAN'T go without on Thanksgiving! Since I am so far from my family, I thought the least I could do was uphold the tradition!! Then my friend Lucy and I made a martini stop (vodka, dirty, shaken-not stirred) then headed over to her sisters house for Thanksgiving dinner.

YUM, YUM, YUM!!! What a great meal we had - an Italian salad, rolls, rigatoni (yay for pasta and homemade sauce that took 2 days to cook!), turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, sweet potato casserole (SOOOO yummy!), green bean casserole, and of course, wine. It was an excellent meal, and I even left room for dessert!!

Let's see...the choices were just awesome: pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pecan creamy cheese pie, blueberry creamy cheese pie, brownies, and of course "crack cake". I opted for the 2 creamy cheese pies which where really light and AWESOME. Lucy made those in the morning while we drank the Bloody Marys. Then, I had a small piece of the "crack cake". WOW!! I don't know what her sister does to that cake - but if you know me, I don't really even like cake, so that's a HUGE deal!! It is making me want to experiment more in the kitchen with my baking skills!!

I brought home some of the sweet potatoes and a slice of the "crack cake" which I proceeded to eat this morning for breakfast.....mmmmmm.

Yesterday was one of the days I have been looking forward to since I started this whole "new eating lifestyle" I am trying. I wanted to be able to eat some great meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas and not feel guilty about it. Well, it worked. Yes, I was full last night - but not uncomfortable. Which, I have to say, is a first. The fact that I have my portion control under control and also that I eat smaller meals more often - certainly helped when filling up my plate yesterday.

Mission accomplished!! Now I can get back to the 4 meals a day without hesitation so I can look forward to some other fun holiday eating this year - guilt free!! :)

While everyone else is either shopping or working today, I am going to do some things around the house. First thing is moving my computer back into my office. The other day I blew a circuit and lost power in my office - so I had to move everything into my dining room. It was a pain - but at least its all fixed now.

The other thing I am going to do is sort through all my beads and make some jewelry. I haven't made jewelry in so long, but now that the weather is starting to turn - I will definitely be getting back in the habit. I am going to make some things to sell on ebay for the holiday season! My prices will certainly be reasonable - because with today's economy, people are strapped for cash and I totally know how it is!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Creative cooking, awesome parental units, and holiday stuff....

In no particular order...ok yes I will talk about them in order, c'mon you know my borderline OCD won't let me do otherwise!!

Creative Cooking

So, as you know, I was talking about this "fad" diet I have been doing. Well, it's actually beginning to stick to me. Weird, huh? Anyhow I have strayed a few times this week, but all in all I think I have done really well. Especially considering my salt and butter addiction. First of all, I have stopped cooking with butter and salt - replacements: extra virgin olive oil and salt-free seasonings and fresh herbs & spices. Yea, I can hardly believe it myself!! It is amazing how much better my food tastes prepared that way!!

So last week I went on my first trip to Whole Foods (yes, you heard me, my first time!!) and bought some great stuff! First of all I have a whole new appreciation for organic foods. I always thought to myself - WTF is the diff? Yea, well, taste it and you will know.

Tonight I got a little creative and thought I would share my dinner recipe:

1/2 Yellow Squash - sliced into discs, then slice again into moon shapes
2 Chicken breast cutlets - chopped into bite sized pieces
1/3 cup organic diced tomatoes
6-8 fresh chives - finely chopped
1 Sm clove garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Your favorite salt-free seasoning - I use Mrs. Dash garlic something or another
1/2 avocado - chopped into bite size pieces

Saute chicken breast pieces, yellow squash, chives, spices and garlic until chicken is fully cooked and yellow squash is cooked to your liking. I did this on med heat. Turned down to low and add the organic tomatoes, until they are heated through. Place on plate and top with avocado and enjoy!

Awesome Parental Units

Again, I have to say my p-units are pretty darn cool. They found a cool website update "side job" for me to do at night and on weekends. Now that is the bomb.

Holiday Stuff

Not much to say here, but I have to say that I am not going home for the holidays and it is going to be completely different. BUT I know that I am going to truly enjoy it here. I have a ton of friends to celebrate with, so no biggie! :)

So, my friend Lucy already put her Christmas Tree up. I know it sounds kind of nuts, but it is actually getting me into the holiday spirit! I am actually going to get a real tree this year, so I am pretty pumped up about that.

AND I totally have an awesome fireplace!! I can't wait for Santa to fill my stocking!!! I should probably get one for Paczki too, I wouldn't want to leave out my only child - even if he is a four-legged furry one!! You might think I am a little knuts by saying that, but either you are a pug person or your not. And I am, so get over it!

Alright - time to go check out some holiday decor so I can deck the walls!!!

Something Fun!

I found this post on one of my friends blogs and thought it would be fun.....

Go to this site: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/

At the top in the search box, type in the year you graduated, then cut and copy the songs here.

For all the songs you liked, or even kinda liked, bold them. For songs you do not know, italicize. For songs you did not like, make them a different color.


1. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan Adams
2. I Wanna Sex You Up, Color Me Badd
3. Gonna Make You Sweat, C+C Music Factory
4. Rush Rush, Paula Abdul
5. One More Try, Timmy T
6. Unbelievable, EMF
7. More Than Words, Extreme
8. I Like The Way (The Kissing Game), Hi-Five
9. The First Time, Surface
10. Baby, Baby, Amy Grant
11. Motownphilly, Boyz II Men (Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD....)
12. Because I Love You (The Postman Song), Stevie B
13. Someday, Mariah Carey
14. High Enough, Damn Yankees
15. From A Distance, Liette Midler
16. All The Man That I Need, Whitney Houston
17. Right Here, Right Now, Jesus Jones
18. I Adore Mi Amor, Color Me Badd
19. Love Will Never Do (Without You), Janet Jackson
20. Good Vibrations, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch Featuring Loleatta Holloway
21. Justify My Love, Madonna
22. Emotions, Mariah Carey
23. Joyride, Roxette
24. Romantic, Karyn White
25. I Don't Wanna Cry, Mariah Carey
26. Hold You Tight, Tara Kemp
27. You're In Love, Wilson Phillips
28. Every Heartbeat, Amy Grant
29. Sensitivity, Ralph Tresvant
30. Touch Me (All Night Long), Cathy Dennis
31. I've Been Thinking About You, Londonbeat
32. Do Anything, Natural Selection
33. Losing My Religion, R.E.M.
34. Coming Out Of The Dark. Gloria Estefan
35. Here We Go. C+C Music Factory
36. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over, Lenny Kravitz
37. Where Does My Heart Beat Now, Celine Dion
38. Summertime, D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
39. Wind Of Change, Scorpions
40. P.A.S.S.I.O.N., Rhythm Syndicate
41. The Promise Of A New Day, Paula Abdul
42. I'm Your Baby Tonight, Whitney Houston
43. Love Of A Lifetime, Firehouse
44. Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave), Roxette
45. This House, Tracie Spencer
46. Hole Hearted, Extreme
47. Power Of Love-Love Power, Luther Vandross
48. Impulsive, Wilson Phillips
49. Love Is A Wonderful Thing, Michael Bolton
50. Rhythm Of My Heart, Rod Stewart
51. Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..., C+C Music Factory
52. I Touch Myself, Divinyls (Heck ya, and if you know me you KNOW this is my fav song!!)
53. Tom's Diner, DMA
54. Iesha, Another Bad Creation
55. Something To Talk About, Bonnie Raitt
56. After The Rain, Nelson
57. Play That Funky Music, Vanilla Ice
58. Temptation, Corina
59. Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Bryan Adams
60. I Can't Wait Another Minute, Hi-Five
61. 3 A.M. Eternal, The KLF
62. Time, Love and Tenderness, Michael Bolton
63. Saideness Part I, Enigrna
64. Around The Way Girl, LL Cool J (Hey LL, I'll be your round the way girl!!)
65. I'll Be There, Escape Club
66. Cream, Prince and The N.P.G. (get on top!)
67. Now That We Found Love, Heavy D. and The Boyz (Another fav!)
68. Show Me The Way, Styx
69. Love Takes Time, Mariah Carey
70. Cry For Help, Rick Astley
71. The Way You Do The Things You Do, UB40
72. Here I Am (Come and Take Me), UB40
73. Signs, Tesla
74. Too Many Walls, Cathy Dennis
75. Crazy, Seal (This is a great song!!!)
76. I'll Give All My Love To You, Keith Sweat
77. Place In This World, Michael W. Smith
78. Something To Believe In, Poison
79. Wicked Game, Chris Issak
80. Get Here, Oleta Adams
81. Round and Round, Tevin Campbell
82. Silent Lucidity, Queensryche
83. I'm Not In Love, Will To Power
84. Piece Of My Heart, Tara Kemp
85. Real Real Real, Jesus Jones
87. Just Another Dream, Cathy Dennis
88. Everybody Plays The Fool, Aaron Neville
88. Strike It Up, Black Box
89. Rico Suave, Gerardo (Seriously? Who doesn't like this song??)
90. Disappear, INXS
91. Groove Is In The Heart, Deee-Lite
92. All This Time, Sting
93. The One and Only, Chesney Hawkes
94. O.P.P., Naughty By Nature
95. Freedom 90, George Michael (yum)
96. I Saw Red, Warrent (when I opened up the door....)
97. Miles Away, Winger
98. Do You Want Me, Salt-N-Pepa
99. The Motown Song, Rod Stewart
100. Shiny Happy People, R.E.M.

Good News/Bad News

Bad news, I had a few beers last night (and salty popcorn) and I think it skewed my results from the 4 day diet! UGH! I gained 2 LBs!!

Good news, I am not sure how this happened with the above 2 LBs - BUT I did lose 3/4 inch from my midsection and 1 1/2 inches from my waist! YAY!!

So onto the eating plan....hopefully I will have some good reports next week! I actually feel really good though, and know I am understanding how much salt an alcohol play a role with my body. I think it's about time that I really do some cutbacks. I don't think I will have too much of a problem cutting back on the salt - I have found some good salt-free seasonings. The alcohol part, well, not so easy. :)

What I need to do now is figure out how many calories are in my favorite drinks, and if I am going to consume them, I have to cut back on food calories. Tit for Tat. Now THAT is going to be difficult!!

Today is going to be an ebay/craigslist day - it's time to start cleaning out some of this mess I don't need. The less I have the better, purging has never felt so good!

Which reminds me - what exactly do you do with jigsaw puzzles that you have already put together once and don't want????

We all have slip ups....

Last night I went to a party and had a few beers, no biggie. I know I probably shouldn't have indulged since it is not part of my 4 day plan, but you know what - that's life. I also ate food I shouldn't have last night either - but again, that's life. I am not going to sit here and feel bad about it, or stop my "diet" by any means. I woke up today and wanted to get right back on track, and that is what is important to me.

Today is going to be great. I have some reading to do, beads to sort, an office to clean, and a checkbook to balance. Oh, and food to eat. :) My favorite part of the day.

I also have some planning to do to - as it turns out, my "interim" job is not going to last as long as I had planned. But, it's ok, because I knew I was not going to do this forever and I am still in life's limbo. This spring I am going to take the opportunity to travel a bit and visit with friends and family. That will be an adventure in itself!

Day 2 - minus 1

Yea, that's right 1 big ole LB of bloat gone! Although, it might be back already - with all the water I drank today - wow!! But no salt for two days and I think I am having withdrawal symptoms!! After this 4 day thing, I might reward myself with a pringle or something.

I have only eaten 1200 calories a day for two days - its completely weird, and I am actually kind of hungry. It is split up into 4 meals a day, so at least I am never STARVING as usual. Just think - in two more days I can have 1600 calories! YAY! Oh yea, and I get to eat avacados - YUM!!! I seriously hope that is one of my meals - I would eat them every day if I could!

Another workout with The Bean Nazi today, this time I did the Pilates workout instead of the Ab workout and also did the Full Body Workout. Not too bad now that I am done, but the push-ups? I thought the lady was trying to make me pass out! Seriously, when your only workout for a year has been 12oz curls - it's hard to get used to pushing up your big ole body!!

But I'm stickin with it, my commitment-phobia is starting to disappate and I figured it can only get better from here!!

Powerwashing my insides - Day 1

This mornings breakfast was good - cornflake, unsweetened applesauce (which I promptly seasoned with Pampered Chef Cinnamon Plus Blend - YUM!!), raw sunflower seeds, and what I am now calling the "magic potion". I am still working on the sunflower seeds, I am not really hungry but I figured I better follow this thing right.

The magic potion is really not bad, in fact, it tastes like lemonade. Not the stuff you get in a restaurant that is too sweet to drink, but the home made kind that is more like lemon water. Since I drink water all day and even bring a glass to bed with me, it is really not that big of a deal to drink this stuff.

So I guess that's it. Hopefully lunch will not completely make me ill, I am supposed to eat a pint of grape tomatoes along with 4 oz of turkey and a piece of string cheese! I think that is overdoing it on the tomatoes, so I am going to eat as many as I can. Seriously, a pint? You see why I call this thing powerwashing???

Salt.....I just can't quit you!!

Starting tomorrow I am going on a 4 day "anti-bloat" diet. Yea. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Well, I have found a great "fad diet" that I am going to try out. I am not going to tell you what it is until it actually works. No sense in endorsing something without trying it first!!

Anyway, in preparation this evening I made myself a nice large bowl of buttery popcorn with Parmesan cheese. Yum-Yum. This has to be one of my all time favorite snacks. It's too bad I always take a healthy snack and turn it into a salt and butter infested fat mess. Hey, what can I say - I LOVE SALTY FOODS!!!! I love cheese, I love butter, I love salt, and I LOOOVE popcorn.

Tomorrow morning I start out with cornflakes and applesauce. Doesn't sound too bad if you ask me! This "cleansing" consists of a lot of fruits and veggies, and some cereal worked in. It actually does not sound bad. Well, except for, of course, this crazy drink I have to drink....see there is always a catch. It really doesn't sound bad either, it's not any kind of chemical or packet - it's actually water with some fruits and veggies that soak overnight. I made it tonight and it actually smells kind of good, so here's hoping for a great start for this 4 day thing.

Oh, and I am supposed to keep a journal, so I guess it will be this blog. I am not going to declare any weights or measurements on here though, so don't get yourself all excited. I will only talk about lost inches or lbs or pants actually fitting properly. My jeans are starting to look like my nightmare trip to Old Navy last summer!!

Off to bed, the pug is eyeing me again and it's starting to creep me out. Later.

Miss me?

Yea, yea, yea. You don't want to hear what movie star I compare myself to, you want to hear about the trials and tribulations of my reduced income status!

So, what does a broke 35 year old girl do when she's bored? I said, broke - so none of that getting drunk stuff. Although that sounds kind of fun right now.

Well, I bought this workout thing last year after seeing it on TV. Yes, I am a sucker. BUT, I bought this thing called The Bean for like $50. It's like a pilates ball, but in the shape of a bean. When I first bought it, I was super excited and pulled it out of the box and pumped it up (comes with a handy foot pump). Well..... it just sat there, and sat there, and sat there. So, I finally deflated it and packed it away.

Something inspired me to get that thing out - yea that would be the fact that I FINALLY have a connector for my DVD player to my TV, thank you very much! I popped in the DVD and did the 7 minute AB workout and thought, "Hey this isn't that bad!" So I decided to try the 30 minute Total Body Blast, what's 23 more minutes? By about 3/4 the way through I was swearing at that dumb be-atch instructor, telling her "Shut up, you f'n bean nazi!!"

But wouldn't you know it, 3 days later I did it again - that is twice in one week!! AND I walked 2.26 miles on Sunday! WOW! My body has no idea what to do. So it's been eating really healthy and craving water like mad. Hm. Weird side effects if you ask me.

I am telling you, I am going to ENJOY stuffing my face this holiday season and not feel guilty! There are pies to be eaten, cookies to bake, and my friend Lucy's stuffing that I haven't stopped thinking about since last Thanksgiving!! It is even better than my mom's!! Oh sh*t, sorry Mom!!

Anyhow, I am still working from home these days and it's been pretty uneventful. Trust me, I am COMPLETELY welcoming it!!

Now if only I could cure my procrastination...I guess I will think about that tomorrow.