{ the spending diet...weeks 11 + 12 }

I bought this skirt (on sale). I call it my church skirt. But it is also coming to the beach with me. I needed a slightly longer skirt to wear to church when we go, um, like once a month. (Hey, don't judge, that's way more often than we used to go! When you get ovarian cancer at age 23 you develop a complicated relationship with God). :)

And I bought this bag (in black) for a carry-on for several upcoming trips and the pool trips this summer. I think it will carry my stuff + all of the kids stuff just fine.

We've had a lot of little misc. spending this month - some stuff for the garden; end of the year teacher appreciation gifts; more money on food due to lots of company in town and end of the school year functions; etc. So I'm going to try to be really mindful in June & July. But I'm going to be within a 10-mile radius of a Lululemon and Anthropologie next week. So may the force (or will power) be with me.

{ the spending diet... week 9 + 10 }

Hmmm... Okay, no beating around the bush. Here's what I've acquired so far this month.

1. Four $1 bubblewands for the kids. (See if I start with the small and inconsequential perhaps you'll get bored and not read on...and see how bad I've been)...
2. This skirt. Adorable. Probably will wear it everyday this summer.
3. A grey & white striped tank top from Target. Can't find it on the website but it was $8.
4. This cute summer dress. It has pockets! :)
5. A pair of Lululemon Astro Crops off of ebay. Love them.
6. New pair of bike capris (with extra padding) for the LONG bike race coming up memorial day weekend. My butt has been KILLING me after long rides, so I think this falls in the necessary category.

That's all. Back to saving for this.

{ the spending diet...weeks 7 + 8}

What can I say? It's confession time but I think I did pretty darn good the 2nd half of the month... The only non-essential things I bought were this PERFECT shirt for Henry and this new yoga DVD for ME. And I'm still on a mission selling misc. stuff on ebay and craigslist. How y'all doing?

{ the spending diet...week 5 + 6 }

Hmmm...April hasn't been so good on the wallet. Partially because it was my birthday so that involved dinners out, trips, and a pedicure I treated myself too. I also picked up this, this and this at Forever 21. I bought this cycling jersey from Athleta and this from Old Navy. Geez. There goes my {if it won't last, don't buy it deal I had with myself}. Not needed. And I saved the best purchase for last. My birthday gift to myself. Anyhoo, I got my little, what I will call {Birthday Shopping}, out of my system and will get back to saving $ stat. The good news is that I've still SOLD more than I've brought in...Anyway, blogging about this helps me too! I'm wondering if its possible for me to get in the habit of NOT spending?

image above via TinyDevotions

{ the spending diet...weeks 3 + 4 }

Hmmm...this gets harder each week. WHY. OH. WHY? does shopping have to be FUN!?!?! And why are we programmed to do it?

Anyhoo, I did order this book from amazon. Its not at our library and I love her blog and I'm really interested in her green smoothie revolution.

I resisted buying this. And these. And this. And this. And this. All were in shopping cart for 2 days before I shut it down. I did pick up a new soccer ball for Henry and a few small gifts for Samme's birthday party.

I found that the time I like to shop the most is at night after the kids go to bed. So instead I've been turning on a Tracy Anderson DVD and doing mat work or watching West Wing (we have all 7 seasons and on a side note...I declare there has never been a better television show) or reading a book. I've been trying to stay off the computer. And off the aptly named gilt. That helps.

I'm still selling stuff like crazy on ebay & craigslist. I chant, Less is more, less is more.

Came across this quote on the new YouvsDebt website that really resonated with me... "I want my children to know financial peace. I don’t want them to worry about finances. I want them to be able to be free to do what they want to do, regardless of income.” Yes and yes.

How y'all doing? I'm moving onto APRIL. Around and around I GO!