The Day I Became A Hipster

In the past, I have been referred to as a Corporate Barbie; and a 1950's Housewife.

But yesterday I became a hipster.

I drew my inspiration from the below images; then took the plunge last week and ordered a new pair of glasses.

I picked them up yesterday and became an instant hipster.. EEK!!!

And they don't count as a June purchase.. Coz I paid for them last week when it was still May!

xx

Images here

June Challenge : Update #1

Isn't it ironic how certain blogs, people, advice come into our lives at just the right time??

Today I'm sharing an excerpt from a blog I came across this morning (after launching my No Purchases June Challenge). 

"Spend your money on what brings you joy and be frugal with everything else that doesn’t."

I love it when someone writes down exactly what I needed to hear (and action)!

I combed through what I am spending my money on and put them into categories:

BRINGS ME JOY 
(food, hello!)

SUPER IMPORTANT MUST HAVES
(home and contents insurance) and

NEITHER.

Everything in neither was then either eliminated completely or pared back to its most basic (frugal) form.

Read the full blog post here

Makes 100% sense to me.

When I decided to commit to the No Purchases in June challenge, I set my own rules.
Well.. just one rule really. No buying unless it's food.

This is about being conscious of my spending habits.

I am a serial shopper..

Feeling sad? Retail therapy!
Feeling happy? Buy new things!
Bored? Go shopping.
Celebrating? Mark the occasion with something new!

No Purchases June is about realising that I don't need stuff.
I shouldn't rely on things to make justify my feelings.

It's about LIVING.
So experiences are perfectly OK.

They are in that first category - IT BRINGS ME JOY.

And who doesn't want a little more joy in their lives!?

xx



image here

June Challenge

It's the FIRST of JUNE tomorrow.

I just want to give you a moment to let that sink in

.

.

.

. 

Because if you're anything like me, you're probably still wondering what happened to April; let alone May.

But this post isn't about time - whether fast or slow. 

It's about me setting a challenge for myself. And the beginning of a new month and the start of a new season seems an apt time to give it a shot.

Let me start with saying - I don't think this will be easy by any means. But I am going to see how it goes.

If it works - Good for me!

If it doesn't quite happen - well, that's OK too.

The Challenge??

No new purchases for a month.

I know it's not a new idea. Infact, there's a website dedicated to the concept.

http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/home/

But it's new for me.

I once came across a blogger who did this for a YEAR.

To her I say - Congratulations!

But to you, I say - For me that would be absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.

So the time frame is a month.

The first rule of Fight Club is : You do not talk about Fight Club

Not only is this true.. But it's amusing to me too since I work in advertising...!!!

But the light bulb moment for me was looking in my beautiful bowl from Brown Button Trading and noticing that it had somehow become a place for my receipts to live.

And my, were there a lot of receipts in that bowl!

Keeping your receipts : Good idea or fodder for that post-shopping spree guilt?!

So at the end of June this bowl should be empty and my bank account should look happier.

Oh, and just incase you're wondering - Food is not included in my challenge. 

(Hey - it's my challenge, so I get to make the rules!)

By purchases I purely mean "stuff I could live without" and food just doesn't make that list.

I suppose it's lucky that I bought a new winter blanket last week huh?!

Wish me luck or play along at home!

xx

Choosing Happy

When you choose your happiness, you become infinitely more productive, useful, and magnetic to those around you. You enable yourself to truly be of service.

Blogging, French and Yoga

It's been a long while between blogs.

This morning on my walk with Emmy I tried to come up with reasons why I haven't blogged recently that didn't include "I've been busy".

I think that's a lame excuse. It's lazy. Everyone's busy. 

Sometimes busy doing nothing.

My thinking of late has very much been - 

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse"

It's not that I have been making excuses for not blogging.. It's just that it hasn't been a high priority for me.

Am I uninspired?

No.. not really.

But as I have witnessed in the wider blogging community, other social media (think Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram) allow me to share things with others so my need to blog decreases slightly..

But today I had a legitimate "That's going on the Blog" moment.

Let me first explain that I have always wanted to go to Paris; And at the beginning of the year, I told a friend in casual conversation that I would like to learn French this year.

Well... Let's just say that it's May and this ambition is still very much in my distant future.

So far, I haven't actively made any attempts to pursue this dream.

Until now.

It's a little step. But it's a step.

I have 'liked' a French Word A Day on Facebook.

And I found the first word kind of appropriate.

Along with my yoga practice, I am learning that self control comes in many forms. My teacher often speaks of discipline and truthfulness.

Self control is relative to the mind, body and soul.

I am trying to be more mindful of this concept.

So there it is. A new blog post. Because I wanted to. Because I control my life. Because I have self control.

Relating blogging, French and yoga - It's a tenuous link. But it's there.

That's just how my brain works sometimes ;)

xx