Not only did I find new dishes over the weekend at Marshall’s, but in other errand-running matters, I had to go to The Mall. The prices at the mall are a little different than Marshall’s. So I had to exercise some willpower and restraint.
I went to the mall to return the facial cleansers I bought at MAC. I just wasn’t loving them and I felt like they were irritating my skin and making me break out a bit, so I returned them.
I exercised restraint and didn’t buy a single new item of MAC!
I probably don’t “need” any, though.
And I exercised some willpower by walking right past the multi-story Pottery Barn
And Nike
I didn’t want to be a total “tourist” and keep on snapping pictures of storefronts. I still didn’t bring my DSLR out in public. I took all these storefront and mall pictures with my point and shoot. But suffice to say, Anthropologie, True Religion, Betsey Johnson, Godiva, James Perse, Barney’s, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, just to name a few, were calling my name. It took some willpower and restraint to not even walk into them.
I did walk into Bath & Body Works
I picked up this B&BW body spray called Secret Wonderland as an exchange/swap-out for a scent I had previously accidentally bought two of.
As a footnote, I love the new Carried Away scent I mentioned here.
After all that retail restraint, I came home and ate chocolate.
Raw Vegan Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
From my last post on Dressing for Winter Workouts, it was great to hear what you wear and some of your favorite gear picks. I love hearing what everyone else wears and your go-to items.
Dessert: Special K Bars
Chocolate, nut butter, sweet, gooey and chewy, dense, thick. They have all the elements of a perfect food for me.
I could easily eat these until I get sick. I cut myself off at two per day. I try to use some restraint with these.
Questions:
1. Anything special or exciting going on for you this week?
Nothing special for me. Work, parenting, running a household, and a few appointments throw in to create extra driving around for me to keep my on my toes, but nothing special or too exciting.
2. Do you consider yourself to have willpower and restraint?
As it pertains to food choices, I really don’t like to talk about food in terms of willpower and restraint. I believe it implies that a choice is “bad” when in reality, it’s just a choice. Life, including food, is a big series of choices. And that’s the beauty of eating, you get to make new choices every three hours or so with your next meal/snack. See Item 3 in this post for more info. So I do sort of cringe when I hear people say, “Oh it takes willpower to avoid Xyz Food.” Yes, but really it’s just food. Unless it’s a pan of Special K Bars. Then maybe a little “willpower” isn’t such a bad thing.
As it pertains to spending money at the mall, shopping, or online ordering, I do love to spend money but I can exercise restraint and willpower like nobody’s business. Sure, I would like to buy things, but I really want to pay off my credit card debt more than I want a new sweater. And since I am so close to paying it off, it’s easy for me to walk in, walk out, and not buy a thing. I can flip a switch and not think twice. But look out, when I flip that switch ‘on’, I single handedly am an economic stimulus package all unto myself.
How are you with willpower and restraint? Any thing you wish you had more willpower or restraint with? Or less?
People always tell me I have an insane amount of willpower. But I make it easier on myself by not buying/making things I don’t have enough willpower against!
I do have something exciting going on this weekend — some family I haven’t seen for 6 years is visiting and they’re taking me to Disneyland!
I also have a few appointments and regular work this week – but I also have my book club and yoga classes this week, both of which make me super happy :)
I’ve been feeling extra “shoppy” lately, I think because I’ve been noticing my winter gear is so old and torn/ripped/f-ugly. I want to go shopping but I keep exercising my willpower and putting everything back on the rack!
enjoy your book club and yoga and glad things are going better for you :)
I’ve been catching up on your posts. I was “up north” visiting my in-laws for the weekend. Wi-Fi isn’t easy to come by, so I was off-line as of Friday at noon.
Have to keep my ears warm too. Big fan of head bans so that I don’t overheat from having my whole head covered – unless it is colder than -20C then I’ll cover the whole head, face, etc ;)
This week: Visiting with my siter-in-law tonight. Catching up on laundry and house cleaning. Baking & un-baking. Getting the paperwork for my taxes sorted. Oh, and work ;)
I am a browser, thats for sure! i think I talk myself out of buying everything. Probably a good thing too.
:)
i talk myself out of TONS too…despite what it may appear here, i seriously have maybe too much restraint on some things!
Great recipes and blog posts!
Like you,I think food,and everything else is a choice made,some things require more will power.But once you train your mind ,your body automatically gets adapted to the new routine.I have been a raw foodist for 4 years; initial 2 months was a roller coaster-but now my body automatically rejects what’s not raw :D
Have a fabulous day!!!
Smriti
What am I like? I could look at those shopping mall photos over and over again, wow you have such a selection of wonderful shops that we don’t have here- Bath and Body Works, A Mac shop (their make up is the best along with Bobbi Brown) along with your department stores. I try and limit my spending because I have lots of bills to pay (boring but they have to be paid). I haven’t cut back on my food expenses but I don’t buy fiction books anymore, I get them from the library. I’ve cut back on spending money in bars too, I’m going to a friends house now for dinner and some wine. We do a lot of our socialising at home and in friends houses now but I do like going out too to look at the eye candy.
We need to go shopping together! :D
anytime :)
I can’t wait to shop at that mall again! Did Fashion Valley get an Anthropologie? If so, that just made my day!!
yes they did girl and it’s dangerous :)
Now that’s a mall! I moved from PHX to smallish town OH and today miss having a mall to have to restrain myself from! :-) It’s probably good, though, as I don’t have all that much restraint/willpower when it comes to shopping.
Yes, that IS a mall. You have no idea. Well, you probably do :) But yes, I lived in NC and SC for a few years after living in Chicago and went thru retail withdrawal. lol.
My sister always drags me through that Neiman-Marcus whenever I come for a visit. It’s such a thrill (NOT) to go through their “bargain” racks where sweaters and pants are “practically a steal” for only half of their outrageously ridiculous prices.
Blech! I’m much happier when we get to Pottery Barn.
I would have to have SUCH self control around those stores! Good thing the lack of money takes care of that for me. ;)
I am excited this week because tomorrow my very best friend is coming to visit for the day — we have a lot of catching up to do – I haven’t seen her since September!
I definitely have to use willpower, but it’s got me to realize the difference between what I “want” a nd what I “need” — before I don’t think that I understood that. But yes, credit card bills are BIG motivation to just walk away.
Yum, the chocolateyness here looks delicious. 75% of the time, I “NEED” chocolate!
You don’t need makeup, anyways — you’re so gorgeous!
awww, you are too sweet with your last line :)
i need chocolate too…haha!
sometimes i have willpower..sometimes i dont, no matter what the status is of my bank account ;) if i had a pottery barn anywhere near me, i’m pretty sure my bank account would be nonexistent.. williams-sonoma is bad enough!!
owww- a two story pottery barn? Not sure I could stay out of there :). I must say- I’m very good with my money. I only buy things when I really believe I need them or think a special treat is in order. The food store is really the place I hold back the least- I think good quality, healthy food is worth the $$! I hope you’re having a wonderful day :) I actually have lots of good stuff planned this week- Thursday, I am walking the bridge into Charleston with a friend, Saturday- going to a beerfest (as DD ;)), Sunday morning- blogger brunch!
Have fun on the bridge walk! Wow, memories :)
And blogger brunch, i wanna come!
I have willpower to a fault or maybe it is a guilt complex…either way, it’s probably not good.
i am the same way!! at times, i seriously can talk myself out of just about any purchase! willpower and then some. maybe too much :)
I am excited that I do not have anything special this week. No work conferences, no birthday parties, etc. Thank goodness.
It is funny that you talk about willpower today, because just this weekend we had some family over for my boyfriend’s daughters birthday party. Needless to say we had a lot of food in the house that I normally would not buy. I told my boyfriend we need to give it away and he told me I need to have willpower. hahaha I absolutely do have willpower but sometimes it is weaker and I don’t need doritos, spinach and artichoke dip, taco dip, etc etc staring at my everytime I open the fridge or pantry…. hahaha
i would agree with that b/c those are all really good “I don’t need doritos, spinach and artichoke dip, taco dip, etc etc staring at my everytime I open the fridge or pantry….” :)