Challenge Update: Week 29

Did not see that one go by.

Challenge Rule 1: Buy No Clothes/Don’t Covet

After all of last week’s ruminations, this week was an absolute whirlwind. I didn’t have thirty seconds to think about buying anything, let alone put myself in circumstances to actually do it.

The whole coveting thing remains an open question. When I see something that someone else has and I notice it in a way that is complimentary, I have to wonder what it is exactly that I am saying. Case in point: we were at the park with my scalawags and there was a little girl wearing an absolutely adorable rainbow sundress. It was not in my size, as you can imagine, but I actually leaned over to my eldest, who knew the little girl from Music School and said, “I want a dress just like that one.” And he said, “I think you need one.”

A. He is well trained. B. Why did I bother him with this little thought? I mean, I could have totally kept that thought to myself. But for some reason, when I see something that tickles my fancy, it feels like a necessary part of admiring it is to say something out loud.

This reminds me of something I read recently from a copywriting guru I follow, who said something to the effect that, although feelings are real, putting them into the words can sometimes be more harmful than helpful. Although he was talk about relationships, I had to wonder if even in this silly domain of me admiring other people’s clothes he didn’t have a point.

Challenge Rule 2: The Inventory

This week I gave myself a cheat day from my four dresses challenge to wear a very pretty purple top I inherited in a clothing exchange with a friend. I spilled coffee on it over lunch, and ended up returning to one of my four dresses for the rest of the day. So, even on a planned cheat day, I could not escape my challenge.

That said, I did add this fabulous purple top to the inventory this week.

Also: my rainbow dress is down to below 1€ per wear!!!! Yayayayayayayayay!!!!

Challenge Rule 3: Go-To Catalogue:

Can I be honest about something? Like brutally honest? I am starting to get bored with my four dresses all summer challenge. I’m thinking that now that my rainbow dress is down to below 1€ per wear, I am going to allow myself more frequent cheat days, because I don’t want to get the point where I hate the dresses I am trying to turn into favorites…

Challenge Rule 4: Mise en Place/Plan Ahead:

As I planned my cheat day, I had gotten out at least three different outfits. When, after my challenge is over, it finally will come down to breaking into the rest of my closet, I am going to be paralyzed by choice.

Challenge Rule 5: Repair and Mend, Alter when Necessary:

I’ll be honest, that purple top wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t have the time or desire to properly alter it. So I played with it, safety pinned it here and there and wore it anyway. At some point, I will need to break out the needle and thread, but sometimes, safety pins are a good, non-permanent option.

Also: I lost a sock this week. One of only three pairs of summer socks I own, one that had been mended and re-mended. I lost it somewhere between church and home on Sunday (long story). It is gone. And my sock situation has never seemed more dire than it does right now.

I could so very easily fix this problem. It would cost me about 1.75€ to exactly replace the socks that were lost. But I am so darn stubborn that I just won’t.

Round-up

This week, with little to report, was a refreshing change from the heavily philosophical week I had last week.

In Other News:

I’ve shared the first episode of the podcast with some test-listeners. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. I have a few technical issues to iron out, but all in all, I think for a first foray into learning to use the sound editing software Audacity it turned out pretty well.

Now, the goal will be to have a total of between three and five episodes before we launch. We have enough material recorded for probably another two…but I will need time in order to mix it. Recording is easy! Editing is time-consuming and requires an ability to concentrate that I simply cannot do with little boys around. Vacation is great and all, but boy oh boy. It is not compatible with having dreams of becoming podcasting royalty!

I finished my cycle of Ideal Life Reels on Instagram. I have some people going back and re-watching them as they start their vacations. It is fun to see the work bear fruit way way way after it was launched!

Lastly…the Indulgent Husband and I are celebrating our 22 year wedding anniversary this week and I have come to realize that because I married him when I was 21 years-old, I have been married to him longer than I haven’t. On that big teeter-totter of life, this seems like a big deal.