What I Bought
This Julep oxygen nail treatment. I think I mostly bought it because I wanted to buy something, you know? I did want something to put on my nails to give them a little color, but not polish, and thought this would be good for that. And it is. But for $18? That’s 1/10th of my “discretionary” money for the month!! I like the way my nails look, but I can’t really tell that they’re getting “stronger” or anything. They weren’t in bad shape to begin with.
Anyway, I’m starting to get the hang of this “budget” thing – because I spent $18 on nail stuff I have to buy two buck chuck at Trader Joe’s instead of the nice organic Cabernet I prefer 😉 Won’t do that again.
What I Got rid of
I did send back my Everlane poplin shirt to exchange it for a small, and I also sent back the Swedish Hasbeens clogs, which I may or may not exchange for a smaller size. I did make some momentous decisions on what to get rid of this week, and am now down to one closet (!), so next week I’ll post some of the things I want to get rid of and see if anyone’s interested. (lots of stripes!)
What I did
Worked, while also trying to enjoy some time with my step-son before he starts camp next week. We started Geocaching and at first, did a lot of looking without finding anything, but finally found something a couple days ago. Now we’re on a roll!
Went to the pool everyday and tried to stay out of the sun as much as possible; I really don’t want to get any more sun. Honestly, I was stunned by the women laying out at the pool – some even using TANNING OIL. I mean…I used that when I was a pre-teen and we had no concept of sunscreen, only suntan lotion. But now? grown women? I don’t understand…But then again…I’m old 😉
What I Read
Finally read Wild by Cheryl Strayed and really enjoyed it. As always happens when I read something like that, I thought about planning my own long-distance hike sometime in the future. I get caught up in books…
Also read the Little Book of Contentment by fellow blogger Leo Babauta who writes the Zen Habits blog and other books. I hope I can say someday that it changed my life, but it’s too soon to say right now. But I’m hopeful. It’s a very powerful little book – full of things we sort of know already that we do, and shouldn’t be doing, or things we don’t do and should. And things we can do to start being more content. Which ultimately, is all I want. To be content.
Now, I’m reading A Prayer for Owen Meany.
Because of her comment on last week’s post, I’ve added Jaime’s blog to my daily reads. I love her post on Walking around Grey, and Laurel and RJS, it’s a good thing she’s in Israel or you’d get a run for you thrifting money!!
If you already read looks good from the back then you already know this, and if you don’t, you should definitely read it…but one of the bloggers’ young son was recently diagnosed with cancer. They’ve started a facebook group and the amount of support their community is showing is AMAZING and overwhelming. #goHugo
What I ate
Sugar. I slipped a little this week – but not so much that I feel very bad about it. And it’s so true that once you’re “off” sugar you don’t really crave it, but the moment you have it again, you’re lost. Well, not lost completely, but you start to crave it again…ugh…I did enjoy it though!
What did you do this week?
Enjoy your weekend!!!
I like these weekly summations. Congrats on thinning your closet(s). I know that it must have been challenging. I also like Jaime’s blog, and agree, that she’d be thrift store competition. I had fantasies, too, of once hiking the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, I can’t carry a lot on my back, so I’ll have to be content with long Marsh/beach walks. I don’t get the sunning with oil habit. Since my dad died from melanoma, I’ve been obsessed with SPF. Sugar? We indulged in half a blueberry pie this week. It was wonderful and I wanted more. I’ll check out Leo’s book, too. Have a great weekend with your stepson. I went to camp as a kid, and those are still, some of my most cherished memories. Long live Camp Tamarack!
Grechen thank you so much for the mention! Wow, I am actually at a loss for how to say how grateful I am (also I just woke up) so I will go ahead and comment on the rest of your post and write you later!
Owen Meany! I can’t believe you mentioned that. I read it over 20 years ago and I still remember how moved I was. I won’t say more since you are in the middle, but I hope you report back when you are done.
I did not start seriously using SPF until far too late, but I have the same reaction as you did when I see people sun tanning. What can I say, I am older still!
Wine definitely trumps nails in my book. Off to look up geocaching – enjoy!
Jaime´s last blog post ..Suited to a tee*
Does everyone have a Camp Tamarack from their childhood? Haha! My husband bad I used to do a lot of wilderness camping and Adirondacks climbing before my back and other health issues. Someday?!?
I like these weekly summations, too, Grechen. One closet? Holy Moly!!! I have a LONG journey ahead of me. I may have written this before (Please excuse my menofog…), but on a recent shopping excursion with a friend, I encouraged her to purchase a J Crew “popover top” for it’s casual summer wearability after she had admired several of mine. Well, imagine my confusion (and shame) when I reached up in the top of my closet to see the white top that was poking out, and it was The.Exact.Same.Top. I had told my friend to buy! Yikes! I’m buying so much, not wearing it, and then forgetting that I’ve purchased it.
My back is greatly better after the epidural steroid injection, so next week, the purge begins!
As for the Sugar:Report: Hooked on Animal Crackers this week. Who knows why?!?
L’Oreal does make an oil that’s SPF 50, so maybe, just maybe….?
Packing on my mind again – weekend trip to DC to meet college roommates next weekend. Should be easy to pack very light BUT we’re driving and it’s too tempting to just throw stuff in because I can……
ha! i have that l’oreal spray – i think mine is SPF30 – but i’m pretty sure hers was just suntan oil. hawaiian tropic 🙂
i’m leaving on saturday for atlanta – but like you, we’re driving, so i never even think much about what i’m taking. which is easy, but also frustrating, because i do end up bringing too much. but i can’t even worry about it right now. i always try to not take too much, but i never end up being very successful…
yum, blueberry pie!!!
he’s not going away to sleepaway camp – although we’ve tried to get him to consider it – he’s just going to different camps during the week days. but this past week he’s been around all day, so we’ve had to think of stuff to do!
so glad your back is getting better!
love animal crackers, but they have to be out of the little “zoo” box 😉