So I kind of want to blog about shopping again...

I know.

Like I really need to write more blog posts!

But there's something very appealing to me about clothes, shoes, and beauty. And balancing the appreciation of beautiful things, sartorial expression, and being a mindful consumer.

So keep checking back. I'm not done yet...

Find Me at HapaMama or BlogHer

Well, hello there!

You may have landed on this page from one of my comments on a blogger or WordPress.com site. It seems those platforms always reject my Gravatar and other logins, so I use my Google account, which takes you here.

My Year (Almost) Without Shopping is over. But you can still find me writing about Asian mixed-race families and fusion food at HapaMama, and about general race and news over at BlogHer.

Epilogue: The End of the Year (Almost) Without Shopping

January 1, 2012 has come and gone I didn't run out to the mall New Year's Day, mostly because we had an all day drive home after spending the holidays with the in-laws. And you know what? I'm okay with that.

We took a long drive up the coast on Highway 101, stopping by Mission Santa Barbara to help my fourth grader get some ideas for his California history project, had lunch with my husband's cousin, and stopped at one of our favorite wineries.

I've already bought the big purchase for which I've been saving, which is...

Canon 7D from B&H Photo

Ta da! A new camera that I have been wanting for a very long time, but was convinced I could not afford. At the end of December, I also decided that it was time to upgrade my cranky computer, which has led me to wonder whether I'm just displacing my clothes-obsession with a tech-obsession, but I think they are different. The gear is all equipment I've been pondering for some time, that will help me be able to work better and more efficiently (I hope!) in my career path of writing, blogging and photography. Aside from being a vocation, it is also an avocation -- something which gives me a tremendous sense of fulfillment.

I did eventually make it to the mall. Twice, in fact. The first day, I grabbed an armful of clothes at Banana Republic and was completely overwhelmed by the choices (shiny, pretty colors!). There was one thing I kept thinking about. In fact, I went home and put in my cart on the BR website. Then I slept on it. In the morning, it was sold out. So I went back to the mall. If it was meant to be...



And it was.

Um, I liked it so much I bought the gray one, too. It was on sale.

In all seriousness, I think I'm going to need to take my return to shopping slowly. Also, I don't think I need that much. My plan is to buy things seasonally, instead of here and there (and everywhere). And if you're reading this and you think either thankful that you don't need/want to ever have to give up shopping... or you have that little nagging voice that thinks maybe you could do this too... you never know what's possible until you try. My fellow BlogHer Morra  Aarons Mele is embarking on a year without shopping (for clothes or cosmetics!) -- for the second time.

For now, I want to thank you all for your support, encouragement, and sharing with me stories about your own relationship to shopping and clothes. There were moments when I cringed and thought, "Did I really write that? On the Internet? For everyone to see? Even people I know?" Yes, yes, and yes. Because I think that if you really want to make a change in your life -- whatever it is -- you need to be honest with yourself, let other people know, and accept their help and praise and be prepared for criticism. It's been an incredible year, and no one is more surprised at what I've been able to accomplish as I am.

So now what? I created this blog on a complete whim, and named it A Year (Almost) Without Shopping because:

• A Year Without Shopping was already taken
• I wanted to give myself a little leeway the (almost) part
• and I wanted to chronicle my 365 day journey.

This past year has been a significant turning point in my life, but the journey's not over. But I named the blog A YEAR (Almost) Without Shopping, not TWO YEARS or a DECADE or a LIFETIME. Should I continue writing here? Would that be weird? I'll probably keep stopping by here once in a while. At least until I get my bearings. 

Until next time...

One More Week!

Calendar, by Daphne Cholet on Flickr

Merry Christmas and Happy Everything!

It is hard for me to believe that it's almost one full year since I set out to do this no-shopping thing. What's even harder to believe is that after the first few months, it really wasn't as formidable as I thought it would be. What I didn't expect to have such a hard time with was paring down my closet. There's so much stuff in there, some of it was just stuff. I must have taken four bags of clothing to the local shelter this fall, including my favorite Aran cardigan that I accidentally shrunk in the wash (right after I started this clothing diet).

Shopping for gifts over the past month has been full of challenges. There were many trips to the mall under the auspices of finding a shirt for my husband or a present for my mom... which would somehow lead me to take a peek at my department "just to see what's there". There were shiny tops for holiday parties, beautiful boots without nary a scuff, and snuggly sweaters. On more than one occasion, I thought, "It's December. Close enough."

But I'm a person who believes in the power of symbolism. The time and energy I've diverted away from shopping during the past twelve months has been tremendously fruitful for me -- in my career, in my spiritual life, and in my sense of self. I honestly don't think I would be the person I am today without this experience of separating myself from my clothing. And I want to see this thing to completion.

Having said that, I am also somewhat of a shabbier person than I was back in January. The right knee of one of my favorite jeans is being held together by a web of threads. I have gained more weight than I'd like to admit.

I almost put a trench coat in my shopping cart (electronically) today. Actually, I put it in. I just didn't proceed to checkout. I'd be lying if I said I'm not looking forward to New Year's Day like a starving person anticipating a buffet. But I've been to a few buffets in my day, and I've learned a few things about them. The anticipation is always better than the eating. You know, the rows and rows of roast beef, crab legs, sushi, dim sum. You can get bloated and sick in a hurry. I've decided that when I find myself at a buffet, I have to ask myself, "What do I feel like eating today?" or "What really, really looks like it's well made here?" Sometimes, I mentally pick a theme, such as Italian or Chinese, and choose a few things that complement each other. And while I used to skip the salad and fruit (more room for fried chicken!), I now try to pick the same balance of foods I would during a normal meal.

So what I'm getting at is that I'm trying to pace myself as I prepare for re-entry. There are so many darn things I want: a new trench coat, a sweater that's not black, red or earth-toned, black skinny pants, a new pair of boots. Not to mention fresh socks and underwear! There will be some purchases coming up. Perhaps not everything on my list, but hopefully the right things.

Yes, I'm Still Doing The No-Shopping Thing (For the Most Part)

A lot of people have asked me if I'm still doing the no-shopping thing. I've been quite quiet on this front lately, but it's not because I've been secretly binge buying. (Okay, in full disclosure, I bought a couple things since my July reveal: a sports bra and a pair of sandals for the BlogHer convention.)

But for the most part, I've been staying away from the malls and from the shopping websites.

I was talking to someone today about why I'm doing this, and I started getting all emotional, with my eyes tearing up. That's a sign that I'm on the right track.

I hate the clutter of and rotating door of cheap clothing/goods.

I don't want to support the dubious labor practices that enable retailers to sell this stuff so cheaply.

I don't want to model to my kids that this is how we use our resources.

I want to spend our hard-earned income on bigger, more worthwhile things.

I want to be able to spend my time pursuing things that are worthwhile, not pursuing stuff.

It has been ten months since I set out to change my buying habits. I feel the difference. The other day, I took a bra out of the drawer and noticed that the underwire was popping out (TMI? too bad!). It's been a long time since I actually wore out an item. Most of my clothes are looking a little worse for wear, but that's what they're for, right?

No, I haven't gone cold-turkey all year, but I feel that internal realignment has happened and will continue. With the holidays coming up, there will be more challenges. I'll let you know how it goes!

The End of The Great American Apparel Diet

It's been almost eight months since I decided to stop buying clothes. But for Sally Bjornsen and hundreds other women, it's been almost TWO YEARS.
Sally is the founder of The Great American Apparel Diet, which will end on September 1, two years after it began. I stumbled upon the site a few days after I decided to start my year of (almost) no shopping, and found out that I was not the first one to come up with this idea, and I was not alone. There were 300 other women who had given up shopping for various reasons-- to save money, to cut back on the waste of resources that goes into our disposable clothing, or just to get a grip on an addiction to spending.

The rules of The Great American Apparel Diet are a lot tougher than my rules, but we have a lot in common: try before you buy, quality not quantity, don't buy anything on sale that you wouldn't buy at full price -- all this after, the non-shopping year is over, of course. I allowed myself that 40th birthday allowance, but Sally says shoes are allowed. No way I'd put in that clause, or I'd have myself a huuuge collection of shoes by now. (That pair of sandals I bought before BlogHer will have to come out my end-of-year savings.)

In the early weeks of my Year (Almost) Without Shopping, TGAAD was a big part of keeping me on track. On more than one occasion, I followed my old habit of wandering over to the mall when I had an extra hour between appointments or before picking the kids up from school. Those after-Christmas sales were mighty tempting. It sounds cheesy, but I really did think about those 300 other non-shoppers at TGAAD, many of whom have blogged their accomplishments -- and slip-ups -- and that was enough to keep me from buying something I didn't need. Either that or I'm just really competitive, and the idea that if all these other shopaholics could kick their habit, then so could I.

On the rare occasion that I go “window shopping”, I still get that OMG, I NEED THAT, MY LIFE WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER IF I HAVE THAT urge. But I am able to recognize it for what it is, and — for the most part — resist it.

While TGAAD isn't accepting new members anymore, the website will stay live and there's even a section called Maintenance, with tips on how to transition back to the real world and avoid the post-diet binge.

So thank you, Sally, for creating The Great American Apparel Diet and inspiring (soon to be former) shopaholics like me.

I thought I could pack for BlogHer wihout buying anything

This is my first blogging conference, and there are a lot of posts on the Internets about what to wear to the event.You need to plan ahead. Be comfortable. Sell yourself. And look picture ready at any given moment. After all there are thousands of other camera-happy bloggers snapping photos like paparazzi and ready to post them on social media for all posterity.

No pressure, or anything.

I braced myself for some kind of combination of sorority rush and the Filene's bridal dress sale. Not that I've been to either of those - but you can imagine.

As part of my "birthday month" expenditures, I also bought a pair of skinny cargo crops and a teal blue tops. But that's one day's outfit. What would I wear the other two days? And nights?  I started to panic.You see, my pants are a little tight. And my "professional" clothes are circa Ally McBeal. And since I started this no-shopping thing, my mind doesn't revolve so much around what I'm going to wear.

After all, I'm going there because I'm a writer, not some wannabe reality TV star or D-list celebrity. I been updating my main website and making sure I've got business cards and marketing materials. I also spent the weekend going through my closet, trying on outfits and making my packing list.

I thought I needed just one more pair of slacks. Tan or brown, please. But my trip to the mall didn't really uncover any pants worth buying. Dodged that bullet!

Or so I thought.

Until I saw a pair of black Earthies sandals that look like something a geriatric dominatrix would wear. Marked down to $39. I had to have them.

I guess I'll be subtracting that from my savings. Hope they're worth it!