Hunting: is settling on the not quite right product better than finding the perfect item.

Do you ever get the feeling your want something and then it moves from a “hmm I'd really like to have [random item]” to “I need [random item], Now!” and then the hunting begins.

Sometimes it a normal hunt, you keep your eyes out for it when you happen to be shopping and that is the extent of your looking. But then there are the times when you look in every shop you can thinking of whenever you have a free moment and it becomes quite frenzied. 

I get struck with this more often than I would like. It can range from shoes to jackets and even household goods. Murphy’s law means as soon as I decided to want it I can’t find it anywhere. The longer it takes the more I want it, and my expectations raise as well. Two recent items that sent me slightly nutty were needed for my trip to Japan. One was are a good pair of cute ballet flats for walking, the other was a match everything I own jacket. I started early because I had a deadline, but slowly time slipped away and I hadn’t found either.

I then started to get frantic.  With the shoes, I started to think of alternates to what I had decided I wanted, I looked at outfit photos online and decided I could handle a pair of loafers. This sent me on another whirlwind tour of shops to no avail. In the end I purchased a pair I had seen at the start and at the time of purchase as far as I was concerned I was settling.

The jacket was different again, I found plenty but they were never the right size, shape or colour. Until I saw a photo of exactly what I wanted and when it came in it was perfect. The only drawback was the price, for the make and materials used I felt it was a bit costly. I purchase it anyway because in my eyes it was perfect.

The results ended up being slightly backwards. I love the shoes and live in them, they are the best shoes I own and I will be getting another pair soon, These are the shoes I “settled on”

While the jacket ended up being less adaptable than I felt it should be, I wear it but not in the way or amount I had planned when I imagined it.

It makes me wonder where does this frantic need for something come from? Is it really a good indicator of something I will use frequently or are those random chance finds just as good or better. Did the shoes turn out so wonderfully because I didn't have high expectations for them?

The Cute Mouse gets the Cheese  

     

Why:  It was too cute!

What: It sits on the a shelf, I have used it once or twice but I keep thinking it’s too nice to use. This is a bit weird for me as I think something only has real value when I use it.

When: Feb 2011

Want: YES! Have you seen how cute the mouse is

Hoot Hoot

 

Why:  Because it was cute and it was an owl. I even withheld for a while… then couldn't hold out any more because I loved it so much

What:  It sits next to the stove holding the utensils I find I need all the time, scissors, Tongs, two spatulas... you get the idea.

When:  Feb 2011

Want: YES! 

What happened?

 So after over two months with no update, I thought it was about time to post something.

This blog came to a grinding holt for a few reasons, the first being I got busy. Life took over and Internet time reduced to 5 minutes here and there on etsy or Facebook.

The other was that while the plan to reduce my spending had started with good intentions it was heading down a dark path and I was unhappy.

I know what your thinking, over reacting much? It's just shopping.

But it was like a diet, I was starving myself and only eating grapefruit. So then I would crack eat a whole block of delicious, delicious chocolate(large expensive purchase) and then beat myself up over. I even started to think Michael was really angry at me every time I brought something. In the end I had become a mess of guilt and unhappiness. 

 I had to just let go for a bit, it amounted to a bit of shopping but not as much as expected, it was slower and more controlled but naturally not forced. I still understand my dependence on buying thing to be happy is not a good, but I will work on the over time.

 I also gave myself time to sit down and sew, I was getting hung up on wrecking my nice fabric but I knew there was no point in keeping it around. Once I let go I found making things was fun and rewarding. Some of them have turned out different to how I imagined, everything has turned out too big, but it’s fun to nut out how to fix them. I have 3 new skirts, that cost me under $50. I have a dress and another skirt in the works.  Because of these new skills I now go to a store, and think “I could make that for Under $20 and you want $XXXX for it?”

 As for where this blog will go, I still like the idea of focusing on things I own,  remembering why I have something was a good lesson. So I think I will keep going but maybe I will post an item a day instead. I also think Daily Outfit post would help remind me of clothing I own and how I have worn something previously. My only problem is I find having my photo taken unpleasant. But we’ll see.

Edit: I should add Michael was not annoyed with me at all, it was all in my head.

Biker Chic... I don't even own a push bike

 

Why:  I had always wanted a leather biker jacket, going to gigs over the years I had seen them on girls and they just looked cool.

What: I think I wore it 3 times in total and one of them was for these photos. Every time I put it on I felt bulky and very masculine, I was already unhappy with the lack of femininity (is that even a word or did I make it up?)  I had with my clothing and this just compounded it. This was a few years ago when I think I owned 2 skirts and maybe a dress. It sat in storage until  the start of this year, when I thought maybe it would be OK over a dress or skirt.  I put it on and it does look ok, but I just still can't bring myself to wear it.

When: Feb 2008

Want: Nope! I think I'm going to put it on eBay, it is a really nice jacket… and will look awesome just on someone else.