La Manna

I was located at the main office last monday. This should have made it simple to not shop, being away from the city and shops, it didn't. I went to lunch at the new supermarket over the road. La Manna is an Italian supermarkets built in an old airport hangar and it is huge. It sells a range of products and it was very tempting to fill up a basket of cooling looking food and kitchen product. I tempted when I came across a range of cute vintage looking baking dishes for $4.80.

I just thought of the cute baking dishes I already own and walked away. But I was very tempted. If you live near by, it's worth a look, not overpriced and has some yummy food woollies and Coles don't stock.

Why   Cute!

When  July 2010

What   It's not being used at the moment, but that is because until two days ago it was filled with little jellies.

           I didn't like the taste so I handed them out to people to eat at a BBQ. It is now empy and can be

          used to store my sewing things.

Do     Yes

I didn't buy anything!

I had to go to Myer to swap my tights over as I had picked up th wrong size. I wandered around took in the sights and window shopped. And thats it. I even tried this on

leona edmiston shelby-shirtdress

it was even reduced to $75 from $149. Its pretty but I thought about all the vintage patterns I can make a dress from and how much more I would love a dress I made myself. 

My new dress, hair and beer

This is the dress I wrote about the other day . Also has my new hair colour


This message is brought too you from my phone at beiro while I wait for friends too show up



This is my beer

Lunch Time Fun

I'm back at work, and wanted to go for a walk at lunch time...

So I walked straight down to the shops. I did pretty well, I found this cool looking deco kit

It was reduced to $20 but you then got another 30% off, Bargain! It wasn't glue on, it was hammer on with claws. In the end i didn't get it! I hope some crafty person finds it and puts it to the a good use.

I progressed along the street ending up in Diva, I almost walked out empty handed but as I was leaving I saw the cutest owls necklace. He just seemed to have such a personality i got him. His feathers move, so cute!

and because I shopped here two two brooches I own

CraftyFOLK

Why I wanted some brooch's to jazz up my work clothing
When Aug 09
What Looks lovely on many of my cardies
Do Yes

Today I brought 3 new pieces of clothing.Two of them where items I mentioned the other day, both were 30% off so they were the price i was willing to pay for them. On a whim I ducked into City Chic and found this

It’s perfect; I had been on the hunt for a navy dress. The white piping adds that 50's sailor look without going overboard (pun not intended) and looking like a costume. I like City Chic because it’s the only place I can buy an extra small!

The other items were a black wrap dress from Stitches and a denim skirt from Piper (Myer brand).

So once again I didn't do so well with the whole no shopping plan, here are my already owned items

This is a two for one, Bunny:

Why Bunny!
When Aug 10
What Sits on my mantel place looking cute
Do Yes

Cup:

Why This photo shows only half the set, it's really a Coffee/Tea cup and pot stack.
When 2008
What The cup sits on my mantel place looking cute with the bunny, and the pot collects my buttons. All the buttons from clothing find a home in it.
Do Yes

One Day Delay

Yesterday my feet took me to Myer as it has two things I really want, a black dress and a denim skirt. I went to find out of they had been reduced, they hadn't but the all stockings and tight were 30% off.

When I saw these I couldn't help myself, I now own

Natural fishnet 'Burlesque Legs' back seam tights

Today was better, I did buy something but they were needed and Michael approved. With all the free time I have from not shopping I have taken up a little gardening. My flowers are looking sad with the heat we have here and watering with a can just wasn't enough so my hose now has a trigger. It is required by law here to water with a hose. To keep things neat we also purchased a hose winder.

I also sneaked in a hanging flower basket, which I will take a photo of it tomorrow. It has lovely white and purple flowers and hangs at my front door.

Spent the day at the Zoo

and went into the gift shop. I know its not "shopping" but it really is worse as it's only going to be something I have no need for.

I didn't buy anything but I went in twice once at the start and once when we went to leave.

Tonight I spent the night looking at handbags on Ebay, bid on two... watched like 5!

So here are my items, I almost called them confessions:

Why I wanted a calculator for work that had at least 12 digits, I found this in japan its 12 digits and has cat what more can I say
When April 09
What Almost everyday since I got it, love it
Do Yep

Why I think because I had been paid and felt like buying something... Money-pocket-hole.
When July 10
What once or twice since i got it, was on special for only $12
Do Turns out the bottom two have aniseed... which i don't like, as much as i try so i can only use the top one, so sort of?

Why I watched that thing on the ABC where they interview the oldies, and one of the had wished they had put on more hand cream when they were younger. After the i started trying different and creams.
When Aug 2010
What almost everyday
Do Best one i found and its cheap

Why I break headphone. I wanted some retro ones but didn't think I would use them all that much. Found these for $20, they were kind of what I was after and if I broke them or didn't wear them it would be OK. Was going to cover the writing but never got around it to.
When Nov 2010
What Most days at work
Do Yep think i will make them more pretty tho

Why To avoid shopping I started gardening. I love fuchsias .
When Dec 2010
What Everyday
Do Yep

Bernie Dexter made me do it!

I was looking at dresses by Bernie dexter ... so here is another item I own

Why Sometimes Diva just has the cutest hair clips for next to nothing. its so pretty and was $3
When December 2010
What Almost everyday since I got it
Do Yep

Cat post it notes

Why I wandered through the night markets and only allowed myself to spend $10 as I was just looking. It was only $4 so I was happy to keep to budget and that was all I brought. Cute
When December 2010
What Sadly nothing, I'm not organised to use them.
Do I still want them but don't have a use for them. Maybe they can fall into the back up present pile.

Photo taken 3/12/10

A new Year a New Idea

In the past month I have had a few people tell me I own a lot more than most people. I knew I had a bit of a shopping problem but I was cutting down and didn't think it was that bad. I then started to look around and thought OK, so maybe I do have a bit too much.

I was sitting at work one day and I really had to urge to shop. I work in an office on Bourke St in Melbourne so shops are in every direction. I normally justify it by by listing the reason I need something, "I need a new lip gloss, I can't find my other one and will use them both anyway. Also it would be nice to have a new colour..." with this train of thought not only would I get a replacement I would have gotten another one just for a colour change. Of course this was all just a reason to go to the shops once there no reason not to look around....

I then thought no I will just look for the current one when I get home.

Problem solved.... or so I thought.

About half and hour later I wanted to shop again and already had something else in mind that I needed and had to have that day. I then started to think of all the things I own, and why I didn't need anything and an idea came to me.

Every time I had the urge to shop, I would take a photo of something I owned to remind me of how much I already have. I took five photos in that afternoon and evening alone. I started to realise I needed to put this somewhere and maybe go a step further and ask

Why I brought the item

When I got it

What I currently use it for and if it not used what I can use it for.

Do I still want it and can I sell/Donate it

So while this blog was initially a shopping list, it is now going to be my shopping preventer.

Wish me luck!