Jan 21, 2011 | Ideas, No retail shopping |
I seem to be self-motivated by imposing challenges on myself, ones to better my artistic ability, to make positive changes or to just do something I feel is worthwhile. Sometimes we get so bogged down with life that we don’t make time for the really important...
Jan 20, 2011 | No retail shopping, Save $ |
I told my kids I would let them buy a box of cereal straws if they promised to blog on the ridiculousness of them. They chose to do it, so I purchased the box of Oreo Funstix cereal straws for $3.50. Joe: O.K. First of all. My mom is making me do this. So I’m not...
Jan 19, 2011 | No retail shopping, Recycle |
I saw this recycling box at the local camera shop. No, I wasn’t shopping, I had to go there for work. I was surprised to see the red dot that says, “10% of proceeds will go to charity”. 10%? There are a lot of collection boxes where all of the...
Jan 19, 2011 | Mini challenges, No retail shopping, Recycle, Repurposed, Thrift store |
Here’s the experiment. I decided to reduce my wardrobe by 50%. I also threw out a mini-challenge. Take 25 pieces of clothing from your closet, place them in a box or plastic tote. Put it away for a month and see if you miss any of the stuff in it. If not,...
Jan 17, 2011 | No retail shopping
Retail stores are good for fun! This is me and my son playing with monkey bean bag chairs at Target. Normally I have a rule, it’s that you can’t touch what you have no intention of buying. I broke my own rule, but my son was having so much fun that he...
Jan 17, 2011 | No retail shopping, Thrift store |
I promised you dirty laundry, so here it is. There’s actually more of it, but this is my basket. My kids have one upstairs too. So why an I showing you this? I have no idea, other than it seemed like a fun title for this blog post. I was thinking a few days...
Jan 16, 2011 | No retail shopping, Recycle, Salvaged, Save $
My friend that had the flood finally got to move back into her house yesterday. As I was helping, I noticed the old bathroom light fixture sitting in the trash, with all of the old light bulbs still in it. With the challenge, I can’t buy light bulbs, so I...
Jan 15, 2011 | No retail shopping, Save $, Thrift store |
Several people have asked me to compile this information, so here it is to the best of my knowledge. I did not start this challenge to save money, although it’s been a nice benefit. Here’s a few of the details, and I will be tracking this more going...
Jan 15, 2011 | No retail shopping, Save $
Yesterday I had to shop for work again. I’m designing an interactive wall that unfortunately need some new supplies. I was mentioning the fact that I had to go to the store in front of someone that just heard about my no retail challenge. He asked, “So,...
Jan 14, 2011 | No retail shopping
A few years ago, in my “excessable” art show, I had a gift card rug made out of 1296 gifts cards from different stores. The show was in July and I left the rug in the car a little too long in the heat, melting a good portion of it. I recently used some of...
Jan 13, 2011 | No retail shopping, Read the fine print, Save $ |
Here in North Texas, we’re a little spoiled by the not-too-cold winter temperatures. We get our once a year snowfall, but generally our low’s are still above freezing. This was not so 2 days ago, when the low, including the wind chill factor, was to dip...
Jan 12, 2011 | No retail shopping, Read the fine print, Recycle, Repurposed, Save $ |
Instead of buying ziplock plastic baggies and other plastic containers, I like to reuse containers I already have. Instead of placing my plastic sour cream containers, margarine containers or other food containers directly into the recycling bin, I wash them and use...
Jan 10, 2011 | No retail shopping, Recycle, Repurposed, Save $, Thrift store |
I had to go to 2 stores for work yesterday. I needed a frame, a mat board and to have 1 photo printed. I decided to go to Aaron Brothers for the frame and mat board, because in January, they have their “buy one, get one for a penny” sale. I found the...
Jan 9, 2011 | Flashback, No retail shopping, Save $
Original post: January 1, 2009 About two months ago, I got a really cool pair of shoes from a friend’s teenage daughter. She said she was not wearing them anymore, so I took them home with me. The shoes were awesome, great colors and artwork! As soon as I got...
Jan 8, 2011 | Ideas, No retail shopping |
It’s actually day 227, so I have some catching up to do. Post holiday busyness? Maybe. :) I like this logo I found earlier today. Big thinking. Transform. Inspire. Challenge. I have so many ideas in my head! I need to be better about recording them. I...
Jan 7, 2011 | No retail shopping |
I recently found this at a thrift store. I had no idea what it was, I had to look at it a bit. It’s a doggie treadmill. A revolutionary exercise system for dogs, to be exact. This item, at a thrift store, was marked down to $99.99 from $299.99. If...
Jan 6, 2011 | No retail shopping, Read the fine print |
I’m really not sure exactly how much money I’ve saved doing this challenge, as I haven’t tracked it, however I know it’s a substantial amount. I have no debt, I’m not always broke and comparing my finances to last year, I’ve spent...
Jan 5, 2011 | No retail shopping, Save $
I found myself being irritated at the grocery store, stirring over the little yellow tags again. (day 160… trained shopping monkeys) Upon a very deliberate observation, I would guess 60% or more of the little yellow tags are ‘low price’ tags and...
Jan 3, 2011 | No retail shopping |
I cleaned my house yesterday and I really miss my bottle of Windex. Vinegar and water is good, but it’s just not Windex.
Jan 2, 2011 | No retail shopping |
I went to the movies on Christmas day and saw the movie How Do You Know. I don’t do chick-flicks and the way I ended up at this movie was a text message gone wrong. It wasn’t horrible, but it’s really just not my type of movie. While waiting for...
Jan 1, 2011 | No retail shopping, Recycle, Repurposed |
I don’t have any resolutions for the new year. I’m doing the no shopping challenge, I’m getting a lot of things done in my house and I’m doing most of the things I want/need to be doing. One thing I do want to change is my cooking habits....
Dec 31, 2010 | No retail shopping
Some setting materials for the pile of slate in my driveway. I can make two countertops and finish my patio. Some gray paint. Caulk and wood filler. (I got liquid nails for Christmas!! Thanks Lloyd and Susan!) A modern bathroom light fixture. I guess I would only...
Dec 29, 2010 | No retail shopping |
Sometimes I have a desire to shop. Not because I need anything, but because I just feel like it. Maybe it’s because I was raised that way or because it’s the cultural norm, or maybe because it’s human nature. I don’t know exactly. I still...
Dec 29, 2010 | Abandoned places, Flashback, No retail shopping
Honestly, some of these might be more than a year old, but they’re all the same, year after year… lots of stuff. Most of these were taken in abandoned places, houses, farms, buildings, vehicles, you name it. No matter where I go with my camera, I always...
Dec 28, 2010 | No retail shopping
Here’s the answer to the big question, “Were your kids okay with this no retail shopping Christmas?” Yes. I’m very proud of them. I’m imposing some of my challenge on them, but just by the stuff I get for them. They both work for...
