Day 366

I feel like I should be wearing an evening gown or something like it for my final post... Is this outfit a bit anticlimactic?

It doesn't matter.

What does matter is... I'm done!!!

I totally nailed it, and tomorrow, I'm going shopping!
I think. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if I'll have enough time.

In the mean time, I'm going to take a break for a few days. Like a mini vacation from the blog world. Just because I can.

Check back in a week. The new blog is launching, and if we're lucky... I'll even be able to pull together and post a newly purchased outfit. Or seven.

In conclusion...

I'm pretty sure this is his proud face. 

He's the reason this whole thing started, and while this is a bet that I technically won, I think he's pretty happy with how the whole thing played out.

...And of course, so is this guy.
(He's mostly just grateful to have gotten the media attention he's always felt he deserves.)

Thank you for following, thanks for being interested, and thanks for the encouraging comments and emails along the way. Oh, and hey. Stay Classy.

It's been real,

Cassie 

Day 365

There are 365 days in a year... unless you're the kind of person who swears of shopping during a leap year, in which case, there are 366.

Day 364

Happy Friday...

I promised to share my new clothing budget and my new blog... The only thing I have for you is my budget because the blog isn't quite ready yet.

So here it is... DUN DUN-DUN DAH....

$150/month

For now.

:)

Day 363

This dress is proof that swearing off shopping one year ago was a good thing. Last September, it was on clearance at The Limited and it was one of multiple online purchase I felt I needed to make that month. For work. Completely justified. At least that's what I told my husband...

So here we are, over a year later, and this is the first time I've worn it. It's a good dress. I like it. Maybe even more so now (mainly because I was blonde the last time I tried it on), but it obviously wasn't a necessary purchase. I've already shared a little bit about the type of shopper I used to be, and in this, my last week of Swearing off Shopping, I've come up with a name for my former shopping self... The "That's adorable, I'm buying it right now without really thinking about it" slash "That's really cheap, I can't pass it up" Shopper. Okay, so it's a long title, but that's basically the synopsis.

Did I have a severe shopping addiction that I need to worry about once I'm no longer cut off? No. I'll be fine. I swore of shopping to pay off college loans, and a few credit cards... Debt I had mostly as a result of grad school, planning a wedding, and silly expensive things like ski passes, new tires, and having to replace my driver side mirror as a result of not paying attention while backing out of the driveway that just added up over time. Very little of that debt was the result of overspending on clothes. It's just that I knew if I stopped spending money on the thing I loved to buy most, I'd actually have money to pay off other things...

Have I paid off my debt?  Not entirely. I've eliminated 1 student loan, and 1 credit card. We also bought a house, quite a bit of new furniture, and put a significant dent in the debt we have left. I think that's something to be proud of.

Swearing off Shopping is a good thing, it brings perspective. In the past year, I've weeded out a lot of my clothes (I can now admit that I was once a borderline clothing hoarder... t-shirts from high school and sequin tank tops from college are completely unnecessary things to hold onto). I've made multiple trips to Good Will in the past year, and I am much more aware of what's actually in my closet than I ever have been. I've also realized how much I love helping other people shop and put outfits together... a potential new career option? Now accepting clients.

Thinking about swearing off shopping yourself? If I can do it for a year, you can totally do it for a few months, maybe even longer... I'd love to hear about it!

What type of shopper am I now?

Trick question. I am not a shopper yet, I have a few more days.

What type of shopper will I be on October 8th?

The "Do I have anything like that at home? Can I think of at least 3 different ways to wear it? Is it in the budget? And does it look really good on?" Shopper.

More details on my new blog and new budget coming tomorrow...

Day 362

It took a lot of Rit Dye Remover to make this skirt the red that it is now. It was actually one of the first things I tried to dye (think wayyyyyyy back to the green pants, more specifically, Day 173). This skirt used to be navy, but because I also have another navy skirt (last seen: here), I thought I could undo it. It didn't work the first time, so I gave up... you know, just as most go getters and other determined people do.

When we moved into our new house, there was a pile of "clothes to be rit dyed" that I carefully folded and placed in our laundry room. This once faded blue skirt was in that pile. I've spent the last couple of weekends repeatedly washing it in rit dye remover. When I thought it was faded enough, I decided it was time. I knew I would need a darker color, and red was the color that jumped out at me as I stood in the rit dye aisle.

I bet you're really going to miss these rit dye stories...

Day 361

I would consider this a nice recovery from yesterday's photo... I'm still sick, but at least I made an effort today.

Day 361 is brought to you by sinus medication, a birthday shirt from my friend Alyssa, and a little help from my hair dryer and brush.

Oh, and my husband, without whom none of this would have been possible (and by this, I mean the photo with the red wall... really that's his only contribution).

Day 360

360 (three hundred and sixty) or three sixty is the natural number following 359 and preceding 361.

In mathematics

• 360 is the smallest number divisible by every natural number from 1 to 10 except 7.
• One of 360's divisors is 72, which is the number of primes below it.
• A circle is divided into 360° degrees for the purpose of angular measurement. 360° = 2 π rad is also called a round angle. This choice of unit allows round angle to be divided into equal sectors measured in integer degrees rather than fractional degrees. Many angles commonly appearing in planimetrics have integer number of degrees.

In other fields

• The term "360" (assumed 360°, see above) refers to a trick in certain sports such as Freestyle skiing, Motorcycle stunt riding, ice dancing, and acrobatics, where the athlete rotates in the air a full 360 degrees.
• "360" is shorthand for panoramic photographs and virtual reality worlds, since it is the degree measurement of a circle.
• 360 is a telephone area code for most of Western Washington state.
• 360 is a famous model of electric guitar built by Rickenbacker Corporation.
• Microsoft Xbox 360, a game console released in the second half of 2000s.

In the world of swearing off shopping

• [Day] 360 is indicative of exactly one week (7 calendar days) remaining before the individual who has sworn off shopping can, once again, begin to shop.
• 360 is the average number of seconds it has typically taken that same individual to post a blog entry each day for the past 360 days, which is the equivalent of 129,600 seconds or 36 hours. **
• 360 dollars is the amount of money said blogger would like to spend on clothing exactly one week from today (the verdict is still out on a shopping budget).

** Note: The amount of time invested in today's blog post has likely increased this average.

References

"360 (number)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/360_(number)>.

Not bad for a kid with a self-diagnosed sinus infection, right? I mean I look and feel like hell, but at least there's Wikipedia involved. De Nada.

xoxo,

Cass

Day 359

It's a big day, and not because of my casual outfit, or the fact that my year ends exactly one week from today...


Keep scrolling.

Happy Birthday, Nugget.

Day 358

I will admit, this isn't my best. However, it's an upgrade from sweatpants and there was no real reason for me to get dressed today... So in a way, maybe it is my best.

The fact that I've been doing this for so long that I'm somehow okay with having my picture taken right after I get out of the shower however... That is not my best.

Day 357

I find it fitting that there are champagne glasses present in today's picture... Champagne Thursday came early this week.

Day 356

My dog really looks up to me.

Keep a close eye on that one. He may try to dye his blonde hair too...


10 days to go!

It's like a New Year's Eve countdown, but not nearly as fast or as awesome (Though, I may be partial to NYE). Normally, the countdown through the final ten is epic... However, I am running out of things to wear, so it's more like a personal struggle. A little like the end of a race. This morning, I guess I was just ready to walk the rest of the way. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give today like a 3.

It's going to take everything I've got to make the next nine something I can be proud of... Or, Something we can be proud of. Congratulatory gift card worthy proud, even. Nugget's obviously already proud of me... mostly because I'm holding a treat in my right hand.

Day 355

Here is outfit number 355:

... And here is the first official coupon I've received in the past year that won't need to be thrown away:

Day 354

I literally just woke up with the computer in my lap... Apparently I fell asleep while attempting to blog. It's been a long day, but I think this means I'm off the hook in terms of a compelling blog post. Cassie - Out.

Day 353

I had an entirely different outfit planned for myself today, but while I was getting ready this morning, I was reminded of the fact that my red jeans fit really weird... they're loose in spots they shouldn't be and tighter in spots where I'd rather they not be. Replacement red jeans may need to be one of my first purchases in a couple of weeks...

When the outfit I have in mind doesn't work out, it results in closet chaos. My husband hates it (mainly because it's physically impossible for me to put my clothes away after I try them on when I'm running late in the morning.) This was outfit number 6 or 7... I wasn't quite sure if I was ready to pull the trigger on busting out the boots just yet, but if I'm not mistaken, we've hit fall, so I guess it's legit.

Day 352

My hair looks reddish in this picture, but it's not red in real life... or at least, I didn't ask for it to be. I'm not sure what color it is, and I'm still trying to decide what I think.

Fine. You caught me, I'm still blonde... that's my stunt double. I've actually been out on a weekend long shopping binge. Sorry, I'm not sorry.

Okay, no it's not. That is actually me, and I am sorry I just lied.

Day 351

Variety is the spice of life.

Today, for the first time in a long time, I didn't work and I didn't worry, much less look, at a to do list...

It was amazing. 

We spent the morning in the mountains taking in the fall colors, and our afternoon was spent enjoying Oktoberfest festivities and fireworks. I need more Saturday's like that in my life.

Day 350

Five Fact Friday

1. Five Fact Friday was supposed to be a recurring thing like 6 months ago. I totally blew it.
2. I wish my dog would keep his chewed up toys out of my very important potential blog picture spots.
3. I dyed my hair.
4. Obviously.
5. The reason I probably didn't follow through with Five Fact Friday is because coming up with five facts on a Friday is harder than it looks.

Day 349

You've seen these cropped jeans before, most recently on Day 311. They've since been re-rit dyed.

Yes, that's a thing.

I wasn't crazy about how pink that previous purple was so I thought I'd give it the old [rit dye] college try... I threw them in the wash with some navy blue, purple, and a little bit of black. They didn't come out as dark as I wanted (I was going for more of a dark, fall-ish purple), but they're alright... for now.

Does anyone know if there's a limit to how many times you can rit dye something? Because these are likely going back into the rit dye pool after today.

Speaking of lilac denim, Nugget's back. He's trying to look sad, while simultaneously suggesting no one around here is willing to throw the ball he appears to be holding onto for dear life.

Day 348

You're seeing a lot of things you've already seen, just in different combinations this week.

Here's the thing, I have a limited amount of warm weather professional work apparel. It's still in the 80's in my area of the world, so unfortunately I can't quite move back into the colder weather stuff where I have more options yet... Also, I'm not sure if you know this, but I haven't been able to shop for the past year.

In addition to lacking professional options for warmer temperatures, Nugget is apparently lacking the desire to be present on the blog lately. I'll have to chat with him about that and make sure everything is okay.

Day 347

I swear to you, I had a better day than what's reflected in this picture. I just wasn't feeling the picture taking this morning...

I've had this skirt for a couple of years, but I don't think I've worn it at all over the past 346 days. Mainly because it's the type of skirt I feel needs to be worn with a tucked in shirt.  I was never able to find the right shirt for it, until this past weekend when I happened to be folding this rit dyed number while doing laundry... Giuliana Rancic popped into my head because I saw her wearing something like this last fall. At that time, I didn't have the blue shirt to pull it off.

...Then, I discovered rit dye.

Why would I remember what an E! host wore 12 months ago? I have no idea. Fashion photographic memory... it's a gift.

Day 346

Weird angles, crazy eyes, and faded denim.
That's what Monday's are made of.

In addition, I'm missing my dark denim jacket... It was last seen here, on Day 248. If you, or anyone you know, has any information on its whereabouts, please contact me at 555-I-loved-that-jacket.

After spending 20 minutes looking for it, I switched out my white tee for a navy blue one so I could still achieve the dark blue look I wanted with this skirt... did I win?

Day 345

This is one of those pictures where I look at it and just shake my head... I'm officially bringing sweatpants sunday back next week. Sweatpants go better with my face when it looks like that anyway.

Hey. I'm working on a new blog as a sequel to Swearing off Shopping... whose excited?!?!

Day 344

It was one of those productive, not really blog worthy, Saturday's... here's an uneventful bulleted list of things I did:

• bought a new dining room table.
• got the screen fixed on my phone.
• grocery shopped.
• cleaned the house.
• fell asleep watching I Love You Man, [which, by the way is one of my favorites...]

Day 343

Friday Flowy Shirt Day...

Day 342

This is my Thursday outfit...  after today, there are only 3 more of those until I can shop again.

Day 341

I felt good about this outfit, until I realized I wasn't wearing my Hunter Boots on the rainiest day I've seen since June. Then, my car as my witness, I became angry for all of 5 seconds before I got over it.

In other captivating news, I met the world's sassiest four-year-old today... She was fantastic and judgey - A preschool Joan Rivers. Don't worry, I didn't let her get to me. I never take anyone wearing sequins and mis-matched ruffles seriously.

Day 340

I've been taking pictures before I leave the house at 6:30am... I am NOT a morning person. Here's the proof.

See the cool salt and pepper shakers to the left of my head? It's two little people hugging... We got them as a gift from my world traveling parents - Whatever takes the focus off my head.
... And you're so easily distracted. You may want to want to get that checked out. Adult ADD, perhaps? I'd evaluate you myself but my license only allows me to do that if you're under the age of 8.

Day 339

I finally figured out how to rit dye something this cobalt blue color...

The same cannot be said for my ability to take pictures with the self timer on my camera.

Day 338

I have a hair appointment scheduled... soon, I will stop trying to hide behind a hat.

Day 337

This shirt almost made it a year without being worn... I'm not sure how that happened, but I usually prefer to wear it under things because it has these weird side tie deals I don't love.

It's still too hot for layers in my area of the world, so I made an exception for this shirt today.

Day 336

A true follower of SOS may notice that Day 336 has some apparent similarities to Day 70... so before you go getting all accusatory, let me make a few things clear:

1. Switching up the jewelry and hair style creates an entirely different look... Today's got a lot more sass than that cold December day in 2011.
2. This is a different blazer... it's cropped and shorter. I ruined the one I wore on Day 70 because when I realized I owned two black blazers (one cropped and one not), I decided I could stand to rit dye one of them... color remover apparently does not work with jcrew cotton... it's now a gross faded black that makes it look like it was in sun for days, though, I may still try for navy with that guy.
3. Finally, these are different jeans... they have recently been pulled out from the bottom of my closet.  A few years ago, they were moved to the bottom of the jean pile because my 26 year old self thought I was far too mature for old, ripped, denim. 29 year old me is hanging on to my twenties (and ripped denim) for dear life... 

Day 335

If it wasn't for that damn leap year, I'd be able to say I have exactly ONE MONTH left before my Swearing off Shopping ends...  But instead, I'll have to wait until tomorrow. All because someone decided our calendar year needed to align with our planet's revolution around the sun.

1 day, 1 month remaining.

You're welcome, earth.

Day 334

This shirt was a birthday present from my brother... if you see him, thank him for me. And if you are him, then let me thank you myself.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let me also inform you that this shirt is not even a little bit shiny in real life. I'm not sure why it appears that way in this picture.

Now, let's get after this Wednesday. I just internet slapped you on the butt, so you know I mean it. Go get em', Champ.

Day 333

Day 333 is blurry because I was in a hurry.

This is my Play-Learn-Succeed Early Childhood Education shirt. Being required to wear it for a presentation today meant I didn't need to put thought into getting dressed, which was fantastic after a long weekend.

I'm sorry. That really is blurry. I'll do better tomorrow. Maybe, if we're lucky, my husband will go back to taking pictures for me. His degree in Digital Media Production makes him a better photographer than my self-timer.

Day 332

Of the 332 days I've been doing this, Nugget's made an attempt to appear in at least 300 of them... I've been telling you he's a camera floozy, and here is the proof.

This time though, he just stood there and refused to move. He turns 3 this month, so I can only assume he's entering the "Initiative vs. Guilt" stage of Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development. He's beginning to feel the need to assert control of his environment.

That stage of development also applies to 3-5 year old humans. When they try to assert too much power, you probably disapprove, which causes them to feel guilt. Hence, the preschooler's inner struggle with needing to take initiative and be independent versus feeling guilt.

Spent an excessive amount of time in the world of early childhood, Cassie?  Perhaps.

You're welcome.

Day 331

So I wore hats two days in a row... mostly because the idea of doing my hair was appalling.

Nugget doesn't have to do his hair, and that makes him happy.

Does anyone know why he curls his paw under like that? I'm not being sarcastic, I really want to know... Cesar Millan, hello?

Day 330

Look at him... acting all casual and nonchalant. I'm fairly certain that's his, "Mostly, I just sit around all day being fantastic" face.

Day 329

Once upon a time, there was a white shirt. One day, it fell into a pool of rit dye. It was spun around and around, and when it emerged, the little white shirt knew it would never be the same again...

Day 328

This may be bordering on a little too casual for work, but it's like 1000 degrees outside... and, the majority of the places I work do not have air conditioning. I would wear a swimsuit to work if that were socially acceptable.

No, really.

Day 327

Oh hey. Check it out. A dress.  Purchased sometime in 2010.

I'm sorry, I'm kinda checked out of Swearing off Shopping this week. At least I'm checked out of something, since I can't check out at a clothing store. BADA-BING!

Not funny.
Not even to me and I laugh at EVERYTHING.

Day 326

If we were to just switch that 2 and 6 around up there... I'd be almost done.

My apologies again for the lack of creativity or substance in yet another blog post... this whole working thing really puts a damper on being a blogger. If you, or anyone you know, would be willing to pay me to blog, my posts would be epic. All the time. Every day. For real.

Day 325

Monday.
I'm exhausted.
And wordless.
Blurry, in addition.
It happens.

That was not-a-haiku brought to you by me.

Day 324

The quality of my pictures fluctuates depending on whether or not I know where my camera is, as well as whether or not my husband says he'll just take it with his phone or chooses to use his fancy camera (the one I'm not allowed to touch due to my natural clumsiness).

Today he used his phone, which made for this grainy look...

I experienced my first Speakeasy tonight (equipped with a revolving book case and old fashion drinks), so the old time grainy look seemed fitting anyway. Pretend it's 1920.

Day 323

Here I am playing Pac Man with my brother and his girlfriend.

I wore this tank top with jeans I wear all the time and sandals you've already seen. Also, I don't have a lot of talents, but one of them is definitely Pac Man.

Consider yourself informed.

Day 322

This shirt was a Christmas gift card purchase that I am just now wearing for the first time and [brace yourself] I've realized I really do have a lot of clothes, and I am actually okay with not shopping. There, I said it.

I've always been a pretty good bargain shopper, but this swearing off shopping thing has made me realize that I used to make the majority of my purchases just because something was on sale, and not because I loved it. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my other issue was impatience. When I saw something I really liked, I bought it full price thinking that if I didn't, it would go out of stock. I've watched a lot of things I really like go in and out of stock over the past year, and I'm not even a little bit sad about it. Truth be told, I can't actually remember any of those things anymore.

Woah, that was deep, huh?

Reflection time is over now.