2020 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[ElainePG]

I'm interested in your moisturizing regimen. I try to do this but fail pretty hard. I put lotion on my body everyday after a shower. Sometimes I will including putting lotion on my feet, but then it feels like all the dirt and dust from the floor get stuck on them. I also got a pumice board, which has been nice for certain trouble spots, and I'll use that a few times a month. Do you lotion your feet and slip right into bed? Do you lotion and then use slippers? Curious so I can learn more for my own routine!

I only do moisturizer on my feet at night, before bed, and then into a pair of socks. I usually get hot partway through the night and kick the socks off but by then the moisturizer has sunk in. I don't use a pumice board, because I get regualr pedicures every 6 weeks or so. I figure heel-scrubbing should be left to the experts. As part of the pedi, she also does a paraffin treatment which makes my heels (which have a tendency to get dry) very soft. I keep my toenails rather short, and I don't have her put polish on them.Since I don't wear sandals (the weather here is never hot enough for them) I really don't need to have polish, and I've found that leaving them free of polish is healthier for my toesies.

Manicures, however, are another thing entirely! I get a mani regularly, every three weeks, and it's pretty much always a French manicure. My nails aren't very long, and I like the look of short(er) nails with the white/neutral of a French mani. She does white on the tips, but then just clear protein polish on the rest of the nail, which keeps my nails super healthy.

 

[ElainePG]

That pop of pink was what caught my attention!
Dinner was fantastic - but my noggin is a bit foggy this morning...
View attachment 4653966

Well, I guess it would be! But it looks like you had fun… right?

 

[ElainePG]

I feel like I can't justify getting a pretty checkbook cover. I don't carry around my checks and use them on a very irregular basis and I haven't felt the need to get anything more than the stock cover from my bank. I have splurged on personalized checks and check designs, though - I believe my last order was for some classic Mickey designs.

I did, however, just treat myself to some lovely portable tissue packet covers made with traditional Japanese patterned fabric. It's a nice camouflage for the tissue packets I'm always carrying around with me.

I also used to have a cell phone holder made with old kimono fabric back when I was in college, for my flip phone (!) that I loved and used to pieces.

View attachment 4653971

I love Japanese fabric, and that tissue packet cover is adorable.

 

[dcooney4]

3 bags out is awesome! Good for you!

Thanks! I was delighted they went. They were pretty but just not getting enough wear.

 

[dcooney4]

The urge to buy bags for the sake of buying them can be bad, can´t it? Like you I´ve already been struggling this month. Actually I started the month with a strange urge to own a Chanel Boy... I got over it eventually, especially because it´s in a price range I´d consider expensive for a second car. There´ve been other much cheaper bags I´ve been looking at, too and then had the same feeling like you had: they are not meant to be mine! This forum has helped me very much to realise what´s important and to be grateful for the treasures I already have.

To calm my desire for a Boy I did what my mother used to tell me when I wanted silly things as a little girl: "then go and paint it for yourself!" Well, here´s my very nerve calming version of a Boy desing on a cheap vintage handbag.
View attachment 4653902

That is awesome!

 

[ohmisseevee]

So I took a look at my stats for January, and while I'm not doing great, I'm also not doing badly!

Bags In: 1
Bags Out: 0
- 1 bag pending sale
- 2 bags pending donation/gifting away
SLGs In: 4
SLGs Out: 1

I've been switching between my bags relatively regularly throughout the month. I did count days that I still had my belongings in the bag even if I didn't go out (for example, while I was sick), and my clutch (the Massaccesi Flora) was only counted on the days I used it independent of the larger bag that was in. It's the first time I've used clutches in that way, and I found it super convenient! i'll probably continue to do this when I switch back to my work-tote.

These are my bag usage stats for the month, per-bag:

And this is what it looks like by percentage:

I didn't buy any new shoes, accessories, or items of clothing (though I did gain a couple of items as gifts and race swag), though I did buy new makeup/skincare items (two tubes of lip moisturizer / lip tint). I was also asked by one of my college friends to be her bridesmaid for a wedding in May (!), which was quite exciting, but also spent most of the month sick (2+ weeks plus two days with food poisoning after eating bad sushi), so January has been quite a mixed bag for me.

On the bright side, my parents had dinner with my BF twice this month for Chinese New Year and I think they really like him even though he's not also Chinese. We're approaching our one-year anniversary soon and I can't believe how much my life has changed in this past year. I've been in committed relationships before but something's different about this one - it feels like our future together is very tangible and imaginable.

 

[whateve]

I will give up all sugar and about 10,000 other things including a few relatives before I give up my heels. That being said, I refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes. So I have very few closed in pointed toe. In fact, I think I only have one pair of pointed toe boots. I really prefer to have my toes out. Luckily it’s warm here more than it’s not so I don’t have to wear closed in shoes as much as I’ve had to in the past.

Speaking of toes out. Do you ladies do pedicures? I do my pedicures ETW on Wed - I think I do a more thorough job - and then get my - nails dip powder plus manicure - done ETW on Thursday. This was nail week and they look great!! Pretty, lightly sparkly pale pink on both. Ready for the weekend.

I don't do my fingernails as I have small hands with tiny nails. When they are very long, they look tinier if they are polished with anything other than clear. I usually keep the toenails polished, but sometimes I don't see the point to doing it during the winter. I'm afraid to go to a salon because of infections.

I love the look of these. Never purchased them because they’re so expensive, but I do hear they are very comfortable. I like the look of the Lurum, which has quite a few more crystals. At this heel height I’d imagine they could be quite comfortable with exactly the same amount of style and and chic-ness. Can anyone here attest to the comfort of Manolo’s? Unfortunately the two I bought pre-pregnancy are now too tight.

My feet grew a half size with pregnancy. They grew more than that with the later pregnancies but then they shrunk back a bit, so overall I gained a half size or maybe a little more.

 

[dcooney4]

So I took a look at my stats for January, and while I'm not doing great, I'm also not doing badly!

Bags In: 1
Bags Out: 0
- 1 bag pending sale
- 2 bags pending donation/gifting away
SLGs In: 4
SLGs Out: 1

I've been switching between my bags relatively regularly throughout the month. I did count days that I still had my belongings in the bag even if I didn't go out (for example, while I was sick), and my clutch (the Massaccesi Flora) was only counted on the days I used it independent of the larger bag that was in. It's the first time I've used clutches in that way, and I found it super convenient! i'll probably continue to do this when I switch back to my work-tote.

These are my bag usage stats for the month, per-bag:
View attachment 4654005
And this is what it looks like by percentage:
View attachment 4654004
I didn't buy any new shoes, accessories, or items of clothing (though I did gain a couple of items as gifts and race swag), though I did buy new makeup/skincare items (two tubes of lip moisturizer / lip tint). I was also asked by one of my college friends to be her bridesmaid for a wedding in May (!), which was quite exciting, but also spent most of the month sick (2+ weeks plus two days with food poisoning after eating bad sushi), so January has been quite a mixed bag for me.

On the bright side, my parents had dinner with my BF twice this month for Chinese New Year and I think they really like him even though he's not also Chinese. We're approaching our one-year anniversary soon and I can't believe how much my life has changed in this past year. I've been in committed relationships before but something's different about this one - it feels like our future together is very tangible and imaginable.

You are doing very well! Sounds like this will be a good year for you . Hope you are feeling much better too.

 

[Mulberrygal]

That pop of pink was what caught my attention!
Dinner was fantastic - but my noggin is a bit foggy this morning...
View attachment 4653966

...............

 

[Rhl2987]

That pop of pink was what caught my attention!
Dinner was fantastic - but my noggin is a bit foggy this morning...
View attachment 4653966

I love this! Looks like it was a great night!

 

[Rhl2987]

I love hearing all of your foot moisturizing routines and I will start with moisturizer and socks tonight!! Once I'm working, which I will be shortly here, I will go for regular pedicures likely every few weeks.

 

[ohmisseevee]

You are doing very well! Sounds like this will be a good year for you . Hope you are feeling much better too.

Thank you! I am much improved, especially after Monday's bout of food poisoning which positively floored me for about 2 whole days. I still have a lingering cough / scratchy throat but, thankfully, it is not bad enough that I need to keep a supply of cough drops readily available.

 

[whateve]

The urge to buy bags for the sake of buying them can be bad, can´t it? Like you I´ve already been struggling this month. Actually I started the month with a strange urge to own a Chanel Boy... I got over it eventually, especially because it´s in a price range I´d consider expensive for a second car. There´ve been other much cheaper bags I´ve been looking at, too and then had the same feeling like you had: they are not meant to be mine! This forum has helped me very much to realise what´s important and to be grateful for the treasures I already have.

To calm my desire for a Boy I did what my mother used to tell me when I wanted silly things as a little girl: "then go and paint it for yourself!" Well, here´s my very nerve calming version of a Boy desing on a cheap vintage handbag.
View attachment 4653902

Your boy bag is beautiful!

I download all my cc charges into a program called Quicken, which I've used for years. But so many of our expenses are either consumables (groceries, gasoline, event tickets and so on) or recurring necessary charges (utilities, property tax), or things that can't be helped but at least are tax deductions (medical bills) that I was finding it hard to truly force myself to look at what I was spending on what I suppose you could call discretionary charges. Like a knife sharpener. Or (gulp) a handbag.

I don't think we can deduct medical bills anymore.
I have a problem with buying things and then never using them. Not just bags. It could be food, cleaners, small appliances, clothing, anything.. Even when things could be returned, I procrastinate until it is too late.

OMG!!!! What did you do????

I don't remember. It was a no win situation. Either I disappoint my kid or I expose him to lice. He didn't get lice so maybe I took him home.

I feel like I can't justify getting a pretty checkbook cover. I don't carry around my checks and use them on a very irregular basis and I haven't felt the need to get anything more than the stock cover from my bank. I have splurged on personalized checks and check designs, though - I believe my last order was for some classic Mickey designs.

I did, however, just treat myself to some lovely portable tissue packet covers made with traditional Japanese patterned fabric. It's a nice camouflage for the tissue packets I'm always carrying around with me.

I also used to have a cell phone holder made with old kimono fabric back when I was in college, for my flip phone (!) that I loved and used to pieces.

View attachment 4653971

I have 2 checkbook holders made of really nice leather. One is from a really old wallet I used to use, and the other is from a Fossil wallet I bought on ebay for $6. It was cheaper to buy the wallet than just a checkbook cover!

So I took a look at my stats for January, and while I'm not doing great, I'm also not doing badly!

Bags In: 1
Bags Out: 0
- 1 bag pending sale
- 2 bags pending donation/gifting away
SLGs In: 4
SLGs Out: 1

I've been switching between my bags relatively regularly throughout the month. I did count days that I still had my belongings in the bag even if I didn't go out (for example, while I was sick), and my clutch (the Massaccesi Flora) was only counted on the days I used it independent of the larger bag that was in. It's the first time I've used clutches in that way, and I found it super convenient! i'll probably continue to do this when I switch back to my work-tote.

These are my bag usage stats for the month, per-bag:
View attachment 4654005
And this is what it looks like by percentage:
View attachment 4654004
I didn't buy any new shoes, accessories, or items of clothing (though I did gain a couple of items as gifts and race swag), though I did buy new makeup/skincare items (two tubes of lip moisturizer / lip tint). I was also asked by one of my college friends to be her bridesmaid for a wedding in May (!), which was quite exciting, but also spent most of the month sick (2+ weeks plus two days with food poisoning after eating bad sushi), so January has been quite a mixed bag for me.

On the bright side, my parents had dinner with my BF twice this month for Chinese New Year and I think they really like him even though he's not also Chinese. We're approaching our one-year anniversary soon and I can't believe how much my life has changed in this past year. I've been in committed relationships before but something's different about this one - it feels like our future together is very tangible and imaginable.

My daughter's husband is of a different race than us. His parents haven't very welcoming of my daughter into their family but they haven't completely rejected her either. She thinks they are warming up because they are realizing that the relationship is permanent.

I'm sorry you've been sick.

 

[whateve]

I'm still hoping for a last minute sale to round out this month, but here are my stats. I'm afraid I haven't done very well this month.
Bags out 1
Bags in 3 (one I haven't received yet, and one is a small clutch so I'm not sure if I'll count it as a bag or SLG)
SLGs out 5
SLGs in 2

I carried 8 bags this month.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

That is awesome!

aww, thank-you!