Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Things I Didn't Know I Needed...In which WMM tried to kit out her feet, house and garden with no money!

Oh I have been very good, sticking to my budget, actually making a budget for that matter.  And then, you start seeing "stuff".  Stuff you think you would like to have in your life.

It is truth universally acknowledged that

a) when you have no money, there is a disproportionate number of items you would suddenly like to acquire
b) when you actually have money, money for the specific purpose of buying something, anything, it appears there is nothing to buy.  nowhere.

The world is a cruel place sometimes...

Besides the wallpaper I mentioned yesterday and which I have absolutely no spot for (oh darn, wait, I just had a good idea...), here are some other things that have caught my fancy lately and will remain just that, a fancy.  I am not yet at the higher plane, able to live those immortal words of Sinead O'Connor, I do not want what I have not got.  It seems not she may not have wanted some of those things as she was high, but see, my budget doesn't even allow for THAT these days!

Red Coral Ballet Flats from Aerin.com:


And from the same web site, an expensive little bauble , called the Tiger Cowry Shell, for my desk...Why would I need this???? Why not?

Tiger Cowry Shell

Aurora Enamal Charger/Plates/Dessert Plates from MacKenzie-Childs:

Aurora Enamel Charger/Plate

Aurora Enamel Dinner Plate

Aurora Enamel Salad/Dessert Plate

I do not need these.  But oh my gosh, I would love to see them on my dining room table!

An outdoor chesterfield:


Get your here
Isn't that divine?  I love a chesterfield, I love sitting outdoors.  Wait, I love NAPPING outdoors....  I just see a lot of good things coming from that Chesterfield...There doesn't appear a great hope of this however, since the website does not list prices and you know what that means.
I am also jonesing for the Careen Metallic Loafer that was not yet in stock at the Tory Burch shop I visited in NYC:

They look so retro cool to me.  Tory is so helpful and has even show me how to wear it:



There, I feel much better, having gotten all of my gimmees off my chest.  It could be spring fever again.. We are scheduled to get a whollop of  storm today!  I need to get out in the garden to clear my head.  In the interim, I am going to paint today.

And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that today is the 18th birthday of one of the lights of my life, my son, who was born exactly 18 years ago at 4:16 pm weighing 10lb 6 oz.  Both of my children are pisces; my daughter is the pisces who goes with the flow.  My son is the pisces who has been swimming upstream since the day he was born and life will never be easy for him, but it will always be interesting.

About 2 hours after he was born, the doctor came in to see us to see how things were going.  My son was laying there with his head on my chest.  When he heard the doctor speak, he lifted his head up and turned and looked at him.  The Dr. was flabbergasted and said he had never seen a newborn do that in his entire career.  That my friends, is called stubborn will.

So how about you?  Any gimmees these days or are you being blissfully good?  I am being good, but perhaps not blissfully!  Have a happy Tuesday and stay safe out there!











44 comments:

  1. Lots and lots of gimmees for me I'm afraid. That's what happens when you're on forced house-arrest with limited mobility! I've got no access to my credit card, though, so we're safe for now!

    I admire your will power, WMM! Those coral flats are mighty cute, but you don't need them!

    My youngest was also born today - but only 8 years ago. He also swims against the current and is possibly the most stubborn person I have ever met, apart from my father-in-law.

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    1. Happy Birthday to your son, Ruth! Maybe there is a thing about March 19th!

      I sure don't need anything on this list and will not buy anything, but is always funny when you see a bunch of things at once that you would love to have!

      Wait - I could be lying - I may eventually have a wall of that wallpaper - but not this year!

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  2. Oh and the outdoor Chesterfield is fab. I really,really want that!

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    1. I know - that is one of the fabbest things I could do!

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  3. I really did want anew swimsuit but that didn't work out. Found a website. bigger bra.com, such a glamorous name no, that makes them true bra size. Might give that a whirl but not in by cruise. I will make an effort to post some pix for you today that will hopefully brighten your day or could just send you over the edge...who knows. Enjoy the bday...we bought Tyler a cigar when he turned 18. He, my hubs, and my father all smoked one. Only my dad didn't feel sick.

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    1. BB - I will be looking at this for a new bathing suit for end of May when we open the pool. No cigar for son, won;t even mention to my husband as he would run out and buy one and if it hasn;t occured to him yet...His girlfriend is actually planning a surprise birthday party for him at the local bowling alley!

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  4. Good morning Wendy ~ In Palm Beach, which is undoubtedly the most expensive shopping capitol of the world. In fact it's like aversion therapy for me being here, I want nothing! So much conspicuous consumption, that it has an almost nauseating affect. It always does.
    We were at a dinner last night, and I was wearing a white blazer. Someone said they loved it, and what fabric was it? I proudly announced "It's polyester, both inside and out!"
    I can be oppositional at times evidently.
    A very happy birthday to your son, on this special day. 18, it goes by fast, doesn't it? Are you doing something special for dinner?

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    1. HA! I love to say stuff like that too!! I know what you mean about how when you are in places that have so MUCH stuff it is almost overwhelming, especially when you think of what so many do not have...

      As for son, he wants vegan falafel for dinner and I am making a vegan chocolate cake with frosting. Janet would be so proud of me!

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    2. Zurich, Lausanne, and Geneva all have that effect on me, Kathy. I like announcing that my clothes are second hand, ha. The excess just makes you think, you know, Chanel might be nicer than H&M, but unless you have style, it is no more original or interesting to look at. It all starts to make me feel a little queasy.

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    3. My other experience is that it is impossible to tell. I was once wearing really expensive shoes and my SIL asked "Did you get those at walmart?"

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  6. I am afraid the new J. Crew catalog will tempt me with the gimmes. Sorry you are getting another storm, that is enough already isn't it. I hope your son has a happy birthday! About the bookshelf wallpaper, can you buy it in small quantities? Since you have no place for it, have you considered lining the inside back of a shelf with it instead of putting it on a wall? I think that would be funny!

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  7. WANT-ITIS Wendy, very happy cake day with and for the DS. That's an amazing story about his original birthday. I think being a rebel with a cause (or few) is a great thing. The world tries to make us all "mainstream" anyway.

    You know I usually adore TB shoes with little descrimination. But I did not like the added cork sole on those loafers at all, especially where they are shown online with full-skirted dresses. Too Austin Powers Goldmember retro, not enough chic, for me.

    I think that wonderfully unpriced chesterfield would just fit on our balcony (which is long and narrow maybe). But I doubt I would be able to shut my living room door and visitors would likely need one of those pole vault apparatus to springboard into a spot.

    Have a terrific painting Tuesday. And good on you for making and sticking with your plans! -- signed Champagne Tastes Beer Budget

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    1. And the pole vaulting could be dangerous....

      I think on a big old covered porch (which I do not have) that chesterfield would be the bees knees!

      I like these little loafers, but they will not make the summer list, so no worries there! I am being super cheap these days, since the AMex bill will cometh and will need to be paid down immediately. And a couple of meals for 6 were a little pricier than we anticipated!

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  8. Happy Birthday to your son, Wendy! What an amazing story about him looking at the doctor!

    Good for you for sticking to your budge ;)

    I have lots of wants. Last week I wanted a car! But I think I'm over that now as it truly makes no sense for us to buy one and there is a great car sharing system here.

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    1. Abby, you share that want with my husband, who is sad to be sharing a car with me. But since neither of us are working full time and a car is a hole into which you pour money, he has a stoplight on that one!

      thanks for the good wishes! It sure goes by fast!

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  9. Happy Birthday to your boy! I hope you have a wonderful day today. Thanks for sharing that story about your son looking up at the doctor, that's incredible! That must have been shocking for the ole doc.
    I haven't had the gimme's lately at all but you never know when they could strike. Usually when we are trying not to spend any money at all, that's the truth. I think if they do occur we should pretend we're in Palm Beach with Kathy, she's onto something there!

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    1. Agreed, the many luxe malls of Las Vegas have that Palm Beach Effect too since they are concentrated non-stop on the Strip. Some excess is just not glorious, but queasy as Abby noted.

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    2. I think in order to really reiterate this, I ought to go to Palm Beach with Kathy and visit her MIL. I think that would help a lot...

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  10. I love getting my gimmees out on the blog, sometimes that's all it takes to feel satisfied.
    Nothing's floating but boat but I do need two swimsuits, I don't have any they have all died and I need a spring/summer/early autumn coat but because I need them they are a bit boring to me. I'm usually first, was everyone up early today or have I slept in?

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    1. Ha! I thought you were out getting nails done!

      I do find that talking about the gimmees gets them out and then there is no need to shop as well. Once I tell you all, I feel much better!!!!

      I need a swimsuit too but am not thinking bout it right now!

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    2. Is there anything worse than swimsuit shopping?

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    3. Try it with your teenage daughter who is fit and perky and just throws them on , says looks good, and she's done. Big sigh.

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    4. Pinterest plays an interesting role in this for me too. Sometimes, once I "pin" something, I'm over it.

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    5. BB - the only way I can up you on that is shopping with 3 girls who are in varying stages of NOT wanting to wear bathing suits. Ugly times!

      I am like you Kathy - pinterest is quite good for that. I think there is something psychologically acquisitive in pinterest that gives the same feeling as the actual purchase. I think of the things I have bought in my life that then came home and were never worn. How is that different than being in my pinterest scrapbook? The former makes me hate myself, the latter makes me feel creative!!!

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  11. Cheers to your son on his birthday. Hope the party is a success and no one is stuck in the snowstorm.

    I have a bit of the gimmies lately but I am following my budget and plan so it's all good. I like the look of menswear shoes with shorts and skirts so the loafers appeal to me. The snow was melting here yesterday and although the temps take a bit of a dip the next few days it looks like a major warming trend is on the way and I can't wait to make the shift to spring.

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    1. Must still be a shock after your grand weather!

      I am ready for spring! It can't come fast enough!

      Just finished teh chocolate beetroot cake! Judging from the batter - I think it will be great!

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  12. I seem to be fairly gimmie free right now. Probably the result of getting all those bills from re-doing our bathroom.

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    1. My bills from NYC, along with the arrival of my new chair soon, are going to help take the gimmees right out of me!

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  13. Best Wishes to your boy! What a wonderful age! I have had a couple of gimmes lately, and indulge myself during the winter sales. I find that my #150 project is the perfect excuse, right??? I buy new things to better build my wardrobe :-) And, yes, as you mentioned in a previous post, being on a budget has make me very picky... So my wishes are very specific...
    This chesterfield is lovely, but with the weather we have, here in Luxembourg, I would not enjoy it for long as our summers consists of 4 weeks of nice weather if we were lucky those past years...
    Have a wonderful day celebrating!

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    1. Steph - I hear you! I would only get a good two months out of it! Now if I ever get my screened room, well that will be different!

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  14. Am being abstemious for the time being, although a glance at my summer wardrobe has revealed some serious spaces. I always hold off buying Spring/summer until later in the season, as with snow outside it will not get any use here, and it seems to go on sale so quickly. I also like to look at warm weather clothes when I have resumed my exercise routine- always a little slippage each winter! I saw and love the TB loafers, but think they will be too warm for our hot summers- I never buy "Spring" clothes because it is too short a season here. Great baby story! Happy Birthday WMM's son!

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    1. HI KNityarns! I hear you on the short season. That's why my spring purse will also be my summer purse, except for clutches, and the dresses will do for all. we are like you - it is either super hot or super cold. I might get to wear my white jeans in May, that would be it till October!

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  15. Happy birthday to your son Wendy!

    I wish i would be cured of the gimmies,my list is long:)
    Even thougj i have a long list,i usually stick to my budget,so its not to bad.
    Right now i am hoping to find a really nice dress in the rollout tomorrow and my boyfriend fatique jacket will be delivered thursday.

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    1. HI Ina - hear you on the long list. will be curious to see the rollout - haven't heard much! I forgot to say that I saw the Rosie dress in the Portland Maine J Crew and I really liked it. It is not online now- but will probably pop back and might be a purchase if it ever shows up lower for me!

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  16. I am trying to be good (although you wouldn't know it from the jcrew bill that just came in) because we have a beach vacation coming up. I always like to shop while on vacay so I need to be strong now.
    Today is my baby sister's birthday as well. She is 9 years younger than me and has always marched to the beat of her own drummer usually much to my own dismay. Since we were nearly a decade apart she wore grunge while I wore preppy. Maybe today is the day the individualists are born. Happy birthday to your son!

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    1. Shopping Celle - you may be right! he is definitely an individualist!!!

      I like shopping on vacation too - at least bringing one or two things back!

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  17. I've acquired 3 Boden lined cotton summer dresses from eBay, for about $30-$40 apiece, which I am quite pleased with. I also feel that I am on the neverending hunt for a summer white collared shirt to either wear with shorts or with skirts -- I've ordered one from Boden this morning, along with 2 summer weight scarves, which I have been wanting for some time as my office is always much cooler than the outside weather in the summer. Did I need any of this? Of course not, but that is a different question ....

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    1. Michelle - I must check ebay for Boden - they don't ship to canada sadly!

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  18. Oh my gosh what a lot of goodness today...I normally don't really feel drawn to Tory Burch especially with that insignia on everything but am loving this new seasons lot, fun and friendly with pom poms.

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    1. you know, i have a little pom pom thing myself - have always loved 'em! if i lived in a place with year round outdoor living I would definitely be saving for that chesterfield!

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  19. what i would love right now is a big dude to come over and help my garden. but i'm sorta stubborn and will do it myself. but if one should happen to wander in i wouldn't send him away.

    i do need a few things for an upcoming trip so i really do need to go shopping.

    happy birthday to your son. my youngest was born with that same disposition. good luck honey. :)

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