The month of excess

After reminding myself about how much I like this necklace from Urban Outfitters, I went back and bought it-



It goes really well with my gold Gap belt.  I like "statement" pieces that simplify my life.  I don't have to think much about the rest of my outfit. I can just throw them on with anything, and they make the outfit.  I am actually wearing this belt and necklace for the second day in a row. 

With all of the Christmas excess around us and any "gifts" I may have bought myself this month, I just want to make it clear that I don't want to encourage anyone to buy anything they don't need or want or can't afford.  Clothes are my "thing".  I save money in other ways.  I have never hired a maid to clean my house.  I have made all of our curtains and artwork.  I have personally painted 5 rooms in our house (including our living room with diagonal paneling that had to be hand brushed).  The only time we've ever paid someone to mow our lawn is the week after my husband had surgery.  (My husband wouldn't let me mow it - but I do pull weeds.)  I have even fixed some of our small plumbing problems by myself.  Anything I can make or do more cheaply than paying someone else, I prefer to do for myself.

I am also fascinated by people who are different.  I don't want everyone to dress alike.  You can wear the same shirt and pants everyday if that is your style.  Bill Cunningham, the 80-something photographer for the New Yorker, is a style icon in the fashion community for wearing the same cheap blue smock everyday.  He rides his bicycle everywhere and sleeps in a tiny apartment filled with file cabinets.  Simplicity.




Photo from NewYorker.com

 

So, in response to the excess of Christmas, I am going to deem January "The Month of Contentment".  January will be all about the 4 R's - Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle...and whatever the 4th R is.  More details to come...