The end is ... far

So it's been a while since I last updated, which is good in the sense that it's because I have been busy. It's bad in the sense that I have been busy trying to cure myself of this deeply-rooted shopping addiction! I got pretty cocky for a while, thinking "this is easy" and not taking it too seriously. I would pick out clothes at work and throw them on the hook next to my desk for when I was through the shopping cleanse and could buy freely once again.

Then I realized: putting things on hold for later is STILL SHOPPING! *exasperated sigh* So I'm obviously not cured, because I shop all the time, just don't actually buy anything.

So the next step has been to really, truly, actually stop SHOPPING. Start to finish. No picking out cute heels thinking "I'll get them later;" no grabbing that clearance top now and putting it on hold indefinitely because it might be gone when I can buy it! No online, window, or ebay-browsing shopping. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None.

This realization was a tough one, because how do you just stop coordinating mental outfits? How can you control your fashion-centered thoughts? No, really, how?

Next problem: I am a finalist in a competition I entered at work. The company is flying me to New Jersey to present in front of a panel and other leaders in the company. First thought: I need a new suit, STAT! Next thought: Oh sh!t, I'm on a shopping cleanse! This is definitely shopping, no way around it. To buy a new suit would be completely and blatantly disregarding the rules of the cleanse and ultimately failing. So, uh, what now? Most of my suits were purchased when I was 3 sizes bigger, so those are out. I have one suit that might make the cut ($600 marked down to $60 in a Lord & Taylor closing sale!), but jacket only because the pants are gold silk. The jacket is pretty heavy, so it might be too much for June 17. That leaves my go-to work wardrobe. I think--THINK--I can make it work with a black pencil skirt, a cute tank (white leopard, perhaps?), and a short sleeved suit jacket from Forever21.

Unless someone has a size 0,2,4 (depending on the brand) adorable, summer appropriate suit they want to lend me for two days?! .... pencil skirt suit ensemble it is!