february is ohio pride month

well, not really. but, with the weather in the 50 degree range this week capped off with a little snow on thursday, i can really get behind ohio.
this necklace could be quite the valentine for someone who loves the buckeye state as much as i do.
also, it's from an etsy artist in columbus. woo! available here.

see... i wasn't lying about domino being popular

this new york times article talks about how sad everyone is about domino closing up shop.
read it here.

spring crazy!

i don't know if there's anyway to winterize this dress if i bought it now. it would pretty much just hang out in my closet until winter packs it in for the year. so it would perhaps be a silly investment in february, but i do love the color combo and the cut. please share your thoughts. available at gap.

hello, green granny

apartment therapy highlighted an internet video series today about a lady who calls herself your green granny. she offers tips on saving money and the planet, oh and live better, too. i like her style.

topics include using leftovers, restyling tired clothes, thrift store shopping.
my favorite part is in episode 3 when she giggles about her thrift store jacket that was cheap and went to buckingham palace once.
here's at's post about the videos. and here's the link to oxfam's info on the green granny series.

perfect for keeping me warm these days

this scarf would help keep me warm and would work through spring, too. it just happens to be my favorite color, which doesn't hurt its case. also, i love that it's handmade and that when you buy something from etsy, you are supporting an individual artist, not a corporation.
if you like it for yourself, find it here.

not really news per se

the new york times published an article today that is an interesting read, although it doesn't have a surprise ending. apparently, for the last six months consumers have spent less and saved more. and people are worried that businesses will not be able to bounce back from this recession any time soon. there are some statistics and other bits of govermental/business information in the short article, that make it worth a read on your internet break. click here for the article.

or maybe it should be something else that's sparkly...

gap has wooed me with these little silver flats. these could put some spring in my step. of course, the two inches of ice that is outside my house would have to thaw at some point for said spring to be put into my step.
thoughts?

let the suggestions begin!

i saw this dress on a blog (but i can't recall which one). and it's been stuck in my head for a week now. it is actually what started this whole idea of limiting treats to one purchase per month.
i will be attending a wedding in april. although i have no shortage of fancy dresses, i love buying party dresses when there is an occasion on the horizon.
so, do i buy it or not? i definitely do not need this dress, but it's just so darn pretty. it's called the twinkle slow turn, which makes it all the more appealing for some reason. i'll put it on the list of possibilities for the february buy.
what do you think? if you like it enough to buy it for yourself, you can find it here.

i'm not the only one

almost every one of the interior design blogs that i read spread the news that domino magazine folded last week. the new york times even wrote a little article about it.
domino really was a great read for inspiration for the home. it offered a younger perspective on interior design than any other magazine i've known and was my favorite to pick up for a plane ride or beach trip. what can i say, pretty pictures are something i rather enjoy. i know i'm not alone, since the magazine is mourned here, here, here and here, to name a few.
apparently, magazines are feeling the crunch as advertisers cut back on spending and as customers face decisions on what costs to reduce in their daily lives.
i can only wonder what will be the next magazine to close up shop. perhaps lucky magazine, the magazine that really only discusses clothes shopping, will be the next one to be hurt.

the idea

i have decided to buy only one indulgent treat a month. the plan is to limit buying clothing, jewlery, shoes, home decor, etc to just one thing per month. this probably doesn't seem like a huge sacrifice, especially considering the financial woes our country is experiencing. but it will definitely be a challenge to pick just one thing and to stick with the plan.
i was first inspired by my dad's experiment to go one year without buying anything unless it was consumable. he ran into some tricky issues in staying true to his pledge. but in the end, he said it significantly changed his perspective.
the decision is also the result of graduating from grad school with a significant debt to pay with only a government salary. i realize that i am in a better situation than many people in the current recession. i'm so glad to have a stable job (and one that i enjoy) but, hefty student loan payments due every month is a big change to my concept of finance.
finally, i want to do a better job of limiting my impact on the world by limiting unneccessary purchases that add to waste in our society. how many things have i bought in the last few years that i don't need or even really use/wear? i really would like to live more simply and to appreciate the things that my money buys me.
don't you think that you would better appreciate the things you bought if you anticipated only one purchase a month?
i will be sharing reflections on this change in my perspective and behavior. i will also be posting my ideas for what the one thing should be for the month. i welcome opinions on what the thing should be and invite suggestions, too.