Friend of Julie: Bargains

I went back to Sarasota yesterday and this time I was persistent and by the end of the day I had a handful of new designer tops, pants, a light jacket, and even a purse! Woohoo-success at long last! And I didn't break the bank along the way either.

new top and jeans!

This top and jeans are a couple of my finds. The consignment store top was $7 and the designer jeans, which have an incredible embellished design along the seam (not visible in this photo) were brand new, marked down from $89 to $45. I haven't spent money on jeans for two years now and this pair more than makes up for the savings. They are tight to zip up, but very comfy. I have lots of room for these jeans to just fit better and better.

We went back to the consignment store we had been in a few days earlier and I found a bargain blouse for $8 there. A second consignment store was much more fruitful with lots of options and bargains including a Talbot long sleeve blouse for $5. I found a beautiful a-line coat reduced from $350 to $175, but I'm not spending that kind of money on a coat that will be too big next winter. It was gorgeous though.

I went into an Eileen Fisher store for the first time. Wow - the fabrics are so incredible, as are the prices. I had no intentions of buying anything, but I was excited that the were things besides scarfs that fit. Next winter perhaps, but. to this year. Besides, one scarf there cost more than all the items I
bought combined.

There's a lot of work in this journey that requires a lot of patience and also a lot of humor. I was looking at bathing suits and at one point I had on a size 16 and the cups were at my waist and wouldn't go any higher! I cracked myself up laughing rather than crying. A dew days later, I saw myself reaching for size 24 suit and I decided the shorts and t-shirt I've been using all week will work just fine for one more week.

It's easy to get caught up in the moment and become frustrated that I'm not the size I want to be "yet", but it's much more useful to pause and remember how far I've come. I am on program, exercising daily, and I feel fantastic. I need to go easy on myself and continue to choose the rights foods. The body will follow soon enough.