I counted my lipsticks last night, just for fun. 35 of them. That wasn’t including the odd lipstick that will be found in a handbag or two. I’ve always loved make up, so when I lost my hair about thirteen years ago, I took to picking up the odd lipstick as a quick pick me up. I could justify it easily, in the past a trip to the hairdressers might give me a new me, but nowadays a swipe of colour on the lips is all that I can do to change my image and give me an instant lift.

Well, the lipstick habit has progressed, it now includes…expensive eye palettes, foundations, blushers, eye pencils, lip pencils, cleaners, toners, serums, face masks, moisturisers, hand creams, body creams, bath bombs, etc, etc, etc. Enough I should think to last me a year, or even two.

When I look at my wardrobe, I think I’ve got enough shoes/slippers/sandals/walking boots to last me for at least ten years.. Clothes of course deteriorate, but I’m pretty well equipped for a good while yet. I have more than enough bags and coats to last me.

And as for wool and fabrics and books, I have more than enough.

So as from yesterday, but I’ll count it from the 1st September (just for ease of memory) I start my one year no buy. Hubby is joining in but I’m not keeping him accountable, he can dip in and out as he wishes, he’s not a shopper anyway, so he probably won’t even notice he’s doing it.

My rules of engagement are thus.

Firstly I am allowing myself a treat a month for the next four months. My magazine subscription to Simple Things will continue, I love receiving it and get so much pleasure from it that it will continue for the next four months, Autumn is my favourite time of the year and the magazine simply comes into its own with ideas for Autumn/winter/Christmas. I’ll then have a bit of a think.

Expenditure on travel and exhibitions is freely allowed, as is pet health care, our own health care and replacements deemed vital for household items.

Eating out is for days out or special occasions only and then there must have been thought into what we are proposing to do and if we can supplement that with items from home.

The Sunday Times is allowed. No negotiation required.

Along with good food and wine.

And time with friends in the pub is always allowed.

It is going to be an interesting year.

Hubby and I managed to see the Summer Exhibition at the RA before it closed. It was great, loved it. We spied a theme of sight hounds, which amused us, here are some snaps of those we found as well as a few other lovely pieces of art.

Just a quick picture to remind me what a great lunch we had, altogether just us 5. Son no.1 is 30 now, Gosh, Wow, I’m definitely middle aged, fast moving towards old age.. I don’t feel like that, I feel like I am still a child, continuing to grow and mature. Son no.1 often helps with that though, challenging my ideas, making me see my flaws, practically every conversation I have with him, he’ll pick flies with my internal thought process. I wonder if that ever changes, I wonder if children ‘Ever’ think, ‘oh wow Mum you have some wisdom, I just couldn’t see it,’ I doubt it. It’s good, I like it, I’m proud of him for being such a keen thinker of the political/sexist/racist/environmental situations that exist in the world today. Things often pass me by and he brings things into sharp focus for me. Love that boy.