Author: Debbie Roes

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“Flashback Friday” on Compulsive Shopping

My last post, “Recovery is Not a Linear Process,” generated a lot of comments and emails, as I thought it might.  Clearly, readers have many thoughts on the topic of recovery and the ways in which it might progress and unfold.  That post was sparked by what I viewed as a harsh comment on my July accountability update, but I didn’t expect the follow-on entry to become as contentious as it did.   I am all for spirited discussion, but it went beyond that and that isn’t what I want for my blog.  I really want readers to feel that my comments section is a safe place for them to open up and receive support.

I have very rarely had to moderate comments on this blog and I’m extremely grateful for that.  I can probably count on my hands the number of comments I’ve had to delete, which is pretty good for a blog that’s been going for almost three years with many thousands of comments.  I’m not adverse to people questioning and challenging me and each other, but it’s important to me that it be done in a kind and respectful manner. Fortunately, that is almost always the case, which is a testament to the quality of people this blog attracts.

Compulsive shopping resources

Because the subject of recovery has generated so much discussion, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to offering some additional resources for those who are interested.   Below I open the archives and share some of my best posts related to compulsive shopping, as well as a selection of external links for you to explore.

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Recovery is Not a Linear Process

This blog is called “Recovering Shopaholic.”   It started out being a personal log of my progress in overcoming a decades-long compulsive shopping problem.  I never dreamed that I would attract as many readers as I have and have the capacity to touch so many people’s lives.  Over the close to three years that I have written this blog, it has evolved into being about more than just me and my recovery, but that is still the focus of many of my posts, including my accountability updates.

Winding road of recovery

This is often what the road to recovery looks like.

Most of the comments I receive on my posts are very positive and encouraging.   I appreciate that so many of you share your own struggles and triumphs in your comments and emails, and I am frequently touched that you feel comfortable opening up to me.   In addition to sharing about yourselves, many of you also comment on my growth and progress.  Sometimes you challenge me with your questions and give me “tough love” about my behavior.   On a number of occasions, readers’ comments and emails have inspired future posts. This is one of those times…

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July 2015 Accountability Update

It’s now time for another accountability report, this time for July.   I can’t believe it’s already halfway through August! I usually do these posts a bit earlier in the month, but I needed some time to receive all of my orders from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NAS) and decide what to keep. I wanted to only write about those items I plan on keeping, if at all possible.

Full Honesty and Accountability

Accountability can help us stick to our wardrobe & shopping goals.

For those who are new to the blog, these monthly reports are where I share what came into and left my closet during the previous month and how I did with my shopping budget.   It’s my way of keeping myself honest and on track with my wardrobe and shopping.  Sharing what I bought, what I culled, and how much I spent helps me to stay deliberate (my theme for 2015 – see my recent update on my progress HERE) with both my shopping and wardrobe management.

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Style Reflections – Summer Outfits Then and Now

Now that summer is well under way, I wanted to reflect on how my warm weather style has changed since I started this blog two and a half years ago.  I took some time to go through my outfit photos from 2013, 2014, and this year.   I selected some ensembles that were fairly representative of what I used to wear, as well as a group of looks that fit my current style quite well.

In today’s post, I share eight looks from the past two years, as well as eight looks from 2015.   I highlight what I no longer like from the previous outfits and what makes me happy about the current ensembles.   I also reflect a bit on what I would change about the older looks to make them work for me today.

Cabrillo National Monument

It’s summer – what have you been wearing?  (photo: Cabrillo National Monument) 

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July “Love It, Wear It” Challenge (LIWI) Update

I’m glad my last post on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and marketing messages was so well received.  I have been very impressed by the wonderful comments that have been written in response to that post by many of you.  I deeply appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share her thoughts.  Due to the sheer volume of comments, I may not be able to respond to each comment individually, but I am grateful to each and every one of you who has taken the time to contribute to the discussion.   Clearly, many of us are frustrated with the tactics that stores are engaging in to get us to buy more.   I will likely write more on that topic in the future…

But now it’s time for another “Love It, Wear It” Wardrobe Challenge (LIWI) update.   I usually post my accountability updates first, but I decided to mix it up a bit this time since I’m still deciding on a few of my July purchases.  As I mentioned in last month’s LIWI update, I’m not going to go into as much detail in these updates until I do my wrap-up at the end of the year.   As my “working closet” is coming together, not as much is changing every month, so I don’t need to get into as much granular detail as I did in the early months of the challenge.   However, I still have things I want to share as I continue to build a more workable wardrobe for myself, so I will persist in doing monthly LIWI updates until the end of 2015.  Then I will likely figure out a new challenge for 2016 so I can keep growing and learning…

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