Check Out My New Blog!

I stopped writing “Recovering Shopaholic” in February 2017, but I returned to blogging less than a year later in a new location. If you’ve come across this site via a Google search or are a previous reader who dropped by to see what I’m up to, I invite you to check out my new blog: My Wardrobe, Myself.

my wardrobe, myself blog

About “My Wardrobe, Myself”

My Wardrobe, Myself is a blog about the intersection of clothing, emotions, and life. We often think of these three things as entirely separate zones, but they actually impact each other more than most people believe. Anyone who has spent an important life occasion wearing an outfit that just didn’t feel right, or even felt completely wrong, is aware of that fact. Our clothing matters, as do our feelings about it.

For so many of us, clothes are not simply pieces of fabric that we use to cover our bodies for the sake of modesty and not breaking the law. They’re also a means of self-expression and a way to exercise our creativity. Our clothes are heavily connected to our sense of self and our self-confidence. We often dress differently based upon how we’re feeling about ourselves and, conversely, the way we adorn ourselves can impact our moods. Our wardrobes and our lives are not two distinct topics after all!

For years, I’ve written about a wide array of subjects related to both wardrobe and life, so My Wardrobe, Myself is the perfect evolution of my interests and passions. I’ve always written about clothing from a different angle than most other bloggers in this space, as my main concern is not on the current trends, sharing my outfits, and telling people what to buy (not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with those things). I like to look at wardrobe-related topics and their relationship to our inner workings: how we feel about our clothing and how the way we dress impacts our body image and self-esteem. This exploration has become increasingly important as I get older, as I have a lot of feelings and struggles related to the aging process, as I’m sure many of you can relate to.

What I’m Writing About Now…

My essays on My Wardrobe, Myself are mostly about my wardrobe and myself, but it’s always my intention that you’ll be able to apply my insights to your closets, emotions, and lives. Like you, I’m figuring things out as I go along, so I use the blog to highlight what I’m learning as I continue to work on my wardrobe, my style, and myself. I also enjoy engaging in periodic wardrobe and style challenges to aid in my evolution and growth, and I always welcome readers joining me in these types of adventures.

Besides the primary focus on wardrobe-related topics, I also periodically weigh in on other subjects, such as personal fulfillment, intentional living, life balance, the aging process, relationships, navigating change, time management, and self-esteem. To learn more information about the topics I address on My Wardrobe, Myself, please check out my About page, or visit my Article Archive for a full listing of all of my posts.

I hope to see you soon over at My Wardrobe, Myself!

The Best of Recovering Shopaholic 2016

It’s almost the end of 2016, so it’s time to wrap up my year in blogging.  I have been writing “Recovering Shopaholic” for four years and have published hundreds of posts on the topics of wardrobe management, personal style, shopping behavior and psychology, accountability, living a fuller life, and various other topics.  I’ve grown and changed tremendously since the start of the blog on January 2, 2013, as I summarized this past summer and will be revisiting again soon.  I appreciate all of the support and encouragement I have received along the way from readers and I’m grateful to all those who have accompanied me on my journey.

At the close of each of the previous three years, I compiled “best of” posts (2013 | 2014 | 2015) in which I reflected upon the top posts from that year, and today’s post will further that tradition.  During 2016, 77 new posts went live and thousands of comments were made by dedicated readers.

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Compulsive Shopping Tips & Resources “Cheat Sheet”

Before I dive into today’s post, I want to give you a heads up about my recent appearance on “I Can’t Stop Spending,” a podcast about recovery from compulsive spending, shopping, and debting.  This podcast is run by Susan B, who wrote a guest post here earlier this year titled, “Debtors Anonymous is Not Just for Debtors.”

Susan and I talked about my compulsive shopping history, when and how I created this blog, some of the rules I follow to manage my shopping, and how I went from out of control spending to being able to stick to a budget for four years now.  To listen to this podcast (it’s 42 minutes long), click here. I also recommend that you listen to Susan’s earlier episodes, as she offers a lot of practical tips and inspiration to help those of us who struggle with overshopping.

Compulsive Buying Disorder

Many people struggle with shopping around the holidays – and all the time…

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November 2016 “Grab Bag” of Useful Links

We’re nearing the end of November and this is a long weekend for many of my American readers, so I thought this would be a great time for another installment of useful links (see previous editions here).  Included below are links to articles I hope you’ll enjoy on the subjects of shopping and shopping psychology, wardrobe management, style, and personal development.  I’m also including a few previous “Recovering Shopaholic” posts that you may have missed the first time around (or may choose to revisit now). 

Sunset at Ocean Beach Pier

Sunset at the Ocean Beach Pier – November 2016

This “grab bag” of useful links presents the perfect opportunity for you to sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy some quiet time to read, learn, look within, and maybe even smile or laugh a time or two.  As a reminder, I certainly don’t expect you to click on all of the links in these posts.  Just explore the ones that most intrigue you.

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Where to Find Quality T-Shirts

In my recent post about the “30 wears initiative,” I lamented the lack of quality in many of the t-shirts own and asked for readers’ suggestions on where to find tees that will last for 30 or more wears.  Thankfully, I received many helpful replies! Since I know I’m not alone in my frustration regarding garment quality, I decided to consolidate this advice into a smart shopping resource that can easily be accessed on the blog.

Quality t-shirts

Do you have trouble finding t-shirts that wash and wear well?

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