Simple Self Improvement

                                                                    Image:Marie Vonow Recently I have been enjoying watching a stack of YouTube videos about current fashions, how to dress if you are a woman over sixty, making more use of the clothes you already own, minimalist wardrobes and all sorts of random videos about clothes and accessories. This is inspiring me to wear some of my clothes differently and try a few new ideas. Individual approach to clothes Each individual has different ideas about clothes. Some want to keep up with trends and others have their own style which they are confident in wearing. There are those who view clothing simply ...

Image:Marie Vonow Have you ever had a job interview over the phone? Did you find it less or more intimidating than a face-to-face interview? What did you do to get yourself in the right emotional place to prepare for the interview? Many years ago I had a phone interview for a job. I must have managed okay as I got the position. It was strange not to have someone (or more than one person) to talk to face to face. Although interviews make me nervous I would rather have the face to face contact. I like being able to see the person I am talking to so I can judge from their facial expressions and body language if they understand what I am saying. In general, with people I have communicated with over the phone I feel happier if I get the opportunity to meet that person. The next time we converse on the phone I am more relaxed. Recently a friend had a phone interview for a position. She told me she was feeling a bit uptight beforehand. She knew the interviewer would not be a...

                                                                                                                 Image: Gerd Altmann Today's happiness tip is limit your choices . I do like to have choices, but like plenty of other people, I find having too many choices is overwhelming. I actually find a limited number of choices when it comes to what to wear, picking what to have for tea and which activities to be involved in ma...

  Title added to graphic by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay The weather has warmed up and in fact we have had a couple of days I would class as 'hot'. Then we go back to cold because, well it's spring which means the weather goes from one extreme to the other. I realised my wardrobe was lacking a couple of items for inbetween weather so I used that as an excuse to visit local op shops. I also replaced two tops that I have had for five or six years and I am just tired of. While out buying essential items today I came across a comforter set in one of the bargain shops. It is exactly what I pictured earlier in the year when I thought about updating my bedspread. Back then I decided not to make a purchase. I could probably have justified the purchase back then because I have had my plain blue bedspread for nine or ten years and I bought it second hand. If you look closely you can see a few places where I have darned little holes. It was easier to resist buying a ...

Adapted from image by Clkert-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay I have been doing my self imposed shopping ban for nearly 3 months now. Overall I would say it isn't proving too difficult but I have made a couple of purchases recently. They weren't essential but I don't regret making them. Op Shops I have been staying away from op shops because I will be tempted to buy things I don't really need if I start browsing. Instead I have been spending time at the library or a cafe if I have time to fill in when I am in the main street area which has a number of op shops. I did go into an op shop yesterday but that was for the purpose of donating some folders, books and a dvd I no longer wanted. Rather than looking at all the bargain priced items for sale I left the shop quickly! Yes I made a couple of unnecessary purchases There are always racks of marked down items of brand new clothing outside a lovely shop in the main street. At the moment there are some fantastic ...

Shops in Adelaide                                            Image:Marie Vonow In the days leading up to officially starting this personal shopping ban challenge I must admit I was tempted to do a bit of 'binge shopping' at a couple of op shops. Also, I kept thinking about a salmon pink cardigan I had seen at KMart that I liked. I managed to resist temptation and now, three weeks later, that cardigan doesn't seem important. How does clutter accumulate? I have thought a lot about how much stuff one accumulates even when trying to declutter and keep from accumulating new clutter. It occurred to me it isn't surprising stuff accumulates over the years. I married and moved into my first home (apart from my childhood home) in 1975 which is now 44 years ago. Now, say I acq...

I love browsing in this type of shop                                     Image by free Photos from Pixabay Hi there. Well it's nearly a week since I started my personal shopping ban challenge. And I am surviving. As I have mentioned in some of my posts, I like a bit of retail therapy. I enjoy going somewhere different and looking at the shops there. This inevitably leads to a purchase or two. I am not in debt over these unnecessary purchases so what's the harm in it?  As an associate said, it helps the economy.  The trouble is it's rather like mindless snacking where I find myself eating, not because I am hungry but because, well because I can, or perhaps I am a bit upset or think I deserve a treat. With mindless shopping I sometimes end up buying things I don't use much or at all.  It has become a habit to buy something when I walk into an op shop and that o...

           Adapted from Pixabay It can take a long time to work out just who you are and to have the confidence to state simply, without apology or explanation, ‘This is who I am.’ I love the Vanessa Amorosi song, This Is Who I Am . The message of accepting yourself as you are is so important. It is expressed well in this song and I particularly like the following part -    'I don't care if I'm fat, Or if you think my clothes are bad, 'cos I can go to sleep at night, I'm a good person and I'll get by. Well it's alright to be myself, Now I've learned to stand Well it's ok to be just who I am I've spent years really hating me Longing to be friends, now I hope you can understand This is who I am.' There is much emphasis on physical appearance in modern western society. Yes, it is important to try to live a healthy lifestyle but too much importance is placed on what a person looks like. There are times we ...