Shop: David's Tea Advent Calendar

Gimme, gimme, gimme! A David's Tea advent calendar for grownups! Okay, well, wait..to clarify...I'm a grown up and I have NO issue eating 24 little chocolates leading up to Christmas day. But truth be told, most of the time those little chocolates are made of some pretty inferior 'milk'  chocolate anyway. It's not even worth the caloric hit for crap chocolate. Having said that, if there was a Cadbury Fruit & Nut advent calendar I'd buy one for every month of the year. In any case, this version by David's Tea gives me the thrill of opening the little door to find a surprise treat behind it with the added benefit of zero caloric intake! Win-Win!

Okay, maybe that's not my best sell job but aside from the fact it's healthier than cheap chocolate, David's Teas are really amazing. I really enjoy a hot tea on a cold winter afternoon. Also, what a novel way to try 24 different teas without committing to larger quantities that you may or may not like. I'm trying to decide if buying this counts as seasonal home decor (therefore okay by shopping diet rules) or just another frivolous expense on my part. I think we all know the answer, but isn't Christmas all about frivolity anyway? (or maybe it was about baby Jesus...)

From David's Tea

Shop: Lessons from a Retail Diet

Day 32. I had to spend over 500$ on winter tires this past weekend so it's not like I haven't been spending...just not on retail therapy. But I have learned a few things over the last 32 days:

• I dislike 3 of the 4 bottles of toner that I am using. I didn't notice because I was rotating my use, but now that I am finishing the products off, I am forced to use one product for multiple days in a row and I don't care for the way my skin feels after a few days use. When all is said and done, I will buy only one toner. (Don't you feel better, knowing that I have settled on a toner?)
• Banana Republic send way too many emails. As does Bath and Body Works, GolfTown and J. Crew. I still torment myself by looking at them when I really should just unsubscribe.
• I don't consume nearly enough tea to warrant my spending habit at David's Tea. I can't cut through my supply. As much as I like the tea, I like coffee more.
• That I actually do get a vicarious thrill out of helping other people shop. I find it satisfying to help someone decide on an article of clothing or product, almost as much as when it's for myself. I've joked many times that I should have been a personal shopper. I really do think I could be good at it. I'm not going to say that I always put together the best outfit combinations but if someone told me that they were looking for a motorcycle boot or a nice cardigan, I'm betting I could research the crap of out it and come up with some fine options to choose from. Such a wasted skill! Why couldn't I be better at algebra? Instead I aced 'What Not to Wear'.
• Now that I'm not spending as much time trolling stores, I have rediscovered 'me' time on the couch with a book and coffee (or reading a book in a hot bath, for that matter).I have many unread books around the apartment just waiting to be enjoyed, and an ample supply of coffee. Definitely a more affordable way to spend a couple hours, or at least until I run out of new books.