De-cluttering for idiots

Or rather, how to not acquire more stuff.

I love to buy things. The main problem with this is that I buy lots of small cheap things, big things just don't tempt me as much as a "good deal". I also love to keep said (mostly useless) things. I also end up collecting many pieces of paper with a small bit of sentimental value, or receipts and coupons, or anything that I "may need" one day. I don't know how to solve the papers problem. But I have figured out the lots of cheap junk thing:

Don't go to the store. Since we have been on a tight budget, and knowing I can't resist the dollar section and clearance items at Target (among other stores), I decided to just not go at all. The result? A. Zero spending on things I don't need (good) B. No new junky things are coming to live at my house (super good).

Unfortunately (ok, not so unfortunate) Aaron is scheduled to start at Amazon this week and has been doing some consulting work, so the moratorium on spending may soon be lifted. I would like to think that I have learned self-control but know it's untrue, since recently I was given a giftcard to Target (by Target, for creating a baby registry, hah!) and proceeded to spend it on small junky things that I didn't need. Except for the Sesame Street pumpkin carving kit. You KNOW I needed that.

Word Vomit

I love talking. I like stimulating conversation about important topics. I also like gossiping about totally unimportant things. Talking is really great. But what happens when you spend all day with a baby and don't talk to adults? You go crazy. And then when you get a chance to talk to your husband, you talk so fast your lips may fall off. You recount really meaningless things that you would not have otherwise shared with anyone ("the checker at the grocery store today seemed unhappy to take my coupons"). If it stopped with your husband, it would probably be ok. He would understand that you were crazy from lack of adult conversations and would listen to you even if you talked incessantly about ultimately boring things.

But it doesn't end there, does it? I go to the midwife, and I jabber. I see my mom, and I jabber. I get together with a friend, someone at church, someone in the store, anyone!, and I spew words. I can't even help it. And I know it's happening, but I'm powerless to stop it. It's embarrassing really. I mean come on Harmon, is it too much to ask for you to carry on meaningful conversations while playing with blocks? Seriously.