My current status as resident gimp has changed a few of my habits and has required some necessary changes. My primary mode of transportation has shifted from biking and walking to driving, which is hilarious to move from being anti-car and multi-modal transit advocate to being THAT girl that drives 6 blocks to work and circles the block twice to find a closer parking spot.
It's only slightly ironic that now that I'm not walking around so much I'm more concerned with my footwear choices. My crutches and new knee brace limit my ability to wear my stilettos, kitten heels, knee-high boots and even cowboy boots. I'm scared of how my shoes and crutches will perform together once the ice and snow really start to hit Madison, so I obviously need some decent flats. The low-heeled shoes that I do own look their age and are more obviously from the juniors section. They're comfortable and completely broken in, but their condition makes me feel a bit self-conscious.
Now is the time that I have to buy real grown-up shoes that have good traction, arch support and style. Yawn.
All of these requirements make the shoes a bit pricey as well. Boo.
In the past two weeks I have bought 5 pairs of shoes for about $162. After searching out shoes at multiple department stores, discount stores, vintage and specialized shoe stores I have finally settle on 3 pairs shoes that have the aforementioned qualities without breaking the bank, and two pairs of "incentive" shoes that I will be able to tear into as soon as the crutches are gone and the docs give the go-ahead.
This whole experience has been less fun than previous shoe-shopping expeditions. For one thing, since I did not have a very diversified shoe stock I was forced to buy one style (flats) in brown and black that I could use for work or casual wear. As winter is coming I also had to splurge on a pair of boots that will survive the weather. As I am need of these shoes RIGHT AWAY. I've been stressing about this for two weeks, which has been 1) Stupid and 2) Obnoxious to my close personal friends, as every time we're out I HAVE to check out every shoe store we pass. Annoying to the world.
Lesson learned: diversify your stock in ALL situations. A well-maintained and well-stocked closet, shoe selection, pantry, investment plan and work-out plan pays off no matter the situation. Avoid being over-stocked in certain areas, such as too many sandals in a northern climate, and having to make up for your losses.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Triple F Focus
Last week I wore my leather jacket to work for the first time this season. This is a big deal because it's suede, and Fall weather in Wisco can be rather unfriendly to this type of material. However, I wore it because now that I'm doomed to a knee brace and crutches for at least another 5 weeks I'm upping the ante on my cute factor.
I think everyone needs a jacket like this: one that is warm and comfy and a classic style that looks great at any time and with almost any outfit. I could wear sweatpants with this particular jacket and still feel sexy. I'd look like a douche but I'd feel damn fine.
While contemplating how rockin' this jacket is and how good it makes me feel (yes, I'm unabashedly materialistic in some cases), I thought about my frame of mind when I bought it all of 6 years ago. I originally bought it as part of a high school graduation present to myself and I realized during my musing that the reasons I bought the jacket back then have set the stage for my significant decisions and investment priorities since then.
To explain: Back in '03 I received about $1200 from graduation presents and decided to make some investments in myself. First I opened a Roth IRA for $500. I wasn't able to contribute much more while I was a student, but I had a start.
Secondly, I bought a pair of good running shoes. After researching and consulting with a runner-friend, I settled on a pair of Asics that cost about $80. I had run a bit in high school for track and gymnastics, but had never sprung for a quality pair of shoes because running wasn't my main focus for fitness. After graduation, however, I knew I would need to have some committment to staying in shape. Dropping a wad of cash on a pair of shoes, at the time, was good enough motivation for me to actually use them.
And finally, I bought this leather jacket. I had seen it on sale in the store a couple of weeks earlier and had lusted after it but couldn't commit to the asking price. Then, after I had bought the shoes I stopped by to try it on again lo and behold, the price had dropped to a crazy low $40. I plunked down the cash right then and there, and it was, at the time, the most expensive item of clothing I had ever bought. I thought through the purchase and reasoned A) that it was quality B) it was very chic and classic enough to last along time and C) an investment in something that makes me feel good about myself is an investment that returns 10 times over. Every time I wear this jacket I still feel that sense of "Yeah, check me out, I'm hot!" that I got back when I was 18.
Since the end of my high school era I've gone throug the rigamorale of identity changes and maturation that happens with the whole college and real-world experience, but I've still held on to those three main investments for my sense of self and well-being. I continue to buy quality running shoes every year, max out my IRA, and continually build a classic and fun yet professional closet. I feel stronger, happier and healthier when I have a healthy bank balance, follow a good diet and excercise, and have a closet full of clothes that fit me well and make me feel good. I have no problem dropping money on investment pieces - coats, shoes, scarves and such - that will look good as long as I take care of them. These concepts; finance, fitness and fashion, have done more to shape my goals and experiences in the past 6 years than anything else. That's why I am going to focus on these three things in this blog moving forward. I hope to add to the conversation on all three of these point as I believe that they are all important factors in investing in self and creating a stronger and diversified identity.
I think everyone needs a jacket like this: one that is warm and comfy and a classic style that looks great at any time and with almost any outfit. I could wear sweatpants with this particular jacket and still feel sexy. I'd look like a douche but I'd feel damn fine.
While contemplating how rockin' this jacket is and how good it makes me feel (yes, I'm unabashedly materialistic in some cases), I thought about my frame of mind when I bought it all of 6 years ago. I originally bought it as part of a high school graduation present to myself and I realized during my musing that the reasons I bought the jacket back then have set the stage for my significant decisions and investment priorities since then.
To explain: Back in '03 I received about $1200 from graduation presents and decided to make some investments in myself. First I opened a Roth IRA for $500. I wasn't able to contribute much more while I was a student, but I had a start.
Secondly, I bought a pair of good running shoes. After researching and consulting with a runner-friend, I settled on a pair of Asics that cost about $80. I had run a bit in high school for track and gymnastics, but had never sprung for a quality pair of shoes because running wasn't my main focus for fitness. After graduation, however, I knew I would need to have some committment to staying in shape. Dropping a wad of cash on a pair of shoes, at the time, was good enough motivation for me to actually use them.
And finally, I bought this leather jacket. I had seen it on sale in the store a couple of weeks earlier and had lusted after it but couldn't commit to the asking price. Then, after I had bought the shoes I stopped by to try it on again lo and behold, the price had dropped to a crazy low $40. I plunked down the cash right then and there, and it was, at the time, the most expensive item of clothing I had ever bought. I thought through the purchase and reasoned A) that it was quality B) it was very chic and classic enough to last along time and C) an investment in something that makes me feel good about myself is an investment that returns 10 times over. Every time I wear this jacket I still feel that sense of "Yeah, check me out, I'm hot!" that I got back when I was 18.
Since the end of my high school era I've gone throug the rigamorale of identity changes and maturation that happens with the whole college and real-world experience, but I've still held on to those three main investments for my sense of self and well-being. I continue to buy quality running shoes every year, max out my IRA, and continually build a classic and fun yet professional closet. I feel stronger, happier and healthier when I have a healthy bank balance, follow a good diet and excercise, and have a closet full of clothes that fit me well and make me feel good. I have no problem dropping money on investment pieces - coats, shoes, scarves and such - that will look good as long as I take care of them. These concepts; finance, fitness and fashion, have done more to shape my goals and experiences in the past 6 years than anything else. That's why I am going to focus on these three things in this blog moving forward. I hope to add to the conversation on all three of these point as I believe that they are all important factors in investing in self and creating a stronger and diversified identity.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Self Discovery By Committee
The art of politics is getting around people to get things done. Or something like that.
Madison is a city of process. Everyone wants to know exactly whats going on everywhere; people want to be more "in the know" than the person next to them; and EVERYONE needs to have their say as decisions are made. Everyone.
This results in a lot of talking. The city of Madison and Dane County have over 100 committees to address all facets of life in the area and even more subcommittees to continually address minor issues that come along. I regularly coordinate 6 standing committees and additional ad hoc committees just to keep a small non-profit moving along. The amount of meetings we hold to keep everyone informed and connected is brutal - and I don't even attend half of the public hearings or committee meetings that I SHOULD be at.
At the one committee meeting I did attend tonight I realized that I don't have the patience for that amount of verbal spewage. No meeting should last longer than an hour - that's the point where I start to check out and start dreaming about other things I could be doing. I understand the importance of the talk and how the process leads to better understanding, communication and collaborationg, but DAMN is it exhausting. I can't stand over-analyzing and pontificating on miniscule points. I want to do stuff and it makes me antsy to just talk about doing stuff.
This must be why I like rugby so much - there is immediate feedback when you say/do something. It's a lot easier to feel engaged in something when there' a tangible benefit at the end, like dodging a tackle or scoring a goal. Now that's something I can understand.
If I had the ovaries, I would just tackle the committee chair at the 1 hour mark, then maybe we could shut up and get some work done.
Madison is a city of process. Everyone wants to know exactly whats going on everywhere; people want to be more "in the know" than the person next to them; and EVERYONE needs to have their say as decisions are made. Everyone.
This results in a lot of talking. The city of Madison and Dane County have over 100 committees to address all facets of life in the area and even more subcommittees to continually address minor issues that come along. I regularly coordinate 6 standing committees and additional ad hoc committees just to keep a small non-profit moving along. The amount of meetings we hold to keep everyone informed and connected is brutal - and I don't even attend half of the public hearings or committee meetings that I SHOULD be at.
At the one committee meeting I did attend tonight I realized that I don't have the patience for that amount of verbal spewage. No meeting should last longer than an hour - that's the point where I start to check out and start dreaming about other things I could be doing. I understand the importance of the talk and how the process leads to better understanding, communication and collaborationg, but DAMN is it exhausting. I can't stand over-analyzing and pontificating on miniscule points. I want to do stuff and it makes me antsy to just talk about doing stuff.
This must be why I like rugby so much - there is immediate feedback when you say/do something. It's a lot easier to feel engaged in something when there' a tangible benefit at the end, like dodging a tackle or scoring a goal. Now that's something I can understand.
If I had the ovaries, I would just tackle the committee chair at the 1 hour mark, then maybe we could shut up and get some work done.
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