Fashion

[KonaKat]

Good morning, shopping friends. Today is a shopping day for me. My aging laptop has been acting up and it was bought 4 years ago with features I could afford at the time. Today, I got the Dell TSV at a price similar to what I paid then but with so many more features. I also use L'Occitaine so I indulged in one of its cyber specials. With a purchase I would normally make, I could get up to 3 more sets of choice which sell for over $40 for $16 each. I now have quality gifts for $16 each plus what I will use for myself. This is Jean being good to Jean day.

Granted, I will have to be careful with future purchases but with what I have experienced this year...perhaps minor to others but major to me...I felt I needed a little TLC  and I'm not blaming Midnight for making the purchases. I just know that I have yet to reach the so-called average amount spent on Christmas by the average person, whatever an average person might be.

I'm feeling much better today, so I may make a run to the city to get my nails done, do some grocery shopping and have a good meal out. If not today, then tomorrow. It will depend upon how comfy I get sitting here right now. As good as I feel right now, I should discover some things for donation. I have a feeling that the trip on Sunday might be the winning one.

Have a great day. If you shop, shop wisely.

[Bird mama]

@KonaKat

Jean, good for you.  So what size and color of the computer did you get? 

It's easy for me to treat others.  It's taken some years to get comfortable with treating myself.  I am learning though (wink).

For me, my 401k gets fed before my employer even direct deposits.  My bills are paid; short of the mortgage I carry no debt.  I'm meeting my mortgage goals and I help my one sister often.

I will always be practical and think over a purchase but really, if I don't treat me, who will?

[Rock_chick]

Good morning friends! A cold front blew in yesterday and I'm so happy for some cooler air. We turned on the heat for the first time this year.

I'm glad you ladies are treating yourselves. I have not done any shopping this week. I thought i would be sad without girls but we've had a goodtime together.

[twinny70]

JEAN, You so deserve to have a "treat yourself" day.  I am so happy that you are feeling better & can have a fun day in the city.  BIRD MAMA, Good for you about feeding your 401k kitty too.  Yes, you are very generous with one of your sisters.  I am sure that she enjoys your generosity too.  Like you say if you don't treat yourself who will?  I always enjoyed buying for our 2 DC more than I did myself until one day our DD told me that it was ok to have fun & treat myself.  DUH, as I am not stupid & we have no debts but I still hate throwing $$$ away foolishly. Being disabled really taught me a few lessons about treating myself & having as much fun as DH & I can.  I also have to tell myself that it is ok to pay shipping/handling as I get so tired when I am in store trying to enjoy myself.  I was going to see mom today until I got a call later last night saying that mom was throwing up Thursday night & yesterday too with a slight temp.  Her Hospice nurse said she would check mom today & let me know if mom has a virus as I need to keep myself healthy.  I did no Black Friday shopping & don't intend to do any today either.  It is sunny & with no snow on the ground it does not feel like Christmas to me like it did last weekend.  Hugs to all of you.

[KonaKat]

Bernie--The laptop purchase was not an impulse purchase. I've been looking at various ones for over a month motivated by the age of mine plus it beginning to act up. You are a great financial manager.

Kathleen--Enjoy the cooler weather. Did you indulge in any shopping while in Vegas? In addition to the Forum shops, there is a great outlet near Vegas. I'm glad that Vegas was a great experience.

Twinny--There is nothing like health concerns to motivate us to treat ourselves but do it wisely. There are no guarantees about the future. I'm sorry that your mother is ill. I do hope you are able to visit but at the same time with your health concerns you don't want to expose yourself to something that may be too much of a challenge to your weakened immune system.

It is raining so I definitely won't be going to the city. Instead, I will see what I can do around the house. Waiting to go might be a good idea as the city will be crowded today. It usually takes twice the amount of time to travel through the city at this time of the year. The mall, WalMart, one restaurant after another and various strip malls are located on the heaviest traveled street in the state despite the city being half the size of our capital city.

[LindaLatte]

Good Morning!  Thanks for getting us started Jean.  I'm so happy you are treating yourself.  You so deserve some treats.  I am curious about the size and color of your new computer.  My Dell is nearly two years old and working fine, so I don't need a new one, but I was amazed at how many features I got for the money.  It was actually less expensive than my previous computer.  I'm a fan of L'Occitaine so that is another purchase that would please me.  Hope you have a good time in the city tomorrow.

Hi Bernie.  I think many of us are like you -- easy to treat others, but not so much ourselves.  I know you do a good job of putting money away, etc., and you should treat yourself as well.  God bless you for helping out your sister.  I do a lot of that for my DD and also help out my SIL (brother's widow), and it is great to be able to do so without jeopardizing my financial future.  

Hi Kathleen -- glad you and your DH are having fun together.  I think that is a very good sign for the future.  It is important to enjoy being "just two".  Happy you like the cooler weather there.

Sorry to hear you Mom may be have a virus twinny.  I am happy that you are treating yourself as well.  Health concerns do make a tremendous difference in your perspective.

Waves to Arlene (have you decided to continue with school?  It may be a good time to take a break), snicks, Marijane, LindaR, Susan, Charlene, pinky ann, Karen, Rosa, Barbara, and all of our posters and readers.

It is cooler here today -- enough so that our heat just came back on.  While my cold isn't nearly as bad, I'm still sniffling a bit, and I'm still taking my zinc pills.  I did make it to the gym yesterday, and the hospice nurse came for her evaluation.  

It is such a long story, but she thinks DH may be eligible, but a couple of things need to be settled before that can happen.  One is his diagnosis -- apparently dementia is not sufficient, but Alzheimer's is.  And, the doctor has never said that is what he has, but I suspect the neurologist has used that code for insurance purposes.  So, maybe that is his diagnosis.  The second issue is that he cannot have physical therapy if he is on hospice.  I want him to try that, so nothing can be done until after the physical therapy is completed, or we decide not to go that route after the initial visit.

My head is spinning and my heart is heavy.  I know that being eligible for hospice care has many positives -- he would have nurse visits, etc., but I have such a difficult time thinking of him passing.  And, I really don't think that he is likely to do so for quite a while.

Thinking about all this made sleep last night difficult.  I know many of you are praying for us, and I do appreciate all your prayers and good thoughts.  

Today is my regular laundry and financial review day, and we may go to the Holiday craft show at the senior center.  Not that I need anything, but.....  My Christmas decorations are up and look nice.  The little tree is totally full of ornaments, but I like it.

Have a nice day everyone!

Hugs,

Linda

[twinny70]

RC, I bet you did a happy dance when the cooler temps arrived in your area.  Do you miss the snow?  I love the snow & I miss ice skating, sleddding & tobogganing that we did when were much younger.  I don't like the minus temps but zero & higher are great for me.  Just received a call from one of mom's Hospice nurses & she said mom has no temp, her vitals & blood sugar are all good & they think her upset stomach was from the bad cough that she has for a few days.  She will be getting some cough syrup & my visit for today was o.k.y'd.  

[Bird mama]

LindaL, I wouldn't have slept well either last night.  Knowing me, I would have walked the floor.

Did you feel like the hospice nurse was communicating clearly and honestly with you? 

As you move forward, my wish for you is that you have complete confidence in the medical professionals that are communicating with you regarding your beloved.

You have much to digest and consider and I think you are a realist.  That said, I completely agree with trying some other things, like physical therapy before going the full hospice route.

Always remember, they know medicine and you know your husband :-)

My heart is heavy for you Linda.  I continue to pray for you and your beloved and am happy your little tree is decorated in a way that pleases you. 

Any time there is a chance to made a good memory, we have to take it.

---

[KonaKat]

Linda--So many things have changed since you and DH decided to make the move to Arizona. You have many things to consider and some difficult choices. I know that you will make the best choices possible but it will not be easy. Sometimes, we need to try alternatives before obligating a loved one to full hospice.

Twinny--I am glad that you will be able to make the visit with your mother. I do hope it goes well.

As far as the laptop is concerned, I initially got the 15 inch with Office in red but then switched it to purple. I like both colors but I don't have any electronics in purple.

[Snicks1]

Hello to all on this gloomy Saturday (at least it's gloomy here.

Thanks for starting the thread today KK. So glad you are treating yourself to a few items. And am very glad you are feeling better.

birdmama, you seem to have a firm grasp on your life, goals and your financial situation, you are doing a great job on paying down that mortgage. Good for you, also for treating yourself as well as others in your life.

RC, so glad you are enjoying some cooler temps, and that you and DH are having a good time together.

twinny, so sorry that your mom was sick last night, but glad to hear that she does not have anything considered viral that could affect your own health, hope you enjoy your visit with her.

LL, happy that you have your Christmas decs up and are pleased with them. I am not nearly as far along in decorating as you. As for the hospice decision, so heartbreaking, girl...BIG ((((HUGS))) for you. I would also want to try the PT first, I think. I know you will do what is best for both of you. Your love and compassion for him come through in every post.

As for me, I haven't felt well for several days, (actually on Thanksgiving morning I told my hubby that if we didn't have reservations with the family I would have preferred staying home) just one thing and another, some new, some same old thing (back), I think it was Sydsgma who said she would have been bed ridden at this point from all the work I have done in the last week or so...well I nearly was for a few days now. But my plan is to get the tree decorated today, I have the tree up and everything has been brought upstairs, I have the new pencil tree and way too many ornaments (I think) so it will be interesting. I am just about ready to tackle it now. So, waves to everyone.....