My fabulous new bag!

 Well, I'm back from my vay-cay...a little tanner and a lot closer to the end of my journey, which is now only days away!  My last post was me bragging about how I was going to take myself shopping at Target with the $50 gift card I recently received...absolutely nothing exciting to report there.  I was thinking that I'd find all kinds of stuff and that I'd have such a hard time deciding on something...yeah, no...not the case. I guess I had forgotten that the end of summer isn't always the best time to shop for summer stuff.  I walked away with a new top and a new dress.  Didn't exactly scratch the shopping itch since A) it was just Target and B) I didn't have much to choose from.  But it did give me a temporary jolt of excitement as I waited in line to pay for my things...knowing I was soon going to be wearing a brand new article of clothing for the first time in almost 4 months.

I vacationed in the Azores, Portugal for 2 weeks but on my way there, I had a layover in Toronto for 2 days.  It wasn't until my second day in Toronto, while in the middle of doing something mundane and uneventful, it hit me like a ton of bricks...I forgot to pack my bathing suits!  My stomach literally dropped....because I realized I was going to have to go out and buy myself a brand new bikini...and cheat on my challenge just weeks before reaching victory.  So I dragged my sister to the nearest mall and began operation "Ruin my 4 month wardrobe challenge."  Luckily, I was able to find 3 pieces, 2 bikini bottoms and 1 top, so I could mix and match it up with the bikini my sister (thankfully) ended up giving me before we left for the mall.  Then, while getting ready to throw 3 and a half months of sacrifice out the window, my sister graciously whipped out her wallet and bought the swimwear for me...saying it was an early birthday present, but really, we both know she did it to keep me from challenge cheating.  I tried to protest, of course, but she talked me into it.

I also got a new crossbody purse from one of my girlfriends (thanks again!) just hours before leaving for the airport. Yet another early birthday present.  Ahhh, thank heavens my birthday was only a month away...well not really because who likes turning 30?

I'm So Excited...And I Just Can't Hide It!

My prayers have been answered.  Well, I didn't actually pray for this but it just seems like the appropriate thing to say to describe how I'm feeling right now.  Yesterday I received a $50 gift certificate to Target.  No big deal, right? Wrong!  Now this means I can shop for myself before my vacation!  Remember people, it's not cheating because it's not my money...it was given to me.  Hey, my game...my rules! 

Target may not be the ideal shopping choice for shoes, clothes and accessories...but when it's your only option, nothing could sound more appealing.  And Target does kick ass for having cute stuff at totally affordable prices.  The only question is....what on earth do I buy???  For weeks now I've been thinking about what my first purchase was going to be when this challenge was finally over.  And now that I have a bit of a head start with that, I'm stumped.  I definitely want to get something I can make good use of while on vacation in Portugal, where it'll still be nice and warm. And lucky for me, this is the time of year where all the summer stuff is on sale, sale sale! 

I think I should combine the $50 gift card with the $26 I still have on the visa gift card that's been hibernating in my wallet...waiting to be used for a "fashion emergency."  The only time I dug it out was earlier in the challenge when my aviator sunglasses broke and I had to replace them.  I've been saving the visa gift card in case another "fashion emergency" arose, but luckily...I've managed to remain emergency-free.  And since I only have 4 weeks left of the challenge, I don't see any reason to hold off on spending this left over gift card money now. 

So, with all that being said....on your mark, get set, SHOP!