Half way through the year!

Here are some thoughts half way through the my year of "buying nothing new." The biggest thing I have noticed is my habits changing. When I go to target for toliet paper and diapers, which is usually about once a month, I no longer meander through the store. I used to check out the end racks for the clearance sales or consider if the kids need a little trinket from the dollar bins in the front. Now, it has officially become my habit to not even slow down at the dollar bins. (Although a dollar Frozen puzzle would have been well worth the dollar on our trip to NC. I did resist though.)I don't cut through the ladieswear or slow down near the toys. It's straight to diapers/wipes, through the groceries and then grabbing toliet paper to finish off. Not only does this make the trip faster and cheaper, it is a bit of a mental relief. How much is my shopping an obligatory -dont want to miss something that is cheap-mentality. Being aware of how this consumerism has entered my life from our culture is a huge blessing. I am hoping this year helps to push this way of thinking out of me. To have a simple mind, a simple heart that is able to live doing and being with the people I love, not distracted by things. I also don't reflex to amazon quite as fast.I think things through more, how can I get this object from someone else or where could I buy it used? Suprisingly a lot of the "things" I don't really need. The ones that I do, I have to get creative to find. A car charger for my phone would make life so much easier. Last weekend I was on a trip with the kids without Pete and my phone, which I was relying on for directions, died. I had to go to a college library to charge it and then write down the directions to get back. Pete told me buy one, but I resisted asking him to. I didn't mention my buy nothing new commitment (he forgot.) And I am proud to say that I didn't ask him to buy me anything yet this year! But lo and behold, he came home with a car charger for me yesterday. Wooo hooo! We were one basket short for the Easter Bunny in April, but a quick email to some friends, and I had one the next day. Some things, don't work out quite so easy. I found a flower girl dress on craigs list for 20 dollars for Miriam for a wedding. But then ended up paying 35 bucks ?! to have it altered. Would have been easier and cheaper to buy a new one that fit her. For the same wedding, the girls both needed dress shoes. Three thrift stores later, I decided that my commitment to buy nothing new was becoming more of a burden then a blessing, so off to target I go. I bought two sparkly silver pairs, one for each girl. It was a big deal to break my commitment, but I figured her being a flower girl was a big deal. Of course, Miriam didn't like them and walked down the aisle barefoot. I will return her pair. Nori is so sad that she wasn't the flower girl, a new pair of shoes (9.99) is the least we can do. I am thankful for these deep habits changing. We are moving in a few weeks and it will be even more challenging to not buy anything new then!