a period of trial

as you may (not) have noticed, i've taken a small hiatus from my blog.  there was a rhyme and reason behind this respite.  i went through a pretty tough trial recently, and i needed some time and breathing room before i could talk about it.  but, now i think i'm finally ready to share.

on august 12, 2013, exactly three months ago, i was faced with a challenge that left me with two choices.  i could either bury my head and pretend like this trial hadn't come knocking, or take heart and courage and face the ordeal with all my might and main.  though it was hard, and more than a little bit scary, i chose the latter.  so, for the last 92 days, i have (a) worn a new and different outfit every day, and (b) not purchased a single article of clothing.

now, i am the first to admit that my closet looks a bit like this:

let me assure you, i am properly embarrassed by the mass of my crap.  but i obviously have to add to it.  i neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to buy more clothes because not all of my clothes are created equal.  some are old.  some smell.  some are too small but i hold onto them because i will certainly be back to that size soon.  so, there are just certain items that i cannot wear...or so i thought until one aaron k. dared me to wear a new outfit compiled from my existing clothes for the next 90 days.

i accepted the thrown gauntlet without so much as a whiff of hesitation.  if there's one thing i love in this life, it's a good dare.  aaron must have detected my eagerness because, like lightening, he sweetened the deal.  "i dare you to wear a new outfit for every one of those 90 days AND not to buy any new clothes either."

say what?

i'd be lying if i said my stomach didn't drop and my palms didn't sweat.  retail therapy is a real thing, sweetheart.  and what about when i found things that i NEEDED and would NEVER BE ABLE TO BUY AGAIN?  then again, how could i decline the dare and admit defeat?  i have never backed down from a challenge before.  i'm just not that kind of girl.

i found myself at a crossroads.  my pride and my need to shop diverged in a yellow road, and i--i chose the one most traveled by.  i followed my pride.  and that has made all the difference.

"done." i replied.

the rest is history.  though it took creativity, self-restraint, and late night planning sessions, i met and exceeded the challenge and have been clean for three months (or ninety two days since august and october have 31 each).

thanks, babe, for issuing the dare.  thanks, me, for killing it.