Wants and Needs

     I struggle constantly with my desire for things. New makeup, new car, new clothes, new books...the books are good for me, I think, but everything else I don't need. My time here in Casper is helping me to focus more on needs than wants. For instance, I need gas and I need food, but I don't need junk food and I don't need to drive my car everywhere I go. I drive my car to work, park it, and walk to the library or to the gym, or the sandwich shop, or Metro coffee on the rare occasions that I actually eat out/grab coffee. I conserve so much gas and I get simple exercise from that! I wish I lived closer to town, but wishing is just a person not accepting the reality that is. So I deal with having to commute 28 miles a day. I am lucky to have a car that only costs $20/week for gas ($31/month for insurance). Sure, I covet the New Beetle, or a Smart Car whenever I see them, but I understand that right now, that's just not possible, and not very smart for me to want a new car. I mean, I just got one, right? :)
     I have a problem with the little things: a lipstick here, a new journal, a new pen, some ice cream. It all adds up very quickly and before I know it, I'm broke. That is also something I am working on here. :) The way I see it, I am 22. I have a long life ahead of me and rather than nourish bad habits, I want to focus on expelling those bad habits and making good habits.

Some good habits I am working on:

• Being positive and trusting that if I work hard now, good things will come
• Daily exercise
• No junk food
• I am trying to be mindful of what I eat, because I really just can't stand fad diets. Read French Women Don't Get Fat. Read it! I think you can glean a few tips and tricks from them, but just staying low-carb for an extended period of time would drive me bonkers. 
• Making/bringing my own food for lunch
• picking up after myself
• very important when planning to live in a small space
• Controlling my spending urge
• One goal of mine is to start harvesting a French Wardrobe-some basic, simple, classic pieces that I can use accessories to build outfits around. The key to this is to know what I am looking for and be very mindful of whether it will work for me or not. This will be a very long process, (one that will require more money than I have at the moment) and ideally, you are constantly pruning your wardrobe to what suits you. I want to look good no matter what I'm wearing. :) Some items I am looking for:
• classic, chic trousers-khaki, black or gray (or all three)
• black cashmere sweater, very warm
• classic black pumps
• red double breasted pea coat
• a blazer with a fun, cute cut (definitely not digging the Melanie Griffith look in Working Girl, lol)
• nice pencil skirt of good length and color
• more scarves, some Hermes
• cardigans
• more to come
• Breaking the latte habit- going out and getting a cafe-made coffee every day, multiple times a day
• I haven't been to Starbucks or Metro Coffee in over a month!  

   Maybe I'll include a list of diet tips/tricks at some point. Anyways, just stuff on my mind!