Not that you are all withering away without me! I have been checking in briefly, but time and life have prevented me from paying much attention to style and wardrobe lately. Ironically, that lack of style focus has led me to some eye-opening style revelations, which I’ll share below.

The other thing that has thrown me off is our crazy weather! Be careful what you wish for, ladies. We’ve had the first full calendar year on record with no temps below zero and just about no snow. What this means is that it’s effectively been late September for three months now, weather-wise. It has thrown me for a loop. All my winter cashmere and coats are too warm, and I’ve yet to wear a real puffer. The down skirts are languishing. And we are all bored stiff by the lack of skiing and sledding. It’s made me realize we really are a winter community, and without any snow, it’s dark, dreary and dull, not to mention that it’s crushing the winter style I’ve worked so hard to hone.

Enough whining! One bonus is that I’ve gotten to wear my L.L.Bean plaid wide-legs more than I expected. And while I’m in somewhat of a no-man’s-land (lighter fall items not warm enough, regular winter items too warm), at least I’m not bored stiff with the usual skinnies and boots FFBO.

In contemplating the last year, I’ve realized, like many of you, that I want to put an end to the cycle of shopping/returning that goes with endless experimenting. I also have some changed priorities for my finances and creative time – I’d like to get back into some of my other creative outlets like making jewelry. Those things fulfill my obsessive needs on a much cheaper and less time-consuming manner. Coincidentally (or maybe not) this desire to slow down has dovetailed with a lack of interest in what’s in retail stores right now. I’m not adding more black or grey, and I’m not finding much else that appeals.

And finally a confession: I made a purchase that I instantly regretted, a handbag, of all things. And though I do love it and plan to use it, something about it stressed and pushed me over the edge in realizing that I DON'T NEED MORE STUFF.

I’m not foolish enough to t think I can or will stop shopping altogether so it’s not so much a shopping ban as a shopping reprieve. In reading some of the New Year threads I see many of you are feeling the same need to step back and breathe, so I know I’m not alone.

Thanks for getting this far if you’ve borne with me. I’m still going to be around on YLF as much as I can, but I’m not sure how consistently I will be posting - it all depends on the time I can find to be involved meaningfully. Happy New Year to all of you, and a huge thank you to Angie and the YLF community for this amazing forum!