I had to perform a huge act of self-restraint a couple of days ago.

[Bullwinkle925]

I ALMOST bought a heart wreath to hang on the door for Valentines Day.
Holy Crap - I should at least wait until Mid-January, eh?

[idgiehkt]

1. You just had to bring up VD didn't you.

:cry:

[Bullwinkle925]

2. damn - i went into a store just a couple of days after Xmas and saw all the

valentine cards out. I feel as if time is in warp-speed.

[idgiehkt]

3. my hunch is

they want all the single women like me to feel depressed for as long as possible so we will buy up all the chocolate.

[crim son]

4. Idg, it's you and me on VD.

Or I swear I'm going to go out and buy myself a wonderful meal complete with appetizer, fine wine and something gooey and chocolate for dessert. Afterward, I'm going to take myself to a secluded spot and see if I can persuade myself to give it up :P

[Bullwinkle925]

5. LOL

Do treat yourself .... as my daughter says - "Men are over-rated".

[crim son]

7. Well, some are underrated!

Either way, I don't like Valentine's Day and I never have.

[idgiehkt]

6. I'm easy

So I won't have to twist my arm too hard (at least not til I get started... :rofl: .)

I will probably buy some chocolate butter creams since those are my favorite kinds of chocolates.

[crim son]

8. LOL!

There is at least one advantage to a skilled partner :evilgrin:

I like cheap buttercreams and caramels. No Belgian chocolate for me.

[BarenakedLady]

9. Can I come too?

pretty pleeeeaaase with sugar on top? I'll be your best friend? :)

[idgiehkt]

10. only if you meant that post as a double entendre

that would be your rite of initiation.

[BarenakedLady]

12. Of course

I mean, come on....(see I did it again) look at who you are talking to? :rofl:

I want to come toooooooooooooo! OH yes, I really really doooooooo! :evilgrin:

[crim son]

15. I think idg answered that question

and also the one you didn't intend.

Of course you can! :loveya:

[Danger Mouse]

31. Valentine's Day and Venereal Disease.

Same initials.
Coincidence?

[Left Is Write]

11. Why does Valentine's Day start, retail speaking, on December 26?

Does anyone remember when Valentine's Day was pretty minor? Not that big a deal? No one decorated for it. Kids exchanged Valentine's at school. Sweethearts got flowers and candy, and maybe a nice dinner. That's all. No two-month marketing plan. What happened?

[Bullwinkle925]

13. Ka-Ching!!

[Left Is Write]

19. Yeah, the almighty dollar. And you know that on Feb 15 -

all the Easter "stuff" will come out. After that, it will be red-white-and-blue until after July 4th.

[Phredicles]

14. I would've thought you were exaggerating, but darn if the Walgreen's

we stopped by to pick up a comb this evening wasn't all pink and Valentiney in the greeting card section. When did this start happening?

(See, I've been married 18 years; I get my Valentine's stuff on like Feb. 13...)

[LeftyMom]

16. I don't know why the stuff goes out so early

I won't get a card or anything until sometime in February and I have to ship it all three brazillian miles away.

[Left Is Write]

18. I don't know, but it's got to be fairly recent - less than ten years ago, I'd guess.

I don't really get any Valentine's "stuff." I ordered the kids' Valentines from the Vermont Country store, but that's it. (They have nice heavy sturdy ones like from my childhood, not the crap that sells today.)

I like to cook a nice Valentine's dinner for my husband and maybe bake a cake, but we don't do gifts or cards. He also refuses to buy flowers on Valentine's Day because the florists all jack up the prices! I'm with him on that one. He brings me fresh flowers fairly often throughout the year - he doesn't need to pay quadruple prices on Feb 14.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. Don't buy one...

Make one instead.The tendency to stock up and horde for Valentines Day is because we're afraid of what I call "holiday withdrawl".
Creating your own wreath and other decorations will keep you busy over a longer period of time than a trip to the store; yet it will satisfy your craving for a festive mood.

Happy New Year!

[Bullwinkle925]

20. You're right, of course -

Perhaps I'll be headed over to the crafty store tomorrow. But I'm not that talented - keep your fingers crossed.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. I bet you're better than you think!

:toast:

[Bullwinkle925]

28. I'll go 'nose' around tomorrow and look at what's out there.

If it looks at all half-way decent - I'll post a pic.
thanks for your encouragement.

[Left Is Write]

21. You've got something there -

What I should do is work on my Christmas scrapbook to help me feel festive. I already have all the supplies I need and don't have to buy a thing. I have made a resolution to reduce or eliminate my frivolous spending habits.

[Bullwinkle925]

22. That is always a good resolution ....

and I was going to stop watching TV as much and lurking on DU as well.

See how far I've gotten??

[Left Is Write]

25. Watching TV and playing on DU don't bother me, but -

I look around and see how much needless "stuff" we have, and how I like to shop catalogs, and it just kind of sickens me.

We are planning a big family vacation to Florida in 2008 - my siblings, their families, the whole nine yards - and I'd love to stop my frivolous spending, save the money, and pay for that trip in cash.

[Bullwinkle925]

27. You know what??

YOU CAN DO IT. I'm sure you can. I will be one of your 'supporters', if need be.
We can do anything that we put our minds to. Even getting rid of that rubbish in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[Left Is Write]

29. I would like that.

I need a little reminder from supporters now and then. I need to remember that things are just things, and I don't need all those things. I guess I have a tendency to retail therapy when my depression kicks in, any my anxiety/depression were worse than ever in 2006.

Thanks for offering to help out with moral support! :hug:

[Bullwinkle925]

30. Same here - shopping can be an addictive short-term feel-good

thing - just like eating when bored or stressed - and BOY, can I do that.
I'm trying to moderate my behavior this year - really get my act together and do the things I know I should be doing.
Speaking of - I need to log off now and read my book for the upcoming book club meeting in a couple of weeks.
What can you do in lieu of shopping? I'm sure (we) can come up with some things.
What other interests/hobbies do you have?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

26. At least when you're on DU,

your brain is actively engaged. :D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. That's a great idea!

Why not get as much mileage out of Christmas Spirit as possible? :thumbsup: