My 2013 resolution is...{it is HUGE}...

...I am not buying clothes, shoes, accessories for AN ENTIRE YEAR! No I did not fat-finger the keys, mistype something, and I am not intoxicated while writing this. I am not purchasing any of those items for the next 364 days. For realzzz.
Here are the only exceptions:
- Let's say I have a brown pair of wedges and they break...I can replace them with something similar.
- If my work, or some function requires me to have a specific item of clothing and I don't already own it, I can buy it. For example, if for some {weird} reason I need a purple collared shirt...I would have to go buy it.
- Undergarments do not count. What if I suddenly grow out of my A cup?? Ya, I went there.
-I can "swap" clothes with a friend, or accept presents for special occasions. A random Wednesday is not a special occasion. - And the final exception is if God finds 2013 the year for me to bear a child. If that happens it would truly {if ya know what I mean...} be a "God thing" and I think that gives me means to drop the challenge.  Why am I doing this?
It all started when my friend Caitlin {who will be guest posting later in the week!!} told me she was doing this challenge and it was changing her life, for the better. 
You see, I am extremely guilty of buying and wearing items once and having them sit in my closet for months, sometimes even forgetting I own that article of clothing. I "reward" myself with clothing, shoes, or accessories and the object of the reward gets lost and is in turn focused on what item I will purchase.  I spend hundreds {yikes, I hate admitting that!} of dollars a year on clothes when I have a car to pay for, a house to pay for, student loans to pay off, trips to plan, a retirement to save for...and an entire closet full of fabulous clothes in mint condition.
I am not saying this isn't going to be hard as h-e-double hockey sticks, but after talking with Caitlin. praying about it, and seeing the benefits that can come from doing this, I am ECSTATIC to be committing a year to this challenge.
Here are two of my favorite Bible verses that helped me with this decision: Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Personally, this is the biggest challenge I have ever taken on. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to shop. As many women say...it is my happy place. New clothes make you feel good, happy.  Materialistic items make me giddy, I'd be lying if I said they didn't. That is why this is a challenge. I challenge myself to finding true happiness in NONmaterialistic items.
I will now ask friends out to coffee instead of to the mall. Maybe I will learn something new about them instead of focusing on which heel, or blouse, looks better. I will spend more hours at home with my husband instead of going to my "happy place." I will save more money and apply it to things that benefit my family, my husband. 
I will learn to TRULY appreciate the things I already own.
I had a moment that touched my heart about a month ago. When Chris and I were choosing our Angels from the Angel Tree at Church I had a feeling of guilt. All this little girl longed for were clothes, shoes, and jewelry. She longedddd for it, wanted it SO badly. I knew whatever I bought her would bring so much joy into her life. She would cherish the necklaces I bought her. She wouldn't wear it once and allow it to get lost in her jewelry box, as I am guilty of. She would wear her blouses until she grew out of them, or they were worn out. Most of all, she would appreciate it.
I have always loved fashion, always. I started shopping at an early age and have been blessed to be able to "reward" myself more than I should. When I told my family this was my New Year's resolution they laughed out loud, as did my husband. Their reactions show how much I shop and love clothes.
Today I was thinking. I was thinking about how I already feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. It is the weirdest thing, seriously. It is January 1, 2013 and I have an ENTIRE YEAR of no shopping and I feel wonderful. Knowing that no matter what birthday party, company picnic, girls night or date night out crosses my path, I know I will have an outfit for it and won't have the panic of having to go to the mall in search for an outfit I will wear one time. 
It literally makes me cringe thinking of all the money I have spent in search for that perfect outfit that only one person noticed and pictures didn't do justice. 
Now, this challenge is not for everyone. And in no way am I judging anyone! I need this for me. I want to grow to have relationships deeper than materialistic items. I want to wear my clothes out and get their full money's worth. I want to mix and match items that I never thought would work. I want to delete the 20+ emails I receive daily from clothing stores luring me in to shop for items I don't need. 
I want to dominate this challenge, and come out a better person. 
And I want to drag y'all along for my journey. I know there will be new trends this year. My closet is FULL of colored jeans. What if colored jeans go out of style and I am the only Skittle in a patch of brown M&M's? Oh well. What if my collection of bib and bubble necklaces are no longer the "it" accessory and I am left with an "outdated" look? Oh well. What if I have a wedding to go to and I already wore that fancy dress to a party the week before? Oh well.
What if I get to know my best friend's even better because we went on a walk instead of going to the mall? What if I saved enough money to pay off the minimal amount of loans I have left?
What if I get to know God better, deeper?
What if I dominate this challenge and come out with an amazing new outlook on life and what it is truly about?
Ya, that wouldn't be so bad.
I am honestly so excited to blog about this journey. What I Wore Wednesday's are now going to mean that much more because I won't be showing y'all my new items, but instead you might actually see the entirety of my closet. 
I. am. pumped.
Please pray for me and this challenge. I know I will go to the mall, go to TJ Maxx, go to Target...and it will be tempting. Please pray that I stay strong, that I learn to steer clear of temptation and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It is now almost the end of day one...and I already feel changed. 
God is good.
Happy New Year's everyone! May 2013 be the best year yet!