Five Important Things I Learned From My Resolution

1. You have enough.  Every girl thinks, "Oh my gosh I need those shoes!" No, we don't need any of it. This year has taught me that I have plenty. I don't need 3/4 of the clothes, shoes, and accessories I have. I will say the cliche thing, but there are people all around the world who live with 1/100th of what some of us live with and they are happier than some will ever be. 
I have learned that when I put emphasis on materialistic things, I am less happy. Those items give me momentary happiness, but it is my relationships and the life I lead that gives me true happiness.
2. You have so much more time when you don't shop. Let's face it. In order to make sure I had no temptation of buying things, I avoided shopping and going to the mall. If I needed something for someone I ordered it online or went with Chris to the store. I used to 'run' over to the mall 2-3 times a week after work. We would end up eating out for dinner because I didn't get home in time to start dinner because I was spending money on frivolous things. I would spend my down-time on the weekends at the mall, which led to going other places as well. This whole year I never had to worry about wasting time aimlessly window shopping. I found my therapeutic escape in other things.
3. No one really notices designer items. At one point I was very caught up in buying clothes only from Nordstrom, or higher end places. My jeans had to be designer and my shoes needed to as well. I was finding that the items I got the most compliments on were items from TJ Maxx and Ross, which were a quarter of the cost of some of my other items. I don't live a fancy lifestyle. I am a normal girl who comes from a very country family, who married a guy from the 'burbs who wouldn't know a designer bag from a grocery bag. We don't have friends who are 'hoity-toity' and don't make materialistic things the focus in our lives. I raised pigs and lived on a dirt road until going to college. You get the point. Our lives are very down-to-earth and I have now learned that the people who you care most about, and who care the most about you, couldn't care less about where your clothes come from, nor should I care what anyone else thinks either.
4. Clothes are just clothes.  I used to be hesitant to let people borrow my clothes with the fear of them accidentally ruining it, or never giving it back. Now, with 100% confidence, I can say that I don't care who borrows my clothes, if they accidentally ruin it, or forget to give it back. It is just clothes. I refuse to lose sleep over a materialistic thing as lame as an article of clothing.
5. God doesn't care. One of the bible verses I have really grasped to this whole year is 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."

At the end of the day, God doesn't care what you're wearing. You can't take any of it when you go, so why not focus on more important things? 
I am so appreciative to all who have sent me such encouraging words, thoughts, and prayers. This year has truly been life changing. To all those who think you could never do this, you can! Believe me, I was a shopaholic and thought I never could accomplish this, but I did! 
Thanks to all those pretties out there who cleaned out their closets and sent me such wonderful clothes! Thank you a million times over! I am now in the process of cleaning out my closet and have three huge bags of items ready to be donated. I have really found my personal style and am ready to start 2014 fresh.