Officially done with "Detox"

Okay, so maybe I didn't do the best job of not having ice cream, and I did get a couple of things for myself - but I didn't have any pretzel buns! I don't feel too badly because I finished all of my finals with A's - not perfect scores, but good ones - and I'm looking forward to having a break before second term begins. I worked really hard studying for those exams. We're headed for Maine and we are all in desperate need of a vacation.
We'll be staying with my father-in-law and his wife for the first week, then my mother-in-law and her husband for the second week. It'll be nice to see them again, since it's been three years since our last visit.
The day after we get home, school starts for all of us. Well, my kids and me. My husband will go back to work, of course. It's going to be a hectic morning, but at least we each start school at different times. My older son is starting middle school this year, so that'll be a big change. So the route is Little Guy to school across town then back toward our house for Big Guy then I drive to another town for my school. Luckily on Tuesdays, I start later than Big Guy. On Wednesday, he'll have to join forces with the neighbor kid and go with him because we have to be to school at the same time. It's going to be a neat trick.
I got some more school clothes for the boys at Saver's Thrift Store and I had found a few things for myself when I came across a gorgeous gown. Now, I'm not doing a lot of cabaret these days, so I'm not sure when I'd ever wear it, but it was $35 and I tried it on and it's like it was made for me. I'm thinking I may use it for a very elegant vampire Hallowe'en costume. After I tried it on, I put back everything else I had picked out for myself. I'd chosen a few cute things, but about four months ago, I gave away all of my fancy dress clothes to a local theatre in a purge and I wanted that gown to restart a collection. Oh, and I had taken three bags of mine and the boys' clothes to donate and got a 30% off coupon, so I spent about 7 dollars more on everything than was the original (thrift) price of the gown. I'd probably given the theatre about $5000 worth of vintage and evening wear. I figure, if I ever feel like I want to borrow some of it, I know where to go, but if I want something now, I have it. Today I went through my dresser drawers and took 5 bags of clothes to the thrift store up the street. I still need to go through the boys' stuff for more things they've outgrown, but there will be time for that while they're in school. I only have classes on three days, so I'll have time to do some clearing out.
Also today, I decided that my size 8 jeans just weren't going to cut it any more - well, actually, they were cutting into me, so... I went to Saver's to find some jeans. I found two pair of nice ones that fit really well. One is even a pair of "Not Your Daughter's Jeans" and I have to say, if I ever have the extra dinero to buy them new, I may just do that. They're extremely comfortable and the fit is sublime (my butt looks great!). Plus I picked up a couple of larger sweaters to go over my giant, massage therapist arms. I had to get rid of a few sweaters because I've outgrown them in the arms.
Since Hallowe'en is coming up, I'll be looking for more Indian clothes (saris, kurtis, etc.) since they often put them out with the costume stuff. I could seriously live in that style. However, I need specific clothes for school (yoga pants and t-shirts that don't gap open at the chest - no cleavage, front or back). Luckily on Tuesdays, my two classes won't have any practical component to them (no massaging), so I can wear whatever I want. I'm really looking forward to those days. I don't dress up on my days off and I do like to peacock it up every once in a while.
Well, my little flowerpots, I've made my confession, mea culpa <whip, whip> and I don't feel badly about it at all. I worked hard and I deserve a bit of fun. Everything I got for myself and the boys was either on sale, thrifted and/or couponed and I'm feeling quite proud of myself for that. I spent less this year on school clothes than any other year and my boys are happy with what they've got. Of course it helps that they couldn't care less about labels - they figure everyone shops like I do.
Speaking of which, have you been to a thrift store lately? You never know what you might find. I also picked up a Calvin Klein blazer for just a few dollars. Should look great with my NYDJ's!

Studying...

Oh, yeah. That studying thing. I have my first Physiology quiz on Tuesday and an Anatomy quiz on Thursday. I spent all of Mother's Day weekend studying and this weekend has been spent making  Physiology flashcards and testing myself on them. I've got to the point where I know them all and now that I've made it to that point, I'm going to stop looking at them. I have to step away or my brain will explode.
Of course, I have yet to make flash cards for Anatomy. That'll have to be later tonight. I have a DVD that goes along with my Anatomy book and I' think I'll watch that before I make any cards. It may be that's all I need is to watch the DVD. Otherwise, I'm off to make the donuts... er, flashcards.
I'm having a hard time in my Traditional Chinese Medicine class. It's really hard being a skeptic. There are certain things you "just have to accept" and my first instinct is to say, "no, I don't." So I'm treating it as a bit of anthropology. I'm trying to look at it as learning a new language and culture, one that I don't have to integrate myself into, but would like to understand from a cultural point of view. It's not easy, especially when I know my instructor, who's a really nice guy and good at explaining things, is gung ho about it. But I know I'm not the only one in my class who just accepts things on account of because. A couple of my classmates are struggling with it as well.
I was almost to a point where I thought I should switch my certification to strictly Western massage, but we've started practicing Shiatsu on clients and, wouldn't you know it, I'm really good at it. I already have repeat clients! If I could just take the Shiatsu without the TCM, I'd be golden, but I should have some background in where the modality comes from, so there you have it.
On the creative front, I've been working on quilting a baby quilt (I'm about halfway through) and I worked a bit on my sampler quilt, as well.
I've done smashingly well in the thrifting department, scoring 20-30% off of the last two purchases I've made. After I did my banking and grocery shopping on Friday, I thought very briefly of going to the Goodwill between the Festival Foods and my house, but it didn't feel right. Then I decided to hit the Savers. I was feeling drawn to it like the proverbial moth. The last time I had been there, I found a lovely long skirt and I felt I would find another. I did indeed. I found two. And some leggings and a couple pairs of knit pants I can wear to school. Then I went to the back corner where they have some craft items. I almost didn't go back there, but am I glad I did! I found doll parts and faces! No, you don't understand. I've been looking for these vintage faces for ages. They're the type that my grandma used to make these really crazy fun fur tissue box covers. I have some fun fur that I've wanted to use to make one, but I couldn't find any faces like the old ones. I hit the doll face jackpot.
Then, when I went to check out, the lady in front of me had used a coupon and it was left on the counter. The clerk asked if it was mine and I said no, it was the previous lady's. She gave me the 20% off for being honest!
Well, I've taken a long enough break from studying. I'd better get back to it.