Conscious Consumers Meme

In keeping with yesterday's post about advertisements, it seemed like a good time to do this meme. And I have to say, I'm all excited -- it's my very first meme!

Here's how it works: post the directions on your blog, tell everyone who tagged you, answer the questions, and tag five or more people. That's it! And if you want to grab the graphic to put on your blog as well, feel free.

The purpose of this meme is to inspire some reflection about how we shop and what we purchase. The idea isn't that consumption itself is somehow bad, but that we all could probably stand to put a little bit more thought into what we buy. And, of course, it's supposed to be fun.

So here goes! Pick a recent shopping trip -- for clothes, shoes, groceries, doesn't matter. The only guideline is that it will be easier to play if you purchased at least a few things.

Now tell us, about your purchases:

1. What are you proud of?
2. What are you embarrassed by?
3. What do think you couldn't live without?
4. What did you most enjoy purchasing?
5. What were you most tempted by? (This last one may or may not be an actual purchase!)

And that's it! Here are my answers, from a recent trip to Target with my cool aunt:

1. Proud of: paintbrushes. My daughter is all into arts and crafts lately, and I thought she'd have a blast doing some paint-with-water books. I found some really cute books, and then I couldn't find any paintbrushes that didn't come as part of entire art supply sets. And I didn't want an entire art supply set, I just wanted brushes. I finally found them, all by themselves, (actually my aunt did, she's good like that) and it was a wonderful purchase. My daughter loves them and has been painting up a storm ever since.

2. Embarrassed by: bottled water. I know better, I really do. But I'm always forgetting to bring along my own water bottle (or, more accurately, I think "I should grab a water bottle" just as I'm running out the door, and somehow there are never any clean). And then I get so thirsty. And all that beautiful water just makes me want to cry, I want a drink so badly. But I do know better. Sigh.

3. Couldn't live without: shampoo. This is one of the few things I remember to be consistently grateful for. I've probably prayed almost as many "thanks for shampoo" prayers as I've prayed "thanks for (fill in the blank with something important)" prayers. Perhaps later I should do a meme about vanity?? Tag me if you've got one!

4. Most enjoyed purchasing: baby clothes, for a friend who is expecting. I adore baby clothes, so soft and sweet and so many little yellow ducks. I could buy the whole lot. Which leads us to....

5. Sorely tempted by: all the rest of the children's clothes! I managed to make it out without buying anything, but only because my aunt bought something for me. :)

And that's the meme! I'm tagging Food for Thought, Having Enough, The Paris Project, Bloom!, Jennifer Niesslein's Internet Presence, Overwhelmed with Joy!, Valerie Weaver-Zercher, and World of One Thousand Different Things.

Have fun!