Fat Tuesday!

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

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Today is the last day of celebration before Lent, a time of repentance and quiet contemplation. I look forward to Lent, because I am a far from perfect person, and it gives me a chance to challenge myself. I know I am too judgemental and materialistic, and that I have a hard time drowning out the hustle and bustle of the world we live in. I think pretty hard about what I'm going to give up each year during this time, and I try to focus more on my faith and how I handle my life each day.

This year I'm giving up two things... non-necessary shopping, and drinking alcohol (with a couple *minor* exceptions!). Shopping is a pretty easy one. While it can be easy to forget, I lead a life that is full of everything I need, and then some. We own a beautiful condo full of nice furniture, I have a closet full of clothing and shoes, and bookcases overflowing with favorite novels and cookbooks. Yet I always seem to think I need more. I know that this is quite ridiculous, and a big weakness of mine. I never spend more money than we have, but I am a champion at justifying every random, unnecessary purchase I make. So during Lent, I will only buy necessities like groceries or toiletries. Joe is better at this than I am, so if I think I 'need' anything else, I'll run it by him first. I know I have more than everything I need, and that this Lenten sacrifice could have a good impact on my day to day life for the rest of the year. Wish me luck!

Joe and I also decided to give up alcohol... almost. We're not giving up home brewed beer, because we have A TON of it that is fermenting and conditioning right now. But we won't be buying any new beer or wine, and we will be limiting our consumption of the homebrew more than usual. We will also be trying to limit our nights out at bars, but I do not want to cut that out completely because I do not want to miss hanging out with our friends. We really don't go out to bars too much these days, but I don't want to miss out on a night out with friends because we're not drinking. And don't even suggest I just drink some diet coke at the bar... yeah right! We won't be going out for drinks without other friends, though, so I really don't see us going out to bars more that a few times through all of Lent.

So for Mardi Gras, I will be having a drink or two tonight. I also treated myself a little at Target today, but since the jeans and top I bought were on clearance, they hardly count. Right? (See, that's the justifying I am talking about!)

Want to know more about Ash Wednesday or Lent? Check out this great 2 minute video my mom sent me!