Welcome to June! I know it’s not officially summer yet, but just being in June makes it feel that way.
Easy on the Eyes will be hitting shelves sometime NEXT MONTH (YAY!), so the countdown continues with week 5 of my online book club! We’ve been talking about Odd Mom Out and Mrs. Perfect—my two books that feature some of the same characters from Easy on the Eyes. I love hearing your opinions and fielding your questions, but here’s the best part for readers: your comment on each book club question enters you to win an Advanced Reading Copy of Easy on the Eyes. Read it before you can buy it! Then you can tell everyone about it.
Last week we discussed Mrs. Perfect. This week let’s talk about a topic from Odd Mom Out:
Discuss Taylor’s fashion sense and her addiction to retail therapy. Do you love to shop? Have you ever relied on retail therapy to get you through some emotionally tough situations in life? Should people seek help for this as a legitimate addiction?
Feel free to contribute without having read Mrs. Perfect, but be warned that the comments that follow may contain spoilers.
For more Mrs. Perfect, read an excerpt, download the whole Reader’s Guide, check out some book extras, and order your copy from Amazon!
About TIMING of PRIZES: The winner will be drawn (randomly, of course) shortly after the next book club gets posted. So, sometime next Monday, when I find a sliver of time between sleeping and caring for a itty-bitty baby, I will do the winner thing. If it waits until Tuesday, no one stress, okay? Thanks! And thanks for participating!
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I think Taylor truly believed that if everything in her life looked perfect – children, clothes, house – then it had to be so. As she began to sense things were not right with her husband she just continued to acquire more with no thought to whether it was necessary. I am not a shopper but know people who are and am amazed as to why anyone would want 18 pairs of jeans!
As for shopping during stressful times I would find that more depressing and tend to use food for comfort instead. Lunch or dinner with a friend is way more satisfying and most likely less expensive!
I hope this post finds little Mac doing better!
I am not a shopper at all, I hate it. I can never find anything when I want it or if I find something it doesn’t fit. I am one of these people who would need a personal shopper, I know this is sad and you can tell by what I wear that I hate to shop. You will find me in jeans and a t-shirt most of the time or shorts and a t-shirt and I also love sweat pants.
Taylor seemed to be a competitive shopper–always making sure that she had the best. Competition can be an addiction. When one is happy with who they are, they can relax more and not worry so much what others think.
I admit that for me shopping can be very theraputic. As long as I know I’m not overspending, a day shopping gives me a lift.
I hate to shop. Apparently I’m a weird size or something, because nothing ever fits right. Ever. I do know a few people like Taylor who are shopaholics & they go shop when they are upset. Then they spend a lot & then are even more upset.
Shopping is not a healthy behavior when it is done frequently for your self esteem. It is short lived and has no long term value. I shop when it is necessary and never overspend.
When I was a lot younger I did retail therapy. I didn’t spend very crazy but I loved buying shoes and new purses. They had a way of lifting my spirits.
I think Taylor spent as a way to try and control her situation. She wanted to have the look that everything was perfect in her life. She found out in the end that you can spend yourself into the poor house if your aren’t careful.
She also remembered that the really important things can’t be bought.
Hope Mac is getting happier.
i love retail therapy!!!! but it needs to be done responsibly which can be hard to do. i found my own way of controling it and thats by keeping current with my finances+remembering my family comes before clothes + stuff for the house.
I used to buy something new every paycheck. I loved to have new things, especially shoes. People would tell me I should save more and put the money in the stock market, but at least I had a closet full of shoes. Just kidding, I also saved and I never went into debt. Now I spend less than I used to because my closets got full and it just got old. Now I buy more books and do other things for fun, like going to movies and walking and exercise.
I have a sister-in-law that had a real problem with credit and buying too much and it caused them lots of problems. I just don’t get spending so much money on stuff to impress other people and then not having the money to buy groceries and getting deep in debt. I also don’t get calling it a sickness; it is just selfishness and immaturity. Grow up and be an adult, not a spoiled brat! I couldn’t stand Taylor at first but she confronted her problems and worked on her bad behaviors and grew up. She won me over because that is never easy.
Wow- I can’t wait to read that book – when I get settled in my new job… sounds great… I love shopping! I love pretty things. I didn’t have much growing up and my classmates had alot more so I turned out kinda materialistic I guess. I know I use to go overboard when I was feeling lonely or something… not as much anymore…but still fall into that. To answer the question- – I think retail therapy is a coping mechanism that is okay in small doses- but eventually one has to face the elephant in the room- what do you really want- what are you afraid to want… and then be really honest about where you stand now after all the learning and experiences you’ve acquired– and then trade the retail shopping in for pursuing what you REALLY want. Sure- if you can afford help- all the easier and quicker to figure it out I would think- never had the luxury.
I think I come from a line of retail shopping therapy addicts and I don’t doubt that at one time I suffered myself…but quitting my job and having a family to take care of kind of took care of that for me!! I also think that if there is help for something, you should take it to improve yourself. Why not?
Hope all is well with the baby, Jane.
I’ve been guilty of retail therapy especially when my kids were babies and toddlers and my husband was deployed all the time. He would be going to interesting places and always gone and I was home with sick kids, throwing tantrums and no sleep. I used it to feel better. We have credit card debt because of it and I feel bad now. When my husband was unemployed last year I really learned how to live on less and to enjoy the free things in life much more. That’s when I really began running seriously (free) and reading more and more and getting my books from the library (free) and just enjoying what we already had!
I think when I was young (college age, maybe?) I did some retail therapy. But I didn’t really have much direction then. I think it may be a situation where it could become an addiction, but I don’t know that I look at it like a medical addiction, but more of a discipline problem. Like overspending on anything.
Hi Jane.
Hope all is going well with Baby Mac. Shopping…hate it. Worked at Nordstrom for 32 years and only shopped while I was at work because I can’t stand to go shopping. Although my closet seems to say otherwise.
Dawn
I think people who do have a serious shopping addiction do need to seek help. When Taylor had to move she saw how much of a problem she had with so many clothes and shoes and purses that still had the price tags on.
She thought the more and bestter sha had would make her feel better and make her the best.
I’m usually a careful shopper and always have been. It made my dad crazy to take me and my sister shopping because I would agonize over my choices while my sister (who has racks of clothes with tags on them)would just take whatever caught her eye.
I like to take time to get away and browse the aisles of Marshalls & TJ Maxx or Hobby Lobby, even Wal Mart and Target unrushed. I don’t always have to buy but I love to look!
YES! I love retail therapy. Now, just because I shop, does not mean that I always buy. Taylor ALWAYS bought. Big difference. It can be an addiction. I have known people who live to shop, buying what they don’t need, or even want really. Ebay has made it really easy to shop. Boy, that alone could get me into trouble!
Oh, I definitely spend more than I need to on books and other things, and yes, sometimes it is absolutely because I have had a crap day, and why not treat myself?
I don’t see the harm in a little pick-me-up, but you do have understand your credit limits, and make sure you actually have a little extra after the household and family essentials before you go crazy. And you need to exercise some impulse control!
I think internet shopping has likely contributed to the “retail therapy” addiction. I find a lot of things to buy online that I wouldn’t normally have time to go to a store to see and/or be tempted to buy. I also seem to have more restraint in a retail store, because I will not make a decision on the spot. Online stores are accessible 24/7 and don’t require you to waste your lunch break to make an extra trip to the store.
Taylor’s compulsive need to shop/spend sounded like more of an addiction or desperate attempt to fill a void, and I think that type of personality would benefit from counselling to help them identify a bigger problem…
Can’t wait to read the next book in this series Jane!
retail therapy could explain the number of books I have…
Hey Jane: Taylor in her own mind had no choice but to be perfect and I think it stemmed from her childhood where everything was out of control. I think part of it was also ocd. Now, me, I do not like to shop, no way, no how!! I do it because I have to!
When I am finding things that fit well – then I am happy and who isn’t? Now about retail addiction therapy – is that for real? I just don’t know. Kisses for Baby Boy Mac!!!!
I don’t have a problem like Taylor but I wonder if I had more money, maybe? 🙂
I have a thing for shoes. Perfume. And cosmetics.
Clothes are tough on me because of my weight….I hate shopping when I am heavy.
I’m not a shopper – I do it because I have to.
I do believe there are instances when shopping is an addiction and should be treated as such. Not all instances but some – definitely.
I always shop when I feel depressed.Don’t really need money to spend,it just feels relaxing to look around,always touching everything…lol.
But it does make me feel a lot better after a busy week.I really agree with the name retail therapy,because it works for me.
I admit I am a shopper. I like to have nice things and have my house perfect. It’s easy to fall into Taylor’s habits of thinking that if everything looks perfect on the outside, it will be perfect on the inside too. Though it is not true, it’s a nice dream to have.
I have gone from a food addiction to somewhat of a shopping addiction. And maybe there should be therapy for it, because it’s not so easy to break.
Can’t wait to check out the new book!! Blessings to you and your family. Hope things are going better for you!!!
I hate to shop! I only go when I have to.
I do believe that people can be addicted to shopping. I know a person that goes shopping when she’s happy, when she’s sad, because it’s Monday, because it’s Tuesday, etc!
I have gone shopping to help improve my mood. Some people can spend too much $$ on clothing to make them feel better. Shopaholics are very real!!!
I love to shop and always have! I hate to admit it, but I do catch myself going on little shopping sprees to help out my mood. I think for many people, yes, it is a huge problem and is an addiction. Myself, I don’t go overboard and never spend what we can’t afford. Even though we can afford it, I do feel guilty sometimes after buying the items. I hate to say it but is always clothes for my children (that they don’t really need.) I guess at least I’m not selfish. 🙂
Shopping is by all means a form of therapy. The thrill of finding something on sale, new or just different. I know when I am having a blue day it feels so good to get something for myself. Do I really need most things, probably not. I just love looking at things that make me smile. Luckily it is usually a new book, something for my hair or sparkly earrings. Sparkly things are so cheerful!
I’m another hate to shop person. I get an instant headache just walking in the doors…Lighting??
I only go when I absolutely have to. My mom, sister and daughter LOVE to shop! It’s their favorite past time. I’m not sure why I’m so different.
My mom does it to pass time. She’ll be 85 this month on the 19th. I think she’s a bit lonely! She doesn’t buy expensive stuff but she always has to buy something. So it is an addiction.
Blog Book Club Contest Winner!
Good morning, everyone. I’ve randomly drawn a name out of a hat and this is what I got:
Congratulations to #2 Quilt Lady, you are this contest’s winner. Please send me a private email with your address and we’ll get your ARC of Easy on the Eyes out in the mail to you.
Thanks to everyone for discussing the novel and let’s have another great conversation this week! I hope to see everyone’s reader reviews online (at your blog, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, Facebook…).
Yours,
Jane
http://www.janeporter.com