okay, so 4 days down with no purchases. of course it wasn’t too difficult since i had to be at the beach house all weekend with my sisters and sister-in-law deep cleaning the beach house. not much shopping opportunity when you are elbow deep in vinegar (which is a really good all purpose cleaner), sudsy water, bleach, and rubbing alcohol (which does and AMAZING job cleaning mini-blinds. put on rubber gloves, then over those, an old sock dipped in rubbing alcohol. then run the sock over each mini-blind and voila... CLEAN blinds and a nice sterile smell to your home.)

BUT, i did have to go to target on the way to the beach to purchase some cleaning supplies and target is the death knell for my wallet (do you hear the bell toil? it toils for thy budget). BUT i ONLY went to the cleaning aisle.

though in full disclosure, i did have to see millie try on a bathing suit which was the ONLY one piece suit at target and it was PERFECT for her (it actually has a removable strap that comes with it to make it a bit more useful than the strapless version shown). YIPPEEE, because it has gotten SO hard to find cute one-piece bathing suits that are flattering AND modest. so she bought a bathing suit and a cover up to go with that suit.

we always buy a bathing suit AND a cute cover up to go with each suit so it is like an outfit and that way she has suits and cover ups for any situation. we got this idea from a certain pittman birthday girl who always looked so adorable, stylish, and modest in her suits and cover ups when she would visit us at the beach. millie and i loved how jax would always put on her cover up when she was finished swimming, tanning, or when she got up to take a walk or came into the beach house. such a great idea, those pittmans can be very inspirational. millie also found a cute purse that fit with her clothing budget $ and i ONLY bought cleaning supplies. really, that was all i bought. and i wouldn’t lie about that because... well see proverbs 4:24 to see why i wouldn’t lie about that....

and dina, you are right. the translation of that “grab” is “to steal” so not only will i not but anything this month, i won’t steal anything either.

and debbie, buying you lunch is NOT buying things. so unless we plan to “steal” lunch, then we should be fine, proverbially speaking...

and now on to proverbs chapter 4. oh, this one was easy to pick out (and i think it was easier to choose than it will be to live....)

and here are some different translations so you can have a REAL feel of the verse...

proverbs 4:24ish (the message)

Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

though i do like the king james...

proverbs 4:24 (kjv)

Put away from thee a froward (ill-natured, quarreling) mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

or the holman christian standard

proverbs 4:24 (hcsb)

Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don't let your lips talk deviously.

well, any way you translate it, i need to watch my mouth. which is hard because i can’t see it unless i look in a mirror (was that careless banter?).

as most of you know, i am a HUGE FAN of the “embellished story”. i like to make real life a bit more interesting with a special “lea-touch” (translation: HUGE EXAGGERATION). but not this month of living proverbially. and no careless banter or gossip either, nothing to pervert the truth, nothing devious or with intent to hurt or deceive someone, nothing to bring someone else down while subtly building myself up, and NO arguing or trying to PROVE i am right. ugh, what will i talk about?

it is going to be a quiet month here. lots of long silent pauses on the phone. you might not want to call me because i don’t think i will have much to say.

but hopefully i will be the wiser for it.

and now with all this free time from not shopping and not talking, i can check on all of you who are blogging EVERYday in may...

here is my list so far (click on each name to go to their bloggy wonderlands). let me know if i missed anyone...