Who Else Fights the Urge to Buy?

Yesterday, I wrote about the new 4th generation iPod Nano in Apple Reveals "Cleaner" iPod, Removes Toxins and Reduces Packaging. In iPod years, my Nano is ancient - it doesn't even show video. But I've resisted the urge to buy a new one because the one I have is still perfectly sufficient.

It's perfectly sufficient. Wow. Makes you want one just like mine, doesn't it. It's not cool. It's not hip. It's not modern or up to date. It's simply perfectly sufficient.

It's hard to resist the urge to buy something new - to upgrade an older model of something you have that is perfectly sufficient. I spent the summer being, in my own terms, "decidedly nonconsumerist." I didn't buy new clothes for my anniversary trip to Ireland. I didn't buy a new bathing suit or new beach towels. When I spilled sunscreen in my pool bag and couldn't get the smell out, I sucked it up. I plan on using the bag next year, too.

But now the kids are in school. I'm working from home and I have a little free time and I feel the stores calling me, taunting me. 

"We miss you, Robin." 

"Are you really going to wear that same shirt AGAIN? Your husband is going to get sick of looking at you in it."

"Your friend's wedding is next weekend. No one would blame you for getting something new."

"The new iPods are greener. You're all about greener. It's okay. Get one."

Welcome to the world inside my head.

I'm not saying I'm never going to buy anything ever again. In fact, I'm thinking of heading to some thrift stores next week and seeing if I can pick up something to wear for my friend's wedding. But if I don't find anything in the thrift stores, will I be able to be content with something that is already in my closet or will I give in to the voices in my head.

How do you resist the urge to buy something when you already have something that is perfectly sufficient? Really. I want to know. I'm looking for some brilliant advice here!

Tomatoes Piling Up? Try This Fresh Pasta Sauce Recipe

It wasn't too long ago I was whining about my tomatoes never turning green. Now, I'm knee deep in Romas, Early Girl's (won't grow those again - blah), Brandywine Heirlooms, and amazing Rutgers. In mid-summer I took basil bouquets when I went to someone's house. Now I take tomatoes and sometimes have to come home with them.

I found a really good, simple recipe for a fresh pasta sauce that used up a whole basket full of my Romas along with peppers, basil, oregano and parsley all from the garden and cooked it up the other night.

Garden Fresh Pasta Sauce from BigOven.com was yummy and even my kids dug right in and said it was really good. It was such a joy to make a completely organic pasta sauce with ingredients fresh from the garden. Although making it took so much more effort than opening a jar, I really enjoyed feeding my family that night. I'm always amazed at how satisfying downshifting can be.

Note: I found the recipe as is too salty after I made it so I added a can of unsalted tomato paste to help. It ended up being too thick so I used my food mill to juice two Early Girl tomatoes (at least they were good for something) to thin it out. Next time, I'll half the salt and add more if necessary.

Tomorrow night, I'm going to attempt using my tomatoes to make pizzas on the grill. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll be making the dough in my bread machine and letting each of us make an individual pizza.