Hi, guys!
Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s eats and activities and then I’ll tell ya what Mal and I did again. (Gah! What is wrong with us?!)
Breakfast
My morning started with a big bowl of banana oatmeal with dried cranberries, chia seeds, and a big scoop of peanut butter. Mashed banana in oatmeal is the best thing ever. It makes it so, so, so creamy. Just sayin’.
Workout
After breakfast, I headed to KFIT for a workout. Kerrie invited me to join her at the morning class, so I took her up on her offer. The workout was a lot of fun””it was 3 mini workouts in one””and it left me so sore today! Holy abs! I’m definitely feeling them today!
Snacks
After KFIT, I headed home and ate a couple of snacks: half of a Naked protein juice smoothie (it was just okay – kind of chalky) and an apple (local and totally delicious).
A little while later, I wanted something more to eat, so I had some rice crackers with a wedge of white cheddar from The Laughing Cow. Awesome snack.
After that, Mal and I took Murphy to the park where we met Kerrie and Bentley. Murph and Bentley had a blast running around together!
Lunch
After the park, I was more than ready for lunch. I had a grilled cheese sandwich with ham and tomato inside. It was amazing.
Ok, are you ready to hear what Mal and I did again?
Well, remember the time when we impulsively bought a new refrigerator? If not, the short story is that we only planned to do a little window shopping, but then we ended up buying a brand new refrigerator at the first place we looked without checking out other options or comparison shopping at all, which is totally unlike us. I guess it all worked out in the end, but I hate making big purchases without putting a lot of “research” into it. (I dunno. I guess I’m just always looking for the best possible deal?)
After that, I thought Mal and I learned our lesson, but we did it again. We were suppose to just look at some new couches yesterday afternoon, but then we ended up buying one.
At the first place we visited.
Without checking out other options or comparison shopping at all.
Again, what is wrong with us?
Ok, we took some couch measurements before we left the house, but we really had no intention of buying a new one yesterday. Maybe Mal did, but I definitely didn’t.
Honestly, we just fell in love with the couch we bought. It was exactly what we were looking for (size, color, style) and it had a sleeper bed inside, which was definitely a bonus, so we just bought it.
Isn’t it pretty?! It’s being delivered later today. Yay!
Our new couch was right next to our old couch at the store, so I thought it was a sign we should buy it.
While waiting to purchase our couch, I enjoyed a mini Twix bar.
Dinner
Mal and I ended the day with a wonderful dinner at Rustic Kitchen. I started with butternut squash soup and then ordered a flatbread pizza for dinner. It was an awesome meal!
Questions of the Day
How much research do you do before making a big purchase?
Have you ever made an expensive impulsive purchase? Did you regret it or did it all work out?
I am an official brand advocate for Bel Brands in 2013. While I receive compensation for participation as a brand advocate, opinions are my own.
65 Comments
Haa, i have the same couch. Bought it over 2 years ago.. Luv it and it is still in great shape. I searched almost every furniture store in my area then went back to a couple stores to make sure I was purchasing the right couch. I’m not an impulsive shopper, just the opposite. It takes me forever to pull the trigger.
Enjoy your new piece. Just in time for long winter months.
@Kellie: what store?? I love it!
one time i bought a massive clock for my apartment without measuring it or my wall. i also had to have my parents drive it from tennessee to DC because it was too big to fit on the plane! at the end of the journey though, it looked awesome on my wall — and luckily fit, too. your couch looks like a winner! congrats on the new family member!
Hahaha I love that there was a sign (old couch near it). The new one really does look nice and comfy!
I generally don’t get a chance to make big impulse purchases since I’m still a student and have no monies to do that (oh, except for when I sign up for races on impulse, haha).
My boyfriend gives me such a hard time about always shopping but when it comes to savvy shopping he has no clue what to do. With large purchases I always do research before to find the best possible deal out there. He has no patience for that and just buys it. Haha. Love the color of the new couch!
I definitely try to comparison shop for big purposes!
Much like you, I like to do research but I have definitely done that before. I love the new couch! It would look great with this pug pillow on it…
http://www.wayfair.com/lava-Stella-Pug-Pillow-012193745361-LVY1126.html
LOVE that couch! Great choice 🙂
I have the same couch you guys have now. We also want to get rid of it. It’s been good for 5 years but it’s time to say good bye! Love the new one you guys chose!
I bought a car as an impulse buy (whoops!). my boyfriend and i went to the dealership just to look, and ended up buying it on the spot. It was a splurge, but I LOVE it and haven’t had any issues at all. We also took our rescue dog home from Puerto Rico totally unplanned. We met her and couldn’t leave her… so after dating about a month, we had a puppy! We’re still together (3 years in december), and Rica (the dog) is the best and craziest decision i have ever made 🙂
Zach is a HUGE planner – so he ALWAYS does his research and plans things out forever! But I get the benefit of it, so I’m OK with it!
My wife always does the research and then we end up going to like 5 places before we make a decision. I guess that means we get the most for our $ but it is a process. I think a little research is good, but too much is just exhausting.
Sometimes if I don’t make that impulse buy, then I NEVER buy it! I worry and think about it too much and then never make the purchase! I guess sometimes you just have to go with it:) Congrats on your new purchase!
I take forever to make decisions on purchases, I can’t even buy a t-shirt impulsively
I usually don’t do much research however my better half always says we should!! That bowl of oats looks delicious! I’m glad to see you started eating them again 🙂 One of my favorite breakfasts!
haha I love this because I am a totally impulsive big purchase buyer. I really believe that when you know, you know! So no need to think too much about it 🙂 Love the new couch!
I always do my research before making a large purchase. I need to make sure it’s what I want, and that I’m getting the best price I can get for it.
The couch looks awesome!!!!! Sometimes it’s worth it to just buy the one you love when you see it!
My laptop was a total impulse purchase/rush purchase…I’m more known for doing it with clothes though and you can always bring em back! Love the new sofa!
I wish I was impulsive but the husband and I always do so much research before buying everything. When we go to look at something we do usually plan on buying but we have always done our research ahead of time.
Funny, I do the same thing with cars! My hubby won’t even let me know anymore because when we do we come home with a new car!
I love that couch! Do you mind me asking where you purchased it?
It’s from Cardis.
I really don’t do a lot of research when making big purchases, but I do have an idea of what I want before I go. Last January, the day before my daughter was born, I went “looking” at cars and ended up buying a Subaru Outback. I absolutely love it!
We’re actually looking at Foresters! Subarus are the best! 😄
what brand is it? we are couch shopping now and doing A LOT of research. Probably best to go with your gut feeling!
Honestly, my husband and I NEVER shop around. Last week we bought a new TV. Pretty much the first one we looked at. We tend to do this a lot. Sometimes when you know, you just know. Enjoy your new couch!
haha I suck at impulsive buying. Even for the tiniest gadgets I have to research the heck out of it. But the couch looks really pretty!! 🙂
I LOVEEEE that couch!! Where is it from? I’d totally buy it for my place
It’s from Cardis.
I usually obsessively shop around– I hate to not get a good deal!!!
LOVE the new couch!! I’m definitely a comparison/research shopper but sometimes if it’s right, you’ve just gotta go with it. 🙂
HAha I guess you know what you want! Sometimes it’s best for me to impulse buy if I love something. I can be really indecisive so just going for it keeps me from going back and forth and being unable to decide.
Nice! I never think to check out Cardis. I am in the market for a sectional and that one is nice! I don’t usually do much research. I’m bad like that! Oops!
I definitely do my research first on bigger items–I learned that from my husband. But clothes are def more of an impulse purchase!
Love the couch!
Too funny your new sofa looks just like mine, except that mine is a rust color. Of all places I got mine at “World Market”.
Beautiful couch…. I think you made a great decision! Dinner looks absolutely wonderful and if I have oatmeal, there’s always a mashed up banana in it. 😉
I love your new couch! My husband and I usually research a ton before buying a big purchase but if we saw something we loved and needed we might just be impulsive too. Love your blog btw!
we had been talking for a while about getting a new couch sometime duirng the winter…but, i decided to go “window shopping” one weekend and ended up buying a couch too!
Looks like a great couch! Jeff and I impulse rented the apartment we’re in now. We didn’t even care about looking anywhere else when we saw this place. When you know, you know. You know? 🙂
I didn’t know laughing cow had white cheddar cheese wedges. I might need to go to my grocery store and buy every package available.
I usually try and do a lot of research before making a big purchase but only because I’ve been burnt in the past with paying way more for something than what I should.
I love your new couch though and that is so funny that your old couch was right next to it in the store 🙂
I always like to do a lot of research before I make a big purchase. I am a very cheap person, so spending a lot of money is never easy for me. But your new couch looks great!
I always do extensive research because I can be really frugal sometimes! But there are times when I have just gone for it and usually it ends up being a good purchase. I cannot remember the last time I had a impulse buy though…Probably a good thing, cause I’m trying to save money now. HA!
If I make an expensive impulse buy, my nasty habbit is to go back home and than research to see if I got a good deal… All is does is take away my high from the impulse buy
I recently rediscovered banana and oatmeal. Perfect for this time of year! I am usually very careful when it comes to spending big amounts but I can also end up getting myself more confused looking at too many options! I have a few stores I trust and will generally go to for big purchases to stop me worrying too much about the consequences. The sofa looks great! If you find one you like straight away I say go for it and save going to every other store only to come back later!
Aggrhh… Me too. I hate to buy without reserching! 6 months ago we bought s big smart tv, and when i arrived home, i checked the price on Amazon and it was 150€ (euro)less!! We didnt returned the one we bought more expensive, and I still have regrets. My husband thinks we shouldnt buy such fragile things by Amazon… I dont know…
I was just talking about this with my BFF today. She did the same thing with a couch and sofa this afternoon. Although we decided that we do enough soul searching about what exactly we want, that when we finally find it, we just buy it. I guess that’s slightly less impulsive.
What a pretty couch! I am such an impulse buyer…luckily my husband does all the research and price checking for me 🙂
I love the new couch! We kinda did that with our couch as well! I typically don’t research, but I do like to look at a few places just to make sure we found the “perfect” couch for us. This last couch we bought we walked into the store, fell in love right away and just bought it! Your snack is one of my favorite snacks!
Hi Tina, Can you tell me about the ab workout that left you so sore? I’m looking for a new routine, nothing is leaving me sore in that area. thanks.
It was 10 minutes of 10 sit-ups, 10 Romanian twists, and 10 leg lifts, but every minute on the minute, you’d do 5 V Sit-ups.
Don’t drink Naked drinks! My dad sent me an article about traces of formaldehyde in them!
Will you send me that article?
@Tina:
There are a couple:
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/wellbeing/healthy-eating/naked-juice-admits-its-not-so-natural.php
http://www.naturalnews.com/041412_naked_juice_food_labeling_all_natural.html
http://www.beveragedaily.com/Regulation-Safety/PepsiCo-brand-Naked-Juice-cuts-all-natural-claim-after-9m-US-payout
Love the choice! Sometimes I impulse buy but I’m trying to not do that anymore….I learned my lesson with my current dishwasher. It’s the worst! 🙁 I wish I would have researched the model and looked up reviews.
I’ve been thinking of going to Kfit myself. Would you recommend it and is it fun enough to make you go regularly. I’ve no problem starting exercise … it’s just the continuation that’s the problem 🙂
Of course! KFIT is awesome! It’s such a great group of women, and it’s more than just a bootcamp. They do a lot of social activities too, so you’ll meet friends and stick with it! 🙂
If we browse for something big, we usually end up buying that same day. Mostly because we’re busy and it’s hard to find time to go back, but we also figure that if we both agree on an item why waste time”¦just buy it 🙂
Love the new sofa! We’re big fans of chocolate brown, we bought a chocolate brown slipcovered down sectional from Cardi’s two years ago!