Living with no more stuff

Week one
It's our first day on the detox and we're returning home to London, Ont., from my dad's cottage. I suggest we stop at the store that sells my favourite jujubes. "You can't buy those," my husband scolds. "Candy is not a perishable food item."

A second dose of reality hits me later in the evening, as I'm packing my eight-year-old's backpack. I spent last week scrounging from every conceivable drawer for the coloured pencils that his teacher has requested. I rub his sister's name off an eraser and replace it with his. But my heart sinks when I can't find a glue stick. I send out an online SOS to my stable of friends. Two reply, and now both Spencer and Sophie are armed with glue sticks. Phew! Crisis averted.

Later in the week I dream that I'm at Canadian Tire and purchase a set of dishes. I pay for them then realize that I've committed to buying only the essentials for 30 days. I wake up in a cold sweat and can't fall back asleep for two hours.

The next day I find myself inexplicably searching a website offering up designer duds at discount(ish) prices. I spot a pair of faux leather leggings that I want. Badly. I turn my computer off before I do something I might regret and rummage for comfort food. I miss jujubes.

Week two
It's a friend's birthday. I put together a reusable tote bag she's been coveting, a few of my favourite books, and some body lotion that I've been saving. I realize that it truly is a gift from the heart. It would have been easier to go out and buy her similar items, but giving them up seems more authentic.

Charlotte has a friend over. They play "toy store" and Charlotte says, "Let's pretend we can't afford everything in the store and we have to pick what we like best." I smile. Small victories.

The next day I send Dan to a nearby market to buy fruit for the kids' lunches. It's right beside a Starbucks, his personal Waterloo. Miraculously, he bypasses the Starbucks and chooses, instead, to buy cream and make his own coffee at home. Another small but key victory.

Speaking of not succumbing to temptations, I have not had a drop of Diet Pepsi all week. I did savour not one but two cans yesterday at a friend's party. I didn't buy it, so, technically, it's not cheating.

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