I was reading over at Zoot's about our shared weakness for office supplies and I was inspired to make a list of the things I am powerless to resist while shopping. You know, the things that even know you know you don't need them, somehow follow you home anyway.

Let's start with the worst of it:

Books: I am incapable of walking out of a bookstore empty handed. I have a large stack of books to be read in my bedroom. It's so large that it teeters over the bed threatening to topple down and smother us in unread pages at any given moment. But I can't help it. They're books! They're good for you. They make you smart and stuff. How can anyone say no to books?? And I don't just buy books for me, no, I buy books for the kids and Sparky. I buy books for gifts. Novels, reference books, classics, crafting books (we'll get to that!). I just can't say no.

on edit: Just to illustrate how weak I am...I just purchased 52 Projects: Random Acts of Creativity after reading an entry over at weaker vessel. Book and craft project. Weak. I'm weak.

Movies: I have gotten better in this department but as a point of reference, we own around 300 DVDs. I have started to weed them out and started to be more selective. But I may just need a 12 step program to get through.

Office Supplies: Oh, how I love an office supply store or even just an office supply aisle. And Levenger? I may have died and gone to heaven. Many days I force myself to throw the catalog out without even glancing at the pages because I know I am weak. Pens and notebooks and books...oh my! Set me loose in Staples and I know I will come out with some kind of pens, post-its and organizational supplies. Or pens with post-its built right in. Bull clips and file boxes. Day planners and desk sets. I am also convinced that the mere process of buying organizational supplies = being organized. Hasn't worked yet. I'll keep you posted.

Exercise equipment: Admittedly, I don't buy as much of this as I do, say, office supplies. But it is the same theory. I am sure that the process of buying these tapes, DVDs, yoga mats, etc. will have me slim and fit in no time. But wait? You have to actually use this stuff? Often? Sheesh. At our past yard sale much of the exercise equipment was dusted off and sold to others who don't realize the "it only works if you use it" scam.

Craft supplies: I am actually fairly creative. I think this works against me in regards to this weakness. I am a binge crafter. I need to have all the supplies for my current obsessive project. After that, I may or may not finish. I have bags of granny squares downstairs from unfinished afghans (shut it! I am not old!), two or three unfinished scarves from my "learn to knit" phase, candle making supplies (I swear we are doing that this year!), scrapbooking stock (I used to be a "dealer." I can hook you up) and now stamping supplies for the beautiful hand-crafted cards I am making this year. I really need my own wing in the house for all of this. Because I'm sure, that if I only had my own space to be creative, I would be cranking this stuff out, right?

So....what's your weakness? What store is it that you can't leave empty handed? What do you buy that you know you don't need?

I'm not the only one, right?

P.S. We don't want to mention this to Sparky, 'k? lol