I admit, I can be materialistic at times.  Ok, a lot of the time.  This is something I am not proud of but I like nice things and have always been that way.  I did not grow up in an affluent family but was taught at an early age to appreciate the finer things and bargain shop to get them.  I have such fond memories of going into Filene’s Basement in Boston on the train with my mother and learning that Italians make the best shoes.  If you remember that store you will also remember searching the tags to see which item had the biggest discount.  I may not have always paid attention in school but I always paid attention to her shopping advice.  I now proudly hand that knowledge down to my daughter.

Nothing was ever handed to me, I worked for it, and I worked hard.  I missed out on a lot when I was young because I had to work but I think it made me a better person, it made me realize the value of a dollar.  I bought my own cars, which were always new ( I love that new car smell), put myself through college and saved enough for a down payment of a house.  Now I don’t really work that hard but I scored a husband that does, which I like to think took hard work.  It is not easy being a trophy wife.

Despite the Kate Spade bags and endless supply of J. Crew socks, which are always purchased on sale, there is one thing that I enjoy more than anything else and won’t bargain shop for.  One truly materialistic thing that I wonder if I should be ashamed of enjoying so much.  It’s my landscapers.  There, I said it, judge me as you will, but it brings a tear to my eye and makes me proud to be an American that I have this privilege to hire them.  Our yard is the size of a postage stamp but it looks so good.  They are the only people that can charge me whatever they want for services that I did not request and I will willingly pay it.  Does that make me a bad person that I enjoy this so much?  That in ten minutes they can accomplish what would take my husband two hours and broken weed wacker string.  Isn’t it better to have that quality family time while supporting the economy?  The grass truly is always greener….