some people drink, some people smoke

My dirty little habit is that I am a magazine junkie.

It started when I was a child - my brother bought me a Countdown magazine for Christmas in 1988. From there it got worse - Countdown and Smash Hits and Dolly Magazines were the mags of choice. As I grew up they became Cosmos and Cleos and and then Marie Claire, Madison, New Woman - you name it, I have probably bought it at some stage.

(Although I dont do gossip mags for some unknown reason).

I thought it would stop when I 'retired' to be an at home mum.....but in actual fact it has only escalated as my interests have broadened beyond clothes and handbags, handbags and shoes.

So now I buy Marie Claire, Madison, New Woman, Home Beautiful, Real Living, Practical Parenting, Delicious, Donna Hay magazine - oh and probably some more but really, who keeps track!

The problem with this habit is that is quite expensive and I am not sure the husband would be too impressed. So I do what teenagers do with their porn stashes - I HIDE THEM.

I sneak them in and have lots of little hidey holes around the place so the real extent of the magazine stash is never known. Under the nappies on the change table, on top of the linen cupboard, in the lounge / storage / study room (it is a multi-function room as our house has so few!), in the cookbook pile.

Oooh and I do love the smell of them and the thrill I get from a new one.

I love immersing myself in gorgeous clothes that I will never have anywhere to wear, that I cant afford and probably look crap in anyway. I love choosing recipes I will never actually cook. I love looking at beautiful homes and gorgeous homewares that I will never be able to afford and that my kids would break in five seconds flat if I ever could.

It isn't practical and they stop me from actually doing any work around the house, but this housewife isn't off shagging the gardener, she is getting her jollies reading about this season's handbags!

And on that note, I am off to check on this gorgeous Olga Berg one I am keeping an eye on, on eBay. One day I may devote a post to eBay, the saviour of shopaholic, housebound housewives.