Giving a Little Thanks and Also, Bookshelves

We had a blessed Thanksgiving here in chilly St. Louis.  My brothers came up for the day and we had a really good visit and lots of food.  I think it was my best Thanksgiving in a long time.  I was sad when they left us.

I've been shopping for Christmas since October and I'm about done.  I just have to buy one or two more things for my brothers.  They are so hard to shop for that I'm always shopping for them last.  Any ideas on what to buy two bachelors who have everything they want already?

Hubby and I finally bought bookshelves for our new home so I can unbox my cookbooks and literature.  Right now he is assembling the shelving we bought at Target and it is making my day.  My best deal was a little wire baker's rack that just fits in our kitchen.  We tried a new thrift store in our new town during their Black Friday half off sale so I got it for $10.00.  My beloved cookbooks now have a home and I have a few less boxes on our floor!!!  Also, he bought a new camera for us for $60 to replace our old broken one.  Perhaps that will mean this blog may have pictures again soon.

I've got pizza dough in the bread machine for our pizza dinner.  It's a lazy day at home with the family.  I'll be ready for the kids to go back to school tomorrow but for now, I'm so blessed with this crazy goodness.

RePost From November 2010: I'm Thankful For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving doesn't get the recognition it deserves. It's a quiet holiday. There are no sparkly tinsel trappings. The fanciest thing you might get is pretty whipped cream swirls on top of your pumpkin pie or seeing the Rockettes on tv during the Macy's parade. It's a humble holiday that lets me spend a quiet day with my family, eating good food, and remembering to count my abundant blessings.

But, we tend to gloss right over it as though after Halloween the only holiday is Christmas. And it's a material filled marketers Christmas- not the holy, simple, yule logged Christmas of yore. Even Black Friday seems sexier than Thanksgiving.

Lately, I've been preferring Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to a whole day spent with my family when our days are filled up and our weekends are crazy busy with soccer and birthday parties. Christmas, as much as I love it, has become a season of stress and chores. I'm tired already for trying to decide what gifts to give people who have everything (and might turn up their nose at the wrong gift). I have some issues to work out with Christmas. But, Thanksgiving- it's all good with Thanksgiving.

It's a Journey, Not a Destination

I feel like I've forgotten my frugality lately.   I'm not much of an example for those who are new to saving money.

My husband is making decent money now.  My Mom left me with some inheritance that will help us pay off our mortgage.  Money just isn't that much of an issue lately because we've become lazy and comfortable.  I've bought more stuff online in the past year than I ever have before.  I think it's because of my deep sadness over my Mom's death and also to enjoy spending freely in a manner that I never have been able to before.  Those boxes of goodies that show up on my porch give me about five minutes of real happiness.   And then it fades.  It doesn't matter that I used coupon codes and got money back.  The happiness is temporary.  The stuff is just stuff.  And the money is used up. 


 My goal is to have a paid off mortgage, money saved for the kid's college fund, and a tidy pile saved for retirement.  We haven't accomplished that yet.   I need to remember that. 

I don't need new stuff to make me happy.  Today I am wearing a sweater that I bought at a New Orleans thrift store in 2001.   It makes me happy in a way that a new sweater can't.  This morning I ate a slice of scratch pumpkin pie made from last year's jack o' lanterns.  It was way better than any store bought pie. 

Frugality may not be as fun or as easy as spending money on new stuff.  But, it is way more satisfying. 

What's On My Face

I stumbled across Ms. Gold Girl's youtube videos while watching Flylady videos.  Ms. Gold Girl (or Marnie) vlogs about organization, cleaning, shopping, budgeting but she's really passionate about make up. 


This past year I haven't really been keen on the whole serious personal grooming and make up.   It's been a hard year with the loss of my Mom and moving.   Most of the time I was content (or lazy) to leave the house wearing only moisturizer and chap stick.  But, I've found I really feel a lot better when I am a little made up. 

So, I'm going to list what I put on my face today.  Sorry about the lack of photos.  My camera is being weird (or just needs new batteries but I think I need a new one).

Moisturizer/Foundation-  I never wear foundation.  I don't like how it makes my face feel and I'm ok with my skin condition.  I bought Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in fair to light as a sort of compromise.  It is $14.97 on Walmart's website.  I used coupons so I know I didn't spend that much.  It is pretty thick and very pigmented.  It needs a lot of blending and doesn't feel great on my skin.  I just came back from a vacation in Florida so my skin is a bit darker than normal.  Right now it looks ok but in the winter months it will probably be too dark on me.  I won't buy this again.  I will stick with my Olay SPF 15 for sensitive skin.

Concealer-   Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Under Eye Concealer  in Clair II .  $29.50 is the most I've ever spent on concealer but I think I scored a bunch on samples and goodies with this purchase.  I wear concealer occasionally but was sick of how sweaty my face gets during the summer and my make up would melt.  This stuff is waterproof.  It has great staying power.  It blends wells and a little bit goes a long way.  I'm unsure if I'll buy this again but I think the little tube is going to last me a long time.

Eye Liner- BonneBell Eyestyle Precise Liner in Espresso Brown.  It's very soft and smudges easily.  Staying power isn't great but ok.  Don't love it, don't hate it.  I bought this as part of a make up set online from Toys R US clearance (yep, a toy store).   I think it's a great deal for so much make up.  I don't really like make up being sold at a toy store though.
I used Palladio Shadow and Liner Herbal Crayon in espresso on my top lids.  I bought it at Sally Beauty for $1.99.  It has great staying power and goes on nicely.  It's a little too fat for easy under eye application.  I would buy this again.  It's a nice light brown with a hint of shimmer.  Not too bold for daytime. 

Eye Shadow- Wet N Wild Walking on Eggshells trio.  This is a new purchase I made after watching Ms. Gold Girl.  I paid $3.99 at Walgreens for this.  I used the application suggestion on the back.  Looks good.  It has decent pigmentation and a soft application.  I don't know how well it wears during the day but so far I'm liking it.  And the price is nice.  I wish it was a little more matte.   I also picked up a pretty light bronze .99 lipstick from Wet N Wild yesterday and I love it.  Not wearing it today though because I stuck it in my purse.  Had a hard time wiping it off last night before bed.  Score!

Mascara-  L.A. Colors mini mascara in black.  I used to wear this mascara in the lash building formula all the time.  It washes off well and looks nice after a few applications.  Lately I'm just not loving this tube though.  I like the Bonne Bell from the Toys R US make up kit better.  It's decent for the price though.  You can get it at The Dollar Store or Family Dollar.

Eye Brow Gel-  My eyebrows need a little taming to look nice so I use a clear mascara on them.  Cover Girl Professional Natural Lash Mascara in Clear is what I used today.  Works great.  Isn't gummy and I will definitely buy this again.  I think this is around $3 or $4 at Walmart.  There are always coupons for Cover Girl in the paper.

Blush/Highlighter-  I used the Blend 'n Glow compact from the Bonne Bell kit.  It's a bit too shimmery but it adds a nice glow to my pale face.  I don't know if I'll buy it again but I do plan on using it up.  It goes on great.  Not at all orangey like so many other bronzers.   I used a Mary Kay retractable blush brush for application.

Lips-  Clinique Different Lipstick in #51 Think Bronze (as part of a duo with Air Kiss lipgloss) and Bonne Bell Liplites gloss in cappuccino.
I love the lipstick.  It's soft and goes on great.  It has a nice peachy brown tone that looks great on me.  I don't love the clinique lip gloss attached to it.  It's too gummy. 
The Liplites is another Bonne Bell kit goodie.  It has a nice nude color and a great smell.  It doesn't last long though.  I prefer the lip smacker version of cappuccino. 

Christmas Already?!?

It's true that seeing Halloween candy next to Christmas decor in the shopping aisle bugs me silly.  But, it's also true that I start Christmas shopping very early.  I hate being out in the stores anytime after Thanksgiving.  God forbid I have to step foot in a mall during the holidays.  Panic attack, anyone? 
So, I've been gathering stuff for my family here and there for the last few months.  Remaindered perfume gloss for a dollar at Payless (and I have a 20% off coupon) got put away for a stocking.  Free beaded bracelets I got with my swagbucks are going to my nieces.  They don't look cheap at all.  I used my swapadvd credits to get a brand new movie for someone too.  It still had a factory seal on it.  I used an amazon gift card gleaned from swagbucks to help buy a Timex watch for my son.  I almost have enough Disney Movie Rewards credits (almost all found on email newsletters and freebie sites) to get something worthwhile.

I still have to fill in the blanks here and there with some fun freebies.  But, I just printed out a coupon for a free bag of Lindor truffles.  Now is the time to start signing up for freebies to fill those stockings.  Last year I got packs of gum from our local gas station by filling out a questionnaire.  Great for my gum loving kids. 

If you're short on funds you can still fill a Chrismtas stocking for almost no money.  The trick is to get started right now.

 Here's a few sites that I love to browse for freebies and goodies:

Target

Freebies 4 Mom

STL Mommy

And here's a link to an old post I did on stocking stuffer ideas.

If it's still warm enough outside for garage sales you might try the freebie boxes too.  I just had my own garage sale and can say honestly that I put some pretty good stuff in those freebie boxes.  I sold the other kids toys for a song also.

Two From My Grandma's Recipe Notebook

I'm unpacking (yes, still) and found an old notebook of my Grandma's before she was married.  It's stuffed full of yellowed newspaper clipped recipes and pencil written recipes.   It's hard for me to fathom that not that long ago my Grandma was a young lady with hopes of having her own family to love and feed one day.  The notebook is worn and I have no idea if she ever used any of these recipes.  I can't ask my Mom if she remembers any of them either.   I'll just have to imagine that the ones I choose to make for my family are the same ones my Grandma made sixty years ago.


St. Patrick's Cookies

A good basic cookie recipe may be relied upon to fill the jar for St. Patrick's day dessert.  These are the ingredients. 

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
3 1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream the shortening, sugar, and salt, add the well-beaten eggs, and vanilla.  Mix and sift the flour and baking powder, and add to first mixture.  Shape dough into a roll, wrap in waxed paper and chill.  Roll out the dough in a thin sheet and cut, preferably with a shamrock cookie cutter.  Press a green candied cherry in the center of each cookie or sprinkle with green sugar.


One Egg Cake

1 heaping cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup sweet cream
3/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
Flavor

Beat the egg and the sugar together.   Add to that the sweet cream and the milk.  Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder twice.  Add milk and flour mixtures half at a time.  Add flavor, beating well.  Makes two layers. 

(I'm assuming flavor here is something like a teaspoon of vanilla or lemon extract.)


Weirdly, there are no baking instructions on these recipes.  For my own oven I would bake the cookies on a greased cookie sheet at 350 for about ten minutes- checking them frequently starting at eight minutes.  The cakes would be 350 in greased pans also and I would set the timer for two round pans at 20 minutes or 28 for a 9x13.  You should use your own judgement though.

Still Breathing

I am in the middle of packing.  I am in the middle of dust and memories.  I am in the middle of what do I keep and what do I discard?  I am in the middle of not much fun.

The movers come on Saturday and I have to have every flat surface cleaned and every drawer cleaned out.   The kids are gone with the grandparents for the week and hubby is able to help at night.  But, this is a large burden.  I start a project, get halfway done and then the last bits of this and that just stump me.  I wish I had another me to help out.  I wish my Mom was here.   But, maybe that wouldn't be so good because she was more of a hoarder than I am.

Anyway, back to the dust, the boxes, the chipped ceramics I made in 6th grade, and my daughter's saved baby teeth.

We've lived here for six years.  That's the longest we've stayed in a house since we got married.  Since then our kids have grown from babies to a 9 and a 6 year old.  With their own stacks of treasures and memories. 
I need to move every year just to keep the clutter and dust at bay.  I don't think I could handle the stress though.