Just Checking In- Just Rambling On

Seems as though I'm a once a month blogger now.

We haven't finished cleaning up our old house to sell yet.  It's so close.  I have to tell you that I'm so glad it's the last time I have to clean that house.  Every room upstairs and down has white doors and white railing- so much area to dust and for little fingers to smudge.  It's a pretty nightmare.
Anyway,  my Mom left me enough money that we are financially able to pay off that mortgage this month!  Yay!  And once it's sold that money will hopefully get us enough to pay off our new house.  I just need to push myself to get it done and listed.   Because we've never been this close to being debt free. 

Today I am at home with my sick boy.  I have started searching job ads and thinking about returning to school to get more marketable skills.   I would like to have a part time job to get me out of the house and to make a little money for our retirement/savings.  Honestly, I loved being at home with the kids and I miss having them with me every day.  But, now that they are in school all day it seems like I should be doing more with myself.   Also, I'm not sure how well it will work out since I'm the parent on call for sick days, errands, and the weekends/night when my husband has to work.  His new job is satisfying for him on many levels but the hours he's working significantly cut into family time.  It's a good thing I am home.  I don't know.  I honestly don't. 

Tonight I am in charge of my daughter's Girl Scout meeting.  We're working on a service project by writing letters to soldiers and children in the hospital.   My daughter's new girl scout troop experience is pretty dissatisfying.  They don't get sashes or vests and no one bothers with badges.  This is only our second service project of the year and we've had no field trips.   I really don't want to be in charge of the troop either so I don't feel like I can really complain.  None of the other moms are upset by this lack of organization either.   Anyone have any ideas for me here?  This is our third year with GS and I've always been a peripheral part of it.  My daughter said she's not that interested in doing it again next year because the troop doesn't do much but I think it is such a positive thing and it has helped her meet new girls at her new school.  

Better go check on my sick munchkin.  He's actually in the mood to snuggle today so I am missing out.  So little time left when they'll actually cuddle with me.  Time flies when you don't know you're having fun.  

Still Here. Still Blessed.

I'm still here.  Just been busy as I'm sure all of you have been too. 

I have been a stressed out mess worrying about making this the best Christmas ever for everyone and also feeling so sad that my Mom wouldn't be here. 

Well, Christmas came and it was wonderful.  My brothers came to our house.  We had great food.  I think everyone loved what I bought for them and it wasn't sad at all.  I felt pretty content all day.

My favorite gifts were second hand.  My brothers brought me a bookshelf that I'd been wanting from my Mom's house.  My husband and kids bought me a silver heart locket and a Barbara Michaels book from Goodwill.

I also got an entire bag full of tea and a Walgreens card so I'm all set if anyone gets a head cold.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.   I'll try to get back on here soon.  Things aren't quite so bleak in my little corner of the world and I have a lot of projects and decorating I'd like to do in the new house.   I know I haven't posted any pictures of it yet.  Soon. 

A Better Philosophy For Holiday Shopping

I wish I had read Libby Balke's of Bargain Babe Christmas shopping post earlier this year. 

It's too late for me to stick to only three gifts but I definitely think it will be something I do next year. 

This is her variation of the Three Gift Rule:

1. An educational gift
2. An “experiential” gift
3. A “want” gift (this is the wild card, to make sure someone’s top “must have” doesn’t fall through the cracks)

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.