Frugal OOTD- And some penny pinching beauty ideas.

With the exception of my undergarments (which I bought on sale), all my clothes and even my earrings came from thrift stores or the clearance rack.  I scored some Catherine's jeans on the $1 rack on Tuesday.  They fit great! 


Energie black and white sweater hoodie 2.99
Merona ribbed black tank top 1.99
Catherine's Jeans 1.00 (normally $60)
Black beaded dangle earrings (new on card) 1.00
Socks  Free after coupon
Converse One Star Gray tennis shoes 4.99 Target clearance

Now let's talk about the beauty regimen-

My Olay face wash was bought at a salvage store for 2.99.  Olay really is the only thing that does not break me out. 

My homemade soap was from the clearance/ugly bin at a soap maker's stall at a flea market for $1.99.  Not 100% frugal but I love it and I supported a small business.

Today was not a hair washing day.  I wash my hair every other day.  I also take navy showers to save water and heating.  I would have used products that my MIL gave me when she cleared out her stockpile of free after purchase items. 

I used some expensive Coola moisturizer from Birchbox that I had previously loved.  I earned points to buy socks for men in my family but I won't buy this again.  The cucumber smell is overwhelming. 

My deodorant came from Big Lots for $1.99.  I'm trying get away from aluminum deodorants so I'm using this Arm & Hammer Essentials.  

My body lotion was scraped together from three mostly empty hotel samples.  I've been adding a tiny bit of water to the almost empty bottle and shaking it to get at all the product.  I'm using stuff up from my collection too.  The recycling bin has been getting a work out.

My Cartier perfume was a free sample.

My makeup (and brushes) came from free samples with purchase from Lancome and Clinique,  Sephora Birthday Gift, Dollar Tree, and my favorite Clinique powder was bought during a free bag with purchase sale.   I only buy from Clinique and Lancome when they are having their free makeup bag with purchase.  Since I am trying to use up my stockpile, I haven't bought any in a few months.


I love to have nice things.  I love to wear make up and jewelry.  I don't always love spending a ton of money to do so.

The Empties Are Piling Up

My beauty shopping hiatus has spurred the urge for me to use up any almost finished products. 
I cut open a lotion bottle today to get the dregs that I couldn't squeeze out.  Tomorrow I'll be doing the same to my face wash.

I stopped by two Dollar Trees and a grocery store today and I bought nothing on my no shopping list.

I reorganized my products and put them in pretty containers.  I gathered up a collection of cosmetics to use daily and I am pretty sure I'll be hitting pan soon.

Right now I am content.  Right now life is good. 

Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do

A Little Cheat on my No Buy List

We stopped by Goodwill on our way home today.  I found a ten dollar Protection System winter coat for my daughter.  I always buy ahead when it comes to our winter gear.   And I  found ten dollars in the pocket when I got home!

I picked up a new Thirty-One soft wallet in Black Parisian for one dollar.  Wallets are on my no buy list.  However, I just donated my old one and the "new" replacement Guess one (bought for $1.90 at a second hand shop) has been chewed by the puppy.  I don't think the Guess will last me a year so I rationalized this purchase.  I like the soft edges which will cram much easier into my heavily burdened purse. 

Also, I picked up a $3 ziplock full of headbands, rubber balls for the dog and a new Hex Bug for the kids.  It just happened to have a brand new Clinique mascara still in the pack.  It's one of my favorite mascaras too.  

So, a little cheat but nothing I feel too guilty about.  I'm pretty jazzed about getting a new $16 mascara and a Thirty-One Wallet for $4.

The First One to Go- Love My Nails Bright Star Polish

My oldest nail polish is too thick to use anymore.  I don't even know if it is still being made.    It's probably 12 years old so I shouldn't be too upset, right?

The 99 cent Love My Nails and Love My Lips brand cosmetics were my go to before I had any real money to spend.  I had a Love My Lips lipstick in a frosted sand color that I used down to the nub when I was in high school. 

 Love My Nails Star Bright, I will miss you.  But, I will not replace you.


I cancelled my Birchbox and Ipsy subscriptions this week.  I am still waiting on my last Ipsy bag to arrive.  I think I should save it until I have a huge urge to shop.  I have been whittling down my email subscriptions to online stores so I don't have any temptations.  If I don't know about a sale it's a good thing.  Less junk email = less shopping= less crap in my way= a more simple life = more happiness and less guilt.  

The kids and husband are off at a birthday party.  My only companions are the noisy dishwasher, two barking dogs and two candles flickering next to me.  Life is good.  I think I'll hop in the tub and use some of my precious bubble bath.  The Bath and Body Works Velvet Sugar bath bubbles a friend gave me for Christmas smell so good.  The bubbles last a long time.  I need to hide it from my daughter.  Once it's gone I'm down to using the kids Superman bubbles before I can buy more. 

My Face Is Spending My Fortune- Make Out 2014 and Project Pan

I am finally getting around to my New Years Resolutions.

My first and most important one is to stop buying any personal care products or cosmetics for a complete year.  I have gone a lot crazy with Dollar Tree make up hauls, sephora.com, beauty.com, ulta.com, shopmissa.com, etc.  

I will not purchase any of these items until February 13th, 2015.   The only exceptions will be my Birchbox and Ipsy subscriptions (which I plan on cancelling in the next few months) and anything I have used up completely.  For example, if I use up a mascara I cannot buy another if I have another tube in stock.  I mean I need to be completely out of that particular thing.

Any gift items or free samples that come in the mail will not be counted.

I am looking forward to "hitting pan" on many of my items.  I plan on making a list of items to repurchase as I use products up. 

This is scary but also kind of exciting.  A year is a long time but I've got so much stuff to use up.
Here we go.

Two New Beauty Favorites and Ipsy VS. Birchbox

I'm getting ready for dinner out with the husband and the kids and I thought I'd share two of my new favorite things from my little cosmetics bag.


I've been too cheap to buy the iconic NARS blush in Orgasm (I didn't name it).  So, when I found an old favorite color from Cover Girl that reminded me of the peachy pink sparkle of the NARS blush for under $6 I was sold.  Cover Girl Classic Color Blush in Natural Glow rocks my world.  It looks great on my skin.  The compact comes with a handy mirror too.  I will repurchase this when the pan is empty. 

Next is another Cover Girl product.  I love the new Smoochies line of lip balms.  My favorite one is Smooch in a pale mauve.  It's so creamy and it has a nice smell.  I can't describe it other than a cross between strawberries and new playdoh. 

I've been subscribing to both Birchbox and Ipsy for a few months now.  If you don't know both of these companies send out a package of cosmetic goodies once a month for a $10 subscription fee.  Some of the products are full size but most of them are a generous sample size.   I have really enjoyed trying new products from the Birchbox but their product sizes and amount of goodies has been disappointing lately.  Ipsy definitely wins on the product size front and I will keep my Ipsy account.  I am going to cancel my Birchbox soon.

Cheap Lips

You would think that I wear cosmetics daily given the amount that I've blogged about them.  In reality, I only wear make up a few times a week and it takes me less than 5 minutes to do a complete routine.  Most days, I'm going around with nothing but Chapstick. 

My one daily essential is some type of lip covering.  Usually it's clear lip balm.  I put Soft Lips in Wildberry on after every shower.  Lately, I've wanted something a little more dazzling than clear balm.  I found a $2 tube of LA Colors Mood lip gloss in pink.  It's such a pretty sheer pink and it isn't tacky at all.  I don't always like LA Colors make up products.  This one is a winner. 

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. 

The TMI Post- Reusable Sustainable Feminity

If you're squeamish about reusable feminine hygiene products then this post is not for you. Feel free to look away. Also, no one is paying me for this post- this is strictly my own personal opinion of these products after using them for a few years.

Today I'm going to discuss two products I use-

The Keeper is a reusable menstrual cup made from natural rubber that is inserted inside the body. The insertion technique is slightly more difficult than inserting a disposable tampon. You fold it in half twice to insert and then you have to twist it bit to get it to fit into place. It took me a little while to figure this out but now that I have I prefer this greatly to any overnight tampons. It has never leaked on me. I've never even needed a pad like I do with regular tampons. I only use this overnight but I am not replacing my disposable tampons. This is in fact, A Keeper, for me. The initial price seems steep ($35) but when you think about paying $5 and up for a box of disposable tampons it pays for itself in a few months. Also, I love those leak free mornings.
The clean up isn't bad. Just dump the contents into the toilet and give it a good wash and rinse with hot water and soap. You can also do all of this in the shower too.

My favorite feminine hygiene product has to be my GladRags though. I know it seems yucky to have to wash out the dirtied pads but it's not much different than washing out leaked on panties or a pee pee diaper. I simply put mine in the wash with dirty towels. They come out clean and ready to go. They are shaped like normal pads with wings but have a snap instead of sticky tape.
There is an envelope bottom that you can put more pads into for however heavy your flow is that day. They are really absorbent. My favorite part of using Glad Rags though is that they are so much more comfortable than disposable pad. I don't feel like I'm wearing a diaper and there is no fear of having the tape stick painfully to anything it isn't supposed to.

If you don't mind the slight squirm factor involved with sustainable hygiene (and really it's not bad) and you are tired of paying out the nose for uncomfortable disposable cotton and plastic then these products might be right for you. I've had menses for over half my life (27 years in fact) and I prefer the comfort and ease of the reusable products to the disposable. I never have to make an emergency run to the store and I'm not filling up our trash cans with used up tampons and pads (discretion is a bonus).

The Hair Plan.

I decided sometime last year to take a year off from paying for hair coloring or cuts and do it myself. Which mostly meant letting my hair grow long and only dyeing it when I couldn't bear the gray anymore or had a box of cheap dye.

Well, it's been over a year. Last August was my official last date with my favorite hair dresser who does a fantastic job of highlighting with multiple colors. And every few months I would leave her business feeling pretty and having about $120 less to my name.

I did break down and get my hair trimmed with a coupon at Great Clips in August.

So, in over a year if you tally the three boxes of hair dye and the cut at Great Clips- I've spent about $28 on my crowning glory.

This is what I've learned from the experiment:

I look ok but not nearly as polished as when I have a professional cut. No one compliments my hair anymore except to comment on how long it's getting. It's still not quite halfway down my back. My hair grows slowly apparently.

I like having long hair but actually look better when it's shorter.

Long hair takes more time in the shower. I can't just use a shampoo/conditioner combo so I'm stuck in the shower for extra time- which I hate.

Some hair dyes are superior to others. I know which ones I won't buy again no matter what the clearance sticker says.

Pony tails and head bands are great for days when I'm just running errands or hanging out at home. But a recent dinner with Hubby at a nice restaurant left me feeling confused about what to do with my hair to make it look nice. I'm hopeless when it comes to intricate hairstyles or curling my hair with an iron.

I don't have any current plans to make an appointment with my favorite hair dresser. Although I think it might be a good use of my Christmas money when I decide what style I want.

I have a similar glasses/contact plan that's in effect right now. I'm seeing how long I can go with broken/soldered "home" glasses and using up my disposable contacts before I see an eye doctor for a new prescription.

How much money am I saving? Who knows. I like having these little personal challenges though. When someone confuses me with Granny Clampett then I'll know it's time to unloose the purse strings and get pretty.

Dollar Store Winners

These Dollar General brand fudgy coconut cookies are just as tasty as Girl Scout Samoas for only $1.50 a box. A splurge for your waistline, but not your wallet.



This M30 brand of stain remover is always in my laundry room cabinet. It works great on most stains except for really greasy tomato sauce. I bought mine for $1 at Dollar General but you can get it at other dollar stores too. Use an old toothbrush and get your clothes cleaned up.
I bought this great L.A. Colors Lash Building mascara on clearance at Family Dollar for .90 cents. I think it's regularly $1.50. It's big fluffy brush gives me big lashes without flaking and it washes off easily.

This is my newest find. I used to buy Oil of Olay Sensitive Spf 15 formula. This Dollar General brand works just the same and for only $4.50.

Fighting the Urge to Splurge on Beauty products.

My inbox has been filled with free shipping plus bonus codes for Clinique and Lancome lately. A brief trip to ebates tells me that I can get 4-6% back. So, I skim through the website looking for things I'm running low on, wondering if I can justify the $35 plus expense.

After recently pricing the generic Olay knock off for less than $6 that would suit me just fine if I couldn't find a sale, coupon or a rebate. I can't justify it. Oh, but I have wanted to! Getting those fresh, pristine boxes filled with untouched make up products in sleek packaging and pretty shades gives me a giddy albeit brief high. Never mind that in my bedroom I have baskets full of unused lipsticks in an array of beautiful colors- and that's after I've gifted and given away much of my free with purchase loot.

What they are trying to sell me is the feeling that I could be beautiful with their cosmetics and I so want to bite. Even though most days I don't even wear lipstick and dislike taking the time to put all that stuff on my face anymore. That brief giddy feeling isn't as good as the feeling of being able to pass that stuff up because I don't need it.

Lancome- If Your'e So Inclined.

Here's the latest deal from Lancome- get free shipping and three deluxe samples of their products (eye make up remover, and two spf face creams) with any $35 purchase. If you register with their site you will always get a sample or two with any order. Use DAILYSPECIAL1 for this offer.

Don't forget to go through ebates.com and get 6% back. Those percents add up. I received a BIG FAT CHECK for $24 last week.


The other day I was scrounging for a moisturizer under my sink in my stockpile and found one sample tube left. Hmm.

A personal products hiatus of sorts and what I've learned.

Except for a few can't pass up deals and Walgreens freebies I've been trying to avoid buying personal products for myself since last January.

I've learned a few things about myself and what I like and what I don't and where I'll spend my beauty product money in the future.

Lancome eyeshadows and cheek blushes are worth my money because the color is so pigmented and they last a long time. When I need more (which won't be for a long time) I'll wait until I can get free shipping, ebates cash back, and free deluxe samples.

My favorite mascara was on clearance at Family Dollar for .90 cents. But, even at a standard $1.50 a pop I'll continue to buy L.A. Colors Lash Building Mascara. I did not like Rimmel Glam Eyes or any Maybelline mascara I've tried lately.

I'm happy using generic baby lotion for a quick hand cream during the day and free samples from Wal-Mart keep my purse stocked. But, for slathering on before bed I need something more emollient like Gold Bond Therapy Lotion.

My favorite lip products are more on the sheer side. I feel too made up for day to day tasks with opaque lipstick. I keep Sally Hansen lip treatment in Soothing Spice and a sample tube of Calgon Get Juic'd lip shimmer in juicy nude in my purse. Unfortunately I don't think they make the Calgon lip gloss anymore which is a shame because it is great.

No matter how many free bottles of Garnier Fructis Walgreens gives out, I don't like their shampoo or conditioner. Their hair stying items on the other hand are great. Truth be told, I have yet to find my must have shampoo. I do best by mixing it up here and there.

I don't have time to do my nails anymore so I don't pay for nail polish. If it's free on a rebate that's great. Until then I'll use what I have when I have a special occasion.

Frugal Frump Fighting, Library Fines, and Salad Dressing Queries

Frump Fighting
Last year I always kept a small cosmetics bag in the car so I could do a quick make-up session while the kids were buckled. Lately there have been too many days where I just couldn't find the time to do it in the midst of breakfast and dressing until it was time to get in the car. Today I put together a small baggie of essentials and let the kids listen to Bob and Larry sing. I felt so much better with just five minutes of glam time in my driveway.
The number one most important thing to keep in the car beauty wise is a pair of tweezers. The outside light really highlights those stray hairs so well. Walgreens freebies, BOGO's and sample sizes are a few things to put in your emergency car kit.

Library Fines- tsk tsk
With our crazy schedule the past month I just had not had time to find all of our library materials and turn them in on time. We hadn't been to a story time in four weeks. Today I got everyone dressed, found that last library book that was way overdue, and loaded everyone up. I had almost ten dollars in library fees. That's the most I think I've ever paid. I'm definitely ready to start our weekly jaunts to the library again just so I can keep the fines at bay.

Salad Dressing Query

I almost always have a stockpile of cheap/Free Salad dressing and barbecue sauce in the pantry. Does anyone have any idea how long these things are actually good after the sell by date? Any ideas/recipes on how to use up these condiments besides slathering it on salad or meat?

Product Review: Clean and Clear Oxygenating Oil-Free Moisturizer

Photo taken from Amazon.com.
I'm so slowly cleaning out my beauty supplies and re-trying things that I had tossed aside in favor of my old standbys (which I am out of or running out of). I had a coupon for a free Johnson & Johnson product a few months ago and this is what I bought.

I try to stick with Spf 15 and higher facial moisturizers. This moisturizer is ultra light. It isn't heavy or greasy but I think I might need more moisturizing than it can provide. A nickel sized amount covers my face and neck decently. The oxygenating part of this lotion is really annoying. It stung the first few times I used it until I got used to it. It really hurts if you get it near your eyes though. The smell isn't overpowering but it is chemically. I am going to use this product up and then happily go back to buying my Oil of Olay (with a coupon of course).

Product Review: Maybelline Lash Discovery Washable Mascara

Photo from Maybelline.com.

I bought this mascara last fall before my beauty product hiatus. I've been using this tube for the better part of three months and now I'm ready to toss it. I packed my mini tube of Lancome mascara (that came free with purchase) for our trip to Rome last week. After a week of that great mascara- going back to the Maybelline made me realize how bad it was. I guess I was using it just because well, I am really trying to use stuff up and I don't have a great stock pile of mascara. But, it's clumpy, not lengthening, flaky and it doesn't wash off well. I will not be buying this product again. Instead I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy the Clinique and Lancome mascaras that always work so well when I finally run out of mascara.

Frugal Burnout Bandwagon

Since Meredith and everyone else seems to be talking about this, I think I'll join in on the discussion.

Since the beginning of the year my only real resolution has been not to purchase any more personal care items. Despite a lack of time to do my nails or fix my hair up I still love those bottles of fancy lotion, a good lipgloss, and new hairspray. I love it so much that I have a huge collection of beauty and personal care products clogging up valuable space in our bathroom. But, it's hard for me to get excited about using products that I have lying around when there are all these deals/freebies for new lipsticks and lotions and potions. I have made a concerted effort to delete those emails from Clinique and Lancome that give me free shipping with an extra bag of goodies. I have a major weakness for nice cosmetics so I wince whenever I see what I am passing up. I also haven't been clipping coupons for any personal care items either so I'm not tempted to buy. Clipping and sorting coupons is a lot faster now too.


I find that it's easier for me to be frugal most of the time when I allow myself small extravagances some of the time. A small cafe mocha from Starbucks once a month or a new sale book from Barnes and Noble can really take the edge off of the frugality lifestyle once in a while for me.