topic Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER! in Beauty

ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 03:59:09 GMT

The ComPact is a commitment to simplify, pare down, streamline. It began as a way to gain some control over our collections of beauty products. Why were we amassing so much, yet not using what we were buying? Why were we always searching for the next new product? Why couldn't we just find what worked for us and stick with it?

The ComPact, however, is not restricted to beauty items. If you have a collection you want to address, do it here. Choose an area you want to work on, and track your progress on the ComPact thread. Members will offer tips and encouragement.

Choose one of our many mantras (“One by one until they’re done!” “We are SPAHHHRRRTAN!!!” “Not until you really have to.” “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” “Resist the propaganda.” "If it's high, I don't buy!" “When in doubt, do without!” “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” “Shoplighters of the World Unite!”) or create a new one and share it. Target items each month to toss, donate, or use, and post your “chopping block” -- or “hit list.” Post temptations, post victories.

They say it takes 30 days for something to become a habit: Let's see if taking the ComPact one month at a time works for you.

Join us.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 04:02:49 GMT

Hey, all you HEPcats and HEPdogs! We had discussed making the Healthy Eating thread a monthly jam session, so I just went ahead and did a little improvisation.

This is an invite to our crazy crib where you can come and break it down! I say we go 18 karat on this and really swing. If healthy eating’s not your bag, no problem. But if it is, I dig.

It’s cool, I’m booted, let’s jump!

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 05:06:06 GMT

Whoops -- it's already the second day of the month! A day late and a dollar short...

NOvember was going well until Thanksgiving and the house guest situation. Food became a big expense.

And now December. I have to decide this weekend if I want to apply for a new job.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:31:45 GMT

@just bee wrote:
Whoops -- it's already the second day of the month! A day late and a dollar short...

NOvember was going well until Thanksgiving and the house guest situation. Food became a big expense.

And now December. I have to decide this weekend if I want to apply for a new job.

Oh no, new developments at your job? I hope all is well.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:50:29 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
@just bee wrote:
Whoops -- it's already the second day of the month! A day late and a dollar short...

NOvember was going well until Thanksgiving and the house guest situation. Food became a big expense.

And now December. I have to decide this weekend if I want to apply for a new job.

Oh no, new developments at your job? I hope all is well.

Just sitting here typing out PROs and CONs. I like psych -- a lot -- but most of the time I feel my patients are less psychotic than my coworkers.

For me, every hospital unit is a psych unit. I know I'll still use those kills. But if I stay in psych, I'll lose the nursing skills that I'd practiced on medical units. I doubt I could start an IV today. Then again, I really don't like starting IVs and maintain that only those who can do it blindfolded with one arm tied behind their backs should be doing it. Some people have the knack. Some just torture the patient.

But it might be good to get off the stick and update my application and resume and start looking for something I might like instead of waiting until I have to abruptly escape.

You know that day, right? You wake up and go to work and that little voice just keeps telling you that this is it, today's the day, and when it goes down it's best to remember that a violent outburst will go down on your permanent record. Better to have that resignation letter handy. Better than a blunt object, anyway.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:54:48 GMT

Well, I finished Nov. with one hair purchase. I didn't need it at all but I am forever in search of the perfect hair product. Does it exist, I don't know. I fought off buying any eyeshadow palettes and have been successful so far.

I made one purchase in Dec. already for a face moisturizer so can't claim no beauty. I finished one up and dont have any others in my collection with no actives in them so I actually needed a new one. Sometimes I just want a nice moisturizing cream when my face gets irritated, so, I ordered a new one, I hope I like it. I was able to use my sephora BI gift and it saved me 15 bucks.

I am going to try for a low buy beauty month. I have been really happy the last four months. I have really stopped the flow. Even though I still teeter on the edge, every time I filled my carts so far, I didn't press submit. I should of tallied it all up for fun.

HEP, well, that's a different story. I really have to do some work in this area.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:02:25 GMT

@just bee wrote:
@aprilskies wrote:
@just bee wrote:
Whoops -- it's already the second day of the month! A day late and a dollar short...

NOvember was going well until Thanksgiving and the house guest situation. Food became a big expense.

And now December. I have to decide this weekend if I want to apply for a new job.

Oh no, new developments at your job? I hope all is well.
Just sitting here typing out PROs and CONs. I like psych -- a lot -- but most of the time I feel my patients are less psychotic than my coworkers.

For me, every hospital unit is a psych unit. I know I'll still use those kills. But if I stay in psych, I'll lose the nursing skills that I'd practiced on medical units. I doubt I could start an IV today. Then again, I really don't like starting IVs and maintain that only those who can do it blindfolded with one arm tied behind their backs should be doing it. Some people have the knack. Some just torture the patient.

But it might be good to get off the stick and update my application and resume and start looking for something I might like instead of waiting until I have to abruptly escape.

You know that day, right? You wake up and go to work and that little voice just keeps telling you that this is it, today's the day, and when it goes down it's best to remember that a violent outburst will go down on your permanent record. Better to have that resignation letter handy. Better than a blunt object, anyway.

Lol, JB. Yes, I know that feeling all too well. You are smart to be proactive. Doesn't hurt to look and be aware of the opportunities out there. You never know what can present itself and its smart to be ready for it. I would do the same but I have a few years to go in my current job and then I might start looking. I do need a change.

Good luck regardless of what you decide. Work is hard when surrounded by crazy people and I am not referring to the patients.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:21:23 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
@just bee wrote:
@aprilskies wrote:
@just bee wrote:
Whoops -- it's already the second day of the month! A day late and a dollar short...

NOvember was going well until Thanksgiving and the house guest situation. Food became a big expense.

And now December. I have to decide this weekend if I want to apply for a new job.

Oh no, new developments at your job? I hope all is well.
Just sitting here typing out PROs and CONs. I like psych -- a lot -- but most of the time I feel my patients are less psychotic than my coworkers.

For me, every hospital unit is a psych unit. I know I'll still use those kills. But if I stay in psych, I'll lose the nursing skills that I'd practiced on medical units. I doubt I could start an IV today. Then again, I really don't like starting IVs and maintain that only those who can do it blindfolded with one arm tied behind their backs should be doing it. Some people have the knack. Some just torture the patient.

But it might be good to get off the stick and update my application and resume and start looking for something I might like instead of waiting until I have to abruptly escape.

You know that day, right? You wake up and go to work and that little voice just keeps telling you that this is it, today's the day, and when it goes down it's best to remember that a violent outburst will go down on your permanent record. Better to have that resignation letter handy. Better than a blunt object, anyway.

Lol, JB. Yes, I know that feeling all too well. You are smart to be proactive. Doesn't hurt to look and be aware of the opportunities out there. You never know what can present itself and its smart to be ready for it. I would do the same but I have a few years to go in my current job and then I might start looking. I do need a change.

Good luck regardless of what you decide. Work is hard when surrounded by crazy people and I am not referring to the patients.

There's quite enough drama in a hospital as it is; why do employees have to bring more to work with them?

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:31:26 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
Well, I finished Nov. with one hair purchase. I didn't need it at all but I am forever in search of the perfect hair product. Does it exist, I don't know. I fought off buying any eyeshadow palettes and have been successful so far.

I made one purchase in Dec. already for a face moisturizer so can't claim no beauty. I finished one up and dont have any others in my collection with no actives in them so I actually needed a new one. Sometimes I just want a nice moisturizing cream when my face gets irritated, so, I ordered a new one, I hope I like it. I was able to use my sephora BI gift and it saved me 15 bucks.

I am going to try for a low buy beauty month. I have been really happy the last four months. I have really stopped the flow. Even though I still teeter on the edge, every time I filled my carts so far, I didn't press submit. I should of tallied it all up for fun.

HEP, well, that's a different story. I really have to do some work in this area.

I've done well at stopping the flow of toiletries and other unnecessaries; food, however...

Now that the house guest has returned home, Better-half and I can get back on our regular eating and sleeping schedules. He eats once a day -- tops. When his mother was here, he was constantly cooking and we were consuming three meals -- at least -- a day. We went to restaurants, bakeries and the local charcuterie. It doesn't take long to pack on the pounds. My scrubs, which I prefer loose, were feeling like sausage casing on me this week.

Time to get back on track!

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

kathie66 — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:39:26 GMT

Hello All!

Can't believe its December wow! Wanted to post one goal met. I finally finished up my Laura Geller Baby Cakes Blush Palette. It took me a long time to finish it! But its totally gone. I am pretty darn proud of myself!! Now on to all the other blush I have collected over the years. One by one.... and they are getting done WOOHOO!!

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 21:21:18 GMT

@kathie66 wrote:
Hello All!

Can't believe its December wow! Wanted to post one goal met. I finally finished up my Laura Geller Baby Cakes Blush Palette. It took me a long time to finish it! But its totally gone. I am pretty darn proud of myself!! Now on to all the other blush I have collected over the years. One by one.... and they are getting done WOOHOO!!

You are a far better woman than moi. I bought my palette in March 2010 and I still have plenty of product left. And this is the only blush I have in the house. You would have thought by now that I'd know which color is my favorite but I still haven't figured it out.

All I need is a new tube of mascara for January 2017.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 21:39:22 GMT

I complained bitterly that we were eating more than usual over the holiday, but I noticed something: I didn't touch my white cheddar popcorn while the house guest was here.

I think I've conquered my addiction. Told Better-half to stop enabling me and keep the white stuff out of the house.

I can give it up. I gave it up back in the 80s and I can do it again.

So... what are you prepared to give up in 2017?

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:26:57 GMT

@kathie66 wrote:
Hello All!

Can't believe its December wow! Wanted to post one goal met. I finally finished up my Laura Geller Baby Cakes Blush Palette. It took me a long time to finish it! But its totally gone. I am pretty darn proud of myself!! Now on to all the other blush I have collected over the years. One by one.... and they are getting done WOOHOO!!

Wow, that is a pretty great accomplishment. Sometimes those products feel like they will never end.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:50:18 GMT

@just bee wrote:
I complained bitterly that we were eating more than usual over the holiday, but I noticed something: I didn't touch my white cheddar popcorn while the house guest was here.

I think I've conquered my addiction. Told Better-half to stop enabling me and keep the white stuff out of the house.

I can give it up. I gave it up back in the 80s and I can do it again.

So... what are you prepared to give up in 2017?

I am interested in seeing what everyone has in mind. For me, I dont plan on giving anything up, however, I am now on working on drastically cutting back my junk food so I am hoping by the time the New Year rolls around, I will have that under control. It is proving to be harder than I thought. I would like to get to the 80/20 rule. As of yesterday, I have gotten most things out of the house. I still have a few but I am no longer going to bring it home. I was trying to exercise moderation, but that doesnt work for me so I finally accepted the fact I cant keep it around.

It is interesting though, sugar is just rampant. I have chai lattes and hot chocolate mixes in the house and the sugar content is high, so I am going to treat those as treats. It really is amazing how much sugar we consume.

And how hard is it to find regular whole fat yogurt in a small container that is not greek style. I need a small one for a recipe and I wasnt sure if the greek style was going to be too thick. I found a bigger container, barely, but didnt want the whole thing.

Have a nice week, ladies.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:20:11 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
@just bee wrote:
I complained bitterly that we were eating more than usual over the holiday, but I noticed something: I didn't touch my white cheddar popcorn while the house guest was here.

I think I've conquered my addiction. Told Better-half to stop enabling me and keep the white stuff out of the house.

I can give it up. I gave it up back in the 80s and I can do it again.

So... what are you prepared to give up in 2017?

I am interested in seeing what everyone has in mind. For me, I dont plan on giving anything up, however, I am now on working on drastically cutting back my junk food so I am hoping by the time the New Year rolls around, I will have that under control. It is proving to be harder than I thought. I would like to get to the 80/20 rule. As of yesterday, I have gotten most things out of the house. I still have a few but I am no longer going to bring it home. I was trying to exercise moderation, but that doesnt work for me so I finally accepted the fact I cant keep it around.

It is interesting though, sugar is just rampant. I have chai lattes and hot chocolate mixes in the house and the sugar content is high, so I am going to treat those as treats. It really is amazing how much sugar we consume.

And how hard is it to find regular whole fat yogurt in a small container that is not greek style. I need a small one for a recipe and I wasnt sure if the greek style was going to be too thick. I found a bigger container, barely, but didnt want the whole thing.

Have a nice week, ladies.

I probably have the same mixes here. Way too much sugar so they sit unused in the cupboard. Brought one to work -- I don't know what happened to it.

Oh, I know about the yogurt! I wanted a whole milk plain yogurt and it's like the Yeti of the supermarket.

Ingredients: Organic whole milk, organic nonfat milk powder, L. acidophilus LA-5®, S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, B. bifidum cultures.

This is what yogurt's supposed to be: Just milk and bacteria.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

KaySD — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:22:16 GMT

December Greetings, Gang! I love the way we all keep lurching forward...

I had a huge "lurch" last month--in Paris! I would move to that city in a heartbeat, it is so beautiful. I never want to come home. My agenda for this trip was to eat croissants every morning and drink Champagne every evening. I pretty much nailed it. But I think I overdid it on the croissants. (One can't overdo Champagne so good for you.)

@just bee, everyone knows keeping an up to date resume at all times is a good idea, but most of us don't do it. It feels so good to know that if an opportunity presents itself, there's no barrier to applying. So, hooray for you if you get your resume all spiffy and ready to use. After all, it really doesn't matter what you do, or where you do it--it only matters how you feel about it, right? Resignation letters are almost as comforting IMO--writing them helps clarify how you feel, even if you don't use them.

I bought a beautiful, amazing palette of eye shadows from Dior for my trip. The last palette I bought was years ago, and it isn't used up, but I got the new one anyway. It was crazy expensive, and I just love it. However, I didn't buy a single thing in Paris, except a book for myself at the Musee d'Orsee and a few small gifts at the Christmas Market, which had just opened when I got there. Fun! Champagne by the glass right out on the street. Couldn't do that here! Parisians have some awesome ideas.

I also bought more new clothes than I needed for the trip, and I enjoyed them very much, thank you. But even my Alegrias weren't able to protect me from the rigors of that much walking. Foot and leg pains were the only blight on my otherwise amazing days. Now I am suspecting that it was at least partly due to eating all that bread. No, seriously. All those different gluten type proteins in grains, and none of them really necessary for human consumption as far as I can tell, just tasty.

So my answer to what I'm "giving up" is grains. All of 'em, if I can manage it. Maybe that gets me in the healthy eating club, too?

Dawn is breaking in California, and I'm off to an early start today. Hope you all had wonderful starts to your weeks!

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:08:42 GMT

@KaySD wrote:
December Greetings, Gang! I love the way we all keep lurching forward...

I had a huge "lurch" last month--in Paris! I would move to that city in a heartbeat, it is so beautiful. I never want to come home. My agenda for this trip was to eat croissants every morning and drink Champagne every evening. I pretty much nailed it. But I think I overdid it on the croissants. (One can't overdo Champagne so good for you.)

@just bee, everyone knows keeping an up to date resume at all times is a good idea, but most of us don't do it. It feels so good to know that if an opportunity presents itself, there's no barrier to applying. So, hooray for you if you get your resume all spiffy and ready to use. After all, it really doesn't matter what you do, or where you do it--it only matters how you feel about it, right? Resignation letters are almost as comforting IMO--writing them helps clarify how you feel, even if you don't use them.

I bought a beautiful, amazing palette of eye shadows from Dior for my trip. The last palette I bought was years ago, and it isn't used up, but I got the new one anyway. It was crazy expensive, and I just love it. However, I didn't buy a single thing in Paris, except a book for myself at the Musee d'Orsee and a few small gifts at the Christmas Market, which had just opened when I got there. Fun! Champagne by the glass right out on the street. Couldn't do that here! Parisians have some awesome ideas.

I also bought more new clothes than I needed for the trip, and I enjoyed them very much, thank you. But even my Alegrias weren't able to protect me from the rigors of that much walking. Foot and leg pains were the only blight on my otherwise amazing days. Now I am suspecting that it was at least partly due to eating all that bread. No, seriously. All those different gluten type proteins in grains, and none of them really necessary for human consumption as far as I can tell, just tasty.

So my answer to what I'm "giving up" is grains. All of 'em, if I can manage it. Maybe that gets me in the healthy eating club, too?

Dawn is breaking in California, and I'm off to an early start today. Hope you all had wonderful starts to your weeks!

Wow! Now that's my idea of a perfect vacation: Travel to a large city and eat and walk my way through it. That's what we did in New York and Boston -- eat and walk. Mostly we walked to the Carnegie Deli. Blintzes, bagels, pastrami on rye.

Giving up grains is HUGE! Bread is my go-to comfort food. I seek starch. Bread and butter, bagels, sopaipillas and honey, chips and salsa, crackers and cheese, toast, pizza, pasta, cookies... I've cut down on pastry and donuts, but I still consider them close friends.

And I'm very fond of barley.

Giving up grains would be a spectacular idea! I'm giving up the white cheddar popcorn. We'll see how that goes before I part ways with baguettes.

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

KaySD — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 02:51:06 GMT

Giving up grains IS huge, no doubt about it. Turns out there are so many different gluten type proteins, there are really no grains that don't have them. There's no way to test for sensitivity to any but the main one in wheat, so I don't know whether I'm "officially" gluten sensitive. So I'm only going by feel here--how I feel is the lab test.

I don't regret a single croissant or baguette from Paris. The bread is so fresh and the butter is delicious...

And I'm with you, @just bee, starchy carbs are comfort. Popcorn. Rice. Oats. Noodles. The only thing I can do is cultivate the belief that these things are NOT FOOD--like there's no essential difference between eating bread and plastic bread bags. (Remember when bread from the store came in waxed paper wrappers?)

My compromise to the gods of satisfaction is to eat root vegetables, including potatoes. And enormous amounts of green veggies. And lots of meat. Not breaded, of course!!! Today I baked a big chicken breast and a yellow sweet potato, and steamed a big head of broccoli. I had that for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, just a slice of cheese and a couple of dried apricots. I'm full as a tick, but not quite satisfied. I want crackers! I want a cookie! Grrr. I'm settling for a glass of wine. Well....that's nothing to complain about...

Champagne! That's what I need! Champagne fixes everything.They should reconsider prescribing it instead of all those dangerous painkiller pills! Alas, Medicare doesn't cover it.

Ahem. Okay, I'm sobering up now. I have a compacting goal for this month, and it involves getting one of those big wheeled dumpster bins delivered by the city and filling it up with all the collected junk in my garage and elsewhere--whatever can't be donated and isn't hazardous waste. I may invite the neighbors to top it off. Thatt would be a spectacular compact, don't you think?

Only a month until the days start getting longer!

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

aprilskies — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 13:02:20 GMT

JB, I agree with you on the yogurt. Things just aren't the same. I ended up buying a big container. All I could find for what I needed. Enough with the no fat/low fat foods. Bring back real food.

Kaysd, Paris, ooh la la. On my bucket list. I would eat and drink my way through there too guilt free. Sounds like you had a great time.

So, for the grains, are you guys tossing them out or just eating your way through them and just not repurchasing?

Re: ComPact 2016 -- DECEMBER!

just bee — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 16:32:46 GMT

@KaySD wrote:
Giving up grains IS huge, no doubt about it. Turns out there are so many different gluten type proteins, there are really no grains that don't have them. There's no way to test for sensitivity to any but the main one in wheat, so I don't know whether I'm "officially" gluten sensitive. So I'm only going by feel here--how I feel is the lab test.

I don't regret a single croissant or baguette from Paris. The bread is so fresh and the butter is delicious...

And I'm with you, @just bee, starchy carbs are comfort. Popcorn. Rice. Oats. Noodles. The only thing I can do is cultivate the belief that these things are NOT FOOD--like there's no essential difference between eating bread and plastic bread bags. (Remember when bread from the store came in waxed paper wrappers?)

My compromise to the gods of satisfaction is to eat root vegetables, including potatoes. And enormous amounts of green veggies. And lots of meat. Not breaded, of course!!! Today I baked a big chicken breast and a yellow sweet potato, and steamed a big head of broccoli. I had that for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, just a slice of cheese and a couple of dried apricots. I'm full as a tick, but not quite satisfied. I want crackers! I want a cookie! Grrr. I'm settling for a glass of wine. Well....that's nothing to complain about...

Champagne! That's what I need! Champagne fixes everything.They should reconsider prescribing it instead of all those dangerous painkiller pills! Alas, Medicare doesn't cover it.

Ahem. Okay, I'm sobering up now. I have a compacting goal for this month, and it involves getting one of those big wheeled dumpster bins delivered by the city and filling it up with all the collected junk in my garage and elsewhere--whatever can't be donated and isn't hazardous waste. I may invite the neighbors to top it off. Thatt would be a spectacular compact, don't you think?

Only a month until the days start getting longer!

Ah, bread. Tortillas, naan, breadsticks... I just watched The Idolmaker for the zillionth time and all I could think was how much I miss Stella D'oro breadsticks and cookies. I'd kill for one of these right now:

Wait a minute. I'm Italian. I can't give up bread! Better-half still remembers how I practically wept on my breakfast in Boston when the server handed me a plate with an enormous chunk of Italian bread (torn, not cut) covered with the over-easy eggs I'd ordered.

Exactly the way my mother would have prepared breakfast. Simple and perfect.

And how am I supposed to eat sausage and peppers without a substantial roll to mop up all that goodness?

How am I supposed to eat butter, creamy Skippy and honey without a base of toasted sturdy bread?

How am I supposed to bid a fond adieu to linguine?

And, as someone who lives in New Mexico, how am I supposed to abandon tortillas? Breakfast burritos are the law.

P.S. The dumpster idea is an inspiration!