Beauty

[aprilskies]

Dperry, I agree, sounds like peri. It started for me a few years ago. I was feeling hot and then cold, hot and then cold, I couldnt figure it out. Peri never crossed my mind. But, then it dawned on me. Sounds like you might have an easy time of it if they are lighter already with no warning signal. keep your fingers crossed. I dont know what stage I am in right now but besides the hot flashes, it was okay. good luck.

[aprilskies]

On 7/4/2014 Dosey said:

Hi, everyone. Happy Independence Day!

My family and I went to DC for a few days. I love that place, but the kids had never been there. They were not as enthusiastic as I thought they would be. Part of that is because they are 12 and 16. The sense of adventure that used to fill their thoughts has been replaced with aloofness. It was also really hot. They said they had a good time. I guess I was hoping to see them jumping up and down with excitement like the two wide-eyed preschoolers we saw on the Metro. As they walked to their seats, they thought the train was going to start up any second, so they clung to each seat as they passed it just in case the train bolted. So cute!

My ComPacting continues, and I have hardly bought anything. I am in replacement spending mode. I did purchase a small pair of Tweezerman tweezers to carry in my purse. Never know when a random hair is going to pop up. Or should that be pop OUT. Dperry, I forgot. This is one of the consequences of menopause. Hair where we don't want it. Oh, yeah. Forgetfulness, too.

I love Washington. I havent been there in awhile but I always enjoy it when I go.

[Love the Au and Ag]

Dosey, Aprilskies and others,

Thank you for all the advice. I have started to look for tube tops and some newer designs of tube top/bandeau bras. I laugh because I'm in my mid forties and have never owned a tube top in my life. There are some at Walmart and on Amazon.

Just Bee, In high school I wore a lot of my father's crazy shirts from the 70s and men's Levi's that I altered. I used to complain because I had always had trouble finding clothes that fit because I'm tall, long legged and have wide shoulders. It is even worse for my daughter because she is exceptionally tall.

[dosey]

On 7/4/2014 Love the Au and Ag said:

Dosey, Aprilskies and others,

Thank you for all the advice. I have started to look for tube tops and some newer designs of tube top/bandeau bras. I laugh because I'm in my mid forties and have never owned a tube top in my life. There are some at Walmart and on Amazon.

Just Bee, In high school I wore a lot of my father's crazy shirts from the 70s and men's Levi's that I altered. I used to complain because I had always had trouble finding clothes that fit because I'm tall, long legged and have wide shoulders. It is even worse for my daughter because she is exceptionally tall.

I feel your pain. I'm 5'10", and my shoulders are slightly broad. My DD is 12 yo and 5'8". She hates shopping because it takes time and patience to find things that fit her. It is frustrating.

[Kay SD]

Glad to help with the emails, ladies. So easy to do one big Delete. Wish I could do that with my garage. Poof! All gone! Meanwhile, Au and Ag, I had a broken shoulder a while back, and couldn't wear a bra with all the braces I had on. I found some very soft and stretchy camisoles--thin microfiber--at Soma. Because they were so stretchy I was able to get into them, and although they had no compression at all, they made me feel smooth and a bit supported. Felt good, and I still wear them sometimes. They're a bit warm for summer, but you won't be racing around, will you? ;-) And, by the way, being tall, long-legged and broad shoulders sounds like a problem most of us would love to have! Dosey, those knick knacks are all made from solid lead, every one of them!

[just bee]

On 7/4/2014 Dosey said:

Kay SD, I have my grandmothers' knick knacks in my attic. Whoever thought of knick knacks had no idea of the agony they would cause future generations.

No truer words.

[just bee]

On 7/4/2014 Love the Au and Ag said:

Dosey, Aprilskies and others,

Thank you for all the advice. I have started to look for tube tops and some newer designs of tube top/bandeau bras. I laugh because I'm in my mid forties and have never owned a tube top in my life. There are some at Walmart and on Amazon.

Just Bee, In high school I wore a lot of my father's crazy shirts from the 70s and men's Levi's that I altered. I used to complain because I had always had trouble finding clothes that fit because I'm tall, long legged and have wide shoulders. It is even worse for my daughter because she is exceptionally tall.

The 70s were tough because all the girls in school wore halter tops. I never did because, as my sister explained to me one day, I had too much to halt. Like you, I have shoulders (the 80s were tough -- I didn't need all those shoulder pads), long legs, and long arms. I can tie my toes without bending over. So women's blouses have always been a challenge.

Women's jeans have always been annoying, too. What's with all the unnecessary decoration and weird unusable pockets? When I walk the dog I need real pockets to hold plastic bags, keys, and other things. And I don't feel the need to wear hip huggers. I've always had narrow hips, so I picked up a pair of men's jeans from Costco a few months ago. It annoyed me that Better-half could walk up to that pile of denim and pull out a pair from the stack just by looking at two numbers on a tag and they fit. And for thirteen bucks. Dark denim. Real pockets. No frills. And they wear like cast iron.

[just bee]

On 7/4/2014 Barbiedr said:

I tracked all of my beauty purchases and things used from July 2013-'June 2014. Last year 82 products were used or thrown away and this year it was 130. I used up 78 and got rid of 52.

I used up-

facial cleansers- 3, face, neck, and eye products- 20, eyeshadows- 2, clear mascara- 2, lip gloss- 1, hand and body creams- 12, bath/shower gel- 13, body powders- 3, spray fragrance- 4, body scrub- 2, handwash- 1, deodorant-1, shampoo- 4, hairspray- 2, foot cream- 2, toothpaste- 4, floss- 2.

So the stash is going down but the bad news that I brought in 71 products and spent $1161.66.. Yikes. This has to stop. I cancelled my A-D orders.

That was the first thing I did. Had to say goodbye to the auto-deliveries. I just wasn't using the products quickly enough and I was spending too much time pushing back orders. I ended up wasting most of those products so what did I really save?

Stopping the flow is key. I've pretty much figured out my workhorse products -- the ones that really work for me -- and I've managed to resist... sort of... trying new things. When I stray, I regret it. I recently tried to save money and bought Lumene CC cream instead of BB cream because it was on sale. But I bought three tubes to get the free shipping. Then there was a sale -- 40% off -- on both creams right after my shipment arrived. I'm annoyed, but determined to make the CC cream work.

Paula's Choice just had a sale on cleansers and I was running out of Moisture Boost -- my go-to reliable cleanser. But what did I do? I ordered a different cleanser. There's a chance that it won't be as good and I'll regret that decision. But I'll make it work. I still have that urge to try something new occasionally, but I've limited myself to trying a product in the same line I've been using instead of making a big switch.

For some reason, I have no desire to change anything about my mascara and liner. Loyal as a lab there.

As long as I have more going out than coming in, I feel all right. Every empty bottle in the recycling bin is a victory. I'm getting a little better at timing, too. I wait longer before I replace a product because I know there's always more in the bottle/jar/tube than I think there is.

It took a long time to get to this point, but it's a huge improvement.

[CoastalGal]

On 7/1/2014 just bee said:

On 7/1/2014 Caffeina said:

The using up is slow going. I can't imagine how much more cluttered it would be if I hadn't stopped the madness!

Ain't it the truth?

Happy anniversary!

I need to stop, my linen closet is starting to look like a drug store.

[CoastalGal]

Arms up. I surrender. Months ago I started using things up and not buying , but for some reason when the season changes I buy buy buy... so by end of the weekend I am donating a minimum of 50 clothing items to Good Will. And will stop buying unneeded skin care , lotions,hair productsetc no matter how good a deal it is.

time to get up and start.. push away from the computer...

wish me luck.. i'm going in!