Beauty

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

@geezerette

@aprilskies

You're killin' me!

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@just bee

That’s  the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time!

(I can just imagine the audio for this...hehehe...😂🤣😂)

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@geezerette

I was perusing various "laughing" dogs and this one came up several times.  I guess this is known in some circles as "Weed Dog."  I don't think he got the nickname from the foliage on his head.

My dog smiles like this and it's endearing.  And I can assure you he isn't using.

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@just bee

Far out, dude!

[just bee]

@geezerette

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

[Oshare-girl]

Open the mail - Check

Enter all transactions into the checkbook - Check

File 3 months worth of paperwork - Check

Sort receipts - Nope

I never ended up meeting my goal for October with the receipts.  Maybe I'll work on it tonight since I cleaned up the piles of papers.

I used a calculator to add up all my empties from 2017 and it was WAY more than I estimated.  I used up & decluttered over $2000 worth of product in 2017!  I didn't necessarily spend that much on the products since much was purchased on sale (trap #1) or were GWP (trap #2).  Taking the retail prices is where the $2k came from.  I expect that I will use up much less this year since I cancelled the monthly subscription to Beauty Heroes and I decluttered most of the lingering junks hanging around.  

In the last couple of weeks I did make several purchases from the holiday sales.  Wow, I always forget how good these sales are.  If I only purchase during the holiday sales, I really don't need to shop the rest of the year.  I mainly bought products that were repurchases, that I knew I loved and had used up in the past. Still no eyeshadow palettes were purchased (woohoo).  I'm fully stocked on skincare and bath products for the year. I did NOT make VIB status at Sephora, which I'm really happy about.  I discovered Ulta like the rest of you but they don't have free shipping to Hawaii so I'm really particular about what I purchase there.  We are getting a brick & mortar store in 2018 so that will be a nice option since they seem to have more and better sales than Sephora.

I feel like I have finally nailed down a minimalist skincare routine that works.  I tried so much skincare in 2017 due to Beauty Heroes and there were only a few products that I really loved enough to repurchase through that program.  I really found the best mix from the indie brands Stark Skincare and Jordan Samuel Skincare.  They have small, curated lines and packaging that really appeals to me.  Shallow, I know, but nice packaging just makes it so much more pleasant to use a product. 

I really can't wait for the subscription box trend to die.  I subscribed to Ipsy when it first came out years ago and cancelled after 3 months because I was just getting a box of junk.  Then I found Beauty Heroes recently and lasted a year before cancelling.  The BH's philosophy really resonated with me, "Love more, use less" but even that was too much product for one person to use up.  I cancelled in June and am still working through products.  When I watch decluttering videos on YT, it seems like the majority of products being thrown out are from subscription boxes.  So much waste comes from them.  I've learned my lesson but has the rest of society? I really think subscription boxes has been one of the worst things that has happened to the environment.  Beware!

As for HEP, I just ate a bunch of chocolate covered malt balls for dinner.  Even though I had a nice meal of steak, tofu and carrot sticks waiting in the fridge.  HALP! I'll just chalk it up to being the first Friday night of the year.  I'll do better tomorrow. Hope you all are doing better than I am.

Are there any trends you would like to see die or start in 2018?  

[rnmom]

@Oshare-girl-I know what you mean about the holiday sales being so good, I always forget too! And some of the after holiday clearance sales are pretty good too! I'm always tempted to buy even though I don't need anything because it's all so pretty and so affordable! I think I'm going to try to buy the least amount possible this year and try to stock up during the holiday sales next year. I did get a few things recently so I won't need much soon. I had tried a couple of Prai products recently and really liked them. They sent me an e-mail that their clearance products were BOGO. So I went to the site, got 2 cleansers, 2 toners and 2 moisturizers. Then they were having an extra 30% off. Plus I got free shipping. So I got 6 products for around $20. Holy cow! So I'm set on that for a bit. I will need SPF moisturizer and mascara, but that's all I can think of that I will need anytime soon, I should be set on just about everything else for a while. I'm actually looking forward to not shopping for a while, I'm kinda sick of it. 

[rnmom]

For decluttering, I got the toys dropped off to the friend from church and one of my hubby's friends is supposed to come by today and pick up the other toys, 4 boxes and 3 large playdough sets. If he doesn't come by today it's all going to the thrift store this weekend. I'm still puttering around the house but not as much as I was. I have another small bag started for donations. I still need to hit my closet, I haven't gotten to that yet. I did get my new clothes washed and put away so I can see what I have.

HEP has not been going well. I still have junk food in the house that I need to get out. I'm hoping that in the next few weeks I can start trying to cut a few pounds. I have been trying to eat at least a little healthier and have some smaller portions but I haven't really been serious about it yet. Hopefully soon.

[geezerette]

@Oshare-girl

I just wanted to pop in for a minute and give you a quick “Congratulations!” on your decluttering!  $2,000 of stuff used up—Yay for you!👏👍. That’s quite an accomplishment. It sounds like you have a good start on the new year in a lot of aspects of what you want.  Keep up the good work—you’re an inspiration to the rest of us!💪🏻

[hellokitty]

HI!  wow...great job. 

My problem to conquer this year is the buying something like a moisturizer or other beauty item then getting bored with it and pitching it.  I just read about all the other new and improved items and think that those will be better than what I have. What I get is usually drug store or places like Walmart or Meijer but I am still wasting money I could use on something else.

I like this thread. You all are so nice and inspiring.

[just bee]

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@hellokitty wrote:

HI!  wow...great job. 

My problem to conquer this year is the buying something like a moisturizer or other beauty item then getting bored with it and pitching it.  I just read about all the other new and improved items and think that those will be better than what I have. What I get is usually drug store or places like Walmart or Meijer but I am still wasting money I could use on something else.

I like this thread. You all are so nice and inspiring.

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@hellokitty

I have to agree with you.  I'm consistently impressed by those who post on the ComPact.  Smart, funny -- these are the people you'd want as coworkers and neighbors, right?

That's precisely why you should hang out here with us!  Grab some malted milk balls and let's chat!

[just bee]

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

As for HEP, I just ate a bunch of chocolate covered malt balls for dinner.  Even though I had a nice meal of steak, tofu and carrot sticks waiting in the fridge.  HALP! I'll just chalk it up to being the first Friday night of the year.  I'll do better tomorrow. Hope you all are doing better than I am.

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@Oshare-girl

These things happen.  Often, for many of us.  The other day I posted something about controlling what comes into the house and five minutes later I was scarfing down some leftover Halloween peanut M&Ms.

Frankly, I look at those malted milk balls as a well-deserved reward.  You're making the rest of us look like slackers.  You and @rnmom!

As for your question about trends... I'm still thinking about that one.  Very good question.

[just bee]

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

In the last couple of weeks I did make several purchases from the holiday sales.  Wow, I always forget how good these sales are.  If I only purchase during the holiday sales, I really don't need to shop the rest of the year.

@Oshare-girl

@rnmom

@hellokitty

That's why I miss drugstore.com.  There was a time when I had a pretty good sense of what worked, could find those items on the site, then stock up for the entire year.  It was so helpful because I'd get everything I needed and there was no reason to browse elsewhere.

The key is finding what works and sticking with it.

But it's getting harder and harder to do that when companies discontinue great products.  I stocked Lumene in 2017 because I was able to finally locate it but now all the sources have dried up.  I'd gladly repurchase and stick with the things I bought but I'm already thinking about finding replacements.

A conspiracy, I tell you.