Beauty

[just bee]

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.”  "Only the store, online no more!" “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.

[just bee]

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!

[just bee]

Fun!

If anyone is doing something fun, post here!

[rnmom]

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe it is September already! The summer just flew by, it always does, and the kiddos are going back to school Tuesday. We didn't really do anything fun this summer and that kind of bums me out, yet it seems like it was so busy. It was just so dang hot and humid that I never felt like being outside. Hopefully we can find something fun to do this fall. The problem with where we live is that spring and fall are so short lived. It will go from too hot to too cold almost overnight. Next week it's still supposed to be close to 90, then by October its usually too cold to do much outside. I'm hoping for some inbetween weather soon, at least for a little bit. 

I definitely need to get back on track with HEP soon. I still have some candy and cookies and junk food in the house that I will eat if it's here, so hopefully in the next couple weeks I can start cutting back on that too. I didn't buy any real junk last week and I'm hoping to not get a bunch of it at the store today either. I just haven't had any willpower at all lately and I've been craving sweets every day.

Compacting and streamling are the only areas where I'm doing some semblance of good. Items are still coming into the house on a daily basis of course, and we still have back to school clothes shopping to do, but I'm still working on trying to purge at least one item a day, even if it means all 7 items go in one day and it's something as small as a lipgloss or as mundane as a plastic container. Everything out is a step in the right direction

I will admit, the Ulta 21 days of beauty that is coming up is calling to me. Do I need anything? Nope. Not yet anyway. But there are things I will need soon and I'm debating whether to get them now or wait a month or two. I do have a gift card I can use, I'm just trying to decide when to use it. And of course there is the never ending question, do I buy just what I need and pay for shipping, or add enough to my cart to total $50 so that the shipping is free? I won't NEED $50 worth of stuff anytime soon, but I'm sure I can find $50 worth of stuff to get

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

Compacting and streamling are the only areas where I'm doing some semblance of good. Items are still coming into the house on a daily basis of course, and we still have back to school clothes shopping to do, but I'm still working on trying to purge at least one item a day, even if it means all 7 items go in one day and it's something as small as a lipgloss or as mundane as a plastic container. Everything out is a step in the right direction.

I will admit, the Ulta 21 days of beauty that is coming up is calling to me. Do I need anything? Nope. Not yet anyway. But there are things I will need soon and I'm debating whether to get them now or wait a month or two. I do have a gift card I can use, I'm just trying to decide when to use it. And of course there is the never ending question, do I buy just what I need and pay for shipping, or add enough to my cart to total $50 so that the shipping is free? I won't NEED $50 worth of stuff anytime soon, but I'm sure I can find $50 worth of stuff to get

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@rnmom

Parting with items -- whether it's one a day or seven at once -- really does help.  We're developing a new habit.  Hopefully, it will make a lasting impression.  When you pick up that new liner or balm, picture yourself tossing it, unused, in a couple years.

"Free" shipping has really created a problem.  The irony of adding unnecessary items to an order just to "save" money...

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe it is September already! The summer just flew by, it always does, and the kiddos are going back to school Tuesday. We didn't really do anything fun this summer and that kind of bums me out, yet it seems like it was so busy. It was just so dang hot and humid that I never felt like being outside. Hopefully we can find something fun to do this fall. The problem with where we live is that spring and fall are so short lived. It will go from too hot to too cold almost overnight. Next week it's still supposed to be close to 90, then by October its usually too cold to do much outside. I'm hoping for some inbetween weather soon, at least for a little bit. 

 

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@rnmom

Kids here in Albuquerque started school three weeks ago.  And September has made quite a debut.  It's been raining, with impressive thunder and lightning, for hours.  It's eight o'clock and it's still dark in the house.  Unusual in these parts.

Won't be going to the Downtown Growers' Market today!

[Oshare-girl]

September always makes me hopefully that things will cool down... Which it doesn't but just the sound of September makes me think of fall. I switched out my makeup capsule from summer to fall. That means different color products and a new mascara. I was quite happy with my summer usage. I finished a lipstick and hit pan on 3 eyeshadows! And also hit pan in my pressed powder. Woohoo! I was really disappointed that I did not hit pan on my blush. This was the 2nd round of capsule that it was in, which means I used it for 6 months and still did NOT hit pan. What?? It's also a tiny size, from the Stowaway brand, and still no progress. Shaking my head.

We sort of had fun these past 2 weeks. We hosted an exchange student from Japan. She just went home today. It was interesting but tiring. Not that she was demanding in any way, but just having someone else in the family is so different. We did many things that we normally don't do since she was here. We even had a hurricane. The house has been pretty tidy because everyone was more aware with a guest in the house. But I expect that to change starting now. =( I think I will join the decluttering the one thing a day too. A new season, a new purge.

Confession time. Was I just saying no more eyeshadow palettes?? Well, yes more eyeshadow is on its way. I think it's the high from hitting pan that made me do it. Marc Jacobs is having a sale and I've had his palettes on my wish list. Well, they got me. I put it in my cart then took a nap. After the nap, there was an email from them for free one day shipping on any order. 40% off + free shipping + from the wish list + hitting lots of pan = purchase! But really, NO MORE. And I will be decluttering.

[just bee]

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

We sort of had fun these past 2 weeks. We hosted an exchange student from Japan. She just went home today. It was interesting but tiring. Not that she was demanding in any way, but just having someone else in the family is so different. We did many things that we normally don't do since she was here. We even had a hurricane. The house has been pretty tidy because everyone was more aware with a guest in the house. But I expect that to change starting now. =( I think I will join the decluttering the one thing a day too. A new season, a new purge.

Confession time. Was I just saying no more eyeshadow palettes?? Well, yes more eyeshadow is on its way. I think it's the high from hitting pan that made me do it. Marc Jacobs is having a sale and I've had his palettes on my wish list. Well, they got me. I put it in my cart then took a nap. After the nap, there was an email from them for free one day shipping on any order. 40% off + free shipping + from the wish list + hitting lots of pan = purchase! But really, NO MORE. And I will be decluttering.

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@Oshare-girl

Free shipping, eh?

I'm trying to avoid any tea orders but I'm almost out of Paris and I'm wondering if I can last the rest of the year without it.  I suspect if Harney & Sons has a sale I might cave.

My sister and her family welcomed a Japanese exchange student into their (Northern California) home decades ago and she remembers the experience fondly.  I think we all worried that her kids would be a bad influence but happily everyone survived.

[just bee]

Interesting experience.  We have an enameled cast iron skillet and BH had prepared his steak and was moving the pan from the stove to the kitchen island when I heard a lot of swearing coming from the kitchen.

The handle snapped off.

This isn't a plastic handle that's screwed into a pan.  This is a cast iron skillet.  You know, the type of pan families have for generations?

I suggested sending a photo to the manufacturer with the message: WTF?

I'm online, reading about cast iron, and it appears that pans can crack -- even shatter.  Sometimes the handles do break off.  But this is usually because they've been abused in some way.  This pan has not been abused.  Used, yes, but not abused.

This is very disappointing.

[just bee]

I might survive this tea crisis.  I may be low on Paris, but I have three unopened bags of Victorian London Fog in the cabinet.

Whew.

ETA:

I counted my Paris bags and sachets and if I only use them on the days I work I should have enough to last until October 4.