Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

I am a stay at home Mom and John
got laid off last January and the way the
Michigan economy is right now who
knows when he will be back to work.
This is a terrible cross to bear for a
fashion Diva like I am. Even Dots and
other cheaper stores are out of my price
range right now and I was going out
of my mind with the need to shop
for I am used to getting at least one
new outfit a month. I have three
closets at my house, clothes in storage
boxes and about a 20 foot beam in the
laundry room where I also hang clothes.
John has a drawer I bought for under the
bed and about 12 hangers in one of
my closets. I am very generous!






TO make matters even more dire
for me after 16 years of dressing
a boy I finally got a little girl to dress
and no money to "Diva" her out with.
I would go jump off the Ambassador
Bridge but in truth the Detroit River
water sorta creeps me out.I needed ideas
and I needed them fast. I discovered
Thrift Stores. As a Feisty, Frugal middle
aged Mom I also learned to navigate
them and here are the tips I picked up!




1. Don't shop at chain Thrift stores unless
they are having their "Big Sale!" Places
like the Salvation Army or Value world have
sales a few times a year where they give you
50% off your total bill. These places are
cheaper then buying new by 40 t 60 % to
start with but some items can still be pretty
costly and when I look for Jeans for my son
I end up paying between 8 and 10 dollars for
a good pair. At K-Mart I can get a new
pair for $15.00 dollars if I wait for a sale so
the savings are not all that on a normal day.
BUT: when you add in the extra 50% discount
you are paying 4-5 dollars for an almost new pair
of name brand jeans. That I can live with! For
$100.00 I am getting like $600.00 or more
worth of clothes! ( insert happy dance here)






2. Avoid the Trendy Semi Chains! Okay, they are
not as big as Value World or Salvation Army or
St Vincent De Paul but there are more then a few
of them. The label themselves as a boutique shop
or Chic and advertise like crazy. I am not sure of
the ones in your location but an example of one
here would be Plato's Closit. When you take in
your clothes for resale they are very picky about
what they accept and only take high end name
brand items in mint shape. I have no problem with
their stock, it is good and you can find some nice
items. What I do have an issue with is that you bring
in a pair of Jeans you paid $70.00 for and they will
offer to give you 2 or 3 dollars then turn around and
res-ell them for $50.00 or more. To me that is a bit
shady but hey, to each their own. What remains is
the cold hard facts  that at Value World or other
mega chains you save 40-60% but at places like
Plato's Closit you only save 10-20 percent at
best! That isn't worth it for me.






3. Look at local, small corner shops that
are independantly owned. The higher priced
the local home value the better.People who
can afford to drop 500 bucks on a purse or
pair of shoes or pants seldom shop at thrift
stores and lots of the little ones are owned
by upper class housewives with an eye for
fashion and the need to share it with people.
They are not out to get rich with their store
instead they do it because they love clothes.
I have found $300.00 dollar purses for 5 bucks
and $200.00 jeans for just as little. They also
have a lot of clearance sales for the upper
class shopping world fashion styles always
changing so new stock is brought in often.
So if you don't pay attention to Fads you
can find some really good deals on some
high class fashions!






4. Don't forget Garage sales! Unless a person
is a professional Garage Sale Host ( has
3 or more per season) people tend to undervalue
their own property. You can score some clothes
with the tags on still (I know you too have bought
an item once or twice you swore you would fit
someday and never did) for a few bucks or less.
I bought a stack of Levi's once for a quarter each.
This is also the best THE BEST! place to buy
baby's and young childrens clothes for at that
age they outgrow them so fast they seldom show
the signs of wear adult clothes can. Here is
another place where you should pay attention
the the neighborhood and home value for the
bigger the home the better the deals!






5. Last on my list is a resource I am sure you
never thought of. Self storage Unit auctions!
People rent a box and quiet often abandon
them for numerous reasons. It could have been
clothes they outgrew and never got around to
sorting through, or they inherited them or
could have just been a compulsive shopper
like I am and had way to many for home and
stored them there. It doesn't matter how they
ended up there only that they are there!
For a few bucks you can buy a whole garbage
bag of clothes. The drawback is you can't
pick and choose what you want from the bag so
you may get items you don't want but you can
always donate them to charity. Then you do good,
save good, look good and feel good!




All of these are great ways to save some
cash and update your wardrobe at the same
time. You can also pick up other household
items at a deep discount and use the money
you save by buying those items at thrift
stores to fund an occasional trip to
Macy's.






Happy hunting!

It has been a long time since I have
taken care of myself. Let's see, Rowan is
about 6 months and I found out I was, OK,
let's call it a year. Before I found out about
Rowan I was doing pretty good. After years
of neglecting myself Andy was at last old enough
to do things for himself and I had the time.
I lost some weight, got a new "Doo" and
started going out with friends and dressing
up again then BAM, once again I am with
a young child at home and the only thing
I wear on a regular basis is puree's Squash
or applesauce. My enormous collection
of clothing and shoes and make-up and
hair products sit by them self, alone,
untouched.



SOB!



Okay this part I am going to say, you are
going to read then you will all forget I ever
said it. ( Watch the swinging crystal and repeat
after me~I will forget, I will forget!) I also
look like I have been neglecting myself. My
hair, my nails, my skin and my body even.
My poor hair has so many splits it could
give any divorce court a run for its money,

WE WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THE GREY ROOTS!

My skin is blotchy and uneven and that was
Johns favorite part of me, the fact I had even
porcelain skin, and my nails......................

1. my finger nails and cuticles look like
they have been through a salad shooter.
2. If you want to know the last color of
polish I wore on my toes just look at the
tips it is still there.

I need help and I need it bad. Before
Rowan I had my eye out for Macy's and
other makeup counter sales and stocked
up whenever they had that deal where you
buy this and get all thissssssssssss free!

I love those sales! I would always but Concealer
and skin and cuticle cream then get the free
makeup and I do have more Eye shadows then
you can shake a stick at! I can match anything!
But the lotions and creams, well they dry up if
you don't use them and mine are gone.

I look like Heck and I have no product!
Lucky me, She' essential beauty sent
me a few items to review and the first
one was for my nails. YEAH! And the second
was a body scrub! DOUBLE YEAH! There
has never been a woman in the free world
who needed it more! The first item I tackled
was the scrub. Now I don't know how I missed
the section at better stores where body scrubs
are actually scrubs. They are like um, little
pieces of rock candy you rub on your skin.
As a stressed out Mom faced with the possible
presence of Candy it took everything I had not
to eat it. The fact it smelled good made it even
harder. It was fragrant but not too sweet and it
instantly made me relax. I enjoyed the process
of applying for the fact it was a grain made
me slow down and be careful and I needed that
time. I think the application helped me to
relax even more. And the scent, dreamy!
Now the texture didn't bother me, for even in
the cream scrubs I had used they had the
granules feel so I enjoyed the texture and imagined
the little beads removing all the icky parts of my
skin I had grown to despise in the mirror. When I
was done I was pink. Might have rubbed a little
too hard but once that faded I felt and looked fresh.
My skin felt tight and new and I didn't eat any of
the scrub even with the word sugar in the name.
What is more surprising is people noticed
and wondered what I had done to myself. I had
never in my life used a body product that
anyone but me could tel I had used.I enjoyed
the flattery.

All in all my opinion of the Scrub is
very positive. I had never been familiar
with aroma therapy or holistic healing
benefits and really don't understand all
of it but I know how it left me feeling
and I felt fresh and vitalized. At 40
I will take that over old and cagey any
day! This is something I will stick with!
Next up was the cuticle cream. Um,
I am way to embarrassed to even post a
before picture of my cuticles for they are
really that bad. The Cuticle butter
was the product I really really wanted to
try. In truth, I thought for sure mine were
too bad to repair for with Dry Michigan
winters, my own neglect and the damage
I did over thanksgiving with floor to ceiling
deep cleaning with Harsh Chemicals and
my hands in dish-soap for a few days there,
I thought I was toast. The Cuticle Butter
was creamy and smooth and just looked
Hydrating but then again so does regular
butter and that doesn't do anything but
amplify a Sunburn in the summer. I read
these directions very carefully for I wanted
to make darn sure I did this right.
It had a subtle scent of lemon and right
away I could feel the skin soften as I massaged
it in. I swear if I sat still enough and relaxed I
could feel the crack and chips melt away and
my cuticles no longer felt as if they were going
to pull away from my nails. This was amazing!
I don't know how the Chinese discovered all
the benefits of some of these products and
Herbs but I do know I am going to pay closer
attention to what they are using over there!

All in all She' Essential beauty and their
product line really gave me a needed lift and
left me feeling rejuvenated and fresh. I loved
the smell alone of the products and felt instantly
at ease and calm once I opened them. I plan
on making their line a regular part of my
world and can't wait to work my way through
the whole product line!
2 huge thumbs up ( with silky smooth cuticles)

Don't forget to enter the contest She' Essential Beauty has posted right now
and you can get in on the yummy goodness yourself!

This is the season where
dressing up is a weekly event. The
rest of the year you get hit with an
occasional wedding, shower or other
party where ya gotta don your best duds
but November and December are a non-
stop dress fest and and keeping up
with the "Joneses" can end up
being pretty costly. Let's face it, we all
need to save a penny or two where we
can.


One of my pet peeves is buying nail
polish at anywhere from $3.00 to
$15.00 dollars a jar and when you go
to use it again you find it all lumpy and
ruined. Or is it? I couldn't stand tossing
away one more bottle so I decided to find
out what I could do about it. Here is
what I came up with........................






1. First off flip the bottle upside
down and roll it in your hands for
a while. The warmth from your body heat
will help thin it while being upside down
will allow the colors to run together and
redistribute. After a few minutes shake the
bottle vigorously and test it out. Sometimes
that is all it takes.






2. If that doesn't work try a little bit of nail
polish remover. Sometimes just thinning it
out a little bit helps. They also sell a product
you can get at any beauty supply store that
is made just for this reason. It is simply
called thinner or nail polish re-newer. It costs
between 5 and 10 dollars but will last forever
and it is worth it in the long run not to have to
toss out so many bottles in the mean time.






If those tips don't work you might find
yourself up the creek so to speak but if
you store it properly in a cool, dark place
and remember that darker shades go bad a
little bit faster you can avoid a lot of the hassle
to begin with.






Last of all if you are getting a shade for a special
event and know chances are you won't use it
again don't splurge on the good stuff. Though
the cheaper brands don't spread as well they still
do the trick for a one time event and why waste
cash if you can help it!

I love Skin stuff. It doesn't really matter
what it is as long as it is for my skin. Scrubs,
lotions, oils and gels. ALL OF IT! I could live at
the body shop so when I get a chance to review
anything that has to do with your skin or skin care
I jump for joy. This week I got a chance to do a
review for Scrubz and some of their yummy
products.

I was sent some of the body scrub in
Cotton Candy for kids but I had to try it
for myself and boy oh boy did I want to
eat it! The smell literally made my mouth
water and for a second I was worried people
would be wandering up to me trying to lick
me! I could not wait to try it and after the last
few days of hard labor in the kitchen preparing
for Thanksgiving I could really use some pampering
and a hot shower with some product you love is the best
thing in the world next to a Fabio type guy giving you
a 4 hour massage. I skipped to the bathroom and
waved goodbye to my Husband and kids.




Once I got in there and took the top off I
still wanted to eat it! Is that good or bad? Didn't
matter for soon I was in the soothing confines of
a hot shower and the smell of Cotton Candy
was filling the room. I decided to use it for shaving
for it is the cold months in Michigan and let's just say
I have been putting it off for a while. I followed the
directions and loved the results. It leaves your skin
just soft enough where the razor didn't nick me
at all. Normally when you go through the hair jungle
on my legs in the winter months I look like I lost a losing
battle with the razor. Not today. The Sugar softened
my legs just right and the natural oils left let the razor glide
and still manage to remove the parts that needed to be gone.

And the scent?


Though it smells perfect in the bottle on your
skin it is very subtle and you do not, I repeat do not
have to worry about strange men walking up and taking
a lick. How I view it is the scent is for your enjoyment and
and is meant to make using it a pleasure! It would not
compete with any perfumes or other sprays you might
use and is just the right touch of YUM!



Scrubz not only works to soften your skin it
also helps to protect it from the environment and
provides a barrier from the harsh elements around us.
It contains coconut, olive and vitamin E oils and can
be used to de-stress and has even worked wonders on
eczema and psoriasis. They also carry seasonal and
Holiday scents that would make perfect gifts! Best of
all it is great for a little "Me Time!" All ladies deserve
and need that!


I tried the body Scrub but they have other products
as well. They carry Butters and Oils and even products
for the kids and the guys in your life. Best of all they
have a variety of gift baskets so you can get something
for even the most fickle person that is sure to delight!
They have lots of specials going on right now and some
monthly plans as well.

Just in time for winter
dry skin I received some Lip Stuff to review.
I was tickled pink since dry skin is a big issue
here and if you follow my Fashion, makeup and
style section you know I have been posting
tips on how to beat the winter dry skin blues!





I was sent a variety pack that include
some pretty cool flavors such as Spank, Lollypop
and Pancakes and syrup. My first reaction was
these would be perfect for teenage girls then
I tried them!








They were not strong or overpowering like
I thought they might be but more of a subtle
flavor that left a fresh taste on your lips. When
I think of flavored lip balms I had always thought
of the old school Bonnie Bells that I had when
younger and how you would apply them over and
over again for the taste alone. These are not
your daughters lip balms. These rock!






I was afraid they would be waxy for I have
never been a fan of balms for this reason but
they went on smooth and silky. And they last!
With the stuff I use now (OR DID) I find myself
re-applying over and over again just to keep
my lips moist. With my Lip stuff I put it on
and hours went by before I felt the need to
do it again. I also let my Husband and son
try for they really need it as well and was
waiting for the "Hey, I am not a girly, girl!"
reply I always get from them but it never
came. They loved it as well!






SO let's go over the details here, No
overpowering scent or taste, smooth and
silky not waxy and clumpy and they guys
will wear it and like it. AND it is still a perfect
gift for teenage girls!





After checking out their site I also
learned some more good stuff. For starters
they are green and do not use any harsh ingredients
or chemicals and do not test on animals. They are affordable
and Brea the owner and inventor still keeps a very hands
on philosophy to ensure a perfect product. She cares about
your lips! Also, after reading a little about her I found myself
really liking her personality and she would be the kind
of person I would love to do lunch with!




There are over 500 flavors available and you can
even get personalized labels. Perfect for shower gifts,
birthday parties and other events where a little bit
of a personal touch goes a long way. You also have a size
choice and other products to peak your fancy. I for one,
would love to try more of her products for I really love
the lip balms and can't wait to explore the rest of her items.

Posting about dry skin and lips got

me thinking. Those are bad! Yes they are!

But what is worse is when that dry skin

hits you under the socks and does a number

on your tootsies and feet. There is nothing

worse then trying to slip on a pair of socks

and your used to be soft and lovable feet

getting stuck by the speed-bumps dry

skin causes on your feet. GROSS!

We won't even go into rubbing them

up against your husband in the middle of

the night and him asking if the dog had its

raw hide chew toy somewhere under the covers.

When you look at them all you can think is I

will never wear sandals again and I hope

I don't have to wear dress shoes to a holiday

party!

Well guys, don't worry. There are cures and

cures that won't cost an arm and a well, foot!

You can make them at home with items you

already have! Get rid of those scales Dragon

lady and get back to being smooth like you know

you are!



1. Soak them in Vinegar. Its not just for salads.

Get a large pan fill it with water add one cup

of vinegar and a drop of dish washing liquid

and just cover those tootsies and feet and let

um soak. When your done, dry and apply

your favorite lotion. I like Aveeno products.



2. The other way is to sleep in socks. No,

not to hide them or cover up the little offenders,

but to soften them. Slather your feet with lotion,

don't be shy, the more the merrier and cover with

some thick socks so you don't get it everywhere.

Do this every night for about a week and the problem

should be history.



Good luck guys and don't forget to use a pumice

stone for upkeep and hopefully they won't get that

dry again!

If your like me Winter is the dreaded season
of dry skin, chapped lips and sinuses that scream
for moisture. In runs in my family too for I cringe
when I see my son wear anything short sleeved from
October to May for his elbows get so dry and cracked
I am waiting for a hoard of Alligators to knock on my
front door and call for their leader. I beg him to use
lotion but he is a "Manly" boy and refuses to put
anything on that he might find on my shelf in the
bathroom.



So how can I help him and me? How can I stop
the sure to be busting down my door stampede of
Alligator's? ( they live in the sewers ya know!)

Well I did a little diggen and came up with these
tips to help you if you too might have some long
lost reptile relatives in your family or living under
your own roof for that matter.The first thing I
discovered is that the winter stinks for those
of us prone to dry skin. The Humidity level,
the cold air and blowing wind and that beast
that costs us a fortune to run and heats our
house are all offenders on the list. If you
don't live in a rain forest, dry skin is going
to be an issue! How do we cope? Here is
some tips I found.






1. Don't take hot showers, take luke warm.
I know it is tempting to jump into a hot
shower on a cold winter day but hot water
is the enemy. It drys out your skin and robs
it of needed moisture.




2. Exfoliate! Scrub scrub scrub and scrub
that dead skin away. It will keep your skin
fresh and your moisturizer will work better.
Why buy and apply if you are not going to
do it right?






3. Skip the soaps! Not ewwwe Gross I feel
so dirty but go for the creamy cleansers
instead.






4. Don't lick your lips, use product. Licking
them only drys them out more!




5. Try Fish oil pills and make sure you drink
your water. Don't go overboard. The age old
8 glasses a day credo works just fine!






Hope this helps you guys, stay smooth and
stay soft!

Aveeno



I Love Aveeno so I was very excited to get a full sized bottle
of Aveeno's New Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo.It comes in
a simple bottle with a push up top that is easy to open, even with
slippery hands. To me it looked a little thick, more like a conditioner
then a baby shampoo but I thought, "hey, its new, let's give it a
whirl."
The label told me it was made with natural Wheat, and Oat, and
Vitamin but I would have liked to have known what kind of Vitamin.
It also says it is lightly scented and it was true to its word. The real
test would be to see if it could live up to its Tear-Free, Cleanses and
Conditions and Rinses Easily claim as it says on the bottom of the
bottle.
My worry was would what is what I consider dreamy be safe
and suitable for my little bundle of joy with much more sensitive
skin? Rowan has our family trait of fair skin, eyes and hair and
when you are born with that type of complexion it doesn't take
much to leave you red and blotchy or worse, rashy and itchy.
I have not been able to wear any jewelry other then 18 carat or
higher my whole life because of that. Do you know how bad it
sucked to be me in the 80's and not be able to wear one dangly
over sized earring. I could already see the tell-tail signs Rowan
would suffer the same fate since when ever she spilled some
formula on her chin or neck she has gotten a rash similar to
a diaper rash and I was a little worried this would do the same
to her.
The first time I used it I found out the smell was a little
bit stronger when mixed with warm water. Not bad, but
I am not sure I would qualify it as lightly scented. Rowan
seemed to like the fact it was a little thicker then her
Johnson's Baby Shampoo and I think it has to do with
the fact it wasn't as runny and since Shampoo's seem to be a
little colder then the water around them it kind of shocks
her when you put this first bit on her. With her old Shampoo
it starts to run right away so the cold spreads. This stuff
stays right where you put it and allows for you to get your
hands in there to warm it up right away.
I am not going to tell you there were doves and butter-
flys floating around with Julie Andrews singing in the back-
ground for Rowan is not a bath lover and no matter how great
a product is her fussing is going to make it enjoyable.
BUT- the Aveeno Worked great Cleaned her up in a snap.
Just the right amount of suds and rinsed off super easy and
more importantly clean. No residue.
After rinsing her I held my breath ( Really, I did!) and
brought her to her room to get dressed. I was waiting for
her skin to turn blotchy and hit a shade of red that is not
humanly possible. Guess what? It didn't! I could not
believe my eyes. I will definitely buy this again for that
reason alone. How can you not love a product that does
just what it says it does?
The only draw back is the price. Like most Aveeno
items it is on the step side. It can be found at most
retail locations and drug stores for around 5 dollars.
About 2 dollars more then her old brand but to me
it is worth it. The old saying holds true in this case.
"You get what you pay for!"

http://www.aveeno.com/baby/essential_moisture.jsp?channelFull=09AVOSGGLUBASHPOO01&utm_campaign=Aveeno%20Baby%20-%20Unbr%20-%20Baby%20Shampoo&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Baby%20Shampoo&utm_term=babies%20shampoo#/product-by-line/essential-moisture/



I give this a big two thumbs up