New Normal Lipstick

Pundits say that lipstick sales increase in a recession because compared to other fashion splurges a tube of lipstick is not that big an investment. (Let me see...Chanel quilted bag at $2250, or Chanel lipstick at $28.50--in the new normal I'll take the lipstick.)

But there is a wide range of lipstick choices. For some reason I have shunned all of the drugstore brands--I think I overindulged in Wet 'N Wild in high school and have too many memories of my mom mixing her own personal concoction of layers of pinks from green revlon tubes. Once I discovered Bobbi Brown and Chanel at Nordstrom there was no going back.

Its been a long time since I walked the Walgreens makeup aisle, let alone bought anything other than Almay eye make-up remover pads there.

REAL SIMPLE suggested that Revlon Colorburst Lipstick was destined to be a classic--but they failed to mention they are a BARGAIN.

At $9.95 a tube (and currently buy one get the second 50% off) I got two beautiful new shades of lipstick (may I recommend Rosy Nude and Raspberry). They are just as creamy as my more expensive lipsticks, and last just about as long (I can drink a latte, but the gloss is gone after a meal.)

Maybe I can justify that Chanel bag by only buying Revlon lipsticks in the future? But then again that really isn't the point--if its the NEW Normal, I have to love the lipstick, and live without the bag.

REAL SIMPLE didn't teach me this

But I can't help shouting it from the roof tops..and kicking myself for not thinking of it first.

from: Everyone could change your life.

The group gift is the ultimate conundrum--its a huge time saver from the gift giving side. You don't have to rack your brain on what to give, how much to spend, wrap it all, and spend too much money. But, if you are the poor soul that has to organize the gift, its a total nightmare. Who has cash anymore? And a check--lord knows the last time I wrote an actual check, (oh wait, last December when I had to contribute to our Kindergarten class gift...and I actually had to mail it with a stamp...sigh.)

This website lets you choose a gift, ask folks to contribute and round up all the money, all using credit cards and email...a dream come true.

I would say the only fault is that you can't just give a VISA/MC/AMEX gift card--you have to choose a store. But really who doesn't want a Target gift card any day of the week.

Stress Relief?

Its the section of REAL SIMPLE that I skip over every month. I am not a zen master--I've never found the joy in yoga, mediation or simply taking life slowly. Lately though I have been open to new ideas, since the amount of stress in the Bailey household has been going up exponentially lately. Everyday I wake up hoping that life will get easier, or at least simpler, and yet the universe keeps giving us more.

Dan took my car into the shop yesterday--my new brakes were squeaking at an earsplitting pitch, and the seat warmers were broken (big bummer in the freezing rain of late...) Around 3 pm he called to see what time the car would be ready to pick up--I was listening to one half of the conversation:

"No, I didn't get your voicemail--(cell phone coverage in our house is HORRIBLE.)"

"WHAT?? Really, that is unbelievable"

"Wow, sounds like you are working hard to get it resolved."

"No, we are getting our other car back today, so we won't need a rental."

WHAT COULD BE GOING IN WITH MY CAR?

Turns out on the test drive of my improved non earsplitting brakes, another car took a left into the front half of my car. Yes, the front half of my car is a mess--in desperate need of a body shop. Who takes their car in for mere annoyances and ends up a totaled front left side?

You can see why I need REAL SIMPLE.

Thankfully this month's issue has the promise of "15 minutes and you're done stress relief".

Here's my assessment:

Mediation--mildly interesting, but after 3 minutes of slow breathing and sitting stick straight on the floor I was feeling inadequate because I couldn't clear my mind. I was actually getting more stressed out.

Full Body Stretch: This seemed promising since the images were all of a woman in a rolling desk chair--a place I find myself most hours of most days. I did the cat-cow, the side to side and the twist, and by the end I felt dizzy from too little oxygen and too many odd movements.

Walking Mediation: This worked a bit--I was so busy counting my four step inhale and four step exhale that my mind was cleared--My load felt lighter for about 5 minutes.

I wouldn't say I am stress free--in fact I feel slightly more anxious because I couldn't find the zen in most of the exercises and breathing techniques, but it was only 15 minutes, as promised. And hopefully, since I tried something new the universe won't give us any more bad news today, just a visit from my in laws, and yet another rainy day.

Day One:

This month's issue has a spread on how super organized women live.

After reading the article I emailed my sister 4 words: "This makes me ill."

I can only imagine what it does for the average person, let alone hoarders or messaholics.

I consider myself organized. Most things in my house have a place--they may not be in that place on any given day, but if you gave me a week I could get it all back together.

There are a few spots that are a complete mess. I have let the chaos reign for too long--the task of pulling it together seems too huge. I have 3 secret drawers of shame.

1. My photo drawer--literally a 3 foot by 2 foot repository of my life on photo paper. I adore the images, I just can't figure out what to do with them. But really if I cherish the photos why can't I give them some respect?
2. My sewing drawer--I have fabric, thread, needles and all the tools, but they live in a jumble mess. The last time I had to sew a pillow I bought all new materials instead of digging through what I had.
3. My Cord City--a drawer full of every cord, camera and computer cast off I have ever owned.

The image of the drawer of cords neatly tucked in labeled ziploc bags inspired me to tackle cord city. I have ziplocs, and I thought I had sharpies, but I digress.....

I set my youngest daughter up at my desk with a coloring book and some markers (which came in handy when I discovered I had "misplaced" all our sharpies. 45 minutes later I had a container store (oh the irony....) bag full of old cords, old cell phones etc to E-Cycle, and I had 3 smaller drawers of bliss.

In the first count I had:

1. 10 USB to camera cords
2. 4 ethernet cables
3. 2 power plugs of unknown orgin
4. an old router
5. an old wireless adapter
6. an old hard drive
7. 2 broken cameras, 2 working cameras and all their accessories
8. Mini VHS tapes of my trip to antarctica 10 years ago
9. 7 headphones
10. 2 camera bags that none of the working cameras actually fit into
11. AV cords, and extension cord, phone cords, dsl filters and more

What did I need to keep to be REAL SIMPLE:

1. 2 USB camera cords (we only own two cameras for goodness sake)
2. 2 ethernet cables (I likely don't need either but you never know...)
3. 4 headphones (2 for the kids, 2 for us)
4. AV cords, and extension cord, phone cords, dsl filters
5. the working cameras, lens and chargers
6. Mini VHS tapes are off to be converted to DVD as we speak

I can now send anyone in my house into cord city to find what they need, instead of knowing that I would have to dig through the mess for them, hoping to find the mystery item, because only I knew what the cord or item looked like. Now if you can read, you can help yourself to our drawers of electronic delight, and that to me seems pretty simple, really.

Real Simple Magazine Challenge

Each year begins with a resolution or two--but soon after the first some are put to the side, too hard to tackle, too daunting to face alone.

I decided I needed a guide, a guru of sorts to help me get my life pulled together. There were mindfields throughout my life--I could lose 20 pounds, actually work out and get my heart pumping more often, save money, clean out the drawers of stuff we have accumulated in the last 5 years since Maddie was born. Basically get to everything that gets pushed to the side as we try to keep our heads above water with 2 children under 5 and 2 working parents, and an active, involved social and community life.

My choice: To Live Real Simple. I've been a subsciber for years, and each month I read the magazine cover to cover, ripping out some pages with items to track down, recipes to try, organizing tips to ponder but never implement.

Finally this year I vow to live the ideas of Real Simple. Do they live up to the claim? Will they make my life easier, calmer, more Simple? Or will I make myself crazy with too high a bar of perfection looming over my head each day? Can you be REAL Real Simple?