simple woman daybook- November 30, 2016

Outside my (office) window:
Its grey and turning cooler, which makes me happy. (the cooler part, not the grey part.) When the dog woke me up at 1:00a for a potty break, it was raining. She didn't stay out in it long.  Raining and cold this weekend.
 
Around the house:
moving along with the rebuilding slowly. 18 new windows are scheduled to be installed Friday morning. The upgraded nicer and bigger fireplace is scheduled to be installed in the middle of January. I have a meeting scheduled tonight with the carpenter to discuss/chose cabinets in kitchen and bathroom. Sounds like progress, but it is very very slow.

Last weekend:
I spent all weekend going back and forth to Lowes to get paint samples. Finally, colors are chosen. The masterbath is going to be light French grey and the bedroom is babbling brook.  

I am watching:
Having an antenna is limiting. I miss HGTV. I've been watching a lot of the Love Boat, Wonder Woman and the news that continuously replays on one station. Its been quite a while since I watched any series regularly. Looking forward to start of The Great American Baking Show this Thursday.


I am listening to:

• this podcast from Elise Joy on getting your goals down on paper 
• this book on audible

I am cooking:
I manage to cook breakfast in my little makeshift kitchen upstairs, but not much else. I've been heavily relying on sandwiches or chick-fil-a for supper, or the home cooked meals friends randomly drop by.  If I had a real kitchen, I'd be making chicken and dumplings' and peanut butter oatmeal bars this weekend.
  
I am looking forward to:
The 2017 Propel Conference. They have not released the dates or cities yet, but several of us are planning to attend at the most exciting location. I am not so secretly pulling for a return trip to California. When I lived in Nevada, I was three hours away from my favorite spot , and was there about five times a year.  But, its a lot harder to see it from Louisiana.





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Walgreens Haul

 

 

 

 

Late night shopping at Walgreens produced a small haul:  

 

Olay gift pack, but its really for me. It was $10 for full size body wash, full size moisturizer and travel size deodorant.  It was just too good of a deal to pass up. I'll probably by more this year for gifts  for me.

 

Essie Gel Polish in a gift pack, but, again, its really for me. I've been looking to try this new polish and I could not find it anywhere! At $18, I thought it was too expensive but threw it in the buggy anyway. Turns out, that is the price for this gift pack everywhere.  I haven't painted my nails since the flood in August, but I'm looking forward to getting back into my normal groove. I think better and act better with pretty polish on my nails.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Moisturizer
I just love this stuff, and I've had a long time love affair with it. It was $7.99 and worth every penny. It smells divine and is so thick and creamy. I am almost never without it.

L'Oreal self tanner
Honestly, this would not have been my first choice (I love this one), but at Walgreens in the middle of the night, I had to take what I could find. Because, of course, self tanner is important in flood recovery mode. I am trying to disguise the bug bites and bruises on my legs.  It was $12.79

Extra Large Sharpie
First, I thought it was a real bargain, $2.99, and I wore out my smaller sharpies by writing Bible verses on the exposed 2x4s. I really need/want something to write on the concrete floor before flooring is installed. Years ago, before the brick floor went in, I wrote Bible verses on the concrete in the living room and kitchen. Now, Ill do the same in the bedroom. 

Makeup Haul

Imagine you lost all your makeup, perfume and brushes, in a flood and your entire makeup bag is only the few things you brought on vacation with you to the beach (Estee Lauder doublewear light foundation and doublewear concealer, a beauty blender, a mini Tarte mascara, a rollerball size of perfume (this one), one black eyeliner and the three lipsticks in your purse...  plus two bottles of sunscreen, two bathing suits and a monogrammed beach towel... but that's a different story...

What is the first thing you miss? For me it was an eyebrow pencil.

What would you immediately buy to start replacing your makeup?
These are the first things I bought to restock. (this is where keeping a list on my phone of products I want to try comes in handy)

Covergirl Trunaked Nudes $9.99
I heard nothing but good things about this and everyone says they are a dupe for the Urban Decay Nudes and about $40 cheaper. I had been wanting to try these and here is my chance! I'm thinking I will go back and buy the rose gold one also. Emily Noel's youtube review here (starts at 1:02) and Tati's youtube review here (starts at 1:19)

elf eye shadow brush $6
I didn't specifically go to buy this brush. I just needed one and it was cheap. Its been working great.

 

 

 

Milini eyeshadow primer $6.49
I had actually been looking for this for some time, and could never find it. I finally went to a large enough drug store and found it.
Youtube review here (starts at 9:57)

Loreal Magic Lumi Highlighter Pen $12.99
I don't think this was on my list of things to try, but my energy was getting low and I was in need of a highlighter and this one looked like a good one. I had originally planned to re-purchase the magic lumi primer, which I already know I love, but the store was out....

Milani baked blush in Luminoso $7.49
This is another one I had on my list and was planning on trying out. Everyone raves about it and I already like it a lot. It has a built in highlighter. Youtube recommendation here  (starts at 7:02) and here (starts at 2:22)

Maybelline Brow Perfect pencil $6.95
This is what I originally went to the drugstore to get, but another particular brand that was not on my list, but looked like a good one to try. I did see a review of it here (starts at 5:20). My only complaint thus far, is the pencil wears down really quick and I don't have a sharpener (yet!)

On another note... all my nailpolish was saved! The organizer was high enough to stay dry (just barely).

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The Simple Woman Daybook September 15, 2016

Outside my (office) window:
Its ever so slowly turning into fall. The days are still hot but the mornings and evenings are slightly cooler.


I am:
Recuperating from having five feet of water in my house (from the flood.)


I am planning:

• To join YMCA next door to my office, for many reasons, including walking on treadmill and watching TV
• Start a new Bible study tonight at church (Breathe by Priscilla Shirer)
• Get another contractor to give me a quote to rebuild my downstairs
• Have a new AC installed this weekend

I am watching:
Youtube videos. I don't have a TV at my new living arrangements....

I am reading:
The Skinny Budget Diet It was on clearance at Lifeway and I had a 20% off coupon. It was $6. I couldn't resist.

I am cooking:
Put Taco soup in the crockpot this morning.
  
I am disappointed:
I canceled my vacation plans to Maine. I took too much time off during the flood and don't feel like I can spend the time or the money for vacation right now. As much as I don't like flying into snow, I am hopeful I can get to Boston for a few days at the end of the year.

I am looking forward to:
A new car coming this week.... Its on the way from Georgia.

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Weekend accomplishments

 

Since it was approximately 163 degrees in Baton Rouge this weekend, I stayed in and one thing is now complete. The guest room is completely swapped over and put together, and the office is waiting to be painted.

 

Since I used the paint I already had in the garage, the guest room move costs nothing but $5.97 for  brackets to hang a curtain rod from Home Depot, and $21 for paint supplies. I'll eventually get more white shears for the second guest room window, and the room needs a door. The old door had seen better days and I removed it from its hinges and its now sitting on a set of saw horses as a table in my garage.

 

Of course, I had help. Help in the form of a dog laying on the rug all day long. She approves of the new arrangements.

 

 

$20 payday pretty

The concept:
Take $20 (or so...) once a payday and get something just because it makes you feel pretty. 

The results:
Latest payday pretty haul from TJ Maxx:

 

 

 

 

The goods: 

 

Formula X: My favorite nail polish. $2.

It's regularly $10.50 at Sephora, so I grabbed it fast when I saw it. there was only two bottles. Its a metallic grey/purple. I may not have bought this color at the regular price, but  I like it and have already got compliments on it.

 

 

DW Home Candles:  Can you believe I am out of end of the year stockpile of bath and body work candles?! They are one of my favorites. but I also love the DW brand. But I find their candles are kind of hit and miss.... Got a birthday cake scent (flavor?) for $7.99 and a Vanilla Bean slightly smaller for $6.99. But, so far, the birthday cake is a miss.... not my favorite. Its a very faint scent.

 

Soap:  I always buy the scented soap from TJ Maxx. They have a nice selection and you don't see the same kind/scent all the time. I got a very large bath bar in shea butter for $3.99.



weekend projects

 

 

 

Where did the weekend go? Seriously? Between church services and crying all day for the Baton Rouge Police Officers, the only proof I have to show that I actually had a weekend is the memory of a Sunday nap and the accomplishment of cleaning this now empty room. Baton Rouge is all just walking numb and wounded.  I finally had to turn the news off and put my hands to something productive to do.

 

I really cant call it the office anymore, but its not quite the guest room yet... so I started calling it the upstairs room.

 

Baseboards, windows and door frames were scrubbed and the wood floor was mopped with my newest discovery of vinegar and water (I'm mopping all the floors with it. How does it clean so well?)  and then waxed. I love Orange Glow for the wood floors. I've been using it for about 10 years. Nothing perks me up like seeing shiny wood floors. Its very satisfying, in a weird sort of way.

 

 



 

 

I wish I had one more day to putter around in the space, but the work week has arrived, and I honestly don't know when I will get back to it. Every evening after work this week is full. 

 

Monday: Pampered Chef party

Tuesday: Candlelight Service for the Baton Rouge Police Officers

Wednesday: Youth at Church

Thursday: Exercise class

Friday: Church service

 

This is why its called "being a weekend warrior", I suppose.

 

I am actually surprised at how quick the transformation from neglected/abandoned/half-empty/sad office to guest room has been. Its ready for the fun part... organizing and arranging the guest room furniture waiting to be moved from the guest room... or rather the other room that is no longer the guest room, but doesn't yet have a name. 

 

When its empty, what is now the guest room, is going to get a little paint job, a little cleaning, and a little waxing of the wood floors, then become the new office.