A few things I'm loving right now: October

• Revlon lip butters, particular number 030 in "Fig Jam". It was highly recommended by Jen (here). The color of the package is deceiving, its not as brown as it makes you think it will be. It looked good on her, so I gave it a go. I love them even more because I stumbled on sale at Walgreens. $3.99 with Walgreen card and a $3 coupon prints with the receipt so the next one is $.99.
• Tarte BB cream and concealer with brush. Its a re-discovered favorite I  started using again. I get more compliments when I'm wearing this than any other makeup. Its light but has a good coverage.
• Low sugar kind bars. delicious! They come in a box of 4 at Walmart for $5 a box.
• Maybelline Expert Eyes eye makeup remover for waterproof mascara. This is perhaps my best late night impulse buy. I haven't seen reviews, just saw it and grabbed it. There is a multitude of reasons I like this, its only $4.99. Its gentle, its thick, it has no smell, its oil based so its conditioning, it takes off everything.... and I mean everything.... quick. I think its (almost) as good as my favorite, but its 1/6 the price. 

Cheap or Free things to do when down: October edition

 Trip to Barnes and Nobles to find a new book

$22

 Tried a new recipe, a green smoothie

only the cost of ingredients

 

Can dish soap improve your mood? I think so

$3.99

A hot bath with fancy soap

$3.99 at Marshalls

Face mask

this one came in my birchbox subscription

 

 

A project

 new shelves in bathroom and picking new paint colors

$36.00

Simple Woman's Daybook - October 27

Outside my window:
The neighbor took down a big (BIG) tree and instantly my living room is brighter, but less wooded area in my back yard means I might have to re-think the no curtains thing. 

I am thinking:
How expensive can trimming some branches be?  Fingers-crossed. I'm getting a quote this week. Somehow I think no professional will actually be involved and it'll end up with my friend's husbands with chainsaws. It wont be pretty but it will be done and free.

In the kitchen:
This weekend I made red beans and rice in the crock pot, cauliflower soup and steak and homemade french fries.  I've got lunch all week, and some to stock the freezer.

I am looking forward to:
Holiday beauty gifts sets. I spend a lot of time in Ulta.  But its fun, and there could be worse places to spend my time in, at least that's how I justify it to myself.


I am Reading:
It's rare I run to Barnes and Noble and pay full price for a book, but the same day I found this blog,  and this you-tube channel, and I ran to Barnes and Noble because I couldn't wait a week for Amazon to get me this book a little cheaper: At home with Madame Chic

I am learning:
Soft-Scrub-ing the tub kills a manicure.

I am planning:
massive overhaul of master bathroom. OK. maybe not massive, but if you saw everything out of the cabinet and on the floor you'd agree I am in over my head.  Currently, painting the cabinets. Which I would never normally paint a wood cabinet, but someone already painted it (green? what were they thinking?) so I feel I am just correcting past mistakes. If... I mean... when the dern wallpaper  comes off, I'll paint.

Listening to:
The year of the Cat by Al Stewart (here)

I am watching: The Mysteries of Laura.


Favorite Quote for the day:
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

I'm linked here

Scripture Sunday

Banana- Almond-Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe: Pinterest tested Recipe

Another Pinterest recipe here.

My observations:
I need a powerful blender. Chopping up almonds is no joke.
This is very thick.
It doesn't really have much taste.

Will I make it again? 

I'm on the fence....Perhaps I'll play with it a bit, add some vanilla and ... it needs something else... Its not going into heavy rotation.



All about the October Walmart Beauty Box (my first one!)

 

Walmart has a beauty box.

 

and its $5.

 

and I signed up.

 

because I really like surprises in the mail.

 

and apparently the three other subscriptions just are not enough.

 

and I got a full size deodorant, the kind I already use and like.

 

and the deodorant is more than $5 just by itself.

 

and I got a full size covergirl lipstick.

 

and I got a large sample of Oil of Olay Regenerate night cream

 

and a large sample of Loreal Revitalift night cream

 

and sample of perfume and shampoo and conditioner

 

its very exciting

 

This box will be continued

 

 



Mani Monday: revlon colorstay in Cayenne

 

 

 

 

 

Re-visited my old friend Revlon Color Stay. It was a precursor to the gel systems out now and at one time, was almost all I would wear.  With all the new Gel polishes (Revlon and Sally Hansen), this one was pushed to the back. But, Cayenne is a dark burnt orange that is perfect for the beginning of fall and it called me back to try it again. I forgot how good this stuff is. I had practically no chips for 6 days.

 

 

 

Scripture Sunday

Cream of Asparagus soup: Pinterest tested recipe

original recipe here

This could not be easier....  and how impressive is soup?

Not to mention eating all these veggies....

Brown a half diced onion in two tablespoons of butter until brown
add 32 oz of chicken broth
add 4 pounds of asparagus
*this is where the recipe and I parted ways*
and 2 diced potatoes
let simmer for an hour or so
blend with an emulsion blender
add salt and pepper and a little half and half

This is going into heavy rotation
it was delicious, and filing, and easy

verdict: Pinterest recipe winner

 

Did you notice you can follow me on pinterest with the button on the side?

Scripture Sunday

Pinterest tested recipe: corn and ham soup

Did you notice the lack of ham in the ham and corn soup?

I didn't have any. But I did have a ham bone I threw into the broth, thinking this would be enough.  It wasn't. Turns out, corn and ham soup needs actual ham.

Some more reflections on this recipe:

• I would have liked it a little thicker. Next time, I will use less broth
• It was very tasty, and very rich
• Ham would have made it better
• It makes a lot
• I think I should have added some additional potatoes as well
• I froze a little, so I'm very interested in seeing how it turns out from the freezer

Overall, recipe is a winner.

Original recipe from Pinterest here

I'm linked here

Im linked here

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window:
I can breathe again, hummingbirds are at my feeder and my nightly walks around the neighborhood are chilly.

I am thinking:
My old friend Fall has come to see me again.

In the kitchen:
Temperature dips and I go crazy and make beef stew in the crockpot this weekend.

I am looking forward to:
My Monday night date with my TV (Dancing with the Stars.... I'm hooked) and Walmart Beauty Box I just ordered (like I need another monthly beauty box subscription...)

I am  Reading:
Beth Moore Bible Study, A Woman's Heart

I am learning:
Wallpaper doesn't come off as easily as one might think it would.

I am planning:
A November trip to San Diego (La Jolla to be exact) by way of Las Vegas to pick up an old friend. I can't hardly breathe,  I'm so excited about seeing this again.

I am hoping:
Something is developing...

Listening to:
Phil Collins, "I dont care anymore" (here)
Lana Del Ray "Summertime Sadness" (here)

Favorite Quote for the day:
"When I'm having a particularly bad day, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days is 100%, and that is pretty darn good." unknown

sally hansen gel shine review and controversry

Did you hear all the controversy over this Sally Hansen Gel Polish?

This you-tube video explains it better than I can. And, I'll be honest, I kind of rolled my eyes when I watched it. I mean, really. How hard can it be to get the right nail polish?

Well. Let me tell you. It is hard.  and I failed. Even after watching the you-tube video, so unless you are really on your toes, you  are getting the wrong one.

I mean, really.  Could they possibly make this any harder?

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



The verdict:

 

After I finally got the right polish and got it on.

 

It was glorious!  I love it! Its shiny and beautiful.  I went and bought a second color.

 

I like it (gasp!) better than the other gel polish I've tried, Revlon.

 

 



 

 



September: Cheap and free things to do when feeling down

 

Make a late night Target trip to the cosmetic aisle. Spend $25.

 

 

 

Spend an hour (or three) in Barnes and Nobles. Three books in the clearance section: $20

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caffiene is always a good idea.

A treat at Starbuck's: $4.22

 

 

 

 

 Spending time in the Bible, another good idea, especially love it when friends text you Bible verses $0

 

Spending time with the dog $0

 

Flowers from the grocery store! These were only $5!