Since I re-discovered my All-Clad pan (and set it next to its friend, the All-Clad saute pan), I have had All-Clad on the brain. But of course, "being as I am" (said by my precursor Eve in Paradise Lost when she tries to excuse her weaknesses), I had to check around for alternatives.
It doesn't take long to discover that (oh no!!!) Walmart makes a knockoff that is endorsed by none other than the overly-serious folks at Cook's Illustrated. Since I don't have a subscription to the magazine, I can't link to their discussion, but you can check out the discussion on Chowhound, wonderful and addictive site.
It seems that the Walmart model is undergoing some changes. Whatever. The old model (of which there are few left on site) is available in a set or two and in the very pan I crave: a 4-quart saucepan.
Here is the Amazon model.
The Walmart version is about 1/3 the price! A newer version, branded Better Homes and Garden, is also available.
So, dear readers, what would you do?
Showing posts with label Bargains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bargains. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Monday, 4 April 2011
Are All-Clad Pans Worth the Price?
Well, I can't answer that one. They are expensive. Many years ago--before it was easy to find things on the internet--I read glowing reviews of All-Clad pans and decided I wanted to get a 12-inch saute pan. Being a frugal girl, I could not pay the $200plus price. So I started to search. Eventually--many many hours later--I happened upon a book in the library that had a reference to "Cookware and More," a store that sold All-Clad seconds.
I called up (this was before email) and eventually bought the pan of my dreams for about $100.00.
Now, you can find anything on the internet. At minimum wage, my search for the All-Clad probably made the pan cost well over the retail price I was so intent on beating!
What if you want an All-Clad now? The gorgeous All-Clad 6 quart saute pan.
However, if you are willing to give up the straight sides of the saute pan and get a frying pan instead, you can save a bunch.
That last one probably has somewhat less capacity than the saute pan. But the saute pan is so huge that I seldom use it, especially now that my household is down to two.
What about Cookware and More, now--like everything else--on the internet. My big saute pan is under $200; it's irregular.
Williams-Sonoma has a pretty good deal on an All-Clad 4-quart pan; it's the brushed aluminum, not the stainless steel.
As with everything else, you have to compare and contrast. If you are obsessive about getting good prices (as I am) you can waste a lot of your precious time seeking out the good deals.
I love my All-Clad, even though its purchase occasioned a goodly amount of cognitive dissonance.
The best deal in the entire universe of cookware? Everyone knows it's the Lodge cast iron frying pan!
How much time do you spend seeking out a bargain before giving up? Do you ever feel you spent too much time?
I called up (this was before email) and eventually bought the pan of my dreams for about $100.00.
Now, you can find anything on the internet. At minimum wage, my search for the All-Clad probably made the pan cost well over the retail price I was so intent on beating!
What if you want an All-Clad now? The gorgeous All-Clad 6 quart saute pan.
However, if you are willing to give up the straight sides of the saute pan and get a frying pan instead, you can save a bunch.
That last one probably has somewhat less capacity than the saute pan. But the saute pan is so huge that I seldom use it, especially now that my household is down to two.
What about Cookware and More, now--like everything else--on the internet. My big saute pan is under $200; it's irregular.
Williams-Sonoma has a pretty good deal on an All-Clad 4-quart pan; it's the brushed aluminum, not the stainless steel.
As with everything else, you have to compare and contrast. If you are obsessive about getting good prices (as I am) you can waste a lot of your precious time seeking out the good deals.
I love my All-Clad, even though its purchase occasioned a goodly amount of cognitive dissonance.
The best deal in the entire universe of cookware? Everyone knows it's the Lodge cast iron frying pan!
How much time do you spend seeking out a bargain before giving up? Do you ever feel you spent too much time?
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Apology and Gift: Sanita Clogs (Dansko twin?) at a good price
Dear Readers: I have not yet recovered from processing 200plus pieces of work. I completed the task, but remain wiped out. That is why my responding to comments left by my wonderful readers has been so slow. I respond in my head, but typing is soooo much harder.
I will respond! In the meantime, good deals of the consumption sort keep wending my way. I will not succumb, at least not right now. First I will make more progress on my decluttering/donation project.
So here's the good deal, for those whose feet hurt and whose closets are not overflowing with stuff. Footprints, a lovely business, has Sanita professional clogs for under $70. You can also get adorable sandal clogs for even less! Sanita and Dansko are--or used to be--related, though I can't remember how.
If you have teeny feet (36!), you can browse the sale section and get Camper shoes for reallllly cheeeeeeep.
Hope someone can make use of this tidbit.
I will respond! In the meantime, good deals of the consumption sort keep wending my way. I will not succumb, at least not right now. First I will make more progress on my decluttering/donation project.
So here's the good deal, for those whose feet hurt and whose closets are not overflowing with stuff. Footprints, a lovely business, has Sanita professional clogs for under $70. You can also get adorable sandal clogs for even less! Sanita and Dansko are--or used to be--related, though I can't remember how.
If you have teeny feet (36!), you can browse the sale section and get Camper shoes for reallllly cheeeeeeep.
Hope someone can make use of this tidbit.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Customer Service and two bits of Consumption News
MAny moons ago, I wrote about writing to the Asics shoe company about some shoes my son had that fell apart. Then I wrote about how they never responded (neither did the other company--Asian Food Grocer--I had a gripe with about short-dated food).
Eventually, Asics did respond. The rep invited me to return the shoes for inspection with the caveat that the company is the sole and final arbiter on the issue of whether the shoes fell apart too quickly. And no, they would not send me a pre-paid mailer. And no, they will not return the shoes (shredded as they are) if my plea is turned down.
Well, of course I am wary of spending $8-$10 to ship the shoes under such conditions. Companies set such terms so that you won't return an item.
So, in memory of my good consumer father, I'm sending the shoes back. What do you predict Asics will do?
Just in case you want to spend some money, the OTHER company that gave me bad customer service is having a good sale via a code. I am, of course, talking about Chico's. With code 4505, you get $25 off $50 and FREE SHIPPING. I don't think I'm getting anything, but they may have some of their ponte left. You can use it on sale items too, which makes for a tempting deal.
LL Bean is trumpeting its free shipping to US and Canada. I've gotten free shipping with their Visa--the visa lets you return for free.
That's it on consumer news for the day. I'm going to do a little spring closet cleaning instead.
Eventually, Asics did respond. The rep invited me to return the shoes for inspection with the caveat that the company is the sole and final arbiter on the issue of whether the shoes fell apart too quickly. And no, they would not send me a pre-paid mailer. And no, they will not return the shoes (shredded as they are) if my plea is turned down.
Well, of course I am wary of spending $8-$10 to ship the shoes under such conditions. Companies set such terms so that you won't return an item.
So, in memory of my good consumer father, I'm sending the shoes back. What do you predict Asics will do?
Just in case you want to spend some money, the OTHER company that gave me bad customer service is having a good sale via a code. I am, of course, talking about Chico's. With code 4505, you get $25 off $50 and FREE SHIPPING. I don't think I'm getting anything, but they may have some of their ponte left. You can use it on sale items too, which makes for a tempting deal.
LL Bean is trumpeting its free shipping to US and Canada. I've gotten free shipping with their Visa--the visa lets you return for free.
That's it on consumer news for the day. I'm going to do a little spring closet cleaning instead.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Frugal Day Every Which Way: Library, Cabbage, Cookbook
As I think of my little adventures, I realize that frugality is woven into my life. This morning, I headed to the public library (very close) to return a few DVDs. While there I picked up a few books that were being held for me. I also perused the Cook's Illustrated that was on the shelf.
Hmmmm. II wonder if one can compute the savings from this one errand.
DVDS: save $7.50 on 3 rental fees.
Books: I requested two books on braising, and the accommodating book buyer, bought them! Let's see how much they are on Amazon: Molly Stevens: All About Braising.
I also picked up Jean Anderson's Falling Off the Bone.
As usual, I am drawn to the cheapest recipes. While I may make duck ragu one of these days, right now I am putting this cabbage recipe on the menu. Molly Stevens calls it World's Best Braised Green Cabbage.
Total time: 2 1/2 hours
1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 pounds)
1 large yellow onion, peeled and thickly sliced
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in 1/4-inch coins
1/4 cup chicken stock or water
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil a large gratin dish or baking dish (13-by-9-inch works well).
Peel off and discard any bruised or ragged outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut cabbage in half, then into 8 wedges. (Don't trim away the cabbage heart.) Arrange the wedges in the baking dish on their sides, overlapping a little but trying for a single layer. Scatter the onion and carrot over the cabbage. Drizzle with stock or water and oil. Season with salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Cover tightly with foil and transfer to the oven.
Braise for 1 hour. Uncover and gently turn the wedges with tongs, keeping them as intact as possible. Add a little water if pan is drying out. Cover pan and return to oven. Bake 1 hour.
Remove the foil, increase the heat to 400 and roast until vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Not only is braised cabbage the cheapest of the cheap, but also I still have 4 cabbages that were thrown to us during the St Patrick's Day Parade.
I guess I saved a bunch on the cookbooks. My cabbage dish will be almost free. Molly Stevens is an eater after my own heart: she suggests serving the cabbage with mashed potatoes as "an appealing vegetarian supper."
The Cook's Illustrated had this on the cover: Is a toaster oven really worth $250.00? You may remember my toaster oven dilemma, followed by a toaster oven disappointment. According to the magazine, the desired-by-many Breville toaster oven is indeed a wonder. Can't wait till the death of my Black and Decker.
My little adventures, which involved less than $1.00 in gas, should, if I put the savings in a jar, add up to that expensive toaster oven in a year or so.
Hmmmm. II wonder if one can compute the savings from this one errand.
DVDS: save $7.50 on 3 rental fees.
Books: I requested two books on braising, and the accommodating book buyer, bought them! Let's see how much they are on Amazon: Molly Stevens: All About Braising.
I also picked up Jean Anderson's Falling Off the Bone.
As usual, I am drawn to the cheapest recipes. While I may make duck ragu one of these days, right now I am putting this cabbage recipe on the menu. Molly Stevens calls it World's Best Braised Green Cabbage.
Total time: 2 1/2 hours
1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 pounds)
1 large yellow onion, peeled and thickly sliced
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in 1/4-inch coins
1/4 cup chicken stock or water
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil a large gratin dish or baking dish (13-by-9-inch works well).
Peel off and discard any bruised or ragged outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut cabbage in half, then into 8 wedges. (Don't trim away the cabbage heart.) Arrange the wedges in the baking dish on their sides, overlapping a little but trying for a single layer. Scatter the onion and carrot over the cabbage. Drizzle with stock or water and oil. Season with salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Cover tightly with foil and transfer to the oven.
Braise for 1 hour. Uncover and gently turn the wedges with tongs, keeping them as intact as possible. Add a little water if pan is drying out. Cover pan and return to oven. Bake 1 hour.
Remove the foil, increase the heat to 400 and roast until vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Not only is braised cabbage the cheapest of the cheap, but also I still have 4 cabbages that were thrown to us during the St Patrick's Day Parade.
I guess I saved a bunch on the cookbooks. My cabbage dish will be almost free. Molly Stevens is an eater after my own heart: she suggests serving the cabbage with mashed potatoes as "an appealing vegetarian supper."
The Cook's Illustrated had this on the cover: Is a toaster oven really worth $250.00? You may remember my toaster oven dilemma, followed by a toaster oven disappointment. According to the magazine, the desired-by-many Breville toaster oven is indeed a wonder. Can't wait till the death of my Black and Decker.
My little adventures, which involved less than $1.00 in gas, should, if I put the savings in a jar, add up to that expensive toaster oven in a year or so.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Worried About Rising Food Costs: Go to a Parade and Make Colcannon
Miss Em came home yesterday and the first thing she said was "I want to go to the St Patrick's Day Parade." Mardi Gras may be over, but we have another parade.
And guess what? You don't get beads and (if you're lucky) plastic spears, footballs, and underwear, you get cabbage! potatoes! carrots!
Luckily, Miss Em is not only tall, but has red hair, courtesy of Revlon. The marchers always ask her if she's Irish. Of course she says yes. I anticipate enough for colcannon, favorite dish. It's cheap, even if you have to buy the ingredients.
Ingredients
* 1 pound cabbage
* 1 pound potatoes
* 2 leeks
* 1 cup milk
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1 pinch ground mace
* 1/2 cup butter
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, boil cabbage until tender; remove and chop or blend well. Set aside and keep warm. Boil potatoes until tender. Remove from heat and drain.
2. Chop leeks, green parts as well as white, and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft.
3. Season and mash potatoes well. Stir in cooked leeks and milk. Blend in the kale or cabbage and heat until the whole is a pale green fluff. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted butter. Mix well.
As it happens, the parade route is near Buffalo Exchange. So Miss Em and I will wander in with a bag or two and try our luck. I figure getting a cabbage is luck enough; anything more is lagniappe.
Erin go bragh!
Do you have a favorite cabbage dish?
And guess what? You don't get beads and (if you're lucky) plastic spears, footballs, and underwear, you get cabbage! potatoes! carrots!
Luckily, Miss Em is not only tall, but has red hair, courtesy of Revlon. The marchers always ask her if she's Irish. Of course she says yes. I anticipate enough for colcannon, favorite dish. It's cheap, even if you have to buy the ingredients.
Ingredients
* 1 pound cabbage
* 1 pound potatoes
* 2 leeks
* 1 cup milk
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1 pinch ground mace
* 1/2 cup butter
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, boil cabbage until tender; remove and chop or blend well. Set aside and keep warm. Boil potatoes until tender. Remove from heat and drain.
2. Chop leeks, green parts as well as white, and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft.
3. Season and mash potatoes well. Stir in cooked leeks and milk. Blend in the kale or cabbage and heat until the whole is a pale green fluff. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted butter. Mix well.
As it happens, the parade route is near Buffalo Exchange. So Miss Em and I will wander in with a bag or two and try our luck. I figure getting a cabbage is luck enough; anything more is lagniappe.
Erin go bragh!
Do you have a favorite cabbage dish?
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Warehouse Store vs Amazon vs FS
The New York Times has once again done us all a service: it ran an article comparing prices for non-food staples at Costco and Amazon along with some rumination on the value of your time, since Amazon delivers. The winner was Costco, but with time factored in, the writer opines that Amazon, via Subscribe and Save, may be the winner.
This is pretty useful, I guess. I've been using the Amazon more and more this year for food items. I've bought oatmeal for Miss Em.
Just the other day, I got quinoa for a little over $2.00/lb (that deal is expired, sadly) and I've sent Miss Em tea and other things.
But what of the items the NYT writer bought? Here's a partial list: My Costco list included the following: Huggies diapers, Tide powder, Bounty paper towels, Swiffer refills, Clorox wipes, Ziploc sandwich bags and enough Duracell batteries to power multiple electronic devices for many months.
There was also Dove soap, Lubriderm lotion, Tampax, Mach 3 Turbo razor blades and enough house brand ibuprofen to kill off hundreds of headaches, among other things.
Hmmmm. Well, I was a militant cloth diaper user, so I never was a regular buyer of the evil disposables. But I don't use more than a roll of paper towels/year (I use washable microfiber and terry). Ditto for Clorox wipes. As for the Tide, we all know, from my previous blog post and Funny About Money's comment on it, that we only need to use a tiny, tiny amount of detergent anyway, maybe 1/8 of the recommended amount.
As for the other stuff, I realize I mostly get the items from Walgreens or CVS, when they have a killer sale. Often, the stuff is free. It takes me about 5 minutes to peruse the weekly ads. The stores are within a miles of my house. I have so much stuff that I never NEED much of anything. In fact, I have 10 (free) toothpastes; about that much (free body wash), lots of (free) pain reliever, and so on. I got about a 6 month supply of toilet paper too. Lots of almost-free razors. And I don't even use coupons. The writer spends about $200plus on these items PER QUARTER. UGH. (Actually, I don't think that number reflects the cost of those evil diapers.)
So, my advice is to check out your drugstore, if one is nearby. And don't use so much environment-killing stuff, if you can help it.
So, yeah, I love the Amazon program, but mostly for food. And I wish I had a Costco, though mostly for cheese. As always, check your prices. And, as the article says, factor in your time.
This is pretty useful, I guess. I've been using the Amazon more and more this year for food items. I've bought oatmeal for Miss Em.
Just the other day, I got quinoa for a little over $2.00/lb (that deal is expired, sadly) and I've sent Miss Em tea and other things.
But what of the items the NYT writer bought? Here's a partial list: My Costco list included the following: Huggies diapers, Tide powder, Bounty paper towels, Swiffer refills, Clorox wipes, Ziploc sandwich bags and enough Duracell batteries to power multiple electronic devices for many months.
There was also Dove soap, Lubriderm lotion, Tampax, Mach 3 Turbo razor blades and enough house brand ibuprofen to kill off hundreds of headaches, among other things.
Hmmmm. Well, I was a militant cloth diaper user, so I never was a regular buyer of the evil disposables. But I don't use more than a roll of paper towels/year (I use washable microfiber and terry). Ditto for Clorox wipes. As for the Tide, we all know, from my previous blog post and Funny About Money's comment on it, that we only need to use a tiny, tiny amount of detergent anyway, maybe 1/8 of the recommended amount.
As for the other stuff, I realize I mostly get the items from Walgreens or CVS, when they have a killer sale. Often, the stuff is free. It takes me about 5 minutes to peruse the weekly ads. The stores are within a miles of my house. I have so much stuff that I never NEED much of anything. In fact, I have 10 (free) toothpastes; about that much (free body wash), lots of (free) pain reliever, and so on. I got about a 6 month supply of toilet paper too. Lots of almost-free razors. And I don't even use coupons. The writer spends about $200plus on these items PER QUARTER. UGH. (Actually, I don't think that number reflects the cost of those evil diapers.)
So, my advice is to check out your drugstore, if one is nearby. And don't use so much environment-killing stuff, if you can help it.
So, yeah, I love the Amazon program, but mostly for food. And I wish I had a Costco, though mostly for cheese. As always, check your prices. And, as the article says, factor in your time.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Big Lots Coupon! Parades! Smiley Faces!
It's hard to post when you have more than 200 THINGS to grade, check in, or read. It's hard to write comments to nice blog readers when you have zillions of comments to write to students. Luckily, I found my "Great Work" Smiley Face stamp that went missing. It is a great hit with students. Do you think it's weird that a college teacher resorts to such rewards for students? At my previous places of employ, such rewards would have been seen as diminishing the gravitas fitting to my profession. Whatever.
Anyway, I am mired in all the stuff mentioned above. I am also off for 11 days because of the convergence of my schedule and the Mardi Gras break. Lots of time to do work and to hit at least one New Orleans parade: my favorite, Proteus. Look at the beautiful floats.
Even though you can't come to a parade with me, we can meet in a virtual way at Big Lots, which has a 20% off coupon for Sunday. Here's a coupon for you.
Anyway, I am mired in all the stuff mentioned above. I am also off for 11 days because of the convergence of my schedule and the Mardi Gras break. Lots of time to do work and to hit at least one New Orleans parade: my favorite, Proteus. Look at the beautiful floats.
Even though you can't come to a parade with me, we can meet in a virtual way at Big Lots, which has a 20% off coupon for Sunday. Here's a coupon for you.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Frugal Cleaning Products
As always, I am inspired by Funny About Money, fave blogger, who put together a post on frugal and green cleaning supplies. Anyone who knows me is rolling on the floor laughing at the thought of my expertise in anything domestic: I am probably in the bottom 1% of the population in terms of housekeeping skills.
Still, no one would deny my reading skills. And it was a happy day when I discovered Don Aslett, cleaning expert and scourge of clutter. I find his books real motivators. Nothing like owning a cleaning service (as Don does) to make you see the true cost of clutter.
Don is also a wonderful writer. He has zillions of books now. In fact, my one gripe with him is that his numerous books (many on overlapping topics) constitute a kind of clutter in themselves. His two greatest are
From the first you learn to de-clutter. From the second, you learn how to clean. Don says you only need three products, all of which can be bought as concentrates and diluted.
He even sells the products on-line. Usually, I don't trust such products, but so great is my love of and trust in Don that I WOULD buy one of his cleaning kits. However, Mr. FS pointed out that you could get the same cleaners at Home Depot. Here is his Green Cleaning Kit (around $45):
* 1 Quart Foam N Flush
* 1 Quart Tub N Tile
* 1 Tub N Tile Spray Bottle
* 1 Quart Max Clean
* 1 Max Clean Spray Bottle
* 3-pack Window Cleaner
* Window Cleaner Spray Bottle
* Toilet Bowl Caddy - holds Foam N Flush & Johnny Mop
* 1 Johnny Mop
* 1 Shaw';s Pad
* 1 Grout Brush
* 2 Multipurpose Microfiber Towels
* 1 Large White Scrubber
* 1 Ready-to-Use X-O+
* Cleaning Caddy
Check out his mini-essays too.
I spend a lot of time reading, including much that is obscure and high brow. But there is a place on my shelf for Don Aslett. His books have probably done as much to enrich my life as The Elements of Style.
Still, no one would deny my reading skills. And it was a happy day when I discovered Don Aslett, cleaning expert and scourge of clutter. I find his books real motivators. Nothing like owning a cleaning service (as Don does) to make you see the true cost of clutter.
Don is also a wonderful writer. He has zillions of books now. In fact, my one gripe with him is that his numerous books (many on overlapping topics) constitute a kind of clutter in themselves. His two greatest are
From the first you learn to de-clutter. From the second, you learn how to clean. Don says you only need three products, all of which can be bought as concentrates and diluted.
He even sells the products on-line. Usually, I don't trust such products, but so great is my love of and trust in Don that I WOULD buy one of his cleaning kits. However, Mr. FS pointed out that you could get the same cleaners at Home Depot. Here is his Green Cleaning Kit (around $45):
* 1 Quart Foam N Flush
* 1 Quart Tub N Tile
* 1 Tub N Tile Spray Bottle
* 1 Quart Max Clean
* 1 Max Clean Spray Bottle
* 3-pack Window Cleaner
* Window Cleaner Spray Bottle
* Toilet Bowl Caddy - holds Foam N Flush & Johnny Mop
* 1 Johnny Mop
* 1 Shaw';s Pad
* 1 Grout Brush
* 2 Multipurpose Microfiber Towels
* 1 Large White Scrubber
* 1 Ready-to-Use X-O+
* Cleaning Caddy
Check out his mini-essays too.
I spend a lot of time reading, including much that is obscure and high brow. But there is a place on my shelf for Don Aslett. His books have probably done as much to enrich my life as The Elements of Style.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Psychomachia: Another Good Deal (from Chico's this time)
Sorry readers. I KNOW I have too much stuff. I KNOW that I don't need anything. I KNOW that spending does not really involve saving. I KNOW that temptation often puts super bargains in my path. I KNOW it's hard not to peek at emails offering good deals, even though I should delete.
You know: the little angel and the little devil from Tom and Jerry? That's a modern version of psychomachia, or the battle for the soul, from a medieval work of the same name.
If you took a British lit course in college, you may know it from Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, where the good and bad angels make frequent appearances, and where Doctor F always chooses the WRONG PATH.
OK, I've given you enough time to choose the right path. But in case you need anything from the dreaded Chico's (where I have been subject to poor customer service both in store and on-line!), there is a good deal around. First of all, as stylish blogger DejaPseu noted a few days ago, the Chico's ponte pants that I like are on sale for $39. NOT BAD.
But, if you spend a total of $50 at Chico's (and they just reduced some of their sale items), you can use this code: 4373, which will give you $25.00 off a purchase of at least $50.00.
You do have to pay for shipping, if you are not in the Passport Club (which requires spending $500, a level I have not yet reached in 5 years). But WAIT! My mother is a Passport member, so if I use her number, I get free shipping. If you have a friend in the blessed Passport sorority order for you, you get free shipping too. I think the shipping charge is worth it though. I hate driving to stores.
OK, I succumbed. And I succumbed last week to the other good deal (though everything I got was for other family members).
It is fun to get new things, even if we don't end up looking like Helen of Troy (or a succubus version of her), as presented in these famous lines from Doctor Faustus:
Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
The code is only good till 2/27. btw.
You know: the little angel and the little devil from Tom and Jerry? That's a modern version of psychomachia, or the battle for the soul, from a medieval work of the same name.
If you took a British lit course in college, you may know it from Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, where the good and bad angels make frequent appearances, and where Doctor F always chooses the WRONG PATH.
OK, I've given you enough time to choose the right path. But in case you need anything from the dreaded Chico's (where I have been subject to poor customer service both in store and on-line!), there is a good deal around. First of all, as stylish blogger DejaPseu noted a few days ago, the Chico's ponte pants that I like are on sale for $39. NOT BAD.
But, if you spend a total of $50 at Chico's (and they just reduced some of their sale items), you can use this code: 4373, which will give you $25.00 off a purchase of at least $50.00.
You do have to pay for shipping, if you are not in the Passport Club (which requires spending $500, a level I have not yet reached in 5 years). But WAIT! My mother is a Passport member, so if I use her number, I get free shipping. If you have a friend in the blessed Passport sorority order for you, you get free shipping too. I think the shipping charge is worth it though. I hate driving to stores.
OK, I succumbed. And I succumbed last week to the other good deal (though everything I got was for other family members).
It is fun to get new things, even if we don't end up looking like Helen of Troy (or a succubus version of her), as presented in these famous lines from Doctor Faustus:
Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
The code is only good till 2/27. btw.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
LL Bean 30% off EVERYTHING: Fair to Post?
Now that I've recovered from my multiple ailments, my mind is racing through things important (Shakespeare, Henry James), necessary (committee work), and trivial (frugal musings of various sorts).
A few days ago, LL Bean sent out a 15% off EVERYTHING code to a lucky few. A LUCKIER few got a 30% off EVERYTHING. There are numerous free shipping codes available too. I was in neither lucky camp.
Still, I read about it on a site I seldom look at: Slickdeals, which I learned about from a frugal colleague, and which offers deals mostly of the electronic variety. I checked Facebook to see if LL had publicized the code that way. No. A woman did write to complain that she, a good customer, got 15%, while her husband, who never buys anything, got 30%. LL responded that they were trying to entice people who didn't buy much.
Well, thanks a lot! I guess I fall into neither the buying nor the non-buying category, though I did spend a couple of hundred dollars there this year. In my fantasy world (promoted by Bean's publicity machine), LL offers FAIR everyday prices, with a FAIR profit.
If that's true, how can they fling around a 30% off everything code? Is it FAIR to LL to use a code you find posted on the internet? Is it FAIR to post the code? Is it FAIR to offer some customers a better price than others?
I know not the answers to these questions. I did buy Mr. FS a pair of boots and Miss Em a travel backpack for her trips this summer and beyond. I used the code.
It's good through today, I think. I am considering getting some of their sheepskin slippers! Oh, and how about a kayak? I've always wanted one to use in Massachusetts, where we have a house on a lake (we generally borrow the neighbor's kayak, but that is sometimes awkward).
FAIR to POST? If you want it, the code is JPA4393. Free shipping (if you don't have the Visa offered by LL) is LL3039329. FAIR? What is FAIR anyway? And how has FAIRNESS changed in the age of the internet?
And now for some beauty, via Shakespeare:
From fairest creatures we desire increase,
that thereby beauty's rose might never die
or, more disquieting,
And every fair from fair sometime declines
By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed.
Can one even talk about FAIRNESS in the context of big business, marketing, consumer awareness, and so on?
A few days ago, LL Bean sent out a 15% off EVERYTHING code to a lucky few. A LUCKIER few got a 30% off EVERYTHING. There are numerous free shipping codes available too. I was in neither lucky camp.
Still, I read about it on a site I seldom look at: Slickdeals, which I learned about from a frugal colleague, and which offers deals mostly of the electronic variety. I checked Facebook to see if LL had publicized the code that way. No. A woman did write to complain that she, a good customer, got 15%, while her husband, who never buys anything, got 30%. LL responded that they were trying to entice people who didn't buy much.
Well, thanks a lot! I guess I fall into neither the buying nor the non-buying category, though I did spend a couple of hundred dollars there this year. In my fantasy world (promoted by Bean's publicity machine), LL offers FAIR everyday prices, with a FAIR profit.
If that's true, how can they fling around a 30% off everything code? Is it FAIR to LL to use a code you find posted on the internet? Is it FAIR to post the code? Is it FAIR to offer some customers a better price than others?
I know not the answers to these questions. I did buy Mr. FS a pair of boots and Miss Em a travel backpack for her trips this summer and beyond. I used the code.
It's good through today, I think. I am considering getting some of their sheepskin slippers! Oh, and how about a kayak? I've always wanted one to use in Massachusetts, where we have a house on a lake (we generally borrow the neighbor's kayak, but that is sometimes awkward).
FAIR to POST? If you want it, the code is JPA4393. Free shipping (if you don't have the Visa offered by LL) is LL3039329. FAIR? What is FAIR anyway? And how has FAIRNESS changed in the age of the internet?
And now for some beauty, via Shakespeare:
From fairest creatures we desire increase,
that thereby beauty's rose might never die
or, more disquieting,
And every fair from fair sometime declines
By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed.
Can one even talk about FAIRNESS in the context of big business, marketing, consumer awareness, and so on?
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Summer Budgeting
The other day, I wore my new boots. I received many compliments, and, since my reputation precedes me, some questions: Did you get those at a thrift store? Uh no, from a fancy catalog, over $100, even on sale.
One of my students was shocked. How come you brought us recycled folders so we could save 25 cents, and then you spend $100? That doesn't quite make sense, since I didn't save the quarter: each of my students did. But it does make karmic sense: how come I'm so obsessed with recycling folders (even taking discards from other teachers) and then am willing to buy the occasional pricey item? I guess my thrift is both karmic and pragmatic. I just have all these pennywise habits and it would be too much work to change them.
Unlike many bloggers, who exhort us to attend to the big expenses and not to the little ones, I believe that all the little stuff adds up. The big expenses are often ones over which we have little control.
When I think about my summer expenses, I am relieved that I've been practicing the little frugalities.
ITEM: Each summer, we spend about $6000.00 visiting parents, one on the west coast, one on the east coast. These are not fancy vacations: we have 4 plane fares plus car rentals on each end. We will continue to pay for our children's tickets even after they finish college.
ITEM: This summer, we plan a trip to Nantes, which will probably cost around $5000.00
Those last two are built into our yearly budget, though we haven't been to Europe for a few years. $11,000 on teaching salaries necessitates taking a pennywise approach for the rest of the year.
ITEM: This summer Miss Em wants to go to Italy to study art history. Cost is $4300 plus airfare. She will get $2000 from the scholarship she got as a freshman. Still, very expensive.
When I set out these numbers, I am shocked. In truth, I can hardly see how we do it. Many people assume we receive handouts from our families. I suppose our parents would help out if we asked, but we don't.
When I set out the numbers, I am also happy. Isn't it amazing how all the little frugalities add up to big treats?
In fact, I already have my Walgreens shop for tomorrow all planned: I will be buying peanut butter, honey, and eggs. Check your paper tomorrow. All those items will be verrrrry cheap.
Have you saved for anything big with little frugalities?
One of my students was shocked. How come you brought us recycled folders so we could save 25 cents, and then you spend $100? That doesn't quite make sense, since I didn't save the quarter: each of my students did. But it does make karmic sense: how come I'm so obsessed with recycling folders (even taking discards from other teachers) and then am willing to buy the occasional pricey item? I guess my thrift is both karmic and pragmatic. I just have all these pennywise habits and it would be too much work to change them.
Unlike many bloggers, who exhort us to attend to the big expenses and not to the little ones, I believe that all the little stuff adds up. The big expenses are often ones over which we have little control.
When I think about my summer expenses, I am relieved that I've been practicing the little frugalities.
ITEM: Each summer, we spend about $6000.00 visiting parents, one on the west coast, one on the east coast. These are not fancy vacations: we have 4 plane fares plus car rentals on each end. We will continue to pay for our children's tickets even after they finish college.
ITEM: This summer, we plan a trip to Nantes, which will probably cost around $5000.00
Those last two are built into our yearly budget, though we haven't been to Europe for a few years. $11,000 on teaching salaries necessitates taking a pennywise approach for the rest of the year.
ITEM: This summer Miss Em wants to go to Italy to study art history. Cost is $4300 plus airfare. She will get $2000 from the scholarship she got as a freshman. Still, very expensive.
When I set out these numbers, I am shocked. In truth, I can hardly see how we do it. Many people assume we receive handouts from our families. I suppose our parents would help out if we asked, but we don't.
When I set out the numbers, I am also happy. Isn't it amazing how all the little frugalities add up to big treats?
In fact, I already have my Walgreens shop for tomorrow all planned: I will be buying peanut butter, honey, and eggs. Check your paper tomorrow. All those items will be verrrrry cheap.
Have you saved for anything big with little frugalities?
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Little Bargains Here and There
I have learned--as have many others--that WHAT YOU SPEND is more important than HOW MUCH YOU SAVE. So "saving" 50% on a $300 sweater may not be better than SPENDING $40 on a sweater. Sad but true: the price to value ratio is not always what one would hope. I seldom find that you get what you pay for.
Also, I KNOW that many--and that includes me--buy TOO much. Still--and just ignore the following two tips if you want--most of us do buy things both necesssary and discretionary now and again.
In the NECESSARY category. I noticed that Amazon had a crazy low price on Community Coffee Instant with chicory.
Both my children use instant in their college dorms and Mr. FS and I bring instant to work. These are $9.99 for FOUR 7 oz. We bought enough for free shipping. These "expire" in March, but I scoff at such dates. Hopefully, not to my peril--or worse.
In the DISCRETIONARY: Garnet Hill, the elegant and funky catalog, has FREE SHIPPING, TODAY ONLY and ONLY if you click through their FACEBOOK page.
I have discovered that occasional good deals are offered on Facebook. I'm not even ON Facebook and I certainly don't want to "FRIEND" a store. Still, it's worth an occasional glance to see, especially if, like me, you don't look at very many places.
Also, I KNOW that many--and that includes me--buy TOO much. Still--and just ignore the following two tips if you want--most of us do buy things both necesssary and discretionary now and again.
In the NECESSARY category. I noticed that Amazon had a crazy low price on Community Coffee Instant with chicory.
Both my children use instant in their college dorms and Mr. FS and I bring instant to work. These are $9.99 for FOUR 7 oz. We bought enough for free shipping. These "expire" in March, but I scoff at such dates. Hopefully, not to my peril--or worse.
In the DISCRETIONARY: Garnet Hill, the elegant and funky catalog, has FREE SHIPPING, TODAY ONLY and ONLY if you click through their FACEBOOK page.
I have discovered that occasional good deals are offered on Facebook. I'm not even ON Facebook and I certainly don't want to "FRIEND" a store. Still, it's worth an occasional glance to see, especially if, like me, you don't look at very many places.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Drugstores for Groceries? YES!
I just posted this over on College Cooking. I thought this might also be news for my FRUGAL followers.
This comes under the category: I thought everyone knew this. However, since most of my peers don't know this, I can only assume most College Cooks are likewise unaware of the riches (or staples) lurking in the drugstore.
This may be news you can use. For many, grocery stores are at a distance from campus, a problem for the time-challenged College Cook. There seem to be drugstores on every corner. In my town of 8500, there are often two drugstores on every corner, as CVS and Walgreens are facing off.
Now you may suppose that drugstores only carry overpriced convenience foods or snack items. Not so, College Cooks. They carry more staples than you might think, AND (for after all, I am FRUGAL) they have good WEEKLY SALES.
Just for a glimpse at my Walgreens this week*:
tuna 69 cents
peanuts 1.99/lb
cereal (cheerios, fiber1) 2.50
Kraft mayo 2.99
butter 2.50/lb
bacon 2.50**
coffee of various kinds, instant and regular
Not to be mentioned in polite company, box mac and cheese (69 cents) and those bowl things that you can microwave (99 cents).
They always have pasta, milk, and eggs also, the latter two at decent prices.
Now, for the **:
* You may need a coupon. The coupons are in the ads at the front of the store. Ask a cashier for help if you can't handle this task.
** The ad says "ready-to-serve bacon." Could this be the pre-cooked slices? I've never used the product, but I would think this would be great for the College Cook. It does not require refrigeration, and can be sprinkled on some of your soups and pastas. Must check on this, faithful readers.
CVS and Rite-Aid have similar sales.
This comes under the category: I thought everyone knew this. However, since most of my peers don't know this, I can only assume most College Cooks are likewise unaware of the riches (or staples) lurking in the drugstore.
This may be news you can use. For many, grocery stores are at a distance from campus, a problem for the time-challenged College Cook. There seem to be drugstores on every corner. In my town of 8500, there are often two drugstores on every corner, as CVS and Walgreens are facing off.
Now you may suppose that drugstores only carry overpriced convenience foods or snack items. Not so, College Cooks. They carry more staples than you might think, AND (for after all, I am FRUGAL) they have good WEEKLY SALES.
Just for a glimpse at my Walgreens this week*:
tuna 69 cents
peanuts 1.99/lb
cereal (cheerios, fiber1) 2.50
Kraft mayo 2.99
butter 2.50/lb
bacon 2.50**
coffee of various kinds, instant and regular
Not to be mentioned in polite company, box mac and cheese (69 cents) and those bowl things that you can microwave (99 cents).
They always have pasta, milk, and eggs also, the latter two at decent prices.
Now, for the **:
* You may need a coupon. The coupons are in the ads at the front of the store. Ask a cashier for help if you can't handle this task.
** The ad says "ready-to-serve bacon." Could this be the pre-cooked slices? I've never used the product, but I would think this would be great for the College Cook. It does not require refrigeration, and can be sprinkled on some of your soups and pastas. Must check on this, faithful readers.
CVS and Rite-Aid have similar sales.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Makeup Tips from Paula Begoun and How I Took the Path of Frugality
You probably know these already, but you might take a look at her product recommendations. I love how her list ranges from the low to the high, showing, that in makeup, perhaps more than most things, low end products may be just as good as high end.
I remember watching a show on Public Television--back in the day when we called it Channel 13--which did an expose on cosmetics. I was under 10--at least in my memory. I was fascinated. I learned that lipstick is mostly wax, for instance. I remember learning that 25 cents of raw ingredients could become a designer lipstick. I wonder if that--plus the fact that my father worked in market research--set me on the path of severe skepticism about product claims. Of course that path intersects with the path of frugality.
Enough autobiography! Here are Paula's tips, copied from my email. Remember, she has FREE shipping on a $20+ order. Paula has never steered me wrong, I must say.
Essential Makeup Do and Don'ts!
Beauty Tips from The Cosmetics Cop Team!
Paula & The Cosmetics Cop Team love to share makeup tips and product recommendations for looking young, healthy, and vibrant. All it takes are just a few simple rules, some practice and a dash of finesse. To help you, we've assembled our list of makeup Dos and Don'ts along with some bonus product recommendations!
Makeup DOs
• DO apply eyeliner as close to the lash line as possible: A soft or charcoal brown shade can look beautiful by enhancing the lashes and framing the eye. If the outer corners of your eyes have begun to droop, make sure the eyeliner turns up ever-so-slightly so you don't emphasize the drooping. For the lower lash line, use a softer color than you did for your upper lash line. Powder eyeshadows work great as eyeliner - M.A.C., Shu Uemura, Sephora, and Trish McEvoy offer wonderful options.
• DO wear lipstick: Soft lip color is a sexy, glowing look any time of day. Red is a great option, and it makes a dramatic statement, just keep it on the brighter side as opposed to magenta, purple or browns. Some of our favorite red lipsticks include:
* Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in s21 or s43 Moulin Rouge ($19)
* Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow, or Fire & Ice ($7.99)
* Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick in Stay Scarlet ($22)
• DO consider color balance: In other words, if you are wearing a pinkish lip color, your blush should be in a similar color family. It's sort of like if you are wearing a pink skirt and orange top; it can sometimes work, but be careful. High contrast makeup can look glaring, and if you're thinking young, vibrant and healthy, stick with related color tones.
• DO complement the intensity of your blush with your skin tone: If you have fair to light skin, pale pink, rose, or peach shades will always flatter more than deep berry or plum shades, which can make the cheek area look bruised. In contrast, women with medium to tan skin tones can look gorgeous with berry or plum-hued blush. The Cosmetics Cop Team has some favorite powder blushes, and they are:
* American Beauty Blush Perfect Cheek Color ($15.50)
* Jane Blushing Cheeks Blush ($4)
* NARS Blush ($25)
* L'Oreal True Match Blush ($10.95)
• DO pay attention to your smile: Whiter teeth make you look healthy and vibrant, adding incredible brightness and beauty to your face. Since Paula's Choice launched our Brighten Up 2-Minute Teeth Whitener we have all become fastidious about our smiles! And our customers agree: This product has become the best-selling item Paula's Choice has ever launched!
• DO test out makeup primers: You want a primer that enhances your skin tone while also giving your skin the ingredients it needs to look and feel healthy. Some formulations smooth out skin and help create a lit-from-within look, while others can leave garish shine or accentuate dry areas. It can also depend on what type of makeup you're applying on top of it, which is why experimenting is crucial to finding the right primer! Some of our favorite primers include:
* Giorgio Armani Light Master Primer ($55)
* Jan Marini Age Intervention Prime Face Primer ($75)
* M.A.C. Prep + Prime Line Filler ($19.50)
* Victoria's Secret Airbrush FX Face Primer SPF 20 ($14)
• DO blend (and blend, and then blend again): Whether it's foundation, blush or eyeshadow, blend away harsh edges. If you're trying to cover up imperfections, blending is crucial to imperceptible concealing. Don't use emollient/greasy concealers on blemishes. Do use a lightweight, flesh-tone (that means no yellow, orange, or lavender tones) concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your foundation.
Makeup DON'Ts
• DON'T cover up skin problems instead of treating them: No matter how good a makeup product is, it will only look as good as the skin it's applied to. Skin must be smooth and free of dry, flaky patches or yucky, clogged pores. Using makeup to conceal what you don't like about your skin is the wrong approach. Start with good skin care and your makeup will always apply and look better.
• DON'T forget to check your eyebrows: Brows that are drawn-on, pencil-thin, overly sparse, or too-arched are not what you want to see. These mistakes can make someone who is 25 years old look much, much older. If you need to fill in and shape brows, here are some of The Cosmetics Cop Team's favorite products:
* Billion Dollar Brows Brow Powder ($16)
* Paula's Choice Browlistic Long-Wearing Precision Brow Color ($9.95)
* Maybelline New York Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil ($5.59)
* Sephora Arch-It Brow Kit ($35)
• DON'T forget to check your makeup in a magnifying mirror: What you can't see, you can't fix, especially makeup settling into lines around the eye and folds along the mouth. A little powder applied directly over the line, blending upwards and out, can keep everything in place, but you have to see it up close to get it done right. Paula prefers 10X magnification, but anything 4X or above will certainly do the trick. These mirrors are widely available at many stores, such as Bed, Bath & Beyond.
• DON'T over-moisturize around the eyes: It's a slip-up waiting to happen. It will encourage concealers and foundations to travel right into the very lines you want to hide. If you feel you need an extra-emollient moisturizer around your eyes, do it at night after you've removed your makeup, and use lighter-weight products during the day.
• DON'T over-do the shine during daytime: Extra shine or glitter is fine at night, but during the day it just looks immature and overdone, kind of like wearing a sequined gown to the office. However, there are many "radiance-boosting” makeup products that forgo obvious, distracting shine in favor of creating a subtle luminosity. Examples of our favorites in this category include:
* Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour ($29.50)
* Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls ($14.99)
* Lorac Oil-Free Luminizer ($28)
* Jane Shimmering Bronzer ($5.99)
• DON'T over-apply lip gloss: Too much gloss can look like you're drooling, instead of adding a glow of color over your lips. Also be very careful with glossy, slick, or creamy lipsticks; if you have lines around your mouth, these will bleed quickly and won't last past mid-morning before a touch-up is needed. You can also stick with softer colors from some of the best lipsticks we've found for comfortable, long wear - and they don't feather into lines around the mouth! Our favorites:
* Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick ($22)
* M.A.C. Lipsticks ($14)
* Rimmel Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick ($4.99)
* Revlon Matte or Super Lustrous Lipsticks ($7.99)
• DON'T use cream blush: When you blend it on, you're generally wiping off the foundation and powder you just worked so hard to apply. It also tends to slip and fade more during the day, and is generally hard to control. Given how soft and beautiful blushes are these days you can achieve a sheer, creamy look without a cream blush and get better, faster results. If you must have a cream-type blush, stick with cream-to-powder formulas such as:
* Revlon Cream Blush ($9.79)
* Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick ($18.50)
* Studio Gear Naturalism Cream-to-Powder Blush ($15)
Now that you know what to do and what not to do we hope your makeup application and the look you're going for will be easier than ever to achieve! Here's to beautiful days ahead - and using makeup to enhance your best features rather than covering them up!
I remember watching a show on Public Television--back in the day when we called it Channel 13--which did an expose on cosmetics. I was under 10--at least in my memory. I was fascinated. I learned that lipstick is mostly wax, for instance. I remember learning that 25 cents of raw ingredients could become a designer lipstick. I wonder if that--plus the fact that my father worked in market research--set me on the path of severe skepticism about product claims. Of course that path intersects with the path of frugality.
Enough autobiography! Here are Paula's tips, copied from my email. Remember, she has FREE shipping on a $20+ order. Paula has never steered me wrong, I must say.
Essential Makeup Do and Don'ts!
Beauty Tips from The Cosmetics Cop Team!
Paula & The Cosmetics Cop Team love to share makeup tips and product recommendations for looking young, healthy, and vibrant. All it takes are just a few simple rules, some practice and a dash of finesse. To help you, we've assembled our list of makeup Dos and Don'ts along with some bonus product recommendations!
Makeup DOs
• DO apply eyeliner as close to the lash line as possible: A soft or charcoal brown shade can look beautiful by enhancing the lashes and framing the eye. If the outer corners of your eyes have begun to droop, make sure the eyeliner turns up ever-so-slightly so you don't emphasize the drooping. For the lower lash line, use a softer color than you did for your upper lash line. Powder eyeshadows work great as eyeliner - M.A.C., Shu Uemura, Sephora, and Trish McEvoy offer wonderful options.
• DO wear lipstick: Soft lip color is a sexy, glowing look any time of day. Red is a great option, and it makes a dramatic statement, just keep it on the brighter side as opposed to magenta, purple or browns. Some of our favorite red lipsticks include:
* Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in s21 or s43 Moulin Rouge ($19)
* Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow, or Fire & Ice ($7.99)
* Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick in Stay Scarlet ($22)
• DO consider color balance: In other words, if you are wearing a pinkish lip color, your blush should be in a similar color family. It's sort of like if you are wearing a pink skirt and orange top; it can sometimes work, but be careful. High contrast makeup can look glaring, and if you're thinking young, vibrant and healthy, stick with related color tones.
• DO complement the intensity of your blush with your skin tone: If you have fair to light skin, pale pink, rose, or peach shades will always flatter more than deep berry or plum shades, which can make the cheek area look bruised. In contrast, women with medium to tan skin tones can look gorgeous with berry or plum-hued blush. The Cosmetics Cop Team has some favorite powder blushes, and they are:
* American Beauty Blush Perfect Cheek Color ($15.50)
* Jane Blushing Cheeks Blush ($4)
* NARS Blush ($25)
* L'Oreal True Match Blush ($10.95)
• DO pay attention to your smile: Whiter teeth make you look healthy and vibrant, adding incredible brightness and beauty to your face. Since Paula's Choice launched our Brighten Up 2-Minute Teeth Whitener we have all become fastidious about our smiles! And our customers agree: This product has become the best-selling item Paula's Choice has ever launched!
• DO test out makeup primers: You want a primer that enhances your skin tone while also giving your skin the ingredients it needs to look and feel healthy. Some formulations smooth out skin and help create a lit-from-within look, while others can leave garish shine or accentuate dry areas. It can also depend on what type of makeup you're applying on top of it, which is why experimenting is crucial to finding the right primer! Some of our favorite primers include:
* Giorgio Armani Light Master Primer ($55)
* Jan Marini Age Intervention Prime Face Primer ($75)
* M.A.C. Prep + Prime Line Filler ($19.50)
* Victoria's Secret Airbrush FX Face Primer SPF 20 ($14)
• DO blend (and blend, and then blend again): Whether it's foundation, blush or eyeshadow, blend away harsh edges. If you're trying to cover up imperfections, blending is crucial to imperceptible concealing. Don't use emollient/greasy concealers on blemishes. Do use a lightweight, flesh-tone (that means no yellow, orange, or lavender tones) concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your foundation.
Makeup DON'Ts
• DON'T cover up skin problems instead of treating them: No matter how good a makeup product is, it will only look as good as the skin it's applied to. Skin must be smooth and free of dry, flaky patches or yucky, clogged pores. Using makeup to conceal what you don't like about your skin is the wrong approach. Start with good skin care and your makeup will always apply and look better.
• DON'T forget to check your eyebrows: Brows that are drawn-on, pencil-thin, overly sparse, or too-arched are not what you want to see. These mistakes can make someone who is 25 years old look much, much older. If you need to fill in and shape brows, here are some of The Cosmetics Cop Team's favorite products:
* Billion Dollar Brows Brow Powder ($16)
* Paula's Choice Browlistic Long-Wearing Precision Brow Color ($9.95)
* Maybelline New York Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil ($5.59)
* Sephora Arch-It Brow Kit ($35)
• DON'T forget to check your makeup in a magnifying mirror: What you can't see, you can't fix, especially makeup settling into lines around the eye and folds along the mouth. A little powder applied directly over the line, blending upwards and out, can keep everything in place, but you have to see it up close to get it done right. Paula prefers 10X magnification, but anything 4X or above will certainly do the trick. These mirrors are widely available at many stores, such as Bed, Bath & Beyond.
• DON'T over-moisturize around the eyes: It's a slip-up waiting to happen. It will encourage concealers and foundations to travel right into the very lines you want to hide. If you feel you need an extra-emollient moisturizer around your eyes, do it at night after you've removed your makeup, and use lighter-weight products during the day.
• DON'T over-do the shine during daytime: Extra shine or glitter is fine at night, but during the day it just looks immature and overdone, kind of like wearing a sequined gown to the office. However, there are many "radiance-boosting” makeup products that forgo obvious, distracting shine in favor of creating a subtle luminosity. Examples of our favorites in this category include:
* Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour ($29.50)
* Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls ($14.99)
* Lorac Oil-Free Luminizer ($28)
* Jane Shimmering Bronzer ($5.99)
• DON'T over-apply lip gloss: Too much gloss can look like you're drooling, instead of adding a glow of color over your lips. Also be very careful with glossy, slick, or creamy lipsticks; if you have lines around your mouth, these will bleed quickly and won't last past mid-morning before a touch-up is needed. You can also stick with softer colors from some of the best lipsticks we've found for comfortable, long wear - and they don't feather into lines around the mouth! Our favorites:
* Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick ($22)
* M.A.C. Lipsticks ($14)
* Rimmel Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick ($4.99)
* Revlon Matte or Super Lustrous Lipsticks ($7.99)
• DON'T use cream blush: When you blend it on, you're generally wiping off the foundation and powder you just worked so hard to apply. It also tends to slip and fade more during the day, and is generally hard to control. Given how soft and beautiful blushes are these days you can achieve a sheer, creamy look without a cream blush and get better, faster results. If you must have a cream-type blush, stick with cream-to-powder formulas such as:
* Revlon Cream Blush ($9.79)
* Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick ($18.50)
* Studio Gear Naturalism Cream-to-Powder Blush ($15)
Now that you know what to do and what not to do we hope your makeup application and the look you're going for will be easier than ever to achieve! Here's to beautiful days ahead - and using makeup to enhance your best features rather than covering them up!
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Tete a Tete: Mason Pearson Knockoff?
I am at the end of grading, a painful process, in which I go head to head (though not in a tete a tete) with student work. (I hope my wonderful French teachers--Mlle. Moore, M. Giordano, M. Moore, and M. Danon--are not looking at this wielding their red pens, looking for any little mistake. I KNOW I need circumflexes and an accent. I am too burned out to find out how to do them. Thanks for understanding.)
Anyway, every time a holiday comes around I fantasize about buying myself a Mason Pearson brush.
I've actually owned a few. I first bought one when I was in high school WITH MY BABYSITTING MONEY. They were about $12 at the time, representing about 16 hours of labor. Within 10 minutes of ownership, I left it in a NYC phone booth, When I returned 2 minutes later, it was gone.
I went back to the store in tears and bought another, representing another 16 hours of labor. I had it for many years. Mine didn't last forever, even though people say they do.
Amazingly, I found one in New Orleans, at a yard sale in a fancy neighborhood. It was 75 cents. That didn't last forever either, though it did last a long time.
I don't really need one. Today--newsflash--I learned that Target carries a knock-off. This was news a few years ago, but not being a reader of Allure magazine or of beauty blogs, I missed it.
Has anyone used the knock-off? What do you think of the hairbrush tete a tete (Sorry again to French teachers)? Is it a crime to buy a copy of an iconic brand? Is it a crime for said iconic brand to charge so much for a hairbrush?
Anyway, every time a holiday comes around I fantasize about buying myself a Mason Pearson brush.
I've actually owned a few. I first bought one when I was in high school WITH MY BABYSITTING MONEY. They were about $12 at the time, representing about 16 hours of labor. Within 10 minutes of ownership, I left it in a NYC phone booth, When I returned 2 minutes later, it was gone.
I went back to the store in tears and bought another, representing another 16 hours of labor. I had it for many years. Mine didn't last forever, even though people say they do.
Amazingly, I found one in New Orleans, at a yard sale in a fancy neighborhood. It was 75 cents. That didn't last forever either, though it did last a long time.
I don't really need one. Today--newsflash--I learned that Target carries a knock-off. This was news a few years ago, but not being a reader of Allure magazine or of beauty blogs, I missed it.
Has anyone used the knock-off? What do you think of the hairbrush tete a tete (Sorry again to French teachers)? Is it a crime to buy a copy of an iconic brand? Is it a crime for said iconic brand to charge so much for a hairbrush?
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Paula's Choice: Free Shipping
A good time to try out this wonderful line: Free Shipping with $20.00 purchase.
I like the moisturizers, sunscreens. My daughter LOVES the toners. Oh yeah, we BOTH love the brushes.
I like the moisturizers, sunscreens. My daughter LOVES the toners. Oh yeah, we BOTH love the brushes.
Friday, 26 November 2010
My Black Friday....so far
I've never shopped on Black Friday. No, I take it back. We had a family tradition (now outgrown) of heading to New Orleans on Black Friday. We'd whiz past Lakeside Mall, which had nary a parking space to be seen, and headed to the Audubon Zoo, where we had a membership. The parking lot was always empty!
Then we would head to Bloomingdeals, the thrift store of the New Orleans Junior League, which had its annual toy sale.
This morning, though, I shopped. I had a few things on my NEEDS list and I decided to tune out the ads and look today. So now I have a new washing machine to replace the 20 year old one, whose top hinges have rusted off. AND a new microwave, to replace the one that is taking longer and longer to heat up my coffee.
I decided to be a satisficer and not go crazy with my usual indecision. Both items came to around $300 (yes, I bought a cheeeeep washer) and have free shipping.
Some emails I've gotten, if you feel like less utilitarian shopping.
Garnet Hill, the catalog I dream over, is having 40% off sale items AND free shipping!
LL Bean has free shipping, a $10 gift card if you spend $50 AND 10% off everything. That last is applied automatically.
Cuddledown, whose comforters I swoon over, has 25% off everything, today only. I also swoon over their $3000.00 beds, but such will not happen today...or probably ever.
I do need some milk, so I may head out to a brick-and-mortar grocery later. Groceries are quite forlorn and desolate the day after Thanksgiving.
Hope everyone is having a cozy day.
Then we would head to Bloomingdeals, the thrift store of the New Orleans Junior League, which had its annual toy sale.
This morning, though, I shopped. I had a few things on my NEEDS list and I decided to tune out the ads and look today. So now I have a new washing machine to replace the 20 year old one, whose top hinges have rusted off. AND a new microwave, to replace the one that is taking longer and longer to heat up my coffee.
I decided to be a satisficer and not go crazy with my usual indecision. Both items came to around $300 (yes, I bought a cheeeeep washer) and have free shipping.
Some emails I've gotten, if you feel like less utilitarian shopping.
Garnet Hill, the catalog I dream over, is having 40% off sale items AND free shipping!
LL Bean has free shipping, a $10 gift card if you spend $50 AND 10% off everything. That last is applied automatically.
Cuddledown, whose comforters I swoon over, has 25% off everything, today only. I also swoon over their $3000.00 beds, but such will not happen today...or probably ever.
I do need some milk, so I may head out to a brick-and-mortar grocery later. Groceries are quite forlorn and desolate the day after Thanksgiving.
Hope everyone is having a cozy day.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
True Confessions: Why I don't Use Coupons
Every time I read the message boards on the crazed couponing sites (Grocery Game, for a fee, or other freebie sites), I'm filled with envy. Why can't I get peanut butter for a quarter? Rationally, I know it's not that simple. It takes time and money and mess to coupon. PLUS many coupons are for things I don't want to be tempted to buy, things like air freshener and rice-a-roni and hamburger (or other) helper. PLUS the biggest savings are on freebies from the drugstore, and I can get those myself without following couponing sites. PLUS I spend so little on food anyway; the payoff would not be great.
Also, I'm too messy to add another layer of mess to my life.
Temptation came in the form of a free newspaper thrown on my driveway. There were coupons. I flipped through and noticed two 50 cent coupons for items I was going to get at the drugstore anyway. Oh, a dollar saved! Thrilling!
So I clipped the two coupons and got ready to go. The drugstore was on my way to somewhere else I needed to go. I pick up my purse and the coupons are nowhere to be found! I do a quick search and STILL couldn't find them. Finally, I decided to go anyway. On my way out, I noticed the two coupons on top of the recycling basket. How did they get there?
I put the coupons in my wallet. Then I noticed that some school stuff was in my bag. Didn't want to carry that around, so I went back in and put my gradebook and other things on the table. Went to the drugstore. When I reached the checkout: NO WALLET!
In a moment of madness, I thought: Oh, I'll go home and get the coupons. Then I did the math. That would be insane, in terms of time, money, and gasoline.
So I bought my things and went home, since I didn't want to continue on my errands without my wallet. There was my wallet, next to the gradebook.
Now do you see why I don't use coupons? Does anyone want the coupons?
Also, I'm too messy to add another layer of mess to my life.
Temptation came in the form of a free newspaper thrown on my driveway. There were coupons. I flipped through and noticed two 50 cent coupons for items I was going to get at the drugstore anyway. Oh, a dollar saved! Thrilling!
So I clipped the two coupons and got ready to go. The drugstore was on my way to somewhere else I needed to go. I pick up my purse and the coupons are nowhere to be found! I do a quick search and STILL couldn't find them. Finally, I decided to go anyway. On my way out, I noticed the two coupons on top of the recycling basket. How did they get there?
I put the coupons in my wallet. Then I noticed that some school stuff was in my bag. Didn't want to carry that around, so I went back in and put my gradebook and other things on the table. Went to the drugstore. When I reached the checkout: NO WALLET!
In a moment of madness, I thought: Oh, I'll go home and get the coupons. Then I did the math. That would be insane, in terms of time, money, and gasoline.
So I bought my things and went home, since I didn't want to continue on my errands without my wallet. There was my wallet, next to the gradebook.
Now do you see why I don't use coupons? Does anyone want the coupons?
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Standard Gifts: Easy Gifts for the Holidays, Too Easy?
I first encountered the concept of the standard gift in the very first organizing book I ever read: Totally Organized.
As I recall, the author mentioned that she had a standard gift for weddings: first, monogrammed pillowcases, and, since she wrote the book, a copy of her book! What a good idea.
When my children were little, the great bargain mecca in my area was a Scholastic Book warehouse sale. This was sort of a secret and open only to teachers. Someone told me about it; I called; and yes, college teachers were eligible. In truth, the sale was open to anyone who knew about it.
One feature of this sale was the "Fill Your Box for $25.00" area. You can get a lot of books--not to mention small educational toys--in a box. These treasures filled our gift shelf for years, saving us time and money.
Since I am not a gift-giving diva like my blogfriend Duchesse or my real-life friend Brigitte, both of whose choices amaze me with their brilliance, I must rely on the one or two sure-fire gifts in my repertoire.
For youngish men, I've already recommended (AT LEAST 5 TIMES) the great pen.
For youngish folk in general, I recommend the Rick Steves travel pack. I got one for Frugal Son a few years ago and may get one (shhhhhh) for Miss Em. Perfect for going abroad.
Garnet Hill, a catalog I've been mooning over for many years, has a good deal for folks of all ages: a cotton fleece throw. At the moment it is half price ($30) and has free monogramming. It comes in yummy colors and would be a wonderful gift for children, teenagers,and so on. It would even be a wonderful gift for ME. That's saying a lot, since I hate getting gifts as a rule.
Do you give standard gifts?
As I recall, the author mentioned that she had a standard gift for weddings: first, monogrammed pillowcases, and, since she wrote the book, a copy of her book! What a good idea.
When my children were little, the great bargain mecca in my area was a Scholastic Book warehouse sale. This was sort of a secret and open only to teachers. Someone told me about it; I called; and yes, college teachers were eligible. In truth, the sale was open to anyone who knew about it.
One feature of this sale was the "Fill Your Box for $25.00" area. You can get a lot of books--not to mention small educational toys--in a box. These treasures filled our gift shelf for years, saving us time and money.
Since I am not a gift-giving diva like my blogfriend Duchesse or my real-life friend Brigitte, both of whose choices amaze me with their brilliance, I must rely on the one or two sure-fire gifts in my repertoire.
For youngish men, I've already recommended (AT LEAST 5 TIMES) the great pen.
For youngish folk in general, I recommend the Rick Steves travel pack. I got one for Frugal Son a few years ago and may get one (shhhhhh) for Miss Em. Perfect for going abroad.
Garnet Hill, a catalog I've been mooning over for many years, has a good deal for folks of all ages: a cotton fleece throw. At the moment it is half price ($30) and has free monogramming. It comes in yummy colors and would be a wonderful gift for children, teenagers,and so on. It would even be a wonderful gift for ME. That's saying a lot, since I hate getting gifts as a rule.
Do you give standard gifts?
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