Simple make-up

So I have been interested in using more natural facial products because of my ongoing battle with acne. (Now I actually think there may be a food sensitivity component to it but that is for another post). Another blog I really enjoy reading is www.passionatehomemaking.com
and she detailed two lines of mineral makeup, one she had used and one she had not tried yet. I went with the latter because there were fewer ingredients in making it and there was a great sample kit. After I got my sampls and started using them I was hooked. I already had a good line of brushes so I didn't purchase theirs but you should definietly get a good brush set if you are going to use only mineral make-up. I was not so impressed with their chapstick however. I didn't like the two colors I picked out and that is hard to pick out colors without being able to actually see it in person. As far as the powders go the samples are great buys and I have been able to use a little mixing to get better colors from the ones that weren't exactly right. I think that is actually one of the best assets of this type of make-up that you can mix a little of this and a little of that to really get a good color for your skin. My skin is also sensitive and I have not had any problems with this line. The other line has had some people complain about a slight burning sensation when they use it. I had recommended this brand to a friend of mine and she ended up going with the other brand. After using it a bit she offered to give it to me because it burned her skin. No, thank you! Another reason I didn't even want to try theirs. I still use reguloar ol' mascara. I am sure I can find some horrifying article about what terrible things are in it but I just can't spend $20 on one tube of mascara. Maybe I will one day but I am just not there yet. I do still have a few other items in my make-up drawer until I use them up. But I do enjoy how quickly I can just pack up a few items and be ready to travel.
Go to www.everydayminerals.com and click on Try Me Free
Here is the sample details "Everyday Minerals invites you to TRY our most popular colors & find your perfect foundation! These kits are a wonderful value at $5 each! And you can add ONE to your cart absolutely FREE with every order, anytime! So play with new colors, treat yourself to a gift, and come back for more!!! There are so many choices, so please take your time and enjoy our super generous sample sizes! Discount applies during checkout."
I should also add that I have had this make-up now for almost a year. After I bought my first sample sizes and picked my favorite colors I ordered again and got the larger sizes. So for a grand total of about $35 I have a year (or more) supply of make-up. Not too shabby.

Frugalities

Are you frugal enough for the frugal club?
Well I certainly consider myself to be frugal. I am certainly more frugal than many people. And I am not as frugal as some. I marvel at people who will pay $10.00 a gallon for raw milk and consider themselves to be frugal. Soooo.... let me get this straight. They do less to the milk and charge you more for it? I don't get it. I think it would make a lot more sense if it was like a pick-your-own farm. You go milk the cow and then get the gallon for $1-$2. Yeah, it's supposed to be better for you but I am not entirely convinced of that. Plus, my husband, who grew up on a dairy farm and drank raw milk his entire childhood, just gags thinking about it so it's really not an option for us anyway. But also there are the people who email me about how much everything costs and bemoaning the increase of gas and food prices and they just don't know how they're going to make it. They send the email from their iphone. Or the family on foodstamps who barely make ends meet and yet their pantry is perpetually full of absolute junk food. I don't get it. One lady complained to me about how her car was "so old it has a cd player AND a tape deck".
I answered that my car has only a tape deck. I could have further added that it has over 100,000 miles on it, roll down windows (which I actually happen to like) and the tape deck/radio doesn't even work. I don't think she would have got it. I make my own laundry soap and I reuse all sorts of things that would (should?) go in the trash.
BUT....... I buy shredded cheese (gasp!)
Yeah, I do. I don't like to shred cheese. It takes a long time. It's messy. I like my knuckles to be intact. I don't see what the big deal is to pay $1.00 more for the cheese to be shredded. It's worth it to me.
I also buy boneless skinless chicken breasts (gasp!)
Yeah, I do. I don't like to cut up raw chicken. I want to touch it as little as possible. When I have bought a whole raw chicken and cut it up, it looked like the victim of some awful crime. Trust me, it wasn't pretty little legs, quarters, wings and breasts. The nasty foam that boiled up in the pot made me want to gag. I don't like to do it. Yes, the price is much higher. But it's worth it to me.
I also turn up my nose at store made brownies, cupcakes or cookies. How can you possibly pass that off as dessert? Blech! I like the homemade stuff - it's worth it to me.
So I guess that is what it comes down to. What's it worth to you?
(This is what Clyde the Beagle thinks about paying for grated cheese and boneless, skinless chicken breasts)

mmmm soap!

OK, so I made toothsoap. Yes that's right I said soap. If you are brave enough to try it here is the recipe. I have found it to taste a wee bit soapy - but really it is not that bad. Perhaps the recipe needs some tweaking.

5 TBSP coconut oil (solid below 76F, so ours is always liquid)
1 TBSP Dr Bronner's castile soap (I used peppermint but you can also use baby which has no scent)
Orange essential oil
Peppermint esential oil (if you didn't use peppermint soap)
Water (1 TBSP or more as needed)
Natural sugar substitute (I used purevia)

Mix all the ingredients together. Add in a little water at a time until it is the right consistency for toothpaste. It will be a little runny. I did not need to use the water since in our house the coconut oil is liquid (we keep our thermostat set at 80 in the summer). But I may have to add some in the winter. I used about 25 drops of the orange essential oil. Add in the sugar sub until it tastes ok. I ended up using 4 individual sticks of the purevia. Don't taste it too many times in a row or it will burn your mouth. Put it in a clean soap dispenser or a small plastic squirt bottle.
There it is.
Clean your teeth with no fluoride and no sodium lauryl sulfate. Or you could just use baking soda :o)