So while I’m sharing ways

to make cheap art materials with kids, I’ll also share one I found to decorate my face: good, cheap makeup.

How shallow, how not-feminist, yadda yadda yadda. Yeah, I know. I’ve said it before (somewhere in here); I lurve well-applied, natural-looking make-up. Makes me feel just a leeetle more delish. I’m just talking a little powder and gloss, anyway. I’ve gotta have ‘em. There is nothing so sexy to me as a woman who looks healthy without make-up, I’m just not one of them. I look like I’m dying of something. I am allergic to almost every cosmetic in the entire world and was not blessed with clear skin unless I am ovulating (then my skin absolutely screams ”impregnate me!”). This allergy sitch left me learning to make my own glycerin soap concoctions (way easy with a microwave and a desk organizer I turned into a bar soap mold) and buying Bare Minerals. The latter is kinda pricey for a pragmatist like me. I really do need the barest of coverage and blush (actually, their stuff that I love isn’t blush, it’s called “Warmth”) and Bare Minerals delivered. Literally. Stuff comes to your door. I love stuff that comes to my door (Bean’s diapers, wipes, and all of our groceries do). Convenient as that was, all this recent belt-tightening (I wish that were literal, I have gained weight since Bean weaned himself last month, I can feel my ass without touching it) caused me to look for an alternative that wouldn’t cause skin irritation like most commercially available cosmetics do. Ta-dah, Physician’s Formula Organics. Half the price, looks just as good, and is available at the corner shop. The smell is just eh and gave me a sinus headache even though it’s talc-free, but I expect that to diminish with the season (my allergies are already terrible, I think the powder smell just compounded the crazy high pollen count).

I’m not in the business of recommending products or anything, nor do I want to be; just wanted to share what works for me. I try to make things when I can but I haven’t figured out how to make make-up yet. That goal is right up there with glassblowing and metalworking; I need more space, time, and money for materials. I can currently create simple clothes for Bean and me, decorative objects like pillows and such, and art work. Chaos once asked me to post about how I re-style old clothes, and that post is coming one day, it’s just going to require a lot of pictures to explain and a lot of patience on your part because the process is very improvised, with just as many failures as successes. That’s how I like things.

Here’s one more thing to save dough (ha ha) on toddler snacks: you know how most little kids like to have the crusts cut off of sandwiches? Bean is one of them. Seemed like such a waste, esp since I get good bread with seeds and lots of healthy stuff on the crust. I am finding that if I toast the cut-off crusts, he will eat them like little biscottis. I’m thinking of brushing on a little butter or a spritz of cooking spray and adding cinnamon.

I know there are about a gazillion frugal parenting sites and I’m not aiming to be one, but if there’s something you do to save moolah on things for yourself or your kiddos, do let me know. I’m interested.