Archive for 2009
December 13 2009: Hygiene And Beauty Products
Filed under Body & Money with 18 Comments
For someone who’s as conscious of self presentation as I am, I don’t use that many beauty products. Certainly more than those who genuinely don’t care about their appearance one way or another, but by no means as much as those who spend half an hour in front of the mirror every day. I’m a ten minute girl (at most) and use:
- For my hair: shampoo, conditioner, hair styling product
- For my body: body wash, body moisturiser, deodorant, sunscreen, Goodbye Cellulite (which doesn’t work!)
- For my face: clay masks, cleanser, toner, moisturiser
- Makeup: foundation, powder, bronzer, mascara, lip balm
I’d estimate that I’d spend about $20AUD-$30AUD a month on beauty and hygiene products – sometimes more as I do stock up when items are on sale, sometimes less as I can keep using items I’ve stockpiled. It helps that I use very basic products that generally don’t cost more than $8AUD-$10AUD a bottle – I don’t buy ‘designer’ makeup for example, and instead of paying $20AUD for a 250ml bottle of organic shampoo, I’ll pay $8AUD for a one litre bottle of normal shampoo.
I have a similar collection (though fragrance-free) at Dylan’s house as I spend almost half the week there – it saves me hauling items back and forth between our places. I do have a few more makeup items (mainly lip gloss and eyeliner, etc.) but as I don’t use those more than once a fortnight, I didn’t bother listing them.
By far the more astounding thing is that I use each and every single one of my products before I start using something new. I hate waste – and the logical conclusion is to use everything up before trialling something different. My housemate is the complete opposite – at any time, she’ll have five different shampoos and conditioners going, or ten face cleansers and toners. Our bathroom is cluttered with half-used bottles of one product or another. She’ll buy and start using a new product (“I just want to try it!”) before she’s through using the five products she’s already using.
I realise that my views towards clothing, products, and organisation versus hoarding are extreme, and probably more minimalist than most people, so you’ll have to enlighten me: Is this normal? Do people normally use a million different products concurrently, rather than using up a product before starting a new one?
Question of the Week: What are you like with beauty and hygienic products? How many do you use and how many different products with the same purpose are you using concurrently?
December 7 2009: Party In The USA
Filed under Travel with 37 Comments
So I’ve been speaking to Stephanie, and I am seriously considering visiting America next year. Largely because I need a holiday badly, and I did an annual budget last night that saw me have $10,000 left over each year – half of which would go nicely on a month-long holiday halfway across the world.
Flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles via Air New Zealand (7 June 2010 to 3 July 2010) is $1133 (taxes included). I get four weeks annual leave each year. This is perfect. I’m already 95% convinced that I’m going to go, and travel around the west coast (and potentially go as far in as Texas/the two Dakotas). I’m being realistic – four weeks isn’t enough for me to get as far as the East Coast, but I can always save that for another trip.
To convince me that further 5%, I encourage all American readers of this blog to offer their couches for me to sleep on, and for everyone else to suggest places for me to go when I’m over there. And if you live on the East Coast and will travel to the West to meet me, I’ll give you cookies.
November 30 2009: Weight Loss and Clothing
Filed under Body & Style with 20 Comments
I’ve been losing weight. I didn’t notice it of course – you simply don’t notice small changes in yourself because it happens so gradually. Today however, I took a look at myself in a shop window as I was walking past on my way to a meeting for work, and it suddenly hit me. Perhaps not so much weight, but general body shape – my legs are slimmer and my hips not as wide. Still have the stomach, but well, you can’t have it all. Of course, I celebrated by scoffing down a huge bag of potato chips, which probably undid a lot of good.
I haven’t intended on losing weight. It was merely a result of a few lifestyle changes:
- Dylan and I made a conscious decision to stop eating out as often – more of a money issue rather than health issue, but it contributed.
- I’ve been living out of home for the past month – and hence, I’m not eating meat. I’m also not cooking that often – maybe four nights out of the week, and eating raw vegies and fruit or yoghurt the other nights. Therefore, no fatty Asian home cooking with lots of oils, sugars, and sauces.
- Since I’ve moved out, there’s also been an increase in the amount of fresh fruit and vegies I eat, as opposed to a peanut butter sandwich or instant noodles. It’s what happens when your housemate works at the produce market and you get free produce.
- With the start of some lovely summer weather here in Melbourne, I’ve been walking to and from work to the train station (round trip of fifty minutes) rather than waiting for the tram. I wouldn’t have done this in the rainy winter.
- Along the same lines, I’ve been walking to and from the train station from home, rather than driving to the station. Again, it’s the place I’m now living – it’s a ten minutes walk, rather than a twenty minute drive to the station.
- My flatmate has an overly energetic dog with what would probably be labelled with ADHD if he was human. He’ll only shut up and stop whining and barking when he’s worn out – which is great incentive to take him for long walks at night.
I wouldn’t want to lose any more weight than I already have though – I already look outlandish enough with my out-sized breasts on the body I do have. It’s already impossible to buy clothes; I went shopping with Dylan on the weekend and threw a tantrum and got all sulky because everything I liked, wouldn’t have fit my body. If they had fit my body, they wouldn’t fit my F-cups.
Which when you think about it, is actually really sad. I have to actively curtail my taste in clothing because of my body shape. I’m used to dressing older and more mature than I’d actually like to, because mature clothing is the only type that will fit my chest. I have never dressed my age. What I’d really want to wear are rainbow halter neck dresses in floaty chiffon and silk…which will never happen. I can’t even buy a print Tshirt because I end up warping the print. I can’t even wear short-shorts because showing both my legs and my chest (no matter what I wear, I end up showing my chest) would just be too much.
It’s fucking ridiculous – and you bet your arse that once I’ve breastfed the three kids I plan on having and have had my breast lift and reduction (C-cups, here I come!), I’m going to indulge and wear the youthful clothing I never had the chance to wear in my youth. Forty-year-old mutton dressed as lamb? That’ll be me, and I don’t care what anyone thinks!