The Price of Beauty

The other day I got a free makeover at Macy's and it cost me a fortune.

As I've mentioned earlier, I went on a field trip with the school choir last week. After the concert and a quick dinner, the students were free to go shopping for about an hour. I was hanging out with the moms and we voted to walk around in Macy's because it was too cold outside. As we sauntered past the cosmetics section, we were beset by makeup artists offering "free" make overs.

Now, I know how this works. You get a "free" make over, and possibly a "free" gift as long as you buy a certain amount of product. ... I decided to go for it. It would be worth the money to get a new foundation and give my students a good laugh. And how much could it cost? Maybe $20? No problem.

So I got powdered and puffed, shaded and glossed, bronzed and blushed and the final result was ... interesting. I chose my products and headed over to the register. The cashier made cheerful small talk while she scanned my items and wrapped them in tissue paper. Then she smiled and said, "Your total is $ &*!%#."

Total Cost: I'm too ashamed to tell you. But on the bright side, I look REALLY good.

Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov

I mentioned earlier about the field trip to the CSO. I forgot to mention what they played. It was Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto 2, and it was amazing. At the very beginning, the piano starts out with several bell like chords which break into a series of rolling notes that are finally accompanied by the violins -- I had chills. So beautiful! (Listen and watch here.)

During the tour of the stage we learned that the first person to play that piece in Symphony Hall was Rachmaninov himself. What would that have been like?! The day we were there, the pianist was Kirill Gerstein, and I'm sure he was just as good.

Total Cost: $0 for the live concert, $10 to download the entire piece from iTunes.

Preview: The Food Stamp Project

Could you eat healthy, delicious, beautiful food on a "food stamp budget"? I think it is possible. Details to come.

Calm and Relaxing

Today I gave my semester exams, and now it's time to relax. I'm on my way home to take an Epsom Salts bath.

According to the Epsom Salt Council (which I didn't know existed until just now), Epsom Salts can ease stress, lower blood pressure and raise energy levels. Those all sound like things that I could really use after several weeks of exam prep, jury duty and holiday fun.

Total Cost: $6 for two boxes of of lavender infused salts. Not bad for a product that says "calm and relaxing" right on the box.

A Wish Fulfilled

I don't know if you've noticed, but I put a wish list on this blog. It's a reminder of things that I want, but don't want to pay for quite yet. Anyway, one thing on the list was a Stanley Cooler Combo (thermos and lunch box set). I know it might sound weird for a fashionista like myself, but I love the Stanley line. There is something so American about carrying your soup in a stainless steel-double walled-vacuum insulated-rust proof bottle with a lid that doubles as a cup. And then ... if you throw in a large lunch box for all the extras like bread, cheese and cookies to share you have the right equipment to turn lunch into a feast.

So, I put it on my wish list, and guess what! My mom already had one! She picked it up at a rummage sale sometime in July -- for about $5. She saw on this blog that I wanted one, and now it's mine! Hooray!

The wish list worked! I'll have to keep it updated.

Total Cost: $6 to my mother. $5 for the set. $1 finder’s fee.

A Carafe By Any Other Name

I really do like beautiful things. I like things that add a touch of elegance to my life of protractors and staple removers. That’s the reason that I drink water out of the carafe that sits on my desk.

I wanted a water carafe ever since I saw Katherine Hepburn using one in the movie Adam’s Rib (that woman could make anything look good). I think it gives an air of sophistication and refinement – whether it’s sitting on a work desk, a restaurant table or a bedside stand. (A definite improvement on a Dasani bottle with the label ripped off.) So anyway, last year I finally bought one (on sale) and it has been a fixture on my desk ever since.

I was pretty proud of my tasteful beverage service … until today. A student finally got up the nerve and asked “um … why do you drink your water out of a vase?” ouch. It’s a carafe! A CARAFE! Oh well, Katherine would like it.

Total Cost: $17.50 for a touch of class … no matter what my students think.

How To Make a May Day Basket

I have a confession. I have never made or given a May Day basket. For those of you who don’t know, the “May-Day-Basket-Ritual” goes like this: get a basket and fill it with flowers, hang it on a friend’s doorknob, ring the door bell, run. (If you get caught, you’re supposed to get a kiss.) What a charming tradition! It seems like something that I would do faithfully each year – I love anything that involves spring, flowers and gift giving. The problem is, May 1st always sneaks up on me, and then I feel like I don’t have enough time to create something really memorable. But this year I decided things would be different! Even though I forgot it was May Day until this morning, I had to give a May Day basket to at least one person. Turns out, it wasn’t that hard. All I had to do was:

1. Roll

2. Staple
3. Cut

4. Buy flowers

5. Deliver

Pretty easy. Next year I might give out two baskets.

Cost: $7.00 for paper and flowers. Worth every penny.

Let Me Check My Calendar

About a week ago, on the way home from school, I stopped by the grocery store for milk, the book store for a magazine, and then headed straight home where I had a light supper, did a crossword puzzle, took a bath and went to be early. I felt great! …

Until the next day. That night while I was so blithely relaxing, I missed an extremely important appointment. I had no excuse. I just forgot. I knew then -- it was time for a calendar.

I needed a calendar with some very specific qualities:
* It needed to be small enough to take everywhere.
* It needed to be small on art, large on writing space.
* It needed to have space for daily appointments and room for do-lists, shopping-lists, and idea-lists.
* It needed to be cheap.

So here is what I found.
At the drugstore I found a small mead brand notebook. The only color they had was orange which was unfortunate … until I decided to supplement with a Rhodia notebook of similar size.

So, now I'll never forget another extremely important appointment – unless I forget to write it down.

Total cost: $10 for calendar, notebook and pen