I have been told that in times of recession, there are three industries that tend to thrive.  There are three feel good items that people continue to buy and these are alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics.  In this time of economic "crisis" I am pretty sure folks are also going to continue to buy the following:

1. Coffee.  I don’t personally drink it, but I’m sure it will continue to be purchased by the general populus.  Especially if customers get a peep show too.

2. Chocolate.  

3. People Magazine.  Because seriously, I don’t have time to stand at the QFC at 9:30 on a Monday night and read all about how Clay Aiken just had a baby with a 50 year old woman friend, who did invitro for him and now he wants the world (including his newborn son) to know that he’s gay.  I can’t read the whole thing at the store, I NEED to read the whole article on my sick bed Tuesday morning.  And if I need constant updates on the beautiful people, I am pretty sure others do too.

Guess What?  Now anyone can use this promo code to get $20 free groceries!  The code is BLOGPOST14.

Happy Shopping

Who out there likes going to the grocery store?  Raise your hand!  Higher.  Higher. Higher.

What?

Me neither.

Peapod is an online grocery shopping service and one lucky reader is going to win twenty bucks of free I-didn’t-have-to-go-to-the-store-and-pace-the-aisles-and-stand-in-line groceries! 

If you live on the East Coast somwhere, go to the site, enter your zip to see if they will deliver to you and then come on back here and leave a comment to be entered! 

Just so you know what NOT to get me for Christmas, here are some poor gift choices courtesy of Collections Etc. for your benefit and puzzlement.

                                                        "Peppermint Shot Glasses S/6 - 69010

Give your seasonal partying a shot of holiday flavor when you serve drinks in glasses made from striped peppermint candy. Set of 6 standard size shot glasses gives any drink a refreshing peppermint taste and a special treat when you’ve drained them-you can eat the glass! 2 1/4"H x 1 1/2"Dia.
 
Price: $9.99"

I don’t know, seems a bit sticky to me.

"Head To Bottom Towel - 16255

100% cotton towel features "Face" and "Butt" embroidery so everyone is clear on what goes where. Makes a goofy gift for the good-humored, and is a great way to get your guests giggling. Machine wash. 25 1/4"W x 44"L. Imported
 
Price: $9.99"

The thing that cracks me up about this one, is that in the catalog next to the picture it says, "what a value!"

And speaking of revolting:

  Are you kidding me?  This is like the grossest thing ever.  Thank heavens Spider is sooo done with the binky, so no one will think to buy this one for me.  It comes with a piglet snout paci too. 

"Let baby provide the entertainment while enjoying the calming comfort provided by this pair of whacky pacifiers. You won’t be able to stop laughing as your favorite little one enthusiastically sucks on each of these special pacifiers- My Two Front Teeth, and Li’l Piglet. Safe and easy to clean, each is crafted of non-toxic materials. $9.99"

Now this next one is not a bad gift necessarily, but I guess I don’t fully understand copyright and trademark laws too well.

I hope they are not trying to "pretend like they are not totally ripping off the Disney Princesses.  Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid totally had not-found-in-nature red hair.

" Invite your favorite princesses over for hours of imaginative play. Set includes Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Beauty from "Beauty and the Beast." Each vinyl doll is dressed in her signature gown and comes complete with earrings, flowers, hair, ribbons, bows and shoes. Ages 3+. Each measures 11 1/4"H.
 
Price: $17.99  "

And of course, if your house isn’t COMPLETELY kid proofed yet, or if you are OCD, you might need these.

"Vinyl Furniture Cover

Protect your furniture with these strong vinyl slipcovers. Installs and removes quickly and easily and keeps your expensive upholstery free of spills, dust, dirt, and bugs. Strong PVC vinyl is stitched and tailored to provide a good-looking comfortable fit."

I am going to have to take issue with the good-looking part.

Do not buy me these gifts.  Or for anyone else.  But, maybe the princesses, because those are a steal. 

…so right after I go and promise to not be a self promoter, Jenny goes and has a beauty tips round up.

Of course I am going to participate!  Am I or am I NOT a Professional Beauty Consultant? 

Okay, so here’s a product that will make your life easier and faster: 

It is tinted moisturizer.  I love it, love it, love it

What could be better than moisturizer, foundation and spf all in one little bottle?  It is simply the best for making your morning routine go FAST.

 A must have for moms.

And you can get it here. 

Sorry.  I couldn’t help myself. 

They are the mark of distinction in someone’s bathroom. They are a touch of class. They are a total handwashing experience for all the senses. They are:

The handsoap dispensers from Bath and Body Works. 

I just like them. They’re pretty, they smell good, they’re… fancy. I have always liked them, and felt so special when I used them at someone elses house, but I have never bought them.  I always felt they were too expensive for me. Too out of my league. Too at the mall.  

But, I got a B & BW gift card for Christmas in the amount of $10, and there was really only one thing I knew I could buy.

For two reasons, I had to buy the handsoaps. The first being that, because of the business I am in, as a matter of principle, I choose not to purchase the same product from a competitor that I could buy through my own business. For example, we sell eyeshadow, so I won’t buy one from M.A.C. no matter how cute the color, but since Mary Kay doesn’t make shampoo, I go with Biolage. Make sense? I can get body wash and lotion and such from myself, so I won’t buy it from Bath and Body Works.  Why?  B & BW is not tax-deductible and really  how would it be if some random stranger said, “Ooh, you smell nice, what is that?” and I said, “Oh, it’s from Bath & Body Works, it’s such and such, but I sell Mary Kay and we have lots of nice smells, so do you want to try one of them?” If such an event ever were to happen it would be so much better to be able to say, “Oh yes, it’s Bella Belara. I sell it, would you like a catalog?”

It’s a business thing.

My obvious second reason for buying the handsoaps, is my covetousness for them. So when I was at the mall this last week, I decided to stop in at the Bath and Body Works.

The soap was on sale- 3 for $10. Perfect.

Because I had decided to do this stop on the way out, upon entering the store, Sugar had a meltdown. Assuming (falsely) that I could get one for a buck, I bribed her with the promise of a chapstick. She calmed down and I found my soaps.  Engineer was thrilled and he wanted to carry one, but Sugar was disappointed at the price of chapstick. My wallet forced to instead buy a $3 body wash that smells like Cherry Pie. (’Good for kids,’ said the lady though when I got home discovered that the label says “for adult external use only.”) But at least I got my soap.

I have since discovered that the soaps are not only a hit with moms, but are also well loved by 4-year old boys. My son who hates washing his hands, foamed up at least five times the day we brought the soaps home. He put a soap in every bathroom and announced it to us proudly.  I don’t know if he loves it because of the foaming action or the smell or because he grew attached as he mothered it while lovingly carrying it to the car.  I don’t care the reason, I am just pleased with his new and bizarre interest in hygiene.

Sugar forgot about the chapstick and the bodywash so today, I smell like Cherry Pie. Good for deceptively impressing my more domestic friends, but not very good for selling lotion.

How far would you go for a great deal?

I drove 20 minutes the other night to go gorcery shopping at Albertsons even though the church is only three minutes away.  I couldn’t help myself.  It was the big Quaker ten for ten sale.  But driving there, I kept thinking, "gee this is really far, am I really saving that much money?  Will the cost of the gas justify the savings?"

I spent $74 and saved $78. My pantry is stocked full of useful things.  I drove a total of 40 minutes, was in the store for less than 30 (kidless, yay!) and my name brand cereal was only one dollar per box.

But the driving!  Living in this new place, I find that I must drive at least twenty minutes to get most places.  It only takes me about two or three minutes to get anywhere in the town, which is great, but the town is small.  There is a lot here considering the size, but not everything I need or want. 

I’ve been getting depressed lately because Engineer is not in Pre-School.  The cost of it here is so high, and there would still be some driving involved.  (Not to mention, not much enrollment space).  I toyed with the idea of sending him to a local co-op (three minutes away!) where I would have to find a sitter for my girls and help out once a week and still pay $100 a month, but canned it because of the sacrifice involved.  But as I explored other less expensive options, I took into account the driving, and now I think he’s going to the co-op.

I want him in school so badly, for his sake and mine, that I am willing to do a little more than I might normally.  And I really don’t want to drive 2-3 hours a week so he can go.

And yet, once our house sells, I am willing to drive Sugar 20 minutes to gymnastics because she is gifted in the sport and it is soooo good for her. 

It’s funny the things I am willing to do and those I am not.  The trade-offs I make.  I think the twenty minute drive to the Alby’s was worth it.  But I am still looking to see if there is a store closer.