Cheap Tip of the Day: My Cheap and Broke Life in Pictures Part I

One of many baskets of samples. This has alot of perfume samples in it and sits beside the winter/fall fragrance collection. My spring/summer scents are packed away in the coolness of my closet.

This is me today. I'm wearing a wig as you can see. I bought it over a year ago and forgot I had it. I just wrap this vintage scarf around it. I love head scarves!! On my face, I'm wearing the Sephora Star Struck Palette that Mally Roncal did for Sephora. I remember it being sold out and I went to Charlotte's Sephora to get it. On my lips, MAC Lustreglass in Wonderstruck.
My "Gym" bag. The green thing is a belt that helps you sweat in around the waist and the white thing is my poor beat up Zen Nano since I still can't afford that 30GB Ipod I want.
Books, magazines,and DVDs that need to go back to the library. Yes, our library allows you to check out magazines.
My "hoarding"box. You would think I lived in a dorm.But most of the things in this box are things I'm collecting for when we move out( the glasses from TJMaxx Clearance) and the food are great natural and organic goodies that I get at this discount general store in Union called Green's Salvage that stocks alot of discontinued groceries for nothing.
The 'inspired' designer bags. Listen, my fashion attention span is so short that if I did have the dough I would be wasting it because I'll carry a bag for like three days and be over it.

If you can't see the pictures, click on it for a bigger photo.

Jamie

Product Rave and Review: Andrea Kane's Soul Collection:Love No.1

Andrea Kane is the blogger behind one of my favorites places to look each day, The Organic Beauty Expert. She sent me this sample of one of her new organic fragrances from the Soul Collection.

Love N.1 is a unique blend of many oils, absolutes and essences to include Australian Sandalwood, Indian Pink Lotus, French Cocoa Absolute and Turkish Rose. It is a light smelling sensual perfume oil that is very intimate in its scent.

I applied it literally after busting through the yellow mailer!!! I loved the warmth of the sandalwood and cocoa and lightness of rose. It totally developed on my skin very sensual and beautiful. The oils mixed in are totally organic putting this scent on top of my "Green Glam" favorites!!

Check it out @http://theorganicbeautyexpert.typepad.com/soul_collection/

Cheap Tip of the Day:15 Cheap Things About Me!

-I like the beautiful milled fragrant soaps that are like 6.oo a bar.So in order to get the most out it, I break them in half, use one half and put the other half in a paper bag and in a cool place.

-If there is a new fragrance that I want and I can't afford it, I buy the scented body lotion and then seek out samples and decants of scent on Ebay.

-I order makeup,fragrance, and jewelry from Avon all the time. Don't sleep on their quality.

-I will not order from a website without a discount coupon code.Especially Sephora,I love when they have those sample bags:).

-I go to the bookstore and get a whole lot of magazines, order a drink, and sit and read every last one and then put them back. I used to be so notorious of this that when I lived in the Rock, they would tell me when I came through the door what new mags were in!!

-I put the BBW and VS semi-annual sales on my calender and go the firs dayt even if I don't buy anything.

-I check out DVDs at the library for free. No more wasting money on Netflix when some months I don't order anything.

-I exercise five days a week by walking for 45 mins around the park.Yeah I could have a gym or Y membership but I don't have to buy cute workout clothes, and expensive workout shoes, or pay for a membership.

- I have never bought a cell phone. I wait til the Verizon free every two years plan. That's when you have your plan and phone with Verizon every two years and they offer you a new phone every two years!!!I have had three new phones free.

-I listen to a CD that I want online before I buy it. Or I just buy certain songs off the CD on Rhapsody for .89.

-I buy makeup and beauty off QVC on the EZ pay plan!!

-Drinking water is part of my beauty routine. So I buy my water by the case at Wal-Mart.They are 4.88 a case of 28 compared to my beloved Dasani that's like 10.00 a case.

-I skip foundation some days, not because I don't want to wear it but because I want to conserve it. Especially if its high end.

- I eat a salad every day so instead of buying salad pre washed in a bag, I buy romaine lettuce buy the head and only tear and wash what I need off of it for that day. I would not believe how long the head of romaine lasts and how fresh it stays and how cheaper it is than the prewashed.

-If I'm at a restaurant and there is Splenda on the table, I take the Splenda and put it in my purse. I also do this at Barnes and Noble and Starbucks. Saves me from buying a 3.99 box of Splenda at the store( that only has like 50 packets in it). Yeah, my momma taught me better!!l0l!

Extra- I layway stuff at TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Cato's. I used to layaway at Wal-Mart but they don't do it anymore.

What are the cheap things about you??


Jamie

Cheap Tip of the Day: What I will not skimp on...

Or" What I won't skimp on" for the country folk...

Detergent- Most of my clothes are not designer pieces and most of them don't cost over $20 a piece of clothing. So you gots to take care of cheap clothes. I learned this from my Soror Kindra who was size -0 in college and had tons of clothes but most of them were from juniors department and what I called "hoochie mama" stores. But you would never know. She was meticulous in washing, hanging,and pressing her clothes. She said to me,"You can't wash cheap clothes in cheap detergent, you want to at least get the $10 out of it that you put in it!". That simple.

Eye Makeup Remover- I have literally tried all of the drugstore/mass market crap that burns my eyes. Lancome Deficils remover works like a dream.

Tweezers- Because I do my own brows, I rather have the good tools that cheap ones that don't grab the hair like you want it to. I probably got7 or 8 Tweezermans lying around

Pantyhose - I'm a big booty/big legs girl who needs big protection. And there are never any big sizes on sale.

Shavers- Cheap shaving cream but no cheap razors. I have no time for nicks and dry skin.

What won't you skimp on ??

Jamie

photo:http://www.vinography.com/archives/images/pennies.gif

Product Rave and Review: Skin MD Natural Sheilding Lotion

Skin MD Natural is a great lightweight moisturizer that I even use on my kids. At first I thought it was too light for since I love to be slathered in lotion. But over a couple of days, it started to work it magic, keep me ash free and itch free. I use it on the boys too, at night right after they get out of the tub. They seem to like it, even want to eat it!!( chil'ren...when you get some...you'll understand the "mikey complex"). Right now I keep in samples in my bag for touch ups. I suggest that they make a purse sized one. Love it!!

Jamie