Fallen Off the BEAUTY Wagon!

How did this happen??? I was doing so well…taking MY OWN ADVICE and trying all these beauty products…I am on a First Name basis with the CVS and Walgreen beauty counter specialists (that's what their name card said!). Also using Arbonne products, which are FAB! And everything I used was working wonders…But, alas….all the creams in the world can only DO SO MUCH! Age does take its toll! Going nonstop for several weeks on end…can even do MOI in! Running from work to try to manage all the impending volunteer commitments leaves one little time for rest! Setting up for the Thrift House holiday opening last Sunday, following the Art Center's Holiday opening last Friday, caused concern from a fellow Thrift House volunteer. She turned to MOI as we were fighting over a Prada dress (we both wear the same size) and said that she had NEVER seen MOI looking so fatigued, including BAGS under my eyes (of course, they are ALWAYS there, I do an AMAZING job of concealing them!!). MON DIEU! What is a woman to do??! HEAD RIGHT OUT AND BUY MORE PRODUCT!!!! I did try to get more sleep on one day last week! But, preparing for the Thanksgiving feast always calls for a LATE NIGHT on Wednesday or is that an early a.m. on Thanksgiving??!! So looking forward to relaxing over the weekend….only to discover that I had to work all weekend!!

Not PLANNING to work all weekend-if I had KNOWN that I had to work all weekend, I would have SAID SOMETHING! But then that's the CODE! We all know the CODE..that is Don't tell your Mother or Don't tell your Father or in this case, Don't tell PAULA! With a successful opening of our Winter Arts and Crafts Expo, I had said that I would work the Friday after Thanksgiving, since the Art Center is normally closed! ANYTHING for a sale!! That retail spirit returns!! The Art Center was only closed for Thanksgiving and the Friday, so I ASSUMED that I would really only have to work on Friday, since the weekend staff would take over on Saturday and Sunday! Just one little problemo….the regular weekend staff receptionist was off for the holiday and the NEW receptionist would be there for the entire weekend…FUNNY, how that LKF (little known fact), somehow didn't get mentioned to MOI-Another CODE!!

Things were going well on Friday, I arrived opened up, the NEW receptionist arrived to work the register, which is a computerized affair. The only thing I hadn't counted on was that the NEW Receptionist thought she was there to help MOI as back-up! MON DIEU! We both had a "moment" when we realized that each of us thought we were doing the other's job!!! She said that she would need me there as back-up for the ENTIRE weekend!! Now granted, we were only open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon-4 p.m on Sunday…but still….when is one to prepare for the Holidays??!! Those outdoor containers take time to make!! Not to mention everything else! But hey, that's what the paycheck is for!! I mentally went down the list of everything I could push off to next week, and we were good to go!! We actually were busy, so it worked out well that I was there! Since I was check out back up, I was chief wrapper! It made me a bit nervous wrapping all these lovely glass and ceramic pieces….but, I did my best and focused on the task at hand! A few errors with the Credit Card machine were solved by MOI! Those years of Retail come in handy!!! I decided to add a "festive" air to the event and donned several different Christmas Tree Skirts over the weekend! They were made of fleece and not only festive, but warm!!!! They are actually quite versatile…first as a shawl and later in the day as an actual skirt! Who knows, it may be the next big hit on the runways!! If the "poodle skirt" ever comes back!! I will be prepared!

Having so many hours to spend and not able to actually go to my office to do work, I decided to SHOP the Expo. There are some very chic fiber accessories! This woman is not only an artist, but a fashionista!! I LOVE THIS! She has made this scarf like thing out of very cool yarns and it looks like a necklace…I know I am not describing it very well, but when you put it on-it looks very FAB! She also makes a scarf for your winter coat which is like a "Dickie." Again, very cool! It just fits around your neck and doesn't add any bulk…what's not to like!! Some terrific jewelry too! Love the bracelets and rings!! Not too many cuff's-maybe they are hard to make?? Fabulous antique beaded necklaces and a selection of Ikebana containers…I am good to go! AND to top it all off, very fun notecards!! Truly, I can save the time that I would spend at the shopping malls buying presents and buy everything at the Art Center! But, here's the thing….most of the folks that I buy presents for-LOVE to get those gift cards and I can get those at the grocery store!!! Soooooo, I guess I am shopping for MOI!

Dear Friend, Roxanne Boerke shares these wonderful tips!
She is taking Flower Arranging classes at New Trier extension from Michael (Chicago School of Flower Design). These classes include Hand Tied Bouquets! Who knew-right here in our own back yard!! They look wonderful!!! http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us
Floral design is under arts and crafts in the catalog!

And here is Roxanne's info on Discounts while shopping on line!!
You asked how to get a discount while shopping on line. google search ie, "macys.com coupons". (website address -space- coupons) i am amazed at the discounts i can find. they are not always available and it may take some searching through what google lists or trying the coupon on the check out page (usually a box titled promotion code or coupon). it is so satisfying when they work! i found myself doing a lot of this when i had 2 babies at home. also, be sure to check out your favorite sites on cyber monday, there should be plenty of discounts out there.

there are also coupon websites where you can enter your store and a coupon may pop up. some of those are: Savings.com, Shoppersresource.com, Couponwinner.com, Promotionalcode.com, and Webcouponcodes.com.
Thank you Roxanne!! This is information we can all use!!!!

You can also join online Sample Sale sites:
www.Gilt.com
www.Hautelook.com
www.Ideeli.com
and www.shopstyle.com lets you do a really refined search and has a ton of great stores in it's network!

And for all your HOLIDAY Glamour! Buy a clutch! So many to choose from and at so many price points!!! Anyone will do! Check out Forever 21!!!! www.sondraroberts.com has great clutches too!
Check out Simply Vera at Kohl's-she does a nice job with satin items and a Faux Fur silver cropped coat is FAB!!!!

As we all know-keep the bling to a one focal point-bracelets, necklace or fab earrings…but, don't wear them all together! This website has some great bracelets and earrings!!! And love the price point!!
http://www.richrocksnyc.com/index.html

Will try to find the perfect holiday cookie recipe for next week or send MOI your favorite!!
Let the Holiday's begin!!
XO,
P