Motivate

Gentle readers, when your MatchGirl was unemployed, she made a schedule for herself. She didn't sleep all day (unless she was sick or ridiculously hungover, of course). She got up in the morning, Monday through Friday, washed her face, popped in her contacts and did a yoga workout. Five days a week.

When I go a job, I slowed it down to three days a week. I woke early and did my little routine for about thirty minutes - usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday - and then I'd finish getting ready for work and be on my way. And I felt great.

But things happen and plans change and oh my goodness isn't it so much nicer you stay curled up next to your boo on a cold winter morning than rising early and working out? Yeah. I think so, too.

But being stagnant is no good.

So after months of laziness and having no discipline at all, your MatchGirl is back on it. That's right, dear ones, I am back on the getting up early three days a week, working out before going to work track I was so faithfully on for about 8 months. And I'm feeling it, too!

But, even though it hurts right now, I know I'll be the stronger for it in the end. Life's funny like that.

The Seed of Action

I do not wish to expiate, but to live. My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady. I wish it to be sound and sweet, and not to need diet and bleeding. - Ralph Waldo Emerson


Think about the type of person you’d NEVER want to be 5 years from now. Write out your own personal recipe to prevent this from happening and commit to following it. “Thought is the seed of action.” - Harley Schreiber


In five years, gentle readers, your MatchGirl will be 40 years old (on the cusp of turning 41). Here are things I don't want:

• I don't want to be uninspired.

• I don't want to be bored.

• I don't want to think I know everything.

• I don't want to have stopped learning.

• I don't want to be sedentary.

• I don't want to have stopped trying.

• I don't want to be so comfortable in my live that I've stopped striving to make things better.

• I don't want to be anyone different than me.

My recipe to make sure these things don't happen? I think I'll just continue on the path I'm on and everything will be a-OK. The thing about stumbling onto a clear(ish) path a little later in life is that you have spent your twenties (and maybe early thirties) walking on paths that don't quite make sense. You've got a lot of experiences stored in your memories to keep yourself on track.

Today is the official last day of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Self-Reliance Trust 30 Challenge. As I've been posting, when I deem that I want to share my thoughts, only on weekdays, you'll have to bare with me a few more (five) days. I hope that you've enjoyed these musings. I hope that you've gotten something from them. And, most importantly, I hope that you have joined me in contemplating the next actions of your lives, as I have mine.

Beauty School Dropout

Ah, gentle readers, your MatchGirl knows that these are tough times. Money is tight and a thrifty gal needs to pinch her pennies. But does that mean that a thrifty gal can't still look her prettiest?

No. It most certainly does not.

Your MatchGirl sent a questionnaire out to some of her gal pals - from makeup artists to beauty PR mavens to simply cool gals - to ask them to name their favorite drugstore beauty products.

Here's what the ladies had to say:

For your skin care fix, Jeannine of Beauty Sweetspot swears by Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Moisturizer ($12.99 at drugstore.com) while makeup artist Alice recommends Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash to keep her complexion smooth and clear.  My dear friend Kora says "Aveeno Anti-Blemish Foaming Face Wash! Smells awesome and retails for like 6 bucks."  As a great, and multi-purpose (remove eye makeup, heal tattoos), deep body moisturizer, Pam and Kora both go nuts for Aquaphor.  Seriously nuts - your MatchGirl's inbox was a back and forth of how much they both loved it and all its purposes!


For brilliant color at home, LA based makeup artist Konnie says that Clairol Natural Instincts "always gives me great semi-permanent color results without the stink" And to keep your 'do doing what it's supposed to, Nancy recommends Citre-Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, for $6.99.

For a scent on a budget, Nancy recommends going old school and letting Calgon take you away, with its Body Mist.  Her favorite fragrance?  Hawaiian Ginger.  Yum.


As for your MatchGirl, gentle ones, I have been a girl on a budget for a very long time and I have a long list of drugstore favorites.  For washing my face, I am a big fan of alternating Cetaphil non-foaming cleanser and St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  For spot treating blemishes, you can't go wrong with Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick (and I love the licorice-y scent).  I moisturize just like my mom and my nana before her with Oil of Olay.  And you can never go wrong with my number one makeup must have - Maybelline mascara.


What are some of your favorite beauty secrets on the cheap?


For your pretty pout, Vickie swears by L'oreal Colour Juice Sheer Juicy Lip, for about $8 a tube, while Pam suggests you keep them moisturized with Nivea's Lip Care line.

The September Issue (or, People Unclear On The Concept)

As you may or may not know, your MatchGirl's roomie is a fashion stylist. Because of this, we get all sorts of fabulous fashion magazines in the mail. Being a girl who loves clothes, as well as one with a bit of extra time on my hands, I do love paging through those mags. Dreaming of the day when I will be employed and get to buy the gorgeous pieces of clothing (or a cheaper facsimile) represented within.

As it is the end of fashion week, I thought it would be, dear ones, an appropriate time to share with you some of my thoughts on the September issue of Vogue. Loads of fashion bloggers did this already and you can run a quick Google search and see what they had to say. Gorgeous, skinny models? Check. Loads of over the top outfits? Check. Beautiful actress on the cover? Check. Everything a September issue should have. Here is where my issue lies. The cover headline proclaims "584 pages of stylish steals and smart splurges" and in the Index section "100 under $500". Yes, my lovelies. That is Anna Wintour's idea of a steal - under $500 for an item.

Now, your MatchGirl is not a cheapskate. Far from it. She spent more than a decade working luxury retail and owns fabulous items ranging from Anya Hindmarch to Christian Louboutin to Marc Jacobs to Milly to Miu Miu. Of course, I mix these finds with H&M, Old Navy and Uniqlo, since the majority of my wardrobe is made up of lower/mid priced brands. Though, I love fine design and appreciate and authentic luxury item. However, I find neither a $450 beach towel by D. Porthault nor a $495 Judith Leiber lipstick case to be a steal. A $495 leather satchel in a classic color and style by Tory Burch, that will last you for years, perhaps if you consider cost per wear (which your MatchGirl almost always does), but ... really, Vogue? Sure, there are some spectacular items pictured here. But, steals? I think not.

There is an article in the issue by Teri Agins entitled "What Price Fashion?", which attempts to explain how designers are "trying to keep quality high and prices low". Though a cocktail dress, devoid of sequins or feathers or more that 2 yards of fabric, for under $2,000 (retail price $1,999) is not actually low-priced, Oscar de la Renta or not. There is nothing really new here and nothing said that wasn't written already in Dana Thomas's superb look into the world of uber-high end retail, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Lustre. An actual luxury item - one that's made to order or made in a very limited quantity, stitched by hand and made from only the finest materials, should, of course, be at a high price point. It's a piece of art. And, if not one-of-a-kind, it's certainly not something you see everywhere. An item by a designer, who's name you recognize, but is mass-produced in China or Indonesia or wherever materials are cheap and labor is cheaper is simply, by definition, not luxury. It's branded. And the consumer, world-wide, is falling for it. Personally, your MatchGirl, would rather have a quality crafted piece by a lesser known designer, made in the US or Europe somewhere, than a Louis Vuitton bag, crafted in China and sold at the local "high"-end shopping mall. If everyone has one, it's not luxurious, it's mainstream.

For a fashionista on a tight budget, I recommend taking a deep look into your closet at the change of the seasons. Invest money in basics - jeans that fit perfectly; a suit, if your profession calls for it; a great winter jacket/coat; a little black dress; for men, dress shirts that fit well. And when it comes to the trendy or the one time wear, check out the designer collections for Target, go to Forever 21, Old Navy, H&M or Uniqlo (in NYC). Host a clothing swap with your friends and find new favorite pieces that someone else is done with. Hunt through the good Goodwills and Salvation Armies in your city or town. And if there is some pricey something that you absolutely must have, just consider how many times you will wear it, and maybe how sad you will be if you don't add it to your wardrobe. Everyone, even the un(der)employed, deserves a splurge from time to time.

Keeping Up Appearances

When I have a brand new hairdo
With my eyelashes all in curl,
I float as the clouds on air do,
I enjoy being a girl!
-Flower Drum song, 1959

Not that much has changed since this slightly sexist song debuted in 1959. Sure, the hippie movement (of which MatchGirl’s mom was a happy participant) of the late 1960s/early 1970s might have altered the way we viewed femininity for a while, but at the end of the day, every girl wants to be beautiful. And in our society, she spends big bucks to get that way.

Since yours truly has spent the past several years working in the glamorous world of high end fashion and beauty, I thought it might be fun to follow up my previous Getting It On The Cheap post with some of my favorite tricks to get around spending a lot of money to get pretty. And, gentle readers, I thought it might be fun to include my gal pals in on the fun – so I reached out to some of my favorite fashionista and makeup artist friends to find out their secrets to staying sexy on the tight budget of the unemployed girl.

First, my fabulous makeup artist friend Konnie has some great tips on keeping your skin healthy and moisturized without dropping big bucks on a New York City (or in her case LA) facial.

Konnie says:

my #3 beauty secret:
mixing just a dab of foundation into your favorite sheer lip gloss can give you that perfect pouty lip color you've been looking for.

my #2 beauty secret:
petroleum jelly is always great for removing the toughest eye makeup, and also doubles as a night cream for when your skin is feeling extra flaky or tore up. also great on dry hands overnight. it doesn't clog your pores and helps your skin heal!

my #1 beauty secret:
distilled water. you can get it anywhere. pick up a fine mist spray bottle anywhere for $1 and fill it with said distilled water. as a final step or even as a replacement to your face washing routine, spray the distilled water all over your face until it's coated and let it air dry. it sucks out the impurities in your pores and you will notice results. do it when you get out of the shower. do it anytime throughout the day when your face is feeling cruddy. be sure to dump and refill the spray bottle if it's been sitting for a while. water does go bad.

no more facials!

Don’t forget that a lot of products, not just Vaseline, are great multi-taskers. Friend Pam suggests Nivea lotion for keeping your skin silky smooth, removing eye makeup and standing in for an eye cream. This savvy gal also recommends using Suave conditioner as a stand-in for shaving cream.

Amy suggests checking out Bumble and Bumble and applying to be a hair model to get free cut and color from one of their stylists in training. MatchGirl’s own sister did that for years while living on the cheap in NYC. Most hair schools and salons offer similar if you meet the criteria for the class they are teaching. Craigslist in your own city is also a great resource to find these. If you’re feeling brave, Leana suggests doing your own color with your favorite boxed shade and use the included conditioner to keep it looking great until it’s time to touch up. Of course MatchGirl knows that once you’ve found a great stylist, you would be remiss to go elsewhere, gentle readers, which is why I highly recommend Jenn at Mousey Brown in Williamsburg – cuts start at $55 and just named “best bangs” by Time Out NY, with bang trims at only 15 bucks. Forget those high Manhattan prices, my ladies, and go see the gal that’s been keeping my locks lovely for the past several years!

And, now, on to the really good stuff. The stuff that’s so hard to resist - who can forget the makeup? Even the least girlie of girlie girls has some brightly colored lacquer or powder that she can’t resist. MatchGirl has her own favorite finds – drugstore mainstays that work great, cost little and look gorgeous. In general, you can’t go wrong with any mascara by Maybelline. My personal favorite is Define-A-Lash Lengthening, but dear Amy B sticks with the classic Great Lash in the pink and green tube. Friend Pam swears by L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara.

Fidelma says that E.L.F. has the best cheap makeup around: “love Doe Eye Shadow creams only $1!” And Le swears by Bonnie Bell lip glosses – long lasting and tasty, too!

For nails, of course, the first tip is to do them at home. If you want to splurge on the same Essie or O.P.I. nail colors that you get at the salon, they only cost about $6/bottle at any beauty supply store (Zoe’s on Greenpoint Ave has a great selection of colors and brands). MatchGirl is also partial to the long lasting lacquers by Sally Hansen, most under $5 and available at any drug store.

Of course, make good use of the free little bottles in hotels, free samples from pricey places like Khiel’s and the makeup counters at department stores. Also, don’t throw away that color that didn’t quite work for you – maybe one of your friends looks way better in Blushing Berry than you ever will. A little give and take is always good karma.

Anyone else have any good tips for making the best use of your dollars and keeping up appearances in the “economic downturn”?

Gettin' It On The Cheap

So, as my way of being helpful to all those other unemployed people in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area, I've decided to complie a list of some cheap finds. On this list you will see some cheap eats and some good happy hours and some neighborhood beauty services. They're necessities for any city girl really.

Massage: Qi Gong Tui-Na on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. This is a no-frills massage place (men and women welcome) where you don't get the pretty music or the lavender scented room, but you do get a great massage. These ladies will pound the crap out of you for a very not-Manhattan price. An hour, at last check, was $45 (tip them well!).

Waxing: Ok. Every girl needs a bikini wax on a regular basis, Brazilian or otherwise. I found this place pretty soon after I was laid off, on the southside of Williamsburg. And, though I have given up a bi-monthly manicure (I can do it myself), I really want to keep a little normalcy in my beauty routine. So I've kept my monthly(ish) bikini wax. I always go to Audrey on Bedford Avenue. It's $15 for a regular bikini wax (using regular wax), and you're in and out (on a weekday, without an appointment) in ten minutes.

Hair: My friend Jenn is a stylist at Mousey Brown on Lorimer Street. They have really reasonable prices, great service and talented stylists (of course, I only go to Jenn, and you should, too!). And boys looking for a barber shop, checkout Tomcat on India Street and Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. My roommate, the ex, and a couple other boys I know go here and it's $20 - $30 for a cut.

Nails: I can't recall the name of the place, but on Manhattan Avenue, next to a store called White Dream is a cute little manicure place where a manicure is $6. The women (and man) who work there are nice and they have a great selection of Essie colors.

Brunch: Ok, no links here, you guys can figure it out yourself. But the go-to, on-the-cheap brunch places are, in no particular order of favoritism: Mugs on Bedford Ave. (I never spend more than $10 and you get coffee and a cocktail with brunch); Acapulco on Manhattan Ave. (the ex and I used to brunch there every weekend and for the two of us, about $14); my friend G's new favorite brunch place in Greenpoint is La Brique on the corner of Manhattan and Bedford (you get a coffee and a Mimosa with the brunch menu, and they have a back porch).

Happy Hour: Happy Hour is an unemployed gal's best friend. In the neighborhood, there are some good ones - Black Rabbit, Habitat (ladies night all night on Wednesday), Matchless are some of my favorites. I read recently, though I've not checked it out, the Sound Fix has an open well bar on Wednesday from 7 to 8 pm. Ooh! And sitting in the park this fine spring day, I was handed a flier for "$1 Mini-Pitchers of Sweet-Ups" from noon to 5 every day at Royal Oak - now that is exactly what the unemployed are lookin' for!

Did I miss anything? Would love to hear other opinions on cheap finds (preferably in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area) for the penny-conscious amongst us.