Some Outfits I Came Up With

How I wish I had the money.

Frightening Make-up Realization

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in your make-up? Squinted to read those teeny tiny words that are just small enough to make you consider using a magnifying glass? I was wondering exactly what kind of chemicals were in mine, and now I'm decently concerned.

My foundation, Infallible make-up by L'Oreal, contains methylparaben. And a whole bunch of other stuff, but the only thing I really recognized was this. According to the National Geographic Green Guide, Parabens are "common preservatives that appear in a wide array of toiletries", so get looking. A close relative, sodium methylparaben, is banned in the EU because of it's disruption of the endocrine system. Parabens are easily absorbed through the skin and are mistaken by the body as estrogen, and it can tip the balance of your hormones in a bad way, causing depression, weight gain and very likely increasing your chance of breast cancer.
I wear this stuff EVERYDAY.

My mascara, Avon's Astonishing Lengths, has propylparaben in it.
And to top it all of, my second go-to foundation, Avon's Beyond Colour Mousse, has Methyl and Propyl Parabens in it. Like icing on the cake, no?

To add, although I haven't found anything with this in it: stay away from thimerosal, or use it sparingly. It's a mercury product and is a proven neurotoxin

Gonna go find me some organic make-up... my hormones are wonky enough

*note* The FDA has stated that the concentrations of parabens currently present in cosmetics and even food is safe. There have been some studies linking it possibly to breast cancer and other estrogen issues, but they are all inconclusive. However, for my part I don't really care if they are inconclusive. I don't really like the idea of it on my skin, whether it causes cancer for sure, or just might

Some Wardrobe Success

So some success
I have managed to rid myself of

• 2 dresses
• 10 summer tops
• 2 capris
• 2 track pants
• 2 pj bottoms
• 1 housecoat
• 1 pair of shoes
• 12 winter tops
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 2 pairs of pants
• 5 belts
• 1 bra
• 3 nighties
• 4 pairs of tights
• 6 bags
• ... and 1 scarf

Actually, reading this list makes me a bit sad about how much I really haven't gotten rid of. But the 3 garbage bags full of stuff makes me pretty happy

Sadly, the removal of these things has given me such an urge to go out and get things to replace them. I'd love to have a wardrobe that allowed me to dress a bit more like this:

(cocoricooo on etsy)

Wardrobe Malfunction

(Dominomag.com)

*Edited because I keep finding new things*

As my first act to make my life more zen, I have decided to look through my wardrobe. I was reading this great post from Frugal Trenches, and thinking that I am nowhere close to where she is. In fact, clothes just pile up everywhere in my little room- even with 2 regular dressers, a tall 6 drawer dresser, a wardrobe and a closet! I got down to it, and counted everything in my wardrobe, as accurately as I could. Here is what I found:

I own:

• 8 skirts
• 8 pairs of jeans
• 6 pairs of pants
• 7 pairs of capris
• 3 track pants
• 9 pairs of shorts
• 15 dresses
• 9 nighties
• 7 pj sets
• 43 winter tops/ sweaters
• 57 summer tops
• 10 jackets

That's 182 items of clothing!

What's really bothersome about this is some of the things I keep just for sentimental value and just can't get rid of. Like 5 x-large t-shirts from 5 years of volunteering at the Run for the Cure that I can't get rid of because my friends scribbled on them with markers. And a shirt from Paris that doesn't fit right.

However what's truly shocking are all the pieces I never ever wear, or need. How about a hideous, button-up, transparent dress from the 80's with shoulderpads (who knows how I got it)? Or 3 different part-time job uniforms?

Anyway, it continues:

• 18 purses/bags (I NEVER use a purse. NEVER. almost religiously)
• 4 housecoats
• 5 pairs of slippers
• 2.. maybe 3 swimsuits. I found part of one
• 26 belts
• 28 scarves
• 9 pairs of tights
• 11 bras. Interestingly only 3 fit. 1 was always too big (hopeful thinking...?), 1 is a weird tube top thing, and 3 I grew out of (the bad way- downsizing), and 3 i just discovered

I sense that this will all take some work... but for now I should really get my assignment done.

So it begins!

Hurrah! I have started my very own blog! This shall serve as a place for my musings on university, being eco-friendly, being frugal, and finding my way in life. Also, since I am very soon going to move away from home (to beautiful B.C.), perhaps this will save me constant updating with friends and family- like a newsletter to them all :)