Coffee Treat & More ♥

But not what you think...it's to wear, not drink! So...Compacting has been pretty fun for me. I haven't bought anything new, and I have really been getting creative about coming up with great stand-ins for things that I would normally just go buy. It's a satisfying feeling. Garage sale-ing is an awesome thrill. Last weekend, I went to an event specifically about shopping with my mom, girls day out for us! All I purchased was a cup of non-dairy mango sorbet. There were some super cute dresses and things, but I have lots of supercute dresses at home too ;) I just couldn't stop thinking about what a beautiful day it was, and I wished I was out bike riding or reading on my patio instead of being in the bustle of  100s of very determined shoppers on a Spring Day.

I love the Goodwill, though I am trying to stay out of there unless I actually need something specific. (I am working on an upcoming post abut all the awesome things that you can always find at Goodwill.) The most fun I have buying stuff is usually groceries anyway...I love making food!

The Compact allows for personal care items, and part of my goals is to use up the myriad junk I have, and replace all that with a few good quality items that will last and work well. A nice clean counter with 2 or three items...nice. I thought about the intent of the Compact and wondered if I should just go cheapie on personal care stuff, but I decided that better ingredients and supporting someone's home business seems way more in line with simplifying and improving quality of life...plus, let's not play...I love good toiletries!

Lucky lucky me...I've used up my moisturizer supply and it was time to find a replacment for all those lotions and potions!! The last container flew into the recycling bin and I was on the hunt!

Enter Raw Element. I saw this shop on a giveaway at Tout-est-des-roses and loved it! (Pssst...you can still enter!)

I've ordered the Cup of Joe-sie Coffee Bean Creme and I am prancing around like a soft cappucino-smelling wonder!! The ingredients are clean, the packaging is recyclable, and Julie from Raw Element is really nice! I am also thinking about ways to reuse the awesome tin it came in. I had been lusting after those magnteic tin spice jars, but once I looked around my house I nearly have a set. A soy candle, this lotion, etc...I can use them up, clean the tins, and attach magnets. Voila! A free spice tin set- yay!

Check out all the awesome stuff! at Raw Element.

In other news, I am just in love with Paperbackswap.com. It's a free service where you post your books and trade with other people. The only money involved is media mail shipping. It's awesome fun! If you decide to join, please put me (Leslie Richman) as a referral. I dunno what that does, but I'm sure it's good. Can't wait to swap more books! I have wishlisted a ton of books I can't wait to read!

I also started myself a little photo project, Thrifty Style, to document some of the outfits I come up with in my year of no buying. Viva la Flickr!

In other, other news...look at my honey and one of our fur babies! Cuteness!!

See ya next time!!