Lately I've felt like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. Or the weight of Mars if you are going strictly on the color of the planet in the picture. I liked a lot of the other pictures better but it's really find to hard an image of someone carrying the world where they are actually clothed in more than a loin cloth (actually very few even had that!). Since this is a G-rated blog, I don't have a rippling six pack, nor loin cloth, I decided this guy was more like me than the others. Not very many women are carrying the weight of the world on google images either. Perhaps I will have to submit my own image. Anyway....
The reason? I am pretty sure I brought about the demise of the economy. Practically by myself, but with a little help from people like Janssen. I feel so overwhelmingly guilty about it and I have been trying to change, but destroying the economy is really a hard habit to break.
My most recent act of sabotage came yesterday. My nice neighbor, whom I used to fear, is a Mary Kay salesperson (the reason for my fear). I used to shy away from going to her parties or taking her up on her free facials. I'm not really the makeup kind of person. Somehow I missed the sleepover in Junior High (or is it elementary?) where everyone learned how to put it on and what looks good, etc. [as a note I think this may have also been the same sleepover where they watched the long version of Pride and Prejudice, because I never really got why that was cool either.....see, it's little comments like this I've learned, that generate comments, though I am sure most for that little statement will be negative;)].
Anyway. Never have known how to put on makeup, never really thought I needed it. Wash my face with Good ol' Irish Spring, or - if I'm feeling extra luxurious - lever 2000. I am pretty sure that the lotion I use on my face (brace yourselves) is regular body lotion, not face stuff (nearly killed off the Mary Kay lady with that one).
Somehow though (I believe it was getting called in to Young Women's and for the first time feeling out of place..) I realized that it is about time I start wearing makeup, or at least washing my face with something that has not also washed Gwen's behind. So bring on the Mary Kay lady...
She did a whole facial, makeup, spent hours on me. I looked hot (uh....I tried to say that with enough conviction because I didn't really look hot, but I looked a little better than normal). So I was going to buy the stuff. Then she whipped out her little pamphlet. It's a good thing I keep a defibrillator around for just such an occasion (Seriously, a blog of an elementary school reading level would not use the word defibrillator), because my heart stopped beating in my chest. If I were to buy the whole setup of stuff she had me use I would have to refinance our home! If I were to buy the bare minimum of stuff I lived it would be over $100. Gasp. Yikes. Sigh.
I cannot spend money. Can't do it. Tried. This is where I brought about the demise of our economy. In general, I feel like I MAKE money on the economy. I buy clothes on clearance at kohls.com and search for coupon codes usually getting an additional 30% off and free shipping. I buy Gwen shirts, using this technique, for about $1.50. You can't tell me anyone made any money off of that. Especially when I got $20 free to use at Kohl's with my purchase and then wound up returning most of the stuff I ordered anyway (um, they sent size 14.....and pinstripped capris, not quite what I thought I had ordered).
I use sites like www.retailmenot.com , ebates (if you join today we both get $10!), http://www.craigslist.org/, http://www.ebay.com/, http://www.restaurants.com/ (hint, if you go to ebates first you get 15% cash back from restaurants.com which means with a coupon code you can usually get a $25 gift certificate for like $4.00; or a $10 one for $1). I go to garage sales, etc. all to make sure I get the best deal.
So what do I do as soon as my neighbor leaves? Go and see if I can get the stuff for cheaper. Someone in my city is selling all of her Mary Kay stuff for 60% off retail. Hello? Awesome. Also on ebay it is a lot better deal.
I am ridden, RIDDEN with guilt because this lady took all of her time to show me how to do the stuff, and I am sneakily trying to get it for cheaper; because honestly, I cannot stomach spending a hundred dollars on makeup. She's my friend though too, so I'm going to see her all the time and she is obviously going to see that I am wearing makeup. What to do? Should I just suck it up and pay the big bucks (she makes 50% commission, FIFTY PERCENT! I'm tempted to become a Mary Kay lady...), or should I just like buy one thing from her and then get the rest off of craigslist? Should I give up and stop wearing makeup completely? Please. Tell me what to do. I am in angst.
I am ridden, RIDDEN with guilt because this lady took all of her time to show me how to do the stuff, and I am sneakily trying to get it for cheaper; because honestly, I cannot stomach spending a hundred dollars on makeup. She's my friend though too, so I'm going to see her all the time and she is obviously going to see that I am wearing makeup. What to do? Should I just suck it up and pay the big bucks (she makes 50% commission, FIFTY PERCENT! I'm tempted to become a Mary Kay lady...), or should I just like buy one thing from her and then get the rest off of craigslist? Should I give up and stop wearing makeup completely? Please. Tell me what to do. I am in angst.
P.S. I just spent a long time trying to make this look like it is not all one giant paragraph and it is not saving my edits. I am sorry.
14 comments:
I totally know your pain...one of my closest friends from BYU is a Mary Kay lady. I usually buy one thing and then head to Walgreens for $1 eyeliner and $4 blush. All my beauty crap is drugstore bought and it works just dandy. Plus, I think my entire makeup drawer cost me $30 (including face wash and lotion). I'm way cheap.
Buy it for cheap. That's my advice. And then wear it sparingly around her...maybe she won't notice. Or also if she notices you're wearing makeup, just say, "Yeah, I ended up just buying some cheap makeup 'cause that's how I roll." Then maybe she'll assume you bought wet-n-wild at the grocery store and not know you are wearing Mary Kay. Okay, so I have no idea what you should really do, but good luck with your angst.
I would buy something important from her like foundation or a moisturizer or something and get the rest cheaper somewhere. I am one to talk though because I have always bought expensive make up from the department store. Since I started buying it when I had all kinds of money and didn't care how I spent it, it hasn't hurt as much on the pocketbook to replace things. I don't have to replace things all at once so 20 bucks every few months doesn't seem that bad. I guess buying it all at once would be sticker shock. Anyway, like I said, my advice is to buy something good, something that is better quality or makes a big difference like foundation which I'm sorry, but is very very hard to find the right one at the drug store. So, that's my advice. Better to keep a friend and not offend her and spend a little extra.
Go for the foundation!!! It is completely amazing!! You see, my sister-in-law sells it, and gives it to us at her price! Yeah, so I get the foundation for $8!! But, seriously, it is the best I have ever found!!! You could also get satin lips or satin hands, and that wouldn't be a HORRIBLE cost. You can always use a little pampering, anyway! Good luck.
Capitalism, baby. Do what you gotta do. If your "market" won't "bear" that price, then go find it somewhere else for cheaper! M is always giving me a hard time for "working the system." But I say, if they're not willing to let me, they should make it impossible. I figure I save money by using my TIME. It's kinda like having a part time job, but instead of getting paid, I just pay less for what we buy...
This is Erin Pettingill from the old 172nd ward. I check your blog every once in awhile and saw this post and thought I would put my little piece of advise about Mary Kay. My mom sells it and has used it forever so I buy it from her and it is VERY expensive but I dated some of my bottles of their face lotion and wash. I put the date I started using the face lotion to see how long it lasted me and I have a bottle that was dated last July and I am just about to the end of it and I use it EVERY DAY. So although it is expensive it pays for itself and last a long time. Also their is a teenage version of the face wash and lotions that is cheaper than the age defining stuff that mary kay has it is called VELOCITY. You could ask your neighbor about that stuff. I LOVE IT and I think it is like 9.00 for the lotion or wash and last forever. Its the kind of lotion I've been using since July. So although Mary Kay is expensive remember that there is other makeup WAY more expensive then Mark Kay and Mary Kay's stuff last a really long time. I haven't bought blush for over a year, the eye liner has lasted me about 4-5 months and the mascara that I use everyday lasts me at least 3-4 months easy. I use all of those things every single day. Give it a try even if you just get the lotions and face wash. You will love them!!
Go cheap. You don't owe her anything. She's trying to make money off you, and if her friendship depends on it, then that's a friend I wouldn't want to have anyway. If you must assuage your guilt, then buy one item, but then, I'd be worried about her always checking back to see if you need more. That might be inviting more pressure.
It is so obvious to me that I can never move away from this area because everyone here that I know is saying GO CHEAP!
And you know what I'll say (is it embarassing to confess how pleased I was to find my name in the post about being el cheapo?). Buy it on Craig's List. Mary Kaye products are great and all, but if there is a 50% commission, you know you're over paying like CRAZY.
Just do it! :)
well i have to tell you, i love spending money, and i love buying makeup! but i have to tell you, mary kay is great for skin care, but their makeup is not my favorite- other than their mascara which yes i do pay $15 for- but you need to stop by the MAC counter in the mall, i think it is in dillards or something, it is some store that is too expensive for me so i can't ever remember it. anyways, i love their makeup and if you are going to spend the money- spend it there. by the way, i think i make up for all your cheapness.the economy will survive
Fids, I agree with the cleanser, mosturizer post. They are the best! I am hooked on those two. I would say buy one of those from her and the other cheaper, but your friend is right, she'll keep checking up on you if you buy one. So totally up to you what you do. But the cleanser and mosturizer are fantastic!
I like the eye highlighter cream stuff. Just get that. Then get everything else on ebay. That's what I do... I didn't realize so many people use Mary kay here... I'll be a mary kay lady if you will be... 50% commission... not bad...
I thought you said it a previous post that it was your LAST SHAMELESS PLUG for ebates... hmmm... I'm not sure how accurate that was. But I still love ya. :) I can't really give advice on makeup, b'c I don't really wear much either. But, if you're gonna do one of those pyramid schemes, I mean homebased businesses, oops - Arbonne has EXCELLENT products. I know they're pretty expensive, but you can get good deals, and they DO last forever. But y'know, they give all their sales people White Mercedes. NOw that that's one HECK of a Mark UP! That being said, if you're intersted, I know someone... :)
Okay! Pride and Prejudice. I am personally offended. And I also think that your first viewing should hardly count. A) You were running hours at a time on TREADMILL WHILE watcing!!! B) You never finished the whole series. C'mon, girl.
Okay, I have to say as a person doing business with my sister, if people only marked their stuff up 50%, they really would hardly make a thing, once all is said and done (um and that does not include time spent). As far as Mary Kay goes, that is what I use (mostly; I tried to do it as a business like 10 years ago and it is HARD, especially in that LOVELY Utah County...)
Anyway, I agree that it does last a long time. 1 tube of foundation lasts me a year. I wear makeup every day. I personally like it and if I did not buy it, I would be at the Mac counter at Nordstrom (and Jody would not appreciate it, haha). My prob is that I like the good stuff and even the good stuff at Target really is not that much cheaper sometimes than MK.
If you are not comfortable spending that money and you don't love it enough to find it worth it, then I would definitely not do it :). The person liquidating would probably love to have you take it off her hands ;)
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