10-Step Skincare for the Lazy Mom: A Check-In

I had an email request to say more about my 10-step skincare process that I talked about in my New Year's resolutions post, and I was like OMG THANK YOU for giving me an idea for a post.

I LOVE this routine because the steps are specific, but the products are not-- you can use anything you want.  My problem usually is that I will buy an expensive product, not want to refill it, and then just stop using it.  I didn't use eye cream for like a decade and now look at me.

Step 1: Oil cleanser.  I use Ponds, a classic, only $6, and it gets a 4 on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.  4 is my toxicity limit, but I have decided that anything 4 or under I will not even worry about for a second, which is why I am not searching for an affordable 3 or something like that.

Step 2: Foam cleaner:  I use Aveeno Ultra-Calming which is the only thing I have found to fix my red skin.  LOVE it.  And it's cheap.  And a 3!

Step 3:  Exfoliator:  Gotta go with the classic St. Ives apricot scrub that I have been using since I was a teenager.  Even though it might kill me.  I love the smell and how smooth it makes my face and my heels.  Wait-- maybe that's not awesome.

Step 4: Toner.  Neutrogena for me.  Only $6.  (But it's toxic).

Step 5:  Essence.  Right now, I am using Lancome because it came in my huge Christmas make up set.  When it runs out, I will go much cheaper.

Step 6:  Serum: (I think serum and essence are THE SAME FREAKING THING, especially since if I had to pick one thing to infuse my skin with it would be youth), so I use Aveeno for this one, to.  But I could mix up 5 and 6 with no change.

Step 7: Mask:  I bought a cheapie from Target that turns my face red but does clean out my pores.  Open for cheap recs on this category.  I would go as high as $30 because I NEVER use it and imagine I would not have to replace it very often.

Step 8:  Eye cream:  I am using Lancome Renergie right now, but when it runs out, I think  will go with L'Oreal.

Step 9: Moisturize.  For the day, I love Aveeno Ultra-Calming. At night, I use Aveeno Absolutely Radiant or Absolutely Ageless depending on Target sales.  I AM SO GLAMOROUS.

Step 10: Sunscreen:  In my moisturizer.  Boom!

Most mornings, I do steps 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.  Sometimes I start with 1 if last night's eye makeup is still lying around.

Nights I do 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.

I try to exfoliate 3 times a week and I probably only mask a couple times a month.  It used to be weekly, but I sort of lost interest.

My routine has not changed much since I first wrote about this, but I love that I HAVE a skincare routine, that I almost always wash my face before I go to bed, and that none of my products break that bank.

I made a bunch of online announcements for my adjunct class, and the screen grabs are always the most awkward facial expressions ever, but check out my fairly not wrinkled skin!  All I need is some botox and some bangs, and I can totally pass for 38.

What We're Eating 4/52

I spent $186 at Aldi last week and bought TOO MUCH FOOD!

We literally could not eat it all for dinner and ended up putting stuff in the freezer.  How crazy awesome is that?!

So, this week, we are circling back around to eat some of last week's ideas.

Sunday: Chili, hot dogs, veggies and dip ($4 for dip and $8 for veggies.  $2/person)
Monday:Turkey pasta casserole with tons of spinach, garlic bread ($14 or $2.30/person).  We have 2 hockeys so this will be eaten whenever. Yum.  I think I will buy extra garlic bread-- the kids really like the crappy frozen kind-- so I can make that fresh for whoever is eating.
Tuesday:  Leftovers because LOTS OF HOCKEY to dodge. (ZERO DOLLARS)
Wednesday: The BBQ chicken, carrots, couscous, and apple crisp from last week, eaten after hockey when we are all crabby as hell.  CAN'T WAIT. (ZERO DOLLARS)
Thursday: Chicken salads with baked potatoes ($6 for salad greens, $2 for croutons, $8 for potato toppings $12 extra chicken or $30-ish or $5/person)
Friday: Harry has a late hockey game, so we are still figuring this one out.  Maybe a family movie afternoon after school with take n bake pizza before we head out? $18 for a couple of Costco pizzas?  Sounds about right.
Saturday: We might-- wait for it-- GO OUT.  I know right?  Cray-cray

Snowy Day! Sledding!

My FAVORITE kind of snow day is the kind where no one has anywhere to go anyway.

So, when I woke up to a healthy coating of white stuff on MLK day, I was thrilled.  THRILLED.  It was also Ben's last official day of break because he started meetings the 16-18 and then class the following Monday.  (Not me.  I am clinging to break with one short meeting Wednesday, another quick one one on Thursday, and then a packed day of meetings on Friday of MLK day week.  Then, my class starts the 23rd.  Sigh.  Also, I am really excited!)

We started our day by letting Ben have some time to work and driving 3 mph to the movie theater to see The Greatest Showman.  I largely agree with this review, but I freaking loved it anyway.  So pretty!  So sparkly!  So fun!

 Two things about this picture: 1 I really do like Naked and Afraid.  THERE.  I said it.  2.  I asked Beatrix to stay off all the coats and stuff, and she did.  A little resentfully.

 Ben's dad gave Ben all of his cold weather clothes when he moved to Florida.  So, now Ben is the proud owner of snowveralls.

 I don't even think any of these kids in this picture are mine.  But!  Sledding was lovely.  It looked like we were living in  snow globe.

 Sledding!

 Harry and his friend had fun, but neither of them is as effervescent as they used to be.  Adolescence on the way?

 Dorothy LOVED it.  She goes down and comes back up by herself, but she is game to share her sled if a grownup wants a lift.  Basically, she is a kid now and not a baby.  But, I mean, I knew that.  I have just been living in denial.

 She just kept flinging herself down the hill face first, no fear, even though she broke her arm sledding just last year.

 Ben liked to stand near the middle and wave this pink sled at the kids like a bullfighter.  He's a risk taker.

 When Dorothy had another person on her sled, she demanded that Ben "Push us with all of your muscles, Daddy."

 Harry is basically as good as an adult, as far as Dorothy is concerned.

 (She did want to be pulled up the hill a few times.  BUT WHO WOULDN'T?).

Farewell winter break. I will miss you like crazy for the next 11 months.

My winter break is coming to an end!

Sad trombone!

I have been eating too much the past few days weeks, and my pants are getting snug.  Not disgusting muffin top tight like they were, but not pre-Christmas baggy, either.  I think actually getting the hell out of the house will, of course, be really good for me.  Especially since Ben and I are budgeting (BARF) and because it so cold-- I will barely be tempted to walk to the grocery store, coffee shop, or Walgreens visible from my office window.

The kids, though, had a really short winter break this year, and it has been INCREDIBLE to send them to school and then sit under a blanket on my couch with my dog whose snores are as calming as a water feature.  I have been reading (FOR AN OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE, so shut up), getting ready for classes to start, and playing a really addictive phone game that I just deleted because I have spent actual dollars on it and because I think I just installed malware on my phone trying to get more diamonds.  (Again, SHUT UP).

So, of course, I am sad to see this epoch of sloth and gluttony come to an end.  I made a shitty infographic about my feelz:

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Dorothy is a huge fan of Harry and David (top) but NOT lobster in her mac and cheese (bottom)

 Jack, living the dream.  My dream, though.

 The ceremonial drawing of the family movie night movie:

 I love love love love ending my week at The Little Gym.  So does Dorothy (and Cooper-- in window)

 Moana was spell-binding. 

 Dorothy had a baby.

 Her name is Rose.

 Scary freaking birthday card Dorothy drew for Henry, who is 3!

 We had friends over for dinner, and Beatrix took a nap in her crate.

 Cooper finished up the brownies for breakfast

 Adorable Cooper had an adorable hockey game.

 Cooper and coach dad:

 I took Dorothy to a birthday party today, and the food was ADORABLE

 She had SO MUCH FUN

 So much fun that-- spoiler alert-- she'll be having her own party there.

Blocked

Good news:  I figured out what needs to happen in my book.  Like, it has an actual plot instead of just characters saying clever things to each other.  This is clearly a good thing. I mean, that's why I wrote it AFTER THE WORD GOOD.

Bad news:  I have still not gotten back into a consistent writing routine.

First I blamed Harry's school schedule because he's up at 6:30 to get ready for school, cutting a solid thirty minutes off my time.  But really, you guys, that's not it.  He leaves for the bis at 6:45.  If I really wanted to write my book, I would figure out a place to steal back those 15 minutes without screaming snowflake about my process.  (And, we set the clock back 15 minutes in Dorothy and Coper's room, so if I jump on the elliptical the second Harry leaves, I can do my entire workout before the two of them start freaking out for breakfast.  Sometimes, I have to jump on for another 10 minutes or so later in the morning scramble, but it's so doable).

Then, I blamed my online adjuncting because I often use my time before all of the other kids wake up to catch up on grading and messaging.  But then I went 8 weeks without a contract and STILL didn't write more.  And really, I only put the "more" on the end of that sentence to make myself feel better.

Now, mainly because I am teaching an online class about writing and the first unit delves into the writing process, I am starting to recognize that neither of these is valid AT ALL.  If I wanted to write, I would.  And since I am not, something is holding me back.

It started when I used the summer as an excuse to slack off because with ben working and me and the kids at home there was barely enough time to teach my online classes, let alone write.  Then I eased back into the process in the fall by reading my draft, ostensibly to catch myself up.  But really all that did was make me freeze up with failure and judgment for my story.  Ultimately, I cut like over 100 pages and got the plot on track, but now I am avoiding the whole thing like it's my dissertation.

Cross your fingers that in two weeks when I am back in the office, I will find loads of time to work.  I mean, I am sure I will, but probably on EVERYTHING EVER that crosses my desk as soon as it shows up on my radar and NEVER on my book.  Because, my friends, I am starting to realize that THAT is my process.

SHOULD BE WRITING:

Just Jack

Oh, man.  9 is a great age.  9 is happy and thoughtful and sweet and funny and takes itself very seriously.  I am really glad to have two more 9's waiting in the wings, but I have to say, Jack wears it particularly well.

Because we are terrible parents, we tried to talk him out of being in Cub Scouts, especially with the addition of rec hockey to his life.  But, alas, he would not budge.  And, really, I guess he shouldn't have budged because look how happy and careful he is making his Pinewood Derby car:

 Here he is ready to watch the Alabama/Georgia game

 And all dressed for school showing off his pattern-matching skills.

The other day he had homework and sat down at the kitchen table and taught me 2 new strategies for triple-digit addition based on the notes he took at school.  So capable and grown up!  My favorite thing right now is that he takes time every morning to "do his spritzes," a phrase he coined that means put on all of the colognes and body sprays.  I gag a little sending him off to school, but he feels great in his cloud of scent-- you can just tell.

Jack is a terrific kid, and I wish I had more time to spend with just him.  When Harry has a late hockey practice and the other kids have gone to bed, Jack and I have so much fun watching Netflix-- we have the same interest in TV from The Good Place to Bob's Burgers to Zumbo's Just Desserts.  He also loves to cook and is getting really good at it.  Part of that is Jack being wonderful and part of it is 9's eagerness to please.

Moms in the little-kid trenches, get excited because 9 is coming to you, and it's lovely.