Affordable Luxuries #1 - A Great Lipstick

Whether you buy yours at the drug store or in a department store, lipstick is truly an affordable luxury. With designer brands topping $27.00, one could argue the point. But when compared to the price of a designer handbag or shoes, a great lipstick is an indulgence that still counts as a steal. All the better if your favorite color just happens to be of the drug store variety. I’ve decide no matter what the economy throws at us, I’m going to put on my favorite color and face the day with as big a smile as I can muster.

If you’re ready to take on a true red, some of the best include Chanel Coco Red, Shiseido P23 Real Red or Rimmel Alarm. For a softer take on a real red try benefit benetint.

Or if you’re more comfortable with a softer look, consider Lancôme Tempt Me, Chanel Lilac Sky or Clinique Air Kiss Glosswear.

Now pucker up and indulge!

Setting Up Camp at Home

I want to buy a bunch of these porcelain votive candle holders David Weeks Studio designed for Kikkerland and give them as presents this Christmas. I’m going to keep one of the little campfires for myself and set up a little campsite on my work desk. I think having a miniature campfire blazing will make writing or drawing extra cozy this winter. However depending on where the economy is headed the oil barrel might be more appropriate in the months to come. You can check out the clever promotional films for each design- campfire, apres ski, and oil barrel at you tube.

Recession Fun #2: Photo Booth Self Portraits

On my recent trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado I ran into the Lyon Corner Drug & Soda, an old-style pharmacy with an actual soda fountain and shakes, to buy batteries for my digital camera. I didn't have time to indulge in a shake but I spied an old-time B&W photo booth and vowed I'd be back with my friend Susie in tow to get our pictures taken. I was massively disappointed when I went back and found an "Out of Order" sign posted.

It's getting harder and harder to find B&W photo booths. Sadly they are being over taken by lame digital versions that spit out cheap digital prints that look like something you printed from your home computer. So if your lucky enough to stumble upon a true blue B&W photo booth don't hesitate to spring for the $1.50 to $3.00 it costs. You'll have a little piece of history and a worthy souvenir. The hardest part is deciding who gets which shot. There you have it, another idea for having fun with little or no money - Photo booth self- portraits!

The wonderful B&W photo booth images above are from Square America.

The Perfect Pumpkin

There's something so satisfying about picking out the perfect pumpkin. Maybe it's because it is a "perfect" that is attainable. My perfect pumpkin is not your perfect pumpkin. It's all about finding the pumpkin that because of color, size, shape or some inexplicable something is just right for you. I was at Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey last weekend dealing with a dead car battery when we should have been taking on the corn maze and a family walked by with a big ungainly green pumpkin in tow. My immediate reaction was a big "What are they thinking? That is the ugliest pumpkin!". But there it was being carefully carted away on their wagon certainly perfect in their eyes. I'm going to post photos of the pumpkin I grew in my garden this summer half by mistake. My pumpkin plant produced only one pumpkin which is fine because it's mine and just perfect I might add.

Encouraging Words

Words to live by! This drawing or "Secret Message of the Day" from Keri Smith cheered me up the other day. I was feeling a bit overcome by bills, the economy and generalized anxiety that seems perfectly suited to these times. I stumbled across this message and remembered, it's all in how we respond! So I slipped out of my dreary mood and put on my rose color glasses for a breather. Thanks Keri for putting out these encouraging words and sharing your work on Wish Jar!

Recession Fun # 1: Things That Cost Little or No Money to Do

I really love this poster Jason Munn created for the If You Could project by London based design studio HudsonBec. The project asks illustrators and designers to create works based on the theme "If you could do anything tomorrow..." Stay in and draw is definitely what I would like to do most any day. And it's basically free! Which makes it my #1 choice for my series Recession Fun. I'll just keep posting ideas for things that cost little or no money while the financial crunch continues. Hopefully there will be no need for a series entitled "Happy Ideas for a Depression"

You can see more of Jason's work at his site The Small Stakes.

Hot Springs Heaven

After finishing hanging our drawing show at K. Saari Gallery in Steamboat Springs Colorado, my friend Susie and I headed up to Strawberry Park Hot Springs to celebrate. I think this may be one of my all time favorite places. It's well worth braving the four-wheel drive required trip to enjoy a soak in the hot springs. My previous visit was during a cold snap and despite my bottom literally freezing to a chair Strawberry Park was magical in the snow. This visit the weather was definitely tamer and it was actually possible to swim in the river that runs past the hot pools. They now offer Watsu massages and facials in addition to deep tissue massage. Sign me up!

Charmed by Missoni

A detachable charm with solid parfum makes this bracelet from Missoni Profumi extra sweet. You can choose from either red, blue or orange beads. The bracelet which is an affordable indulgence at $50 will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in September.

Commes des Garcons + H&M = Heaven

I practically floated when I found out that Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons has designed a collection for H&M. I can't wait to see if the clothes are as great in person as they look in photos. The few pieces of Comme des Garcons that I own are timeless and have lasted forever, so the thought of being able to buy some more at H&M prices is irresistible. How is a girl supposed to keep her credit card in her wallet!

End of Summer Aqua Blues

Less than two weeks left till Labor day which means the pools will be closing and swimmies will be replaced by backpacks. I'm going to miss the aqua blue water, neatly trimmed hedges and hodgepodge of vivid beach towels on the grass. Maybe even the the life guard's whistle followed by "walk" being shouted at some over excited little swimmer on his way to the snack bar.

At the pool the other day we were 50 cents short for an ice cream cone having spent all our cash on French fries. My niece said not to worry, we'd find the money and sure enough we did. Turns out she and her friend figured out that coins fall down into the cracks of the metal picnic tables and get left behind when swimmers head back to the pool. They've been making a point of the checking the tables each day. Turns out it has been a pretty lucrative summer for them. So we did a search and came up with 75 cents. I think the victory made our ice cream taste extra sweet.

The great photo above is by Friendly Made and available at their Etsy shop.