Month: November 2023

4th Quarter stash shop update

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As is typical at the end of the year, I am in the middle of my 4th quarter stash shop and am just kind of over the whole panning thing at the moment. I am glad I chose a more limited number of items to work on this quarter so that I could do a thorough makeup rotation as I typically am inspired to do toward the end of the year.

Here’s what I chose at the beginning of October:

I am delighted to report that I have some empties!

Now, the original container of Bare Minerals powder was a place holder, as I had a total of 3 containers, two travel sized and one sample sized. I have now used up the sample size and one of the travel sizes. I am hoping to finish the final one over the next month and a half.

I finished the mac fix+, it was a come back item from earlier in the year and is now gone.

I finished the jecca blac hydrate primer-unfortunately this one had started to go “off” a bit and didn’t smell too great. A reminder to not over purchase items, as it turned out to be a really nice primer overall, and I wished I’d used it sooner.

For the remainder, I made good progress on each I think. I will be able to finish the eyebrow pencil for sure, and potentially the bare minerals concealer. I don’t think I’ll be able to finish the foundation but I should be able to get it to a place where it can be finished in the new year quite easily. The eye pencil is slow going and the brow wax is progressing.

As is also typical this late in the year I’ve been thinking through what I’ll do for project pan/stash shop in the new year. I think I’ll do a potential 2 month rotation instead of 3 but with the option to bring back an item for another 2 months in hopes of finishing it.

Again In Stitching

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I’ve made a bit more fun stitching progress over the past week or so, and am enjoying both projects immensely. First up, we have the fox and rabbit mystery stitch along, Royal Gardens:

Yesterday I finished the November clue and have set it aside to wait on the final December clue. This has been a fun stitch along as well as a massively good learning experience. However, I don’t intend to do next year’s mystery project. I think I’d prefer to search out known patterns at this time, and already there’s such a backlog in my brain of things I’d like to create.

Next up, progress on a pattern I did choose and am definitely eager to keep working on! The Pavane for these Times. I finished the second page, so that’s two pages out of nine complete and I just started on the third.

The one project that I need to get back to but haven’t yet is the temperature tree. I still need to add all of October’s leaves as well as the rest of the year. At least the tree itself is complete. I am sure I’ll get October added soon but I haven’t been super inspired about it yet.

2 Months of Empties

/ shellssells / 1 Comment

I have saved my trash again and have photographed it for 2 months of empties and another inventory update. But I just wanted to give an overall update. I did not clearly count what I started with, but at the first February update I had 192 items, and after this November 1 update I have 135. I had made the point to purchase very little in order to take advantage of end of the year deals, but now that I am close to it, I am not certain really how many items I need even now, which is a pretty good feeling.

Here’s an assortment of the larger items I finished up over these past two months. There have been plenty of other sample size items as well, but I just can’t be bothered to keep those types of things anymore.

And now for a listing of the categories that have changed, for better or worse.

Sunscreen-I finished 3 total and now have 3 total in stash. I aim to get that down to 2, and will be able to do so before the end of the year. 1 mineral sunscreen and 1 regular sunscreen.

Cleanser- I finished up 2 over the past two months, leaving me with 3 total. I will likely always have about 3-one for the shower, one for my sink, and one to travel with.

Retinol-I did not finish any but purchased 2, as I am close to finishing 1. I now have this fairly dialed in to one I like best so I’ll just be repurchasing that. Currently I have 4 but will end the year with 3.

Face Masks-I finished 1 and I have 1.

Cleansing oil/balm-Finished 1, purchased 4 to stock up and try some new. Since I do wear makeup almost daily I do run through these regularly. Currently I have 6 in my collection and will not purchase more before the end of the year.

I finished an eye serum and purchased an eye serum, I have 2 right now.

I finished a vitamin c serum and purchased one which I dislike. I’ll be on the hunt for another while I finish the current one up.

I received a free lip balm so now I have 8.

I used 3 moisturizers up, and I have a few more close to being done. I also received a sample size. Currently I have 7. I won’t purchase more before the end of the year.

Moisturizing serums-I received and used 1, and also used another so I have 3 in my collection currently.

I finished a hair primer and have none.

I finished a hair gel and have none.

I purchased a hairspray because I am close to finishing the one I have. I have 2 currently.

I used a thickening spray and only have 1.

I purchased a texture spray and now have 4.

I finished a shampoo, I now have 4.

I finished a conditioner, I now have 7.

The lush kitchen subscription box strikes again here:

-I received 2 more body washes, but did use 2 up so no change in numbers.

-I received a body moisturizer in the lush box, but did finish one as well, no change in numbers.

-I finished a hand cream and now have 4-heading into the winter I may end up getting more.

And finally fragrance-I received 2 but used up 3. So my numbers only went down by 1.

All in all, a pretty good couple of months. Further, it’s easy to determine that I still have plenty in most categories, if you think about it I went a full year JUST trying to work through all the shampoo and conditioner samples in my collection alone. So, I don’t even think I’ll end up purchasing much on end of year sales because it feels like I could easily get through another year without purchasing too much more.