Backsliding and More

I didn't even know I had committed the crime until it was too late. I was home unloading the groceries when I saw it. A bottle of BWC Eye Make-up Remover. My favorite and most hard to find unless I buy on the Internet brand of remover. I had purchased it at the store with such delight. I could scarcely believe they carried this brand! But there it was proof that I had bought a product despite my Thirty Day Challenge. Le Sigh.

I could make excuses about how I don't have any eye make-up remover so I clearly needed it as I wear eye make-up everyday. I could tell you all how I've been diligently using and making my family use products like mad banshees on a mission. All true. Except I didn't even last two weeks into the challenge without mindlessly throwing something into my cart.

Today, I caught myself. A fat check had arrived from some work I had last month and what did I think about doing? Buying Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish. Two shades dropped into the online shopping cart so fast your head would spin. Then I remembered the eye make-up remover and I just exited the site all together.

It's a small victory right? My progress is at the right.

Update #2 - Winner Announced and more!

Jacqueline from Atlanta had the winning entry for the 'Name the New Thirty Day Challenge' contest. 'SA- Shopaholics Anonymous- Thirty Days on the Wagon That isn't Going to the Mall.'

Jacqueline- if you are out there- email me. I need to send you your prize pack!! Products leave my house, they go to yours. It's a beautiful system, n'est pas?

In other news- I have managed to use up four products in my house, not including one bag of dog food. I cleaned out my kitchen sink the other day and realized that I was using my stain remover as is. It's in concentrate form and here I was wasting it. No wonder it was working so kick ass well. As I scoured the Borax box for uses and filled up my glass cleaner spray bottle with vinegar (instead of buying more glass cleaner) it hit me. Not only do I have one packet of Disposer care at my disposal and to get rid of, but I'm using so many more beauty and household products on a daily basis in my effort to downsize that I and my house are looking quite spiffy this last week.

There is less clutter under the sinks, I threw out some old lipsticks and nail polishes this past weekend and I'm truly taking stock of what I have and becoming responsible for it. Seriously, I had three face washes in my shower and three shampoos. Why? It's ridiculous. Sticking to one is what makes the difference.

Still, if you want more stuff in your house- head over to Mummy's Product Reviews. I'm giving away some brand new Hanes Kidswear today!

Update #1 to the Thirty-

I'm still accepting names and the contest doesn't end until Sunday, July 13 (11:59 p.m. ET), so keep it up people - we have some great ones already! You guys are fierce!

Since I started this challenge I've found even more products in the house. I had no idea my husband was harboring so much shower gel and shaving cream. Yeesh! He's going to have to go through it ALL before we buy anymore regardless of any economic stimulus that comes through this house. I've decided that even the dog isn't exempt when I found four bags of treats and two packages of bones in the pantry. Wow. We are way more wasteful than I thought. I'm going to try and extend this to household cleaning agents as well. I have a plethora of all-purpose cleaners though I'm horribly low on detergent and unless my industrial size box of Borax can go into the Kenmore then I may have to actually buy some dish detergent. We'll see.

Now for the update. I've used two bottles of lotion up! First, was a full size bottle of Shikai hand and body lotion that had been languishing on my bathroom counter for over six months. With all the other scented and non-scented alternatives I was just switching back and forth continuously and not going through any of them. Never fear though, there are at least four more to be used up! I also FINALLY got through a bottle of Theraplex Hydrolotion. I had so many sample bottles I had opened and never finished as well. I have product ADD it seems.

Keep sending in those entries! Let me know if you are going to do the 30 day challenge too and maybe you guest post!