Using it Up 2009

Let me say the following right out: I have a slight hoarding problem. In the interest of making space and not being mental, I have decided that I need to use the items up and (here's the important part) not buy new items. This last part has been a challenge, but I'm sticking with it.

I have it broken down by weeks (except for the Dec '08 list at the bottom).

March 2009

03/01/09 to 03/07/09
Bird's Nest Body salt scrub ~ Ice Queen (16 oz)
Can-Do Candles tart ~ Lisa Lemon Bars
Fickle Faerie tart ~ Bogie (pomegranate, pink grapefruit, lemon, vanilla)
HoT tart ~ Key Lime Cotton Candy
IOE body glaze ~ Spearmint Kisses (4 oz)
JJE conditioner ~ Sugared Spruce (4 oz), blue spruce, sugar crystals
Villainess tart - Scintillating

03/08/09 to 3/15/09
BI body mist ~ Blue Sugar
Can-Do Candles tart ~ Peppermint Spa
Can-Do Candles tart ~ Raspberries & Cream
CP anti-frizz hair serum ~ Cotton Candy (1.5 oz)
HoT Scent Boutique tart ~ Iced Rose
Lush Coalface cleanser (sample)
Mel & Chel's tart ~ Vanilla Peppermint
Philosophy The Present (sample)
Tickled Pink Scentsations soap ~ Blue Sugar (5 oz)

03/16/09 to 3/23/09
CCS tart ~ Cactus & Sea Salt
CCS tart ~ Sweet Baby
IOE bath cream ~ Mozambique Spice Ice Cream (8 oz)
LOL Candles ~ Keylime Pie
Serge Lutens Un Bois Sépia solid perfume sample: cypress, oakmoss, vetiver, opoponax, Indonesian patchouli leaves, sandalwood
Serge Lutens Vétiver Oriental solid perfume sample: vetiver, sandalwood, iris, licorice

03/24/09 to 3/31/09
Can-Do Candles tart ~ Strawberry
CP glissade ~ Black Vanilla (1 oz)
IOE sugar scrub ~ Royal Blue Bikini (8 oz)
-- Blue Sugar, Blue Caracao, Blue Violets, Cotton Candy
IOE sweet kisses body butter ~ Blue Ballgown (5 oz)
-- Dark blue sugar and white cake swirled with vanilla pods
LOL Candles tart ~ Strawberry Buttercream
Ojon ultra hydrating conditioner (sample)

February 2009

02/01/09 to 02/07/09
BITP tart ~ Red Velvet Cake
Can-do Candles tart ~ Pomegranate
CCS tart ~ Breezy Meadow
Elementals Refreshing Peppermint Skin Toner (4 oz)
IOE mist ~ Sugar Me! Snow Baby (2 oz)
IOE sugar scrub ~ Rosewater & Mint Ice Cream (8 oz)
JJE ultra luxe lotion ~ Red & White Peppermint Cake (1 oz)
Lush soap ~ Ice Blue (sample)
Lush shower jelly ~ Jingle Jelly (4 oz)
Sassy Suds soap ~ Shane's Mint (5 oz)
Villainess soap ~ Scintillating (4 oz) (thrown out, old)

02/08/09 to 02/15/09
MMU lavish la creme corps lotion ~ L'Hotel Blanche Neige (8 oz) Yellow Pound Cake, buttermint icing, peppermint glaze

02/16/09 to 2/23/09
IOE sugar scrub ~ Sugar Me! Snow Baby (8 oz), sugared candy cane, buttercream frosting, iced cake
MMU angel mist ~ L'Hotel Blanche Neige (4 oz)
Shower Shock caffeinated soap (sample)
Villainess tart ~ Scintillating
WI soap ~ Apple Berry Sorbet (4 oz)

02/24/09 to 2/28/09
BB body butter ~ Cool Cocoa (2 oz)
Moonalisa soap ~ Pumpkin Cheesecake Caramel Pecan Pie (5 oz)

January 2009

01/01/09 to 01/07/09
BPAL Gingerbread Poppet imp
CCS Karnataka Sandalwood tart
Elementals Fiji lotion parfait (4 oz)

01/08/09 to 01/15/09
HAEE Gingerbread emollient lotion (2 oz)
IOE Sugar Me! Marshmallow bath cream (8 oz)
Sugarelle Kiss of the Gingerbread Follies scrub bar sample

01/16/09 to 01/23/09
BBW Sea Island Cotton anti-bac hand soap (8 oz)
Bird’s Nest Body Gingersnap salt scrub (16 oz)
JJE Travel Through Tibet triple sugar smoother (4 oz)
RFSS Santa’s Little Helpers body frosting (2 oz)

01/24/09-01/31/09
BB Flapjacks softest hair conditioner (2 oz)
BI Cremasse lotion sample
CLC Chamomile Tea aloe smoothie lotion sample
Gramma Fran’s Fixins Peppermint tart
JJE Gingerbread Man soap (4 oz)
LOL Honey I Washed the Kids type tart
Nikki Makes Scents Hawaiian White Ginger lotion (1 oz)
RFSS Winter Day scrub (5 oz) – chestnuts, brown sugar, hot rum, marshmallows
Scent Peddler Japanese Magnolia simmering aroma granules
Sugarelle Sheik of the Amber Veil sugar duo scrub (8 oz)

December 2008

Elementals Pink Sugar Type body wash (4 oz)
IOE Blood Orange Sunset sugar scrub (2 oz. decant)
IOE Cherry Cola sugar scrub (11 oz)
IOE Frosted Sugarcubes sugar scrub (11 oz)
IOE Miss Rose Fouchet body butter (5 oz)
IOE Raspberry Kisses body butter (5 oz)
Just Right Candle Co. Pumpkin Vanilla
LOL Candles tart in Frooty Loops
LPB sugar scrub sample in Kumquat Ice
Lush shower gel decant of Snow Fairy
Mollycoddle Cherry Cola soap (6 oz)
Philosophy Purity cleanser sample
Sandi's Soap Scents Sunset Magic soap sample
Savor Coconut Mochi soap (4 oz)
TPS tart in Blue Sugar
TPS body spray in Dark Chocolate Solstice (1 oz)
TPS Mandarin Orange Freezer Pop soap sample
TPS Pink Bubbles Cooling Creme (4 oz)
TPS Pink Bubbles Shower Sorbet (16 oz)
WI Beachin' Berries soap sample

Manifesto #1 - STFU

See, I lent voice to thought and that was my mistake.
- Toby Ziegler, The West Wing: "Debate Camp"

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Think before you speak. Simple, right? Then why does it seem like nobody does?

Before you talk, pause and ask yourself: Does this need to be stated? What am I trying to accomplish by saying it?

If the answer to the first question is no, and you don't immediately know the answer to the second... shut up. With practice, the pause will go by faster. Soon, just thinking of the pause will be enough.

It's amazing, what little needs to be said. After awhile, it's a mental exercise like haiku. How do I convey this in ten words or less? While others are reacting, stay in the moment and pay attention. If the moment isn't worth your attention, stockpile some polite, noncommittal phrases. (In a pinch, you can lose the politeness.)

Over time, you'll become more aware of how often people blather on idiotically. People give themselves away without realizing it, giving you details they didn't intend, especially if your focus and relative lack of chatter makes them uncomfortable.