Making use of the free stuff from Clinique Bonus Kit

Hi all there, this week's post is just gonna be short and sweet since I have a super busy weekend. So you all know how much I like saving money, well, how about making use of something that's free?!? I'm talking about the free blush brush that's in Clinique Bonus kit almost every time!

I lost my make up brush yesterday (don't know where lol), and I was just desperate to find something this morning that can last me until I get a new one. While digging through my vanity, I came across this little brush in my Clinique Bonus kit, and I realized I had like 5 of these from the past and NEVER used them. So I used it with my Bare Minerals and then noticed it was the perfect size to just leave in my powder jar. It's a convenient way to store a brush that's SANITARY and FREE!!!! I don't know about you, but my old face brush just sat in my make-up bag and would get super dirty, with this little thing, it stays clean!

I know what you are thinking, this would get messy on the go. But don't worry, the newer design of Bare Mineral powder jar takes care of that, see below; it closes!!! So I'm gonna use this old-design jar at home until it runs out (I'm sure many of you still have at least one of these oldies), and use the newer one on the go! Until next time :-)

Lose weight in the winter, with "Brown Fat."

I have to start off by saying, I was very hesitant to write this post because I don't like to discuss weight and I think everyone looks beautiful in their own skin. But I think for those who are looking to lose weight, instead of seeking for pills, this might be the CHEAPEST way to add that small boost to any diet plan. Since you know how much I like ideas that save money, here it goes! lol.

So I believe everyone has an "idle weight," the weight we stay at when we eat and do the normal daily routines without feeling hungry or stuffed at the end of the night. For me, that weight is usually 125. But for years, I tell me friends and family that I somehow hit 121 every fall with no effort of trying to lose weight. The picture below is me a week ago, and you can go to my earlier post, Pallette Mash Up with Red and Blue, to see a pic of me when it was a little warmer. I know it's hard to tell with different outfits and all, but I can tell. Of course, I get really embarrassed at the same time talking about 4 pounds because I don't want people to think that I'm trying to lose weight like I'm anorexic or something. So the other day, I decided to Google this mystery until I found something...and I did!!! I'm not crazy; it's scientifically proven! The answer is Brown Fat; according to an article written earlier this year by The New York Times "Brown fat, actually brown in color...one form of it, which is turned on when people get cold, sucks fat out of the rest of the body to fuel itself." You can read the full article here:

Brown Fat, Triggered by Cold or Exercise, May Yield a Key to Weight Control

Of course I think there are other factors that can affect this, such as people tend to eat heartier foods in the winter, or more junk food at holiday parties...but I believe, in general, it does work because I have honestly been saying it for years! So from the perspective of Not Too Fancy, "save some money on utilities by keeping the thermostat's temperature a little lower, and lose some weight along the way! Lol."

Shower Curtain Rod as Shoes/Heels storage

I love Pinterest, especially for all the great DIY ideas! But I don't know about you, I have never actually made the time to try any of them out. So this past weekend I finally tried something I saw on Pinterest, and it was so worth the effort! Do you sometimes want to try something and worry that it's not as easy as it looks or it might be a wasted effort all together? So I figured I would start trying things out and post my experience here on my blog so you can get an actual testimonial before trying it out yourself. I will list all my DIY attempts like the format below. So check back with me often!

Is it really DIYable?    Yes
Total time spent: 12 min
Total Cost: $20 ($10 for each shower-curtain bar)
Recommendations: Use a leveler (no need for the fancy laser ones, just a basic one with the bubble indicator lol.) Put the rod up first without worry about how straight they are, nudged them into leveled positions with a leveler underneath the bars, then tighten as necessary.


Hope you'll try it out! Until next time :-)

Flushable wipes as Toilet cleaner

Hi everyone, I know this is a very UN-glamorous post, but we all have to clean the toilet one time or another, might as well do it efficiently, right?! Since the invention of the Clorox Toilet Wand, I have said goodbye to the good old gloves-and-brush, but it wasn't until recently that I realized how fast I was going through the refills at almost $.70 a pop. Not only that, I didn't like the fact I had to dispose the refill into the trash can...gross!

So then I tried Scrubbing Bubbles version with the disposable refills. But it worked like crap and wasn't cheap either!

So I came up with a cheaper and better solution; using the Scrubbing Bubble wand with flushable wipes as refills! Just get 3 or 4 pieces of flushable wipes, scrunch it up, and clamp it with the wand. These wipes from Costco are strong and very well-priced compared to Cottonelle, the best part, it's completely flushable. To save even more money(yes, it's possible lol), use the wipes for other less-gross surfaces first such as the sinks and vanity and then attach it to the toilet wand to do the dirty work. Hope you'll try it! Until next time ;-)