Tip Of The Day: It’s Monday, and that means it’s time for my Weekly Spending Recap, followed by a soothing dose of Eye Candy. This week’s sweet treat is one heavenly creature, if you’ll excuse the pun.
Tip For Tomorrow: I sort of don’t want to review my new favorite self-tanner for you, since it costs nearly $20 a bottle. But it is SO good, and lasts SO long, and SO does not streak, I’d be remiss in not telling you about it. Besides, an at-home fake tan is cheaper than a Mystic Spray tan, or the skin cancer caused by tanning booths, right? Surely.
Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: As I typed up what I spent this week, I noticed a definite trend in my spending. Four out of the seven days, I spent money on acquiring things for costuming. In particular, acquiring materials for my latest and greatest costuming obsession – Steampunk. Now, I know I’ve talked about Steampunk before, but if you need a refresher course, go here.
On the plus side, I didn’t buy fast food and I didn’t shop at Target more than once. But I did spend some time and energy gathering up the stuff I need for the 3 costumes I have planned for winter events, as well as Costume Con in May.
Happily for me, and sadly for my budget, costuming doesn’t end with the last day of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. There are so many other events to attend, and in the winter, Steampunk reigns supreme. And I am so jumping on that steam-powered band wagon.
Weekly Spending Recap, The “Creativity Costs, And Right Here Is Where I Start Paying For It” Edition:
Monday, November 2
Nothing… YAY!!!!!!! I am AWESOME. For today, anyway.
Tuesday, November 3
Bath & Body Works, the greatest self-tanner in the history of tanning, $19.80 (oh, the shame of spending so much on tanning)
Wednesday, November 4
Random gas station on 494 westbound, gas for my guzzler, $20.01
Wench Posse Nite, jacket from the lovely MamaRox, $8.00
Thursday, November 5
Target, groceries and snacks, $21.43
Walgreens, head shots so I could pick the one I want printed, $1.42
Friday, November 6
Opitz Outlet (aka Store Of Rainbows and Unicorns and Fluffy Puppies), Triple Five Soul brand bloomers for my Steampunk costumes, $5.00 (I saved $93 on them!)
Walmart, Totinos and paper towels and toy guns to mod for Steampunking, $7.55
Saturday, November 7
Yet another gas station, gas for the guzzler part 2, $15.01
Jo-Ann Fabrics, trims for my (wait for it…) Steampunk costumes, $4.26
Savers, belt for my (surprise, surprise) Steampunk costumes, $4.27
Cub Foods, the rest of my grocery shopping, $29.55
Sunday, November 8
Jo-Ann Fabrics, crafting supplies for Christmas gifts, $7.00
Total For The Week: $143.29. That doesn’t actually suck, especially if you consider I finished about 2/3rds of my Steampunk costuming procurement last week. That’s the beauty of new favorite style of costuming – it is WAY CHEAPER than Renaissance garb. I just have a few more items to pick up this week, and I’ll be set for all three Steampunk costumes I’ve planned. And all three? Will cost well under $100.
If you think about it, I AM pretty frugal about my hobby. No yards and yards of $25 silks or $50 designer fabrics, no insanely expensive trims to deck my garb with for me. I tend to err on the side of thrift and cheapness when it comes to costuming. Especially since it’s hard to justify to myself (and my budget, and my parents, and the rest of the world) spending umpty-ump dollars on stuff I can only wear on rare occasions.
Granted, for those of you who don’t count costuming as one of your hobbies, you probably think ALL of my expenditures on it are frivolous and wasteful. To which I say… well, you may have a point. And also? Quit being so judgy. We are all entitled to have our hobbies, right? And I only spend what I can truly afford.
Speaking of being judgy, who’s more judgmental than a television angel? (How’s THAT for a lead-in to our Monday Eye Candy…) Not since Angel on Buffy – who wasn’t really an angel, but whatever – has there been an angel on the TV as hot as this one:
![sn404-0005[1]](http://www.thecheapchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/sn404-00051.jpg "sn404-0005[1]")
That hunk of blue-eyed loveliness is Misha Collins, starring as Castiel the Angel on Supernatural. He’s almost always tousle-haired, rumpled-trench-coated, and frowning. Because being an angel is SERIOUS BUSINESS, PEOPLE. Want to see him in extreme close-up? Sure you do:
![Misha-Collins-misha-collins-spot-6530556-1280-720[1]](http://www.thecheapchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Misha-Collins-misha-collins-spot-6530556-1280-7201.jpg "Misha-Collins-misha-collins-spot-6530556-1280-720[1]")
I have two words for you – OMG HAWT. Sadly, Mr. Hot Collins is happily married, as all the hot ones tend to be.
(Note: The Cheap Dude just asked me as I typed that, “Why do you care if he’s married? Were you planning on dating him, or something?” Oh honey, you just don’t get it. Married Eye Candy lessens the fantasy. I already know I’ll never have him – nor do I necessarily WANT him – I just like the idea of the Candy being available. Not that I’m available, or anything. Kisses!)
5 Comments
Have you checked out the beading section of Michael’s lately? They have a couple of newer bead lines that are really in the Steampunk thread. I just made myself a cute cuff with what started out as a cameo/locket protrait of a pug dog, that was a pendant until I Dremmel-tooled off the loop and Gorilla glued it to a silver bracelet. I grabbed a bunch of other assorted beads and pendants so I can make some other fun goodies. Oh and even better? Michael’s has a coupon in their ad every week, that much you already know. But I have been getting a coupon with my receipt each time I go (varies on percentages, but the last two were 40% and 50%) AND if you sign up for their online newsletter, they email you coupons. And you can print multiples and uses it as much as your debit card allows
Cute! I don’t know who he is, though.
And I think you should do whatever you want for your hobby. I also am the sort of person who would LIKE to buy $50 silk, but is too cheap to do so.
Yay, you, Erin!!
Great job this spending re-cap installment. This man candy is woohoo!!, even though I have no clue who he is. Tell Cheap Dude not to worry — he comes home to you (and vicey-versey). 
Like Paul Newman said (may he rest in peace, and may I paraphrase him, for lack of the exact quote), “Why go out for hamburger, when I have sirloin steak at home?” Sounds a little salacious, maybe, but you get my drift, I hope.
Sadly he is married, true, be Misha Collin’s wife wrote a book about the awesomeness of threesomes so there is still hope for humanity :p
Not only is Castyel (that is the angels name ) but his carector is soooooo cool!
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