Day 270

The thing about consumables, which we can buy this year, is that they often fall into a bit of a gray area.

Primarily because many items manufactured to be consumed are not actually necessities, like paper napkins and paper plates. In fact, we’ve been using the old-fashioned-wash-and-use-again varieties this year.

I know, crazy right?  It actually makes me a bit smug.  Although, anytime I have an overnight visitor of any kind, they typically can’t stand it and go buy paper napkins and then I’ll use them, because I would hate for them to go to waste.

As an aside, there are scores of cloth napkins available at thrift stores usually in odd numbered quantities like three and five.  My theory, based on personal experience, is that they’re all wedding presents registered for in a fit of scanning mania.

“Honey, Honey, these will our match our everyday dishes, let’s get six so we can have a dinner party.”

Then sometime early in the marriage one will catch fire in a fondue pot accident (also a wedding gift) and the remaining five will eventually get donated.

Back to consumables

So candles are consumable, right?  And prior to The Simple Year, it was a rare evening at home that I didn’t have a scented candle burning.  I have even been known to stand outside the Yankee Candle Store peering in longing for the olfactory delights of Clean Cotton and Home Sweet Home. But, I decided that consumable or not, and since it’s no longer 1893 and I don’t need them for light, they were a luxury we were going to do without this year. Incidentally, I do buy light bulbs.  I’m modern like that.

Food falls under that heading, of course, medical supplies and personal care items like soap, toothpaste, razor blades.  You get the idea.

But, here is where that gets a bit sticky.

For my husband, his grooming needs are pretty cut and dried and fit in the little black dopp kit he has had since I have known him.   The kids are also pretty simple and would actually prefer we cut out the whole bathing process anyway.  For me, however, there are all kinds of options for make-up, hair and nice smelling products out there that are technically consumable. And, while I wouldn’t say I am particularly high maintenance, I would also say that I am no stranger to the cosmetic aisle.

So, I have had to make some decisions.  Do I need lotion?  Yes, but perhaps not a designer fragrance.  Do I need toothpaste?  Yes, but maybe not teeth bleach.  I DO need mascara, but probably not the lash boosting serum—even though it’s on sale—and I really think I would enjoy the “fortified; nourished; strengthened” lashes that the package avows.

It’s a fine line, and wrinkles, I’m walking these days but  well-intentioned.