Nana's Got a Brand New Bag

Before I tell you my dirty little secret, I have to give you some context.

I wear nearly no makeup. On Sundays or other days when I dress up a bit more than usual for various reasons I might put on some mascara, a little blush, and some lipstick. Always the same color lipstick. But most days I only interact with my husband (who oddly thinks me beautiful with or without makeup), my kids, and/or my grandkid. I simply wash my face, put on some moisturizer, and am good to go.

Why is it, then, that twice a year, in April and October, when Macy’s has their Clinique Bonus, I hike my betooty to the mall to buy Clinique product simply to get the bonus gifts. Don’t get me wrong. Buying the product isn’t my problem. While I don’t wear makeup, I do try to take care of my almost-60 skin. I wash with their beauty bar. I follow up using their clarifying lotion. I finish using their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. I do this twice a day.

However, the reality is I simply am compelled to only buy my product when I can get their free bonus gift, which this time includes a lipstick in a shade I will never wear, eyes shadow that will never even be cracked open, a tiny little bottle of special cream for very dry skin (which my skin is NOT), and a teensy-weensy bottle of perfume spray that I won’t wear because most perfume makes me sneeze.

But the real problem isn’t in the little bonus gift products I get (though I do tend to throw them in a drawer that is coming dangerously close to being unable to get closed). The real cause of concern is the two little makeup bags that always come with the gifts. I have used a few over the years for travel. I put my meager makeup in one; I put my jewelry in another; I put my pill bottles in a third. What’s left gets stuffed into another drawer.

So, there you have it. I have now admitted that I have two full drawers in my bedroom filled with various tiny bottles of perfume, little mascaras, small containers of skin products of all kinds, unused eye shadows in every shade imaginable, a plethora of lipsticks in shades ranging from bright red to lavender, and makeup bag after makeup bag after makeup bag. You think I’m kidding:

I called my sister last night to sheepishly confess. She told me the first step in any addiction is to admit I have a problem. The second step is to make a trip to Goodwill. I promised her I would on my way to Macy’s to pick up my next free bonus gift. It’s October, after all.

Here is a recipe for a really simple and extremely delicious coffee cake that comes from the Crème de Colorado cookbook.

Sweet Bishop’s Bread

Ingredients
2-1/2 c. sifted flour
2 c. packed light brown sugar
½ t. salt
½ c. butter
1 t. baking powder
¼ t. baking soda
1-1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 c. buttermilk or sour milk (add 1 T. lemon juice to 1 c. milk; let stand 5 min)

Process
Mix together flour, sugar, salt and butter until crumbly. Measure and set aside ¾ c. of the mixture.

To the remaining mixture, add the baking powder, soda, cinnamon, egg and buttermilk. Beat until batter is smooth. Spread the batter in greased 8-in square pan. Sprinkle the reserved mixture on top. Bake at 350 for 50-60 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes.