In which I am being frugal

I realized over this weekend that I am committed to QUITE a bit of traveling in 2010. I have one re-release and two new releases which will entail some travel, two conferences, and numerous trips planned with various members of my family--I really, really should have thought this through. But none of them are trips I'm willing to give up, so the only solution is to be mindful of expenses that aren't really necessary and use those funds to get me where I need to go. One solution--the home mani/pedi. I usually get a professional one so I'll look at my spiffiest when I travel for work, but there's no reason for me to head to the salon when I'm at home writing. Last night--bereft because the Tour de France is OVER *sniffle, sniffle*--I cracked open my new bottle of Revlon Steel-Her Heart. I know matte polishes are all the rage now, but I love the very shiny pewter finish. Since I never wear gold jewelry, it is the perfect neutral for me--goes with absolutely everything!

On a personal note, I spent the weekend with my cousin Lisa. Those of you who have been hanging out at the Blog A Go-Go will remember her from my trip to Houston last year when she was receiving a bone marrow transplant. I am SO happy to tell you she is cancer-free and looks fabulous! It was wonderful to spend time with her playing tourist in my own town, although the heat has finally settled in after a very mild June. (We're in our 90-degree-days-with-stormy-evenings phase of the summer.) Anyway, we are incredibly grateful to the anonymous marrow donor in New Zealand who made the rest of her life possible.