Remember when I was striving to become higher maintenance?
Mission accomplished, and then some. Part of my, ahem, success came from all of the downtime I had last year after this. I became very, very good at ecommerce. 😁
Recently I was chatting with some lovely Twitter friends about skincare likes and dislikes, spurred by a negative reaction I had to this eye roller, and they suggested a new blog post could be warranted.
I’m game if you are.
I had always assumed jumpsuits weren’t for me. This long torso of mine would ruin the look, I figured. My natural waist is at least two inches lower than where clothing wants it to be.
Approximately two years ago, I bought a jumpsuit on a whim. It fit, but I fussed with it the whole first wearing, tugging the waist to where I wanted it. Unsurprisingly, said jumpsuit largely languishes in the back of my closet.
Still, all summer, I saw so many cute, casual jumpsuits, particularly in my neighborhood and it made me want to try again.
That is how I became the proud owner of three new jumpsuits.
First I found this casual one, in black, from the Gap. I am definitely taking it on my upcoming vacation. Of the three, it’s the easiest to take off in the ladies’ room.😄
One of the unexpected upsides of my surgery and recovery? I became an expert-level online shopper!
OK, maybe that’s not something to celebrate. Does anyone really need to spend more money? Probably not.
But I got some great stuff and I thought you might like some of it.
For fun
Recently I bought a plane ticket back to Saint Martin. I loved it so much the first time. After the year I have had, these plane tickets are easily the No Regret-iest things on the whole list.
I got Hamilton tickets. Yep, the play is as amazing as I had heard. And – lucky me – I am seeing it again in January. Tickets are my Christmas present to my mother.
For my face
I made it to Sephora’s VIB Rouge level this year. Oops. That means I bought a lot of skincare and makeup products.
I started using eye cream – and bought two of them. Because did you know that you should not use regular eye cream on your lids? APPARENTLY. I’d be mad about buying two, however the lid-specific cream is so good at reducing eye puffiness after yet another business trip that I can’t complain.
But I also bought this inexpensive lipstick (16). 100% my favorite.
Update: I’m in love with this.
For my apartment
I got these lampshades via Joss & Main. Not my most exciting purchase (made on Cyber Monday no less), however I love the way replacing my old yellowing lampshades with crisp white changed the light of my bedroom.
I am loving the Pottery Barn duvet cover I purchased to go with this new bed (similar options here) and dresser. Also this pretty framed print from Society6 which is hanging over my bed until this larger print arrives to take its place. And this elephant throw pillow which reminds me of my wonderful aunt, who loved elephants.
It took buying three sets of curtains to keep one. These from Overstock looked nothing like the picture – way darker. I can’t really say why I didn’t like these from Bed, Bath & Beyond – I just didn’t. They sat on my couch for about three weeks while I tried to warm up to them.
Finally I found these in Cool White at JC Penney of all places – not sure when I last shopped there. But I’m really happy so it’s a good reminder to be open-minded.
To wear
As you know, I adore this jacket. And I hate that it’s too cold to wear it right now.
This Marc Jacobs bag is awesome. I use it probably 75% of my work days so I don’t feel at all bad about splurging. I love this bag.
I just bought these Sam Edelman shoes on Bloomingdales.com but depending on your size, they’re cheaper on Amazon. Every year, my company holiday party rolls around and I don’t have any great shoes to wear. This year, I wore some ugly old pumps that wouldn’t even stay on my feet. Apparently I need straps of some sort at this point in life.
Along those lines, I got these pink Birkenstocks. I swore I would never have Birks, but here I am, loving them.
Update: this shirt as a show of support to Nordstrom.
I should have bought five of this Feminist t-shirt. These next four years are going to be challenging.
To eat
I accidentally bought an entire case of this popcorn. Fortunately it’s delicious.
For everything
I invested in an Amazon Echo. My friend Mark‘s tweets made me feel like I needed one. Alexa is a great companion for work from home days.
Did I actually buy five hundred things this year? Probably not. But there are times when it felt that way. My hope is that I will be so busy in 2017 doing fun, exciting things that online shopping will no longer be my chief entertainment.
To offset my consumerism, I also made philanthropic donations to several organizations including the Women’s Resource Center of Northeastern PA and Dr. Paul Forfia’s Pulmonary Hypertension research.
I’m considering supporting the Pulmonary Hypertension Association too.
For someone who loves Sweater Weather as much as I do, I struggle to find the PERFECT sweater, seemingly over and over again each winter.
I am never Satisfied.
(Sorry, I am presently listening to this song from the Hamilton Mixtape on repeat.)
The perfect sweater to me is one that just works whether I’m going to a movie with friends or running errands. It’s comfortable and yet stylish, a step up (at least) from your nicest sweatshirt. The perfect sweater can’t be itchy or too tight or so loose it makes me look like a trash heap.
After a few wearings, I often decide something is wrong with the newest sweater. The sleeves or body are too short. It isn’t soft enough. The material has pilled. It shrinks with laundering. Etc.
Image via totallystitchin.net
Recently I had a week-long business-and-personal trip and, as usual, I packed poorly for it.
I had business in Dallas (somewhat warm), and then flew to Scranton (via Charlotte) for a night before driving to Pittsburgh with my mother. Pennsylvania temps were noticeably cooler than Dallas – DUH. I had only brought my new motorcycle jacket as outerwear which was stupid given that we were going to be outside a lot, including at a nighttime outdoor football game.
So I went shopping in Pittsburgh and luckily I found a new favorite sweater (as well as another coat. More on that later).
Athleta’s Ravine Tunic is my Perfect Sweater. I love its relaxed fit and loose turtleneck. It keeps me warm, but not too warm. And because it’s a wool blend, no itching!
Via Athleta
I got the sweater in black which has, unfortunately, sold out, but it comes in other colors. I’m buying the white for sure, and maybe the red too.
Athleta has some other great items. I want these pants for lounging around, and am waiting for this cashmere tunic to go on sale
Here are a few other sweaters with Perfect potential:
Via Splendid, DVF, Target, Madewell, Etsy and French Connection
You know how I started spending all kinds of cash on skin care? I’m still doing that.
But two of my current favorite makeup products* are inexpensive items I picked up at CVS.
[Although both are Maybelline, this is not a sponsored post.]
First, this brow pomade crayon. You know I love to talk about eyebrows.
I started using the crayon – in blonde – after this other brow product (which I bought in transparent) started making my skin breakout.
I like the way it fills in my brows without making them look too strong.
I wore Berry Bossy to Hamilton
Second, I found another lipstick I love.
I never thought of feminist as a dirty or even tricky word. I identified as a feminist even if I didn’t run around proclaiming it.
My mom went back to work just weeks after I was born. She hadn’t planned to work during my childhood, but her replacement didn’t work. Plus, she really liked her job. My Nana lived with us and Dad was a hands-on parent for the time. These factors allowed her to have a career she found, and still finds, fulfilling.
Would you like to see it? Yes? Cool!
Here’s a sneak peek but I’ll do a full post once I am better settled.
OK, you probably weren’t looking for the neat and clean, before I moved my junk in pics. I’ll try again soon. As always, I am taking my time decorating (aka I am lazy). Continue reading
I hate moving less than most people.
Other than the expense, and other than eventually getting tired of packing, I don’t really hate moving at all. Instead, I see it as a chance for a fresh start.
In the past, I have been slow to decorate and tentative about it too. One thing I have learned from my roommate and friend, Katie, is to dive in.
If she reads this, she will laugh, thinking about how long it took me to hang these stupid mirrors in my bedroom.
I have my eye on a few items for my new apartment. This Apartment Therapy post about pink rugs has inspired some serious online browsing. You know how I feel about pink!
Via Apartment Therapy and Caryn’s House of Boys – LOVE
Remember when I expressed a desire to up my high maintenance game? (Yes, seriously)
Well, I have succeeded. Aren’t you proud of me?
I’d like to thank Courtney Forrest and by extension, Jaime Maser, for making me aware of M61 Power Glow Peel, a glycolic and salicylic acid exfoliating peel you apply with a pre-moistened towelette. It smells amazing, but in a natural, no fragrance added way. I’m ready to buy them by the hundred.
I got Botox. My only regret? That I didn’t start sooner.
I even used the Snapchat beauty filter (OK, a lot).
But now I want to start using eye cream. These long trips have me feeling puffy. Any recommendations?
Update: I bought this toner today and will let you know how I like it.
Update #2: I got a sample of this Sunday Riley cream and loved it so much that I plans to save my pennies and buy it. Another sample of this Tata Harper mask was also excellent.
So yeah, I’m doing pretty well on this high maintenance mission.
OneChicklette 