Shout Out Sunday 1.26.20

So, as you can tell by the title, this is…very late. As I was about to hit “post,” I heard the tragic news of Kobe Bryant’s passing (I talk more about that later) and it felt strange not to address it in some way. This ended up in limbo, but as a measure of accountability to myself, I’m forging ahead.

Good morning, good morning! It’s great to stay up late! Good morning, good morning, to you! Embarrassingly, I know this song from Retta’s instagram stories and not, you know, Singing in the Rain. I think I might have to do a classic movie deep-dive, since there are so many I haven’t seen!

  1. I bought myself a late Christmas gift. Chelseas can have a little purse, as a treat. My honest review is that, while this bag is very cute, it has the same issue as my other little Kate Spade…I just carry too much gd stuff. It’s a great buy for anyone who doesn’t carry around a Kindle, a notebook-sized planner, and a makeup kit everywhere they go. I honestly need to just wheel around an old-lady grocery cart.
  2. I just booked myself my first ever lash lift & tint! Granted, I have to wait until March 21st, because that’s literally the first open Saturday appointment they had, but alas. I’ve wanted to try this for so long, since I have straight, stubby lashes and wear a TON of mascara. Depending on how it goes and if I like the facility, I might try extensions. I know it’s a bit shallow, but 2020 is the year of going for it.
  3. On the note of “going for it,” I’m going to New York City in April to see not one, but TWO Broadway shows! This is a bucket-list item for me, big time. My amazing friend Annie, with whom I roomed at Oxford, planned the whole thing. The only finger-lifting I had to do was pressing the Pay button on Venmo. We’ll be seeing Hadestown and Six. I’m excited for both, but anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with British royal history, especially Henry VIII.
  4. The store was out of Burt’s Bees Micellar Water yesterday, so I grabbed this one to try. Will report back if I like it!
  5. Finally joined DSA. No war but class war!
  6. This video of a couple making traditional tofu for Chinese New Year is currently my favorite thing on the internet. It should be prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication.
  7. Unsurprisingly, my life-long dream is to be a Jeopardy! contestant. Should I just go for it?? I registered for the online test years ago and then FORGOT TO TAKE IT (this was many years before Adderall blessed my executive functioning skills). Maybe this time, I’ll get lucky…

On quite another note…

This might be kind of strange or glib to toss at the end of a post like this, but I just heard the news about Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna’s tragic death and I’m crushed. I am not a basketball fan by any stretch, but to see such a young man and his child die so senselessly would affect anyone with a heart. My thoughts are very much with Vanessa and their family, and with the families of anyone who loses a child.

I had a death in my family on December 10th, the first one in years, the first one that really hit home, and I have not quite figured out this unmanageable thing, grief. As a lifelong atheist, I have no promise of eventual reunion or comfort in the notion of a “better place.” There’s just pain, pain that doesn’t fade, pain that feels like a physical weight on my chest. With no warning, I am overcome at random intervals with the sickening creep of grief. But I’m lucky. The person I loved and lost lived a long life, and had been suffering and ill for a long time. His death was in many ways a mercy. The greatest irony of our existence is that, eventually, we all must learn to live with death in order to survive.

Until next week,

Chels

 

Shout Out Sunday 10.27.19

Good day, sunshines! It’s been quite some time since I’ve done one of these…most of these are leftover from about a month ago, so bear with me. I have been psychotically busy. I just picked up a part-time job that starts this Wednesday and I’m kind of freaking out about it. Side hustle culture will put my entire generation into an early grave. But it’s one step closer to a career doing what I love, so…worth it?

Anyway, here’s this week’s list!

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  1. First and foremost, the great Bowen Yang is now a cast member on SNL. This is basically the only good thing that’s happened since the 2016 election. Listen to his podcast, Las Culturistas.
  2. I’m watching Succession because I hate being left out of the conversation! That theme song…
  3. I started taking horse-riding lessons at Fairfield Farm in Rochester and I’m completely in love! I’m counting down the days until I get to ride Eagle again. Riding him was one of the most therapeutic and calming experiences I’ve ever had. I’m still a little bit afraid (not of falling off, just of the fact that he’s a thousand-pound beast), but I truly think I’ve found a new passion. Oh, and it might just be good for my ADHD
  4. And on that note, can I buy this helmet or is it too soon?
  5. My therapist hipped me to ADDitude—it’s a really great resource for those of us struggling with ADHD, especially those of us who struggled for years and years without a diagnosis. Since I began treatment for ADHD, I’ve gained so much perspective about my life and my choices. I’m not ready for any big changes, but I am starting to feel glimmers of hope. Unfortunately, the two best things for ADHD are exercise and a well-balanced diet, so I’m probably screwed.
  6. Also, is it extra for me to get this initial necklace with the letters “ADHD”?
  7. I’m booking a tattoo at Famous Tattoos in Dartmouth (kind of a hike but I’ll travel for quality!) These are my reference photos (it’ll be on my ribs, covering up a horrible tattoo I got at 21, matching with my ex):found on Pinterest--gorgeous tattoo I'm using as a reference photo.sunflower tattoo
  8. Tutoring the Transcendentalists today, and all I can think about is the part of Amanda Palmer’s book where she discusses Thoreau’s mom bringing him doughnuts out at Walden. Solitude and self-reliance, my butt (I know those are Emerson chapters…come at me, bro).
  9. This is Us and The Resident are back for new seasons, so I’ll be crying even more than usual.
  10. So, I’ve talked about natural deodorant on here before, but I swear I’ve finally found THE one. Native deodorant in Lilac & White Tea which of course, I now realize, is a limited seasonal scent (thus why it was the only one at Target when I bought it). I wanted to love Myro (which is also now available at Target) but it just doesn’t work as well as Native does. And Native has started making a bunch of different new products, which I can’t wait to try out. We’ve been using Burt’s Bees toothpaste, but when we run out I’ll definitely give Native’s a try!

Okay. I did it. I actually published a blog post. See you next week!

My Favorite Makeup

I don’t know if it goes without saying, exactly, but I am *very Jean-Ralphio voice* the worst when it comes to makeup. I take my skincare semi-seriously (I own a serum!) but makeup is a whole ‘nother ballgame. My makeup game is as follows—wake up, neglect to put on makeup, drive to work, get settled, sneak away to the bathroom for 5 minutes to do the bare minimum to make myself look alive. I basically never do a full-face, and my “full-face” never involves actual foundation.

These are the products I use every day (or at least, on the days when I try even the least bit). I’ve probably linked to a bunch of them before, but I figured having them all in one place was the easiest (I’ll probably shop from this post when I start running out of things!)

Eyes

Sephora – Hot Line Brush Tip Liquid Liner

This is my every day liner. I swear to god it’s better than Kat Von D‘s. It took a couple of swipes when I first got it to get into full effect, but once it did it instantly became my ride-or-die liner.

Maybelline – Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara

I really tried to get into natural/fancier mascaras, but I find that nothing works quite so well as this old standby. I’ve tried basically every drugstore mascara (and some fancy ones) that exists, and this one takes the cake every time. Fun fact: I once met a makeup artist that uses this on her clients!

Face

Glossier – Stretch Concealer

It’s just the best concealer in the game. I’ve used about every drugstore concealer and nothing compares to you, boo. Use it with a brush or your fingers. It’s flawless and not cakey at all.

Glossier – Boy Brow

People have STRONG feelings about Boy Brow, but honestly, it has the following going for it:

  • It’s cheap.
  • It’s easy AF to apply.

That’s really all I need in a makeup. I never remember to do my brows, so it’s nice to have a product that literally requires 2 seconds of application. It doesn’t require the steady hand or know-how of a pencil.

Burt’s Bees –  Blush

Far be it from me to regularly use a brush to apply makeup, but when I’m feeling up to it, this is my powder blush. Since I’m not really a blush person, I wanted to make sure that I committed to a natural brand. And I love it!

HAN – Cheek & Lip Tint

This is definitely more my speed when it comes to blush. I just smudge it onto my fingers and then smudge it onto my face. I have the Cherry Cosmos shade and love it.

Trestique – Highlight Stick

Another thing to smudge on the fingers and then onto the face! This can be super subtle or really flashy, depending on how thickly you apply. I like that it’s versatile with just a hint of sparkle—I’m not trying to look like a Vegas showgirl at work!

Lips (the most important part)

Too Faced –  Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick

I only have one shade of this, but I’m absolutely obsessed with it. Super matte without being drying.

Pixi Beauty – MatteLast Liquid Lip

Simply the best! Better than all the rest. I swear, I’m planning on getting every color (I have Caliente Coral, Pastel Petal, Evening Rose, and Pleasing Pink now). Long-last, not super drying, but highly-pigmented. It’s a dream!

Oui Fresh – Buffy Lipstick

All of the shades of Oui Fresh lipstick are great, but Buffy is the most universal, by far. It goes with everything, and it’s sheer enough to be barely-there but stands up to a thicker application.

Urban Decay – Vice Lipstick in Cream Finish

I can’t find the exact name of the one I have (because I bought it so long ago…) but this lipstick goes on luxuriously and really lasts. There are a ton of different finishes—I’ll definitely try the Comfort Matte next).

There are so many other brands that I absolutely stan for (like BITE!) but if I’m real with myself, these are the products I keep returning to again and again.

Am I alone in being the laziest femme ever? Shout out some other great makeup hacks in the comments.

Shout Out Sunday 5.5.19

*very Welcome Back, Kotter voice* Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back! I’m cheating and writing this way in advance, so if the world blows up before Sunday, I didn’t know about it. I’ve been sick all week, so I have nothing personally interesting to share. Good thing it’s been a dope week for media! Check out the below! While you peruse, I’ll be girding myself for whatever chaos ensues in tonight’s Game of Thrones.

  1. Give this to me right now!
  2. I’ve been using this natch deo (that’s natural deodorant) and so far I’m super into it. It’s a subscription service with a refillable container, meaning it reduces a ton of plastic waste. I’ve long stanned for Native, but I think I’m a Myro girl now.
  3. I finally got around to watching Ibiza. Richard Madden is so good-looking it should be illegal. Pheebs was on the WTF Pod last month, so listen to that too!
  4. Just ordered this book and can’t wait to read it!
  5. A recent episode of The Resident took institutional racism in medicine to-muthafuckin’-task and it was glorious and devastating. A must watch.
  6. God Bless America.
  7. In case you missed this perfect tweet.
  8. Hey look, it’s a smart writer justifying my opinion that it’s a good thing no one really major died at the Battle of Winterfell. Also, some military experts explain why the Battle of Winterfell was just really poorly planned.
  9. Trying out this new lipstick  and I love it! Such a pretty red! Just make sure you exfoliate your lips with a sugar scrub first!
  10. Oh, duh, Phoebe Robinson is out on tour! Go get tickets!
  11. The new Sucré single, “Put Down Your Guns,” is out!
  12. Vampire Weekend’s new album is also out! What a great week!
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truly the most epic moment in tv history

See you next week, mi gente!

Natural Beauty Faves ii

I’m back with some of my other favorite natural beauty products! It’s crazy how much toxic crap we’ve been slathering onto our bodies our whole lives, but it ends now! You can buy most of these through Target or Amazon, which makes the switch to natural products so much easier. Target is actually killing it lately in terms of adding more natural products (beauty & household) to their shelves. Here’s what I’m using lately:

Pacifica, Kale Detox Deep Cleaning Face Wash

This is the perfect daily face wash. 100% vegan and cruelty-free, it’s an exhilarating wash that will wake your face right up. I’ve been using this for a few months (with the Acure scrub listed below) and although it’s good to switch it up every once in a while, I’ll keep this one in the rotation for a long time!

Pacifica, Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Long Lash Mineral Mascara

Natural mascaras that don’t suck are hard to find. I’m mixing it with this conventional mascara (dirty but so, so good). At $14 a pop, it’s about twice as expensive as conventional, but worth it for the peace of mind! I am mildly paranoid that my affinity for eye makeup is going to make me go blind, which I know is insane, but either way, it’s time to make the switch!

Pacfica, Mineral Sunscreen Coconut Probiotic (SPF 30)

Probably should have gotten a higher SPF, since I am a fair as the pure driven snow, but this (non-aerosol!) spray smells great and provides awesome coverage. Even though I am so white I often get confused for a vampire or ghost, I HATE putting on sunscreen, so sprays are a lifesaver! I’m not about that skin cancer life!

Acure, Morccan Red Clay + Argan Oil Pore-Clarifying Facial Scrub

This is my favorite gentle exfoliator that I’ve found. The red clay offers just the right amount of scrubbing power, leaving the skin soft and supple.

Oui Fresh, lip gloss in “Lovefool”

This lipgloss is the tiniest hint of pink and packs a huge punch of moisture! It smells like vanilla, goes on like a dream, and most importantly: ISN’T STICKY! I love that these lipglosses double as a lip treatment—you can even put them on before bed at night!

Aila, Nail Polish in “Supernova”

My dream nail color. This collaboration with Oui Fresh is 10-free—as in, free of 10 of the most harmful ingredients found in conventional nail polish! I haven’t actually used this yet (mostly because I have to buy a 10-free top coat to go with it), but from demos I’ve seen online and my own inspection, it’s amazing! I’ve heard so many good things about this brand!

Burt’s Bees, Micellar Water

I tried this at my friend’s house in Florida and it saved my life all week. As soon as my micellar water runs out, I’m running to replace it with this. Obviously, the love affair with Burt’s Bees is real, but this product is exceptional. It made my face feel so clean!

S.W. Basics, Cream

This is a heavy oil moisturizer for those days when your skin feels extra thirsty. It’s not my every day go-to, but it was a great companion all winter. S.W. Basics, fun fact, is the company owned by Adina Grigore, who wrote Just The Essentials!

JASON, Sea Fresh Toothpaste

My friend in Florida also stocked this toothpaste and I’m stoked on it. We’re using this at the moment, but I’m thinking of switching it up!

Schmidt’s, Rose & Vanilla Natural Deodorant

I’m going to try Lavender & Sage next time (the Bergamot Lime made me rashy which SUCKS because it smells amazing), but this deodorant smells soooo good, and doesn’t irritate my skin! I have it in a mini-size, and use it as my travel deodorant.

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Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

-c