Jess – Page 4 – Everything and Nothings

5 Things I’m Loving Right Now

Happy February! Well, we’re still getting through bundled up snowy, cold days, but at least the days are getting longer. The sun is even out today! Hello, The Sun! As I work my way out of hibernation mode, here are some things that I am really digging:

Breakfast of Champions

Most days, I’m bad at breakfast, especially if I’m up early. Just… nothing sounds good? But I know that I perform better if I have a little something, so I have come up with a solution that tastes like magic: Salted Caramel Oatmeal.

Now, I don’t know who at Big Oatmeal decided that oatmeal flavors should all be gross (I mean seriously- no one has invented peanut butter oatmeal?? But strawberries and cream is a thing??) but whatever, I can take this into my own hands. I prepare one package of plain oatmeal (yeah yeah, I know instant is the saddest of all oatmeals, but I’m going for better-than-nothing here!), nuke it for a minute, then top it with 15 grams of these magical sea salt caramel flavored chips, and stir in their melty goodness. BOOM- I have a breakfast that a) tastes like a cookie b) tastes great with coffee c) is easy to eat and deal with and d) clocks in at 180 calories. This is the perfect solution for me when I need a little gas in the tank to lift in the morning, or if I have early clients.

Easy, Moisturized Lips

Obviously, I will forever and ever love a bold lip, but lately I have been in the mood for something natural looking while being hella moisturizing. I’ve been really into grabbing this Rimmel London Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in the shade Eastend Snob, which is a “my lips but better” cool pinky neutral. I line and fill in my lips, then top it with Chapstick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint in Rose Petal, which I have been loving during these dry winter days. Is anyone else sleeping with a humidifier blowing right on your face? Anyway, this combo gives a nice no-makeup makeup look that holds up with regular, pleasant reapplications of the lightly tinted Chapstick. Because winter.

The Santa Clarita Diet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjRnbOgoAUQ

Haaaaaaaave you guys watched this yet? Netflix continues to kill it (ha! I swear I didn’t do that on purpose!) with their originals, and this one is no exception. Last weekend was super grey and cold, so MB and I hunkered down in sweatpants, hot tea, and face masks, and binged on this little gem about a suburban realtor (Drew Barrymore) who suddenly becomes undead and develops an appetite for human flesh while also living her best life. If you don’t like blood (Lyn!) or random but totally realistic swearing outbursts, maybe this isn’t the show for you, but we found it to be laugh-out-loud funny and ridiculous. Plus it filled my “zombies living in the real world” void while I’m waiting FOREVER for iZombie season 3 to start.

Is This My New Favorite Concealer?

I’m pretty fair-weather when it comes to concealer- I just haven’t found my glass slipper yet. I like Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind ok, but sometimes it seems too yellow for me. Their Fit Me concealer is in my rotation, too- the color is much better and I like the formula a lot- but as the day wears on, it settles into my creases. I picked up this new Outlast All-Day Soft Touch by Cover Girl last week, and I’ve really been liking it! It blends pretty well, covers my redness and sleepiness (I don’t struggle too much with darkness under my eyes, but do like to brighten up and cover some spots), and doesn’t seem to crease as the day goes on. I’m going to keep playing with it, but so far, so good.

Jeans That Fit (WHAT)

Inspired by Pamela’s closet purge, I recently took to my own. I had a huge stack of jeans in there- so huge, I didn’t even know what was in that pile (I found a leopard print pair!! What!!). I have been hating all of my jeans for the past few years, so I literally got rid of them ALL. Ok- I kept 2 pairs that are, like, lazy Saturday men’s jeans that are fine but not great and maybe I’ll hack them into shorts or something. My jeans struggle is this: I have curves. I have a hip measurement that once made a dressmaker tell me “that can’t be right”. My legs are also, you know, great for squats, but bad for knee-high boots? Second only to swimsuit shopping, jeans shopping is THE WORST, but now I was left in a position where I had to find some, and I wanted to find the right ones, not just “good enough” ones. After a lot of miserable shopping trips, fitting rooms, and internet returns, I have come up with two pairs of jeans that are making me super happy and feeling fly:

Levi’s 721 High Rise Skinny Jean

These jeans are everything I want in a jean- the high waist isn’t, like, mom-jeans high- it sits right where I want my jeans to sit (on top of my hip bone), doesn’t dip down in the back, and stays on my butt, which these jeans make look amazing. I got these in a dark blue wash (Blue Story) which are great for dressing up or down. They have a bit of stretch in them, but still feel like jeans, not jeggings. Plus, Levi’s are always a classic.

Mossimo High Rise Skinny Jeans

So of course, after searching high and low (price) for a perfect pair of jeans, I find a great pair- on clearance, no less- at Target. I love these jeans! Again, they are labeled high rise, but I think they sit in just the right spot, and actually fit my waist rather then try to squiggle around it. These also feel like heavy, real denim, and the added stretch makes them fit like a dream. Who knew high waisted would be the answer?? Maybe I did- my previous favorite pair of black jeans were a high waisted pair from H&M- but I was resistant because we were all brainwashed through the low-slung, hip-hugging horror that was the 2000’s.

What are you loving right now? What have you been watching? Eating? Wearing? Are you going on a trip soon that’s not cold and grey?? Tell us in the comments!

I bought all of this stuff with my own money, so I enjoy a good sale rack. All photos are my own unless otherwise noted.

High vs Low: New Urban Decay vs Wet ‘n Wild Liquid Lipstick

Love it or hate it, liquid lipsticks are having a moment right now. I mean, they have their place in my makeup drawer, since it’s a great choice when you need a long wearing, super pigmented, transfer-resistant lip color. The downside is that they can be drying, too matte, crumbly, and a mess to take off. Truth be told, my bar on liquid lipstick is set pretty high- I know what the gold standard product is, and everything else falls short. With that in mind, though, let’s test out two new products that launched this month:

Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick $18

Urban Decay makes up the vast majority of lipsticks in my collection- their Vice Lipstick (formerly Revolution Lipstick) is THE BEST, so I had super high expectations for this launch. I planned out my purchase a few days in advance (with 30 shades to choose from, I needed to strategize), and decided to go with two shades that were exclusive to Urban Decay’s website: Brat, a “warm baby pink” and Crank, a “bright berry fuchsia”. In the days between placing my order and getting the lipstick in my hands, I watched a few YouTube reviews. They were wildly mixed- everything from “uuugh” to “best lip product ever!”, and to be frank, I was a bit suspicious about how few reviews were even out there- are they so bad that people aren’t even talking about it?? My package came just as I was getting ready to go out for dinner to celebrate my husband’s birthday, so I was pumped to try them out. First, I tried Brat, and it was…. weird. The color looks like I smashed up some Pepto tablets and smeared them on my mouth. The formula was a bit streaky going on, but not un-workable, and felt comfortable and not too dry on my lips when it dried down. The color though… yikes. Lyn actively recoiled when I snapped her a picture of me wearing it. The next one, Crank, was definitely straight up purple, not berry as described. Not a bad color, actually, just… not what I was expecting. This one also went on pretty streaky, and the pigment would bunch up in places, and if I went back over to try to blend out or add color, it would just make it worse. Also worth noting for both shades? I had to re-dip into the tube quite a few times. I got it to “good enough” and, after realizing it was also all over my teeth, headed out the door to dinner.

Now, these lipsticks are described as “life proof”, and given the amount of oil cleanser and effort needed to switch them out just during my initial try-on earlier that night, I was inclined to believe it. My lips did not transfer onto my wine glass, which I felt was impressive. But, two hours and one dinner (which I tried to eat daintily!) later, I was left with a purple ring around my mouth. Not cute.

I’m sending these back- luckily Urban Decay has a great return policy. I am curious about some of the metallics and a few other unique colors, and might check them out when they hit stores this week, but my hopes are low. Honestly, though, I was surprised to see how many shades in the new collection already exist in the Vice Lipstick collection, so really, just stick with those. They are SO GREAT, and the lipstick version of their comfort matte formula performs and looks SO MUCH BETTER.

Wet n’ Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick $4.99

Well well well, what do we have here? Wet n’ Wild launched a short run of these liquid lipsticks at Halloween, and I was super impressed with the wear, so I was stoked to see they brought this formula back in new shades for their Spring launch. Let me tell you, friends- this is a good product. First off, the component (tube and applicator) are EXACTLY THE SAME as Jeffree Star’s, which is excellent. See how the doefoot is curved there? That applies the product so nicely. Second, this formula is a little more… mousse-like? So it goes on in one swipe. The color is bold and pigmented. Now, it does feel a little more dry on the lips, but not so much where it feels like tempra paints (looking at you, Milani!)- there is still some flexibility, and it doesn’t get chunky or flake off. For the price, I’m willing to put up with it. I would go back to Walgreen’s and stock up on more colors, except…

… I don’t think liquid lipsticks are for me. Like I mentioned above, there is a time and a place and maybe a unique color, but overall, I think I prefer a matte cream formula. With a lipliner, they are just as long-wearing, and fade rather than crumble. Besides, isn’t sneaking off to the bathroom to reapply your lipstick part of the fun?

No one ever sends me free stuff, so no one is paying me for compliments. I should also note that both products were tested with the same lip liner base (UD Ozone) for fairness, and to save my winter lips. Seriously, why are we even wearing liquid lips in the winter?! Tell us what you think about liquid lipsticks in the comments!

2016 Faves & Fails

When you have a problem, er, penchant rather, for feeding your beauty and pop culture addictions, you’re bound to find some gems along the way! But, more often than we’d like to admit, every once and a while you get a real bad egg*. We want to feel good about everything we acquire, so here are some things we discovered last year that we really really loved, and a couple of bummers that you might want to think twice about:

Pamela

Best:

MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser

This is sooooo pricey I’m almost embarrassed to admit I spent $58.00 on 2.4 fl.oz. of cleanser. But it works wonders for my skin in winter. I discovered this last January when my skin was freaking out….. it had become red, dry, super sensitive and very breakout prone. It was a mess. I had heard really good things about this cleanser via a couple different YouTubers and I was willing to try anything to get my skin calmed down. And it worked. So well. I chalked things up to a bad winter last year and never repurchased….. until last month when my skin started to do the same thing it did last winter. Once again this cleanser is working and I feel like things are back under control. Bonus: it smells so amazing.

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks

I know. Can we really talk about the Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks one more time? Yes. We can. Last year all three of us were introduced to these and as we have mentioned in previous posts, they are the best. Maybe this is too obvious of a choice for one of my “best off” picks, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say out of everything I bought in 2016 these were one of my very favorites. So if you still have not tried one, DO IT. My personal favorite happens to be Celebrity Skin. PS. Oil cleansers or micellar water work best to remove these lipsticks…. because they really do wear forever.

Bummer:

Algenist GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser

This was an impulse purchase. I felt that it would be amazing though, based on my feelings about the GENIUS eye cream that I love so much. I feel like for the $38.00 price tag, this was not worth the money. It’s nothing special. I did not feel or see any great differences in my skin. I have many cleansers that are just as good if not better than this one.

Lyn

Best:

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

I’m still working through the list of Oscar buzzed movies, but even as I tick them off the list, none have changed my mind on my favorite movie of 2016, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople. I hadn’t heard anything about this film but remembered my friend, Rob Thomas recommending it to me, which was enough to persuade some friends to see it on a whim. (I actually think they were talking about seeing something I wasn’t feeling and threw this one out for suggestion.) None of us knew what we were getting into–but we left completely on a high and totally smitten by this film. I think it’s best not to know too much about it when you see it, but you must see it. (Full disclosure–I’m ridiculous so there were two scenes I had to look away for–but there’s plenty of time to do so.) And it has been 100% loved by everyone who has seen it on my recommendation and brightens up the darkest day. Be prepared to be charmed and to have a new song to sing for birthday parties.

Song Exploder

Rob Thomas strikes again! I’m not huge into podcasts. I have a few that I follow but I’m not a rabid consumer of them. So when Rob brought this one up to me on our drive back from Lollapalooza, I kinda forgot about it or filed it in the way back. But it came up again a few weeks later by my brother-in-law, Matt (or New Matt as we affectionately call him.) And I’m so glad it did. This podcast might be the greatest thing I discovered in 2016–even though it’s been around longer. Each episode is only about 15 minutes long and comes around every two weeks or so. It is definitely a low commitment podcast. Each episode features an artist breaking down one of their songs. Warning: this is serious nerd territory. They talk about samples they use, influences they were drawing from before recording, the lyrical meanings and many of the different textures that make a song great that you might not have noticed before. The first episode I listened to was MGMT talking about Time to Pretend. I am not kidding–I cried. And it wouldn’t be the last time I was so moved by the story behind the music I wept on my steering wheel. Many of my favorite songs of 2016 had episodes featured on the podcast. Would they have made the list had I not learned about the production on You Don’t Get Me High Anymore or the backstory to Your Best American Girl? Probably? But frankly–I don’t care. Because these stories give me a much deeper appreciation to the song’s artistry and all the tiny decisions that are made to put together something that seems like magic. Subscribe to this podcast today.

Bummer:

Urban Decay Cosmetics Blackmail Vice Lipstick Palette

This seemed like such an awesome deal–twelve shades from the incredible new Urban Decay lipstick launch–in one palette. Perfect for travel. Perfect for sampling. Perfect for expanding your collection of colors. Nope. The palette itself is really clunky. It’s too thick and heavy to stash in your purse. And while the colors look like a nice variety of options, the formulas do not work the same as in the tube. They felt really gloppy to apply and the more pigmented shades were patchy, requiring multiple coats. Maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with the Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks so everything else has taken a back seat, but I brought just this palette and two Jeffree Star colors (Gemini, REDRUM) when I traveled to Tokyo for 8 days in September and I only touched this palette once–and I haven’t used it since. It’s only $20, but just get a full sized UD Vice lipstick in a shade you love and skip this collection.

Jess:

Best:

Makeup Revolution Radiance Palette

Ok ok- this palette snuck into my basket somehow during my holi-dazed shopping at Ulta, and I have been reaching for it almost daily ever since. This is not a super glittery, shine-from-space type of highlighter, but rather, it adds a really soft, subtle, lit from within glow. I love using the lightest shade (“breathe”) as an under eye setting powder (gives me life on early mornings), the middle shade (“exhale”) for my cheekbones and brow bone, and the darkest shade (“glow”) to bump up my bronzer, or as a sheer wash on my eyelids. THIS PALETTE IS $15!!!, and it rivals the Ambient Lighting palette by Hourglass. The formula is a beautiful creamy powder, and can be applied subtly for a daytime, perfect “Snapchat filter” glow. You can get even more shine and staying power out of it if you apply it with a brush dampened with some setting spray. Bonus: the palette is made of quality plastic and comes with a nice, huge mirror.

Stranger Things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWxyRG_tckY

I know, it’s such an obvious pick! But in a year of really stand out television, this one really resonated with me. Maybe it’s because I am a child of the 80’s, and remember living in a world where we were latch-key kids and rode our bikes all over town. Everything has already been said about this show- it’s a love letter to the 80’s, it’s Stephen King meets Steven Spielberg, the kids (who are so freaking fantastic) actually look like real kids- it all hits me in just the right nostalgia feels. I spent a good week listening to nothing but Joy Division and New Order after devouring this series over the course of 48 hours, and you know, it just felt right. Plus Winona Ryder!! YYYAAAAASSSSS!!!

For those keeping score, I’m still obsessed with this mascara, this deodorant, and this yogurt (which is now much easier to find!)

Bummer:

Jeffree Star Beauty Killer Eyeshadow Palette

After falling in love with the aforementioned liquid lipsticks, I had big hopes and dreams for this palette. I even set an alarm for the release, and bought it from my phone while brushing my teeth (this was expected to- and did- sell out quickly). I was excited about the quirky mix of neutrals, mattes, glitters, and electric shades. The pan sizes were huge. YouTubers were raving. The day my box arrived, I opened it up and… oh. It’s made of cardboard. But whatever the pans are huge and the colors swatched so vividly! But then I actually tried to put together looks. And tried. And tried. None of these colors made sense, at least on my face. Maybe that’s a personal failing. Of my face. Another weird thing: they did not last. Where does eyeshadow even go? It even faded under the power of a shadow primer AND a setting spray. I wanted to love this, but I’ll stick to collecting lip colors from this line.

What are some of your favorite discoveries of 2016? What products bummed you out? Let us know in the comments!

As always, we bought all of this stuff with our own dumb money. Photos are from product websites unless otherwise noted.

*Ricky Baker is our favorite bad egg.

Why I Lift (And So Should You!)

squat

So there I was, in the squat rack, doing a volume set of moderately heavy back squats. An older woman comes through the weight room (on her way to somewhere else, carrying a cup of coffee), and says to me “careful, you’ll hurt yourself!”

“Actually”, I replied, “this is how I make sure I don’t hurt myself.”

Let’s back up a sec: see, I’ve always had a janky back. Thanks to some mild scoliosis and growing super fast in my teens, my low back is a house of cards, ready to fall apart at any moment. When I was in 9th grade, I threw out my back in gym class- we were doing a “line dance” unit (we all had this, right??), and I bowed to my partner, and wanted to die. I finished the dance (we were being tested, and in 9th grade, I still cared about my grades in P.E.), and promptly lay down on the gym floor. Next thing I know, my mom is there, and I’m being hauled off in an ambulance. That’s right- I square-danced so hard I had to be taken to the E.R! I was the hero to the sophomore class, whose next period of gym was delayed due to the broken girl on the floor.

Being the early 90’s, I was given some stick-figure drawings of stretches to do (that was the entirety of my physical therapy), and was told to lay low and rest in bed for a few days. Since I was 13, I obviously ignored the PT and, after a few days off my feet, got right back into life. I wasn’t athletic, but I was on the dance team for a few seasons, and was active in theater productions, but let’s be real- I didn’t exercise, aside from occasionally doing yoga after school with Kathleen Hitchcock on PBS out of boredom while I waited for Square One to start. #nerd #shewasawesomethough #mathiscool

Over the years, I’ve thrown out my back over a variety of stupid reasons: sneezing. Picking up an empty plastic bag. Getting out of a hot shower into a cold bathroom. It wasn’t until I went to massage school that I realized I wasn’t a lost cause- I could actually do something about my back pain, because it was a muscular issue! At this point in my life, I realized I needed to take exercise more seriously, and spent the next decade or so trying out a bunch of stuff- yoga, bodypump, HIIT, bootcamp, running. All of it seemed to help a little (any exercise is better for me than no exercise), but nothing really seemed to be the key (or like something I wanted to stick with), until………

That's the face of a proud achievement right there! — *That’s the face of a proud achievement right there- strict press of 44 pounds!*

Lyn and I used to run together. Running is a thing you do in this town- there seems to be a 5k every weekend- so I figured I should also run. I loved spending mornings with Lyn, and really, the run was just a reason to end up at the co-op, drinking delicious juice and gabbing for an hour after the run (which was THE BEST). Then I broke my foot (stress fracture- 0/10 do not recommend), and then Lyn had some reasons to stop running for a bit, and I realized that, actually, I really liked NOT running. Running was always judging me- I’m just not built for it, would dread the workouts, and always felt like a failure. Needing to do something, but still feeling fearful of impact on my foot, I took a chance on a new class in town. Not only did I gain a super new friend out of the deal, but fell head over heels for kettlebell training.

Kettlebells are super fucking rad. There is some very specific technique involved, and some very specific skills to learn (please with a certified trainer please please), but then it’s just plain fun. I mean, inasmuch as flinging iron around is fun (a lot).

The best thing about training kettlebells? Learning how to use tension. Kettlebells teach you where your power “leaks” are, and how to engage them. Because of this, I found my glutes. And let me tell you, in my professional opinion, if there is one thing that we as a whole population need to work on, it’s finding your glutes. I could write a whole post on that alone- THIS is what helped my back the most. Bonus: I look pretty great in leggings.

After training kettlebells for about two years, I was having the itch to pick up other heavy things. I had been following some fitness professionals and influencers online, and decided to try on powerlifting. Now, mind you, I am still handily in the “beginner/novice” category of strength, but I am ok with that. I am loving the journey of polishing my technique, listening to what my body needs, and surprising myself- days when the weights fly up? THE BEST. Days when I’m feeling less than great? I dial it back and come out feeling pretty proud of myself for just showing up.

It’s cliche, but true: the best workout is the one you show up for. I love lifting. I look forward to it. I research it and plan my workouts ahead of time. I follow programs. I watch YouTube videos. I get to wear Chuck Taylors to the gym and check Instagram between sets. On lifting days, I sleep the sleep of the gods. I love every minute of it.

Rollins

As a woman, we are taught to be small. Frail. Weak. To need help. Fuck that. Being strong feels amazing. Not having pain is life changing. Go pick up something heavy today. Here is a great place to start.

xoxo

Want to come lift with me? I need a partner!

Oh Hi, 2017.

Welcome 2017! You will either be the year that turns this ship around, or burns everything to the ground. Either way, we welcome this fresh start with open arms. Don’t you just love a fresh start? We here at E&N are old enough to know that resolutions don’t always work for everyone, but we still embrace the idea of the blank page of a new year to help us reflect and make some changes to (hopefully!) better ourselves. What do we have in mind?

Pamela:

One of the things that I often do at the beginning of the year is start some deep cleaning, and purge my house of things I don’t need or that are not being used anymore. This year I am focusing on my closet, dressers and jewelry…… so basically my whole wardrobe. I recently discovered the Be More With Less website and hope to use her method of closet cleaning, which is taking everything out of your closets and drawers and putting it all on your bed and then sorting it all into piles. A pile of things you LOVE- you wear them often and they fit you and your life really well, a pile of things that are a MAYBE – you want to keep it but you’re not yet sure why, a DONATION pile – things that don’t fit or haven’t been worn or used in a very long time and a pile for the TRASH – things that are just not in good shape anymore and therefore don’t ever get worn or used. This method has me a little (A LOT) freaked out, but I really feel like it could help me navigate this closet cleaning process and in the end figure out of all that I do have, what are the things that I really love. Wish me luck…. I imagine with the amount of tee shirts I own, I’ll need it.

Lyn:

Doesn’t it seem like years are flying by? 2016 was rough–on a number of levels–but it still seems like it was just New Year’s Day 2016 five minutes ago. One of the things I want to focus on this year is to look at life on a more comprehensive scale. Right now–I’m very day to day. As a result of this practice–I totally overschedule life–yet can’t figure out why it’s happening. I started using a planner–the old school write it down kind–last summer and it really brought some clarity. I thought I was starting to lose my mind–advancing age, obviously–but really–it was too much to try and remember in my head. I’m bad at putting things into an online calendar–and even worse at checking one. After Jess’ bullet journal post, I decided to upgrade my 2017 planner to one that allows me space to write more notes and look at the week, month, year at a glance. My goal is to be more thoughtful with how I schedule my time. I don’t want to plan trips back-to-back-to back and I don’t want to miss things because I’ve already committed to something else. It’s going to be quite the change–but I’m ready for it.

And I also want to clean out my closet…

Jess:

Here’s what I’m working on: being less of a disaster. Doesn’t this sound like an impossible, overwhelming mountain?? I always feel “too busy” or “to messy” or “too late” or “vice president of the over-scheduled club” or just generally like one of those used car arm-waving inflatable tube guys. This is becoming stressful; I am coming to terms with the fact that I don’t like feeling this way, but change is hard! So I’m taking the advise of my good friend Annie and trying her #tinychangeninja challenge. The idea is that you don’t do any massive overhauls, but rather tweak a thing here, a thing there, until before you know it, a new habit has formed and you didn’t even notice! I’ve been working on: 1) Trying to be better about not having tons of shit in my car- I did a major clean out last Fall, and now I’m trying to be good about removing whatever garbage and hoodies and water bottles I brought in daily, before it becomes a problem. 2) Leaving just 5 minutes earlier for work, which is harder than I expected, but when I do it, it feels really good to not be freaking out at every red light or rafter of turkeys crossing the street (I literally just learned that a group of turkeys is called a rafter, btw) that slow me down. 3) Putting away my phone more. So far I’ve been pretty good at keeping it away during dinners out with friends, but it still creeps out toward the end of family gatherings and group hangouts, and too often before bed, so I’m just trying to be aware of it for now, and asking “what am I even looking for?” If the answer is “…uummm…..?” then I put it away.

And yeah, my closet? I have a pile of jeans… I don’t even know what decade they came from.

What about you? Did you make any resolutions, or plan to make any changes? How’s your closet? Tell us in the comments!!

Current Obsessions (That Might Make Nice Gifts?)

Happy holidays!! If you’re like me, you are a) stressing out about what to give as gifts and b) simultaneously really good at buying things for yourself. I mean, I feel like I just want to get high fives for being such a good shopper for myself. So here is a list of things that I have that are making me really happy right now- maybe something will inspire you! (No judgement if you just buy it for yourself.)

A really decent travel mug

As much as I prefer to have time to lounge in my pajamas, drinking coffee while I peruse the news of the morning, most of the time I need to take my coffee to go. I love this mug from OXO because it seriously keeps things hot- if I have a client right away in the morning, sometimes I don’t get to drink my coffee until an hour after I’ve poured it, and this mug is like “ok I will wait!”. Also, it does a good job of being leak proof- recently, in a really typical move for me, I was carrying too many things and in a hurry, bobbled my full cup of coffee around while wearing a white shirt, and everything turned out ok. Whew! Paired with some nice tea, this would be welcome under any tree.

Something that smells awesome (and is locally made!)

Real talk: I haven’t really been excited about “natural” deodorants. They mean well, but rarely keep me confident. Enter American Provenance, a local company that is killing it in the personal care game. The labels are designed by a tattoo artist, which is what drew me in to the display at Hy-Vee, and then I was delighted by the scents available, and then double delighted by the ingredients they use (and leave out). Based on glowing reviews, I decided to give the deodorant a whirl, and I am officially converted and crazy obsessed with it! Even after a tough workout, I am way less offensive than my former commercial products left me. If it’s too weird to give someone deodorant, because, it kind of is, they also make awesome body sprays, soaps, beard balms… give them a try!!

Things to keep you warm

One of the best gifts Pamela ever gave me (and trust me, she gives good gift) is a pair of Smartwool socks. It sounds like a total old person thing to give, but come on- it’s something you don’t want to buy for yourself (they are a little pricey), but on days like we’ve been having lately (it “feels like” -13 degrees today), I am happy to find them in my drawer- they are truly life saving. They come in cute colors, wash easily, and last forever.

I also love and rely on my Yea.Nice knit hat. One of the founders of this brand is from Wisconsin (yay!) and they donate a fleece hat to a homeless shelter for every hat purchased. Sweet. They have a ton of great styles and fit like you want a beanie to fit- perfectly slouchy while keeping your head warm.

Reliable beauty

I have had my original Urban Decay Naked palette for easily 5 years, and it is one that I consistently go back to. I use the matte shades almost daily, and the golds and shimmers are perfect for special occasions. Ok, Sin is a perfect shadow all the time, always. And really, if I wasn’t trying to show myself tremendous restraint, I would be all about the Ultimate Basics palette: this would also be an ace gift, especially if you think the shimmers are too much. (*cough cough buy it for me*)

Makeup brushes also make a great gift, since they take the pressure off picking colors, and you can never have too many (amirite?!?!). I grabbed this little gift set at Target recently and it is so great- I use all three of these every day! Real Techniques makes really decent, affordable brushes, and these are super fab additions to their line.

… And Murder!

Ok ok ok… this is NOT a gift (wait! Is it my gift to you??) but it is my current total obsession: the My Favorite Murder podcast. I would consider myself medium-interested in true crime on a normal day, but I have been listening to this podcast pretty much non-stop. It is hilarious, interesting, and makes me feel like I’m hanging out with my similarly warped friends. Maybe you could listen to it while wrapping gifts? (Any other murderinos out there??)

Cheers to you and yours this holiday season! Do you have any tried and true gifts to give? Who is stumping you the most this year? Can’t we just buy things for ourselves and drink champagne?!? Tell me about a great podcast!!

xoxo

Drink It Like It’s Hot….

Well, it’s finally winter. Snow is on the ground, icy air is obnoxiously slapping us in the face, the humidifier has been employed in the bedroom, and fashion is reduced to “but is it warm??” Also, it’s dark out at 4:30. It’s basically midnight before Wheel of Fortune is on. So, to save our sanity, we are reaching for warm, cozy beverages… like tea! It’s a hug in a cup! What’s in our tea cupboards??

Pamela:

I would have to say that my favorite tea is earl grey. I sometimes feel like there isn’t a brand that I haven’t tried their earl grey (of course this is not true, but you see where I’m going…. I’ve tried a lot.) One of my favorite places to pick up tea is TJ Maxx, which is where I have picked up and am often able repurchase Clipper organic earl grey. I feel like it has the perfect amount of bergamot, is really smooth, and with a splash of milk, pretty much perfection.

Say Celestial Seasonings and sleepy time and lemon zinger tea is what I think of – I’ve honestly never been a fan. Which is why I was surprised to find they have a slightly more posh range within their line now. I stumbled upon the Dirty Chai at Target, and decided to impulse purchase it. It’s a masala chai tea with espresso. Do you remember General Foods International coffees? With a little milk and honey, this tastes just like that. It satisfies my caffeine needs when I can’t choose if I’d rather have tea or have coffee and is pretty good, actually!

With a name like Teapigs, even without trying any of their teas, how can you not already love them? Having tried several of their teas through the pick and mix sample box, there’s not one I don’t like. The herbal teas they offer are particularly great. I love the Super Fruit at night, when I don’t want any caffeine, but I want something sweet. It’s delicious on it’s own and even better with milk.

Jess:

Real talk: I’m a coffee girl, first and foremost. But in the past 5-10 years, I can only deal with coffee in the morning. Granted, it is ESSENTIAL in the morning, but come 10:30 or 11:00am, and I enjoy it less and less. If I have coffee after noon, forget it- I just want to chew my face off, and then I won’t fall asleep until 2am. BEING OLD IS THE WORST.

Before I got old and lazy, I used to be a super tea person. Like, I would buy bulk, whole leaf loose tea, I had a dedicated tea infuser, knew all the temperatures and steeping times for my teas… it was pretty great really. I loved a company called SpecialTeas, which is now Teavana (uuugh. read: Starbucks). Green tea was my jam (straight up Dragonwell is delightful!), and Pamela got me hooked on the Earl Grey Creme, which is a softer, less astringent version of an Earl Grey. These are, in fact, special teas, so I don’t reach for them as often as I would like to, but they are around if I have some time and want a treat (and need a little non-coffee boost in the afternoon).

While technically not actually tea, per se, I always keep some kind (any kind!) of peppermint tea on hand. It’s not caffeinated, so it’s a great after-dinner digestive. Also, it saved my (future) marriage when I had my wisdom teeth removed, and was forbidden from brushing my teeth for several days (DAYS!!!). Also also, it’s great to have on had if you have a crum tum.

Have you ever had a hot toddy? Like, for realsies? It’s honey, lemon, and ginger diluted in hot water. It’s like a hug that punches you in the face, but it’s perfect if you’re feeling a bit under the weather, which is likely this time of year. Our local co-op makes an AMAZING hot toddy (non-alcoholic) in their coffee/juice bar- here is the recipe– it’s probably amazing (and even more medicinal) with a little sploosh of rum or whiskey. 😉

Lyn:

I do not drink coffee. It’s a constant battle because I drive long, long distances late at night and sometimes drinking coffee would be a good idea–but I get crabby about the caffeine and the taste–so I don’t. But tea? I’m crazy for tea. Pamela and I bonded over our tea obsession when we were first introduced by Jess. In fact–buried in my tea collection is the Teapigs sample box Pamela mentioned above–which is a super fun way to try a bunch of new varieties.

2016-12-08-11-01-56 — Most of the teas from my desk drawer. Yeah–it’s a problem.

I drink tea all day long. As much of it as I drink, unlike Jess, I don’t know any of the metrics of making tea. Nor do I have a tea making process. I just fill my mug with hot water from the dispenser and put a tea bag in. And then I refill it throughout the day until I’m basically drinking hot water. At some point, I’ll start over with a new tea bag and begin the process again. Very fancy.

2016-12-08-13-56-53 — My “Baby I’m a Star” original mug–painted by yours truly in the Dells a million years ago–with my signature lipstick stain.

But I start every day at the office the same way–with my favorite tea of all time–Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. I am straight up addicted. In fact–half of my office is now, too–even my tea averse business partner is converted. This tea is exactly as the name says–it’s very cinnamony–and makes you feel all warm–with spicy kick. I’ve tried a ton of other teas to try and find an appropriate dup, and I can’t. I’m not sure what makes it so special. But it is. Nothing I have tried even comes close. It is a black tea–so it does have some caffeine–but the decaffeinated version is still really good. I have both and will sometimes just switch to the decaf in the afternoon. It is pricey for a tea–but soooo worth it. (Honorable mention in the Harney and Sons line is their Paris tea.)

Almost every aspect of my life uses my voice: talking at work (and life), teaching dance, singing in choir (or in the car or at a concert). So my voice takes a beating. I don’t know what I would do without the classic Traditional Medicinal Throat Coat Tea. I love black licorice so I have no issues with the flavor of the tea and it works wonders on giving your voice life again. If you like licorice, the Yogi Eqyptian Licorice is wonderful, but not as medicinal.

At night, my favorite tea to unwind with is the get some zzz’s from The Republic of Tea. I have a lot of their teas and really love the canister presentation. I have a bunch of them just because I’m a sucker for the packaging and love trying them. But I find this nighttime tea perfect to relieve stress and get ready for bed.

Are you more tea or coffee? Do you have any favorites that we need to put in our cupboard or desk drawer? Please comment below! And hey–stay warm out there, folks!

Like all things, we have purchased these teas with our own money and are not being paid for our drinking habits.

FUSCHIA

Fuschia. FUUUUSSSCCCHIA. Ok- hot pink.

We know that Pamela rocks the nudes. Soon we will learn about Lyn’s favorite reds. But for me, I can’t resist the siren call of a solid fuschia.

It all started a few years ago- I was having dinner with my dear friend Nico, and afterward we popped into Macy’s to check out the MAC counter. Feeling bold after a few cocktails, I tried on a limited edition shade called Rare Exotic. I loved it, but worried I might look crazy with such a bold color. Nico insisted that I buy it. She’s a really good friend. Right after that I dropped a cupcake on the ground, ate it anyway, and she never told anyone. But this, friends, is where my fuschia addiction began.

*MAC Mattene Lipstick in Rare Exotic. Photo via Temptalia.com*

The heartbreak in this story is those fatal words: limited edition. See, not only is this color the perfect hot pink with blue undertones, the formula is perfection. It’s a satin matte finish, doesn’t dry out your lips, and one swipe lasts the whole night. I have about a half an inch of product left, and weep a little every time I use it.

Never fear: I have some other fuschias that can carry me through. My closest backup is Urban Decay‘s Menace (comfort matte), or it’s sister Anarchy (cream). Both of them are bright, in your face fuschias with a blue undertone, which is my favorite type of fuschia. Urban Decay knocks it out of the park on their matte formulas- they are richly pigmented, don’t dry out your lips (especially if you use a lipliner or primer underneath), and the colors pack a punch all night long. The cream formulas are also aces, though slightly less long-wearing, but good to carry in your purse for touch ups.

On the drugstore end of the spectrum, I usually have a stick (tube?) of Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in my purse or car for emergencies. It’s a nice sheer hot pink, so it’s a little easier/daytime wearable, plus the formula is moisturizing, leaving a subtle wash of color behind. This is under $10 and an easy gateway product into the world of bold lips. Plus, it’s kinda minty!

The last pink that I reach for regularly is a surprise to me- I recently grabbed the Sephora Collection Color Last Lipstick in Forever Fuschia (obviously)- it’s actually a really great dupe for Urban Decay’s Jilted, which is also a favorite, but this is a little cheaper. Oddly, it smells like Jolly Ranchers, but it fades after a little bit. The formula wears nicely, is bold but not super crazy bold, and is great for touch ups.

*Forever Fuschia, photo via Sephora.com*

As usual, I compulsively buy hot pink lipstick with my own money. I have a whole drawer of them. It’s fine. What are your go-to hot pinks?? Also, there seems to be some debate on how to spell “fuschia”, but this is how Alexa told me to spell it.

Holiday Survival: Thanksgiving Conversation Starters

Happy Thanksgiving!! We are so very excited to spend the day with our families and loved ones, enjoying too much delicious food and testing the limits of our stretchy pants. But, as seasonal Hallmark Channel movies love to remind us, sometimes the holidays can be a sticky situation of awkward conversations, pointed topics, and rehashing of tired memories. Before you decide to retreat into a whole box of wine tomorrow, let me help you brainstorm some fun alternative conversations for the day! (Real talk: this is as much for me as it is for you. Let’s do this.)

What movie do you just have to watch if you happen to notice it’s on TV?

For me, it’s either Jurassic Park (the original, obvs), Bring It On (the first one or the third one), or Deep Blue Sea, for which I also have a special knack for turning it on right as Samuel L Jackson finishes his motivational speech…

It’s the zombie apocalypse! What skills do you bring to our survival?

As a massage therapist who is too nice and optimistic, I personally struggle with what I will contribute, but I lift weights so I guess that’s a plus? For carrying stuff? I also worry that when the time comes, I will be wearing a really stupid outfit. I mean seriously- how is Michonne cool enough to have survived in fold-down studded boots?? I need them immediately.

Related: what 5 albums do you hope are downloaded onto your ipod after the zombie apocalypse?

There’s a new King Kong movie coming out that looks pretty rad! But really, how would an ecosystem of over-sized creatures work? What do they eat? Why isn’t the island full of giant poops? Discuss.

Which is scarier: outer space or the ocean?

This is a fun one, because both are scary, and both have reasons one is scarier than the other! You can set up your own rules, like, are you lost at sea or in space? How did you get here? Do you have any survival items? Is there a chance of anyone coming to help you? Everyone has an opinion and no one is wrong: it’s all terrifying, so we all agree. Hooray!

Have you seen this cheetah and dog who are best friends?

Keep this one in your back pocket just in case you need to deflect someone from going down a slippery conversation slope- watch this short video and let the “aawww”s abound. Look at their faces!! Such cute noses!! They are an unlikely pair of cuteness!! No matter if you are on “team dog” or “team cat”, no one can resist the adorableness of these scritchable ears and bellies.

OK friends- I hope this helps!! Please let us know if you have any good conversations starters, survival strategies, or good recipes to share. And we really want to know if you’re more scared of space or the ocean.

Happy Thanksgiving! We love you!!! xoxo

Our Drugstore MVPs: WIN THEM!

You guys!!! WE ARE HAVING A GIVEAWAY!!!

We love ALL the products–but we have a special place in our hearts for the ones that keep a little extra cash in our wallets. Regardless of cost, our mantra is: if it works, it works. And some of our MVP products happen to be of the drugstore variety.

To celebrate our MVP drugstore faves–and to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us since we’ve launched our blog–we are offering one blog subscriber a gift pack featuring ALL of our favorite drugstore products shared below!

So check out what we love at the drugstore, make sure you’re subscribed to our blog, and we will pick our winner on Thanksgiving, November 24th. And if you like our blog–please share it with friends–and make sure you’re a fan of our Facebook page, too!

And without further adieu, our MVP drugstore faves:

Pam:

I love my high end body washes that smell amazing and feel so fancy and luxurious. But in addition to those extravagances, I need something that is going to just do the work that I need it to at an inexpensive price point with no frills about it. That product for me is Neutrogena Body Clear body wash. I am prone to keratosis pilaris (KP) not only in the winter, but also sometimes in the summer months. If you’re unfamiliar with KP, I’m talking about the “chicken skin” that can develop on the backs of arms and in my case, on my legs – specifically the insides of my knees. With this wash having 2% salicylic acid, it effectively but gently exfoliates and smooths away the bumps without drying my skin out. It is one of the things that is always in our shower (in fact, we all use it!)

L’Oreal Brow Stylist is also on my list of drugstore finds I won’t stop using anytime soon. For whatever reason it always seems a little hard to find it, but totally worth the hunt. I feel like I have different versions of this product which are all good. And there’s not one I would say is better or worse, but at $9.99, this is a staple for me. It works so well to fill in, tame and set my brows. I use it almost everyday (and on the off days I use my Glossier Boy Brow of course, which I also cannot live without). And in addition to it coming in two shades, it comes in transparent, which is really great if you are just needing to tame and set what you have created with your other brow pencils and pomades.

Lyn:

I feel like I’m working through a hundred mascara samples right now–but my tried and true, nobody does it better, accept no imitations is the L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lash Mascara in Blackest Black. Nothing makes my lashes look longer and fuller with less mess and more staying power than this classic–high end products included. It’s my gold standard that none of the samples have been able to exceed.

My lipstick collection is ridiculous. But one of my favorites–whether it’s from the drugstore or department store–is the Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color. The color payoff is rich, the matte finish is legit and it has the benefits of a liquid lip in that you don’t have to reapply it crazy often, but it’s not drying. My favorite colors are Divine Wine and Touch of Spice. But I have a few and they are all great.

Jess:

Need to add a little life to your face after a flight? Soften up your powder? Set your makeup? Wake up? Refresh at the gym? Prep your face for moisturizer?? This product is beyond MVP around here- if we could buy it by the gallon, we would: Mario Badescu Facial Spray. It’s cheap, gets the job done, and just generally makes us very happy.

The holidays are a great time to play with a dramatic eye, so I would also love to give you my favorite drugstore eyeliner- the Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black by Physicians Formula. As I’ve told you before, this liquid eyeliner pen with a brush tip is a PERFECT dupe for my holy grail (well, second place holy grail now!) Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. I promise it’s easy to use, too!

Want to win all of this awesome stuff?? Just hit that subscribe button below and include a valid email address– if you’re already subscribed, you’re good to go! We really appreciate everyone who reads and joins the conversation here- thanks for sticking with us and helping us grow! Remember- we will announce the winner on Thanksgiving Day, and yes, we will be wearing stretchy pants.

xoxo

We really love these things! We have bought them with our own money more than once. Now we will buy them for you! What are your drugstore MVPs that keep you coming back?? Tell us in the comments!