Free for Haul Friday, Volume #438
Share your recent beauty purchases or rediscovered favorites in your stash (for those on low/no-buys!), chit chat about weekend plans, and learn a little more about each other!
Let's Chat!
Share your own answers in the comments!
- Haul: Farmacy Green Clean x3, Becca Chocolate Geode Highlighter, Pretty Vulgar Highlighters x3
- Weekend plans: We have a fancy dinner out, and then on Sunday, we’re making (well, heating) a ham I bought from Snake River Farms and pairing that with scalloped potatoes. If you have any favorite recipes for ham leftovers, do let me know…
- What is your usual morning routine like?: I wake up around 6:30-7AM (I don’t set an alarm, though), and then I check email and social media for about 15-30 minutes in bed. I snuggle with my husband and Mellan for a bit, and then it’s shower time. I typically make my latte after but occasionally defer until late morning if I expect to take photos (I always forget to drink while photographing!).
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This week's doggo photo/video...
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HAUL: I’m on a no makeup buy since I indulged in some late winter clothing sales.
Weekend: gotta make those deviled eggs for Easter, but otherwise plan to just hang around. With leftover ham I would definitely make pea soup, or lentil soup, or legume soup of your choice. You can also dice it up for omlettes or quiche or whatever egg dish you like.
This week’s haul: TF Natural Matte palette – finally! My ColourPop order (It’s All Wild and Vacation Mode eye shadow palettes) will hopefully be delivered tomorrow. Still waiting on Ulta order for Winky Lux Kitten and Cashmere Kitten palettes.
Weekend plans: Rest and recuperate on Saturday; Easter dinner with my family on Sunday.
Morning routine: Up at 4 a.m., feed kittens, clean litter box, play with kittens. Leave for gym, pump iron from 5 until 6:30. Go back home to play with kittens, shower, play with kittens, get ready for work, play with kittens, leave for work.
Want that kitten cashmere as well, did not order (yet.). For you, clearly a necessity!
Kittens are high on your priority list!
4 am Christina! You are a legend – you must be tired by the end of the working day.
Lovely to read how much you play with your kittens. They would be so cute.
Sounds like you neglect your kittens. 😉
Haul: Studio Calico stamps…probably going to buy a couple more.
Clothes, I need new clothes for May, which is coming up faster than I’d like it to
Weekend plans: Trying to do some cleaning at home
What is your usual morning routine like?: Wake up between 545a – 6a. Drink coffee, watch some youtube, get ready for work, and leave by 7ish.
Haul: Got a couple of cheek products that I’ve been waffling on for a long time – MAC Into the Pink and Anastasia Riviera. Also have dipped my toe Japanese brushes, via CD Japan – Kyureido Fine Kalla cheek, large eyeshadow, and pencil brushes, and Chikuhodo Z-8. Absolutely loving everything!
Weekend plans: 4 day weekend for me so I am recharging and doing some shopping
What is your usual morning routine like?: On weekdays, I get up at 5:15 with an alarm and shower/ makeup/ blow dry, then let my dogs out and everybody gets breakfast (mine is a latte and a toaster waffle most of the time). I take mine upstairs to read my email and the news before heading to work.
Uh oh, Julia, Japanese brushes might replace your highlighter obsession!
They are actually the perfect pairing to go WITH my highlighter obsession 🙂
Haul: Nada, still on a no-buy. I might break it tomorrow to get the Mario Badescu spray while it’s on sale at Ulta, though! I have been using Fix+ but I’m almost out and I hear the MB spray is good for reducing cakeiness as well.
Weekend plans: Going to my local national park to volunteer tomorrow. Not sure what my group is doing, last time we leveled out a path that had become somewhat eroded. I also need to do a bunch of work in my own yard, the situation is not great.
What is your usual morning routine like? I shower every other day so if it’s one of those days I wake up at about 6:45 and do that. Otherwise sleep in a little bit longer. Make tea, do skincare, drink tea and have breakfast while skincare is sinking in, then do makeup and get dressed. Hopefully out of the house by 7:45 and am at work at 8. (Okay or 8:05 like I was today.)
Haul: Nothing. 😉
Weekend plans: Take home greek food for easter and a movie “A Wrinkle in Time”. More work on the sword and shield.
What is your usual morning routine like?: I wake up around 6:30 for 3 days oa week for my web job as I will sleep in without an alarm as I’m a nighthawk and it’s dark outside most of the year. days I’m working Tim’s afternoon I sleep till I get up.
I just saw A Wrinkle in Time yesterday! I read the books as a kid and they were some of my favorites and I LOVED the movie. Ava DuVernay did good.
Oh Mellan is too adorable! Oh yum, ham!
*Haul – Jeffree Star Blood Sugar Palette from Beautylish! OMG, the packaging really does look like a first aid medical kit, so creative! And the shadows are stunning!! Only swatched, but great quality, beautiful colors, 18 shades, no duds at all. IMO he has one of the very best shadow formulas out in the market. And Beautylish has the fastest shipping and best packing in the industry.
*Weekend – it’s been a crazy week at work, so rest, haircut, maybe brunch
*Weekdays -always hectic, as I’m not a morning person. Only have 1 hr to shower, dress, put makeup on, do hair, check email/facebook, try to catch the commute train, etc. Weekends are more relaxed, sleep in, eat breakfast, read news/blogs
Haul: Persona Identity Palette, Smashbox Primer Water (from Ulta 21 days) and the Spring Line from KL Polish!
Weekend plans: I have to do some extra cleaning so I can show my apartment this weekend. But the rest of the weekend will involve Easter themed activities and some celebrating of my recent job offer/acceptance at! I finally got a job offer (actually 2 offers xD) from the place I have been trying to work for a few months!
What is your usual morning routine like?: Typically I wake up at 6:30 (though sometimes that doesn’t happen). Then I start my skincare followed by my makeup. Typically I dress as I go, just because I rarely know what makeup is going to happen and I don’t want to clash. Then off to work.
Congrats on the new job
Fantastic news on the job offers Joan – that must make you feel really great. I would be celebrating too. Enjoy your Easter weekend.
Exciting news about your new job! Congrats!
Congrats on the job offers!
Haul: Bite Liquified Lipstick in Jicama. I was surprised to realise that I don’t really have any of those pinky-brown shades, that once seemed so ubiquitous. That Brand represents about 80% of my makeup purchases so far in 2018. I’m currently hovering over buying the new Guerlain Rouge G lipsticks, choosing a colour AND a case. I’m a Libra. I’m not good at choosing!
Weekend plans: We are provisionally planning to see friends, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. Friday is my day for invoicing and I have at least one job that has to be done over the weekend. Freelancing makes “weekends” a little bit nebulous.
What is your usual morning routine like?: I normally wake up around 8-8:30, which is later than most people I know, but I’ve never been a morning person. (I often go to bed around 1 or 2.) I have to get coffee in me as quickly as possible, and then I usually read through emails, make to-do notes and hand out with my hubs. I always have the news on while I’m getting ready (dressed, makeup, etc.) and, on slow mornings, I like to take the time to read longer articles from magazines and blogs I follow.
I would love to read you more…I only know about Darkling.
Haul: Still nothing. I think the only cosmetics I’ve purchased all year was replacing my old mascara. But I just got a new job so I may go out and buy myself a little something to celebrate.
Weekend plans: My partner is really sick today so it’s going to depend on if they feel better. Might just stay home watching The Tick and drinking lots of tea.
Morning routine: Alarm goes off at 7:30. Get up, get dressed (living that work from home in my yoga pants life), write my morning pages. Eat breakfast and drink a cup of tea while doing social media, reading blogs, checking email, etc. I usually start my dance practice between 10 and 10:30. I cap that off with meditation and then have to be done by noon so I can spend the afternoon working.
Congratulations on the new job! Hope your partner gets to feeling better soon.
Thank you on both counts 🙂
That is great news AJ that you found a new job and I think a little celebration treat is in order. I hope your partner if feeling well soon.
Thank you! I just need to decide what my treat should be!
Congrats on the new job! Hope your partner feels better soon.
Thanks so much 🙂
Congrats on the new job! Get well wishes going out to your partner.
Nose bops!!!! I live for those from my big guy Scunci! Something about their wet noses…?
Haul: From UD, one of their new lip gloss in Beso, plus my “birthday month gift”, a mini of the highlighter in Sin.
Oh, and NMR, but a hoodie that states “I’m A Cat”! And a few crossbody bags due to my shoulder giving me lots of pain.
Weekend plans: Today, I go for Remicade infusion, tomorrow I attend our yearly observance of the Memorial of Christ’s death. I have a new dress for the occasion, and it is distinctly different from anything else I own, so accessorizing this ought to be interesting.
What is your usual morning like? Hitting my snooze button multiple times, getting up to feed my 2 fuzzy buddies, making myself a large mug of coffee, going to my emails and social media until I’m awake enough to write a cohesive comment on here, and so finally, coming over to Temptalia to look in on all the makeup and beauty community news. After that, I have breakfast and get myself together for the day!
Your new dress sounds interesting Nancy, what colour is it?
It has a white background with vine like branches in a green tinged brown with some khaki toned leaves, lots of golden yellow and purple flowers, a few Rosey reddish ones, too. The print is very multidimensional and rich looking! It is in a modernized early 60’s style with a crinoline and satin slip underneath, which I’ve never had!
It sounds beautiful Nancy and I love the colours. Is it your birthday?
Happy Birthday, Nancy! Hope you enjoy your goodies
Thank you, Katherine!
Haul:
NARS Fetishized blush. I almost waited too long to get this, but I was able to eventually find it at a retailer. It’s quite a bit more orange in real life than in photos. It is a lovely addition to my NARS blush collection.
Huda Desert Rose palette. The first day I wore this I got stopped three times by women who complimented my eye look. I did purple on my lid with orange transition. Huda’s shadows work for me but I know not everyone loves them. Her Rose Gold palette was one of my favorite purchases of 2017. I don’t use the chunky glitter shades at all, and those tend to be the shadows others complain about.
Viseart Tryst. This is a lovely little palette. It’s the matte pink shade, liaison, that changes this palette from a neutral any- season palette to something more spring like. When I use Liaison for transition, all my looks suddenly become brighter. I love Seduction and Paramour on my lid with Illicit in the outer V, and Liaison for transition.
I picked up Chanel’s LE rouge allure in Incantevole. I love this so much, I might have to purchase all the spring lipsticks. This lipstick is beautiful for spring, bright but still sophisticated, and the formula has really captured my attention. I am 52 and there are challenges now regarding all types of makeup, including lipsticks. This lipstick does not feather, does not require a liner, does not settle into lines, does not leave my lips looking chapped after 2-3 hours, lasts a while, mixes well with other colors, and looks stunning with pink, red or orange lipgloss. If all the rouge allures are this good, I may have a new favorite formula.
I have fallen in love with a new fragrance: Juliette Has A Gun Anyway. I wish it was stronger and lasted longer, but I don’t care, I crave it. A lovely mix of fresh and musk.
I will have to get back later to answer the remaining days questions. Back to work!
Weekend plans: Tomorrow is my 28th wedding anniversary! We’ve gotten in the habit of celebrating in May as it is often too cold for a weekend out of town at this time of year. We might go out to dinner, it will depend on husband’s work schedule. He usually works on the weekends.
Also Wednesday my baby turns 21. My age is suddenly in my face, what with four adult children, three grandchildren, menopause, changes in my hair and skin, accelerated aging, new physical limitations, and so on. I truly have never felt “older,” until the past year. It’s not an easy transition, I’ll be honest, and it will take me some time to adjust to some of these changes.
Morning routine: Major hot flashes around 3:30, try to fall back asleep, give up at 5:30, shower, coffee and makeup simultaneously, and rush out the door at 7:30 to head to whichever medical office I happen to be working at that day.
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary Tammy – that’s quite an achievement. And yes, it is sad when your children are all adults and it’s interesting how your relationship with them changes too, especially when they are parents.
When I was going through menopause, I found that my skin became incredibly dry and I wish I had know about facial oils back then. I now find argon or chia seed oil to be necessary for skin these days.
I also noticed, during menopause, a dip in my confidence levels too. I have always been a positive, confident and decisive person and suddenly I found myself second guessing or debating with myself over routine things. It took me a little while to figure it all out.
But now that I am on the other side of the transition, and have been for awhile, I have regained my confidence, lost a ton of weight that I needed to and feel energized. So these feelings and physical changes that you are currently experiencing will, in all probability, disappear as time goes on.
I hope I have reassured you Tammy.
Thank you, Genevieve. I have been told this passes, and I am looking forward to feeling better.
Happy anniversary!
Thank you, AJ!
I’m wishing you a very happy anniversary, Tammy! 28 years is major nowadays. Passing the 7 year itch and the 25 year midlife crisis “let me act like a 20 something again” phase! ?
Sorry that menopause is beating you up. It’s definitely NOT a fun time. I’m pretty much done, thank goodness, but still break out in an occasional hot flash.
Nancy, Dave and I have gone through many crises in the past 28 years, a couple of which almost took us out of the running. But then he always stands on the other side of the issue that separates us, hand held out to me with gentle kindness, inviting me to continue the journey with him. And for 28 years I’ve decided the benefits of sharing the journey with him outweigh the difficulties we’ve encountered. I hope it always remains the case.
Happy anniversary! My youngest turned 21 today. My other son’s BFF, whom I’ve known most of his life, just got engaged. It does make a lady feel “mature.” lol
Rachel, I handled the first three children turning 18, 21, 25 and beyond with no problem. I handled the birth of three grand children without any difficulty. I really think the problem is menopause. My brain and emotions are not functioning properly, lol
I can understand that. Hormone changes really wreak havoc at our age.
i *love* Liaison in the Tryst palette — it really does brighten every look. I’ve used it almost every day this week!
Hi Tammy, I purchased Chanel’s Incantevole with the Spring collection and I am loving it, too. Looking forward the 2018 Les Beiges collection and another lipstick! Congrats on the many celebrations this week (in spite of feeling ‘older’).
Haul: Besame Cosmetics x Agent Carter mystery box, which I now know is 3 permanent collection lipsticks in special packaging and a jewelry box. Hasn’t arrived yet though, even though I ordered it the first day it was secretly on sale and everyone else got theirs days ago :/
Weekend plans: Passover seder tonight. Might go downtown tomorrow.
Morning routine: I’m a night owl so I usually get up around 9a, play with the cats in bed for 15-20min, make coffee & breakfast, feed/water the cats, water my herb garden, and take an hour to surf the internet while drinking my coffee. Since I work from home exclusively now I shower in the afternoon.
Glad i’ve been disregarding emails…have 2 of those perm shades, and don’t crave the other. Their LE pkging is TDF. Happy Passover.
I ordered the Agent Carter box too. We’ll see how shipping time is. And chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach!
Happy Passover Alice.
Haul:
Belladonna’s Cupboard (30% off): Cthulhu Makeup Bag, Pressed Eyeshadow (Blue Monday, Lunatic, Chakra, Hollywood Whore, Cthulhu), Unicorn Brush Set (GWP)
Kiss My Sass Cosmetics (25% off): Lip Tint (Sultry), Lipstick (Emma), Cream Blush (Summertime Sadness)
Kyse Perfumes (20% off): Oui Plus! EDP
RealHer (20% off): Metallic Liquid Lipstick (Be Brave, Be Bold, Be You)
Ulta: Too Faced Natural Nudes Lipstick (Overexposed)
Ulta ($3.50 off and $70.50 off in rewards): UD Double Team Special Effect Colored Mascara (Vice, Gonzo, Junkshow), Vice Lipstick (Outspoken)
Ulta ($3.50 off): Derma E Sun Protection Mineral Face Powder SPF 30, Tangle Teezer
Weekend plans: Same old, same old – swatching, blogging, writing fragrance reviews….mani…
What is your usual morning routine like?: Weekdays I get up between 2:30- 3:30 a.m. I make coffee and feed the cats. Then I chill for a while and watch the news and drink coffee. Then typically I work on my morning blog posts/social media. If I’m testing a fragrance, I begin making notes. Then I check my mail and respond to what I need to. If there’s a new release, I typically purchase first thing. I work my full time job from 7 – 3:30 – although often start earlier and work later. I usually have blog/media posts ready for the afternoon. When I get off work, I generally spend anywhere from 1 – 3 hours swatching/labeling (depending on when my deliveries arrive I drink coffee before or after my swatching). Then I grab a light dinner, respond to email, respond to reader questions, sometimes I’ll write a fragrance review, and maybe watch tv for an hour before I hit the bed at 8 pm.
A Cthulhu m/u bag? Prob a must have! Put up the UD colored mascs soon, bec i’m a total colored masc ho, and need to know if they rule, suck, or are in-between. Reading all 3 of your blogs these days, getting lots of great ideas. Thanks.
2 of the 3 mascaras are up. Third will be up tomorrow. I wore the purple again today. And thank you! Don’t have the bag yet but wasn’t expensive with the discount.
The Cthulhu makeup bag sounds awesome!
It was kind of a must have – LOL
Haul: Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette (that Macy’s sent in an envelope rather than a box…. Luckily nothing was broken but there was pigment everywhere inside the compact that escaped from the pans), Too Faced Natural Face Palette (got that one from the brand’s website), received Dior Lip Glow in Matte Pink and should get Lancome highlighter drops today. I also grabbed a powder highlighter and a cream shadow from Wet n Wild’s goth collection at the drugstore yesterday. I was planning to get a couple of bareMinerals BB cream eyeshadows on sale at Ulta a few days ago but they were all sold out by 9:45am PST 🙁
Weekend plans: a hike on Sunday!
Morning routine: I’m not a morning person so I get up around 8:30, then check emails and start working by 9. I need an Earl Grey tea to start my day!
I absolutely adore this boop photo of Mellan!!!
HAUL: Marc Jacobs Highliner in Pink of Me, Rosebud Lip Salve, and a couple of perfume samples: “Peony” by Stella McCartney and “Coco” by Chanel (that’s the original Coco, not Coco Mademoiselle). The Peony perfume sample came with a recent Sephora order. I didn’t get the samples I actually requested—as usual—but it turns out that I really like Peony and will probably buy a small bottle when the sample runs out. Very pretty for spring/summer. Coco is an old favorite that I haven’t owned in decades. I decided to get the sample to see if I still like it…and yes, I still do.
WEEKEND PLANS: Easter stuff, dinner with friends, visiting family, chores, and watch the latest episode of “The Walking Dead”
MORNING ROUTINE: Alarm starts going off at 6:00AM and is set to go off again at 6:15 and 6:30, so the first 15-30 minutes are for waking up, dozing off, and grumbling to myself about having to get up so early. Shower, get dressed, makeup, walk and feed the dog, drive to work.
Haul: I went a bit wild at World Market. Got a coffee table, a rug for the outside, five pillows (two of which need to be returned due to being too big), and a few small things for the kitchen. I got everything on sale or clearance so I saved about $280 The coffee table being the biggest get at $180 from $350!
My husband has does nothing but complain about it, we have a sectional couch in the family room that is and L shape plus a chaise so it looks like a lopsided U shape, there isn’t much room in the middle. I’d tried to suggest a round table of smaller size or even a cocktail ottoman but he wouldn’t hear of it. So I got a smaller standard size rectangle as requested and nothing with metal or stone, as also requested. Now that he sees it in the space, it’s too brown and too big. If only he’d have the sense to listen and see my vision, sometimes I swear…
Weekend: I haven’t planned an easter dinner but I suppose that’s something I should do. We usually have lamb so I’ll probably do something Mediterranean or Middle Eastern with it. We need to shop and I plan on a lot of swimming.
As for ham recipes, It’s good to save the bone for putting in a soup. The meat, I’d divide it up and use it as a flavoring agent in pastas and soups. It’s also good in homemade mac and cheese. If you want an easier way, divide it up in to little cubes, freeze and have ham based frittatas and quiche. Make one every weekend!
Mornings: Currently my husband is off work and likes to sleep as long as possible in the AM, so I get up only 10 minutes before work (6:50). I grab my robe, get the pets pottied and fed, go to the restroom myself, and slide behind the laptop in bed. My hubby gets up sometime after that usually about 30 minutes and makes breakfast and coffee. Sometimes he comes back in to lay down while I work and I go to the family room. or I stay in the bedroom and he does tv or games, making the master the only quiet place! Once I get breakfast and caffeine I usually take a quick break and get dressed or do any skincare. Once he’s back live at work, my situation will change again. We have no idea what his duty day will look like here so hopefully I don’t have to go back to getting up at 5 am!
It’s hard to furnish an awkward spot, but I do see what you mean Erin and really, if your husband wanted to, he could have come with you. But that’s a double edged sword – I loathe shopping with my husband, including shopping for furniture because he has such different ideas from me. And coming from someone who can hardly get his colours co-ordinated in his clothes, that’s a bit rich.
I hope your Easter lunch turns out well – we had Roast lamb, calamari and salt water barramundi and it was all devoured. I wasn’t sure if our grandchildren would like the calamari, but they loved it so I will have to get more the next time I make it. They eat like horses, but they are really fit and do a lot of exercise so they burn it off.
It will be much better when your husband gets back to work and you can sort out your routine. Hopefully it won’t involve getting up at 5 am, I would hate that myself. Are your working far away from where you are living?
My hubby and I did go shopping together several times looking for the right option. He just can’t visualize space and color very well. He’s got traditional/art deco/Hollywood glam taste and mine is a little more transitional/modern/industrial/bohemian/eclectic. He usually likes what I put together in the end 80% of the time. The problem shopping with him is he sees it as it’s staged. So if this chair is with this coffee table and he doesn’t like the chair, the coffee table isn’t really liked either because they “play off each other but I can’t see how it would work with what we have” so unless I find similar shapes and colors, he can’t see it.
Easter turned out well! I made Shish Kebab, pilaf, and some berries, honey, and cream for dessert.
I’m glad the kids liked it! It’s so important to expose them to all sorts of food as kids! Awww, to be young again and have a good metabolism!
I work from home, in the IT industry for a medium size company. My husband’s main office is 10 minutes from the house in no traffic. His occasional office is 1.5 hours away or so. I’ve made it in 45 minutes but I’m speedy and good at predicting traffic patterns. My husband just sits in the slow lane the whole time. He’ll be doing possibly a lot of field work as well so some days he might not even start at either location. As far as we know, it will be rare for him to be at the secondary location, which is why I chose those this area. Plus we’re closer to better services, culture, schools, and resale value.
Haul: A bunch of orders came in this week.
*LunatiCK Cosmetic Labs — Vampira Palette
*BH Cosmetics (sale) — Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition Palette; Blacklight Highlight 6 Color Palette; Eye Essential 7 Piece Brush Set; Smokey Eye Essential 7 Piece Brush Set; Eye Essential 7 Piece Brush Set; Blending Eye Trio 3 Piece Brush Set; Glitter in Royal Purple, Night Vision, and Baby Pink; Studio Pro Eye & Lip Makeup Remover.
*Wet n Wild (sale) — MegaLast Liquid Catsuit in Lavender Crown, Loose Change, and The Shade is Teal; Silk Finish Lipstick in Raging Red, In the Near Fuchsia, Honolulu is Calling, and Secret Muse; Megalast Lip Color in Smooth Mauves, Violet’s Kiss, Never Nude, Rose the Matter, and Black Out; Color Icon Loose Pigment in Pegasus Flutter, Unicorn Wishes, and Mythical Dreams.
*Glambot (sale) — UD Theodora Palette. One color was barely used and the rest were untouched. I’ve been trying to get my hands on it since it came out. I got very lucky. 🙂 (I got Glinda when it originally launched.)
*Notoriously Morbid ($30 off in rewards points) — Dearest Antoinette Collection Full Size Complete Set
*Apocalyptic Beauty Look of the Month Subscription — Naga Snake Goddess: Eyeshadows in Gorgon and Azshara, Highlighter in Serpentine, and Liquid Lipstick in Medusa.
*NARS — NARS Wanted Vol I Wanted Cheek Palette
*MAC (25% off) — All four of the Throwback Collection Eyeshadows
Weekend plans: Picking my son up from MIL’s house in Eugene (he spent Spring Break with her). Late celebrations for his birthday (tomorrow) and hubby’s birthday (was on Wednesday). Celebrate Easter. Writing articles.
What is your usual morning routine like? I’m a lifelong night owl and chronic insomniac (even with medications), so typically I go to bed between 2 -5 a.m. I get up at 10:30 a.m., get dressed and brush my hair, wake my son up for school and make sure he stays on track to get ready and out to the bus on time. I take my allergy medications and Prevacid (I have GERD). I make any important phone calls, check a few beauty blogs and Facebook, and check my email. Then I drink hot tea and eat something to activate my Prevacid, and then brush my teeth.
Happy birthday to your son and hubby!
They say, “Thank you!” We’ll be eating cake tonight.
Happy birthday to both your son and husband – what did you get them for their birthdays? I find it is always hard to get males anything other than vouchers or clothes…..
I hope you enjoy trawling through your haul list – so really beautiful items there and congrats on getting the Theadora palette. It is beautiful.
No fun having GERD, you have to be very careful what what you eat etc although the medication helps a lot.
Enjoy all your celebrations Rachel.
The guys thank you for the b-day wishes. My husband is usually impossible to buy for, but this year requested this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U21ZZK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My son didn’t have anything in mind that he didn’t get for Christmas, so he asked for cash so he can buy video games and such as they strike his fancy.
E.l.f. FFF in Light Ivory is a little lighter than Natural/Porcelain, but also a tad more yellow. It works fine for me, but I don’t know whether it will work with your pink undertones.
That’s the kind of thing that my husband would like too. My husband regularly goes camping with his mates, so birthdays have often been about getting him camping gear, like a portable shower or a pump up mattress (no more sleeping on the ground in a swag for him now). But other than that it is hard.
I usually give my sons’ money as well to purchase what they like. Shirts and jumpers are good too (except last year I gave my youngest son a beautiful navy jumper that he put in the wash with everything else on a normal cycle and let’s just say it was ruined).
Thank you for the info re the Elf foundation, if it is a tad yellow it will simply turn brown/orange on me. That’s why I can’t use L’Oreal’s foundations at all because, despite what the brand says on the bottle, they are far too yellow for me.
haul: have been very good. Only 1 thing from 21 days, thanks to Muse; prob would have skipped it…the Stila convertible color in nude mauve. I only have one xmas SCC, cooler red. Easy/peasy for no m/u look, huge, 1/2 price and free shipping. Why not? CP has not come yet. Plans: working sat/sun, nothing special. I unplugged the phone to avoid everything, esp my ‘kid friend’… former student who is almost 45…who shares every little detail, talks every day I am available, at min 90 minutes + a pop. Sometimes, you just can’t. Ham: western omelets, quiche, pea soup, thin slice on toast with asparagus and Hollandaise. That dreadful trader joe’s D/c’d the refrigerated hollandaise, and it’s so pesty to make. Emulsions can separate or curdle so easily. I’m seriously annoyed, bec it was so easy, and now it’s a production. Nothing quite so great as a super convenience food that rivals homemade. And they dropped it. *&(‘]~¥…[ grocery! Mornings: vary, now that i’m retired and only have day job 3x/week. Only set an alarm once a week. But usually wake up by 5; old habits die hard. Becoming ruled by the weather, sunrise though. Dogs out to porch. Coffee. Bfast with more coffee, thermos up some more, if it’s day job. I can sleep like the proverbial baby, even nap. Meanwhile, skin care; all layers up to anything that needs to sink in. Walk or walk/stroll the dogs, finish the s/c, concealer, TM and whatever color I might wear, most often none. Usually do m/u after that job, on days off, or for night job. Most Mondays have to check Twitter for bridge openings/commute problems. Check any new posts on blogs I read, review day’s planned work, and off I go. Midweek days off, more concentration on dog activities, but basically the same.
Haul: Cracked during the MAC sale and picked up some classics I’ve wanted to own for ages- Warm Soul Mineralize Blush, Melba Powder Blush (just in time for spring!), Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish, and Soft Frost Extra Dimension Skinfinish. I also got the Besamé email about the Agent Carter box and got it sight unseen, though now that I know what’s in it I’m still pleased with it but I wish there were more than just 3 lipsticks, as something like a compact would really fit well with the theme. While it’s not makeup, I also ordered the Harry Potter Loot Crate (for May) as it’s House Pride themed and I’m a Ravenclaw through and through. And some stuff like tea and a really nice pair of lounge pants.
Weekend plans: Nada as per usual. I may have “acquired digitally for free” a bunch of tv series so I will probably binge watch one.
What is your usual morning routine like?: I wake up in a daze around noon (yaay chronic pain) and I wait for my spine to cooperate by doing the “check email/social media/news/random wikipedia/etc” for about 30-45 minutes in bed. I either do breakfast (usually cereal or a bagel with tea) & meds and then get ready or vice versa, and getting ready is pretty standard (brush teeth, wash face, skincare, etc).
PS: Good ham leftover ideas (we had a Honeybaked ham over Christmas)- Quiche Lorraine, a good omelette or scramble, a really, really good Croque Monsieur or Madame (with Madame you just add an egg on top) sandwich. Don’t have specific recipes for you as some are pretty basic but the main thing with Quiche Lorraine is good seasoning and the main thing with a Croque Monsieur is good ingredients, a good Bechamel sauce, and using Gruyère cheese. I HIGHLY recommend the Croque Monsieur as you can really taste the difference when you use good ham (and good bread, and good cheese, etc).
Some really yummy ideas for leftover ham there Anne, and good cheese is a must. I don’t eat a lot of cheese now myself – as I have gotten older I find I can’t tolerate it like I used to. But when I do eat cheese, it has to be a good one.
A very nice haul there too.
Have you always had the chronic pain in your back? It does sound awful to me.
Haul:
MakeUp Revolution Vitality Reload Palette, Essence False Lash Mascara, and a New Hue Shadow Switching Pan (sponge that cleans brushes), all from Ulta.
Molton Brown Body Wash in Silver Birch, for my husband, from Nordstrom.
Matsuyama Skin Moisten Moisture Face Lotion, an essence I read about on a Japanese cosmetics blog. It is cruelty free.
Weekend plans: a Passover. seder tomorrow night. The day will be spent cooking my contribution to the dinner.
My morning routine: My 15 pound Siamese cat, Walter, decides when I should get up. My husband gets up first and feeds him but Walter thinks mornings are family time and we both need to get up. I “feed” him again by stirring up what’s on his plate. Then I brush my teeth, drink coffee (I have cold brew ready in the fridge) and look at the newspaper and my e-mails. Then shower, makeup, dress and out the door.
My son’s cat always thinks it’s meal time due to his hyper active thyroid condition. I always donate chicken and beef off cuts to him as treats, which he loves.
Happy Passover Lesley, what are you planning to cook?
Haul: Nothing this week!
Weekend plans: Posh dinner out on Saturday night with friends, then Sunday I am hanging out with my sisters’-in-law for some girl time.
Morning routine: Alarm goes off about about 6.20am, shower, moisturise, feed the cats, make breakfast, go back to bed to eat breakfast and drink coffee while catching up on the news. About 7.15am I go comb my hair out and put my makeup on, brush teeth, get dressed, put lipstick on, shout down the hall at husband about lunch plans and leave for work about 7.55am.
Leftover ham: Chop/dice and freeze in 1/2 cup portions to use on homemade pizza bases, in omelettes or quiches, use in savoury muffins or make cheese and ham scones. Add to soups, pasta dishes or stews. Slice and use in sandwiches and paninis with mustard, cheese, pickled red bell peppers and baby spinach (toasted in a sandwich press, so good!) or make croque monsieur.
For an easy breakfast or lunch, split store bought croissants, spread one side thinly with dijon or wholegrain mustard, add ham slices then top both parts with good melting cheeses like edam and sliced mozzarella and pop under the oven grill (broil for the US?) until the cheese goes bubbly then jam them back together so the cheese is all oozy and them jam them in your mouth. Crumbs everywhere! 😉
Oh Mellan! What a cutie!
I do believe he is smiling at you Christine – how gorgeous is that!
Haul – nothing this week.
Weekend plans: It’s Easter weekend, so I am doing a major clean on Friday, food shopping and prep on Saturday and having the whole extended family over for an early Sunday dinner. By Monday, I will be done.
Morning routine – wake up at about 8 am, make myself a cup of tea and read my book for half an hour or so. As I have my shower at night time, I then go and get dressed (including putting on my makeup for the day) and head out to get the morning coffees…..
Haul: Very little this week. I had purchased so much over the past 3-4 weeks and still haven’t used most of it so trying to use some products to determine if I like them or not. I did pick up a couple of things from Sedona Lace which I think is the first purchase I have ever made from them. The package arrived today but haven’t had time to even stick my finger in and test them. I got the Dahlia palette and 3 gel liners in Mystic, Bronziest and Caribbean. The sent a small flat packing brush as a gift. I also picked up a couple of things for my daughter for her “Easter Basket”, mind you she is 24 but still my baby. She has been having trouble with more acne breakouts and is frustrated so I had purchased her a product line from La Roche Posay and the products are maybe working??? So hard to tell and we have tried everything from very expensive to drugstore and nothing has really helped. She has been using Differen for about 6 months and that hasn’t helped although she continues to use it. We have decided that if this current regimen doesn’t help we are going to talk to the dermatologist about Accutane. She has had other prescriptions from her dermatologist and they haven’t worked either. Anyway, long story to get to the point which is that her skin is feeling a little dry and chapped so needed a moisturizer. Again, we have tried a lot of them and she walks a fine line between being dripping with oil and being chapped. Finally decided to try the Clinique Moisture Surge Gel Moisturizer in hopes that it helps without increasing her oiliness. She is so frustrated and upset about the acne and I am sure that many with the same problem empathize. I never had much acne and her Dad has had a full beard and mustache since he was 14 (seriously) so don’t really know if he would have had much as his face was covered with hair all the time. It is so hard to see your children suffer with things that you try to help with but nothing seems to work. It seriously has undermined her confidence and I would love to have something work before we go to Europe in the fall.
I also bought her a bottle of nice wine and of course, the requisite candy for her basket so sort of a mish mash of makeup, booze and candy!!
For myself I also picked up a couple of face masks at Ulta and was proud of myself that I got out without purchasing any makeup for myself.
Weekend plans: I am still car shopping and we went to Missoula for that purpose but came home without anything. I am normally pretty decisive but after two days of looking my head was spinning with cars, colors, prices, options, etc. I have to have something in the next week as my ex is leaving for Georgia in 10 days and I will be stuck in the outback without transport. I so hate car shopping that I feel so overwhelmed. Anyway, I am going to take the weekend to think and then make a decision early in the week. I am having my family over for Easter dinner on Sunday so also have to shop for that and do any prepping.
Morning routine: I don’t have one very often anymore. Now that I am retired and have been unable to work due to my back injury I usually have a pretty laid back morning. I am such a night owl that now that I don’t have to be up at the crack of dawn I tend to sleep in a little bit. This is a habit I may have to break as I have been diagnosed with diabetes and have started taking insulin and not eating until 10 am is not having a great effect on my blood sugars. Basically I am eating one meal a day at about mid-day and then snacking which is terrible for my diabetes and my weight so I do have to make some changes.
Haul: Shiseido blotting papers; Clinique Take the Day Off balm (I’ve needed a gentle remover, and this is working well so far); ABH shadows in Brick, Bengal, Caramel — a basic neutral set; I’d also ordered Fresh but after some back and forth that included them sending me 3 Glistens by mistake, it turns out they were sold out so they’ll refund that. Otherwise, I’m doing ok in my low-buy efforts.
Weekend: The usual pilates, errands, projects around the house. Sunday, brunch at a friend’s house.
Mornings: Weekdays — mornings are always full with meetings, so I’m usually moving with some haste to get through coffee and some PT exercises I have to do to get to the office on time. Weekends — I love Sat. and Sun. mornings, there’s such a sense of promise. I love getting up early, just sipping coffee, considering options, picking projects, getting errands list together, etc. Almost makes up for hectic weekday mornings.
Haul: mostly lip stuff came this week.
Colour pop: unravelled lux lipstick, faded lippie stix, lippie pencils in bumble, contempo, dopey, I heart this, LBB, Lumiere,and oh snap.
Sephora lip stories in oui, bite beauty high Pigment Pencils in chablis and tulip, and sephora mud mask.
Ulta: Persona identity palette, Smashbox Kohl in Violetta, and eye gels.
Weekend Plans: Going to get back into yoga. Organize stuff, shop for house and work.
Morning routine: ugh mine is awful usually in a hurry. I’m seriously admiring all the lovely morning routines here to ease into the day. I wash up, dress, do makeup, and walk out the door with breakfast and coffee in hand within 15 minutes of getting up.
Haul: MAC (25% off): makeup remover, backup mascara fan brush, pencil brush (added to a MAC brush set I’ve been putting together for my niece’s birthday).
Weekend plans: Spring cleaning and Easter treats.
Morning routine: Get up to have coffee with my spouse before he leaves for work, check social media and e-mail, have breakfast while reading the news headlines, get second cup of coffee (and try to avoid getting hunted by my cat who likes to hide underneath the diningroom table and ‘spring’ on me when I have a hot beverage in hand), hit the shower, and get on with the priorities of the day.
I’m late to the party this week (probably because I’ve not purchased anything at all so nothing exciting to report)
Haul: Nothing (though I did try rms Un-cover when I found out a local store carried the whole rms line; they were sold out of the 2 lighter shades that would have worked for me, which is just as well as I think I need to go back when I’m in less of a rush and give it a better try in store for colour match and also wear)
Weekend plans: all the Easter and Passover “stuff”. I’m prepping some things to take to my sister in law’s as she’s hosting a drop in brunch sort of thing and I wanted to help her out. Our younger son is also home for the long weekend so we’re doing some fun things with him and I’m hoping to get to the gym again today (I went yesterday as they were open and I thought it would be quiet…..WRONG – it was packed!)
Usual word-day morning: hubby gets up at 5 am to make the coffee; I wake about 15 minutes later when I can smell it! I like a lazy morning to drink my coffee, have breakfast, read the paper, faff about online and then take my time getting ready – shower (if I’ve not taken one the night before, which is my preference), makeup, clothes, etc. and I’m usually out the door by 7:45 to get to school before 8 – I like to be an “early bird”. If I’m not working – heck, there is no plan at all!
Haul: The only makeup or skincare I’ve gotten recently is Besame Victory Red and One Bite lipsticks. I placed the order specifically for One Bite, as everything I had read about it made it sound like a lipstick that I would regret not having once it finally went away. The swatches (if you can even find any) are all over the place and don’t represent it well (even the one on Besame.com). However … I am not disappointed — love, love, love! On me, it’s at the exact intersection of neutral plum, neutral brown and neutral red; the color is almost impossible to classify, but it’s medium-dark and **lush**. On less yellow skin tones it will probably appear more plum or brown, but my skin tends to push colors slightly red. The Victory Red is just because I was on the Besame site and have always wanted that color.
Weekend plans: I have some office work to do, but outside that I have to make a tart for an Easter dinner with friends tomorrow.
What is your usual morning routine like?: It varies on whether I go for a walk or not and if it’s the weekend. If yes to walk, I get up around 4 or 4:30, walk, brush teeth, shower, pour my coffee (boyfriend likes to make French-press coffee and has it ready for me), listen to music while sipping coffee and putting on makeup, leave for work. If on the weekend or non-walk day, get up around 5:30 or 6, may or may not take a shower depending on whether I feel like I need one, but I always at least cleanse my face with a cotton ball and coconut water, then the rest is the same (except for the leaving for work part if it’s the weekend). I don’t set an alarm on the weekend, but I usually wake up pretty naturally around 4:30 or 5 on any given day; sometimes if I’ve had a long, stressful week I’ll sleep in to 8 or 9 on the weekend without trying — just wake up when by body says it’s time to wake up.
Other people gave times for how long they did things in the morning, So I will too:
Walk: usually 1 3/4 to 2 hours (I go 5 to 6 miles)
Shower: 20 min
Makeup/coffee/music: 40 minutes
Getting dressed/puttering around/etc.: 20 min
Usually leave for work around 7:30