Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #637
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!
- Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I received some more perfume samples; this time different takes on lavender and vanilla (not necessarily together). I also bought a full bottle of Profumum Roma Ambra Aurea.
- Weekend plans: My mom is coming over for lunch and movie today! Then my dad will be over for the Packers/49ers game on Saturday.
- What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: Smelling perfume, which is sort of something one might classify as part of my normal job here at Temptalia, but I really focus on color cosmetics on the blog, so perfume is, at least at the moment, more hobbyist than anything else.
P.S. — Want to chat with readers on the regular? Check out Temptalia’s Discord where you can chat about beauty, makeup, and more! 🙂
P.P.S. — Check our hubby’s new site for video gaming guides — good if you (or someone you know or your kids!) is into games like Roblox and Minecraft!
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I have a lot of lipsticks, so this morning I went to my pink drawer and played bit with Bobbie Brown Blue Raspberry and Blush and Fresh/Sugar Bloom. Was in the mood to find a nice neutral pink. Weekend plans: My husband is visiting his mother, so I am on sole duty with our Tibetan Terrier. I might venture in the cold and get some junk food and enjoy some me time. Hobby? Murder mysteries, I am reading a Sherlock Holmes story (never did before!) and I am enjoying it.
So, so nice to have the house to yourself! I think some takeaway and me time is a great idea!
It was!
Lisa, I just recently read everyone of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books and hadn’t read them for a long time. You forget how good they are until you sit down with them again. I don’t know if you have watched the BBC TV Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch but if you haven’t they are worth it to watch. It is a cleverly updated Sherlock and addicting. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they do another season. They have done 4 seasons with only 3 episodes per season but each episode is 90 minutes long. When Benedict’s career took off from his exposure as Sherlock Holmes, he ran out of time to film Sherlock. Keeping my fingers crossed they will do more. Deborah
I did see the BBC Cumberbatch show, it was great, though personally I thought the last season went off the rails a little. I bought the first two seasons! I am watching the US show Elementary, (late to the party), I am enjoying it.
I agree about the last season of Sherlock. Got a little weird. Elementary was quite good, also. I loved the female Watson. I had them all taped at one time and finally had to delete them as I ran out of space. Glad to hear you are enjoying them.
I loved reading about Winnie and seeing all the pictures. 🙂🙂🙂
RECENT PURCHASES: No beauty purchasessince before Christmas. We’re still required to mask up in public due to Omicron, and Oregon is planning to go on “permanent” mask requirements. It just hardly seems worth it right now. I’ve been putting the money into art and craft supplies.
WEEKEND PLANS:. Nothing concrete, but it’s going to be sunny and reasonably warm, so we’re all itching to do something fun. There’s a stationary store in Portland my son’s GF and I want to visit.
WHAT HOBBY ARE YOU ENJOYING THE MOST LATELY?: I’ve been getting back into drawing,coloring, and journaling for my mental health. I’ve really been into learning about junk journals. I’m working on making my first one. I love the ideas of using/recycling/up cycling items that would thrown away or forgotten, and using up paper and craft items that are in my stash. I love the hidden “treasures,” and the eclectic extravagance of the journals.
With the new findings on masks, I’m concerned that next time I go to do groceries, I won’t be allowed in because I have a cloth mask, not a N95. 😅
I’m having trouble keeping up with it all
Junk journals sound like a lot of fun, and I bet you’ll find some cool things at the stationary store! I’m feeling the itch for a trip down to Portland.
I haven’t been in the city in more than a month. It will be nice. I’ll bet you know some awesome restaurants.
I’d have to Google to see which ones are even still open! But one thing I love to do when I go to Portland is hit Blue Star Doughnuts! They’re so good 🙂
How creative you are Rachel and I think the idea of a ‘junk’ journal would suit you down to the ground. Have fun in the stationary store. Isn’t it nice to shop with another girl too?
Yes! She and and I get along so well. It’s a lot of fun for us both.
Omicron is a disaster, as has been the whole pandemic. When I was in Seattle for Christmas, my daughter and I walked to a neighborhood restaurant for dinner and they required you to show proof of full vaccination and booster to get into the restaurant. At first I wasn’t sure if I brought my paperwork with me and then I found it buried in the bottom of my purse. I need to get a plastic cover and lanyard to wear it in Seattle. They were serious too.
I still make my own scrapbooks, etc. I love the idea of journaling but for some reason, I never seem to stick with it. I prefer the junk journal making to the actual using!! If you are one that sticks to it, I think it would be very helpful. This is going to sound a little crazy but since I live alone it isn’t as weird as it sounds but when I am laying in bed at night, I frequently verbally talk to myself about what is going on, what I am doing, what I want to do and then I will usually sing a couple of songs!! Weird I know but seems to work for me. Glad to hear you are doing okay. With much love, Deborah
Recent Purchases: So, I caved and purchase the Huda Beauty Rose Quartz palette (and the Blend Bunny Dollhouse palette, but that hasn’t arrived yet), and I am so pleasantly surprised by it so far. The mattes are really lovely and don’t kick up a lot (which seems to be a rarity), and the SHIMMERS, OH MY GOD. They’re absolutely stunning. And this fills a nice cooler toned void in my collection, as i’m not a fan of grayer or taupey leaning cool tones (they match the color of my under eyes way too well and make me look more tired).
Rediscoveries: My TerraMoons singles. I’ve played with them a lot this week along with my BH Cosmetics mattes.
Weekend plans: Sleep. I hope. My son has had me up every single night this week (potty breaks) and while he goes back down fine, it takes me a couple of hours to find sleep again… and usually by the time I do fall asleep, the alarm goes off. 😬
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately? Still playing with makeup. I started a running list of ideas for eyeshadow combos I want to try and it helps me curb my purchasing and dive into what I have instead (yes, even though I did make a purchase or two in the last couple of weeks 😂).
What a great idea for using what you have instead of buying more!
I can really sympathise with you re the lack of sleep due to your son’s night time toilet training – so very exhausting. Especially when you can’t get back to sleep as well.
Re the Huda palette – I think it would suit you really well and the shade Abundance is just heavenly.
I was all set to pull the trigger on the Huda palette and then decided to wait. Glad to hear it is a decent palette and maybe I will get it at some pint. I love a good cool leaning palette.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Nothing new cosmetic wise.
Weekend plans: Many walks in my neighborhood and sorting out groceries. Between an outbreak that caused cancelation of the symphonic concert I was planning to attend and me having car issues (and the pandemic only slows down any repair), I’m quite homebound. I’ll try to catch up with family, do some reading, maybe rest more than usual.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: I’m constant in my old hobbies, cooking, hiking, reading, visiting museums, attending opera/musical/theater/symphonic concerts. I have quite boring hobbies, but I don’t mind.
I think they are lovely hobbies Ana Maria. Both my husband and I are very, very partial to visiting museums and attending musical concerts. When we travel, one of the first things we do is visit the local museum.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I’m still on a no buy but rediscovery would be the Jackie Aina palette!
Weekend plans: I really just want to sleep in!
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: Reading poetry 🙂
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I got the Pat McGrath Labs x Bridgerton Eye Blush & Cheek Duo. I was back and forth on it, but I just adore Pat’s eye products.
Weekend plans: I am seeing my friends and we might go to a museum together or check out a dog park. Omicron cases are plummeting here, but we will all discuss together if we’re okay with indoor activities at this time.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: I’ve been reading fiction again, and now that I’ve read a bit about how to develop plots, I am appreciating the experience even more. Reading Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere.
I love a good book myself, partiucularly crime drama – but also anything else that is well written.
Recent purchases/Rediscoveries: Currently experimenting with my old CT quads. Star Aura and Green Lights are my favourites.
Weekend plans: Work – they’ve reinstated my Sunday shift. I don’t mind ‘cos I need the money 🙂
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately? I customise Barbies, and to date I’ve created a Bodicea and a drag queen.
I thought that said “Bodicea the drag queen” and I thought HECK yea I wanna see that! lol
CT’s The Rebel 2020 is the exact dupe of Green Lights and so weird that the brand made two of them identical and gave them different names. However, I love this colour format – olives are just beautiful with the gold.
Customising Barbies is a hobby I haven’t heard of before, but I know two people in my family (granddaughter Olivia and my twin sister Allison) who would just adore your Barbies.
I customize dolls too! I don’t have the skill/patience/bravery to repaint/reroot/sew, but my twin loves of Barbies and Disney mean that over the past few years, I’ve rebodied a bunch of Disney dolls-most recently the Madrigal sisters from Encanto-onto Made to Move Barbie bodies. I redress them too, but I haven’t yet figured out what outfits to put Isabela and Luisa in.
All I can say is, Winnie will catch up one day. Some babies take a little longer than others to get up to their full growth potential. For now, the super long appendages make him look adorably “incomplete”!
Purchases/rediscoveries: Well, I caved and ordered MAC Lunar New Year Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolor in Peachy Party the other day as a “consolation” after the sheer terror of Sunday night into Monday morning from a very severe asthma attack that I had to call 911 for, get literally rushed to the ER with an oxygen mask and breathing treatment going at the same time, and spending a sleepless night and day there under observation, sent home with a TON of meds and new nebulizer. My SpO’s were in the 70’s in the ambulance, mid 90’s released. Man! I seriously don’t want to deal with that again!
Weekend plans: Continue recovering from last Sunday’s ordeal. Zoom meeting tomorrow morning, Load of wash on Sunday if up to it.
What hobby are you enjoying lately? Nothing springs to mind… been too bogged down with all sorts of medical issues lately, so I haven’t even had time to look into taking up a true hobby. Then again, I did start making keto cakes that are gluten free/dairy free. But I do add icing afterwards! Not really doing low sugar, but low carb.
Oh Gosh Nancy! My Mom was asthmatic so I know exactly what you are dealing with! How scary! I’m so glad you’re ok! Crap just what you don’t need!
Oh Brendacr1, asthma is a literal BEAST! I’m so sorry to hear that your Mom had to deal with this one, too. It felt like I was being suffocated, yet coughing violently at the same time, causing the vagus nerve to get overstimulated, which led to… nevermind. Due to the super low oxygen levels, I hardly remember the ambulance ride, except seeing SpO’s hovering around 73-76, the driver whizzing through red lights, and all the apparatus on my face. The worst part is wondering if or how this may impact my future surgery. I see the general surgeon Feb. 1st, then she’ll coordinate with the oncologist. Hope they decide that it would be safe to wait until I can move. But, I doubt that.
Nancy – that was WAAAY too scary for words! Thank goodness the ambulance came quickly and you were able to get a spot in a hospital. My twin sister now gets asthma and has had a couple of bad frights, but not like this one of yours.
As long as you take your new medication regularly (especially the new preventatives out in the market) you should be fine. My husband is a severe asthmatic, so I have had a lot of experience here.
Take care and take it easy.
It sure was terrifying, Genevieve. It’s been roughly 28-29 years since I had an episode THIS severe, and that was way back when I still smoked. I quit shortly after that one, time went by, thought I was in the clear from the really bad asthma attacks. But last Sunday while I was just outside my door speaking with someone who stopped by, my front facing neighbor opened her door and a literal CLOUD of smoke and drug vapors came out with her and her friend. Of note, this property does not allow smoking (anything) within 10 feet of buildings or inside our apartments. Obviously, she doesn’t care about the rules, and I paid the price!
You most certainly needed a consolation purchase after that ordeal.
Asthma is such a scary thing. I’m happy you got well taken care of and that you don’t have to have another attack like this ever again.
Yes indeed, Helene! And that’s exactly what I’m telling myself: “you deserve this little treat cause you came to the edge”. Now, to get in to see the pulmonologist, get on preventives, and MOVE from this apartment because of the heavy pot (and other substance) smoker who’s door faces mine!
Oh my Nancy!! Being a nurse, there isn’t much that scares or stops me in my tracks but asthma is one of those concerns. My sister was a severe asthmatic from birth until her early twenties and has had a reoccurrence now in her 60’s. I can remember waking up at night to find her in the throes of a horrible attack and waking mom and dad so that they could rush her to the hospital. When we moved to California and she would have an attack, our Doctor would rush to our house with injections for her because he lived closer than the hospital. We were all so thankful when she seemed to “grow” out of them but they resurfaced after she took a fall and broke her ribs. It is just so scary and there is nothing worse than feeling like you cannot breath. Then panic sets in and that just ratches up the anxiety and symptoms. I think you showed remarkable restraint in only purchasing one lipstick!! Take care and rest this weekend.
That’s probably the worst part about it, Deborah; the being unable to breathe, which induces panic, making the attack that much more severe. I haven’t had an asthma attack this acute and severe in nearly 3 whole decades. Had convinced myself that the worst was behind me after quitting smoking at 34. Then came last Sunday. I know what caused it, but not sure how to safely and discreetly remove the serious threat to not only my health, but others in this section of the building. Let’s just say, stuff is going on nextdoor that shouldn’t be. Our apartment complex is designated “smoke free”, but nextdoor neighbor smokes pot and *other* things inside her unit. It’s really scary, because I know that she’s involved in illegal activities that put mine and other tenants health at risk.
Also, Deborah, I am so sorry that your poor sister had hers come back with a vengeance, too. My oxygen deprived brain still isn’t running on all 8 cylinders, so I stupidly forgot the beginning of what you wrote! Been asthmatic myself since infancy, too. Probably due to my being a 5 week early preemie in respiratory distress? Or adoptive parents who both smoked? Idk.
The human body is amazing but still so mysterious to us. I was born 2 months premature and so was my daughter, Aislinn. My sister was actually 2 weeks late and my brother was right on time. Both my brother and sister had asthma but my sisters was much worse. My parents both smoked and did so indoors so that couldn’t have been good for them. We actually moved to California as the Doctors told my parents that they thought there was an allergic trigger to the asthma but didn’t know what. They didn’t actually start doing allergy testing for many more years. My sister continued to have really severe attacks for many years after we moved but my brothers started to subside almost right away and his has never returned. I don’t know if my sisters would have if she hadn’t broken her ribs. As an adult she has been better at controlling her episodes by avoiding triggers. Your situation is not good with things you cannot control going on next door. I know you moved not all that long ago but you could move a thousand times and still end up with someone living next door that partakes in illegal activities. So sorry we can’t control our neighbors, LOL! I am glad you are over the worst of it. I assume you give yourself breathing treatments, nebs, inhalers, etc. Steroids are like the first line of defense even though they have their own issues. I will continue to pray for you, Nancy.
I love that collage of Winnie pics! He is so cute and it’s been fun to watch him grow.
Purchases and rediscoveries: Bought some serum and facial cleanser because I’m running low on both. Didn’t wear any makeup this week but I did clean a bundle of dirty brushes, so I’m set up to maybe play with some makeup soon, which could lead to rediscoveries for next week 🙂
Weekend plans: I dunno. Takeout I guess? It’s not supposed to rain so maybe we can go for a walk downtown or something. Thought about that last weekend but we ended up with a tsunami warning for the waterfront! Luckily it amounted to nothing.
My favorite hobby right now: Dancing! I’ve found a good teacher who does remote classes several days a week at a time that is really good for me, and we get along great. I’ve taken virtual classes with a lot of different teachers since the pandemic started, and hers do the best of not only getting me moving, but also recreating the social experience of being in the studio, because she builds in time for discussion.
How perfect AJ that you have found a dancing teacher that works for you and engages you in such a way that it creates a social atmosphere for all those in the class.
Yes, the tsunami warning happened here too along the Eastern coast of Aus, but ended up being quite tame, thank goodness. I feel sorry for those in Tonga.
I do hope Tonga gets the resources they need to recover from this disaster. Last I heard there communications were still cut off, which has to be so isolating and terrifying.
I notified my daughter right away, even though I thought that Seattle would likely not notice anything and she lives in West Seattle on the top of the “mountain” but I didn’t want to take any chances. I think San Francisco had a little flooding with the increase in wave height but not much else on our side of the Pacific Rim. Glad to hear it wasn’t anything too bad. I am so sorry for those in Tonga. What a terrible situation and while the Tsunami is bad, the dust and ash are worse. When Mount St. Helens erupted, Montana was buried in ash. We were told to stay indoors, fill our bathtubs and any other containers with water and to cover our nose and mouth when having to go outside. If you had any predisposition to breathing problems it exacerbated the symptoms and many were very sick and died from the ash. I pray they recover soon.
I would love to be young enough and agile enough to do a dancing class. Good for you doing something that you enjoy while in this pandemic.
Haul: MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lip in Pink Roses. I haven’t received it yet but anticipate it any day. It is not a color I needed as I have quite a pink collection but this one just spoke to me on IG and I picked it up. Otherwise, nothing else this week. I am looking for a good spray on, lite weight dry oil for daily moisturizing. If anyone knows a good one, please let me know. I wanted spray so that I could put it on over makeup during the day. The winter has been crazy on my skin and I just need tons of moisture.
Weekend plans: Not much. I have been able to get out of the house so I may treat myself to a drive but usually no real destination. I plan to make a trip to Glacier National Park which is a trip I make every winter. I am not sure how I will feel about it since it is a tradition that my daughter and I started a long time ago. Now that she is not living in Montana, I will have to go by myself. I think I would miss it if I didn’t go so I will likely push through it and just go. I also have to watch the football playoff games even though my team, The Seattle Seahawks, are not in contention. By the way, I have been a Seahawks fan long before my daughter moved there. Hopefully I will get tickets next season. Anyway, I love football. Not sure who I am rooting for but for sure it won’t be Tom Brady’s team. I don’t have anything against the guy but I would like to see another team have a chance. I am not sure that I even convince myself with that comment.
Hobby: Anyone who has seen my IG knows that I have been folding a lot of origami. It was a natural progression from my love for pretty paper, a readily available medium and something I can do during the long winter days. I actually haven’t folded since before Christmas but I will begin again soon. I have ordered some specific paper to fold for my Christmas tree next year. I also am working on more mixed media which is, along with scrapbooking, something I have done for over 15 years. I am playing with an idea to combine all three hobbies into one project and if successful, I will post on IG. I just ordered some specific chipboard pieces from Russia and am awaiting their arrival. It is kind of funny as you would think you could find really good chipboard here in the USA. I mean I think we always think we can find anything here but surprisingly, the chipboard in Russia, Ukraine, Poland is much more artistic, beautifully laser cut and just perfect for my type of projects. I wish I knew how they made it and I would start making my own but I doubt I am computer savvy enough to make the designs. I have been pleasantly surprised that I can buy so much and have it shipped at such a low cost. We are charged so much here in the USA from sellers here. I ordered 69 pieces from my preferred shop in Russia and the pieces plus the shipping was less than 20 pieces here and that is without shipping added. They shipped my chipboard for $13 from Russia. Crazy. Purchasing in Europe has gone through the roof mainly due to postage. It is disappointing as I have a favorite origami paper seller in France and one in Great Britain and the cost of shipping is more than the cost of the products. I have had to curtail my purchasing from them. Anyway, I think I have thoroughly answered that question, LOL!!!!
Deborah, as I follow you on IG and have been watching your progress with Origami creations, let’s just say that I am super impressed with the beautiful work that you do! Too bad that my own fingers aren’t quite nimble enough to get into it, because it certainly looks so intricate and so worth the effort and love that you put into each work.
Thank you, Nancy. I started it to make just one particular model, a simple rose, and it just grew from there. I am currently folding mostly tessellations and have a box full of them from before Christmas. That is the problem with origami, trying to figure out what to do with it once you are done? I have a couple that I am very proud of and have left them out but the rest are just languishing in a box. It seems that origami has experienced a worldwide resurgence with COVID and I have connected with many folders from all over the world. It is a very welcoming and helpful community with people really going out of their way to help when you run into a problem. I am shortly going to go over 600 followers on IG and that is mind boggling to me. When you live alone in the woods, you don’t have a ton of friends to follow you on IG and before origami I had about 60 followers. Since starting to post my origami the numbers are growing everyday. I only wish that Google Translate did a better job of translating as sometimes the instructions are a bit weird when they are translated. Other times, they are hilarious and I laugh so hard at what Google says they have written. I imagine that they are having a good laugh at some of my posts, once Google translates them. I am embarrassed by how well many speak and write English compared to my ability to understand any foreign language. I muddle through okay with most of the romance languages but Asian, Middle Eastern, Russian, etc not so much.
First of all Deborah, my very favourite oil for combatting dry skin is The Ordinary’s Argon oil, which I put on after a shower at night and it is ridiculously inexpensive. I find it really soothes all the dry spots. I think if you had a spray on light oil to use during the day, it would definitely muck around with your foundation.
It will be strange making the trip to Glacier National Park without your daughter along and I think you could do it once to see how you feel about it, weather permitting. You could either enjoy the solitude or feel lonely. You can’t tell until you do it. And you can always go home if it all doesn’t work out.
Our football here is called AFL (Austalian Football League) and it’s a very different game to your gridiron. My youngest son is a gridiron fan (gets up waaay early in the morning to watch it) and I have no idea what team he supports – New England Patriots?
I’m not a fan of either football codes myself – and the hero worship of Tom Brady is something even I have heard of. We have the same thing here with some of our AFL players too. I think it turns their heads and they start believing all the hype about themselves.
I am surprised that you get your chipboard from Russia and I agree with you about the shipping rates. Look how much we pay for international shipping just for a teeny tiny lipstick – it is highway robbery.
You have always been a creative person and I am not surprised you are going back to your origami and scrapbooking. Your mixed media project sounds exciting. I hope it all works out well. Take care Deborah.
Thank you Genevieve. I had thought about the spray oil just for ease of use during the day and I have no idea how it would affect my makeup. I will give Argon Oil a shot. I can’t use CBD oil as for some reason, I appear to be allergic to it and so many products today have it in them. It is the new “it” ingredient.
I can’t even imagine what you pay in Australia for shipping. That is twice the distance as I have from Russia. I had been looking for a chipboard nativity scene that I could incorporate into my Christmas mixed media piece and I couldn’t find one anywhere. I did find a balsa wood piece in England and it was super cheap, like $6. The postage was going to be $30. I passed. I am still looking and hope to find one before next Christmas.
Thank you for your kind words, Genevieve.
I had to Google Glacier National Park, what amazing nature! So magnificent!
I have seen your origami on IG, it’s beautiful.
Thank you, Helene. Glacier is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. Going To The Sun highway is a marvel but not for the faint of heart. The road is not very wide and there are no barriers to even offer a false sense of security. They have size limitations but I think they allow vehicles that are still too wide. Even my ex-husbands truck made me uneasy. The road was blown out of the mountain side by thousands of Chinese laborers and many lost their lives while building the road. It is a sad and not very happy time in our history. The park has had a couple of tough years with fire destroying quite a bit of forest and some chalets. There has also been a beetle infestation that has killed a lot of the forest. I think they were allowing too many visitors into the park and the ecosystem is precarious on the best days. The last two years they have significantly reduced the number of visitors because of COVID and the park has benefitted from the restriction.
What a gorgeous little darling he is – thank you for the collage of photos and of course he is a mama’s boy! All little boys are!
Recent Purchases: Still nada.
Rediscoveries: Contraversy from my bareMinerals quad The Wild Thing – a gorgeous blue shade as the pop of colour in a neutral eye look.
Weekend Plans: Well, the biggest news we’ve had this week is that my son, daughter in law and the three children have found a beautiful house to rent in their desired location – only 5 minutes away from Olivia and soon to be Lachlan’s school. It has been rennovated of late and it has 3 very large bedrooms, large living areas and a big backyard – complete with air conditioning – absolutely vital with our summer heat wave.
So they are in the process of moving in with all of us (and Anika’s family) helping them. The older children are busy enjoying the toys that they had put into storage and currently they are looking for a new lounge suite. It was the first home they seriously looked at this year and truly it is the luck of the draw. The street is tree lined and is quite close to the mountains, about 20 minutes away from us. It even has a sweet kindergarten at the top end of the street, ready for Harry in a year or two’s time.
We are so excited for them.
Hobbies: What are those? For the past year my hobby has been getting meals on the time and keeping up with the washing! Seriously, reading is my one big hobby, socialising with friends and, of course, my makeup!
That’s so exciting that your son and fam has found a house close by and with all the things they need! Not sure how the housing market is in Australia, but finding something like that in the US at the moment is near impossible at a reasonable rate.
I feel you on the hobbies, Genevieve. I do read a lot, but it seems hobbies have been stripped down a lot because of the pandemic.
The housing market in Australia Celesta is incredibly expensive, particularly for first home buyers. Everything is so overpriced, even in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. It was really just the luck of the draw that they got this place. For most decent rentals there is usually between 20 -50 people/families applying. I doesn’t have a dishwasher (sad face), but we’re thinking of getting them a free standing one fairly soon. It has a beautiful backyard, which is big enough to fit the kids trampoline and quite shaded too. The best thing is that it’s near to all their friends (both parents and kids).
Thankyou so much for your good wishes Celesta.
I suppose your house will feel very empty when your son and his family moves out. It’s so nice that they are going to be close to where you live. Their new house sounds lovely.
Thank you Helene – it will certainly feel very strange when they all move out and I will definitely miss the kids. It has been delightful to watch baby Harry grow from just a barely moving baby to someone who now runs around with ease and confidence, with quite a personality.
Their new house is lovely and it is so close to the school, kinder and all of their friends, which makes socialising so much easier – particularly during our numerous lockdowns they so missed.
I’m. Do happy your son and his family found a place! It sounds lovely.
*I’m so happy
Thank you Rachel – we are so happy for them too. I think it’s important for them to have their own place, to have their friends around (both adults and kids) and live in a lovely area. We were quite surprised (as indeed they were too) to find a place so quickly because the housing market here is just horrendous and so expensive.
I am so happy your son and family have found a place to live that perfectly matches their needs. The rent here in the USA has taken a steep incline over the past few years and the homeless rate has skyrocketed because of that. It is my one fear about selling my house and moving closer to better healthcare. I am not sure I can afford the rent. I have looked at houses in major metropolitan areas that I would consider living in and I can’t afford to move there. A one bedroom and one bath home in Seattle, and not in good condition, is going for almost a half million. That is just crazy.
Without your son and his family living there, you are likely going to feel like you have so much time on your hands! It will be an adjustment for you also. Maybe some of those hobbies you haven’t been able to find time for, will spark a new interest!!
Thank you Deborah – our housing market here is pretty horrendous and expensive as well, so they were quite lucky to find a place to rent that was in their preferred area (close to friends and school) that was in an excellent condition. It doesn’t have a dishwasher, but we are considering getting them a freestanding one if possible. The yard is beautifully shaded and the street is tree lined.
I can understand your reluctance to move because of the availability of places in and around major metro areas. My twin sister would love to move to a newer home too, but doesn’t for the same reasons as you. But you never know Deborah, if you take your time, you can find a home for yourself – we were incredibly lucky finding the house we are currently living in and it will happen with surprising speed too.
As for having more time on my hands – hmmm, I will be babysitting Harry whilst his mum works half a dozen hours a week (she is a kinder teacher and has been accepted by the local council to work in a nearby kinder for 4-6 hours per week), and I have a feeling that I will still be cooking for them too sometimes. Anika relies on me a lot as her family live quite a distance away.
I certainly would like to read a book in peace, that’s for sure!
Love the Winnie pics! We have finally purchased a pup and will be bringing him home at the end of the month, a tiny Morkie, can’t decide on a name yet lol!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I splurged on some Danessa Myricks new multichrome eyeliners, I’ve been playing with them a bit, the darker colors show up better than lighter ones, but they look interesting on my waterline.
Weekend plans: It’s year end for our company so we’ll be doing paper work but we also have to do some puppy shopping to get ready to bring the new boy home at the end of the month.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: The arthritis in my thumb has been acting up so I haven’t been doing much of anything, I like painting or beading. Now that the weather has warmed up I’m hoping that it will stop bothering me.
Oh I wouldn’t classify this as a hobby, but I brought youtube up on the tv and started doing exercise videos every 2nd day. I did Pilates three days ago and my stomach muscles are still sore lol!
OMG – what a little darling cutie you are going to be getting – it’s like bringing home a new baby – how gorgeous. You will have to buy him some toys and cushions and everything.
I hope your thumb gets better – is it because the weather is changing? Is your arthritis affected by imminent rain?
Yep, when I was doing Pilates (which I seriously should get back into) my stomach muscle gave me grief as well.
I know I’ll be up at night with the little guy until he can sleep through the night just like a little human. My arthritis gets worse when it’s really cold outside and I have some prescription cream it helps some. I have a love hate relationship with Pilates lol!
Yes, I thought your thumb would react to the cold and I guess having really good gloves would help.
As for your new little fur bubba – yep it will be night duties for you!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I haven’t purchased anything for myself recently, but I did get two free palettes when ColourPop was having a sale and I bought stuff for others for Christmas. One was the Cherry Crush nine-pan and I’m both excited and terrified to try it out.
Weekend plans: Preparing (read: decorating SO MANY COOKIES) for a cookie baking competition in in on Sunday.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: I started hand embroidery in the new year and I am loving it!
Yay fellow stitcher! I love when there’s unexpected crossover between shared interests. 🙂
How lovely to get some free palettes from ColourPop and use the sale to get items for next Christmas! I just looked up Cherry Crush again and wow – it is a really, really vivid kind of palette. I was going to say – start at the lightest shades – but there are no light shades. Hmmm. Maybe try one of the colours with lighter and perhaps cooler shades from your stash. I can feel your trepidation.
A cookie baking competition – is this for Scouts or your children’s school fundraiser? It also sounds terrifying too. How many do you have to make and what recipe are you using?
Hand embroidery is so beautiful, I think you must be quite a creative person.
I am not a great cook or baker but I am intrigued by cooking competitions. Before the holidays, the Food Network was airing several years of their annual Holiday Baking Championship and the Great Cookie Bake off. I binge watched them all. It is amazing how many ways one can find to share their passions, find personal fulfillment and meet their artistic needs. Good luck on your baking competition.
RECENT PURCHASES/REDISCOVERIES – ColourPop is having a sale so I bought the Lunar New Year lippies and also the ones from the new Rose collection. I rediscovered my eyeliners. I have really dry eyes so they water so much that I can’t really wear eyeshadows but the eyeliners manage to stay put.
WEEKEND PLANS – No concrete plans, just staying at home because it’s so cold outside. I’ll probably go through my makeup collection and declutter some things I haven’t used in a while.
HOBBY – My husband and I have recently gotten into playing board games. We just played Radlands and Luna Capital. Both of them were really good!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I am waiting on some perfume samples. We will be moving soon though so most spending is on hold.
Weekend plans: Packing, sorting, organizing, destashing, etc. Just “getting ready to move” kind of stuff.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: Painting for sure! I’ve gotten back into watercolor and it has been really fun.
When are you due to move Stephanie? My son and his family are moving out this week and I have no idea what is going to be left here or how they will fit everything in at their new place. It’s a really stressful time.
Watercolours are so beautiful and they have this timeless appeal about them too. No wonder you love them.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: My Sephora order-Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Ruby Orchid travel spray, Fenty Sinamon shimmer Match Stix, and Charlotte Tilbury Lunar New Year Walk of a Star lipstick and Cheek to Chic Sex on Fire blush-arrived on time Tuesday. I think Walk of a Star will prove to have lots of staying power-Tuesday night I swatched it on the back of my hand, washed my hands several times, and the swatch didn’t completely come off until I wiped it off with a baby wipe the next day!
Last night I found and bought the 5 shades of Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks I still want (I got Rush for Christmas)-Forbidden Rose, Rose Thorn, and Strike a Rose are in stock; Kiss from a Rose is on back order with an estimated ship date of February 10; and Intense Amethyst is on back order with an estimated ship date of February 17. None of them have shipped yet.
Weekend plans: Worked all day today, tomorrow is a pharmacy run and weekly grocery run, avoiding snow Sunday.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: I’ve been really busy lately. I did customize a few dolls last week, but time constraints mean I’ve mainly been watching a lot of beauty YouTube!
I think that Walk of a Star lipstick is just a beautiful shade and I think you will get a lot of use out of it. Ditto for the LM Caviar Sticks – especially all of the Rose shades, so stunning. I hope they arrrive soon for you.
Thanks, Genevieve! I can’t wait to wear them!
I love those Caviar Sticks. I have several and use them often. I purchased one of the rose collection but didn’t get the rest. Reading this reminds me that I intended to look at them after the new year. Thank you for the timely reminder!!
You’re welcome, Deborah!
I’ve been having headaches all day-can’t tell whether they’re sinus-related, hormonal, or both-so during the pharmacy/grocery run, I grabbed another Milani Color Fetish Shine lipstick-Covet this time-using some money I found in an old pair of jeans.
Haul: just a few Cake Beauty body products. I wish I could have found the ones I was looking for but I contented myself with the ones I was able to find (a body wash and a body moisturizer).
Weekend plans: it is so bitterly cold here that I dread going outside (we also had a major dump of snow that closed schools for 2 days and had everyone struggling to find places to shovel it). I don’t want to go out but I have to go to the grocery store and should probably stop at the library as well since a few of my “holds” have come in.
Hobbies: it’s still sewing. It’s something I really enjoy, especially once I’ve found patterns that work for me and I’ve fine tuned the fit. What’s funny is that I absolutely LOATHE altering things. I have some work out tops of my husband’s that are longer than he likes and just shortening them – that “performance fabric” is like trying to sew water – is a nightmare. I suggested that he might want to take them to the woman we use for more complex alterations because this simple job is just a nightmare.
I can’t even imagine sewing in performance fabrics. I also don’t like altering, even shortening a skirt takes forever and half an hour, the last for the actual sewing.
I have the same thing when it comes to making simple curtains, I just dislike the long boring seams so much. My son’s father used to joke about a pair that took nine months and two hours to make.
Clothes on the other hand are fun to sew, when I’m inspired.
Helene, I am exactly the same with curtains. They should be easy – in fact, they ARE easy – but for starters, I like an actual paper pattern. I also hate the whole business of having to calculate, multiply (x 2.5 or x 3 for extra fullness?) having to figure out how much to add at the top and for the bottom hem. But worst of all is ALL THAT FABRIC – just having to work with it in a fairly small area – I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about how easy it is to get pieces twisted and end up joining pieces together incorrectly. And worst of all, a small miscalculation can mean wasting meters and meters of fabric and a huge amount of money. I’m almost okay with something small like a cafe curtain but even that does make me nervous and I just don’t enjoy it. And you and I are clearly the same regarding alterations. UGH.
It’s amazing that you are experiencing so much cold weather and snow, whilst we are enduring a very long heateave that is set to continue for the next week or so. It’s so hot that you really can’t step out of the house either!
Whilst your out, you may as well go to the library and at least have some new books to read whilst you’re all snowed in.
Take care.
G, it never fails that when you’re in the middle of a heatwave, we’re in the middle of a deep freeze and vice versa! And some people assert there’s no such thing as climate change! I skipped the library as I’m actually not in much need of books just now (and I think what came in was probably DVDs/Blu Ray discs). I just got a few John Mortimer/Rumpole books from Audible. What a joy those are. We loved the tv series that starred the late, great countryman of yours, Leo McKern!!! (most people don’t know he was born in Australia)
What a lovely collage of Winston photos. He sure is growing fast. He’s an adorable boy!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: No purchases. Rediscovery, MAC Satin Taupe, well not a rediscovery but I hadn’t used it in a long time. It just went so well with my outfit yesterday. I can add MAC Craving as it was perfect and I’ve not used it for months.
Weekend plans: Nothing at all.
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately? Does watching TV shows on HBO, Netflix and Prime count? If so that’s it. I have this strange love for high school shows and just finished The OC yesterday. Not sure what to watch now, maybe The Witcher as I like to alter between genres.
I also like to sew, do embroidery, knit and most of all read, but due to my depression and anxiety issues I don’t have either the stamina or the calmness to be able to sit for a longer time, concentrating on anything. That is why TV shows are perfect, 40-45 minutes and then go pet the dog, get more coffee or something and then sit down for the next episode.
Girl, you are talking my language – Satin Taupe is one I don’t use often either but when I do, I remember why I love it and also the delight I felt when I first got it (long ago, when maybe I had only 10 or so MAC shadows).
I hope your depression and anxiety issues lessen. It’s not a good time for most of us with regards to mental/emotional health. I envy your knitting skills – with a grandchild on the way, I’d love to re-teach myself to knit. I got fairly good-ish (after taking a few lessons) back in the mid 80’s and then gave it up – I was getting better and could put my work down without having make a bunch of notes on the pattern about where I was leaving off, though I never got really good but now, I don’t even remember HOW to read a pattern any more. I’d love to learn again but now’s not a great time for face-to-face lessons, which is what I’d prefer.
Ooops – meant to add to my Satin Taupe comment to say that I think everyone here knows how I feel about Craving. I don’t think I’ve used another lipstick in the past 6 months!
I feel the same way about Maybelline’s Spice for Me and Mauve for Me – have multiple backups and wear them constantly.
I need to check out Mauve for Me but I always forget. I have the feeling that Spice for Me would be too warm but I recall you mentioning both of these many times.
I’ve lived with my mental illness for many years, it’s chronic, so not much to do about it. I take my meds and try to avoid triggers. That said, triggers appear suddenly, out of nowhere and then the panic attack comes, and those are horrid. At least I have tools these days to lessen the time they last, but I find the panic the most problematic. I don’t want any attacks in public.
Satin Taupe is a classic, I certainly hope they neve DC it.
The Wheel of Time was really good, and The Witcher is off to a great start!
I liked Wheel of Time. I also like The Witcher season one so I-m looking forward to season two, I think it’ll be next on my list.
Satin Taupe, like Sumptous Olive, is one of MAC’s all time heavenly shades that work on just about everybody. I don’t own it myself – as for a long time MAC wasn’t around here, but I think I will get this one.
I can understand about your depression and anxiety issues, as quite a few in my extended family suffer from this – so I do hope that you’ve been able to find a suitable counsellor or health care professional to help you manage all of this.
Sewing and knitting are skills that are beyond me (I just don’t have the patience) and I admire anyone who can do this.
I get my meds, and see a general practitioner once a year. For the rest of the time the dog helps me. He is lovely when he knows mum is feeling lousy he just comes and sit next to me until he knows I’m better.
I’m a periodic knitter, when it becomes too popular I stop knitting. Just me, when everyone talks knitting I just want to do something else. I’m odd that way, I think.
Helene, I am sorry to hear that you too belong to the same unfortunate club as I do: anxiety and depression. The crazy push-pull of it is truly exhausting. Depression = no energy or stamina. Anxiety = poor concentration and attention span. And during the pandemic, I feel like those of us who were already dealing with these issues got hit even harder with the lockdowns and all. Know that you are not alone 💖
Thank you, Nancy.
I think the worst with mental illness is people saying things like “come on, you can do it”, or ” just snap out of it already”. As if one wouldn’t if one could!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I bought the Pat McGrath x Bridgerton collection. I was between that and the Lancome x Emily in Paris collection and I found the Pat McGrath collection much more appealing
Weekend plans: I had Saturday off, ran some errands, did a few chores, and then livestreamed at night. I work the rest of the weekend
What hobby are you enjoying the most lately?: Writing! I’m really happy I found my passion for writing again, and I’m hoping by the time Omicron calms down I’ll have a first draft done