Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #733
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: Nothing new this week for me! 🙂
Weekend plans: I have to drop off four or five of my foster puppies (I have 13, lol) to an event on Saturday, so I’ll do that but spend most of the day hanging out with the ones at home. My parents will come over to play mah jong on Sunday!
Do you have any goals for 2024? Not yet…
This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
Friday Finds: my love affair with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour stuff continues….I purchased the Night Time Miracle Moisturizer/Balm and it is SO wonderful. I apply it over a facial oil and the results are almost “miracle”. I want to try the oil next and perhaps if it’s still around, the daytime moisturizer with SPF. REDISCOVERIES: Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette – it’s joined the Tarte/Aqualillies palette for a nice spin around the block…
Weekend plans: a party tomorrow with my daughter in law’s family (son and DIL are in Japan but S’s family are nearby and having a pizza party; S’s aunt, who is hosting, is a retired (but not really) party planner so it will be a Pizzazz Pizza Party for sure. Sunday, brunch with daughter, son in law and grand-daughter and my older son who is home for the next 2+ weeks and then we plan to go to the Royal Botanical Gardens to see their winter display.
Goals for 2024: Keep working out at the gym and getting stronger, staying healthy – just keep on keepin’ on, so to speak. I’d like all the “stuff” that needs doing around the house to be done…new window coverings, some new windows, and also start planning our next trip (probably Norway or Denmark).
What a lovely weekend you’ve got planned – especially the Royal Botanical Garden’s Winter Dispaly – that would be beautiful.
And it would be perfect to catch up with your eldest son and little grand daughter too.
Planning a trip to Norway/Denmark would be a fabulous thing to do – you were going to go there before the pandemic hit, I believe – so this holiday would be extra special.
Haul: I didn’t buy much this week. In fact, I think as far as beauty goes it was only the Dior Eye Shadow palette in 517 Intensive Eye which I picked up on Mercari after reading the review here on Temptalia. As for other purchases I am done with my Christmas shopping and plan a trip to Kalispell over the weekend to pick up a few specific decorations and a couple of desserts for the actual Christmas day dinner. I know it sounds crazy to drive 3 hours to get desserts but it has become a tradition to have these specific desserts and since the weather is cooperating, I will make the trip. When the weather is good, I like getting out to see the winter scenery.
Weekend plans: The aforementioned trip to Kalispell and I am considering spending the night up there just because I might do some photos of the area for an upcoming mixed media project. I also want to visit a specific museum to see their decorations. Aislinn is flying home on Thursday night and I am picking her up in Spokane and then if the weather holds, we are going to make the trip to Kalispell and into Glacier National Park. We like to make the trip at least once in winter and didn’t make it last year as she was only home for two days and we were snowed in both of those days. In fact, I had cooked a huge Christmas dinner and no one was able to make it because of the weather. So, we want to make the trip and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the good weather continues. I will be driving her back to Seattle the day after Christmas and will be there for two weeks until the day after my birthday. We don’t usually see each other for several months after that as I am usually locked in by the winter weather.
New Year resolutions: No, I am not generally a resolution kind of person.
Some of us (ME….I’m a real dessert person) want to know what these desserts are! At the party today, we had to make nametags with our names (obvs; it was a large group and not everyone knew everyone else) and our favourite food. Mine was crème brulee; I do love desserts!)
Hi Mariella. I know, I don’t feel like a special meal is done until there is dessert! Of course, that is why I Iook the way I do. There is a bakery that specializes in European breads and desserts and we love the Stollen and the Italian cheesecake which is mostly just a cheesecake made with ricotta cheese and a little lemon but when I have tried to make it it just doesn’t turn out the same. Aislinn has been practicing making it and she is getting close but since she doesn’t live here and cannot carry a full cheesecake on the plane, she will be happy with the one from the bakery. I always make a pumpkin pie and a mincemeat pie but only my Mom and I like the mincemeat so I am thinking about making just a few tarts for us instead of a full pie. My brother has specific tastes and doesn’t like fruitcake. So, every year I make our families version of fruitcake which I make from a recipe that I got from a little old lady, long since gone, who made it every year and gifted me with a loaf one Christmas. She graciously shared her recipe with me and I have only tweaked it a little bit, adding just a touch more flour but still a favorite for everyone. It is actually made with maraschino cherries but I don’t use the mass produced ones as they are processed with formaldehyde. I imagine not a lot of people know that. I spring for the good cherries from Luxardo and have a gallon can shipped from Italy in the fall. I can get them in 20 ounce cans here from a couple of retailers but I have to have them shipped also and because they are smaller I have to have a lot shipped. Just easier to ship from Italy. I make them up in late September or early October and do the traditional soaking in rum or brandy and wrapped in cheesecloth and re-saturate every week until the holiday. My ex brother in law cannot have alcohol as he is a recovering alcoholic so I do make a plain one for him but I don’t make it until the week of Christmas. He won’t be with us as he passed away this year. Anyway, I also make Pavlova ever since Aislinn and I had it while in Europe and it has been a huge family success and so easy to make. Hope you have a wonderful holiday, Mariella.
That European bakery sounds divine Deborah. In our family, my sister makes the traditional fruit cake with my mother’s receipe of hard sauce – butter, icing sugar, vanilla and something else I think. But nobody else in the family likes fruit cake…so this year, as she is going up to her partner’s niece’s place for Christmas, I will be organising the desserts too. A bakery like that would be handy. Is it an expensive place?
Pavlova is a fairly traditional dessert here in Aus – my mother (when she was alive) made it kind of chewy and yummy. But I will buy mine and hope it is a good one. I probably will go to an Italian or French bakery to get the desserts, plus I make a big fruit salad for the kids.
We all do go to a lot of trouble making everything right for our families don’t we?
Hi Genevieve, yes, I think I would say it is expensive but when I look at the cost of purchasing all the ingredients, the time and effort to put it all together, it is worth it to me to just buy it. I am not the world’s greatest cook so there would be no guarantee that it would turn out right anyway! My family version of the fruitcake is pretty easy so that I do make. Stollen is a long process and some ingredients are not available here where I live so I would have to order them and it all just seems like a hassle right before the holidays. I let the bakery do it and there is the added advantage of not having to clean up the pots and pans afterwards. I don’t know if pumpkin is very popular in Australia but of course, our traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals always include pumpkin in some form and pie is the easiest for me. I also usually make a pumpkin bread also. It is a lot of work for an hour of eating but then I don’t have to cook for a few days!
Mariella – THAT is one of my favourite desserts – Creme Brulee – I am also a fan of baked cheesecakes too. I do like something sweet to finish off a good meal.
I love creme brulee. There use to be a restaurant near where I worked in Northern California and they had the most decadent creme brulee. They also had a chocolate version which I had never seen before and haven’t since. Hope you have a wonderful holiday, Mariella.
Christine, I’m curious: since the beginning of your hiatus/retirement/pupcation, what have you been doing with any PR you receive?
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: A mutual on Instagram was posting about using one of those LED devices on body cysts, and I was like, “LEDs work on cysts?! This could be a game-changer for hidradenitis suppurativa!” But I didn’t want to spring for the one they mentioned, so I took advantage of 20% off at Ulta to try out a less-expensive version. Honestly though, I’m not yet sure whether it works for me, or whether that’s because of user error, the particular device, or the technology in general.
Weekend plans: Work, and probably keep watching “Fargo,” which I started recently. I’m now a couple episodes into the fourth season.
Goals for 2024: I guess the same as every year…keep surviving? Husband is going to be starting a new job, which starts with two months of training on the other side of the country, and then who knows how our routines will be changed after that. 🙃 Previous times he’s been gone (last was in 2019 to hike the Pacific Crest Trail), I had coworkers to spend time with lol. Now I’m 100% self-employed and live farther away from our parents. I should probably make some friends and find a gym buddy for while he’s out of town…anyone have tips on how to find someone who already goes to the same gym I do and is of a similar fitness level? 😅
I haven’t received much PR in the last few years, but the same as before – if it’s new, I donate it! I think there’s been less than a dozen packages in the past three months.
These puppies are so precious and I really love their fluffiness! 💕
Purchases/rediscoveries: I don’t think I purchased anything beauty related this week, but I did order two hoodies from Wear The Peace. One in a light aqua that says Human•Kind Be Both, and the other in medium brown that simply says HUMAN. Plus, I got a free cap that I may give to my son.
Weekend plans: Zoom meeting, laundry, straightening up my home. Baking almond pastry bars (gluten free, of course!)
Any goals for 2024? Either moving back to the Eastside of the Valley, or just waiting on my court date and judgement to move out of the hot desert! Not much else. Also, I just got my brain MRI a little while ago, so I will be dealing with whatever DX I wind up receiving and the treatment plan.
What gorgeous little puppies you have there Christine! 13 of them – definitely keep you and Shaun very busy. How is Winnie going?
Recent Purchases: A couple of things – IT Cosmetics CC cream in Fair Porcelain – that Mariella has always raved about – and it is fabulous.
A Givenchy lipstick in red – it was on sale at one of my favourite online retailers, so I picked it up for Christmas
Rediscoveries: Just can’t go past my new PMG eye palette Sublime Bronze Ambition and I use it in conjunction with the Subliminal Platinum Bronze 6 pan. Both work well together.
Weekend Plans: Some great news to report this week – Our darling grand daughter Olivia was awarded Horsewoman of the Year at her pony club in KInglake last Sunday. It was totally unexpected by her and she, like all of us, was thrilled. So we had a little family celebration last Thursday night for her at our place.
Secondly, Anika’s father, whom I have written about here, has been settled into a really lovely nursing home not far from where Anika, my son and their children live. It turns out that he has a very rare brain condition whereby the thalamus region in his brain has been destroyed. He also has Parkinson’s Disease as well. Anika (my DIL) is one of his guardians and has done a magnificient job looking after him.
My weekend plans are fairly fluid at the moment – have wrapped up all of the presents, cleaned out the fridge and the oven and now planning the Christmas menu. Thankfully the weather bureau has promised a reasonably coolish day.
Goals for 2024: Well, after the pandemic hit, I really don’t think you can plan many goals anymore. But no, I don’t really do that any way.
Congratulations to Olivia. I loved to ride when I was younger and into high school. Expensive hobby for my working class parents but they gave things up to give me riding lessons. It’s a relief to have a loved parent in a good care facility. I’m glad things are working out for Anika’s dad (and for her).
I can’t imagine trying to prepare Xmas dinner in the heat. I have a hard enough time in the winter with a house full of people and the ovens and stove churning out heat!
Thank you Mariella – Olivia was quite overwhelmed when she received the award and we are quite proud of her.
Having Anika’s father in a great care facility (she is one of his guardians) has lifted a huge weight off her shoulders and it being close to her means that she can visit him easily.
Preparing Christmas dinner in the heat is a huge challenge, let me tell you. That’s why so many Australian families opt for seafood and salads – well, most of the younger generation anyway. We tend to do BBQ meats and I make a stack of very different salads every year – which works out well.
Congratulations to Olivia!
I’m sorry to hear about Anika’s father’s conditions, but it’s so nice he’s in a good facility and close by.
Thank you Rachel – she was thrilled! Having Anika’s father close by makes it so much easier for her to visit and so on. It’s been tough, because of her mother’s behaviour and actions, with her animosity towards her own children. It’s been hard to take. Having her father’s needs sorted has lifted a huge weight from her.
I understand parents’ animosity all too well. I’m sorry she has to deal with that.
Oh, that is wonderful news about Olivia receiving that award! Big congrats to your granddaughter, Genevieve!
Sad to hear that your DIL’s Dad has such a difficult to deal with brain disorder. But, also very relieved that he has loving support of his family where he’s at due to their being nearby.
Thank you Nancy – It was totally unexpected and she was delighted. Things may change for her next year as her grandparents’ property will probably be sold to accommodate her father in his nursing home. It’s a sad reality nowadays.
But dealing with her mother has been a nightmare Nancy – she has become quite hostile to her children (for no reason) and has caused a lot of trouble at the facilities where her husband (Anika’s father) has been. So that’s still on-going.
That’s even sadder that they will probably need to sell their property, and also her mother’s behavior certainly doesn’t sound helpful for all others involved in this situation. Not her kids nor the NH staff! I do have a feeling that she is going through a mourning for the inevitable loss of her husband and for the life she shared with him, and is sadly doing the counterintuitive response of lashing out at others instead of letting herself have as many private (or not so private, if necessary) good cries. Some people don’t mourn or let themselves feel their feelings in appropriate ways. Sad thing is, this creates resentment and alienation quite often. I feel very sad for Anika and her family during this difficult time.
I am so glad to hear that Anika’s father is well settled and close enough for her to be active in his life. Congratulations to Olivia. What an honor.
I have tried both versions of the It Cosmetics CC cream and I just can’t make it work for me. No matter how I apply it I end up with cake face. I have tried fingers, sponge and brush and have even mixed with moisturizer to try and sheer it out and it is weird because it doesn’t cake right away. A couple of hours later I will look in the mirror and it will be cake face on my upper cheeks and around my mouth. Maybe more accurately, it breaks up but it looks like it is cakey. I really wanted to love it because the shade match was really good for me but just didn’t work out. Glad to hear it is working for you and I bet it looks beautiful on your complexion. Happy Holidays, Genevieve.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Nothing new for me this week.
Weekend plans: Nothing! And I’m happy about it!
Do you have any goals for 2024? Stop spending money on my obsession-of-the-moment. Also, start weeding out clothes and other things I have too much of.
Hope you get to have a very relaxing weekend Seraphine. Do you have any holidays over the Christmas season?
Decluttering your wardrobe and shoe cupboard is helpful – I did that a few weeks ago and it has made a difference because everything in there is clothes and shoes that I love and wear.
My job gives us the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a paid vacation, which is really nice. We’ll be visiting family, hanging out with friends, and doing lots and lots of relaxing. I have lots of books I want to read.
Whoa! The puppies have gotten big! They’re so cute.
RECENT PURCHASES:
Last month I got the Pat McGrath Lunar Nightshade Palette. It’s true love.
I hit Lurella Cosmetics’ Cyber Monday sale and my order arrived today. Eye palettes: Calavera, Ocean Breeze, and Pick Your Poison. Blush Palettes: Pinch Me Vol 1 and Pinch Me Vol. 2. Highlighters: Bliss and Ice.
I did some more research on the brand, and it appears they’re CF and vegan.
WEEKEND PLANS:
Work paperwork. Helping my younger son put together a Secret Santa gift for work. Finishing up a couple crochet projects.
DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS FOR 2024?
Not really. Just to survive it and hope it’s better than 2023. This year has been kind of rough.
I would agree with you Rachel about this year being a rough one – it certainly has in our family! And I think it’s got to be better next year.
The Lunar Nightshade palette would so suit you and the Lurella Cosmetics products (I just looked them up) are fabulous looking and quite your kind of colours.
I hope you get to finish your crochet projects. Enjoy your weekend.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: My friend gifted me some Glamlite (2 palettes, a lip kit, a highlighter) and the Nomad Ghost Town Palette!!
Weekend plans: I have no plans at all but that’s what I wanted.
Do you have any goals for 2024? Continue to lose weight. I hope to hit 100 pounds down in 2024!
What gorgeous palettes you’ve been given Zia – I hope they work out for you. Good for you you are on a weight loss journey – you probably feel a lot better and I hope you succeed in reaching your goals next year.
Thank you so much Genevieve 🙂