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Free for Haul Friday, Volume #427
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: Bite Prismatic Multisticks, Farmacy Green Clean, belief Cleansing Oil, Tatcha The Deep Cleanse, Sol de Janeiro Hand Cream
- Weekend plans: I’m terribly behind on the blog right now (well, more so than usual), so I’m trying to tackle that before I’m totally drowning!
- What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Well, since winter here isn’t snow, I do enjoy going for a walk when it gets cool enough to feel crisp outside!
P.S. — Join us over in the official Temptalia chatroom on Discord! 🙂
This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
Haul: I broke my no buy and got a few things at Sephora under double points for skincare. A huge Ordinary haul. I also got a used Bellicon, so I’m super stoked about that.
Weekend: My Hubby has a 4 day weekend which he’s already started. I’m sure we’ll go out somewhere to do something, probably take my sister on a Pokemon hunting trip. Food shopping, walking, and maybe some puppy play will all be in our future. I’m still recovering from my fracture so walking is about all I can manage.
Winter: I’d love to go snowshoeing but it’s never happened. I like the snow when I don’t have to drive in it. I just sat on my covered porch this year for like half a day on and off watching the snow fall. That was most excellent. I’m moving to AZ, so that’s out for the foreseeable future! I’m a very Hygge person though in the fall/winter.
Good luck with the ongoing saga of a fracture….and pay attention to it into the future. These things have a way of repeating (pain, djd, etc.) as you get older. Mind your PT, and continue to address it.
What happened Erin? I must have missed your post – I hope your fracture is healing well and the pain has subsided. This is the last thing you need….
Haul: Picked up two of the new Sephora Lip Stories lipsticks: Desert Trip and Ouch! May be one of the only times I’ve spent less than $20 at Sephora.
Weekend plans: A tea and cheese tasting, dinner at an Irish pub, belated gift exchange with a friend, take the dog for a nice long walk if the rain holds off, and so much housework.
Favorite thing to do on a winter day: Drink good tea and read a good book while snuggling with my pets.
HAUL: Reordered a powder and got a mini of Clinique Black Honey lipstick. This is truly MLBB because the finish of it somehow looks like I have nothing on and my lips are just naturally reddish. It’s simply a tinted balm, I guess but a very good one. You can build the color up a bit, to a certain extent. The “looks good on everyone, transforms into your perfect color” marketing nonsense is hooey, though. It’s a red/berry pigment and ymmv. If I make it through the sample I will definitely purchase full size, and probably get the Pink Honey version, too.
WEEKEND PLANS: Sushi niiiiiiiiiight
If it’s a cold winter day I like to stay inside and binge on TV and snacks. If it’s a mild winter day I like to shop either winter sales or check out spring releases, but be in for the night and a hearty meal.
You fell in love with a lip color from 1971! Not that it isn’t a total classic. I thought, merde, i’ve had that forever, wonder when…. Used to adore sushi, until I watched Monsters Inside Me. Rec you stay away from that one! Don’t forget the black honey cheek pop blush, prob still available at CCO. Lighter than cola pop, but also a big classic.
Please send Swatching Elf this way. I cold use some friendly paw-assistance!
Haul:
Kat Von D: Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick (Lovecraft, Adora, Ozzy, L.U.V., Mercy)
LA Splash (25% off): Artkitekt Sculptor – Bundle
Sephora: KVD Basket Case Anti-Precision Eyeliner (Insomniac Black), UD 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil (Cruz)
Too Faced (20% off): Just Peachy Mattes
Urban Decay ($20 off): Kristen Leanne (Kaleidoscope Dream Eyeshadow Palette, Vice Lipstick – Cloud9)
(It’s actually not really that small of a haul. I didn’t include any skincare or haircare I bought.)
Weekend plans:
LOL- I’m also way behind on swatching. I had 3 collections arrive in one day….then I accidentally deleted my pics from 2 hours of swatching! So for me – major swatching and pic taking. Also, and this is really cool, I’m meeting my old friend/former boyfriend/prom date for lunch on Saturday. I haven’t seen him in 22 years!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: I don’t get cold so Winter to me is like any other day (except for the heat and humidity of summer which I despise.)
I’ll be curious to see what you think of the KVD Studded Kiss Cremes.
@ Michele I’m curious to see what you think of your old prom date, lol
Hope the meeting with your old friends works out well. I bet you look just the same now as you did then!
It was fantastic – thank you! Strange it was like the years had not gone by. Don’t look the same but we lied to each other about it anyway! LOL
Haul: probably going to get a paper shredder this weekend
Weekend plans: Doing some cleaning
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Read
Best swatching companion in the world! ❤?????
Haul: NOTHING!!!! And that makes me feel really good!
Weekend plans: My usual schtick. Hair, maybe nails (they still look alright, and that teabag patching job I did last week is still holding up), meeting on Sunday…at 10 a.m. ??
Favorite thing to do on a winter day?: If we get a nice, chilly day, I love to just get out and about! That’s when being outdoors is actually quite pleasant. But it’s also a rarity this winter due to La Ninã.
Also, enjoying a hot peppermint mocha topped with whipped cream when it’s cold enough out for it to have the desired effect!
Congratulations on your no-haul, Nancy! Hot peppermint mocha sounds heavenly about now (it’s been snowing here all day with temps in the teens).
I’m just a little bit jelly of that real winter weather, Tammy! It is 71° here, which many love, but I don’t. It’s too warm for January. But the other night, it was just right for it, though!
Good job sticking to your no-buy!
Yay Nancy!! Congratulations on not getting anything! ? I’m trying that myself for the month of January (so far, so good!) ?
Just to clarify; I’m not on a no-buy, but a low-buy, for this year. Probably 2019, too. Just so no one is surprised if or when I may just get something. I do, however, appreciate all your support on this fairly difficult endeavor Tammy, Rachel and Priscilla! Thank you!
No hauls are fun because you explore the stash you have and rotate everything. Like me, you must have a stash to get through.
Haul: I sent my SO on a mission to buy me a full face of makeup (it was a Birthday mission), so I guess I’ll haul what he came up with. xD It Cosmetics Universal brow pencil, Smashbox 15 hour hydrating foundation and matching concealer, CP Semi Precious Shadow Palette, Hourglass Full Spectrum Mascara, Milk Holographic Highlighting powder in Supernova, Hourglass Bronzer, Ciate Illuminating blush In Too Deep and Buxom Lip Cream in Lavendar Cosmo.
I also bought 4 of the Tarte Chrome Paint Shadow Pots.
Weekend plans: A pretty relaxed weekend. Probably some meal prep and a lot of reading. Maybe a little gym time.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Settle down in a heated blanket and read.
Letting your SO buy a full face of makeup? That sounds very intriguing. Could be a disaster or something else! I wonder what my husband would pick if I asked him to buy me a full look…
I would recommend the experience, I set parameters and a budget so it wouldn’t be crazy. But I think he did awesome, nothing I had and he picked my right shades. He also seemed to have a color palette in mind which was unexpected.
Happy Birthday! Hope you get some nice surprise gifts!
Thank you! ?
Wow – he did great! Happy birthday!
I agree and thank you!
Haul: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, Urban Decay Unicorn lipstick, and Sephora Collection Coconut Water Moisturizing Cream. I think I may have talked about the The Ordinary products in a FFHF a few weeks ago when I ordered them, but I just got them from the mailroom recently.
Weekend Plans: Working on grad school applications. I have two due Monday and two due early February, so I want to get those done. Other than that, just grocery shopping!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Curling up with some hot chocolate or tea, knitting, and watching the snow come down. We got a ton of snow from the “bomb cyclone” last week but I woke up this morning and all the snow had melted overnight! Now it’s 60 degrees, kind of a bummer.
Wishing you well on your Grad School applications – what field are you interested in Kat?
Thanks! My fingers are crossed and I can’t wait for the whole application season to be over. I’m a geology major now, hoping to continue with geology and/or geophysics as a grad student.
What an interesting field, I did geology myself when I was a science undergraduate at university. Fantastic field and I hope you get into the university of your choice. My fingers and toes are crossed for you too!
Good luck on grad school applications! What school is your top pick?
I think I’d be happy anywhere I ended up, but I’m very interested in the University of Colorado, Boulder. The program is great, I’ve heard the city is nice, and I have a friend who just moved there so I wouldn’t be all alone in a new place!
Haul: Nothing this week.
Weekend plans: Nothing special. I need to remain close to home to man any water buckets as a result of my roof leak. Having said that, my brother got up on the roof and took down the ice dams in several different areas and so the leak has stopped for now but will return if any further ice builds up on the roof.
Favorite thing to do on a winter day: I know this is kind of crazy but I like to blow the snow from my driveway. My driveway is about 100 yards long so not so bad and there is something satisfying about seeing the snow fly through the air and the driveway being revealed at the end. Crazy I know.
Oh, no, sorry about the leak. I’m glad your brother helped get the ice down. Can you get it fixed, or do you have to wait till spring?
I have found a guy willing to try and fix it during the winter but we are still getting active and significant snow fall so that will keep him from being able to work until that stops.
Yes, my brother is a saint. He isn’t young anymore either and I didn’t want him to get up on the roof but he was willing and he did a great job. He was up there for a couple of hours in the brutal cold, beating the ice off with a hammer and pry bar. I owe him big time.
Awwww, your brother is awesome! I hope you’ll get a significant break in the snow to get that fixed.
Hopefully the roof won’t leak again and your brother is a brave soul.
Hi Mellan!
*MAC Versicolour Stain in Tattoo My Heart (applies peach but stains a soft red, nice)
*Sephora -, MUFE Mini Kit with Rosewood Blush/Champagne Highlighter (both are gorgeous!), MJ Lipstick in Slow Burn (Sephora GWP)
*Ulta 20% off +reward dollars – Too Faced Melted Gold Gloss (yep, it’s OTT gold), Too Faced Pure Gold Ultra Fine Face & Body Glitter (ditto), NYX Soft & Rosy Shadow palette, NYX Strictly Vinyl Eyeliner in Hazy (red), NYX Worth the Hype Mascara, BM Round the Clock Eyeliner in 5 AM (metallic champagne gold) and 1PM (teal blue), Makeup Revolution Ultra Cool Glow Highlighter palette, Kenra Volumizing Shampoo, Biolage VolumeBloom Shampoo, and Biolage Normalizing Cleanrest Shampoo, all from their big liters sale
*Weekend -work and dinner at nice steakhouse
*Winter Day -stay home, with heater cranked up, curled up with a good book or movie – I don’t like being cold
Haul: I’m finally off work on a Friday so I can participate free haul Friday! As some of you know, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker on a very busy hospital behavioral health unit, and my 10-13 hour days have been dictating my life to the extent where I have been unable to participate most of the time. As some of you also know, I have accepted a new position in the outpatient medical clinics, and I will be moving into that position on February 5. In the meantime, I will probably sporadically participate, as time permits
My haul will be representative of the past month (or more) of purchases, not just this week.
Maybe I should start with what I purchased today, and work backwards. I went to my dermatologists office and picked up my glycolic acid pads (I use them like you would a toner) and they had a special on a hyaluronic mask, so I grabbed that too. Yesterday I ordered the Drunk Elephant Volume 2: Come C About Me set. I started using Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma a few months ago, this is my second purchase. I love using C-Firma with the B-Hydra in the morning, it creates such beautiful glowing skin that I am loathe to put any make up that will cover up the glow. The kit is only $8 more than the full size C-Firma ti contains, so I figured it would be worth it to have a travel size of the B-Hydra I love, and I’ll get to try the sunblock and cleanser minis. I am really impressed with the Drunk Elephant line. I have recently started using Lala Retro as my daytime moisturizer for these colder winter months (I am normally combination, but in the winter I get a bit dry), and I love that the cream does not contain any fragrance, even “natural” or “botanical” scents, which can irritate skin, and the ingredients are housed in a way that prevents the good ingredients inside from becoming ineffective (exposure to light and air will cause many skin care ingredients to lose their effectiveness). I am super excited about the Protini Polypeptide Cream Drunk Elephant just released and will be picking this up in the coming months. The combination of peptides and growth factors will be perfect to layer over Retin A.
Also today I got a notice my Beautylish XL Lucky bag shipped this morning! I did this last year and there is something so exciting about not knowing what’s coming and hoping I’ll love it. I have a daughter and granddaughter who are into cosmetics who will gladly take anything off my hands if needed, so nothing gets wasted. It should be here by Wednesday.
A couple updates: I had purchased the Urban Decay Moon Dust Brush in November and listed it in my haul, but at that time I was undecided about whether or not I liked it. I do like it and find myself reaching for it regularly when putting on eye shadow. It works with shimmers and mattes as well, and this is what I primarily use it for. Back in November I also picked up Anastasia’s Prism and Subculture Palettes. Now that I’ve been using them for a couple months, I can say I am so glad I picked them both up. I primarily use three palettes to create most of my looks these days: Prism, Subculture, and Kat Von D’s Saint and Sinner. The quality of Saint and Sinner is just mind-blowing. The more I work with it, the more I recognize the quality.
Speaking of Saint and Sinner, Christine posted a look this week called A Bright Colorful Eye Look with UD Kaleidoscope. I created a similar look using Sacred Heart all over inner 1/2 of mobile lid, Worship in the outer 1/2 of mobile lid, Relic right in the center of the mobile lid (pop it right on top of Sacred Heart), deepen the outer V with Exorcism, and Relic for transition. I did more with the palette (the two greens in the palette under my eyes and Absolution for inner corner high light). It clearly wasn’t an exact replica of Christine’s look, but it was so very pretty, and I’ll be wearing this look in the coming week for sure.
I picked up a few things from Ulta over the past 4-6 weeks: My usual back-ups of CeraVe PM Facial Lotion (a great lotion, has many of the super skin ingredients needed for good skin, at a fraction of the cost of other moisturizers), Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter (I wear this with Yve St. Laurent’s Paris, and the mix of lemon, sage, and roses is an accidental but addictive concoction I crave right around February and March every year), MAC Liptensity in Fire Roast (a great fall lipstick), MAC Cremesheen in Creme in Your Coffee (a great nude for those of us who get washed out by nude lipsticks), NARs Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte (stunning) and Bette (I am wearing it now, love it with nude skin and no other make up for a bold winter lip), and the Tarte Pro To Go Amazonian Clay Palette (I have wanted this since it first came out for no apparent reason whatsover so I finally just bought it, I haven’t tried it yet, if I love it I’ll report back here).
I watch make up application videos and do the looks with my own products, but one of the things I really enjoy is buying the same brushes used in the tutorial. Two recent tutorials had super inexpensive brushes being used, so I picked up the Real Techniques Bold Metals 203 tapered shadow brush and the E.L.F. Beautifully Precise Blending Eye Brush. Yes, I own and love blending brushes by Tom Ford, Hakuhodo, and Wayne Goss, but it’s so much fun to use the same tools in the video and at this price, it’s all good.
I found Karima McKimmie on Youtube over the holidays and on her recommendation I purchased two concealers, Becca’s Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer and Sisley’s Paris Eye Concealer with Botanical Extracts. I have a terrible time with concealer (I’m 52 and nothing works!) and I generally am not willing to even try them anymore, but I got a wild hair so I am going to give these a whirl. I did use the Becca one time this week, and surprisingly had no trouble. I have to use something super light and natural, as anything with coverage immediately makes a mess under my eyes, as in a I-have-to-take-off-my-make-up-and-start-over kind of mess!
Weekend plans and general updates:
As some here may remember, I got a double tooth abscess over the summer that was a hellish experience and ultimately ended in my first-ever tooth extraction. This was followed by a dry socket infection, which I was told would not happen to me because it was an upper molar and very rare. Fast forward to this week, when I woke up at 3 a.m. with a pounding toothache in the spot where I have no tooth. Yesterday I saw my dentist, followed by my endodontist, and finally my oral surgeon. I have an oral andral fistula! What this means is that there is a hole from my sinus to the place where my tooth used to be. According to the endodontist, this is because the bone that shields the sinus was dissolved by the infection (abscess). Now there is an infection in the fistula. They put me on antibiotics, probiotics, nasal steroids, and decongestants and I’m scheduled for surgery to do a bone and tissue graph to close the opening on January 21, 2018. Going from a girl with no history of dental issues to this is just craziness. Who knew so much could go wrong?
We are getting ready to leave right now for an overnight in Chicago. I go to Cally’s Curls in Chicago to get my hair cut every four months. I have had horrendous cuts on my very curly hair and started going to Chicago three years ago. Last spring I decided I was being silly and let a local stylist cut my hair. Eight months later I am still struggling with the effects of that hair cut and it will take a full year for the issues created by that hair cut to be resolved. So yes, Chicago for a haircut will be part of my life plan until I am old and chop it all off, lol!
Favorite thing on a winter day: As always, a fire in the fireplace, a book in my hands, and a cat on my lap. I read two really well-written but horrible books in December (My Absolute Darling and Good Me Bad Me) so I am thrilled to have started Chemistry last night. In just a few minutes I was already in love with the writer’s style and topic. Here’s t a new year of books, and I think I’ll be avoiding books about child abuse and murder.
Thank you everyone who takes the time to read through my long post. I’ve missed you all and am excited to be part of Friday Free Haul this week!
Tammy — you have been through so much in recent months, and now further dental complications. Ugh! Good luck.
Thanks, AB, I’ve got this (I’m practicing being brave and optimistic ?)
Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry to hear about that fistula! You just can’t get a break. I’m glad to hear the new job will be starting soon. Good luck with that!
Thank you, Rachel, I am cautiously optimistic about the new job.
Good luck with that fistula; thought I was informed on the general (revolting) subject of misplaced tunnels, but no! I had dry socket upper, too. The narcotics did not touch it, but the packing actually worked. Can’t believe you have to go through MORE surgery. Luck, prayers, and attentive cats!
I have great cats, kjh, and they are especially attentive to my lap in the winter months?
You had an upper dry socket too??? Yes, pain killers do nothing! I think I have PTSD from working through 6 weeks of dental pain!
Oh my gosh, Tammy! That dental complication with getting an infected fistula is the stuff of nightmares. I am so sorry to hear that you’re having to deal with this, and its subsequent surgery, right before you begin your new job a few weeks later. Hoping and praying all goes very well!
Funny story, Nancy: I started my current position eight days after a hysterectomy. I’m not kidding, I could barely walk. When I accepted the job I didn’t know I was going to have an emergency hysterectomy. The doctor told me I absolutely could not start the job until two weeks post surgery and I told him I would absolutely be starting the job eight days later.
In comparison, I am thinking he dental surgery will be less debilitating. At least I hope it will have minimal impact on me starting my new job.
Oh you poor thing! Teeth/sinus pain is the worst! Good luck with the sugary and hope you mend quickly.
Sorry ‘surgery’ not sugary . That seems a rather mean auto typing substitution by my iPad!
I love the “sugary” comment!
I was wondering what had happened to you Tammy – I missed you from your usual lovely posts.
Re job: I hope you get a bit of break between your old job and your new one, just to give you some time to adjust to everything.
Re oral problem: you are certainly in the wars here – it just shows you how bad your abcess was last year and the infection was harrowing – no wonder you were in such pain when it was dissolving your bone. I hope the current bout of medication you are on fixes the infection up for good. You must feel that you are living at the chemist, dentist etc and spending a fortune on medication. I hope the pain of the current infection is being eliminated.
Re hairdresser: I can understand totally – I remember years ago going to a new hairdresser (my favourite and current hairdresser was interstate on a family emergency) for some tips – I came out of the salon with white hair – and it took my current hair dresser weeks to repair the damage. So yep, go to the hairdresser that suits your hair, otherwise every time you look in the mirror you will think ‘why did I go there?’ Good luck with your trip Tammy
Finally – how is that beloved little darling of a grandson doing?
Little Fox is such a cutie!
https://instagram.com/p/Bd5n4wAhWMh/
He looks like a little darling angel!
Sending healing vibes your way
Thank you, Leslie, healing vibes are needed, both emotionally and physically.
Oh Tammy, your dental/sinus issues sound horrible. I wish you a successful surgery later this month and a speedy recovery. I hope it puts an end to the dental issues you’ve been experiencing. Enjoy your time in Chicago!
If all goes well, Tracey, in about 13 weeks we will start working on the dental implant for the tooth I lost.
I have always enjoyed Chicago. It was bitterly cold last night due to 37 mph wind gusts but today the wind is not blowing so it’s much nicer.
Aaaack!!! Oh no, not again! Hoping for a successful surgery
Great haul(s)! Hope the antibiotics and other meds help. So sorry you have to do surgery though. Sending you good wishes for that. Keep us posted as to how you’re doing.
Mellan’s looking really well — bright eyed and content.
Haul — only O’Keeffe’s Working Hands hand cream. It’s doing wonders for my very dry hands.
Weekend — on travel 4 days through Tuesday, so finish unpacking, laundry, groceries and stuff like that. Otherwise, just the usual — pilates and catching up on sleep.
Winter days — I was in NH last weekend, where on Saturday 12noon it was -4 before wind chill and it was very very windy. Brutal. All we could do is stay inside and do movies, games, jigsaw puzzles, etc., which turned out pretty fun in the end.
Haul: Repurchase of the FAB scrub and I ordered The Ordinary’s Buffet to try out.
Weekend plans: Enjoying the results of the 50 injections of bupivacaine I got in my neck//shoulders/upper back on Tuesday. My pain level went from a 6 to a 3! It’s now at like a 4 1/2 which is still waaaay lower than it’s been in a few years. So just enjoying doing my regular thing without my brain shouting at me about being in pain?
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Used to be take a walk and enjoy the crisp air, now it’s curl up with a cat and my laptop and watch a movie on it or something.
I’m glad you got some pain relief!
Fantastic news Anne on the success of those injections, you must feel like a new person.
I’m glad to hear you are feeling better!
Yay, I’m happy for you!
Haul:
*Sephora — Violet Voss Hashtag Palette; Bite Multistick in Peacock Pearl, Fenty Griselda lipstick point perk, various samples. (Haven’t used any of these yet.)
*Glam Goth Beauty — Glitter in Goth Moth set, Freddy’s K_nt, and Bloodbath. They’re eyesafe and gorgeous!
*Igneous Cosmetics (etsy) — Pressed eyeshadow singles in Periwinkle Sapphire, Bixbite, African Amethyst, Pietersite, Adamite, and Prasiolite. I’ve only tried Bixbite and African Amethyst so far, but they’re stunning! Extremely impressive for vegan purples.
*Aromeleigh — Desideratum Collection (haven’t used yet).
*Macy’s (clearance) — Set of three Liquid Suede Creams in reds and browns; set of three Lip Lingeries; MAC Lipglass in Yellow Jacket. (Haven’t used yet.)
*Sigma — Beauty for Beauty Box: Deluxe sample of SigMagic Brushampoo, Mini E25 Blending Brush,
Deluxe Sample Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Mat, and Lip Vex lipgloss in Tranquil. The brush is really nice; I haven’t tried the rest yet.
*Hot Topic — Manic Panic Amplified Eyeshadow Palette; Blackheart Beauty Midnight Magic Unicorn Eye & Face Palette and the Unicorn Blood Eyeshadow Palette; Galactic Cosmic Eyeshadow Palette. (Haven’t used these yet.)
Weekend plans: Today I’m going to a homewarming party and meeting an FB makeup friend for the first time. We didn’t see The Last Jedi last weekend, so maybe this weekend? Lots of paperwork. 🙁
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day? Snuggle up with some hot cocoa and read or watch movies with my hubby.
Wow, I had no idea Manic Panic was doing palettes! How is it?
Enjoy your homewarming party Rachel – that was a great haul you have done. I hope you like everything. Still loving the Elf foundation…..
Oooo, Hot Topic for cosmetics: I never thought of that!
Oooh I’ve had the Manic Panic and Galactic palettes in my cart for a while – are they any good? I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Haul: nothing at all, I think (but will probably make up for that tomorrow! SDM Optimum bonus points redemption)
Weekend plans: much depends on the weather but I do want to get to the gym, get to Shoppers Drug Mart and maybe go with husband to see Our Darkest Hour (I think that’s the name). His brother had a heart attack last Saturday and quintuple bypass surgery on Tuesday. We might visit him very briefly this weekend if he’s up to it (so far, he is in a great deal of pain and they’re keeping him in ICU to try to stabilize his heart rate; fingers crossed that things start to get better soon).
Favourite thing to do on a winter day: Listen to the early radio reports and learn that it’s a SNOW DAY and all schools in my board are CLOSED! Then I hunker down in my jammies, have coffee or hot chocolate and watch some beloved British mini series. If it’s nice enough, I’ll bundle up and walk to the library or to a great little street in my neighbourhood with great shops, restaurants, cafes, the best health food store in the city and a small public library branch.
Mariella, I hope your brother in law comes out of heart condition well, it will be quite a journey and I hope the pain eases for him.
Your Shoppers Drug Mart seems like a great spot to go – Mecca Maxima are selling the Smashbox Smoky Cover Shot Eye palette for $41 – a lot more than what you paid for, but on the cheaper end of the scale for Aus. They are the only beauty retailers that sell Smashbox so they can set their own prices and, of course, these products are never on sale.
Mariella, I’m so sorry that your BIL had what must have been a major coronary, in order to require a quintuple. That’s going to be a long, rough recovery for him. Hopefully, all turns out well for him. ?
Genevieve and Nancy T – thank you both for your kind words and good wishes. And, yes, Genevieve, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is awesome in the deals it offers. I only wish I lived closer to a store like the one in Ottawa’s Rideau Center that carries Dior, Chanel and several other really high end brands. But I’m not complaining too loudly! I got the Smashbox Smoky palette for next to nothing since as a “Senior”, I get 20% off on Thursdays on items that aren’t on sale (and as in Australia, here high end makeup and skin care doesn’t go on sale either) and then I paid most of the balance with my points, which is pretty hard to beat!
Hoping your BIL has a successful recovery!
Oh no, sorry to hear about your BIL-hope he gets better soon
Mariella, so sorry to hear about your brother in law! My dad had a heart attack 6 years ago last Friday that required a quintuple bypass and a valve replacement. Recovery is a long process, but I hope it goes as well as possible. Sending good vibes to you and your family!
Haul: thought it was zero, but had a Hautelook pkg with two boxes of Soo Ae sheet masks. Good buy. No color cos, though. Nothing is appealing to me at present. Good thing, considering my day job continued an extra 200$ per pay period fed deduction, though I requested 2017 only. Who wants an extra 5K on loan to the feds? Oy. Took care of that one and was not in the least surprised. Day job screws up stuff more than dollar tree! W/e: SSDW. Patti tried to run in the other room. Suddenly got the idea she was more mobile than she thought! We’ll get there. Winter day, well not that able right now, but do like getting out in the woods. Used to be a downhill and cross country skier. 25 below in the Laurentians. Ooh, and skiijoring behind Petrouschka, my beloved malamute. Dachshunds, especially injured ones, aren’t great on the pull… Now, retired with 2 jobs, little ability or desire to do much. Yeah, that can happen.
He is such a cutie!
Haul – just a tub of Cetaphill Moisture cream – really good for moisturising my legs and arms in summer.
Weekend plans: Heading into Mecca Maxima on Saturday to check out the Smashbox Smoky Covershot Eye palette. I was shopping with my girlfriends last week at one of my favourite shops and tried on a top in an aubergine shade, a colour which I had not really considered for myself and my friends thought it was so flattering on me that I bought it. But I don’t have an eyeshadow in that shade (hunted through my stash) but when I looked up this shade I thought of Mariella loving the palette and this shade is beautiful from Smashbox. Plus all the other shades in the palette were gorgeous too. So I might indulge, depending on the swatch.
Sunday – no plans as yet apart from housework.
Favourite thing to do on a Winter’s Day – either snuggling down with a good book or going out for a drive and a walk (preferably with a lunch involved) up in the mountains nearby.
I hope everyone here is still staying safe and warm and we have been hearing about the devastating mudslides from Southern Californa and hope that you and your loved ones are OK. The US has certainly experienced many weather calamaties in the past few months.
Genevieve, that Smoky palette is really nice. I only wish there’d been a lighter “highlight” shade in it but that’s a minor quibble. Hell Ya, Rock Me and Slayer are such great, basic shades and the 2 hits of colour (the green and burgundy-ish shades) are really nice and make it an interesting colour grouping. It’s a great one for travel – small and compact but jam packed with shades you can use every day.
The more I look at that palette, the more I love it. When I looked at other quads or palettes that have the aubergine shade, they are full of other pinks and colours that I would not use at all. Whereas this one, I could safely say I would use all the other shades. Thanks Mariella for your insight into how the palette works for you.
Same here, Genevieve – Modern Renaissance and all its imitators are complete wash-outs for me but the plummy shade in Smoky is really very wearable and beautiful and the other colours are so good (well, the black one isn’t all that wonderful, maybe in part because I have so many black shadows and rarely use them, but it’s still okay).
I never use the blacks either – far too harsh on me and I do love the autumn shades of the rest of the palette. I have decided I am going to get the top first and wear it when I am shopping for the eye colour.
I bet aubergine is gorgeous on you! Ah – agree on the good book or lovely drive.
Thanks Michele – it’s a new colour for me. And nothing beats a good book or a lovely drive through the mountains.
Haul: Nothing!
Weekend plans: Go through the makeup collection and finally try to get my room clean.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: I’m a total indoor kid, so it’s pretty much the same as all year. Listen to music, eat, play tabletop games, watch something, read something, cook, put on makeup, kick it with my partner or friends, etc.
Haul:
IT Cosmetics CC Cream
NYX I Love You Mochi Palette in Electric Pastels
Loreal Infallible Metallic Matte Liquid Lip in Brick Metal
Loreal Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Sparkling Rose
UD Vice Liquid Lip in Amulet
Weekend Plans: laundry. So fun right?
Winter Activity: Sitting in a coffee shop drinking lattes trying to stay warm!
Oh Mellan – those eyes are gorgeous!
Haul – A Clarins lip oil in raspberry I think. It smells strongly of cough medicine at first, the applicator feels lovely to use (like a cushion!). It’s is very comfortable to wear. I haven’t noticed any change in my lips. I love lip balms and wear them most of the time so my lips are usually in pretty good condition any way.
Mario Badescu Glycolic acid toner – only been using it a week so too earlier to see any change. This is my first use of any acid skin care so will be very interested to see what the result is. I’ve heard such great things about the Ordinary (who ship internationally – woohoo!) I have my fingers crossed for a great improvements so I can have a reason haul from them!
Weekend plans – read, crochet and enjoy the cool rainy, weather! I live in South Island of New Zealand and we had a really hot for us early summer – 30’C days, which we are just not used to and it dried everything out. We had our worst forest fires here last February so everyone rather worries when the weather gets hot and dry now.
Favourite thing to do on a winters day – go for long walks and curl up in bed with a good book!
Haul: The Macy’s mascara sampler that I ordered last week… and my Ben Solo Christmas sweater arrived! 🙂
Weekend plans: nothing, woo!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day? Hide under blankets while dreading summer haha.
Haul: From Sephora: Replenished The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide serums. I got a mini Beauty Blender cleanser for travel and Jack Black Turbo Wash (in an effort to upgrade my husband’s routine) as 100 point perks.
Weekend plans. My cat had a seizure a few hours ago and we are just back from the emergency vet. He is spending the night under observation. Hopefully I spend tomorrow bringing him home. Sunday we have a brunch to welcome a new baby.
My favorite thing to do on a winter day? Getting on a plane to someplace warm and sunny.
This is a collective haul from the last month!!!
RCMA no colour powder, my second canister of it!!
Marcelle’s Loose face powder
The ordinary’s Serum and Coverage Foundations
The ordinary’s High adherence silicone primer
Pixie makeup fixing mist
Farmacy Citrus and lemongrass lip bloom
Fenty gloss bomb + Hustla baby highlighter duo
Tarte tartelette in bloom eye shadow palette
Maybellne better skin concealer
Colourpop golden state of mind eye shadow palette!
Weekend plans: My grandmother moved out of the house she’s lived in for the past 62 years, into a apartment this past wednesday, so I’m going down to go help her un pack!!! and just help her out!!
favorite thing to do on a winter day: Stay inside, with hot tea haha!! I’m in a nothern part of Canada/ontario. and it’s snow 8 months of the year. so i get very sick of winter!
OMG, Shannon, I’m in the southern part of Ontario (affectionately known as The Banana Belt) and winters here can be brutal too and this one has been particularly cold, colder, colder still and all the snow…. I know what you mean about getting sick of winter. I was sick of it even BEFORE Christmas this year (usually, I’m fine til after Xmas and then I’m “done” with it and ready for spring but this year, I was done with Winter by mid-December)
Gosh Mariella!! It’s SO DANG COLD.
I’m in between southern and northern Ontario, an hour and a half north of Toronto! And it hit -31 on Christmas day here!!
I was so DISGUSTED ahahah. It was too cold and snowy!! I get so SO sick of all the snow and ice in the great white North some times!
Orillia? Oro-Medonte? Or further north than that (when you first mentioned being in the northern part of Ontario, I had visions of Thunder Bay or “the Soo”.
Haul — took advantage of the Sephora skincare 2x points for most of these:
Dr Jart – Ceramidin products.
L’Occitane – shea butter hand cream (silver and blue tube) – repurchase.
MAC Velvet Teddy – fragrance.
3 Bobbi Brown masks – have been wanting to try these.
Clinique Smart Serum.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – repurchase.
Aerin – rose lip balm – trial size.
Forgot to mention:
3 L’Oréal Glotions in Fair, Light, Medium.
WnW summer palette in Sand-Gria-Castles. This “palette” compact has just 1 color-swirl in it.
Anastasia Sugar Glow Kit.
Haul: Returned Chanel Neapolis lip balm/powder in Rose Tempura (a poor performer on me) and exchanged it for LE Rouge Allure lipstick in Incantevole 184. Much, much better!
Weekend Plans: Unpack, stay warm, and research coffee makers as mine is on the fritz.
Fave Thing To Do On A Winter Day: Go to a coffee shop, visit with a friend, play board games, watch the snow fall. We used to ski but haven’t done that in a few years.
Haul: I went on a quick trip to Walgreens this week and picked up the new Maybelline Super Stay foundation (I accidentally bought the wrong shade online at Ulta, so I had to return it and of course they didn’t have it in store yet!). Then, while I was there, I also found the new Garnier hair mask collection and picked up on of those!
Weekend plans: No plans! My husband is currently playing video games with his brother, while I’m catching up on blogs and youtube! We’ve got a brisket smoking, so it’ll be a nice day in!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a winter day?: Love to stay in and stay warm!