Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #599
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: Dior bronzers and two eyeshadow palettes
- Weekend plans: Enjoy the outside before it becomes unbearably hot! See my parents now that they’re moved in to their house.
- When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: I think we’d try to explore local first, so maybe the Grand Canyon or Sedona.
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This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
Here are some photos of Winston at nine weeks! 🙂
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I hide my face in shame. Two foundations. Fenty’s new powder foundation (it’s brilliant, and I love it very much) and I repurchased my La Mer Soft Fluid. Which…I mean, I had the Beautylish gift card, it wasn’t full price, but still!
Weekend plans: Oh, errands. Hiking with my husband on Sunday. We’re both starting to become more active to shed that extra lockdown weight.
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: I…am going to sound so weird for admitting this with my face in my icon, but I actually don’t like travel. Too many unknowns, and it actually makes me anxious and upset. I’m always worrying about the house, the cats, the things that could go wrong. It makes travel dreadful.
But if I were normal, I’d say England. I would visit all the places where classic rock history was made.
I feel the same you about travel and the lockdown made it worse. 😅 Even before, I preferred 2-3 days roadtrip or city breaks; even when I lived in Europe and did a lot of trips, I always stuck to 3-4 days trips, so I can get fast to my home, habits and cats.
But I need to at least travel to visit my family.
Winston is absolutely delightful. I am more of a cat person, and my daughter has a cat, but my son (I have teenage twins) wants a dog and Winston is making me feel more inclined to adopt one!
Recent discovery: Right now I’m focused on skincare, more than makeup. I’m the kind of person who researches things to the point where I read medical publications and watch presentations made by doctors to doctors, and the same goes for skincare. I became interested in Tanamu Oil, and I finally purchased some. It is not something to apply during the day, unless you don’t mind smelling like Mirepoix. I’m trying to decide if I can tolerate smelling it as I drift off to sleep either!
Weekend plans: My daughter and I were hoping to work on getting her bedroom organized and creating a more spacious and fun area for her to do her makeup. She has more makeup than I do, mostly colorful palettes and stuff because she does cosplay and creative TikTok videos, and it’s just stacked haphazardly on a small desk and other surfaces in her room. I wish I could afford to get her a setup like Christine’s, but I think we can be creative and come up with something. She’s a really good kid, and dealing with a lot, including depression and social anxiety, and I’ve seen her lose interest in things that used to make her happy, like makeup. I’d like to create an environment for her that is calming and not chaotic. (I’ve seen other moms on here write about their kids having mental health crisis, and I truly understand your pain. It is heartbreaking to see one’s child suffering emotionally and psychologically, because mommy can’t “fix” it, if you know what I mean).
Travel: When it’s safe to travel, our first trip will be to Southern Maine, a stay near our favorite little beach. Last summer was the first summer I didn’t bring my kids to Maine.
Your comment made me so emotional in many ways. It reminded me a lot of my mother and her struggles to create the best environment for me as someone dealing with depression and anxiety. She did her best, although I didn’t even had my own room (and more than a drawer space for my makeup). But be sure that your support, in any way, helps. Sometimes moms can fix things with only a hug or a phone call; even if the child seems bothered at first. 🙂
That pup seriously wants his belly rubbed!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I ordered a replacement for my Timeless CoQ-10 serum. No new makeup but I rediscovered the Flesh stick foundation that I bought on sale while Ulta was getting rid of its stock. It is maybe the best stick foundation I have tried but it takes so much work to make stick foundations look good on my textured skin, what with all the buffing and blending needed, so I am decluttering it. Liquids are so much easier for me to get right.
Weekend plans: It’s our anniversary so I am going to look for a nice place for brunch or early dinner. We are at 50% capacity for indoor dining now although the weekend is forecast to be nice enough for outdoors.
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: I am seriously contemplating a trip in the fall to Santa Fe, NM and maybe Phoenix/Tucson, where I have family. I read that the EU is planning to allow vaccinated Americans to visit but I think it would be a year before I’d be willing to try to resurrect the trip to Rome we had planned for spring 2020.
Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary Lesley, I hope you were able to enjoy a lovely dinner out.
Winston is too adorable!
Purchases/Rediscoveries: My Sephora order arrived. Dior Capture Youth eye treatment, YSL kohl eye pencil in Noir Ardent, and a cute little mini set of YSL Rouge Volupte Shine, along with a bag. Can probably use the little bag to store something in my handbag. My new duvet cover and shams (Leaflet Hotel Collection from the Bay – light gold] also arrived. My current duvet cover has been turning in to a Frankenquilt with various attempts to stitch it up in spots. It had a good 11 year run. Not easy to find a set to work with my current linens plus all the cushions and stuff that went with the old set. I will be checking out my Dior summer palette to see if It has any similarity to the current ones.
Weekend Plans: usual errands. Almost time for the first mow of the season. New ep of 90 Day Fiancé.
Travel Plans: No idea, but would love a trip to Paris or London.
Winston warms my bold bitter heart today!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: My first shadows from Dandy Lion Cosmetics and I quite like the mattes I’ve tried so far! Lots of pick up in the pan so a gentle hand is necessary, but they are performing well with regards to pigmentation, blending and staying power (over primer).
Weekend plans: My mom is making bouillabaisse and my brother is coming over!
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: I want to go see my family in The Netherlands.
Recent Purchases: Just a few more singles from TerraMoons Cosmetics.
Rediscoveries: Natasha Denona Mini Bloom Highlighting Blush and Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Kitten.
Weekend plans: Hopefully getting outside and also enjoying my new floors that were installed this week!
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: Literally anywhere.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Nothing new.
Weekend plans: Again, nothing special. Cleaning around the house, groceries, cooking, reading. Slightly more calls to family and friends back in Europe since this weekend is the Orthodox Easter. A long hike, most likely some open fields until it gets too hot and I have to retire in the redwoods.
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: Well, I think it has been kind of safe to travel for a while enough for me to go on a roadtrip, but I keep postponing it. I want my first getaway to be a week spent traveling to Yosemite, Lake Mammoth and maybe even Death Valley.
But the thing I wait the most is being able to travel to visit my family in Romania, with a layover at my brother in England. Between limited flights, coordinating flights and other means of transportation (my family leaves quite far in the country, a half day train or bus from the airport), local guidelines and quarantines, just planning the whole trip is hard. Not talking that there’s no line of sight to get my grandparents vaccinated, since they live in a small village and they have mobility issues. Even so, they’ll have their European vaccine and I’ll have the US one, and at this point I have my concerns about cross-country efficiency (for example I get the flu shot in US, never get a cold in here, but each time I visit Europe I return with a cold or flu).
Winston is such a wiggly, cuddly looking cutie!
Purchases/rediscoveries: Nope in both categories. I’ve just been a sad sack of potatoes lately. Not feeling inspired in the least. Wish I could shake this.
Weekend Plans: Food shopping tonight, Zoom meeting tomorrow morning, maybe go for a swim in the afternoon, IDK. I just miss my daughter and her baby Elijah so much that my heart aches constantly. And yet, I also realize that this very far move away is what’s the best for them both. And so I just hope and pray that everything works out as wonderful as possible for them all.
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go? Either to Ohio to visit family or to the ocean. I’d really want to do BOTH! These are the places that are pulling on my heart 100%.
RECENT PURCHASES: My Shroud Cosmetics x Beautbean It’s Freaking Bats Palette finally arrived. It was worth the wait. Flawless Cosmetics Aurora Palette, and Joe Malone London colognes in Blackberry and Bay; English Pear and Freesia; and Lime, Basil and Mandarin.
WEEKEND PLANS: I feel like I need to get outdoors, but I’m not sure where I’ll go yet. I feel like I need a change of scenery.
WHEN YOU FEEL IT’S SAFE TO TRAVEL, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?: We’re
hoping to take a family trip to explore more of Eastern Oregon, and perhaps Crater Lake come summer. My husband and I tentively have a trip to Oahu planned in mid-September for our 30th anniversary, so I’m hoping that will work out.
Recent purchases: Nothing (once again, I’d planned to go to Shoppers yesterday to purchase some Clarins items and a few boring household needs but it was pouring down rain when I left school so I decided to head home instead). Rediscoveries: NARS Voyageur Suede palette (used it for the past 2 days and love it) and MAC Party Line Creme Sheen lipstick (I finally “located” it in my kitchen drawer and have been using it even though I’ve been masked all week).
Weekend plans: making a new soup recipe tomorrow (Wisconsin Potato Cheese Soup) and a new chicken recipe on Sunday. Getting ready for the week ahead. Even though schools in my province are closed, Special Needs students are still in school/face to face and I was asked to come in to be additional support for two Autism Spectrum Disorder classrooms. Today was day 7 of what looks to be an ongoing “gig” until June and it has been a real delight. I know many of these students from past years and a few are new but it’s interesting, challenging but also heart-warming.
Where would I travel if/when it’s safe? My husband and I had planned on going to Denmark for our 40th anniversary in 2020 but that didn’t happen. Won’t be happening this year either. We’re hoping for next year (and might also extend and visit Norway and even maybe fit in a few days in Paris). After that – New Zealand. What a fascinating country.
I should have added that once our total provincial lockdown is over and things really are safe(safer) and numbers drop significantly, I want to go back to Ottawa – Canada’s capital city – a mere 4.5 hour drive from my front door. I absolutely love that city for a short getaway (and they have the BEST Shoppers Drug Mart, with the full line of Chanel and Dior cosmetics but that’s just one of several big draws for me). I’m hoping by autumn and my birthday, we’ll be able to drive there for a 3 day getaway.
Winston is precious. He looks so soft!
Recent Purchases: I bought three different perfume sample sets last week. I haven’t made a bunch of makeup purchases in the past months, but a combination of sales and perfume-gifts-with-purchase pushed me over the edge. I prefer the samples to big bottles–stores near me do not have a wide variety of tester bottles, so it is difficult to try-before-I-buy. But if I don’t like one sample in a box of six, I can pass it on to a friend without feeling I wasted the money.
Weekend Plans: Laundry. House cleaning. Mourning a lack of new Marvel Universe content.
Winston is so very cute! Have your parents met him yet?
Purchases: Ordered some hand lotion and fragrances from Little & Grim. I also bought some body lotion at Trader Joe’s. Clearly I have moisturizing on my mind!
Rediscovery: I found my Brooklyn Ellis Chronicle set of perfume samples and I’ve been enjoying playing with those.
Weekend plans: Tomorrow is my birthday! Chris is going to make a nice breakfast and we are going to get takeout for dinner. Our town is doing a “Locavore” event where a lot of the businesses are offering discounts or gifts with purchase and if you post pics of your visit on social media, you get entered to win a nice gift basket of local goods. I was already planning to keep it local for my b-day so this is a nice bonus 🙂
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go? I’m not really sure. Probably a weekend down in Portland to get used to travel again. It’s going to be hard for Chris and I to travel together because of Daisy’s medical needs, so we’ll mostly take turns traveling solo, or have people come to visit us.
They have! Thankfully, my parents were fully vaccinated prior to arriving, and hubby and I received our second shots the day before they arrived (we have been observing strict protocols before and after!).
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday and I hope you have a beautiful day.
Winston is the cutest boy 💕 I love his personalized blanket ..
I bought “Super Goop “ SPF 40 sunscreen and love the invisible feel and texture of it .
Where would I like to travel when it’s safe ? We actually had tickets for the South end of Maui (Kaanapali) Feb 2020 around Valentines Day and my husband felt the Pandemic was heating up too much ( Good call) so we cancelled and intend to return when it’s safe.
I also love San Diego in the fall it’s such a great place to visit and the weather is amazing .
Week end Plans ? We’re on an essential travel only restriction until the end of May so we will probably just go hiking if the weather holds out .
Aw Winston – you are one cutie little bundle of love! So happy for you Christine that you can easily go and see your parents. I hope they are settling into their house really well and they must enjoy being so close to you too.
Recent Purchases: Priceline (our budget beauty store) had one of their skincare bags up for grabs this week – purchase $65 worth of skincare products (all on sale at half price) and get the bag for free. So I indulged.
Rediscoveries: A Lancome quint that I purchased quite some time ago and never really used – Sparkling Intoxication. It has a lovely assortment of teals and gold and I have used it a couple of times this week.
Weekend Plans: We are doing another hard rubbish this weekend – mainly for my son’s family as they still have a lot of junk to get rid of and some more of ours. The hard part is getting my husband to go through his beloved garage…..seriously I am sure he has a mammoth amount of stuff that he is not willing to part with but should.
Travelling: Short term we would like to go up to Echuca on the Murray river for a short stay and it is safe for us to travel within our state (at the moment) and we will probably do that in winter because it is beautiful up there at that time of year.
Long term, we would love to go visit my husband’s family in northern Italy (near to Venice) and see them. I met them several years ago when we last visited and they are really lovely people.
Firstly, thanks for Winston pictures! I will never get sick of puppy/dog/cat/animal pictures. I have most recently bought (bougie) hair styling creams during the Sephora sale. Also got some great nail polishes from Live Love Polish (one of them is magnetic and looks like the galaxy, according to my daughter). For make-up, I bought a Tower 28 cream blush and the Kosas clean mascara (finally a mascara that my puny Asian lashes seem to like!). Am waiting to buy the PML blushes 😁 and maybe the Kaleidos Flower Punk storage box thing.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: No new purchases, but I rediscovered my Colourpop x Animal Crossing Just a Tints
Weekend plans: I’m helping my sister host another Instagram Live tonight. I’m also trying to watch the whole first season of Demon Slayer because my sister wants to see the movie and was going to see it with friends but they all ended up seeing it without her. She would see it by herself but all the showings in our city start after 8:30PM and my mom doesn’t want her out that late by herself
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: My friends and I are tentatively planning a trip to Disney World at some point. We were all supposed to go together on the Disney College Program in August but there’s still no word on if that will ever come back and we’ve long since aged out of the program anyway. Our main goal would be to see the Star Wars land and catch all the rides we missed during our first trip in 2019
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: My second Sephora sale order-Dior Poison blush, NARS Audrey Audacious lipstick, and a new tube of Fenty Pro Filt’r 110 concealer-arrived on time last Saturday. Tonight my local Kroger (our main grocery store-we supplement as needed with purchases from other stores) had a tube of my favorite tinted lip balm, ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture+Tint Merlot, in the clearance bin-from $5 down to $1.50-so I grabbed it!
Weekend plans: Worked all day yesterday, made the weekly grocery run tonight, not sure about tomorrow.
When you feel it’s safe to travel, where would you like to go?: My family doesn’t travel very often, because for some reason we always fight really badly when we’re on vacation! However, I loved it when we spent a few days in Chicago when I was a kid, and I’d love to go back sometime. I’d also like to take another day trip or weekend trip to Cincinnati (my nearest large city), especially if a band I like plays Great American Ball Park-one time we vacationed there, stayed in a hotel across the river in Kentucky, and got to hear most of a Paul McCartney concert with amazing sound from the riverbank behind our hotel!
No makeup purchases ( holding out for your palettes) 🙌🏽
Finishing a thesis this weekend 🙏🏽🥺🥱
Definitely want to go to the United States and see my family 🛫 🇺🇸
Haul/Rediscoveries: A few purchases are waiting to be shipped, so will report when they arrive. Rediscovered Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Lilac – it’s such a pretty pinky shade; and Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Medium.
Weekend Plans: Spring cleaning! Washing and storing the last bits of winter clothing (hats, mitts, scarves, cardigans, etc.). Washing windows and putting the BBQ to good use before the rain rolls in next week.
When it’s safe to travel, where will I go? I will be making a b-line home to Winnipeg, MB to visit my mom and mother-in-law, see my friends, and visit our favourite places. My mom had a serious health issue come up during the pandemic and a family member was able to relocate to be with her. It has resolved but not being there for her was crushing.
P.S. Winston is so cute and so spoiled! Loving the photos, Christine!