Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #614
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: Natasha Denona fall collection, new Gucci sheer lipsticks, Clinique Red Pop lipsticks, Tom Ford quads
- Weekend plans: I wish had exciting plans to share, but it’s the same ol’ same ol’ — hang out at a home with hubby and Winnie, blog, maybe see my parents!
- What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: It’s really just stay inside where it’s air-conditioned, lol! Otherwise, drink lots of cooler beverages (like iced water).
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!
This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
What a cutie!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: No purchases, but rediscovered MAC Sweet Enough blush, which I used to love, but I haven’t been wearing cheek products because my face has been hidden under a mask for so long.
Weekend plans: Working on my music, getting back to reading “Life,” which I put down when I was binge-watching “Killing Eve,” a few boring household chores, and taking a pizza break from my diet.
What’s your favorite way to stay cool? Air conditioning.
Purchases – nothing at all but a friend who came to stay brought me 2 products from City Beauty (a company unknown to me but I think they use it where she goes for facials) – a gel moisturizer that claims to cancel out the blue light from computers (snake oil, IMO, and I know there are a few other companies that make similar claims…snake oil) and a sleeping mask (which, truthfully, I don’t like nearly as much as my YTTP sleeping mask, though I’ve only used this City Beauty one once). It was very generous of her and I know she has issues about her skin (she is so painfully thin and it shows on the skin on her whole body, not just her face; she actually looks a lot like my 95 year old mother in law in her last year of life). So I appreciate it – she’s always very kind and generous – but I do wish that she’d realize that if she put on 20 pounds, it would do more for her looks than the weekly facials and large sums she spends on skin care… Rediscoveries….a very old TooFaced palette – Enchanted Glamourland! I was looking for a satiny ivory shadow and knew there was just what I was looking for in that palette.
Weekend plans: gym tomorrow, maybe a sorely needed pedicure, maybe some sewing but mostly staying indoor to avoid the extreme heat and humidity (and thunderstorms thrown in to make it the “complete experience” of weather conditions I hate)
Favourite way to stay cool: stay indoors, put some wet face clothes in the freezer and take then out as needed to drape over the back of my neck (I remember doing this back when we had a car without air conditioning and I was pregnant); drinking lots of water.
The freezed towels were a trick often used when I lived in Europe (rarely houses had air conditioning). Some people even freezed / cooler sheets and put them in windows. People get very inventive when needed.
That and having those electric fans blast into freezed water. But that was also the 90s… nowadays I think you can actually buy fans with ice packs embedded in.
Recent Purchases: The Colourpop x Hello Kitty summer eyeshadow palettes; CP had a BOGO sale on them, and I think they’re adorable, so, SCORE!
Rediscoveries: I went through and switched out some of my blushes and highlighters, so I’ve been using those this week which has been really nice.
Weekend plans: We get a new garage door tomorrow, and I will also clean out/organize the garage.
What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: Pre-covid, it was going to the movie theater. Now, it’s staying indoors or going to my neighborhood pool and drinking a ton of ice water.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Nothing new.
Weekend plans: A hike on Saturday, a museum visit on Sunday. The usual chores, groceries, cooking. I’ll also need to make more time for phone calls; in my home country 15 August is considered one of my name days (for Maria), and more people than usual want to send me their best wishes.
What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: Going into a forest or in the mountains. 😁
But because I can’t take a day off everyday, it’s mainly open windows. I don’t like going to the pool or drink cold drinks (room temperature is better for the body, even in a heat wave). I hate feeling the air conditioning on, so usually I go outside for some tasks or a walk, leave the air conditioning on and close it when I return home. If I really need, sometimes a hand fan is enough for me. I’m kind of used to just dealing with the heat, cool off once the evening comes.
That might be the cutest dog video ever. What an evil door bumper! Good thing we have a lab to make short work of it. And don’t forget to get in a few kill-the-rats with the rope toy. He’s winning me over. I always thought Mellan was the cutest dog ever. I did a little skincare damage at the Dermstore sale, most notably the Colorescience concealer. Rediscoveries: I was checking out my pastel traincase (troll if you will.). There’s an old Dior quaint in there that is soft wash, not pastel, and it’s so suitable for an oldbie. In fine shape. My ancient Georgia blush would be suitable for project pan. Shamed myself in realization that I used to finish things. Will not replace. As most people have observed, the new Benefits have been tweaked, IMO not for the better. No definite plans. I want to see Respect. Jennifer Hudson is so honored to be chosen to play Aretha. Bet she Oscars. Stay cool? Not in the car, bec the A/C is crapping out. I can’t believe I only got car AC during menopause. Maybe the ocean, but my close beach is large and public. Not the safest place to go in this era. A neighbor gave me an old A/C that works fine, so upstairs is now alright. Never had a home one until I got a note that one of my dogs cried when I wasn’t home. I miss those 4.
Recent Purchases:
Elf blush duos in Spiced Apple and Lychee,
Mac lipstick in Chili,
NYX Filler Instinct lipsticks in Juicy Pout and Besos,
Colourpop Hello Kitty eyeshadow Pineapple Cake palette,
Jaclyn Hill Blush Palette in Rouge Romance,
BH Cosmetics Pistachio Eyeshadow Palette
Weekend Plans: just some paperwork I’ve been putting off and some reading.
OMG! Scunci used to play with those door thingies, too! Aww, how I have missed that sound.
Purchases/rediscoveries: Nothing but a cotton blanket. It was supposed to be dusty lavender, but it arrived today and it’s periwinkle? I feel kinda salty and letdown over this kerfuffle!
Weekend Plans: This is difficult to write. My son, who used to be so kindhearted, loyal and helpful has turned to QAnon and no longer has anything to do with me. This Sunday he turns 35. A bit of a milestone age, I suppose. Instead of feeling all the warm, tender feelings I had the other 34 years, this weekend, I need to stay distracted. Otherwise, all the sour, bitter hurt I’m feeling will overwhelm me. Last night, I cried myself to sleep when I realized that it was the same night labor began. I’m sorry for being a “Debbie Downer”, but man, I’m hurting deep inside. I’m grieving.
Favorite way to cool off? AIR CONDITIONER! Oh, and a pool that actually has cool water in it instead of feeling like bathwater, lol. Another favorite has to be drinking an iced Slurpee or a ice cold beer.
Dear Nancy,
I’ve not looked at Temptalia for some time but I did today and saw your post. I always enjoyed your contributions.
I’m so sorry your son has turned to QAnon. I feel sharing this is brave and may lead you to others that can offer you support at this time. Cults ensnare all types of victims. They do seem to wax and wane, like Scientology. As the mother of one child, a now-adult son, I have an inkling how difficult this is for you.
Please feel free to reach out to me, if that’s easy to do thru Temptalia. I’m here to just listen.
Sincerely,
Lucinda
I’m sorry. I’ve had some heartbreaking family situations. I will hope yours turns out better and relatively quickly. I don’t know if the resolve fast.
Oh Nancy my heart breaks for you! How on earth has your son turned to QAnon? It is beyond reason how an intelligent man can be sucked into this. No wonder you are beside yourself. I wish you every distraction in the world for this weekend.
Best wishes, Genevieve.
I’m so sorry to hear about your son. I hope he will realize soon that he has a mother who loves him ant that that is the truth and what is important.
I have a son and can understand, at least almost, how hard this must be.
Sending as much positivity as I can, and I hope your son, and everyone else will see thorugh this idiocy.
Take care! <3
Nancy, I am so sorry that your son has gotten sucked into that cult of hatred and misinformation. I hope that someday he can find his way out of it and back to his loving family. You are in my thoughts.
Hello Nancy: How incredibly difficult and equally brave for you to have shared this. This website provides interesting commentary for (what I suspect to be) a large legion of followers that, more than anything, love to read reviews and posts, despite the fact that most of us rarely post anything ourselves. In fact, at times, if anything, people like myself look to see the commentary from regular posters such as yourself and others just as much as Christine’s. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I anticipate you are likely in the thoughts and prayers of many other readers, as well.
I am so floored by the outpouring of support and love during this incredibly difficult time. When my son was born alive and seemingly healthy, I knew a joy that was unparalleled in my life. And a love that I knew could never die. Never imagined we’d be torn apart by a very dangerous, insidious cult of pure evil and hate. There are so many like me. Parents, spouses, children, friends in this same unfortunate, heartbroken group. If you are acquainted with or friends with any, please comfort them as you have me. They are feeling a grief for the still living. There is no closure in that particular situation. Thank you. Love you.
I’m so sorry, Nancy. I don’t have any personal experience with this, but from what I’ve read about people who have, I think the best advice I can give you would be to (if and when you feel able to) keep your end of the lines of communication open, even though he’s closed his end and stopped speaking to you-if he ends up figuring out how wrong and dangerous QAnon is and abandoning it, he’ll lose a lot of friends instantly and he’ll need your love and support more than ever.
Nikki, that’s exactly what I intend to do. Even though right now my heart is crushed and in pieces on the floor, I still love my son more than he knows. Just want him back the way he was before, but I know that isn’t entirely possible. Because once the veil is lifted off QAnon, he will most likely feel dupes and feel the fool. Yes, he will need much comforting, support and re-acceptence. It will be a long, hard road back to reality.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I found the L’Oreal True Match tinted hyaluronic serum thingie on sale at Target and I picked it up. I’m on a low buy right now and doing pretty well so far!
Weekend plans: Unpacking some books tonight, haircut tomorrow. I think that is it. Oh! My husband is making tikka masala tomorrow, so I am stoked for that.
What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: I need AC, and probably a fan too.
Ha ha, those doorstopper springs are just irresistible! I used to have a cat who loved them.
Purchases: My order from The Lip Bar arrived this week. Bawse Lady and Drama Queen liquid lipsticks for me, and Rebel for my partner (we’re trying to find a good “goth lip” for them).
Weekend plans: *sigh* we’re in another heatwave, so mostly just sitting around wishing it wasn’t hot and smoky. Probably get some takeout tomorrow, maybe eat it in the car with the A/C on. Maybe pop over to the nursery, I need a new pot for one of my snake plants.
What’s my favorite way to stay cool: I mean funny you should ask what with the aforementioned heatwave. At home, I like to wear my lightest-weight cotton caftan and sprawl in front of the oscillating fan with a cold beverage in hand. Once it gets too hot for even that, I might pop in the car and take a little drive with the A/C on. Our last heatwave was before our dog passed away and she was VERY confused as to why we put her in the car without going to the vet or the pet store. Like what even was the point?
Poor Winston, trying hard (and scratching your wall in the process) to get the toy. What a gorgeous puppy he is!
Recent Purchases: Nada – still waiting for my skincare items to arrive.
Rediscoveries: Pixi Beauty Reflex Light palette and Lorac Noir.
Weekend Plans: Well we are still in lockdown 6.0 and it has been extended for another week due to the Delta variant of Covid. The weather is beautiful and we can only travel 5 km from home, so all the parks in the area are well and truly busy with kids.
The children and their mum were at a local park last Tuesday when Olivia fell off a slide and badly broke her left arm, between her elbow and shoulder. It was a clean break, but the lower bone had twisted and she required an emergency operation with two pins to fix it. She was in a lot of pain, but is now home from hospital and the painkillers are doing their job. Anika, her mum, was beside herself with worry, as were we all. So it’s back to slings, cutting off the sleeves of loose long sleeved T shirts etc at the moment.
Otherwise we are all good. Harry is getting very adventurous walking around the furniture and crawling around the house, getting into everything.
Staying cool: Like you Christine, I find the best way to stay cool is staying close to the air con, or in times gone by, going to the local swimming pool.
Poor Olivia! I hope she heals well.
I also hope the lockdown is effective and able to end soon. Delta is running rampant in Washington State and ICUs are filling up again, and the most that has happened is my county has reinstated indoor masking. Once again it’s up to individual businesses to decide whether to close, require proof of vaccination, etc.
Thank you AJ – Olivia is a resilient person and is coping pretty well with her arm in a sling at the moment. At least it is her left arm and she uses her right to write with.
We are ramping up the vaccination rates, especially for younger people, because that is who the virus is targeting. Our state govt. (Victoria) is really, really strict – it’s everyone or no-one and there is no choice regarding closure, mask wearing, visitors to the home etc. NSW tried to isolate local govt, areas and parts of the Sydney city, but it hasn’t worked and now the virus is rampant across the state and infecting everywhere else. Honestly, it just never ends doesn’t it?
Oh Genevieve, your poor granddaughter! I am so sorry that she was hurt so badly while just doing a regular childhood thing. And her Mom, too, must be fairly traumatized as well. I’ll be praying for a speedy healing of Olivia’s arm.
Thank you Nancy and it was just a childhood thing running up the slide and falling off. It is something she has done a million times. It was just the way she landed. And you are quite right about Anika – this is the third break this year – Olivia fell off her horse at her other grandparents place earlier on this year, then Lachlan fell over a couple of months later (tripped over in a playground) and now this.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I purchased the Colourpop Disney Princess Super Shock vault, and at the same time I’ve been rediscovering some of my older Super Shocks, specifically the shade “All In”, a perfect sparkling burgundy for fall
Weekend plans: Not much, just doing some shopping with my sister to help her get ready for moving into her college dorm
What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: I’m spending another summer in the Bay Area, so summers are not hot here relative to the rest of the northern hemisphere, although they have been warmer over the past few years. So keeping cool has not really been a concern these past few years
Darling Winston!
Purchase, nothing. but I’m waiting for some orders to be delivered. I got an e-mail from Clonadh that they had shipped my order. It’ll arrive in September, it sure takes time, I hope it’ll be worth the wait.
Rediscoveries, no nothing. I have fallen in love with SG Beyond though, what a lovely easy to blend shade that is. I’ve mostly been using the Temptalia palettes since I got them.
Weekend, I hope I’ll be able to do some gardening, other than that I’m going to spend time with Stubbs, the schnauzer. He was going to have his gallbladder removed yesterday, but after the unfortunate and sad things that happened to Maserati, my miniature schnauzer who passed away in May, the vet and I decided that Stubbs should be thoroughly checked out to see that he doesn’t have a portosystemic shunting. He will have a CT scan on Wednesday, as they did find a little blood vessel in his liver that shouldn’t be there, but it’s not a classic shunting.
So instead of sitting, worrying about Stubbs he will get lots of cuddling this weekend.
Stay cool, that is hard, actually as we generally don’t have AC’s here. I have a few electric fans that I use, I dress in natural fibers and complain a lot. The last doesn’t help at all! 🙂
Purchases/Rediscoveries: Purchases from Nordstrom – Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette in Sunset Dreamscape with travel mascara, Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Stick in Cinnamon, and Patchology PoshPeel Exfoliating Foot Peel.
Weekend Plans: Outdoor gardening before temps get too hot, spending time with family and friends, and gathering items for donation.
Favourite way to stay cool: Jolly Rancher popsicles seem to cool my core down! I enjoy air conditioning though it causes me to sneeze!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: It’s been a spendy week or 2! I’m waiting on my orders to ship-Besame Red Velvet lipstick (yes, I bought it largely because it’s the official Agent Carter lipstick-that’s my nerdy streak coming through!), Natasha Denona Circo Loco palette, Dior Diorshow Iconic Chestnut mascara, NARS Sin and Savage blushes, and a backup tube of Fenty Pro Filt’r 110 concealer.
Weekend plans: Hanging around home Friday, work all day and nighttime grocery run Saturday, not sure about Sunday.
What’s your favorite way to stay cool?: Mainly stay in air conditioning and drink cool beverages, supplementing that with a small personal fan as needed. A trip to the local ice cream shop never hurts, either! (I just went last night and got 2 scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough.)