Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #730
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: It’s been an incredibly busy, busy week of helping puppies! I am currently feeding all 14 of Party’s puppies three times a day, which is taking up quite a bit of my time, as she has mastitis and isn’t producing very much at all 🙁 The Raccoons and Mittens are still with me, so when I’m not at the rescue, I’m at home playing with them and cuddling with Winnie!
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Introvert!
This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: I nabbed the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil from their site with special edition packaging.
Weekend plans: Dropping off art with artists after an art show I had at my house, picking up hygienic goods donations for a reentry organization for women with criminal justice histories (Ardella’s House!), finishing some art commissions and work, and drinks with friends visiting from out of town! Hope I can pop in to some art exhibits too. Busy weekends like this make me grateful to live in Philadelphia, where most of the exciting activities take place within a 2-5 mile radius.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? A true extrovert 🙂
Congratulations on your art show Kira – you must be incredibly talented. Donating goods for women re-entering society after prison is such a good idea and it helps them to re-adjust to life on the ‘outside’ knowing that someone cares for them.
What a wonderful city Phiadelphia must be.
I recently purchased the Natasha Denona Xenon palette and I adore it!
It’s great when a palette works out well for you and you find lots to like about it. ND produces such sterling eye palettes in terms of quality.
Those absolutely ADORABLE Raccoons and Mittens content never fail to make my day a whole lot brighter! 🦝🐺🦝
Purchases/rediscoveries: No purchases of anything beauty related, but needed to get an area rug for my kitchen because HA Inspection is this coming Tuesday and my incompetent apartment complex FAILED to fix my kitchen floor where their own maintenance guy lifted up the edge when he replaced my dishwasher that had flooded my kitchen a while back. And, a warmer winter puffer jacket, too.
Weekend plans: Lots of deep cleaning for inspection! And, I have to clean my comforter now that it’s getting cooler at night. Zoom meeting tomorrow morning.
Introvert or Extrovert? INTROVERT! Unless I’m with people that I feel comfortable around, that is. Then I can open up and socialize.
Best of luck for the apartment inspection and it’s just not on that the maintenance staff member didn’t fix your floor – what do you pay them for in your annual fees?
What colour are you going to get your winter puffer jacket in? I hope it gets cold enough for you to wear it often.
Thanks, Genevieve! It’s the city of Glendale who does the inspection. And the usual lady is something else., I tell you. Picky, picky, picky!
My puffer is a shiny black, water and weather resistant, mid-thigh length. My other one doesn’t fit me anymore, and we do get cold snaps even here during December and January, with usually one more that seems to always hit in March or April. Plus, the lawsuit’s opposing attorneys are basically DEMANDING that each of us gets an “independent psychological exam”, which entails a trip back to New York State for several days. They’re pushing for this winter. So, yeah, unfortunately I had to get a “real” coat!
Good luck with the inspection! It’s inexcusable the management didn’t fix your floor.
Recent Purchases: Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara. I recently tried several other Cover Girl formulas (Exhibitionist, Exhibitionist Stretch and Strengthen, and Simply Ageless Plumping), but I didn’t like any of them because they were too thick for my sparse, little lashes. So I went back to my all-time favorite mascara, Clump Crusher.
Rediscoveries: MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick. For some reason, I remembered it as being darker, but this week I used it for the first time in ages and loved how it looked on me.
Weekend Plans: Visiting family, grocery shopping, laundry, getting my flu vaccine
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Textbook introvert!
I’ve bought my DIL a couple of the Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascaras for her Christmas Beauty bag that I give her every year. It was on sale locally and I feel pleased that I have picked the right one for her. I am also giving her the Shiseido Modernmatte lippie in Disrobed – the one that you like too.
Emjoy your weekend and I hope that you don’t have any side effects from the Flu vaccine.
Disrobed is such a pretty shade! I hope your DIL likes that mascara. It works so well for me. I also like CoverGirl Last Blast Fusion. No side effects from the vaccine except a bit of itch at the injection site.
I’m going to use Velvet Teddy tomorrow, It’s been a long time since I used it.
Thanks for the inspiration!
RECENT PURCHASES:
None
WEEKEND PLANS:
I get my COVID shot today, so recovering from that. Finish crocheting my son’s gloves, and washing and blocking the scarf I knitted for him.
The usual housework.
My cat is doing great. His drain is out, and his stitches are healing nicely. Those come out next week. We haven’t had to use the cone at all.
ARE YOU AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT?
Introvert (INFJ).
Thank goodness your darling little cat is finally on the mend. What a good cat he must be to not need the cone. I hope the COVID vaccine doesn’t effect you too much.
Congratulations on finishing the scarf for your son.
Have a pleasant weekend Rachel.
Thanks so much! I ended up getting the first shingles vaccine along with the COVID. My arm is really sore, and I feel like I have a bit of a cold, so not too bad for side effects. Way better than having COVID! The latest variants are starting to hit here after all the Halloween socializing.
Jack is a very good cat. We check his stitches and healing drain port several times a day , too.
Recent purchases/Rediscoveries: Not sure if I listed these last week or if it’s part of this week’s stuff but I picked up a few last minute things in the Sephora sale – another bottle of Peter Thomas Roth cleanser (it’s one I really like and I have the feeling it’s being phased out) and 2 Sephora Lipstories – Hong Kong By Night and Popsicle lips. REDISCOVERIES – oh my – I’ve been using the old Make Up For Ever Nudes You Need palette all week. What a joy it is – I’d never really used it all that much but I’m using 2 or 3 shades every day and just loving the simple and perfect results.
Weekend plans: Returning to a store to straighten out the double charge they put on my credit card (the clerk seemed frazzled but I hope I can prove my point); the gym, my son’s coming home to pick up his car (LOOOONG story), some meal prep and stuff like that.
Introvert or Extrovert??? I think I’m an introvert but the nature of my job has forced me to fake it as an extrovert and it’s sort of changed my outlook for the better.
First of all, I have Hong Kong by Night lipstory and it’s beautiful. Olivia, my grand daughter thinks its her favourite lipstick of mine – for the gold sparkles in it. She’s nearly 10. And that Nudes You Need palette – le sigh! The one from the past that I really, really wanted but couldn’t get. It is gorgeous and I am sure you’ve been enjoying it all week.
Hopefully the double charge that was put on your credit card will be sorted out. Such a jolly nuisance when that happends.
It will be great to catch up with your son again too.
Did you have your birthday when you were overseas in Japan Mariella? If so, I am sure you did something nice on the day.
I remember well your regrets over not being able to get the Nudes You Need palette. I’d never really used it much at all in the past. It’s only in the past week that I’ve totally fallen in love with it. In many ways it’s not perfect (2 of the shades in the top row are virtually identical when applied and the same is true with 2 or 3 other shades within the palette – there really IS A LOT of overlap), but it’s been a real joy for me, personally, since even the overlap shades are colours I wear a lot. And the black shadow in this – well, I share your views on black shadows generally but this one is a great one to have (having said that, like you I don’t need MORE black shadows in just about EVERY darned palette, big or small….)
Our kids arranged a wonderful birthday dinner for us in the restaurant that was used in the movie Lost In Translation (which I’d never seen til last night and I got pretty bored with it – was only able to stick about 25 minutes if that) – The Park Hyatt. I don’t even what to know what that meal cost (and who knew that feeding chickens and beef cattle on olives was even a “thing”?) but it was spectacular, as was the view and just the whole evening.
The Saje thing (the store that did the double charge) is worked out and at least now I have a register receipt of the credit that was to go back on my account (I was in a rush when I left and assumed – more fool me – that among the papers the clerk handed me was a record of the credited charge but there wasn’t one). At least I have that as a record if the charge doesn’t get reversed.
Haul: So, in comparison with what I thought I would be reporting this week, my list is pretty small. I didn’t love any of the holiday releases and went to so many stores. The Cherry Creek Mall has free standing Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, MAC, Sephora, Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. A shopping lover’s dream. I swatched everything and came the closest to buying the Chanel palette but in the end did not. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it but rather, I would not use the almost black color and the lightest shade is very glittery so I would only be using three shades and they are not particularly unique. What I did buy, for myself, the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Palette. I have never loved her formula but these definitely felt better so decided to try it and I am very happy with my purchase. Also, while not remaining in my plan to only buy smaller palettes, this one does not have a large footprint. I also picked up Dior Lipstick in Promenade and YSL 1966 Rouge Libre. For my daughter I purchased the Danessa Myrick’s Lightwork V: I Am Palette For Eyes And Face, Merit Minimalist Foundation Stick and some skincare, which frankly I didn’t pay attention to.
I wanted to mention a dew purchases from Mercari that I received before I left and actually took with me to Denver. I purchased two Dior Palettes from last holiday and those are Galactic and Cosmos. I used both while gone and they performed really well and I love several of the shades. I can use all the shades also. I also got the lipstick I had mentioned, Midnight Rose. I had purchased it for nostalgic reasons but the color is really lovely and definitely in my comfort and preference zone. It is just slightly more purple than blue based and that is the difference between it and my memory of the other Midnight Rose, which was a Chanel lipstick.
Weekend plans: Nothing really. I am still working on Christmas for Aislinn and some glass bricks for a window in my bathroom. We are getting a little snow this weekend and after being in the 70’s in Denver, I am freezing! I plan to stay in, craft, drink warm beverages and rewatch a couple of period pieces on Netflix.
Introvert versus Extrovert: I am about as far Introvert as you can get on the Introvert scale. My ex-husband was exactly the opposite. He was so extroverted that he literally could not ride in an elevator without making friends with the other passengers and on at least one occasion, he made plans to go fishing with the guy!! I can go for days, weeks and months without having any significant interaction with people. Moving to the woods in Montana was easy for me from that perspective. People rarely believe that I am as extroverted as I say but over 45 years of nursing forced me out of my comfort zone but in my personal time, I am very, very extroverted.
Queen: I had seen them before, of course, and although this tour is being called the extension of the Rhapsody tour, it was completely different. It was amazing. Brian May stood on the edge of the stage and sang directly at me and smiled at my singing along! Roger Taylor’s daughter was there and she walked around and spoke with people. My daughter had an amazing time and it is an experience that she will remember all her life. I can die happy that I got to see them again. I have mentioned on the blog that I have told my daughter that when I die, I do not want a service. I want her to take my ashes to the cemetery, toss them in the hole and blast Queen music as loud as she can!! My trip down and back was fraught with problems but all of it was worth it to see them.
I am so glad you and your daughter had a great time at the Queen concert. Brian May is so talented and gifted – he has his doctorate in astronomy too. You must have had fantastic seats to see everything so clearly and be seen by Brian. What an experience!
How do you find the I Need a Nude palette Deborah? I was pretty keen on it when it first came out, but now I am thinking that there probably are too many shades I wouldn’t use and not get my worth out of it. But it would be interesting to know what you think.
It was the experience of a lifetime, Genevieve. We had excellent seats. I had decided that if I was going again, I would spring for the expensive seats so we were one person off the stage. The young woman between us and the stage was of Asian decent and clearly was over the moon to be seeing Queen. It was infectious seeing her so awe struck. Being raised with me it would be impossible for Aislinn not to know all the words to the songs so she had a great time singing along. There is a place in the show where they project
Freddie onto a screen on the stage and he performs with Brian and we were close enough to see Brian cry and say, “I love you Freddie”, at the end of the performance. Yes, Brian May is incredibly intelligent, having a Phd in Astrophysics. He was also recently Knighted by King Charles. When the Olympics were held in London he and the Queen were together and he played from the roof of one of the buildings. Another difference in this performance is they brought a drum kit down the stage so that Roger could do a number close to t he audience. He usually stays behind the drum kit way back on the stage and occasionally comes in front to sing with Brian but this time he played and Adam Lambert sang along side of him. Roger is suffering from arthritis in his hands and it is getting difficult for him to play the way he use to. He has a back up drummer who can help him pick up the slack when he cannot get the speed he needs to perform. They are getting older and after Brian’s heart attack during the pandemic, it is surprising that they can get out and tour at all.
As for the I Need a Nude palette, I am enjoying it a lot. I don’t think that I am completely sold on the formula but they apply really nicely, blend easily and stay true to color on my lids. There is a nice differentiation between shades with a couple of good matte transition shades, deeper shades and at least one light enough shade for me to use on my browbone. It also has a mix of warm and cool tones so there is that also. I have used it several times since purchasing and also like that I can do very simple looks with it and then something more dramatic for nights. All in all, I am very happy I picked it up.
Sounds like such a fun time.
I miss going to stores, what we have here aren’t much to write about.
I think I Need a Nude palette looks really good. I want that one and the midi Xenon one. It’ll have to wait as this month has been a colossal economic disaster. So many bills!
I am sorry to hear that things are difficult financially right now. I know what that feels like and that combined with health issues can be really detrimental to your health. I will be honest, the year that I had my cancer, surgeries and chemo, my husband also had a heart attack, probably related to my finding out he was having an affair, LOL! I wasn’t working at all as luck would have it, I had just quit one job and was taking some time off work before starting a new one and so wasn’t insured. Our medical bills were astronomical and we lived on credit cards. Towards the end of my treatment I finally ran out of available credit and couldn’t make my bills one month. I called the two credit cards and asked them if I could have two months and told them the situation. They turned me down and so we went and saw a bankruptcy attorney. Neither of us wanted to do it as we had always paid our bills on time. The lawyer told me that this is what bankruptcy was made for and that I shouldn’t feel badly about it. He told me that the credit card company would much rather write the debt off than nickel and dime it for the rest of my life. When we went in front of the judge, he obviously could tell I had been ill. I was bald, white as a ghost and occasionally green while fighting throwing up! He looked at me and asked if I had been ill and I told him that I had been. He told me that he saw that I had quite a lot of money in my 401k and my lawyer had told me that he didn’t think the judge would take it but that it was a possibility that he would take the funds from my 401k. I was okay with that and would gladly have done it but didn’t want to have to pay the taxes on it and the lawyer told me that if the judge ordered the money taken to pay the debt, I wouldn’t have to pay taxes and withdrawal fees. The judge told me that he had one more question and that was, did I have any children? I told him I had a five year old and he didn’t even pause and said that the judgement was passed and we were free of debt. It was embarrassing but we wouldn’t have made it without doing something. I don’t know your financial situation, obviously, but if it gets too bad, you should look at some form of assistance.
I have seen the Xenon palette and loved the look of it. I passed simply because I have a lot of those shades in other palettes. I am really enjoying the I Need a Nude palette and don’t regret buying it at all.
I hope things get better for you, Helene. Also, have you thought about doing a “Fund Me” page? I am sure that many people would help if they knew. It wasn’t available when I went through my treatment but would have been a good way for me to not have to file bankruptcy. Just a thought.
Healthcare here cost next to nothing, I don’t have to pay for any doctors or nurse appointments until October next year as I now have payed up to the limit. I think I’d still have to pay for days spent at a ward, but that isn’t much.
This month it was the dogs insurance, about $900, and my blood thinning prefilled syringes, about $200 that did the trick along with a dentists appointment also about $200. I knew it would be hard just with the insurance, the other costs I had to take, of course, but I had to dig into the savings.
I’ll be OK though as I’ll get money in five days, and we really don’t need anything until then.
I di miss being able to splurge a bit, but thinking of all the horrors in the world, and all who are actually poor, I feel a bit ashamed complaining.
I*’ve fallen in love with grey eyeshadows, so the Xenon palette with so many greys, both matte and shimmery, with good complement colours are made for me. I Need a Nude have more warm tones. along with what looks like neutrals and some warm tones could be very useful.
I use ND Glam quite a lot and really like it.
Your economic ordeal sounds a lot worse than mine. Having to live on credit cards just because you are ill seems so very strange to me, but then I have always lived in a world where everyone gets care when ill. We do have to pay full cost at the dentists so now we hade poor poor people who can’t afford going to the dentist. It used to be like healthcare once, but I guess the government must save on something.
I’m so happy the show went so well. It sounds like so much fun.
It was amazing, Rachel !! Needless to say, anytime I get to go to a concert featuring musician’s I have followed all my life, it is wonderful. My brother was a bit negative about it saying that he wouldn’t waste the money. I was surprised as he has always loved music also. I told him that I can’t take the money with me and that as I get older and unable to go see bands, I would at least have the memory to sustain me. I saw Ed Sheeran in Seattle in August and loved that show also. Right now, so many bands that I followed when I was a teenager are doing their last tours. They, like me, are getting older and life on the road is hard on young people little own 70-80 year old’s. Life is short and we need to make wonderful memories to tide us over the rough parts and I fear that rough times are ahead for all of us if this next years election doesn’t go well.
The puppies are just so gorgeous and they can bring you nothing but love and joy – just like babies do.
Your work at the Rescue centre is invaluable Christine and they do need all the help they can get. I love all the toys you have strewn around your yard for them to play with and keep them busy and occupied.
Recent Purchases: Nothing beauty wise for me, just getting some Christmas presents for the kids out of the way before the December rush and buying them some lovely Christmas outfits.
Rediscoveries: Guerlain’s Les Gris – it contains the perfect navy blue shade for me.
Weekend Plans: On Friday we were invited to Grandparents Picnic Day at our grandchildren’s school. It was fabulous to see them and they were delighted to see us. I made some Choc chip cookies and other biscuits, plus fruit to take along. It was held first thing in the morning, which was just as well because the day was a hot one.
Saturday – the cool change has come through (my favourite words for summer) and it will be some house cleaning, grocery shopping and present buying.
Sunday – I am not sure yet.
Introvert/Extrovert: I had to be an extrovert in the classroom when I was teaching, but at heart I am an introvert.
Those old Guerlain shadow palettes are/were such classics. I don’t have Les Gris but have Les Fumes and it has such happy memories for me (it’s what I wore for my daughter’s wedding).
Funny about the introvert/extrovert thing because it is/was just the same for me!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: My surgery brain can’t recall all right now but I got the Glisten Halloween Split Liner bundle and I’m really happy I picked it up!
Weekend plans: Continue to recover from surgery!
Are you an introvert or extrovert? I’m right in the middle!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Nothing for me as well, been trying to use up some minis from work before I buy more stuff.`
Weekend plans: We went to San Jose today to hit up Daiso and Mitsuwa. Traffic wasn’t so bad. Tomorrow I am getting my nails done. Of course, I am still working on my Nanowrimo project, so I am trying my best to set aside time to write at least a little every day.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Very big introvert, but I can also be very sociable for short amounts of time.
I really love all the puppies, but Mittens is the one stealing my heart.
I think you are amazing, caring for all the puppies. Thank you for all the work, caring and loving these little innocent darlings.
Just please make sure you get enough rest.
Sending kisses to all the pups and a cuddle to Winnie!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: No purchase, I did get the Duo eyelash glue and the pink serum from The Ordinary. I’ve not tried any of them, yet.
Rediscoveries, I don’t think I used anything I’m not using regularly.
I’m going to try Velvet Teddy tomorrow, I’ve not used it in ages. I got inspired by Seraphine.
Weekend plans: Absolutely nothing planned.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? I’m tested and I’m an introvert. I may appear to be an extrovert. My son is sure I’m an extrovert as I talk to everyone, according to him, and yes, I do, but afterwards I come home and rest for a long time.
Working in nursing forced me to be able to interact with a lot of people, patients and staff. I needed a lot of alone time after a week at work.
OMG THEY ARE SO UNBEARABLY CUTE! Sorry, I’m in puppyland! They’re adorbable!!