Shopping Report: I'm Returning Everything.

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog enabling all of you to buy things but please know I also enable myself and I make mistakes. Lots of them. I've been home sick for what feels like a month now, so pair that with a ton of good sales and I've definitely made some online purchases. It's alllll going back. (But never fear, some of it hasn't yet arrived so there's a good chance I'll keep that stuff. Who knows? Anything can happen!) Let's start with The Dress:

Oh yeah, hi there cute little Madewell dress, thanks for following me around the internet until I caved and bought you. You arrived stuffed in a plastic envelope, a mess of wrinkles, poor thing. I steamed you and tried you on and hahahahaha:

This is not my dress. I know I should be able to wear whatever I want at 50, but y'all, not this. It's so cute but makes me feel like I'm wearing a floofy costume. It does have pockets? That's a bonus for sure but it's still not my dress. 

Also, not mine: those big buckle Birkenstock Arizona sandals I'm wearing. I bought them after much deliberation and I kept pulling them out and trying them on and putting them back in the box. If you do this with any pair of shoes for more than a couple of days, return them immediately. They are very pretty but the buckles make them HEAVY and the leather on this pair feels really stiff. They just aren't for me. I'm going to return them and have already ordered this pair in black/white to fill the Birkenstock-shaped hole in my heart. 

Also returning a pair of Birkenstock EVA sandals in red which I bought to wear at the beach and then realized I'd only be at the beach for a week and don't need an entire other pair of $50 sandals for a one week trip. (If I had regular access to a pool or other body of water, I'd probably keep them.)

And finally, I'm returning these Madewell cut-offs which I'd hoped would be long enough if I uncuffed them but they absolutely are not. (I also ordered this pair but they haven't shipped yet. I look forward to returning them next month, I guess.)

Weekend Window Shopping: Memorial Day Feels.

 How is everyone doing? Staying angry? Me too. I've also been doing a little therapeutic shopping because I'm stuck at home and what else is there to do. Plus, there are a ridiculous amount of sales this weekend! So many sales. Here is a sample:

Anthropologie has an extra 40% off all sale items (lots of good home stuff!)
R+Co has 25% off everything with code SUMMER (love the Rodeo Star mousse!) 
Rebecca Taylor has an extra 25% off sale with code LONGWKND
Madewell has an extra 30% off sale plus 25% off everything with code LONGWEEKEND
J.Crew has 60% off sale styles with code SUMMER
Sephora has a whole sale section up to 50% off 
Nordstrom Rack has an extra 25% off clearance

And here are my picks from most of those sites and a few more:

Quarantine Stuff.

It's been, to put it bluntly, a shit week. I've been sick since last Thursday, quarantined with my boyfriend who also has Covid. The news has been devastating and everything feels pretty hopeless. Aside from waving my arms around helplessly and declaring this The Bad Place, I'm not sure how to proceed so I will link a bunch of stuff that's kept me occupied. 

But first, here's a good article that outlines ways you can support the Uvalde families. And another that outlines ways to help the Buffalo community. What is even happening. 

Reading:

Before I got sick I'd been working my way back through a bunch of Kate Atkinson books, which are some of my absolute favorites to re-read because they only get better. I've re-read most of the Jackson Brodie series and was re-reading Life After Life, a WWII story told in a post-modern multiverse timeline, when I got sick. (It's been adapted by the BBC which I am VERY excited about even though it's not available in the states yet.) 

I had a few days where reading anything wasn't possible but then I finished it up and damn, this book is a gut punch every single time. It's so complex and weird and dark completely GOOD. I'll follow up with a re-read of A God In Ruins but I am taking a break with some lighter things.

Marianne sent me Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman and y'all, it's exactly what you want to read when you're recuperating. It's not perfect, but it's fizzy and awkward and FUN. It was possibly inspired by this Chris Evans interview which is a good time in and of itself. Marianne and I have talked about who we'd cast in various roles which is also fun to think about. 

I also recently read That Summer by Jennifer Weiner which was not her best but it's very much worth reading if you like Jennifer Weiner. It's got big #MeToo energy but I found the ending a bit disappointing. Marianne and I both also recently read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir which we both loved, but both agreed that we are lukewarm on the ending. I won't say anything more about it (it's impossible to discuss without spoiling it) but if you liked The Martian as much as I did, you'll dig this one too. 

Watching:

Because I'm in quarantine with my boyfriend, everything we're watching is a joint agreement, though I feel I should mention that I recently re-watched all of Sex and the City on my own to see how it holds up (it doesn't but the clothes are amazing) and even though it was full of cringe I really, thoroughly enjoyed it. Make of that what you will. Anyway, here's what we've been watching this week:

Shining Girls - Good lord, how is Elizabeth Moss so good? She's so good. This is a creepy-ass thriller and it's one of those shows where nobody ever turns on a light on but it's really excellent. 

Slow Horses - Good lord, how is Kristin Scott Thomas so good? She's so good. This is a very cool spy show and you just can't go wrong with KST and Gary Oldman. 

The Big Conn - We just finished this and it's a jaw-dropper and also quite depressing. But this guy, I swear. Definitely worth a watch if you like docs about amazingly horrible con artists. 

Workin' Moms - We just finished the new season and it's hilarious and fucked up and great. If you haven't heard of this show, get into it and thank me later. It's a ride. 

Footnote:

And, just holding me together is the song Matilda by Harry Styles which Marianne introduced me to it and oh geez. It's like a hug from one friend with a dysfunctional family to another. How does he know? There's no live version of it but this song off the new album is also very, very good and you can watch him sing it. Oh, Harry.

Out Sick.

Hey, guess what? The Covid pandemic isn't over. Ask me how I know. Yep, I've got it and it sucks. I'm taking a few more days off but just wanted to mention that Madewell made a big ass out of me with that last stupid sale because now everything is 25% and all I can do is stare at the cute new stuff I have hanging in my closet that I can't wear yet. BOO. And of course I want MORE cute stuff because I'm sick and feeling sorry for myself. 

I mean, how could this beautiful dress not make me feel slightly better? I just feel like it would:

And because hope spring eternal, maybe this is the year Madewell makes a perfect pair of denim cut-offs for me:

I've already told you about this top which is basically your perfect, floaty summer top to wear with cut-offs and Birkenstocks, or I assume it is because mine is still hanging sadly in my closet with the tags still on waiting to be loved. SIGH:

I'm not sure how these cute ass clog sandals got past me but they're SO CUTE RIGHT. The camel color is close to sold out but I kind of love the dusty mauve better (I'm posting the styled photo because it seems like that's the actual color, not the brighter pink in the product shots):

And finally, this is one of the few times a year where Madewell puts their leather jackets on sale. The green (dark forest) washed leather didn't work for me (I got the wrong size and the green one smells weird) but I'd get the black one with brass hardware in a second. I don't think it's worth full price, but at 25% off, it's not a bad deal:

Okay, that's it from me for a while. I'll be back in a few days and will tell you all the stuff I read and watched from my sick bed. 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Madewell Sale on Sale.

I am busy this week (so forgive the widget template) but I didn't want the extra 20% off sale items at Madewell to slip by unnoticed. There's lots of good stuff available for summer! Here's what I like:

Beauty Review: A Few Recent Purchases.

It's been a little while since I talked about makeup and stuff, so here are a few recent purchases that I'm pretty into:

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover Radiant Under-Eye Concealer
This was an in-store impulse purchase and I expected it to disappoint because I've tried the original Touche Éclat a few times (yes, I bought it more than once expecting a different result) and it never did much for me. But now they have a version that's actually a concealer but it also has brightening qualities and y'all, this stuff is GOOD. Its stupidly priced for what you get, but a little goes a long way and it brightens and conceals beautifully. I like to use a light hand and especially hit all those spots that need a bit of light - the corners of my eyes, the top of my cheekbone, under my bottom lip and my cupid's bow. On days when I don't care about looking made up, I just use this and some mascara and call it done. It works WAY better than the original formula and the finish is lovely. 

Jones Road What The Foundation
I posted about ordering this recently and it arrived and I'm...medium on it. It's feels very comforting on the skin but it's thick and you really need a light hand or it starts to feel cakey and heavy. When applied correctly, it disappears and feels quite moisturizing. It's a nice non-foundation foundation if you have dry skin (I do) and I've been using it daily to see how it wears. One surprise - it has a strong (but not  unpleasant) scent that I wasn't expecting and it takes a while to dissipate. Not a dealbreaker but it seems unnecessary. 

Dior Addict Shine Lipstick in Pink Bow

I finally just caved and ordered another color of my favorite Dior Addict Shine lipstick - this one is called 628 Pink Bow and it's the perfect "your lips but better" shade on me. I'm assuming it's popular because it was sold out in both Nordstrom locations I tried. It's just a lovely, moisturizing and glossy lipstick with beautiful packaging. If you're looking for a lipstick splurge, this is a good one. 

Method Aluminum Gel Hand Soap - Vetiver + Amber

Okay, this one isn't for everyone but if you love interesting warm/woody scents (think Aesop and Le Labo) I highly recommend this hand soap. It smells expensive and is such a nice change from the usual thing. I personally love woody, earthy, amber notes so this is definitely up my alley and the aluminum container looks quite nice. (But why no refill, Method?) The first review on the product page is like, THIS IS DISGUSTING which made me laugh and also just makes me like it more? I'm ornery. Anyway, I also love this one which I talked about a while ago but again, you have to love an amber note. Don't yell at me if you're a floral person, just leave a bad review on Target. Ha.

Weekend Window Shopping: Comfy Chic at Pact.

 Do y'all know about Pact? I've have a pair of Pact shorts following me around the internet so I took look at the website and was pleasantly surprised. When they first came on the scene it was simple organic cotton tees and underwear. Sustainable and ethical, but pretty basic. A lot has changed and I am INTO it. So much cute stuff and you can feel good about your purchase. If you've never tried Pact, you can get get 20% off your first purchase through my link. (Full disclosure: I get a credit as well.) Here's what I love:

Review: Madewell Spring Tops (and Outfits!)

Hello! I recently purchased a couple of Madewell tops that I tried on in store (see this post here) and then waited for them to go on sale (which they still are!) before I bought them because there's no point in ever paying full price, right? Right. Obviously I knew what I was getting but sometimes you don't know if something actually works until you can try it on with your own stuff. So, even though it's currently dark, raining and 45 degrees out (weeping), here are a couple of spring outfits with my new tops:

This is the Tie-Neck Tunic top that is not even remotely a tunic. I really love it. I'm wearing a medium which is pleasantly oversized and flowy without feeling like a sail. It's got cute pleating at the shoulder seam, which gives the impression that I actually have shoulders, and it half-tucks perfectly. This would also be cute with cut-offs or a skirt, if I owned a skirt. 10/10! I really like this one. 

I'm wearing it with an older pair of Madewell Boyjeans and my latest thrift find - a pair of Dansko Marisol clogs in taupe. They're an older sold-out style but these are pretty similar. I am such a clog girl now, y'all. I just love them. I'm also wearing my Clare V midi sac because this outfit needed some color. (There are two on NR that are marked down right now!) Details:

A closer look at the dot pattern and of course I'm wearing my Gorjana compass coin necklace and my Venice chain because I'm boring and wear them every day.  Next up:

This is the Banded Muscle Tee which I almost didn't try on because it looked really cropped. And truly, it is somewhat cropped, but the banded hem works great with high-waisted jeans and gives the impression that you have your shit together even if you don't. I did size up on this for a bit more length but the medium also worked okay. (Just be careful hailing a cab or whatever.) It comes in a bunch of really cute colors and I might also buy it in the chili red color. 10/10, would purchase again in red.

Same bag as above because I'm barely pretending all these photos weren't taken moments apart. I did change my shoes! I'm wearing a very old pair of Lotta from Stockholm peep-toe clogs which I kind of forgot I had. They are cute, right? I think so. I'm also wearing an older pair of the Madewell Cali Demi Boot cut jeans which are dang good. I very much want this pair as well but they're not on sale yet. 

And a close-up of my new top that's really just a fancy t-shirt like most of what I own. It's cute though, I promise. I'm wearing a lariat necklace I got a a subscription box years ago! I can't remember the brand but this one is way cuter anyway.

That's it! These are both still on sale with code STOCKUP though if you miss that one there will be another in a few days, I'm sure. 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): New Arrivals.

I really enjoy checking out the new arrivals on websites I like, sometimes to be pleasantly surprised, sometimes quite disappointed. But, even through a sea of ruffles and tiers and puffy sleeves, I can still usually find something I love:

I have this top in a different pattern from last year and it's such a fun thing. I really love this year's pattern though. And the jeans too. This whole look works for me. 

I mean, why not blue suede espadrilles? Aren't they weirdly good? And, they're Cole Haan so you know they probably have some arch support and padding for us olds. 

Okay, I love this gauze top from J.Crew and I really love it in this marigold color that would probably look terrible on me. But it's so CHEERFUL without being be-ruffled or twee. 

Ugh, I have been looking for a perfume with an amber note and I am DYING to get a sniff of this new (and limited edition) Jo Malone fragrance. Has anyone tried it?

I was super happy with my Joe's cut-off shorts last summer and I will probably suck it up and buy another pair. I mean, that 7" inseam is just the damn best. They also have a similar pair with a 5" inseam which is also a possibility.

This Maeve dress is definitely filed under "tiered and ruffled" but somehow the graphic black and white bring it down to a less crazy place and it just looks comfy and fun to me. 

These wide-leg linen pants at Athleta are really catching my interest this spring and I'm surprising myself by liking this rose color quite a bit. (Though, knowing me i'll probably get them in black.) 

Oh Madewell, every so often you really get me. I love this understated striped cotton tote so much. It also comes in a rainbow gingham version and they mixed up the info on the website, so don't be confused by that. 

Loft is mostly horrifying right now (MUCH SPRING! SO BRIGHT!) but this easy little striped dress looks like a super wearable option that could be dressed up or down. 

Oof, my heart. These clunky beauties are just everything I want in a clog sandal. The studs, the suede, the dark wood. I love it all. 

Weekend Window Shopping: BR Factory For (mostly) Work.

So, with any luck I will have a new job eventually and it may require me to actually go into an actual office in clothes that aren't loungewear. Eep. I suspect that Banana Republic Factory will save me because look how freaking CUTE everything is right now:

Outfit of the Day: Rainy Day Cozy Chic

Okay, cozy chic is definitely (most definitely) pushing it but I  bought this weird Scandinavia fleece tunic on vacation and I basically wear it every chance I get. It's not typically flattering but it is delightfully odd and so so so soft and fun to wear:

You could probably get a similar vibe from this Athleta sweatshirt or this Varley tunic (both solid choices!) but there's really nothing like a giant Scandinavian fleece tunic-thing with built in jewelry. Heh. I'm wearing it with my Athleta Delancey tights which are also a little weird but it all kind of works. 

I like pairing something fancy-ish with my weird and my new-to-me Marc Jacobs quilted Baroque bag is good at balancing things out. For something similar, I love this Kurt Geiger at NR and this Minkoff bag is awfully nice too. Details: 

I'm wearing my Gorjana compass coin necklace and of course the big metal ring thing that came with my top because why not. Here's a better look at that bag I keep yapping about: 

Oh, and my boots are Blundstone classic Chelsea (reviewed here) which I'd love to retire for the season but it won't stop raining. GREAT. 

BUY THIS: A Few Stress-Purchases.

 It's been a rough week so far and when things get tough, I donate to Planned Parenthood first and then I fall down a shopping hole because anxiety can be tamped down by things, right? 

First: A person in a beauty products group I belong to (who should be in marketing) sang the praises of this tinted moisture balm product by Jones Road:

Apparently it just melts into your skin and it's especially great for dry skin AND it's called What the Foundation (WTF!) which pleases me. It gets rave reviews all around so I ordered it and will report back. (Also, code THANKS15 worked for 15% off!)

In other news, Madewell is offering 20% off "Summer Faves" with code WARMUP so I bought the two tops I tried on here. The Tie-Neck Tunic Top, which I went back to the store to try on again in my actual size, was a perfect fit - airy and loose but not over-sized:

And the Banded Muscle Tee which I bought in a size up because it's pretty cropped and I wanted a bit more length:

Yes, this is basically a sweatshirt but the banded hem makes it feel a bit more dressed up and is so great with high-waisted jeans. Yay for spring tops! I also tried on these jeans which are great (size down) but I can wait until they're on sale. I just love the demi-boot style. 

Finally, a few weeks ago I was in Bluemercury and the sales assistant made me a sample of R+Co Cactus Texturizing Shampoo, telling me that it's really popular:

So popular in fact, that when I decided I loved it and wanted to buy it, I could not. It was sold out EVERYWHERE, including the store where I got the sample. So rude. However, yesterday R+Co sent me an email that it was finally back in stock and I ordered it! I don't know what kind of magic they put in this stuff but it makes my hair feel....more. I don't even know how to describe it. Like, my fine hair feels thicker and fuller and looks even better the second day. Magic. 

Now, ignore all this stuff and go smash the patriarchy instead. (And donate!)