BUY THIS: (So We Don't Have To): A Few Things I Can't Have.

It's been an expensive month so far and we're only a week in. It's not great. Also not great: my habit of heart-ing the stuff I like on the TJ Maxx website so I can track the excruciating markdown process. Things I like but cannot have. Things like this:

Will someone please buy this damn leather jacket and put me out of my misery? So great for spring and a total steal. UGH. 

Look at these beautiful labradorite ear jackets! I just love them but cannot justify buying them. (This pair isn't bad either.)

This glorious little blue nugget is by Aimee Kestenberg, maker of my awesome new leather backpack. (They also have a large backpack but for mine you'll have to check in-store.)

LE SIGH. There's also these Celine sunglasses that would look stupid on me and a bunch of good makeup that I need like a hole in the head. Oh, and this crazy-ass Free People bralette that is awful but maybe in a good way? STOP. I DO NOT NEED THAT.

Marianne: A Challenge For You.

M: So, a few weeks ago I was in Dallas and I saw a lady basically wearing my clothes. Not my actual clothes, but an outfit that was so me I was like what's happening.

Her jeans were very similar to my favorite H&M jeans--raw hem, straight cut, cropped. A basic white button down. Silver slides like my faves from Target. And an olive jacket, of which I have...four. But hers was DIFFERENT and I WANT IT.

The thing is, I know I've seen it in the past couple of years. It had a slightly swingy or boxy shape. Cotton, possibly waxed. I don't think it had a hood. And the clincher--it had a wide (like 8-10 inches) band of black at the bottom. So only the top 2/3 was olive green. It wasn't a super saturated black, kind of a washed black.

I know I've seen this jacket. Madewell? Everlane? Old Navy?? Help me find it please. Because it's totally different from my other olive green jackets shutup.

A: Oh, I like a challenge! I am going to see if I can find it for you. It doesn't sound familiar though.

M: Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

A: Utility or trench?

M: It really looked a lot like my Everlane trench though I think slightly lighter weight fabric and with the color blocking.

M: I don't think it had a lot of pockets or details other than the color blocking. Just a jacket really.

A: Not the right color, but? Or this one?

M: This one was definitely shorter. No belt. Cut more like my Everlane short trench that I wore when we went shopping.

M: Also while searching I just bought a different olive green jacket help.

A: What! What did you buy?

M: This Madewell jacket on Posh for $36. I am ashamed.

A: Hahhaa. It's really cute though and you don't have one with short sleeves.

M: Totally a hole in my olive green jacket wardrobe, plus I thought maybe cute with my challenging jeans.

A: It will be, for sure. I'm making no headway into your jacket challenge.

M: Probably a sign from the universe that I do not in fact need another jacket. But I would like to open up the challenge to our readers.

A: Have at it, blog reader friends!

Weekend Window Shopping: LOFT Sale!

Ughhhh, you guys. LOFT is giving an extra 50% off sale stuff this weekend only! There's so much cute stuff that's SO SO SO cheap. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in this Lou & Grey pocket sweatshirt dress? Nobody, that's who. Here's what else I really like:


         

       

Stuff I Like: Reading, Wearing, Slapping, Carrying, Listening.

Stuff I like is back! Ideally I'd love to do this post once a week but sometimes I just don't have enough new stuff. It's been a little while so here's what I'm liking lately:

This book that is a great vacation read.

When I went to visit Marianne I brought Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes with me.  I enjoy Jojo Moyes books  in the same way I enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher. They're just comforting, nice reads about decent people. It not a book that'll blow your mind or anything (try Kate Atkinson or Tana French for that) but just dependable and fun. I don't generally go for short stories but the main story, Paris for One, is more of a novella and the rest are easy to dip in and out of. Basically, your perfect vacation read. Also! It's $1.99 right now for the Kindle version which is a great deal.

This underwear I won't shut up about.

We talked last week about my recent Aerie order and I just wanted to report that the seamless cutout boybrief is now my solid #1 favorite. They ain't sexy but they are SO comfortable and sporty-cute and stay put and I just bought five more pairs (5 for $25!) because Aerie seems to discontinue styles so fast. I currently have two pairs and I'm legit mad when both are in the laundry bin. 

This serum that is actually pretty damn good. 

Okay, listen. I got this Sunday Riley CEO Rapid Flash Serum in an Allure box* (full sized!) and started using it every single morning and...I think it's actually doing something. My skin just seems smoother and brighter lately. I can't swear to it but I really think it might be good and I'm definitely a fan of most of the Sunday Riley products I've tried. NOW, I know you're grumbling because it's stupid expensive but here's the thing - everyone else got it in their box too and now there are a million full-sized bottle for sale on eBay. Get it half off while you can! Go go go! 

This lunchbox Marianne is going to tell you about.

I mean, okay. A lunchbox is not the most exciting thing, but when I'm in the office I bring my lunch (and breakfast!) EVERY. DAY. I was rotating between two lunchboxes and neither was very good--one was falling apart at the seams and didn't close all the way at the top, but it was bigger. The other didn't insulate very well and was too small, but it was cute and zipped all the way closed. My new Jo & Jo Australia lunchbox has everything--it's sturdy, the print is adorable, it's big enough for all of my meals and snacks and La Croix, it's well insulated, and it zips totally closed. Sure, it's like bringing a small suitcase to work every day, but I don't really care.  (Note: We can't find it online which is breaking our brains. We both bought them at TJ Maxx, so go look there! -A) 

Oh and I also want to tell everyone that Thirst Aid Kit is back and it's so good! The happiest podcast in my subscriptions. 

*And one thing I don't like. 

Okay, fuck Allure and their beauty box. I recently cancelled in a blaze of glory when they double-charged me and refused to refund the second charge. I sent them proof! More than once! So I cancelled and even though their box was consistently good, I can no longer recommend it and I can't support such terrible customer service. Boo. 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): I Guess The Madewell Sale Is Okay

I was all set to be furiously mad at Madewell for offering 30% off a $200 purchase right after I bought a leather jacket, but it's excluded so I can calm the hell down. JUST CALM DOWN, ADRIEN.

I'm fine. It's fine. So here's the deal: 30% off purchases of $200+ or 20% off your purchase with code FOLLOWURCART. I basically hate all my summer clothes and want to burn everything and start over. Madewell seems to know this because they have a lot of cute new things in for spring with my name on them so lets take a look, shall we?

I love a denim shirt as a casual cardigan replacement and this one is so cool with it's western flair.

This pretty layered necklace is just the right amount of minimal. 

Here is your easy spring/summer party dress that will never not get you a million compliments. 

These well-priced natural leather sandals will just get better with age. 

I love a casual striped dress. Hell, I love this whole outfit. Mine, please. 

These amazing retro sunglasses come in two colors but I love the pearl shade best. 

I love a pretty, floaty top and I even like it in pink (though it comes in black too.) 

Marianne would call these cropped jeans advanced. They are, but you're ready.

These earrings are a sweet, lightweight statement and come in a bunch of colors. 

I'm a backpack person now and this one gives me the grabby hands. 

Outfit of the Day: The Boyfriend Jean Trial.

At last, my nightmare is over - I have found a pair of boyfriend jeans I actually really love. Aren't we all, like, super relieved? To back up a bit, I bought this pair and truly loved everything about them except the high rise, which was fine until I sat down for any length of time. Then I bought this BR pair which is...fine I guess, but do they spark joy? Meh. Finally, I tracked down this pair of Madewell Slim Boyjeans on Poshmark and lo, they are GOOD:

Aren't they good? I promise I'm happy about it. I wore them immediately and continued to wear them all weekend long which is a really good sign that I have a winner. Madewell currently has the Slim Boyjean in a few different versions right now including this raw hem edition that I love and this knee rip edition which is more similar to my "rip and repair" pair. Just a note on these: Go down a size or two! They run really big. 

They make me so happppppyyyy. But, if you aren't down with Madewell prices and don't do Poshmark, I'd consider this deconstructed pair from the Gap which are awfully cute. Also, H&M has a pair of girlfriend jeans that are adorable and $20! I'm wearing my new jeans with my favorite basic Everlane Cotton V which have in a bunch of colors. Nothing fancy just a good, well-fitting classic cotton t-shirt. I really wish they'd made some of the more interesting tees in cuts that aren't boxy or square because, ugh. Stop it, Everlane. 

I gave my leather jacket the afternoon off and pulled out an old favorite - my Madewell et Sézane jacket from a few years back. The Surplus jacket is similar and so is the Fleet jacket and both are on sale! Also, there is one of mine on Posh in an XS. Details:

I'm still digging my Luna Norte earrings and am also wearing my old Giles and Brother fish hook pendant. It's long gone but I do like their anchor pendant and I love this more delicate Miansai hook necklace. 

I'm still very into my Aimee Kestenberg backpack (anyone find one at TJ Maxx?) and I'm also wearing my Ugg leopard loafers which are hard to find but how cute is this pair? 

That's it! And, thanks for all the help yesterday with my "Is it rosacea?" mystery! I really appreciate it. 

Stuff We Like: Products and Whatnot

I'll be doing a regular "stuff I like" post soon but thought it would be fun to do a beauty product version with a few new products I've been enjoying. Also, a question/horrifying photo at the end. Yay.

I know I've been mentioning RMS Beauty Living Luminizer a lot lately but I really just love it a ton. It's not a long-wearing product but applied correctly and with a light touch it will give you a very natural lit-from-within look. It's lovely! (Just fair warning - it's made with coconut oil so if you're reactive to that ingredient it might break you out.) I have heard good things about the RMS Eye Polish too but my lids are already so oily that I don't know if it's for me. Has anyone tried it?

Heres a surprise: Sephora Collection Cheek Ink Gel is really damn good! I bought it as a filler item to get free shipping on my last order and I'm delighted to report that it's a very good cheek gel color. It's on sale right now for $7 so it's dirt cheap to boot. I got the color Lotus to try and replicate Benetint and I think I got it right. I will warn you - a little goes a long way. Don't layer it on too aggressively or you'll get to work and realize you look like a crazy blush clown under the florescent lighting. Um.

One to watch: dpHUE ACV Rinse. I first heard about this product on an episode of Fat Mascara and was immediately excited because this is EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. I get my color done in intense deep reds and then watch it go down the drain because my hair is not the kind of hair you can shampoo only once a week. I bought some ACV Rinse immediately and have used it once and liked it, but the true test will come after my next color appointment.  (Also, Justin Anderson, who created this product, looks like this. IT DOESN'T HURT, IS ALL I'M SAYING.)

Marianne pick:
I have a thing I like this week! I have been wearing Schmidt's Rose and Vanilla natural deodorant for a few weeks now and I feel confident in declaring that it is great. It's slightly sticky at first and the texture is kind of weirdly gritty, but it smells lovely and has yet to let me down. Will it stand up to a southern summer? Probably not, but even if I go back to regular antiperspirant for a few months I'm dramatically reducing my exposure. Also, it's cheap and readily available at Target and WalMart so yay.

Back to Adrien:
Here's the whatnot part of this entry with a question I've been meaning to ask for a while:

This is from last summer. Woe.

Remember last summer when I thought I had rosacea? I went to the dermatologist and she thought so too. I had crazy flushed (and sometimes hot, bumpy and swollen - see above) cheeks and once or twice my whole face was affected. This happened on and off for two months and I couldn't figure out a specific trigger, though heat/sun would make it worse. Then it went away completely. Poof. Gone. Soooo...for those of you with rosacea, does this happen or was I having a long-term allergic reaction to a product? I'm going back to my dermatologist next month but thought I'd see what your experiences have been. And sorry about the horrifying photo - that's not even the worst one.