Sephora A/W 2018 Beauty Sale Recommendations
Friday, October 26, 2018 • Makeup, review, sephora, skincare, what does dana think
Despite the surprise Beauty Insider Sale Sephora had in August, it looks like they've still decided to bring back the Autumn/Winter one (that's so well timed for the holidays)! I rarely have the gumption to put together my own recommendations post, even though I love reading other people's, but this time around there are a few surprising products that have landed on my "Love" list, and it inspired me. To start, here are the details of the sale itself:
And of course, my personal recommendations!
My hair favorites are short and sweet (which thank goodness something is at this point). The DevaCurl Gel has been on my autobuy list for a while, and lately I've been mixing it with different curl creams to get the best cast and end results for my hair. It doesn't go super crunchy, but it does tone down the frizz and encourage uniformity in my curls. And the Alterna CC Cream is a sleeper hit - I bought it originally as a leave-in to use during the winter when I more regularly heat style my hair, but what it does best is act as an overnight refresher for my curls. At night - not too long before I go to bed - I scrunch water through my hair to dampen the curls, and then scrunch in this CC cream. The next day I wake up with these touchable soft, super voluminous curls, and it is AMAZING. I'm still working on extending this into the third and fourth days, but for for now this is such a vast improvement that I highly recommend my fellow wavy/curly headed friends to try it.
Ok, and to close this mammoth (sorry) post out, I wanted to list just a few gift sets that you might be interested in keeping an eye on:
1) Sephora Favorites - Glow For It ($28 | 20% Off Sale Price: $22.40) , Best Hair Ever ($25 | 20% Off Sale Price: $20) , & Party Hair Styling Spray Collection ($35 | 20% Off Sale Price: $28); The Sephora Favorite kits are some of my favorite, and are a great way to introduce friends (or yourself) to a bunch of different products at one time. Plus, they're always perfect traveling size, so sometimes I'll leave a product at work and throw it in my travel bag so I'm not always decanting stuff.
2) Tatcha Skincare For Makeup Lovers Obento Box ($64 | 20% Off Sale Price: $51.20); I'm not actually sharing this one because I'm a huge Tatcha fan (I actually find their products very hit-or-miss), but because so many other people swear by them, and this is a really great kit. You're getting very good sized minis of some of their most popular products (& their new Silk Canvas primer), without a huge investment.
3) Drunk Elephant Out of Office ($25 | 20% Off Sale Price: $20); I actually love this little set (& will probably be getting it for myself) because all three products are ones I've been interested in trying! This is another brand that I find slightly hit-or-miss, not because anything's particularly bad, just that I sometimes feel like it should do more at the price point.
4) ALTERNA Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Jumbo Kit ($99 | 20% Off Sale Price: $79.20); I'm only including this because of how much I love the CC Cream - it has me intrigued about the rest of the line, especially because the Davines curl specific conditioner is poop and I'm annoyed I spent any money on it.
WAIT. Ok, I know I said I was done, but I have one more recommendation for the Sephora sale - MAKE SURE TO USE EBATES. Sephora hovers regularly between 4-8% cash back, and that is no small discount when combined with the Beauty Sale (& feel free to use my link if you haven't already signed up - spend $25 and immediately get an extra $25 for you and for me).
Also, also, despite how exciting this deal feels, it might not actually be the way to save the most money on your favorite brands. Goals to Get Glowing has put together an amazing database that shoppers can use to find which online retailers carry which brands, and sometimes the discounts those other providers offer top this 20% off. I'd say get excited about this sale, but be smart about what discounts are actually worth taking advantage of right now.
Sale Dates:
Rouge Only (20% off with code ROUGEBONUS)
Friday, October 26 - Monday, October 29
Bonus Weekend!
Friday, November 2 - Monday, November 5th
Bonus Weekend!
Friday, November 2 - Monday, November 5th
VIB (20% off with code VIBBONUS)
Friday, November 2 - Monday, November 5th
Insider (15% off with code BIBONUS)
Friday, November 16 - Monday, November 19th
Insider (15% off with code BIBONUS)
Friday, November 16 - Monday, November 19th
And of course, my personal recommendations!
1) Fresh Rose Face Mask ($25/1 oz, $62/3.3 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $20/1 oz, $49.60/3.3 oz) 2) Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil ($72/1 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $57.60/1 oz) 3) Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base ($60/1.7 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $48/1.7 oz)
I haven't gotten around to writing the full post comparing Fresh's Rose Mask to The Body Shop dupe, but in my opinion Fresh's is just better. It's unscented and seems to do that whole "brightening/moisturizing" thing better, which I can't explain, but it's true enough that I plan to give in and get the full size this time around. And that "it's just better" feeling also extends to the Biossance Squalane + Rose Oil, which I found myself using the most when I took my makeup off before working out - I could press this into my skin as a kind of "one and done" before yoga, and the wonderful smell made the already great experience, better. It's stupid expensive but I love it, so I can't give you a more logical reason for why you should try it yourself, lol. To round out my skincare picks, I've loved the BB Face Base since I got a mini as a 100 pt perk at least a year ago. But despite it's initially matte dry down, I often felt like that on my oily skin it was still a bit too much moisture - until I found the perfect foundation to pair it with. Plus, I use so little of this everyday that it's going to last FOREVER, which at this price point makes me very happy.
1) Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Aqua Nude Foundation ($49/1 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $39.20/1 oz) 2) Charlotte Tilbury Airbush Flawless Finish Face Powder ($45/0.28 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $36/0.28 oz) 3) YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara ($29/0.28 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $23.20/0.28 oz)
Let me start off by saying I recognize the truly stupid color range of Guerlain foundations. Their undertones tend to run very strongly pink or orange, and the Lingerie de Peau Aqua Nude seems to oxidize while still being slightly too light, but when mixed with Clinique's bronzing gel it has quickly become my holy grail foundation. Why? BECAUSE ITS MARKETING IS A BIG FAT LIE. This foundation is not moisturizing or hydrating or anything else that would imply good for dry skins. It's super light in coverage, fragranced, and clings to dry patches like a motherf*cker. But on my super oily skin (& with the Face Base) it gives me the perfect level of "there but not there" coverage (in the words of one Blue Mercury employee, my skin looked airbrushed), and resists moving around all day - even after blotting off oil! If you can find a color that works for you, and have oily or super well hydrated skin, then I recommend it.
The next two makeup recommendations are some long term loves. The Charlotte Tilbury Powder (I comfortably wear shade #2) is just beautiful - BEAUTIFUL. It sets makeup but doesn't look like *powder*, you know? The only reason I'm not repurchasing is because I'm trying make my way through two other loose powders, and if I buy this I won't use either of them. And the mascara is one that I'm finally satisfied to say is another holy grail: I get volume, length, and super dramatic lashes without edging over into clumpy (you can check out a detailed review here). Now the downside is that The Shock dries out about as fast as any other YSL mascara I've tried, which while may be hygienic, makes my wallet cry.
1) DevaCurl Light Defining Gel ($10/3 oz, $22/12 oz, $44/32 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $8/3 oz, $17.60/12 oz, $35.20/32 oz) 2) Alterna Replenishing Moisture CC Cream ($29/3.4 oz | 20% Off Sale Price: $23.20/3.4 oz)
Ok, and to close this mammoth (sorry) post out, I wanted to list just a few gift sets that you might be interested in keeping an eye on:
1) Sephora Favorites - Glow For It ($28 | 20% Off Sale Price: $22.40) , Best Hair Ever ($25 | 20% Off Sale Price: $20) , & Party Hair Styling Spray Collection ($35 | 20% Off Sale Price: $28); The Sephora Favorite kits are some of my favorite, and are a great way to introduce friends (or yourself) to a bunch of different products at one time. Plus, they're always perfect traveling size, so sometimes I'll leave a product at work and throw it in my travel bag so I'm not always decanting stuff.
2) Tatcha Skincare For Makeup Lovers Obento Box ($64 | 20% Off Sale Price: $51.20); I'm not actually sharing this one because I'm a huge Tatcha fan (I actually find their products very hit-or-miss), but because so many other people swear by them, and this is a really great kit. You're getting very good sized minis of some of their most popular products (& their new Silk Canvas primer), without a huge investment.
3) Drunk Elephant Out of Office ($25 | 20% Off Sale Price: $20); I actually love this little set (& will probably be getting it for myself) because all three products are ones I've been interested in trying! This is another brand that I find slightly hit-or-miss, not because anything's particularly bad, just that I sometimes feel like it should do more at the price point.
4) ALTERNA Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Jumbo Kit ($99 | 20% Off Sale Price: $79.20); I'm only including this because of how much I love the CC Cream - it has me intrigued about the rest of the line, especially because the Davines curl specific conditioner is poop and I'm annoyed I spent any money on it.
WAIT. Ok, I know I said I was done, but I have one more recommendation for the Sephora sale - MAKE SURE TO USE EBATES. Sephora hovers regularly between 4-8% cash back, and that is no small discount when combined with the Beauty Sale (& feel free to use my link if you haven't already signed up - spend $25 and immediately get an extra $25 for you and for me).
Also, also, despite how exciting this deal feels, it might not actually be the way to save the most money on your favorite brands. Goals to Get Glowing has put together an amazing database that shoppers can use to find which online retailers carry which brands, and sometimes the discounts those other providers offer top this 20% off. I'd say get excited about this sale, but be smart about what discounts are actually worth taking advantage of right now.
but was it worth it though?
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 • G.H. Bass & Co, HandM, HM, LOFT, Lucky Brand, Neiman Marcus Last Call, OOTD
The cost of this outfit post is at least $68, since that's the estimated cost to repair the LCD screen that broke when the wind knocked my tripod back (+ shipping). I'm pretty salty about this, but I'm going to try and find joy in the fact that this outfit, which took me longer than I'd like to admit to put together, makes me very happy.
I'm having a hard time with my wardrobe lately, I'm continuing to feel like less and less of it fits the person I want to be while also finding nothing else out there in the stores to replace it with, but today, this sweater/jeans/loafer combo feels very much like me.
You know, despite the f*cking cost I'm going to have to bear to share it.
I'm having a hard time with my wardrobe lately, I'm continuing to feel like less and less of it fits the person I want to be while also finding nothing else out there in the stores to replace it with, but today, this sweater/jeans/loafer combo feels very much like me.
You know, despite the f*cking cost I'm going to have to bear to share it.
"Fall" in DC
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 • apple picking, Free People, Kate Spade, larriland farm, OOTD, Seychelles, the adventures of dana
I don't know how to explain apple picking in 90 degree weather and sunflowers so....I'm just going to let these pictures speak for themselves, lol. Also, as beautiful as Larriland Farm was, how dare you have a market with no apple-centric baked goods! BLASPHEMY I say.
Jumpsuit: Free People (Size Large, old) ~ Sandals: Seychelles (Size 9, old) ~ Purse: Anthropologie (old, similar) ~ Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old)
Geek of the Week #44
Friday, October 12, 2018 • Geek of the Week
// I had actually never heard of Innuendo Studios before this io9 article, but damn this 8 part series on Mad Max: Fury Road is epically awesome.
// I love that John Legend is so beloved that even the Jezebel Scrooges can't nasay his upcoming Christmas album, lol.
// I'm just leaving this here if you're like me and feeling constantly rage-y about the current state of the U.S.....
// I blame Epbot for this obsession, but storyofthedoor on Etsy is blowing my mind right now.
// Voldemort as a burlesque performer is both the coolest and most terrifying thing I've seen today.
Fun Posts & Random Finds: Loved this outfit planning hack from A Beautiful Mess. // Did you see that Atlantic Pacific is coming out with a collection with Nordstrom?! // LeBron James Continues His Quest to Be the Blackest Athlete in Pro Sports // "For The First Time In 55 Years, A Woman Has Won The Nobel Prize In Physics" // Read the First Two Chapters of In An Absent Dream, Seanan McGuire’s New Wayward Children Novella (this is an amazing series, even if so far I've been too chicken to read the prequels)
Clothing & Jewelry: I keep hearing wonderful things about these "vintage inspired" Madewell jeans and I am sorely tempted... // Since this is the season where I start thinking about Nightmare Before Christmas for all things, may I share with you this amazing cardigan and hoodie dress, BOTH of which come in plus sizes?! // I'm trying to keep myself away from anymore sweater purchases, but this oversized turtleneck is amazing, and this crewneck from Grana looks intriguingly well fitting (& is $99! For cashmere!)...
// I love that John Legend is so beloved that even the Jezebel Scrooges can't nasay his upcoming Christmas album, lol.
// I'm just leaving this here if you're like me and feeling constantly rage-y about the current state of the U.S.....
// I blame Epbot for this obsession, but storyofthedoor on Etsy is blowing my mind right now.
// Voldemort as a burlesque performer is both the coolest and most terrifying thing I've seen today.
Fun Posts & Random Finds: Loved this outfit planning hack from A Beautiful Mess. // Did you see that Atlantic Pacific is coming out with a collection with Nordstrom?! // LeBron James Continues His Quest to Be the Blackest Athlete in Pro Sports // "For The First Time In 55 Years, A Woman Has Won The Nobel Prize In Physics" // Read the First Two Chapters of In An Absent Dream, Seanan McGuire’s New Wayward Children Novella (this is an amazing series, even if so far I've been too chicken to read the prequels)
Clothing & Jewelry: I keep hearing wonderful things about these "vintage inspired" Madewell jeans and I am sorely tempted... // Since this is the season where I start thinking about Nightmare Before Christmas for all things, may I share with you this amazing cardigan and hoodie dress, BOTH of which come in plus sizes?! // I'm trying to keep myself away from anymore sweater purchases, but this oversized turtleneck is amazing, and this crewneck from Grana looks intriguingly well fitting (& is $99! For cashmere!)...
simple additions
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 • Anthropologie, DL1961, Eileen Fisher, Free People, LOFT, Missoma, OOTD
With these boots I've officially decided I'm not going to keep trying black ankle booties. I like them on everyone else, which in theory would imply I'd like them on myself, but alas. On me all I see are boots that make my legs look short and wide, which is not really what I'm going for. And it doesn't matter what I've worn with them, the color or length of the jeans, or the top. It is what it is. But does that mean I don't enjoy these relatively recent Free People purchase? Hell no, because they're comfortable and have a slightly longer base to protect the pointed tip of the boot which, by the way, is GENIUS. What this new information does do is let me know that there will be no Acne Jensen or other boots in my future, because the style doesn't make me happy enough for a real investment.
In another tale of "Dana over analyzes past purchases", we have this Eileen Fisher top. I bought it during a phase of admiration for true minimalist bloggers, in an attempt to emulate the particular type of neutral/clean lines/etc characteristics that they look for in pieces. In the end I'm not sure I was spectacularly successful. This top is comfortable, but the for the price I can't help but feel delicate with it, and I'm just waiting for the day when the armpits take on that dreaded yellow tone. And I feel like the neckline isn't as flattering as it could be, since I really only wear this top when I'm able to wear my hair down, the help frame things better. All in all I'm mostly glad that I bought it so I could experiment with the look, but the more I follow ethical/minimalist bloggers, the more I become convinced that I'm too attached to more a culturally mandated sense of "flattering" for it to actually become part of my look long term.
In another tale of "Dana over analyzes past purchases", we have this Eileen Fisher top. I bought it during a phase of admiration for true minimalist bloggers, in an attempt to emulate the particular type of neutral/clean lines/etc characteristics that they look for in pieces. In the end I'm not sure I was spectacularly successful. This top is comfortable, but the for the price I can't help but feel delicate with it, and I'm just waiting for the day when the armpits take on that dreaded yellow tone. And I feel like the neckline isn't as flattering as it could be, since I really only wear this top when I'm able to wear my hair down, the help frame things better. All in all I'm mostly glad that I bought it so I could experiment with the look, but the more I follow ethical/minimalist bloggers, the more I become convinced that I'm too attached to more a culturally mandated sense of "flattering" for it to actually become part of my look long term.

Jacket: Anthropologie (Size Large, Old) ~ Top: Eileen Fisher (Size Medium, old, Similar, And a very cute option in Black!) ~ Jeans: DL1961 (Size 31, Similar) ~ Boots: Free People (Sized up to a 9.5 b/c they fit a tad narrow) ~ Necklace: Missoma ~ Sunglasses: LOFT ~ Watch: Ebay (Similar)
Friday Book Club #17 *Super Sized Edition!*
Friday, October 5, 2018 • Friday Book Club
The Third Circle by Amanda Quick
Attempting to recover a relic stolen from her family years ago, gifted crystal worker Leona Hewitt secretly makes her way into Lord Delbridge’s private museum. But who she finds there is more entrancing than the crystal she seeks.
Thaddeus Ware is a mesmerist with powerful psychic energy—that doesn’t seem to be affecting the woman before him. Instead, Leona seems to exert a rather hypnotic power over the hypnotist himself. After she gives him the slip, absconding with the crystal they recovered, Thaddeus fears for her safety. For he is on assignment for the secretive Arcane Society and knows that the crystal holds the potential for great destruction. It is the key to Lord Delbridge’s membership in a shadowy group known as the Third Circle. The nobleman killed before to acquire the crystal, and Thaddeus has no doubt that he will kill again.
My Thoughts: You know, I generally enjoy Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick quite a bit but I picked this up because of a Kindle sale and it wasn't really my favorite. The beginning was slower than I expected and the characters lacked a bit of the initial charm that sucks you in. I almost took a break for other reads, but I persevered and happily things got better for Leona and Thaddeus. Krentz/Quick/Castle strings a lot of her worlds together so while I wasn't sure exactly where installment this fell in the overall universe (I could have looked it up, I'm not that invested) I was able to pick it up as a stand alone just fine. In the end I'd say it was a fine sale purchase but Quick has better historical paranormals, so maybe try one of those? Or her futuristic paranormals as Castle (love those!).
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.
Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rule breaker in the making.
He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.
My Thoughts: Uh, so, yeah, Nalini Singh. She's an author I love unabashedly and her contemporaries run neck and neck with the Psy-Changeling books as some of my favorites. I say that to preface all the gooshy love feelings I have about this book. She's done an incredible job of making Nayna and Raj real as people, ones with commitments to themselves and their families, and thus navigating their way to a real HEA isn't always easy. But there are those lovely REAL TALKS ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS conversations that happen, compromises on both sides, and smart ways of incorporating their loved ones opinions in a respectful way. It's awesome, I love it, go read it (but maybe start with Cherish Hard? It'll give you good backstory AND it's good as a contemporary romance in and of itself).
The Witches Walk by Jeanne Adams
Welcome to Haven Harbor, Massachusetts!
In 1691, a group of renegade witches fled Salem in the dark of night, escaping the desperate evil that spawned the Witch Trials. They struck out to form their own town, with their own rules. Three hundred years later, their descendants celebrate by retracing those steps, but this year, a new evil stalks the Witches Walk…
It’s Time for The Witches Walk!
She’s got a plan. Burned out, beaten down, and on the brink of a career implosion, event management dynamo Mari Beecham bypasses the contract of a lifetime to take a job in a community known for its strange, spooky happenings. She doesn’t buy into the story line about the witches founding the town, but it’s great publicity. Bottom line? If she can make the annual Witches Walk a top destination event, she’ll save her career and, maybe, find some balance. She’ll do it, too, if “First Son of Haven Harbor” Peregrine Hestworth will stop interfering.
He’s in her way. As Town Council chair, Pere is serious about the safety and welfare of his people. He doesn’t want to like Mari. Even if he didn’t suspect his meddlesome mother of weaving a matchmaking spell, he still would have voted against hiring the petite whirlwind with a spine of steel. His visions of fire and death moving to Haven Harbor along with Mari are too deadly to ignore.
As trouble brews and the event stalls, the attraction between Mari and Pere bubbles like a cauldron. When a woman is attacked, and another disappears, Pere knows his unreliable foresight has hit the mark this time. An old evil is rising, with a new vendetta, and if they can’t work together, the devastation Pere foresees will take his town, along with the woman he’s coming to love.
My Thoughts: I picked this up with a bunch of others while I was sitting in an Urban Fantasy track panel at DragonCon. There's nothing like hearing an author talk about how they crafted his or her world to make you passionate about trying them yourself, and I think this is a series I would enjoy diving into! I liked Mari's strength as a heroine even when she was thrown into unfamiliar circumstances, because I don't think that I would be as cavalier to find myself amidst "honest to god with powers and everything" witches (plus, you know, murders and all that). The supporting characters are actually what I think made this so much more interesting to read, because a small time setting helps orientated you and Mari into the politics and history of the town, which is integral to moving this book and the series forward. I'm also happy to report that the romance is a good balance between "love at first sight" and "grow to love each other" with a growly, protective hero, so I'm looking forward to starting the next one!
The Mountain's Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
The hot new behavioral disorder. A family curse.
The disgraced scientist who has to find the connection before she becomes the next victim.
Joanie Fisher’s career is sabotaged just when she is about to hit the mother lode of all medical discoveries. One step from discovering the origin of a Chronic Lycanthropy Syndrome outbreak and ten steps ahead of other researchers, her hard work was not only paying off, but gaining the wrong kind of attention. She may have been forced to leave her position, but her research follows her to the estate of her missing grandfather.
Ensconced deep in the Ozark Mountains at Wolfsbane Manor, Joanie’s life takes another sharp turn. When a sexy werewolf seeks her help, Joanie finds herself in the middle of the mystery of missing local children and a chilling family curse. When Joanie discovers the truth, it may be too late to stop a devastating epidemic with no cure…
The Mountain's Shadow is the first book in the Lycanthropy Files, an urban fantasy series with the bite of a medical thriller. If you like hair-raising mysteries, complex characters, and stories that blend science and magic, then you'll love Cecilia Dominic's transfixing tale.
My Thoughts: This was another "heard the author speak at DragonCon" purchase, but unfortunately it didn't work for me as well as the previous one. The pieces are all there to for a paranormal romance I'd really enjoy, but I think it was the characters themselves that put me off. They weren't exactly not sympathetic, but I didn't end up liking them all that much either, which made rooting even for the main couple difficult. This is definitely a "your mileage may vary" read in my opinion, so while it wasn't my cup of tea, the mystery was interesting and the action well paced, so you may want to try it for yourself.
I'm Looking Forward To:
Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal by Forthright (October 22, 2018)
She wasn’t aware of her gift’s significance, yet he expects to be courted.
Kimiko enrolls at the In-between’s prestigious new high school, which is designed to promote the integration of the human and inhuman races. As a reaver, she’s supposed to act as peacemaker, bridging a formidable cultural gap, but the other two members of her triad don’t need any help in that department. Akira and Suuzu have been friends since middle school. Instead, the boys must rally behind Kimiko when she inadvertently initiates a courtship with Eloquence Starmark.
The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (October 26, 2018)
In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction.
The cabin should be empty.
It's not.
Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.
Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears.
Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible.
Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.
Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh (October 30, 2018)
Midnight and dawn, Elena’s wings are unique among angelkind—and now they are failing. The first mortal to be turned into an immortal in angelic memory, she’s regressing. Becoming more and more human. Easier to hurt. Easier to kill.
Elena and Raphael must unearth the reason for the regression before Elena falls out of the sky. Yet even as they fight a furious battle for Elena’s very survival, violent forces are gathering across the world. In China, the Archangel Favashi is showing the first signs of madness. In New York, a mysterious sinkhole filled with lava swallows a man whole. In Africa, torrential monsoon rains flood rolling deserts. And in Elena’s mind whispers a haunting voice that isn’t her own.
This time, survival may not be possible…not even for the consort of an archangel.
Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews (November 6, 2018)
Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.
Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.
To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.
is there value in investment pieces?
Tuesday, October 2, 2018 • & Other Stories, Coach, LOFT, Lucky Brand, Madewell, Missoma, OOTD, Reformation
Spring boarding off last week's post, I wanted to circle back to this Reformation blazer that I bought in May. I realized recently that it may seem like I didn't like it, or that it hadn't ended up being as useful as I'd reviewed it to be, because it hadn't showed up on the blog again after the original post. In reality what had happened is that I brought it with me to work one day and just never took it back home, lol. Day after day it became my go-to summer topper in a too cool office, no matter what the actual outfit was. And I'm sure there were some relative hit and misses from this experimentation, but it helped me visualize a ton more combinations than I would have initially reached for, so it was a happy accident.
I've found myself in a bit of a style shift, and as such I'm reluctant to invest too much in any one particularly piece. And at $228 I do consider this blazer/jacket an investment - thankfully one I'm not bored with, lol, but it's a risk any one of us takes when we decide to put extra funds into a purchase. I think each person should craft their own investment piece rules, and keep them flexible as their circumstances change. I love the opportunity to try out a new style or piece to see if it feels like "me", but I'm not going to do that at a high price point (not until I'm absolutely sure it IS me) and that's ok. The current fashion/closet/wardrobe conversation is focusing a lot on the dangers of fast fashion and the value of ethical clothing, but those options aren't attainable for everyone, the styles aren't desired by everyone, and the sizes don't actually exist for everyone, so deciding a new road forward was the best option for me. So that's ultimately what I'd recommend - critique your style and closet for the life you're living now and how you'd like to live it in the future, without getting bogged down in the parameters outlined by the "experts".
I've found myself in a bit of a style shift, and as such I'm reluctant to invest too much in any one particularly piece. And at $228 I do consider this blazer/jacket an investment - thankfully one I'm not bored with, lol, but it's a risk any one of us takes when we decide to put extra funds into a purchase. I think each person should craft their own investment piece rules, and keep them flexible as their circumstances change. I love the opportunity to try out a new style or piece to see if it feels like "me", but I'm not going to do that at a high price point (not until I'm absolutely sure it IS me) and that's ok. The current fashion/closet/wardrobe conversation is focusing a lot on the dangers of fast fashion and the value of ethical clothing, but those options aren't attainable for everyone, the styles aren't desired by everyone, and the sizes don't actually exist for everyone, so deciding a new road forward was the best option for me. So that's ultimately what I'd recommend - critique your style and closet for the life you're living now and how you'd like to live it in the future, without getting bogged down in the parameters outlined by the "experts".
Blazer: Reformation (Size Large) ~ Shirt: Madewell (Size XL, Old) ~ Jeans: Lucky Brand (Size 32/14, Old) ~ Shoes: & Other Stories (Old) ~ Purse: Coach (Thrifted) ~ Necklaces: Missoma (One & Two) ~ Sunglasses: LOFT ~ Watch: Ebay (Similar)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)