Goooooood morning! Ya know…I can’t remember the last time I actually surfed — like, got on a board and paddled out into the ocean. It’s been years!
I would like to remedy that situation soon, ideally in a warm body of water.
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I realized taking a look at my calendar this morning that June is a little over two months away. Can you believe it?? That implies summer is getting close, and yay, warm weather! Yay, no much more oppressive pants and socks!
Last year I didn’t shop ahead of time and ended up getting a last-minute new swimsuit that was pretty cute, but it wasn’t my favorite, so this year I’m starting early, and this isn’t just something I’m doing with swimsuits. I’m trying to be better about not saving tasks for the last minute.
So, I’ve been researching swimsuits, and my main criteria are that 1) they can endure active toddler grabby hands, 2) are mom-body friendly, and 3) are modest but not matronly. in some cases I see tankinis and one-pieces, and I feel like they cover a little too much. Like, I don’t mind a bit o’ booty cheek hanging out, ya know? Anyway, I’ve been looking around a lot and asking friends for suggestions, and these are the ones I’m currently deciding among…
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The first is this blue and white tankini by Athleta. They do lots of sporty suits, and I’m feeling this blousy top. It has ties on the sides that you can loosen to make the top extend downward, and then the suit looks practically like a small dress.
Super cute, right? I would pair it with the matching reversible bottoms.
I also like this cherry print one-piece halter by Esther Williams.
It’s so vintage retro surfer girl. (It also looks like it holds everything in.) and even though it covers up a lot, it doesn’t look stuffy.
I really love the colors in this one-piece by Maaji. I also love the mixed prints and the ties on the sides and the back, but I’m scared everything would hang out, ya know? I kinda need help keeping everything in place, LOL!
We have a pool in our complex, and I really want to take advantage of it this summer. I also want Connor to delight in it, so I’m going to enroll her in toddler swim classes in April.
No, Tabs will not be the instructor.
Anywho…while I go entertain much more deep thoughts about swimsuits (do you have one you really like?), here are some articles that caught my eye this week.
Best beauty-related short article I read this week: this one in The Atlantic on skin care. It talks about how for numerous of us, our faces have become an at-home science experiment. We gather data both in person and online about products, and then endure trial-and-error experiments with cleansers, toners, moisturizers and serums, all in the pursuit of ideal skin.
“Cosmetics are innocent until proven guilty,” the short article states. “Their ingredients don’t have to be proven safe, or effective. even if a particular ingredient has some evidence behind it, cosmetic producers aren’t required to show that the ingredient works in that product’s particular formulation, or at that particular concentration. Often, the only way to figure out if something works is to try it. The skin-care landscape is vast, overwhelming, and shimmering with mirages. but much more and much more people are trying to navigate it.”
Yup.
These new nail primers by OPI are expected to pull double responsibility by extending the life of your polish up to 11 days, and by also strengthening your nails.
An 11-day manicure sounds like a dream to me. I currently use a combo of Essie grow stronger Base coat and Dior Gel coat topcoat and get about a week’s worth of wear with them, which is fantastic for me, but 11 days sounds better!
Anyone want to go to Ulta? best now? LOL!
Speaking of nails, the nail scene in new York is the place to go if you want some seriously bejeweled, bedazzled and bespoke talons. clients travel from as far away as Australia to visit Jenny Bui, who’s known as the “Queen of Bling” and for her signature stiletto nails that are studded with fancy designs and Swarovski crystals.
I could never regularly wear nails like this because the instant my fingernails start to feel like they’re getting long I’m rendered non-functional. I like my nails short, short, SHORT, but I’d love to do the crystal talons in the top picture just once for fun.
I guess it isn’t unexpected that new York is a major hotbed for boundary-pushing nail art, because the first U.S. nail beauty salon opened in Manhattan in 1878 (!).
That’s just one thing I learned from this post about the history of well-manicured nails in America during the turn of the century.
“Things were changing during the turn of the century, when the bourgeoisie was no longer an exclusive, card-carriers-only club. ‘Fake it ’til you make it’ was a real option now, and with the help of makeup, anybody could change their identity and rise above their station. Hands revealed where you fell in the social hierarchy, and not looking like you were a second-generation washer woman with cracked skin and chipped nails could allow you to climb the social ladder. It would help you apply for better apartments, answer notices for much more middle-class jobs, and even date wealthier men — the kind who would introduce you to the best people over champagne and send boxes of couture to your door.”
I’m obsessing a little (OK, a lot) over the looks of this new clean charm makeup line by ever Skin. I’m digging the rose gold packaging and the everyday colors in the cheek and eye palettes (but why are they $68, though?!). The line’s whittled down to the essentials, which the brand defines as mascara, gloss, a brown pencil, a palette with blush and eyeshadow, and three brushes.
This is exactly the kind of makeup I love to do and wear — easy, fast, elegant.
In case you were wondering, actor Daniel Kaluuya, who starred in get Out and Black Panther, wore Fenty charm to the Oscars, and for some reason this just makes me really happy. Ri-ri’s pro Filt’r foundation was giving his skin LIFE.
Does he like cream or liquid concealer? What are his thoughts on Instagram brows? I really wanna know what Pharrell Williams (a.k.a. the dude who sings the pleased song) knows about makeup, because we might be seeing a new line of cosmetics from him soon.
Signs also point to him releasing a line of women’s clothing, lingerie and jewelry, too.
Trend watchers are predicting that lavender will be the new blush pink…
A behind-the-scenes look at the elaborate makeup worn by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling in the new movie, A wrinkle in Time.
I gotta say, Reese is rocking that green lip really hard. She looks legit!
Why is blue such a rare color in the plant and animal kingdoms?
Science says that your body language can help you become much more successful, which is why I just started doing this thing called a “power pose.” It sounds silly…and it feels a little silly when I do it, but who knows? It just might help! It only takes two minutes, and you are literally just standing there, so why not?
Nobody puts baby in a corner! Yup, dirty dancing is on Hulu now, and it took me literally two days to re-watch it in 15-minute increments (#momlife) this week.
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Talk to you soon, and delight in the rest of your weekend!
Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,
Karen