BACK ON MY BULLY
I’m sorry it’s literally been 7 months. We’re locking in. I promise.
I come to you with my tail in between my legs after an unintentional hiatus that started off as life getting in the way, then summer, then too much pressure because it’s been a while (then that not being fun which defeats the whole purpose of this) then whatever the hell else I made up in my brain (that’s a rant for another day). So here we are ripping off the band aid. We are backkk babyyyyy.
Today’s rant is kind of my usual nothing super new but a good step back into it (I think) a mix of home, beauty, and you know b.s.
Couple things on my mind:
CLEMENCE MOUNTIAN IS FINALLY COMING BACK. I will not tease what they have coming out for the sake of my friendships but let’s just say there is some good shit and a very good swim staple in there. :) hopefully that doesnt get me in trouble.
The ballet is back. Go support them. Fun activity for the mundane months and gives you an excuse to dress up and go uptown!
Got my first pair of Birkenstocks. I know I’m very fucking late. But omg I cannot take them off!!!!!! Got the mocha color. Who knew. (Apparently everyone else in America except me)
Finally reading again. Currently Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Very into frozen green grapes & morning gratitude lists at the moment.
Fell for a targeted ad on Gap organic cotton long sleeves and let me tell you... They know what they’re doing!!! They have all sorts of fits (for my no torso having girls aka me to my long torso girls & everyone in between!) Different colors. All the things. Great work staples. (Every year I turn more into my mother *good thing!!! don’t come for me)
Considering getting this Buffy body pillow.
Into blowouts again. Not that they ever trullly went out of style but if you know me its hard to get a brush through my hair but a voluminous straight blow out *chefs kiss* after all I am a jersey girl ;)
I am obsesssssseddddddddd with taking baths right now. This mustard bath is my go to at the moment. Dry brushing before and then soaking in this is *chefs kiss. Directions say take a cold shower after (I’m not good with cold showers unless at the spa, so I do cool). Then dry yourself with a rough towel and soak yourself in some lotion (I use the la Roche Posay unscented) and sleep like a fucking baby plus you somehow get what feels like new skin.
If you use a period tracker app, get on Stardust. Woman owned and they will not sell your data like Flo does who is owned by some not so nice males. It has lots of fun astrology stuff, cycle education, you can add friends and lots of other fun features.
Still into my pure lift face zapping gadget and using the cucumber gel instead of the $65 serum they tell you to use. I really believe in this thing because the whole exercising your face muscles situation correlates with gravity which we’ll all inevitably become victim to and I feel like that itself is an investment worth making.
More brow stuff!
(I didn’t realize how much I care/think about brows until now that I think I’ve mentioned them in possibly every post)
This information comes heavily influenced/recommended by Azi (who does pretty much everyone & anyone who has good brows)
Typology peptide serum- this has been my go to twice a day (per Azi). As someone who hasn’t done their eyebrows in literally 10 years thinking I’d reached maximum growth- I was wrong. I have fuller and a lot of new bb hairs bc of this stuff. (It does take a minute for the growth to start but it feels very luxe to have a brow serum. I keep it on my sink as a reminder to do it every time I brush my teeth) pro tip from Azi: put this underneath your brow gel for extra protection and hydration.
Rose Inc eyebrow gel. Ok if you’re not new here you know I am an eyebrow gel freak. This is a pomade serum situation that really keeps everything in place, provides the fluff I look for (the schwarzkopf one got to be a little too intense & wet for me these days, at least for everyday) and DOES NOT FLAKE/CRUNCHY. Also it conditions the hairs which keeps them nice, healthy and full. I use the clear and love the finish. You can actually touch your eyebrows.
Speaking of brows I went into sephora and had myself a little time for the first time in a long time. (That place usually scares me and I reorder my staples online) For context I was feeling inspired to get a new makeup routine “for going out” (looking different than my usual concealer blush mascara vibe)
Here’s what I got:
Merit volumizing pomade brow gel- intense (for moi) bc of the color but she stays put & doesn’t smudge. I will say be careful putting it on (it’d been a minute since I used a product like this & I’m used to going hard with a clear brow gel. Not the case here) Reminds me of a grown up version of Glossier boy brow.
Merit foundation stick (haven’t worn foundation in literal years & I will not lecture you on how good your skin gets after you quit it but I was feeling the need to amp it up!) anyways feels very lightweight and easy to blend with fingers and not too much coverage but also looks like skin. I like a lot.
Merit blush in Fox- love love loveeee!!!!!!!!! this shade for a healthy glow that isn’t too pigmented. Great for throwing in your purse. New staple look alive product for me.
Charlotte Tilbury setting spray (so late but this WORKS!!!!)
Westman Atelier highlighter stick (the mini bc I didn’t wanna spend too many coins) perfect consistency, sparkle but not glittery, very dewy and warms up beautifully on your skin. Again if you’re new here I prefer makeup you can put on with your fingers and throw in your bag easily & this issss it for me right now.
Charlotte Tilbury iconic nude lipliner (again late I know) self explanatory.
Touchland rosewater hand sanitizer - I like how the shape of this feels in my hand. I’m sure there’s some sort of brain relaxation situation associated to this & obvi the smell. (I’m usually a Trader Joe’s lavender girl) So if you wanna treat yourself to a $15 hand sanitizer here ya go.
Charlotte Tilburry pillow talk big lip plumpgasm (lol) plumping lip gloss in medium/deep. The packaging is extra but this stuff really lives up to it’s name. I wore it to work and someone (Joe) asked if I had gotten my lips done.
Dior lip glow balm in 063 pink lilac. Very cute and different than my usual 01.
Obviously very into merit these days & since we’re here I love their bronzing stick.
I’ve been trying out the Sweed beauty lash serum (sometimes I throw it on my brows bc why not) & have really been enjoying it. As of now this and the Make beauty are my fave. Sweed really prides themselves in not having the eye fat burning ingredient in it (prostaglandin which is very scary to me & most lash serums have btw). No dark rings or irritation from both of them btw.
Speaking of eyes, Cali (my beautiful in & out esthetician) put me onto this new eye gel Environ peptide thing. Yes it’s spendy but it feels sooo luxe and plumps you up and you only need a little. I personally will spend this money on an eye product bc I do get dark circles rlly no matter what. Just trying to stay ahead of the game and invest in things like this. (Skip a dinner with the girls and spend the $100 on your eyes instead) also support your local esthetician and purchase skincare products directly from them if you can :)
While we’re on skincare I forgot about the monastery flora serum and have incorporated it into my routine again and my skin just soaks it up. So yummy. Definitely a colder months staple for moi.
Side note I’ve been getting random hormonal zits (very deep and not cute) so obviously I text Cali & she advised I drink the Clear tea that she and Brooklyn based Naturopathic doctor from Masha teas created for this very purpose. This twice a day and this acne treatment really did the job to clear it up.
Trying to save money & not shop (lol) but here are some pieces that I’ve dropped money on for this season and I am justifying it bc I did not do any summer shopping. *editing note- please completely ignore the first half of that sentence. Apparently I am a liar.
Citizens of humanity Miro black jeans- Relaxed fit. Baggy but not frumpy which is very hard for my vertically challenged gals! Got my usual size. Bc of my height they were perfect length might fit cropped for people of more average height. I would size down if you want a tighter fit.
Aritzia sweat pants dare I say… got these black wide leg ones. Classic grey with elastic and might’ve gotten matching hoodies. These sweat pants are so superior that I dont even care that they’re branded. I will die on this hill (for now). They are sooo fluffy inside it’s kinda crazy. Maybe I haven’t bought a pair of nice sweat pants in a really long time but I am blown away. I hear the skims sweats are good. (Might have to do some research for ya’ll)
EVERYONE NEEDS THESE SOFT COZY PANTS. EVERYONE. Please please get these. I have been living in them since I’ve got them. I have the black. They’re soooo soft and comfortable yet luxe feeling? I got the matching top but the pants is where it’s at. FYI this would make a great gift. If there is anything I would like to influence you on it is THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amomento sheer long sleeve in black and grey. Very comfortable and a nice take on a boring long sleeve.
Miu miu x new balance black leather sneakers… I will not speak on this. Sorry not sorry. Miu miu take my money.
Quince cashmere socks, oversized sweater (I sized down), long sleeve sweater, and this shawl that my bestie convinced me I need and she is not wrong.
Chanel denim flats… off TheRealReal. Sue me.
Skims black long sleeve. Ok Ms. Kim knows what she is doing here.
Home stuff
Obsessed with my fucking couch. One of the best purchases I have made in my adult life. So comfortable, washable covers, great delivery. 10/10. My friend has this exact couch and she’s had it for a couple years and it’s still in great condition. It’s probably comfier than my bed.
I really want a moccamaster coffee maker. Everyone I know that has one is obsessed. As much as I love my stove top Moka I really just want a nice drip maker. Waiting for some sort of sale so I can justify the purchase.
I’m on a kitchen gadget buying kick which is pretty fun yet expensive. Just got a handheld electric mixer (I do not have space for a kitchen aid nor do I wanna look at it 24/7). Also got a slow cooker. Random ones of amazon. Nothing fun just the usual Hamilton beach, Cusinart stuff.
Got this print for my bathroom.
I want another Nordic knots rug for my bedroom. This violet one in particular. I will not be committing such crime at the moment.
MARTHA STEWART posted about the brisesel crosswave (I did it first) but all hail queen Martha. If she approves u need it too!!!!! I am still utterly obsessed. (My mom has been using this thing for years) One of my core childhood memories is this thing breaking down & it was either sold out or you couldn’t find it as easily or wtv and my mom made my stepdad hunt one down and we drove to a Best Buy on Long Island (that was far for us jersey girls ok) to buy it on a Saturday & I remember asking an employee if they had the vacuum that also mops and the guy thought I was insane and now here we are.. Ranting on the internet about it. Anyways here’s a link to it on target she’s on sale.
Random but if you need a curtain rod that is not ugly (imo) it took me so long to pull the trigger on a rod I found these pb teen (lol) curtain rods to not be offensive. Very minimal also regular pottery barn has thicker ones if that’s more your vibe.
Farm to people is one of my latest obsessions. It gets me cooking things I usually wouldn’t. I have the biweekly seasonal small produce box thats $25. They bring it right to my door with an ice pack and depending on whats going on with my schedule I’ll sometimes add meat eggs butter etc. You can skip boxes, also you can see what farm they’re coming from and you can cancel at anytime. I obviously love going to the farmers market and getting things straight from the source but sometimes that’s just not my reality. Use code NATALIER46 for $25 off. *Not sponsored just trying to make sure my girlies are eating good. Especially my busy ones.
Still obsessed with Zara home. Some recent purchases: linen shower curtain, hand towels, this basket thing for random shit in my living room (they have lots of great baskets in general), bath mats (I despise any sort of hard or cold modern mat thing no offense to those so I just use these and wash them once a week).
Got this fern living cabinet in red for my bathroom.
Finally got some Tekla sheets. Worth the hype.
Still obsessed with the Roz shampoo & conditioner. I’ve switched out to try new ones and keep going back to this one. It just gives me the right amount of shine and moisture. I have been using the color wow masque (the results outweigh the ugly packaging I promise) in the shower as conditioner (pony tail down) once to twice a week and that really seals the deal without weighing my hair down because of the jelly consistency.
Roz recently released a beautiful rich creamy mask that I’m into.
And that’s that for now!
As always, thanks for reading <3
Xo
so glad u r back pls don't go away again!
Hate to say it, but you need the purple rug