Whether you've reclaimed the word 'bitch' or not, no one wants to be called a basic one. Defined as someone who is tragically un-special, lives for Starbucks' seasonal offerings, watches Gossip Girl on loop once a month, and often says "I'm such a Carrie," it's never been a compliment. We're sorry to break it to you, but according to the internet, ya basic!
But it wasn't until last July that every Ugg lover out there felt fully redeemed thanks to one cleverly-named collection, #MACGirls, that included a Basic Bitch palette in addition to five others (all of which had eight shadows and one highlighter). The products sold out quickly, but MAC is bringing them back — and the squad just got a whole lot bigger.
Ahead, check out the collection, plus three brand-new palettes, that's available starting today on the brand's site.
Basic Bitch
No matter how basic it is, nothing will ever replace the smoky eye as our Saturday night go-to.
MAC #MACGirls Basic Bitch, $39.50, available at MAC.
Classic Cutie
Thanks to Fenty, lavender shadow quickly became the one makeup look we had to try before spring actually sprung. Sadly, this purple palette is already sold out, but if you do eventually get your hands on it, we suggest topping off the shades with a Rihanna-approved eye gloss.
MAC #MACGirls Classic Cutie, $39.50, available at MAC.
Mischief Minx
We're calling it now: Orange will be the color of the summer. With the help of this palette, the peachy hue will soon dethrone red as the raddest shade to rock on your eyes all season long.
MAC #MACGirls Mischief Minx, $39.50, available at MAC.
Power Hungry
We predicted gold would be the sunlit makeup trend everyone has to try this year — and this palette makes it easy to do so.
MAC #MACGirls Power Hungry, $39.50, available at MAC.
Qween Supreme
Glitter undereyes were the fleeting makeup trend to come out of last year's Coachella. Now, we're ready to put the Kira Kira-approved colors back on our lids, not under them, using this baby.
MAC #MACGirls Qween Supreme, $39.50, available at MAC.
Risk Taker
Live the life of a minimalist by day and an '80s club kid by night with a healthy combination of neon bolds and earth tones.
MAC #MACGirls Risk Taker, $39.50, available at MAC.
Rockin' Rebel
Upside-down liner is the trend celebrities can't stop wearing on the red carpet, and some of our favorite looks have been done in blue and metallic. Pro tip: Use a wet shadow brush to get the brightest pay-off on your lower lash line.
MAC #MACGirls Rockin' Rebel, $39.50, available at MAC.
Prissy Princess
These neutral pigments are the most basic combo of the entire bunch. Still, we can't quit the subtle, no-makeup makeup aesthetic.
MAC #MACGirls Prissy Princess, $39.50, available at MAC.
Fashion Fanatic
Pink makeup isn't just for millennials, and it isn't going anywhere. Get on board with this shade curation.
MAC #MACGirls Fashion Fanatic, $39.50, available at MAC.
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It can be difficult to measure the sincerity of those who work in sales. Do they really believe in the thing they're selling, or are they just trying to make enough bucks to win a bonus, a trip to the Caribbean, perhaps a shiny baby-pink SUV? Of course, the answer can be both, but it's a hell of a lot easier to decipher someone's intentions when the reward for their hard work is... more work. That's the case with Beautycounter, a clean-beauty company with a network of 30,000 consultants. They're not just acting as direct sellers of the brand's skin, makeup, and hair products, all of which are formulated without 1,500 chemicals believed to be questionable or harmful, they're also fighting to change the laws around those chemicals.
If it sounds obvious that potentially unsafe ingredients shouldn't be in the products you're putting on your face every day, then you're more logical than the U.S. government, which has only banned or partially restricted 30 of them (compared to the European Union's ban on approximately 1,400). But don't be so quick to blame the FDA. In order to regulate formulations of personal care products, Congress first needs to pass a law that would give the FDA the power to — and they haven't done that since 1938, back when beauty companies were still peddling mercury as a miracle acne treatment.
Beautycounter has made it its mission to change this and the company is throwing its full support behind the Personal Care Products Safety Act (PCPSA), a bipartisan bill cowritten by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) that aims to promote transparency in the industry and give the FDA more authority over cosmetics safety regulations. The bill may be up for a vote later this year, and Beautycounter is making every effort to ensure it passes, largely through lobbying elected officials.
That's where the big prize for the consultants comes in: Last week on March 5, 100 Beautycounter sellers found themselves lobbying on Capitol Hill, having won the opportunity as a result of being the two highest sellers in their respective state. Sure, they got a nice hotel stay, a gift bag, and a couple Champagne-fueled dinners, but they were really there to shuffle from meeting to meeting for eight hours straight, sharing their personal stories — of cancer, chemical reactions, concern for their children and the environment — in hopes of convincing senators of the importance of the bill. For many, it was the first time they'd ever lobbied, and a number of the women said upfront that they didn't consider themselves political. And yet here they are.
Beautycounter consultants head into a meeting with a senator's staffers.Photo: Courtesy of Beautycounter.
Even in the age of the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter, and national school walkouts, very few brands are building a business model around social activism. Beautycounter is certainly an outlier, especially among the direct-selling set. Mary Kay has teamed up with Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) to draft legislation opposing the PCPSA; The CEO of SeneGence International, distributor of the popular LipSense product, was a top donor to the anti-regulatory Trump administration. (Among the LipSense sellers we talked to, most preferred to keep business and politics "separate.")
But Beautycounter founder and CEO Gregg Renfrew never considered creating a company without a social mission when she started out just five years ago. "Advocacy is a core part of our brand, and our work is making a significant impact on peoples’ lives. We have created a unique opportunity for women and men to earn an income while simultaneously having significant social impact," she says. "It's empowering to realize that your voice can be heard in the halls of Congress, and to know that together our voices will change an industry."
The brand's representatives are proof that political action can work as an incentive to move product, even more than flashy jewelry and trips. Stephanie Cahill, a consultant in New Hampshire, is an oncology nurse and mother of a son with special needs who is passionate about regulating carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemicals in everyday products. "I'm not one to be motivated by material things such as earning a car, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience to participate in the democratic process on Capitol Hill was incredibly motivating and taught me how easy it is to set up an appointment with your elected officials, and how much they value hearing from their constituents," she says. (While there, Cahill asked staffers what convinced New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan to co-sponsor the bill and was told that the 30+ calls, emails, and letters to the office over a year helped her realize that the issue mattered.)
When I returned home from D.C., the first thing out of my daughter's mouth was, 'Mommy, did you change the world?'"
Alabama consultant Lynn Cooper created a business plan specifically to win the trip, because she wanted to leave "an impactful and long-lasting legacy" for her children and generations to come. "You cannot put a price tag on those things," she says. "The example I am setting for my children is immeasurable. When I returned home from D.C., the first thing out of my daughter's mouth was, 'Mommy, did you change the world?'"
Needless to say, these aren't the Avon ladies as imagined in Edward Scissorhands. There's a drank-the-Kool-Aid vibe to any organized group, though, and Beautycounter isn't completely immune — 100 smiling, conventionally attractive, mostly white women with the same red lipstick and matching totes still looks like a sorority. But this club's different. "Activism is one of the main reasons I joined," Rhode Island consultant Meredith McBride says. "We're not just selling lipstick, we are making history."
Travel and accommodations were provided to the author by Beautycounter for the purpose of writing this story.
With so many delicious dessert options out there, it’s hard to choose just one. That's why so many of our favorites are hybrids or combinations — can you imagine cake without ice cream or pie without whipped cream? As such, we teamed up with DOVE® Chocolate to bring you a dessert that joins the texture of French crepes and the flavor of mocha coffee — all in the shape of a classic cake. Follow the steps below to make one yourself (or two...we have a feeling the first will be gone fast).
Ingredients
For the chocolate crepes... 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 1 cup flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 6 tbsp sugar 1 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt
For the chocolate-coffee whipped cream... 3 cups heavy whipping cream 5 tsp instant espresso powder 3 tbsp sugar 7 oz finely chopped dark chocolate
For the topping... Additional chocolate, melted 1/2 cup toasted, chopped hazelnuts Chocolate shards Powdered sugar
Instructions
1. The night before you plan to make the cake, prep the crepe batter and whipped cream. Combine all the crepe ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.
2. Start the whipped cream: In a medium saucepan, stir together the whipping cream, espresso powder, and sugar. Over medium heat, bring just to a boil.
3. Turn off the heat and add the chocolate to the cream. Let sit for 15 seconds. Slowly whisk the mixture until it is smooth and homogeneous. Once it starts to come together, whisk vigorously. Let cool a bit, then cover the mixture with plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate overnight.
4. The day of, start by making the crepes: Set a 9-inch nonstick pan over medium heat. Add a little vegetable oil or nonstick spray to the pan if you’re worried about the crepes sticking. Pour in 1/4 cup of batter, and spread to completely cover the bottom of the pan with batter. Cook until the bottom starts to brown, about a minute.
5. Using a spatula, flip the crepe and cook until just set, 30 seconds to a minute.
6. Transfer the crepe to a parchment-lined work surface, and then continue until you’ve used all the batter. You should have around 20 crepes.
7. To finish the whipped cream, transfer the mixture to the blender and process until the color lightens and the texture begins to resemble mousse, 1–2 minutes.
8. Assemble your cake: Place one crepe on your serving platter or cake stand, spoon 3 tablespoons of whipped cream on the crepe, and spread it evenly. Repeat the process until you’ve used all the crepes.
9. Top the crepe cake with melted chocolate, hazelnuts, chocolate shards, and a dusting of powdered sugar.
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We've been able to send GIFs on Tinder for just over a month now — and already, more than 20 million have been exchanged between users. The results are in: GIFs are a highly successful way to mack on your match. But some are better than others.
Tinder has found that messages using GIFs are 30% more likely to get a response than a text-only one. But that's not all: Looking at those 20 million messages, they've also been able to figure out which GIFs have the highest success rate. From beloved internet celebs (like Chrissy Tiegen, coming in at 19) and bears (in both 20th and 8th place), there are plenty of options for getting your flirt on.
When in doubt, go with pizza. (If the guy or gal you have your sights on doesn't appreciate a good pizza GIF, it probably wasn't meant to be, anyway.)
Click through to see the top 20 GIFs on Tinder — and start messaging those matches.
20. An adorable waving animal says "cuddly and approachable" — as long as you don't think too hard about the deadly power of wild bears.
Courtesy of Giphy.
19. Chrissy Teigen's meme-worthy facial expressions can convey a number of emotions, but we're not actually sure why this particular expression gets such a high success rate on Tinder — maybe because it acknowledges how awkward the entire online dating experience can be?
Courtesy of Giphy.
18. Speaking of awkward, Austin Powers' somewhat bumbling introduction shows that you don't take yourself too seriously (or maybe that you're just really great with the ladies, fem-bots included).
Courtesy of Giphy.
17. Regina George swiped left on me once. It was awesome.
Courtesy of Giphy.
16. Perfect for the Tinder user hoping to reach (or become) one less lonely girl.
Courtesy of Giphy.
15. We can't say for sure, but we wonder if part of the success of this GIF is due in part to people thinking Brad Pitt himself sent it?
Courtesy of Giphy.
14. This is one way to succinctly convey your interest in drinking.
Courtesy of Giphy.
13. The Kardashian clan is inescapable — even on Tinder.
Courtesy of Giphy.
12. RiRi 's pretty much the queen of cool — and her devious hello wave from the "BBHMM" video may just make you look cool, too.
Courtesy of Giphy.
11. Amy Schumer 's second appearance on the top 20 list is a great way to convey your enthusiasm (and your appreciation for feminist-driven comedy).
Courtesy of Giphy.
10. Hey girl, I know you can't resist this adorable Ryan Gosling GIF.
Courtesy of Giphy.
9. For the discerning Tinder use with a sense of humor.
Courtesy of Giphy.
8. Once again, vicious predators are a win when it looks like they're happy to see you.
Courtesy of Giphy.
7. Don't be afraid to give your Tinder guy a compliment, especially when you can use New Girl to do it.
Courtesy of Giphy.
6. Or use this GIF, which is a gender-neutral way to say, "I swiped right and I'm glad I did."
Courtesy of Giphy.
5. Just imagine what Joey could have done if he could have Tindered his way through all 10 seasons of Friends. We'll never know, but we can still benefit from his charm all these years later.
Courtesy of Giphy.
4. When you're just a Queen Bey looking for your Jay.
Courtesy of Giphy.
3. If you're sending this out to a potential date, you better be prepared to follow it up with an offer of actual pizza (heart shape optional).
Courtesy of Giphy.
2. You know you're a '90s kid if you can't ignore Kelly Kapowski's charms.
But even Kelly Kapowski can't compete with the number one most successful GIF on Tinder...
Courtesy of Giphy.
1. ...Jimmy Fallon making a hey/hay pun. We have to admit, while we find Fallon totally charming (and love a good dad joke), we're not sure why this one is the GIF most likely to get you a response on Tinder.
But the numbers don't lie — so, next time you're looking to really knock it out of the park with a new match, give it a try. Who knows, you may get a response (and gasp, an IRL meeting?).
Courtesy of Giphy.
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Vanessa Trump filed for divorce from Donald Trump Jr. in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday. The New York Daily News noted that the divorce was listed as "uncontested," which means there are no disagreements to be resolved in court.
The former actress and model has been married to the avid hunter and Twitter warrior since 2005, when they hosted a lavish bash for 370 guests at Mar-A-Lago complete with bridesmaid dresses almost as shiny as their teeth. Vanessa's maiden name is Haydon, and there's no word on whether she will continue using "Trump."
On Wednesday, Page Six published an exclusive quoting the couple's friends about why the two are headed for divorce. Some said it's because she feels he spends too much time traveling and she's always home alone with their five kids. (Kai, Donnie, Tristan, Spencer, and Chloe.) Others are concerned about Don Jr.'s increasingly unhinged use of Twitter; he recently liked a hateful conspiracy theory post about a survivor of the Parkland, FL, mass shooting.
"Vanessa is by nature a very low-key person, and she is uncomfortable with the attention her family is getting now that the Trumps are on the world stage," a source told Page Six. "She is also worried for her kids, particularly after she received the threatening letter containing the white powder."
In February, Vanessa was hospitalized as a precaution after opening a letter that was mailed to the couple's Manhattan apartment, addressed to Don Jr., which contained a threat along with a white powder. Eventually, the NYPD said the powder appeared to be harmless corn starch. But the source said, "It was terrifying for Vanessa, who is naturally worried for the safety of her children."
Stephanie Shepherd, Kim Kardashian’s former long-time executive assistant and brand chief operating officer, has been out of the spotlight since moving on from her working for her close friend. Since the (public, albeit quiet) split, Shepherd’s been on several luxurious-looking vacations and has been sharing all sorts of adorable pictures of her and her boyfriend, Apple Music head of content Larry Jackson, on social media. Now that she and Kardashian have squashed the rumors their parting was anything less than amicable, we’re focused on what’s next — and Shepherd is, too.
“I think when you're an assistant everyone wants to know that, like: 'What the heck are you gonna do after this?' And I'm just like, what do you mean?” Shepherd told Refinery29 last May. “And then that starts to put the pressure on me and makes me freak out a little and start to wonder, where is this going? Oh God, how will I ever leave this family? But I've realized that I just need to utilize this position and learn as much from all of these experiences and grow as much as I can. Honestly, I'm just going to see where it takes me. I'm learning. I'm helping Kim Kardashian run her empire. I'm also building something for myself. I think that's a pretty fucking great gig.”
On Thursday, Shepherd announced the first building block of her new gig, her empire: She partnered with jewelry brand 8 Other Reasons on their latest campaign and collection, "inspired by the movement around women’s empowerment." The line features colorful and cool pieces "that are symbolic of strong, independent woman everywhere," with everything priced from $22 to $100.
With her first collaboration under her belt, it's clear Shepherd's post-Kardashian career is off to a pretty stylish start. Click ahead to shop our favorites from the offering.
This story was originally posted on January 18, 2018.
When it comes to someone's Last Will and Testament, it's understandable to see some very specific wishes. Historically, people have even been more concerned with vanity than their do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders — like when Napoleon Bonaparte, prominent military leader during the French Revolution, reportedly requested his head be shaved and hair be made into a bracelet while the rest got divided into pieces and shared between friends and family. But it looks like there's a present-day celebrity with her own hair-specific request: Kim Kardashian West.
On Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kris Jenner went in for reduction surgery on her earlobes. Kim, ever the supportive daughter, accompanied her mother to both the pre- and post-procedure appointments. This means that after the surgery was finished, Kim was there to check out her mom's results — and the whole debacle must have gotten her thinking.
Photo Courtesy of E!
During the appointment, Kim mentioned something that had us gasping more than when we found out about Khloé's pregnancy (which happened in the same episode). "I put it in my will that I have to always have my hair done if I’m, like… cannot… talk to myself or, like communicate," she explained while brushing her butt-grazing hair extensions.
And if you thought Kim being at her mother's side during the post-ops was kind, her next comment might earn her the daughter-of-the-year award: "Mom, I’ll make sure that your hair’s always done. If you don’t know your name, you’ll have great hair." There is nothing like some beauty reassurance to lighten up a morbid moment, are we right?
Alexa Chung has the Midas touch. Following collaborations with AG Jeans and Marks & Spencer, she launched her eponymous brand in 2017 to much fanfare and critical acclaim. Whenever her followers are able to snap up a slice of her 1960s-siren-meets-English-teddy-boy style, they do — fast — and suddenly we're all wearing vinyl trench coats with Mary Janes, or a Mick Jagger-esque pastel suit over a pussy bow blouse.
With news of her first collaboration with Superga, you can expect your shoe collection to grow in size, too. She began working with the brand in 2011 as an ambassador, and now, for spring 2018, she's designed an exclusive capsule collection and is starring in its campaign, which was shot in Los Angeles.
"My mother wore Supergas when I was growing up, so for me they’ve always been a classic shoe and something I have incorporated into my daily wardrobe for years now," Chung said in a statement. "It has been wonderful to return to this brand as a designer working on a collaboration for this season because in the past Superga were one of the first companies to let me art direct a campaign for them. It feels a lot like coming home.”
She's reinterpreted and refreshed the classic Superga silhouette — the 2750, mid cut, and mule styles — adding fabrics like varnish, satin, cotton, and terry towel in shades like off-white, burgundy, and sky blue. With a style for every occasion, there's a shoe to see you through spring and beyond.
Alexachung x Superga Cotu, $111.58, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Cotu, $111.58, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Satin Off-white, $118.56, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Varnish Off-white, $111.58, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Varnish Black, $111.58, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Satin Burgundy, $118.56, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Satin Green Fern, $104.61, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Satin Blue, $104.61, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Terry Towel Off-white, $104.61, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Terry Towel Full Black, $104.61, available at Superga.
Alexachung x Superga Cotu Off-white, $100.43, available at Superga.
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Ikea has been a mainstay in our homes for pretty much our entire adult lives. The unbeatable prices are reason enough to keep coming back, but above all, the brand just seems to get us — and all the struggles that come with living in a small space. Its products are streamlined, flexible, and multi-functional, bringing all kinds of possibilities to even the tiniest of city apartments.
So, just how exactly does Ikea do it? To say that the Swedish brand keeps its ears to the ground would be an understatement: Every year, the brand embarks on an extensive project to figure out the top desires and pain points of its customers. In-home interviews are conducted in 22 countries around the world, on top of surveying over 22,000 people online. Unsurprisingly, limited square footage is an issue that comes up a lot.
"Our customers are common people and many of them have a thin wallet: That often means they live in a small space," says Johanna Jelinek, a designer at Ikea. "With rapid urbanization everywhere and more and more people living in shared homes, this has always been on our minds in the process of creating a new product."
The Life At Home Report, a publication detailing the findings, is compiled to inform the product development team on the top problems that need to be addressed by the new designs. At the launch event for the report at the Ikea design headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden, I sat down with Jelinek to discuss everything small-space related. Since the entire Ikea collection is 9,500-products strong, the designer — who's been with the company since 2002 — hand-picked 10 furniture pieces that would work magic in a cramped home.
Click through for her list of top products that can save you tons of space — and the design anecdotes behind them.
Editor's Note: Travel and accommodation to Älmhult, Sweden were provided by Ikeafor the purpose of writing this story.
According to Jelinek, our basic needs at home are pretty much the same no matter where we live: We need a place to sit, eat, sleep, and store things. "Oh, and most people want a sofa," she adds. These lifestyle similarities — rather than differences — are what the Ikea team focuses on during brainstorming sessions. Modularity thinking has been a main driving force behind the designs, seen in this sectional couch that can be rearranged depending on how you use a room.
When it comes to decluttering, most people still take the "out of sight, out of mind" approach — which is why we all need storage solutions. Ikea was one of the first brands to take notice of the micro-homes trend and dabbled in the concept of vertical storage back in the 2003 catalog.
For a small space, Jelinek says it's best to decide on one surface area for storage and then build up that wall as much as possible. Free-standing storage makes a place feel even more cramped, so make sure there are no "islands" of things. This shelving unit can be mounted to the wall and utilizes vertical space all the way up to the ceiling.
Ikea IVAR Two-Section Shelving Unit With Cabinet, $177, available at Ikea
This rustic-looking chair may not look too compact, but it's sturdy enough to be stacked upon one another. They can be easily piled up in a corner when not in use.
A set of nesting tables is a godsend for small homes, since the desks can be extended or stacked together according to the home activity.
Ikea GRANBODA Nesting Tables, $59, available at Ikea
When designing for a cramped space, it's important to invest in pieces that can do several things at a time. This room divider can be rolled around the apartment, and comes with a wire grid that will make a great home for kitchen appliances, fashion accessories, or even a photo collage.
Ikea VEBERÖD Room Divider, $129, available at Ikea
"Our designs are adapting to a way of living that's no longer static," says Jelinek. With more and more people living in spaces that count as both living room and sleeping quarters, this stackable bed will save up a lot of room by offering room to temporarily place a second mattress. It's kind of like the adult version of a bunk bed.
Ikea UTÅKER Stackable Bed, $427, available at Ikea
"Whenever we design a product, there's always a wish to do things multi-functional," says Jelinek. A perfect example is this stepping stool, which also contains a compartment for magazines.
Ikea VILTO Storage Stool, $29.99, available at Ikea
A sofa is a typically a big piece, but to target the growing millennial generation sharing a home with roommates, Ikea created this compact sleeper sofa. According to Jelinek, this particular daybed was dreamed up for a cozy living room shared between two twenty-something women and their guy friend.
Ikea FLOTTEBO Sleeper Sofa With Side Table, $579, available at Ikea
This mobile coffee table caters to the increasingly fluid lifestyle we live at home. It can be easily moved around and offers additional storage for the living room, bedroom, or kitchen.
Ikea LALLERÖD coffee table, $59, available at Ikea.
Hanging up indoor plants is a great way to instantly open up a space by drawing the eye upwards. This hanging planter does double duty as a basket to store cooking knickknacks without taking up any counter space.
Ikea BITTERGURKA Hanging Planter, $9.99, available at Ikea
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Unless you’re someone who gracefully sits up in bed and stretches as tiny woodland creatures perch on your extended arms and Grieg’s “Morning Mood” plays in the background from invisible speakers — and really, who is? — you may need a little help waking up in the morning. Hell, even self-proclaimed “morning people” can struggle with the transition from drooling dreamer to something resembling a sentient being.
Coffee is the most obvious way to expedite the whole compos-mentis thing, but certain beauty products are a close second (not to mention an excellent complement to coffee) when you’re still groggily half-convinced that you just met Timothée Chalamet on a submarine made of pinecones and need to snap out of it, and into waking life, ASAP. In fact, coffee — or sometimes just the pixie dust that gives it its magical powers, caffeine — can be found in a number of products, thanks not only to its stimulating properties but its other beauty benefits.
Unfortunately, most (though not all) of the products below require getting yourself out of bed before you can use them; you can’t rely on them to physically remove you from the cool embrace of your sheets' ample thread count. But once they make contact with your skin, their ingredients (caffeine and otherwise) will have you looking and feeling more alert, even if you overslept too late to brew a pot.
If you think a splash of cold water to the face is reviving, just wait until you try a blast of cold, fizzy foam to the scalp. This pre-shower treatment helps clear away product buildup with a chilly, bubbling spritz of micellar water and salicylic acid.
Bumble and bumble Bb.Scalp Detox, $34, available at Bumble and bumble.
Infused with mandarin and grapefruit essential oils, this formula is super-invigorating as a body wash, but even more so as a massage oil if you can convince someone more awake than you to to give you a morning rubdown.
Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Bath & Body Oil, $35, available at Cowshed.
— PAID —
A spritz of this new feminine, floral scent — with notes of freesia, jasmine, and sandalwood — will have you ready to take on the day in no time. No matter how little coffee you've had.
This face balm uses proprietary technology — basically a wicked-smart blend of caffeine, peptides, and other fast-working ingredients — to energize your skin. And just in case it doesn’t, it has optical brighteners to help you fake it. We like patting it on after our moisturizer has fully absorbed and before we reach for foundation.
Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Wake Up Balm, $64, available at Estée Lauder.
Yogurt is a fine choice for breakfast, but it’s an even better choice for a cleanser, grandma always used to say. (OK, not really.) This creamy probiotic formula promises to wake up your skin as it turns into a rich foam, whether or not you use it with the Luna cleansing device.
Foreo Awakening Radiance Yogurt Day Cleanser, $30, available at Sephora.
If the coffee in this vegan body scrub doesn’t perk you up, the intense shimmer it leaves behind will. Sugar and salt help the ground coffee beans exfoliate, and itty bitty silver and gold particles stay on your skin to blind thine enemies with radiance.
Frank Body Shimmer Scrub, $19.95, available at Frank Body.
Nothing betrays tiredness like puffy, dull eyes and eyelids that keep shutting against their will. This eye cream won’t help with the latter, but its coffee and ginseng have got the bags and brightening covered.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff, $31, available at Origins.
Body lotion just isn’t going to cut it when you need to moisturize and rally the troops (your troops being your brain cells in this instance). This mousse fizzes and cools upon contact with the skin, so you’re left lightly hydrated and not-so-lightly revitalized.
Philosophy Pure Grace Body Mousse, $39, available at Philosophy.
As if the periwinkle tint isn’t helpful enough with its imperfection-blurring effects, this primer contains ginger, spring water, and a citrus scent to help you feel as awake as it will make you look.
Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer, $38, available at Sephora.
Don’t forget your hands and feet in the quest for consciousness (the bare-minimum kind — not enlightenment). This coffee and sea salt scrub can be used on your extremities any time of day to get your blood really flowing.
Nails Inc. Caffeine Hit Exfoliating Coffee Scrub, $15, available at Sephora.
On the off chance that you simply cannot drag yourself into the shower, these face wipes are fully equipped to cleanse and perk up your face thanks to caffeine-packed matcha. (And no one will judge you if you use them on your entire body when you’re running late — as long as you don’t tell anyone.)
First Aid Beauty Caffeine Matcha Wake Up Wipes, $15, available at Sephora.
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It's not every day our fashion and beauty teams fight over a mailing of 14 drugstore eyeliners. Tom Ford lipsticks? Sure. A collection of new NARS foundations? Of course. But a multi-colored set of crayons that cost less than a movie ticket? Unlikely.
The liners are from C'est Moi — and if you've never heard of that brand before, remember the name because it will be everywhere soon. It just hit Target with a selection of makeup unlike anything else I've seen at the drugstore. The brightly-colored blushes, lipsticks, and palettes are housed in clean, white packaging perfect for an Instagram flat lay. (No surprise that the brand had Gen Z and millennial consumers in mind.) But it's the 14-piece eyeshadow crayons — ranging from matte white to tangerine, baby blue, pale yellow, and lilac — that really had our office buzzing.
These colors may not seem like the easiest to pull off, but after a few days of testing, they've quickly become the go-to items in many of our editor's makeup bags. Why? Because despite the bold shades, they're ridiculously easy to work with. Keep scrolling to see the crayons in action, ahead.
"I usually don't wear eye makeup because I don't feel like I have a lot of lid space to work with, but these pencils make it really easy because you can draw a thick or thin line in just a couple of seconds. Plus, the payoff is amazing and it doesn't slide around or transfer on my oily lids.
"I have the green, blue, red, yellow, and white pencils, but I think the green one is my favorite. Honestly, I'd never worn green liner before, but I just gravitated toward it. It makes me look artsy, sophisticated, and chic — kind of like an art teacher without looking like an art project." — Channing Hargrove, Fashion News Writer
"These pencils are great for anyone who wants to experiment on a budget. They're so bright and malleable that you can do pretty much anything with them, whether you want to wear them all over your lid or just on your lashline. I love that you don't need to invest in a whole palette to get the colors you want. Honestly, I've never found an orange shadow or liner that I actually wanted to wear until this one." — Sam Sasso, Beauty Writer
"I love how easy it is to use these pencils, especially for an eye makeup beginner like myself. I rarely put anything on my lids but one brown shadow, but with these pencils I've branched out and played with colors like white, green, and pink. I'm kind of obsessed with it. It's the perfect look for anyone who isn't very talented with makeup but wants something extra on their eyes." — Nana Agyemang, Associate Content Strategy Editor
"Recently, I've been feeling a tad bit more adventurous when it comes to my makeup routine. Normally, I prefer sticking to black or brown eyeliner,but these colored pencils are to die for. The formula is creamy and pigmented — plus, I love that I can use them to fill in my entire lid on days when powder eyeshadow just takes too much effort. A lazy-girl must-have indeed." — Brianna Arps, Branded Editorial Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor
"I've worn almost every shade from this line of crayons, but my favorites are definitely the tangerine, yellow, and baby blue hues. I normally wear them on my lids solo, but today I decided to etch the pale blue shade across my lid with the help of some defining matte eyeshadow. Even without primer this stuff manages to cling to my lids until evening." — Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer
For many travelers, a trip to a bucket-list city like Paris is the pinnacle of luxury. And whether that encompasses having the luxury of time (i.e. accrued vacation days to max out your stay) or the luxury of a cushy travel fund, there are plenty of reasons a visit can seem out of reach. But with some strategic planning, it's more than possible to explore the City of Lights with a limited budget and timeframe — and have a good time to boot.
To master the 36-hour escape, we've determined one needs to be equipped with the following: First, a list of your absolute must-hit spots, so you can map out a clear and efficient itinerary. Second, a walkable pair of sneakers — like the Wool Runners or new Tree Skippers from Allbirds, which are super lightweight, easy to pack, and go with everything — so you can roam the town comfortably and quickly. We primed R29 director of talent partnerships Marni Katz with both as she set out on her own transatlantic trek to France for a stopover during fashion week. Read on for the highlights (as in, the hippest juice bars, hotels, and sights) that will give any visitor the total Parisian experience, with time to spare.
Styled in Allbirds Wool Runners.Designed by Tristan Offit.
Where To Recharge
The Hoxton, Paris Booking a centrally located hotel means you won't waste precious time shuttling back and forth to your resting quarters — a major win when you're scouting the city in a time crunch. This trendy boutique hotel is within walking distance to many of the city's iconic sights, such as The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Jardin des Tuileries, and Le Centre Pompidou, with room rates starting at €99. 30–32 Rue du Sentier, 75002. T: 33 1 85 65 75 00.
Grand Amour Hotel For one of Paris' more hip scenes, head to Hotel Amour's sister hotel, Grand Amour Hotel. Here you'll find a lush, pink-splashed courtyard to grab yummy eats, eclectic rooms at reasonable rates, and a cast of cool locals you can network with. 18 Rue de la Fidélité, 75010. T: 33 1 44 16 03 30.
Styled in Allbirds Wool Runners.Designed by Tristan Offit.
Where To Fuel Up
Wild & The Moon Start your trip hydrated with a pit stop at local fave Wild & The Moon. This quaint juice bar is stocked with clean eats and nutritious snacks that will keep you energized for a full day of exploring. 55 Rue Charlot, 75003. T: 33 1 86 95 40 46.
Pink Mamma Italian-cuisine connoisseurs and steak-lovers alike will enjoy Big Mamma Group's newest Parisian eatery, Pink Mamma, which is located in south Pigalle. The space is bursting with natural light and greenery, and it spans across four floors with 'grammable backdrops and delicious bites at every turn. Impress whomever you're traveling with by stopping for a meal, or bask in the Italian delights solo for one memorable feast. 20bis, Rue de Douai, 75009.
Andy Wahloo After a jam-packed day, kick back with a cocktail at Le Marais hotspot Andy Wahloo. Take in the red glow of the neon signs by the bar or sip on a classic drink out on the terrace if the weather allows. 69 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003. T: 33 1 42 71 20 38.
Styled in Allbirds Tree Skippers.Designed by Tristan Offit.
What To 'Gram
Merci Get your shopping fix at this charming concept store that boasts everything from a rainbow assortment of men and women's contemporary apparel to home goods, plus plenty of inspiration in between. 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003. T: 33 1 42 77 00 33.
Musée de l'Orangerie Of the many art masterpieces located in Paris, Claude Monet's water lilies series at Musée de l'Orangerie is an absolute must-see. You won't encounter lines as long as those to see the Mona Lisa, and you can stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries right outside before or after your culture hunt. Jardin Tuileries, 75001. T: 33 1 44 50 43 00.
Musée de l'Homme For a breathtaking view of Paris, head to the city's anthropology museum located just across from La Tour Eiffel. If you don't have time to tour the galleries, the exterior and architecture are equally (if not more) stunning as what's inside. 17 Place du Trocadéro, 75116. T: 33 1 44 05 72 72.
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Rep. Louise Slaughter, the first woman to represent Western New York in Congress, has died. She was 88.
The New York Democrat fell at her Washington, D.C. residence last week and sustained an injury, according to her office. She was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where she passed away early Friday morning surrounded by her family.
“To have met Louise Slaughter is to have known a force of nature. She was a relentless advocate for Western New York whose visionary leadership brought infrastructure upgrades, technology and research investments, and two federal manufacturing institutes to Rochester that will transform the local economy for generations to come. As the first chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, Louise blazed a path that many women continue to follow," Slaughter's chief of staff Liam Fitzsimmons said in a statement provided to Refinery29.
He continued, "It is difficult to find a segment of society that Louise didn’t help shape over the course of more than thirty years in Congress, from health care to genetic nondiscrimination to historic ethics reforms. The Slaughter family is incredibly grateful for all the support during this difficult time. Details on funeral arrangements will be provided when they are available."
Slaughter, the only microbiologist in Congress, was also the oldest member of the House of Representatives. She was first elected to represent the Rochester area in 1986.
Throughout her time in Congress, Slaughter was a fierce advocate for women's rights. Some of her accomplishments included being a co-chair and founding member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, establishing the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and co-authoring the landmark 1994 Violence Against Women Act.
Her fellow congresswomen mourned her on social media, many of them calling her a trailblazer and a force of nature.
The amazing, sharp-tongued yet charming and brilliant former Chair of the Rules Committee, @RepLouise has left us. She died with her boots on. I was so lucky to call her my friend and colleague. Her quick wit and Southern drawl were irresistible.
Mourning the loss of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter today. Louise was a trailblazer who paved the way for so many other women in Congress. As the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee, she was a force in our fight for women and working families. She will be missed.
You could not find a sharper mind than Louise Slaughter. She was a truly great leader and I was honored to serve alongside her. Louise was a pioneer and a tireless voice for women. She will be missed by so many.
Very sad to hear of the passing of Rep. Louise Slaughter. My heart and prayers go out to her loved ones. She fought for what she believed in and I always enjoyed our spirited debates. She will be missed here in Congress.
It was my great privilege to serve with Rep. @LouiseSlaughter and to benefit from her friendship and wise counsel for 30 years. Her loss will be deeply felt. May it be a comfort to her family to know that so many around the country mourn with them. https://t.co/sUHsrpPaLApic.twitter.com/jb0xSl9FNm
Successfully wearing ruffles take some skill. Romantic and Little House On The Prairie- like by nature, a ruffled top has rarely fallen into the category of "cool." And though we've found ourselves on the fence about ruffles many times before, the more toned-down ruffles get, the more we're willing to consider adopting them into our wardrobes.
With the western trend seeing another peak season, ruffles are fitting right in, especially with corseted silhouettes. Less Victorian and used more as a final embellishment, ruffles have become a simple detail versus the main event, and the new iterations are a surprisingly good match for a simple pair of bootcut or high-waisted jeans. Styling tip: tucking a ruffle blouse into a pant or skirt will help balance out an overly voluminous top.
While we're still toeing the waters on this one, we can't deny the 15 tops ahead are going straight into our shopping carts. It seems like these ones might just be the antidote to the revival of an extra-ruffly gentility.
Imagine your favorite pimple popping videos in terms of Hollywood movie genres. There's the gruesome slasher, in which the protagonist yields a sharp tool toward (in these instances) lipomas or cysts on a person's back, neck, or face. Blackhead extractions are the parodies: It's hard not to be filled with joy after watching one. Then, you've got your light and painless rom-coms — where the script includes one particularly stubborn figure, some tension, and a happy ending.
"Those are the pilar cysts on the scalp," Dr. Sandra Lee, MD, (a.k.a. Dr. Pimple Popper) explains. The reason you've probably seen an explosion of these videos on her YouTube channel as of late: "They are really common, and some people have more than one. They are fun because they're so easy to do — it's like getting to take a little break at work. It only takes 10 minutes."
Dr. Lee understands why people are drawn to these scalp extractions, of course: "It is a very good visual," she admits. "The wall of this type of cyst is thicker than most, more like the consistency of an olive or the outside of a Baby Bell cheese. You still feel the tension of, 'What's going to happen?' but it always pops out easily."
Ready for a cinematic adventure? Check out some of her best videos, ahead.
Like Dr. Lee said, these cysts tend to be firmer than your regular epidermoid cysts, and are derived from a different part of the hair follicle.
Hold on to your lunch: Here, Dr. Pimple Popper uses her scalpel to remove a garlic bulb-sized cyst.
If you tend to cover your eyes at the bloody scenes in scary movies, this extraction might be especially tough to watch — but the ginormous benign growth is worth watching till the end.
Can't get enough? This clip includes seven different pilar cysts removals — each one as juicy as the next.
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Like most books, those of the coffee table variety take ages to put together. But those that are about fashion take even longer. Like, decades. While they're pretty to look at, it's a feat for designers that is earned — not bought. And when you're capturing a trend that dates back hundreds of years, it takes a village of designers, editors, and contributors to pull it off. It's why Power Mask: The Power of Mask s is a must-have not just for your coffee table, but your fashion library too.
Curated by Walter Van Beirendonck (yes, of the Antwerp Six), the book of masks features works by Diane Arbus, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Thom Browne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Coco Fronsac, and more, thus covering the gamut of art, fashion, photography, and beyond. From the beginning, Van Beirendonck has been inspired by the use of masks and headpieces and has often referenced them in his own collections. It's no surprise, then, that Power Masks carries his byline. But as it turns out, masks are more relevant now than ever before. Take fall 2018 ready-to-wear alone: Gucci, Marine Serre, Richard Quinn (who's featured in the book), Calvin Klein, and more all featured masks. They even appeared on the Dior spring 2018 couture runway.
Why masks are featured throughout the fashion cycle has less to do with wearability and more about feeling. As identities become more interchangeable than ever, so do the things we choose as our armor and what they mean. And a pair of Thom Browne bunny ears can be just as appropriate on a street style blog as it is, say, in the bedroom.
Click through for a snapshot of what you'll find in Power Mask: The Power of Mask s. See you at the next masquerade ball.
Thom Browne, Menswear 2014
Photo: Power Mask: The Power of Masks/Lannoo Publishers.
Tony Saulnier, À Paris, rue Jacob, le dîner des Collectionneurs de têtes 1966
Photo: Power Mask: The Power of Masks/Lannoo Publishers.
Maison Martin Margiela, Artisanal, Lente-Zomer 2015
Photo: Power Mask: The Power of Masks/Lannoo Publishers.
Louise Bourgeois, Untitled 2002
Photo: Power Mask: The Power of Masks/Lannoo Publishers.
Viktor & Rolf, Performance of Sculptures, 18. Haute Couture, Lente-Zomer 2016
Photo: Power Mask: The Power of Masks/Lannoo Publishers.
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Lane Murdock, 15, considers herself a first-time activist, but it seems she's always had a revolutionary spirit.
"When I was younger, I would often write up very small petitions at my school for things I honestly can't even tell you what they were for but I just remember going around the playground and having people sign them," the sophomore at Ridgefield High School in Connecticut told Refinery29 Wednesday in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, where she was a speaker at a rally for gun safety.
Thousands of teens walked out of classes that day, which marked the one-month anniversary since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, which left 17 students and faculty dead.
Lane is the teen behind the National School Walkout, a nationwide protest on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. Unlike the 17-minute walkout on March 14, the April 20 event will last all day and there will be speakers, activities, and voter registration. Before that, thousands of people are slated to participate in the March for Our Lives on March 24 in Washington, D.C., and around the country.
I think when you take that education, plus you take empowerment, kids who believe in themselves plus social media, you add all that together and you've got very smart people with very smart tools.
Her frustration with how quickly our nation seems to move on after mass shootings led her to start a Change.org petition, which as of now has more than 250,000 signatures. Change.org has been helping her coordinate her activist outreach. "I thought a lot about how students have no power, no voice, even though when shooters go into schools, we're the ones who are getting killed. So even though we can't vote, we still have a place in this discussion," she told Refinery29. "I thought about what power we do have and that is our participation in school, that is our actual physical bodies in school if we could walk out, if we could take that small amount of power we do have and let it be known that we weren't going to stand for this anymore. I thought it could be really powerful. So far, it's shown me that I was right," said Lane, who lives in a town just 20 minutes away from Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Though she was very young at the time of the Sandy Hook shooting, Lane said the incident had an impact on her. "I can't remember a lot from that age, but I do remember the specific moment of seeing my mom crying on the couch, I mean it definitely made an imprint on me," she said. "Not a lot has changed since Sandy Hook, and that's actually why I chose the Columbine date — because not a lot has changed since Columbine."
Beyond using social media to bring attention to her cause, Lane said she's arming herself with knowledge of gun policy. "So most of my time, other than tweeting and getting the word out, is educating myself because I'm 15," she said. "I think we're a highly educated generation. I think when you take that education, plus you take empowerment, kids who believe in themselves plus social media, you add all that together and you've got very smart people with very smart tools. And I think that's why we've been able to equip ourselves, because we have the whole world at our fingertips."
Lane, much like the Parkland student activists, is very aware of her privilege, and plans to use it to ensure marginalized groups have their voices heard in this national gun control debate. "You look at other movements by people of color in the early 2000s and the 2010s, and you see how quickly the media turned against them, and now you look at how quickly media has been positive towards us," Lane said. "That's why for me and my team, we're planning on doing a lot more outreach to people of color organizations that have been fighting this fight for a long time, because they deserve the credit for their work."
As for what's next, Lane recognizes the fight for gun safety is just getting started. "My work does not end after April 20th," she said. "We have a lot more things in store.
"I don't exactly know where I'll be in 10 years, but I know I'm not one for settling, so I will not disappear back into, quote-unquote, normal life. I definitely want to do something that's important and something that has a purpose."
If you've ever appreciated how convenient it is for Ulta to launch its biggest sale of the year right around the time your biweekly paycheck cashes, you're not alone. You're also not the only one considering turning your Equinox autopay off just so you can afford a few extra steals in your shopping cart. And now, it's that time again for the retailer's biannual monster sale — and it's loaded with every cult makeup and skin-care product you can think of.
For this season's 21 Days of Beauty Sale, you'll find huge deals on routine staples like Philosophy's Purity Makeup Wipes, Mario Badescu's Facial Sprays, and Tarte's best-selling Lights Camera Lashes mascara. Even better, these sales are both online and in-store, so you can shop whether you're at work or running errands on the weekend. You might want to check your credit card limit now.
The 21 Days of Beauty Sale officially begins March 18 and ends April 7. Click ahead to check out the full 3-week sale calendar.
Earlier this month, the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced that, for the first time in its 37-year history, the CFDA Awards — the annual ceremony often thought of as the Oscars of fashion — will take place at the Brooklyn Museum with Insecure’s Issa Rae, the first female host in six years, emceeing the night. And now we have a good idea who will be in attendance on this memorable occasion. On Thursday, the CFDA announced its nominees for the 2018 CFDA Awards with Candice Huffine, Martha Hunt, Young Paris, Todd Snyder, Irene Neuwirth, and Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse breaking the news on Instagram.
Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, Gabriela Hearst, Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row are nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Simons and Abloh are also nominated for Menswear Designer of the Year, as are James Jebbia for Supreme, Thom Browne, and Tom Ford. For the Accessory Designer of the Year Award, the nominees are Paul Andrew, Stuart Vevers for Coach, Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel, Irene Neuwirth, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row.
Mike Amiri for Amiri, Laura Vassar Brock and Kristopher Brock for Brock Collection, Aurora James for Brother Vellies, Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss, and Sander Lak for Sies Marjan are each nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, one of the most exciting awards of the night as it features some less expected names.
As for the evening's honorees, Diane von Furstenberg will receive the Swarovski Award for Positive Change, Narciso Rodriguez will receive the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, Carolina Herrera will receive the Founder’s Award in honor of CFDA founder Eleanor Lambert, Edward Enninful will receive the Media Award in honor of American fashion writer and newspaper columnist, Eugenia Sheppard, and Donatella Versace will be presented with the International Award.
Tune into the CFDA Awards on June 4 to see who takes home what.
Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a safety professional working in pharmaceutical research and development who makes $90,000 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week on grape jelly at Target.
Occupation: Safety Professional Industry: Pharmaceutical Research & Development Age: 30 Location: Boston, MA MySalary: $90,000 My Husband's Salary: $90,000 CombinedPaycheck (Biweekly): $4,539. (My health insurance and train pass come out of my paycheck and my husband's dependent care FSA and HSA come out of his.)
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: $2,538 Student Loan Payment: $132. (My husband already paid his off.) Car Loan: $300 Couch Payment: $50 JetBlue Credit Card: $1,100. (We have a total of $5,500 that we are trying aggressively to pay off.) Water Bill: $35 Daycare: $1,200. (Our daughter goes to an in-home daycare three days a week, and my mom and mother-in-law watch her two days of the week.) Sewer: $140 Gas & Electric: $350 Internet & TV: $135, which includes Netflix and Hulu Gym Membership: $25 Pet Insurance: $65 Cell Phone: $185 Savings: $650, through Digit 401(k): I contribute 10% of my salary and my work matches 6%. My husband puts in 5% of his salary and his work puts in 10%. Commuter Rail Pass: $82, which comes out of my paycheck Charitable Donations: $100 or more, depending on the month
Day One
5:45 a.m. — I wake up after only hitting snooze once, make coffee, let the dog out, do a quick meditation on my Calm app, and then get ready. As soon as I go downstairs to make my lunch, my toddler wakes up, so I get her while my husband showers and gets ready. I finish making my lunch and packing my stuff for the day.
6:35 a.m. — I walk to the commuter rail, hop on the train, and transfer to the shuttle at the station to my office, which is free for employees. I get my coffee at work and also have a leftover cupcake for breakfast (so healthy, I know!).
12:30 p.m. — I go for a quick lunchtime run and then eat lunch at my desk – PB&J, carrots, and a Diet Coke from home. I also buy a cookie from the work café. $1.61
4 p.m. — I meet my husband to carpool home. He drives and we listen to NPR and discuss politics. We pick up our daughter at daycare and stop by Whole Foods to grab salmon for tonight. I think about buying other items but resist. $8.89
5:30 p.m. — After we get home, I cut a sweet potato into cubes and toss it into the oven. I change my clothes while my husband cooks the salmon, and then I entertain our toddler with a series of stretches for a fitness challenge I'm doing; she climbs all over me. We eat dinner and my daughter insists on switching plates with me. She also thinks sweet potato cubes are cookies (apparently anything we put in the oven to bake = cookies right now) and gladly eats a lot of them. After dinner, we play and I do the dishes and straighten up. Then it's bath time and pajamas. It's my night to read so we read six books before I put her in her crib, say goodnight, and she's out. I am incredibly thankful she goes to sleep so easily.
8 p.m. — I watch This Is Us on Hulu in the basement with a bowl of ice cream. (My husband doesn't watch the show, so he's upstairs.) Around 8:30, I go upstairs, do a quick meditation through Calm, and shower before reading in bed. I fall asleep around 10.
Daily Total: $10.50
Day Two
7 a.m. — We get to sleep in today because we have a preschool tour at 9 a.m. today; my daughter gets a chance to play in a classroom to see if she likes it. Luckily, she loves it and so we do, too, so we pay the $725 registration fee. This new school will be five days a week and our monthly care cost will increase to $2,095. My mom picks our daughter up from the tour and takes her home because it's her day for childcare. My husband and I go to work. $725
10:30 a.m. — I have a morning of meetings and grab coffee and a KIND bar from my desk. We're having a catered lunch at 1 p.m., but I get hungry around 12 and grab chips and a cookie from the café. $2.16
4 p.m. — Leave work with husband and head home. It snowed and sleeted during the day so my husband starts shoveling. We have playtime and I check the mail; there's a $160 refund check from our pet insurance, and I mobile deposit it.
6:45 p.m. — For dinner, my husband makes tomato, cucumber, and feta salads for us, and chicken nuggets, tomato, cucumber, and blueberries for my daughter. We sit down around 6 and my daughter basically has a tantrum all of dinner. First, she wants my food, then she wants to eat sitting on my lap, then she doesn't want to eat. After dinner, I hang out with our daughter while my husband cleans up. (She won't let me go in the kitchen to clean and it isn't worth the battle.) We start bedtime but I have to leave to go to a Mason jar salad party with fellow challengers from the exercise group I'm in! I grab bring along snacks: an opened bag of pita chips and tzatziki from Costco. I feel slightly bad about the open bag of chips, but it's casual and no one cares. I hang out for about two hours and make three Mason jar salads.
9:30 p.m. — I'm home and ready for bed. I finish up a book and go to sleep at 10.
Daily Total: $727.16
Day Three
5:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off. I snooze it once and then roll out of bed to get ready and let the dog out. Make coffee for myself, pack my lunch (Mason jar salad), and start my car because it's chilly out; I also throw salt on our steps to de-ice them. I didn't get to see my daughter this morning because she actually slept in a bit. (She usually wakes up when she hears me going up and down the stairs.) The commute takes about 45 minutes, and I drink my coffee while driving.
8:30 a.m. — The worksite I'm at today provides snacks for employees, so I grab a Naked Green Machine smoothie and peanut butter crackers with coffee.
11:45 a.m. — I was going to run at lunch but decided not to, due to a combination of icy sidewalks, sore feet, and general laziness. I eat my chicken and berry Mason jar salad and follow it up with M&M's. I drink have two Diet Cokes (one from home and one free from work). I have a Diet Coke addiction ... and a sweets addiction.
1:30 p.m. — Call the YMCA to register my toddler for a tumbling class. She swims with my husband on Saturday mornings so this is something for the two of us to do together on Sundays. $115
4:30 p.m. — On our way home, my husband stops to get contact solution for me ($13.06). I do a quick workout for my boot camp challenge while my toddler plays on me. Dinner time for the toddler, but she barely touches it because she's been snacking all day. After dinner, it's quick cleanup, playtime, and then a workout class at the gym. $13.06
7:45 p.m. — I get home from my workout class, and my husband has made pizza for dinner. As soon as I walk in the door, my daughter wakes up and starts crying, so I go up and rock her for a little bit. Then it's dinner, Olympic viewing, reading, and bedtime!
Daily Total: $128.06
Day Four
5:30 a.m. — TGIF! I want to get to work early to crank out some risk assessments. I get up and get ready, and remember to take the train pass out of my car so my husband can use it and have a Diet Coke and a Luna bar during the drive.
8:15 a.m. — I order a watch band for my husband. I got him one for Christmas but it was too big, so I returned it and got a refund. The new band is $0.95 more, so I pay the difference. $0.95
11:30 a.m. — Grab snacks. I was going to run, but the locker room is closed for maintenance. $3.87
4:30 p.m. — I meet up with my husband for the drive home. He took the train in this morning (which is paid for by his work), so I drop him off at the station to get his car and then he goes to the gym. I go home and squeeze in a quick, three-mile run before daycare pickup. I get my daughter and then we swing by the library to grab museum passes. My husband runs into the store on his way home and picks up ice cream sundae makings. $24.29
6:30 p.m. — My husband and I order dinner after feeding our daughter. He picks it up while I do bedtime. I get a steak tip pita roll and he gets some type of sub. $17.87
9:30 p.m. — Post-dinner conversation includes our credit card debt and vacation. We want to start using our JetBlue account for monthly expenses so that we get the points, but we need to pay off the balance first. So we pay an additional $900 towards it for the month. Watch the Olympics and then go to bed. $900
Daily Total: $946.98
Day Five
6:15 a.m. — Our toddler is in bed with us so we stay there for as long as possible. We get up around 6:45 and make breakfast for the kiddo and coffee for us. We're getting new cable installed this morning and they just called to say they can come early, so my husband and daughter head off to swim lessons and then the grocery store while I do a quick workout and wait for the cable guy.
9:30 a.m. — Husband and daughter get home with the groceries: spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, yogurt (lots, because my daughter loves it), peanut butter, apples, bananas, ice cream, frozen pizza, bread, pita, and organic whole milk ($95.59). My husband usually buys a donut for me from the Dunkin' Donuts at the grocery store, but he left it on a shelf along with his coffee! My daughter got her two Munchkins while shopping, though ($2.99). $98.58
12 p.m. — We play at the park, have lunch, and then put the toddler down for her nap before I go out for my run. When I get back an hour later, the cable guy has finished but we need to fix our dryer vent; it came off while he was installing something. It takes a few attempts but we're successful!
3:30 p.m. — Toddler is up from her nap and has a snack. Now we're off to Target. She needs valentines for her daycare class (yes, toddlers exchange valentines apparently). We go to Nordstrom Rack on the way because my husband and I both need new work shoes. We each get a pair. $79.86
3:30 p.m. — At Target we buy grape jelly, Hershey's Kisses, valentines, Luna bars, and something else I'm forgetting. $20.48
4:30 p.m. — We also get gas for my car while we're out. $30.61
10 p.m. — My husband goes out with friends while my daughter and I hang out and do dinner and bedtime. After she's down, I watch the Olympics and chill until my husband gets home around 10.
Daily Total: $229.53
Day Six
6:30 a.m. — We bring the toddler in bed with us again so that we can hopefully get more shuteye. We're successful for a bit and then start our day.
8:30 a.m. — It's rainy and dreary. I am already sick of being inside so we go to IHOP for breakfast and get eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, pancakes, and home fries; my daughter gets a fun pancake with a smiley face on it. $41.12
3 p.m. — Most of the day is spent doing laundry, relaxing, and making lunches for the week. After my daughter's nap time, we leave for a free trial of a local indoor play space. Our toddler burns some energy at the playgroup, and we get to socialize.
8 p.m. — We eat breaded chicken and green beans for dinner. I hate Sunday evenings because Monday is right around the corner. I stay up too late watching the Olympics (OMG, Mirai Nagasu, I love you!) and then can't fall asleep. I think I finally doze off around 11.
Daily Total: $41.12
Day Seven
5 a.m. — My alarm goes off but I sleep for another 30 minutes. After that alarm, the toddler starts stirring. (I think it's time to push bedtime back so she'll sleep later.) I get up and give her the lovey that fell out of her crib, and then I get ready. By the time I'm done at 6 a.m., she's up again, so I get her while my husband gets ready. I'm out the door around 6:20 and at work by 7 a.m. The house cleaners come today (but, spoiler, when I get home, I'm not thrilled with the job they do). $100
11 a.m. — I bite the bullet on an Amazon order sitting in my cart with vitamins for me (Krill Oil Omega-3, vitamin D, and Floradix), dog food, and pouches for the toddler. $172.17
12 p.m. — I eat a salad from home (it has spinach, tomato, cucumber, bell peppers, berries, feta, and balsamic vinegar) and then go for a walk. Come back and grab a churro from a catered lunch at the office.
4:30 p.m. — I pick up my daughter from daycare and head home. We have pasta and meatballs for dinner, and my husband does bedtime while I go to a workout class.
9 p.m. — I come home and we watch the Olympics before going to bed.
Daily Total: $272.17
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