Sayonara, summer! We’re already looking to next season thanks to Topshop's collaboration with the sequin-laden British designer Michael Halpern, announced today. The most-hyped designer of London Fashion Week ’s fall 2018 schedule back in February, Halpern’s aesthetic has party season sewn-up, from high-impact prints to disco-dancing shapes.
Halpern's collections ooze glamour, so we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the 28-piece line, available at Topshop stores globally and online from early November. In the teaser video below, among the signature structured busts and skin-tight trousers, we spy a sparkly bucket hat, hinting at a more casual take on the designer’s aesthetic. With prices starting at $68, it looks like we can all get in on the Studio 54 drama.
“I think it’s fabulous that as a younger brand we’re able to work with Topshop, making the type of clothing we do for the main Halpern collection in an accessible way, so more people can really feel the glamour,” founder and creative director Halpern explains. “I want the whole world to feel as glam as possible, and this type of collaboration is a fantastic way to accomplish that.”
The New York-born designer graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2016 and has garnered a huge fanbase in London thanks to his debut in February 2017. His designs have been worn by the likes of Adwoa Aboah, Lupita Nyong’o, Marion Cotillard, Diane Kruger, and Amal Clooney, and his eye for entrancing sequins won him the 2017 British Emerging Talent Award for Womenswear at the Fashion Awards.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Michael; especially at such an exciting time in his career,” Anthony Cuthbertson, Global Design Director at Topshop & Topman, said. “Our capsule embodies the disco spirit and signature feminine silhouettes he is renowned for; we can’t wait to bring the world of Halpern to Topshop with styles that will no doubt kick-start the partywear season.”
With ‘neon velvet separates, printed two-pieces, sequin-adorned jumpsuits, and iridescent camouflage print mini dresses,’ expect a collection brimming with ‘70s disco fever. Anyone with '90s fatigue will be happy about that.
The 28-piece collection will be available in selected Topshop stores globally and online at www.topshop.com early November 2018.
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Christina Grant, a Black hand model, has gotten used to seeing images of herself that have been digitally altered. “I have seen my hand lightened in post[-production] to the point where I thought, ‘Wait, that doesn’t look like me,’” she tells Refinery29. Over the course of her career, she’s worked with about 15 different beauty brands and knows firsthand how a shot can be doctored to get the effect a brand is looking for — sometimes even before the shot is taken. “I remember one time on set, the makeup artist put all of this makeup on my hand, which is normal sometimes, but she made my hand three shades darker. I asked her if she was going to blend it out, but she said she was done.”
Beauty photographer and makeup artist Hayley Kassel is also familiar with the lengths some brands go to for perfect campaign images. Things get especially murky when beauty brands don’t make the products that suit the skin tones of the models they hire. “Sometimes a brand doesn’t have a particular model’s exact shade of foundation,” says Kassel. “So they end up Photoshopping [her] skin tone. Honestly, it confuses the hell out of me. I feel like some brands think the people won't notice, but we do, and we care.”
"I have seen my hand lightened in post[-production] to the point where I thought, 'Wait, that doesn’t look like me.'"
It’s an issue that’s become especially prevalent in a post-Fenty era. As brands race to develop new foundations, or add shades to existing lines, swatches — images that show the full extent of a brand’s shade range by painting product directly onto the skin – have become the name of the game in an increasingly e-commerce driven world. It’s one of the many ways these companies can try to prove their new inclusive products are legit (years of mistrust aren’t erased overnight). Get them right, and the brand will be a hit before the products are even unpacked at Ulta. Get them wrong, and you might end up like StyleNanda, Becca Cosmetics, and Il Makiage, three brands who have been accused of Photoshopping swatches of their products recently.
“Swatches really become the only way someone can accurately guesstimate what shades to purchase when shopping online,” says Ofunne Amaka, founder of @Cocoaswatches, an Instagram account and mobile app that showcases swatches on underrepresented skin tones. “Swatches are especially important for women of color and people of color who often aren’t able to find their shades in stores.”
Even if a brand does have a great shade range, it can get skewered on social media for a Photoshop fail. Tweaking skin tones or lazily superimposing computer-made swatches over a model’s arm undercuts the admirable efforts brands are making in product and shade development. Companies are rendering their own product swatches useless with excessive — and often offensive — photo editing.
Earlier this summer, StyleNanda was called out for showcasing its nail polish on a hand that appeared “blackfaced.” The brand didn’t reply to our requests for comment. However, the team did apologize on Instagram for the questionable swatches and removed the image from its social media feed. But this was just the first in a string of incidents.
In the case of Becca Cosmetics, the brand posted a now-deleted Instagram photo of the new 24-shade Skin Love Weightless Blur Foundation swatched on four different arms. It seemed as if the models’ skin had been altered in order to check off the light, medium, dark, and deep skin tone boxes. The resulting effect looked fake, and nobody on Twitter or Instagram was buying it.
"So did Becca Cosmetics really refuse to hire black women for these swatches? They just edited a white hand darker?" Twitter user @xfarahalyx asked, before going on to add, "Sometimes, I wonder if these people have actually met a Black or brown person in their lives." Users on Instagram, including beauty blogger Mai Thy Ly, were equally confused. “Most people don’t have palms that are the same color as the rest of their arms,” she wrote in the caption of a repost of Becca Cosmetics’ now deleted image. “This is Photoshopped as heck and it is shameful that you’re trying to promote your ‘inclusive’ foundation range but can’t even bother to hire real models for the swatches.”
When we reached out to Becca Cosmetics, the brand directed us to its Instagram statement which is, for now, its last word on the matter. In a post featuring a new swatch photo (right), Becca Cosmetics asserts that it did in fact hire four different models for its original shoot. Becca also acknowledges that “the way we adjusted the image missed the mark” and maintains that the brand is “committed to showcasing the lightest to the deepest skin tones and hiring inclusive models for our campaigns.”
Fledgling brand Il Makiage got called out for a similar incident. In its case, the swatch photo featured four arms of different skin tones wearing an array of 50 foundation shades (yes, the brand one-upped Fenty Beauty). Commenters called foul, saying that the hands weren’t from actual models of color. Co-founder Shiran Holtzman Erel says that’s not the case: “The models used were four diverse women, including an African-American woman,” she told Refinery29 over email. “The only digital alterations performed were in order to differentiate between the shades to help shoppers choose accurately.” So in this case, it wasn’t the hands that got touched up, but the foundation colors themselves.
By making it a point to hire models of color, both brands prove they’re backing claims of inclusivity with behind-the-scenes choices, but that doesn’t completely dismiss the shady swatches. When we followed up with Ly, the blogger, over email about Becca Cosmetics’ statement, she held her ground. “The Becca swatches might be due to the use of makeup vs. Photoshop, but the issue still stands,” she writes. “It’s pandering and deceitful to recognize the buying power of people of color without ensuring that they meet the needs of their customers.”
It’s not necessarily shocking that Photoshop was involved in these social media images. Post-production editing is regularly used on makeup and skin-care campaigns to get rid of a pimple, erase a smudge, or whiten teeth before finalizing an ad. Beautiful images are the goal, after all. Osase Emokpae, creator of @BrownGirlFriendly, an Instagram account that showcases new beauty launches on deep skin tones, understands the delicate balance brands are facing. “Brands have it in their best interest to create the most visually appealing photos and swatches for their promotional material,” she says. “I absolutely expect to see a brand’s swatches looking almost too perfect, but I don’t really mind because I understand that it’s meant to look as enticing as possible.”
“It’s pandering and deceitful to recognize the buying power of people of color without ensuring that they meet the needs of their customers.”
But along with beautiful images, brands are responsible for supporting their customers with useful — and truthful — information. Emokpae is quick to point out that inaccurate swatches are bad for everyone. “No matter who you are, from the very fair to the deepest dark, we all have the same question: Will this product look good on me? That can’t be answered without accurate representation.”
Where brands fall short in authenticity, Instagram bloggers like Amaka and Emokpae pick up the slack. Both women have built their social media followings around swatches for darker skin tones, and thousands of followers check in for their content when a new launch hits. The whole purpose of these swatches is to help women find shades that work; whereas brands are always hoping to sell more product.
For Emokpae an image can take hours to create, and post-production isn’t priority. “I always post video of my swatches so people can see them in action and know that they’re actually legit,” she says. “It’s a very time-intensive process for me. I’m not paid to do any of it, which sucks because countless times, people have thought my swatches and product photos are official images from the brand or that they look better than what the brand has produced.”
Until we can be sure that the swatches brands offer are free of retouching, we’ll be turning to bloggers and influencers who don’t stand to gain financially from jumping on the inclusivity train. “It's more than just giving us a 40-shade foundation line and going back to your regularly scheduled program,” says Amaka. “True diversity and inclusion require a holistic approach. You can tell when a true effort is being made and when it's not.”
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I was eight years old when I fell in love with magazines. The glossy pages, slightly sticky and heavily scented perfume samples, and the supermodels in insanely decadent haute couture designs drew me in from the very start. But even as a kid, I noticed something missing: people who looked like me and the women in my life. Aside from Essence, I rarely saw women of color.
There's always been a myth that brown faces don't sell copies. Even if you've got a big, buzzy project out, all priority seems to go to the A-listers with the long, blonde or brown hair and fair skin. According to Fashionista, only 31.3% of 2017's major magazine covers (including Allure, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Elle) featured people of color. Which is progress from the late '90s, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
Thankfully, we're happy to report that the tide is changing. It's not uncommon to see natural hair, dark skin, and curvy bodies peering up at you from your local bookstore or the airport today. Each cover is hard proof that the industry's standards of beauty are finally changing, which gives the next generation something to look forward to. See all of the latest brown and Black 2018 cover stars, ahead.
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The first few months after Liuba Grechen Shirley launched her congressional bid for New York's 2nd District were spent in a blur of calls. The 37-year-old Democrat needed to raise at least $100,000 to be taken seriously as a candidate.
So she picked up the phone and started contacting everyone she knew, as first-time candidates often do. But unlike other people running for office this election cycle, Grechen Shirley's calls were made while nursing her baby boy and caring for her rambunctious daughter, then one and three years old.
It was quite the juggling act, but she knew it was her duty.
"It’s not easy to run for office with two babies. It wasn’t something I thought I could do," she told Refinery29. "My children were my biggest hesitation. But in the end, they’re the reason I decided to run because I want a more safe and equitable world for them to grow up in."
Few mothers of young children run for office because of the stigma associated with it and because, frankly, it's almost an impossible task. Even fewer are representatives in Congress. Only 10 women, including Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, have given birth while serving in the House. In early April, Sen. Tammy Duckworth became the first woman in history to give birth while in the Senate. The rules of the chamber had to be changed to accommodate the new mother: Children were not permitted in the Senate floor, but a new policy passed because of Duckworth's baby girl will allow lawmakers to bring their children to work until the age of one.
Grechen Shirley is deeply aware of the lack of representation of young mothers in Capitol Hill.
"We’re missing out on that critical voice in Congress," she said. "We’re missing out on the voice of the people who know what it’s like not to have access to paid family leave; that know what it’s like not to be able to find affordable, quality child care; we need that know what it’s like to rely on CHIP to cover their children’s healthcare. If we had those people in office, we wouldn’t have a Congress that let funding for CHIP lapse."
Grechen Shirley, who has called Long Island home all her life, is the granddaughter of Russian immigrants and the daughter of a single mom. She studied politics and Russian at New York University, followed by an MBA with specializations in Management, Economics, and Social Innovation from NYU’s Stern School of Business. Like so many other young women in her generation, she has student loans. (At the moment, she is paying $1,000 per month.) Before running for office, she has a career working with nonprofit groups focused on global economic development and human rights.
Republican Rep. Peter King, the incumbent Grechen Shirley is challenging, has been in office for thirteen terms — basically since she was 12. He hasn’t had a serious opponent since he took office. In fact, when Grechen Shirley debates him in September, it will be his first debate in eight years.
Grechen Shirley argues that King hasn’t had Long Islanders’ interests at heart: He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and in favor of the Republican tax bill; he opposes a woman’s right to choose an abortion, even in cases of rape and incest; and he was a staunch supporter of President Trump’s travel ban.
"I’ve had enough of having a representative who doesn’t stand up for his constituents," she said.
Her path towards being a candidate began with her dabbling in activism immediately following the 2016 presidential election. In January 2017, she started the New York’s 2nd District Democrats, drawing inspiration from the grassroots organization Indivisible. The group went on to have about 3,000 members across the district in just a few months. Grechen Shirley never thought of running for office,
"I kept waiting for the right person to come along to run against Peter King," she said. "And I eventually realized I was that person."
Before becoming the Democratic nominee after June’s primary, Grechen Shirley made news when she petitioned the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to allow her to use a portion of her campaign funds to pay for child care. Prior to running for office, she used to work from home and was the full-time caregiver of her children.
For the first few of months of her campaign, she would stay home with her kids until 3:30pm. That’s when her mom would take over after finishing teaching at a nearby public school so Grechen Shirley could go out to knock doors and do campaign events. But then, her son broke his leg in January and was put in a body cast. The family realized that if they wanted to continue with the campaign, they needed help. They eventually hired a part-time babysitter, paying her $22 an hour for about 20 hours per week. But it was financially straining.
"There was no way for us to give up a year-and-a-half of our life with no salary and also pay our student loans, our mortgage, our taxes, and the cost of child care," she said. "It was impossible for me. We didn’t have enough money left to cover [it]."
This financial burden can severely limit whose voices get represented in Congress: As of 2015, the median net worth for representatives was $900,000 and for senators it was $3.2 million. In contrast, the average American household's net wealth was around $80,000.
The FEC ended up ruling in Grechen Shirley’s favor. The decision, which changed the game for candidates seeking federal office, also paved the way for other mothers at the state and local level to petition their respective governing bodies to allow them to campaign funds to cover their child care expenses.
"Using a portion of my campaign funds for child care was critical for me to be able to run," she said. "It was a bipartisan, unanimous decision. It’s an important way to break down barriers and make sure that we have more parents of young children, more people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in office."
Most women running for office will tell you about the gender-based criticism that gets thrown their way. But the shaming Grechen Shirley has faced as a mom since launching her campaign is a particular brand of ugly.
"I’ve been told I’m a bad mother. I’ve been told that she’s using her children as political props," she said. "Meanwhile, if a man brings his children with him [to a campaign event] or has them in a campaign ad, he’s considered more responsible."
She added: "My children are not political props, they’re my whole world. I’m doing this for them."
Come November, it’s still unclear whether Grechen Shirley will be able to dethrone the Republican incumbent. (According to FiveThirtyEight’s most recent forecast, she has about a 19% chance of winning.) But still, her visibility as a congressional candidate who also happens to be the mother of young children has opened the door for other parents to follow in her footsteps.
"The more we normalize parents of young children and working [class] people running for office, the more representative our country will be," she said. "[Most of our representatives] don’t understand how the policies they enact affect our lives. We need people in office who understand these issues because we live them every day."
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There comes a point in life when blindly tossing everything into a tote bag just doesn't cut it anymore. After all, no one wants to be that person; the one holding up the line digging for your credit cart under piles of slightly used lipsticks. We've all been there but it still makes us cringe. And while mini bags may have replaced oversized totes in terms of trends we're buying, they're unrealistic when it comes to making it through an entire day with only the contents that can squeeze into a 3" x 3" bag. So what's the compromise?
Well, there's this thing we like to call a "grown-up" wallet. Its doesn't contain any reward cards from every coffee shop you've ever visited. There's no overabundance of ATM receipts shoved behind post-its reminding you to call so-and-s0 back a year too late. Its simply a utilitarian accessory for cash, cards, and your Metrocard which you'll be able to locate lickety-split. The days of angry commuters snarling under their breathe at you before you're able to buy your morning coffee are officially over. And since wallets are notorious for being, well, a bit drab, we thought we'd round up some designer styles via Jet.com that are anything but boring.
So, before you have to endure another day of rummaging through your tote for a crumpled-up single or your never-there-when-you-need-it office keycard, take a peak at the 15 wallets ahead. See, growing up isn't so bad.
There is a lot of product out there — some would say too much. At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but if you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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In May, when Kickstarter named Meredith Graves, a former journalist who founded the punk band Perfect Pussy, its new Director of Music, Graves went one place to announce the news: Twitter.
But this was not just any announcement. It was a “some personal news” kind of announcement.
“Every child dreams of the day they can grow up and start a tweet with ‘some personal news…’ !!!” Graves tweeted.
Those three little words have become indicative of the “big announcement” post. It's a construction that might be taken at face value when spoken in person but has taken on a whole new, elevated meaning on social media. Sometimes used to introduce babies or marriages, though more often used to share new jobs and promotions, “some personal news” has rapidly grown in popularity becoming one of the most well-known insider phrases, and, in some cases, inside joke, on Twitter today. On a platform that has been full of negativity and misinformation of late, it has also become one of the rare, welcome signals that what you’re about to read is good news or, at the very least, news that will make you laugh. Circa 2009, you might have shared this information on Facebook. But nowadays, Twitter is the far timelier and relevant alternative: A place where you know your message will reach your peers, both professional and social.
A Twitter search for “some personal news” shows that the phrase started showing up in tweets from public accounts in 2010. For the most part, users — primarily those working in media — directed followers offsite, to a blog post (a blog!) where the job announcement or other personal news was explored in depth. In 2012, author and political activist Donna Brazile put the phrase to sarcastic use, foreshadowing some of its current purpose as a satirical vehicle. It wasn’t until 2013 that “some personal news” became a regular, even expected way to not only announce a new job, but also react to the mundane with irony. According to Twitter data, use of the phrase has steadily increased every year since 2010 and tripled in use over the past five years.
Breaking personal news: I am not ready for snow! Just saying. Time to stir up some shrimp & grits. No work today, so I'll read my magazines.
Its most obvious predecessor was “So, I wrote a thing” a phrase that devolved into mockery sometime around 2014 and, by 2016, turned into highbrow humor pieces in The New Yorker and Reductress. Saying “So, I wrote a thing” was the humblebrag equivalent of saying, “I wrote something that I think is incredibly wonderful and I am a genius who would appreciate if you would click on this link and revel in my extremely intelligent work.” At least that wordier alternative was straightforward in its snobbery. The understated manner of “So, I wrote a thing” turned it into a phrase that was reviled for its lack of self-awareness, like that friend who got an A+ but says they didn’t do that well.
Currently, “some personal news” straddles the line between the literal and ironic. While it is still frequently used to announce job changes, it can also be used to hyperbolic effect. Take Abby Tannenbaum who used the phrase last week when she announced she was going to Sweetgreen for dinner. This hardly qualified as "news" for Tannenbaum, a digital strategist living in D.C., who told Refinery29 she goes to the salad shop approximately five days a week. But with "some personal news" attached it was suddenly funny, in an almost exclusive way that only a Twitter audience familiar with the phrase can comprehend.
Some personal news: In a shocking turn of events I’ve decided to go to sweetgreen for dinner
Lately, it seems like it’s hard to scroll past even 15 posts without hitting a “some personal news” tweet. This frequency may be a direct result of Twitter’s decision to launch threads last December, which made it easier for people to string together thoughts about leaving a current job, or tell the full story of “some personal news” in one go. (Farewell, blog posts of yore.) As with any phrase, overuse threatens to ruin the joke, or even the effectiveness of the message when it is delivered seriously.
“[It’s] definitely overused,” says Kami Mattioli, a digital marketer in New York who used the phrase in irony last month in a tweet about her fake website. “Every time someone uses it, particularly on Twitter, I roll my eyes.”
Some personal news: I’m starting my own site — The Unathletic — where we just bitch about flight delays, bad press box food and those damn Milennials and their social media.
Though Mattioli says she prefers the sarcastic uses to the literal, “even that is getting tired.”
Even if it is overused, that doesn’t mean it isn’t still appreciated. In the same way that it's hard to scroll past 15 tweets without hitting "some personal news," it's near impossible to scroll past even five tweets without coming across bad news. In this scenario, most people would take the repetitive positivity associated with the former any day of the week.
“I love it — regardless of what people attach to the phrase, I always find myself smiling,” Rishi Magia, a creative director in Brooklyn who recently used the phrase, to viral effect, to announce the adoption of his new rescue pup, Henry. “I feel like ‘some personal news’ has, as the kids say, the range. I’m going to enjoy it before the next bizarre Twitter thing comes along.”
some personal news, @d_plaut and i got a pup!!! meet henry, rescued from a kill shelter in upstate new york 💞 @darth@dog_rates would love to know if he deserves a proper twitter welcome, 13/10 we're a bit biased 😍 pic.twitter.com/LaMbR7FCeP
There's a lot of thought that goes into getting a tattoo: Which artist should you trust? What design do you want? Where will you get inked? More difficult than thinking up a solo piece of body art, though, is getting a matching one with your significant other. Because if a relationship is going to last forever — it better look pretty damn good, right? Luckily, there are ways to ensure your couple tattoo looks cool enough to stand the test of time.
First, check out some celebrity BFFs and S.O.s for matching ink inspiration. Plenty of A-listers are covered in tribute tattoos to the people they love. Then, make your way to Instagram. Skip over the matching initials, ring-finger bands, or anything else that feels too cliché. Instead, look for minimalic designs and simple artwork that you'll love regardless if the relationship doesn't last.
Or, you can click the slides ahead — because we just did all the non-cheesy couple tattoo work for you.
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First lady Melania Trump took the stage at a cyberbullying summit as part of her Be Best campaign Monday — on the same morning as President Donald Trump attacked a Department of Justice official on Twitter.
In her remarks at the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Cyberbullying Prevention Summit, she warned against the "destructive and harmful" effects of using social media "incorrectly."
"Let’s face it: most children are more aware of the benefits and pitfalls of social media than some adults, but we still need to do all we can to provide them with information and tools for successful and safe online habits," she said, praising programs such as Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good, a panel of teens that works to bring issues like sextortion to the government's attention.
Wearing a pussy-bow blouse, Melania also promoted Be Best, a three-part initiative focusing on "wellbeing, social media, and opioid abuse," which she launched back in May. "Be Best chooses to focus on the importance of teaching our next generation how to conduct themselves safely and in a positive manner in an online setting," she said.
.@FLOTUS Melania Trump: "Social media is an eventful part of our children's daily lives. It can be used in many positive ways but can also be destructive and harmful when used incorrectly." pic.twitter.com/AnMbBhHVR0
Meanwhile, the president spent the morning calling Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation into dealings with Russia a "Rigged Witch Hunt," as well as disparaging Democrats, former CIA director John Brennan, and Bruce Ohr, the Justice Department official with ties to the infamous Steele Dossier.
Less than a week ago, the president called his former employee Omarosa Manigault-Newman — who recently said there's a recording in which he used the n-word multiple times — a "lowlife" and a "dog" on Twitter. "When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn't work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!" he tweeted.
In summary: The first lady promoted anti-cyberbullying initiatives while her husband went on a tweetstorm in which he attacked multiple people in personal way.
Asked by a White House pool reporter about this seeming hypocrisy, Stephanie Grisham, Melania's communications director, said:
"The first lady’s presence at events such as today's cyberbullying summit elevates an issue that is important to children and families across this country. She is aware of the criticism but it will not deter her from doing what she feels is right. The president is proud of her commitment to children and encourages her in all that she does."
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BeautywithMi, hosted by Refinery29's beauty writerMi-Anne Chan, explores the coolest new trends, treatments, products, and subcultures in thebeautyworld. Never miss an episode by subscribing here.
Ulta Beauty has over 1,100 locations throughout the United States, but it wasn't until just last year that the retailer brought its unique mix of high-end and drugstore products to Manhattan. It's been years since I first walked through the beauty emporium's glass doors, but seeing how the retailer now rests a short subway ride away from my NYC apartment, I figured I'd reacquaint myself with all the store has to offer.
To ease myself in, I reached out to the brand to inquire about the top-rated makeup items at the store. In the video above, I try a full face of bestselling Ulta Beauty wares, from a $39 full-coverage foundation to an $8 dewy highlighter. Find out which ones are worth your money, above.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation, $39, available at Ulta Beauty; NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, $30, available at Ulta Beauty; Becca Hydra-Mist Setting Powder, $38, available at Ulta Beauty; NARS Blush in Impassioned, $30, available at Ulta Beauty; Benefit Hoola Bronzer, $29, available at Ulta Beauty; ColourPop Highlighter in Wisp, $8, available at Ulta Beauty; Morphe Jaclyn Hill Palette, $38, available at Ulta Beauty; Ulta Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Blackout, $8, available at Ulta Beauty; Lipstick Queen Nothing But The Nudes Lipstick, $24, available at Ulta Beauty; L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise in Waterproof, $9.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
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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.
Want even more Money Diaries, plus $$$ advice from a kick-ass, all-female team of financial advisors, and tips on how to save more than $500? Pick up our new book: Money Diaries!Order here!
Today: a communications manager working at a nonprofit who makes $45,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a car seat. We previously heard from this OP back in February. Now, she has a baby, and here's an update on her life.
Occupation: Communications Manager Industry: Nonprofit Age: 29 Location: Glendale, CA My Salary: $45,000 My Husband's Salary: $85,000 My Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,300 My Husband's Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $2,100
Monthly Expenses Rent: $1,625 to rent a small two-bedroom house. My in-laws own the property. They raised our rent, and we are actively looking for a new place to stay. Having your in-laws as your landlord is not ideal. Student Loan Payment: $0 (We paid off my college loans shortly after getting married. Our cars are also very old and paid off.) Utilities: $300 Car Insurance: $445 Cell Phones: $200 Internet: $65 Dental, Medical & Vision Insurance: $100 Pet Insurance: $38 Coffee Of The Month Club: $35 CSA Produce: $12/week Netflix: $14 Hulu: $12 Gym: $17 HSA: $300 Roth IRA: 15% of my husband's paycheck 401(k): $600/paycheck for my husband and $375/month for me
Day One
5:30 a.m. — Baby's up for the day! And so is the rest of the family. I put him in his bouncy chair so he can entertain himself while my husband and I get dressed and pack our cold brews to take our dog for a walk. Between no sleep, all the coffee, and not enough time to go to the gym, my baby weight is not budging. I've been making an extra effort to make sure we squeeze in walks whenever we can, because the exercise is good for all of us. We get back in time for my husband's 6:30 a.m. meeting.
8 a.m. — While he takes his meeting in the office/nursery, I put our son down to play, get myself ready for work, make breakfast of leftover cachapa (Venezuelan corn cake with beans, shredded chicken, and fried plantains) from Saturday with four scrambled eggs on top, and pack lunch — panzanella salad using beets, mint, purslane, and Armenian cucumber from our $12-per-week CSA produce bag, plus a chopped tomato, sliced red onion, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and feta. I pack two slices of whole grain bread to toast at work and mix into the salad. After kissing my baby and husband goodbye, I leave for work. On Mondays, my aunt picks our baby up at 8:30 a.m. and takes him to her place to babysit.
10 a.m. — My morning is filled with meetings, work, and browsing upcoming deals for Amazon Prime Day. Everyone is having their sale this week for some reason. No bueno for my bank account. I place my first online order of the day: a king-sized Martha Stewart quilt set and two sets of Pyrex glass Tupperware. I've had these items in my cart for ages. I think my husband has reached his limit of me complaining every night about the comforter being bunched up inside the duvet cover and it being too hot, so I'm finally making the leap. Plus my friend gave me a $25 gift card for my birthday that I still have to use. Considering how much these items cost full-price, it's practically a steal. $140
1 p.m. — Traveling has always been a major priority for our family, so ever since our baby was born, we've been trying to figure when and where to go for our first big family vacation. We decided on London, Paris, and Belgium this winter, when I'll be able to take time off from work. We booked our flight last week using all of the points that we've accrued on our credit card. We use our credit card for nearly all of our purchases (and pay it off in full every month), so we've accumulated enough points to book three roundtrip seats to London on Air New Zealand. We basically got a free flight by buying things we would have bought anyway. I see a couple of my “watched” items that I want for our trip go on sale — a baby book called The Dot and the Trtl Neck Pillow in coral for our long-haul flight — so I buy them. $20.25
2 p.m. — More things on my list go on sale. I buy a dark green midi skirt and metallic permanent markers, which I use to write labels on spice bottles to make them easier to find. $22.50
2:30 p.m. — Our big boy has already outgrown his Nuna car seat, so when a convertible car seat with great reviews goes on sale, I pounce. Another great part about these sales is that I use our Amazon card, so we get 5% back on every purchase. $126.50
5 p.m. — Between doing work, keeping an eye on my Amazon watch list, and inviting my coworkers out to lunch at Faith and Flower for DineLA Restaurant Week next Tuesday, my day has sped by, and it's time to go to Whole Foods for groceries. When I'm a couple of minutes away from home, one of my best friends texts me asking if she should still come over. She's having her son next week via repeat C-section, and I have a bag of newborn diapers for her to pick up. I had forgotten that she was coming over, but thankfully my house is between work and Whole Foods. I postpone my shopping trip to go home and speed-clean the living and dining rooms before she arrives.
6:30 p.m. — It's amazing how much your relationships with your friends change throughout life. I've been friends with this lovely lady since the sixth grade, and I love that we have shared so much together. After she leaves, I make a snack of mashed avocados mixed with Trader Joe's Cowboy Caviar to eat with leftover tortilla chips. It's ready just as my husband gets home with our dog, and my aunt shows up with our baby. I give all the creatures a hug, then put our son down for tummy time while the grown-up humans snack. We do our bedtime routine — diaper change, read a book, bottle, white noise machine, and put him in his bassinet with his pacifier. Having a consistent bedtime routine means that he rarely fusses when it's time to sleep.
7:30 p.m. — The husband washes dishes while I head out to Whole Foods. I was hoping it would be less crowded since it's later, but no such luck. I buy a dozen free range eggs, two containers of Wallaby nonfat Greek yogurt, formula, a Mary's whole chicken, two racks of humanely raised baby back ribs for my husband to smoke this week, sushi for his dinner, and two slices of pizza and samosas for my dinner. I love going to Whole Foods so that I can eat Italian and Indian food simultaneously. $142
8:30 p.m. — I get home and my husband is in the middle of his evening meeting. I put the groceries away and eat my dinner while researching the last leg of our December trip. My husband joins me after his meeting, and we decide to stay in Brussels and take day trips to Bruges and either Antwerp or Leuven. He sneaks a couple bites of my pizza and a whole samosa. I find a super cute Airbnb and book it right away. Four nights in Brussels comes out to $420, but the app lets me pay for half now and the rest closer to our travel date. $215
10 p.m. — It's bedtime for me while my husband feeds baby.
Daily Total: $666.25
Day Two
2 a.m. — My little guy is hungry, so I make and feed him a bottle. Apparently he also has no intention of going back to sleep anytime soon. I leave him in his bassinet to entertain himself while I lay in my own bed and send a message to our Airbnb hosts asking if it's frowned upon in Belgium to take babies to bars and breweries. We use the “pause” technique outlined in Pamela Druckerman's Bringing Up Bebe, which means that we don't rush to soothe our baby when he is fussing. I listen to him to make sure he is okay, but around 3 a.m., he comforts himself and goes back to sleep. No intervention from either of us, and he has learned to fall asleep on his own pretty well.
6 a.m. — I wake up to the dog jumping in our bed, the baby crying, and my husband feeding him. We hang out for a little bit before my husband has to take his meeting. Then I take a shower, wash our son, get both of us dressed, make a breakfast of yogurt, blueberries, and Pure Elizabeth granola, pack our lunch of panzanella salad, start a load of laundry, and head out at 8:30. On days that I shower, I don't have time to do my makeup. I also usually eat my breakfast in the car while I'm stuck in traffic. This is one of those days. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my husband drops off the baby and dog at his parents' house. My mother-in-law is retired so she helps out with babysitting a lot.
10 a.m. — Amazon Prime Day is still going on. How is it a “day” if it's really two days? And why is happy hour three hours long? Not complaining, just curious. The grey version of the Trtl travel pillow (for my husband) goes on sale, as do a mandolin and a pack of 136(!) colored pencils. I buy them all. My coworker may or may not give me money for the colored pencils. This is getting out of hand. Someone stop me!!! $52.75
2 p.m. — Meetings, work, and more meetings. My mom texts me because she misses my baby and wants to come over after work. Who am I to stand in the way of a woman and her desires? Plus, I could use the help around the house/babysitting while I make dinner.
5 p.m. — Before leaving work, I sign up to run the Manhattan Beach 10K on my organization's team, which means I have to raise $400 to donate. I get home, pop the wet laundry into the dryer, and then my mom arrives. She washes the dishes while I start cooking dinner: Country Captain Chicken from My Two Souths cookbook with brown rice. My husband gets home with human and fur children in tow. My mom plays with our boy while I continue making dinner.
7 p.m. — This recipe is taking wayyy longer than I expected. I finally pop it into the oven and it still has another hour in there. My husband makes the brown rice and seasons the ribs to marinate overnight. Now that I'm free, I do the baby's bedtime routine with my mom. She leaves shortly after. While dinner finishes cooking, I relax by reading the book for my brunch and book club. We're meeting next Sunday, and I'm barely halfway through it.
8 p.m. — It's time to eat! Thank the Lord. This dish came out incredibly delicious and beautiful— I'm pretty sure it's one of the best things I've ever made. While we eat, my husband and I discuss the possibility of fitting Amsterdam into our trip this December. It's a city we've always wanted to visit, and we'll be so close. We decide to shave off a day from both London and Paris and spend two nights in Amsterdam before heading to Brussels. We have 15 nights total, so I think it's doable. I request the date change from our Airbnb in London. Now we wait with bated breath.
10 p.m. — The little bubs is hungry, and I tell my husband that I'll take this feeding and he can take the 3 a.m. feeding. I need a full night's sleep. He tells me to go to bed and he'll take this feeding and the next one. Best father and husband award goes to this guy.
Daily Total: $52.75
Day Three
6 a.m. — I feel like a new woman. I can't remember the last time I slept for eight hours. I spend the morning playing with our baby until he's ready for his first nap of the day. Overnight, our London Airbnb host confirmed our date change. During tummy time, I call our hotel in Paris to see if it's possible to change the dates. I'm worried, because the deal we got was for a non-refundable room. They are so nice and accommodating. Cutting our stays in London and Paris short gets a refund of $350, which we can use toward our room in Amsterdam.
7 a.m. — I put the baby down for his nap. While my husband is in his morning meeting, I make a breakfast of custardy oatmeal with spiced baked apple slices. I thinly slice two Gala apples, sprinkle them with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, allspice, and cardamom (all the warming spices I can find in my rack), and bake them for 20 minutes. As the apples bake, I make oatmeal as usual and whisk an egg into it with the heat turned off. It makes the oatmeal super creamy and adds extra protein. I top it all off with bit of Pure Elizabeth maple almond granola for crunch. I also make coffee. When my hubs is done with his meeting, we eat breakfast together (he calls the oatmeal “magical”), and I get ready for work. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the hubby works from home and takes care of the baby. Today, he gets a break until 10 a.m. While I get ready, he sets up the smoker outside and puts the ribs in. I leave for work at around 8:30.
12 p.m. — My morning is filled with researching ad placement and marketing strategies for an upcoming event and watching a Hootsuite webinar. Before I know it, it's time for lunch. I brought leftover Country Captain chicken and rice for lunch, which I heat up. My coworkers and I eat together on the patio.
4 p.m. — More marketing research, photo sourcing, and social media work. I manage not to spend any of my own money, but I do spend $420 of company money to buy tickets for the Cause Conference in San Diego for our team. I also come up with an idea that will save the organization $5,000. It's a good day.
5 p.m. — My husband already has the ribs and smoked corn ready when I get home. We nibble on a couple of pieces of ribs together and talk about our days before he has to leave for a work happy hour. The baby hangs out in his high chair with me while I make the side dishes: herb roasted potatoes and zucchini and a salad of kale (from our CSA bag), smoked corn, tomatoes, balsamic, and olive oil. As often as possible, I bring my son into the kitchen with me when I cook to explain to him what I am doing and let him smell and touch the ingredients. I want him to know how to cook and have an appreciation for all foods. As I'm wrapping up making the side dishes, my baby shows cues of wanting to get ready to sleep. We go through his bedtime routine and I put him in his bassinet for the night.
7 p.m. — Baby's asleep, dog is chilling, husband's not home. I fix myself a plate of amazing, delicious food that pretty much took all day for two adults to make and eat it while watching The Handmaid's Tale. I love having alone time to unwind. Also, my skirt and The Dot were delivered today, so I try on the skirt. It's too frumpy, though, and I will be returning it. Would you judge me if I said I read the baby book by myself and thoroughly enjoyed it?
8 p.m. — One of my besties from northern California and I decide to Skype because her husband is away for work training for seven weeks. Lots of great things are going on in their lives, and I love how we've been able to keep in touch and visit each other even though we're long distance. Right before I returned to work from maternity leave, my husband and I took a road trip up north with our son, who was about two and a half months old at the time. We visited my mother-in-law's side of the family in San Francisco, spent the day wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma with one of my friends, and spent another day in Mendocino County with this friend, her husband and their family. Our baby was amazing in the car and majority of the trip. Everyone says he's a very calm baby though. We have nothing to compare it to, but I hope he's not spoiling us for baby #2.
9 p.m. — My husband gets home from happy hour. We get ready for bed and cuddle a bit. I feed the baby when he wakes up, and then we both go to sleep.
Daily Total: $0
Day Four
2 a.m. — The baby is up for food, and I'm supposed to be sleeping, but his fussing woke me up. Also, I have to pee. Not being able to sleep, I take advantage of this opportunity to book the two nights of our stay in Amsterdam. $315
6 a.m. — At some point I fell asleep, to be woken up next by the sound of the baby crying from hunger. I make him a bottle and feed him. He doesn't usually eat much when he first wakes up. We hang out and play for about an hour while my husband takes his meeting. Then our son takes his nap while I get ready for work.
8:30 a.m. — I get dressed, pack us lunch, and make us a breakfast of Greek yogurt topped with sliced plums from our CSA bag, a light drizzle of raw honey, and some granola. It's been so hot that I don't want to cook much these days. The doggo is being super cute and cuddly in our bed, so I lay down with her for a bit. It's Thursday, so my husband drops our baby and dog off at his parents' house on his way into the office.
11 a.m. — I do more research, respond to emails, and then hop onto our monthly conference call with the marketing agency that gives us a performance report. After that, it's time for lunch — leftover ribs, roasted veggies, and kale salad, which I eat on the patio with my coworkers. Today there was supposed to be the farmers' market stand at work where I pick up my weekly produce bag, but no one was there. I call and nobody answers. It's so strange, because my profile on their website says that it was delivered today. I wonder what's going on.
2 p.m. — I have a call with a major magazine in the city to discuss ad placement and the possibility of them becoming the media sponsor for one of our upcoming fundraising events. This is so exciting. Once we hang up, I call my boss with the news. She is thrilled, and we discuss next steps.
5 p.m. — Instead of leaving work on time, I get caught up in a conversation with my coworkers about self defense and our shared recurring nightmares of being attacked and not being able to defend ourselves and the different ways that one can get murdered. It's a riveting conversation, but alas, the family awaits my arrival.
5:30 p.m. — I make it home, and my husband helps me make the soft scrambled eggs for the avocado toasts we're having tonight. Then he asks me to clean something up, and I don't like his phrasing or tone and take it the wrong way, so we get into a heated argument. We angrily finish making our dinner of whole grain toast topped with mashed avocado, soft-scrambled eggs, and Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning but instead of eating it, I need to put the baby to sleep. While I do that, the husband washes the dishes as a reaction to our argument. Then we eat (half pretending that we're not mad at each other). My husband finishes eating first and the baby is crying again, so he makes another bottle and feeds our son. Then he hangs out in the bedroom for a bit so we can have space to cool off. In the meantime, I work on our vacation itinerary.
7:30 p.m. — The husband comes to tell me he's sorry and we talk, drink wine, and eat chocolate ice cream. Having a baby and being constantly sleep-deprived makes us both sensitive and prone to miscommunication. But we've been together for 12 years and know how to quickly work through any issues. One thing leads to another and surprise! It's sex o'clock. The amazing thing about the baby being on a routine and schedule is that there's lots of room for spontaneous sexy time.
9 p.m. — We get ready to sleep, and I crawl into bed while my husband watches TV to wait for little bubs to wake up for his next feeding.
Daily Total: $315
Day Five
12 a.m. — Yesterday my husband told me that his mom didn't give our son any tummy time or put him down for naps. It frustrates me sometimes that we have to rely on people who don't take care of our son the way I would or the way we want them to. But I can't complain about free childcare, especially when it means our baby gets to bond with his grandparents. The problem is that when our baby doesn't nap enough during the day, he's a terrible sleeper overnight. Just as I suspected, he's up and not happy about it. He has a little milk and passes back out.
2 a.m. — I wake up in a panic because I had a dream (nightmare?) that I was pregnant again. What kind of cruel joke is this, subconscious?! The baby is also up again. I nudge my husband to stick our son's pacifier back in his mouth. It works.
5 a.m. — The child is up again. My husband gets up and asks if the baby slept through the night. I guess he was still unconscious during the whole crying-pacifier debacle at 2 a.m. Sometimes, the only way our baby sleeps is if I'm holding him. My husband puts the baby in my arms and says he'll wake me up at 7 a.m. because my boss will be in the office and I need to be at work at 8:30. The baby and I fall back asleep at 6.
7:30 a.m. — Husband wakes me up. He said I looked like I was enjoying my sleep too much. Whomp whomp. On Fridays he doesn't have his morning meetings, so he takes care of our son and this morning, he makes breakfast and coffee while I take a shower. He loved the custardy oatmeal with baked spiced apples, so he makes a valiant effort to recreate it. I speedily get dressed, pack my lunch, and hug and kiss everyone goodbye. I eat breakfast in the car.
12:30 p.m. — This morning, the preschool in our building had a water fun day, so my coworker and I spend an hour taking pictures and posting Instagram Stories. The rest of my morning is filled with wrapping some items up, like the marketing report I have to present to the event committee on Tuesday, and calling the printing company to order canvas photos for our new site. Then I eat my lunch of ribs, roasted veggies, and kale salad outside with my coworkers. Afterwards, I meet with my boss to talk about the marketing and PR strategy for our upcoming events. Then my coworker and I meet to discuss the content for our Twitter Chat next week.
4:30 p.m. — It's the weekend! I drop my coworker off at home, since she's on my way. Then I call in a takeout order of a beef roll, pan fried pork buns, dan dan noodles, and sea salt cream iced black tea with boba from Pine and Crane, our favorite Taiwanese restaurant. I park, walk over, and pay. While I'm waiting for the food to be ready, I read my book. $38.50
5:30 p.m. — When I get home, the baby is sleeping. According to my husband, he slept for three hours straight before lunch and was already asleep for an hour by the time I got home. I chalk it up to him catching up on his missed sleep from yesterday and overnight. Getting Asian takeout and watching a movie on Friday nights is a tradition leftover from my college days. Tonight we decide to watch I, Tony a. With thirty minutes of the movie left (that's 7:30 p.m.!) our little guy wakes up. We pause the movie to play with him and do tummy time for about 30 minutes, and then I pop him in our Lillebaby carrier and we take our dog for a walk around the park. It feels great to be active.
8:30 p.m. — We get back home and do baby's bedtime routine. Once he's in his bassinet, he eats more and falls asleep. My husband and I finish watching the movie. I go to sleep after while the hubs stays up to play video games.
Daily Total: $38.50
Day Six
1 a.m. — Baby's up again to eat and then falls back asleep.
3 a.m. — And he's up again, but I know he's not hungry because he just ate. I bring him into bed with us because that usually puts him to sleep quickly, and he stays asleep for longer. But not today. For the next two hours, we play a fun game of me putting the pacifier in his mouth, him falling asleep, pacifier falling out of his mouth, him waking up crying, and so on and so forth in 30 minute cycles. Babies are an enigma.
6 a.m. — Husband wakes up and makes a bottle for the boy who eats for maybe 30 seconds and passes out again.
8:30 a.m. — The baby alarm, a.k.a. crying, goes off and we get up for the day. I feed the little guy and then he hangs out in his bouncer while I take a quick shower and give him a bath. I get both of us ready while my husband does laundry.
9:30 a.m. — I kiss the hubby and fur baby goodbye, and my son and I are off to pick up my aunt. Once a month, all the women on my mom's side of the family get together for a ladies' lunch which consists of drinking wine and catching up on each other's lives. They take turns hosting, and this month is my mom's turn. After picking my aunt up, the three of us head to my parents' place to help my mom cook. I eat a breakfast of cereal when I get there and make myself a cup of coffee with their Keurig, which I pour over ice.
11 a.m. — Months ago, I had made an appointment for a haircut at a salon that specializes in the DevaCurl cut, but this date was the one that worked with everyone else's schedule for ladies' lunch, so I have to leave early. I leave my baby at my parents' house so I can drive to get my appointment in Beverly Hills.
2 p.m. — My hair is done, and I feel fabulous! It was so great to have the time to relax and get pampered. I just wish I hadn't been thinking about missing ladies' lunch. The cost of the haircut is $120, plus a 20% tip and $4 for parking. $148
2:30 p.m. — My mom texts to let me know the baby is out of diapers, so I head straight to Target. If I buy two boxes, I get a $10 gift card to use on a later date. Usually I buy a ton of other stuff I don't need at Target, but today I successfully only purchase what I came for. $52.50
3 p.m. — As soon as I get to my parents' place, most of the ladies start to leave. I make myself a plate of salad, macaroni and cheese, roasted potatoes and spinach, and artichoke baked wontons.
4:30 p.m. — I drop my aunt off at home, and then go to the Coffee Commissary to meet up with a couple of girlfriends. I'm a little early, so I browse the boutique clothing store next door until my friends arrive. Then we head into the cafe where I order an iced chai latte and a decadent chocolate chip cookie — it's the best. $8.50
6 p.m. — We catch up on each other's love lives, and they give me advice on what to do in Amsterdam, since they were just there. One of them has to leave to go to her cousin's engagement party. I call my husband to see what he's doing for dinner. He says he has to feed his parents' dogs — my in-laws live around the corner from the coffee shop. We decide that he'll meet me here after feeding them so we can have dinner together. He arrives half an hour after we talk, and I order a BLT with fried egg and he gets a pork belly brown rice bowl and an iced coffee. $30.50
8 p.m. — We get home and put the baby to sleep. I read more of my book club book while hubby plays video games. Then we both go to sleep. Saturday nights are wild in our house.
Daily Total: $239.50
Day Seven
6:30 a.m. — Last night, our baby slept like an angel! He only woke up once at 3 a.m. for a feeding, which my husband did, and then fell back asleep. It's amazing what a night of sleep can do for your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
8 a.m. — With our newfound energy, we do a load of laundry each and get ready to go out for breakfast. We were supposed to meet a new couple whose son was born a few days after ours, but they cancelled yesterday. It's quite hard making new friends who are parents now that we're so busy. I use the Peanut app, which is like a dating app for moms, and connected with a woman nearby a few months ago whose son is the same age as ours. We had been trying to get together since then and last week we were finally able to meet her, her husband and baby. They invited us to their house and we brought coffee and muffins with us. The six of us hit it off, but they're moving to Japan in a few months. We'll just have to visit them.
9 a.m. — The human and fur babies are both packed and ready to go. We head over to Division 3 for a quick breakfast of biscuit sandwiches, iced coffee, and French toast in a cup. There's outside seating, and our dog finds a playmate while I manage to hold our baby in my lap and eat my sandwich with one hand. He's becoming more and more interested in meal times, but he's still not ready for solids. $27
10:30 a.m. — We get to the dog park so our fur baby can expend some energy and socialize. The weather has been so hot lately that there are only a couple of dogs at the park. I wear our baby in a carrier and he takes a nap while the dog plays. We stay as long as we can but worry about all of us overheating. My husband and I have a big date day planned and drop our pup off at my in-laws. They have two other dogs, and our pup can sleep there overnight.
12 p.m. — After dropping the doggo off, the three of us head to Trader Joe's to shop for the week. I pop the boy into the carrier again, and we're off. We buy bananas, apples, cabbage slaw, spring mix, bell peppers, lemons, avocados, potatoes, brussels sprouts, Muenster cheese, free range ground turkey, and free range eggs. The menu for the week is a sort of turkey chili with peppers, spicy black beans, and organic super grains from Whole Foods (which we have in our pantry), topped with cabbage slaw and avocado, and then grilled cheese with homemade tomato soup, and a chicken sausage (that we already have) baked with potatoes and Brussels sprouts. It's going to be goooood. For some reason that I don't remember, my mother-in-law gave us a $70 gift card to Trader Joe's, so we use it and it still has 18 cents left on it.
1 p.m. — We get home, put the groceries away, and the husband decides to take a nap. The baby is awake, so we hang out until my parents pick him up. They're taking him back to their house so he can swim in their pool, and we can relax for a bit. An hour later, I'm hungry, so I heat up the last of the ribs and potatoes and make a plate with the smoked corn, tomato, and kale salad. My husband looks so peaceful sleeping, but I wake him up to eat. We don't get many opportunities to Netflix and chill now that there's a baby in the mix, so we take full advantage. There's a new show called Amazing Interiors, and it turns out to be as great as the title suggests. We eat and watch and watch and watch.
3 p.m. — After devouring three episodes of this show, we get frisky and head to the bedroom. Then we cuddle the hell out of each other with no threat of a baby waking up and crying. It's glorious.
5 p.m. — We get ready for our big night out and leave for our dinner reservations at Everson Royce Bar downtown. And we're able to find free street parking! When we get to the restaurant, they seat us on the incredible outdoor patio, where there's a DJ and games. It's the perfect summer hangout. We can't stop giggling because it almost feels like our pre-baby days. We each get a burger and share an order of fries and an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Many glasses of frozé are also enjoyed. That stuff is dangerously delicious. $88
6:30 p.m. — After leaving the restaurant, we begin the trek to The Forum for the Imagine Dragons concert. In our pre-baby days, we loved going to concerts and music festivals. Our son was even conceived the weekend we went to Bottlerock Napa. It takes an effort to maintain parts of our pre-baby life and do the things we enjoy as a couple, but we're able to make it happen with a bit of planning. For this concert, we bought the tickets months in advance, maybe even before our son was born. Parking at the venue turns out to be $25. Once inside, we decide to buy two bottles of water. (The alcohol is way too expensive and I already had enough to drink at dinner.) $35
11 p.m. — The concert was amazing — one of the best we've ever been to. We get to our car and are able to exit the parking lot at record speed. It takes us half an hour to get home and my parents drop off our baby a few minutes later. We manage to transfer the little bubs into his bassinet without waking him very much. We dream-feed him a bottle, and he stays asleep. It's way past our bedtime too, and we're exhausted. Life with a baby is strange and wonderful. I think I'll sleep well tonight.
Daily Total: $219.82
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False eyelashes, hair extensions, and acrylic nails — the fun additions to a beauty routine may not actually be the best things to be gluing to our bodies. Nonetheless, advancements within the beauty industry mean that these things have come leaps and bounds, and within reason, we can carry on doing all of the above while protecting our natural assets.
There's no denying nail art and long lengths are (still) having a moment. Fun? Yes! The only problem? They're not without downsides: glues, buffing, chemicals that dry the nail, and even electric drills. These things don't exactly spell out healthy nail beds now, do they? After months, and sometimes even years, of fills and extensions, your nails can be left looking and feeling damaged and weak.
We spoke to Izabelle Bellamy — who filed her way through the ranks at WAH Nails, a U.K. hub for all things nail art, and is now the resident technician at East London's Stunt Dolly salon — about how to resuscitate nails that have passed over to the other side.
Bellamy explained that "acrylic nail extensions shouldn't really damage your nails, provided the correct preparation, maintenance (every two to three weeks), aftercare, and removal procedures are followed. The real damage is caused by heavy-handed nail technicians. Be wary of over-filing and drilling, this will cause weak and peeling nails — and even painful results."
She goes on to add, "You should always visit a qualified and insured nail tech. Over time, the acrylic begins to lose adhesion to the nail and can lift; if air pockets start to be common, this should be a warning sign. Acrylics should be removed and replaced every six to 12 months, although a person's daily routine and home care plus how often they have infills does determine time, too."
Okay, so obviously those are all wise rules to follow, but Bellamy accepts we can't always chose our nail technician and, well, life sometimes just gets in the way of perfect nails. For times when things don't go as planned, here are Bellamy's top tips and products for nails that really need some TLC, post-acrylics.
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As much as we relish living in the city, sometimes it feels just as good to get the F out. Nothing clears your head like a short break from the concrete jungle with all those sirens, pushy commuters, and angry cabbies honking at you 24/7. For those of us feeling the urban fatigue, Labor Day weekend can't come soon enough.
If you're based in NYC, it might be tempting to enjoy the tail end of the summer out in the Hamptons, but pretty much everyone else has the same idea. Cramming yourself into a packed jitney hardly feels like a break. If a laid-back getaway is more your speed, these five spots are equally accessible from the city — but with no champagne-popping, all-white-clad partygoers in sight.
Cookie is an 8-year-old-wrestling champion who dreams of going to the Olympics one day. Watch this video to hear about how she wants to inspire more girls to start wrestling.
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If you ask us, no workout is complete without a killer playlist — and running is no exception.
Whether you prefer the trails or the treadmill, the right songs can make the difference between a good run and great run. (No, that isn't just your addiction to pop talking.)
Plus, music has actually been found to improve people's performance during cardio workouts. A 2009 study, for example, suggested that music helps us power through fatigue more easily. See, even science wants you to run for your life with Yeezy at full volume.
We asked R29 staffers to share their favorite running songs, and they did not disappoint. Today, we've added songs from Ariana Grande, Calvin Harris, and more.
Below, check out our previous running playlists for even more jams.
Check back in the following weeks for more of your favorite tracks — and don't forget to check out our regular workout playlist, too.
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Every once in a while, we take a look around our homes and realize they've lost that edge that makes them uniquely us: our wall paint is dull and chipping, our kitchen accessories are a mismatched collection from past roommates, and our duvet is the same one we've had since college. But instead of selling everything and starting from square one, there's a much easier way to add a dash of personality: statement-making pieces with eye-catching patterns and vivid colors.
Inspired by the CB2 x Matthew Williamson collection, we created the ultimate shopping guide to unexpected, high-impact decor: from small accent pieces to big-picture furniture. Ahead, open your mind to surprising colors, dramatic patterns, and daring shapes. No matter how you choose to decorate, these pieces are guaranteed to make a lasting impression.
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We love a good beauty two-fer: lipstick used as blush, lip balm as an eyeshadow, eyeliner that works as brow filler. We’ve remixed a little bit of everything in a pinch. And recently model Joan Smalls revealed to US Weekly that using sunscreen to highlight and contour is her favorite double-duty tip. Wait, what? We’ve heard of using oil to give the face a sweaty-on-purpose gleam, but sunscreen as highlighter is a first.
Apparently, Smalls uses the shiny and iridescent qualities of sunscreen (something most women complain about) to emphasize the bridge of the nose, shoulder blades, and cheekbones. You’d apply the sunscreen the same way you’d use highlighting drops. She also said, “It makes the skin lighter because you’re not tanning as much there.” Essentially the area of your face that isn’t coated in sunscreen gets exposed to more sun than the rest of your face, which creates a naturally bronzed look.
While there’s no denying how creative this hack is, we advise that you cover your entire face with your favorite sunscreen and maybe just add a little less in the areas you typically contour. Dermatologists would probably faint if they heard about Smalls contouring hack, because all parts of our skin should be protected before coming in contact with the sun. (At least she's using lotions with SPF 30 and up.)
On Monday, one of his lesser known courses — the Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley in New York — posted a picture of a meal that could make actual chefs around the world cry.
The picture shows some grape tomatoes, corn kernels, an unidentified yellow substance, and what could be cilantro wrapped in rice paper or daikon. It's unclear. The text in the photo reads: "When your Mom said 'eat your vegetables,' we heard her loud and clear!"
See for yourself.
"Trump National Hudson Valley - so much more to your Membership!" the tweet accompanying the photo of the sad-looking meal read. (According to a 2010 report, initiation fees for the club were $10,000 plus annual dues of $7,500 at the time. It's unclear if the fees have increased.)
Refinery29 reached out to the Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley to find out whether this is an item offered on their menu, what's in it, and how much does it cost. We didn't hear back by press time.
The tweet was deleted after about an hour with no explanation. But of course, the internet is forever.
“Hey sport I‘m really feeling the sprouts wrapped in radishes concept but i think the plating needs one thinly-sliced cherry tomato and a dollop of goddammit the dog ate an entire jar of vaseline go in the house and get an extra plastic bag” pic.twitter.com/magxiujbek
The quality of food in Trump-owned establishments have been questionable at best, according to food critics. (And health inspectors, who found several food-safety issues at the president's Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL.)
In 2016, Vanity Fair ran a story titled: "Trump Grill Could Be the Worst Restaurant in America." The piece, written by Tina Nguyen, described her less-than-stellar experience at the steakhouse located in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City.
Among some other scathing reviews of items on the menu, she wrote: "Renowned butcher Pat LaFrieda once dared me to eat an eyeball that he himself popped out of the skull of a roasted pig. That eyeball tasted better than the Trump Grill’s (Grille’s) Gold Label Burger, a Pat LaFrieda branded short-rib burger blend molded into a sad little meat thing, sitting in the center of a massive, rapidly staling brioche bun, hiding its shame under a slice of melted orange cheese. It came with overcooked woody batons called 'fries'— how can someone mess up fries?"
Indeed, how can anyone screw up fries? Maybe they were made by the same people whose idea of a good salad (?) is scattering a handful of vegetables on a plate and calling it a day.
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While blowdryers are a dime a dozen, a great one is not easy to come by. And when you do find a fantastic blowdryer with rave reviews, you have to be prepared to drop hundreds of dollars. But what if you could find the hot tool you've been lusting after on sale? Well, right now you can get one of the most popular blowdryers in Hollywood for less than $200.
You probably recognize the mint-green products from some of your favorite celebrity Instagrams because Josh is always using his brand behind-the-scenes, but other hair pros are also fans.
Celebrity stylists like the Harry Josh Pro Dryer because of the travel-friendly size, which makes it easy to carry from hotel room to hotel room. “Compared to a lot of dryers, it was very lightweight," hairstylist Seto McCoy tells Refinery29. " I also really enjoy the fact that the heat isn’t too intense, it perfectly dries the hair at a timely speed without much heat. I also like the fact that it has a long cord! That’s very important for me.” McCoy also approves this dryer for many different hair textures, from straight to wavy.
Typically, the dryer would run you about $249. But today only, you can shave 25% off the price bringing it to less than $200. Not in the market for a blowdryer? The discount also applies to the Harry Josh Tools flat iron, curling iron, and brushes. We're just thankful that on this gloomy Monday, the hair gods have decided to bless us with the thing we love most — luxury products at a steal.
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Frankly, it's not that time-consuming to find a lipstick you like. Chances are you have collected hundreds just because you mildly enjoyed the color at the store. And yet, our 2018 goal is to find The One. Our lipstick soulmate. The shade we would commit to for life — and if it asked, renounce every other tube and never look back. How can you make this happen? Sometimes, it's just written in the stars.
Sure, thanks to helpful guides like this and this, you could simply pick a lip color that flatters your skin tone. But there may be a better way. In fact, considering we've already based our favorite makeup trends on our zodiac signs, we figured it would be a smart move to do the same for our ride-or-die lipstick — and Bite Beauty just made it easy.
Starting now, Bite will roll out new lipstick shades in the popular Amuse Bouche formula based on your astrological sign. But we're obviously not the only ones tapping into our horoscopes for some inspiration: These shades continue to sell out on Sephora. Luckily, the brand will continue unveiling more shades every month — so when you do have the chance to snag your sign, we suggest you do it fast.
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Fixated with Ariana’s Grande’s love life this year? She knows. She indulges the gossip – her split with Mac Miller and her very public (and strangely endearing) whirlwind engagement to Pete Davidson – on Sweetener, her fourth studio album, putting her diva-power pipes to some sad and some sugar-coated tracks about men, romance, heartache, and sex. But the real guiding event behind the album is Manchester and her recovery and search for normalcy after that attack.
With Grande writing so much of the album, her strange but delightful sense of humor comes through much more prominently than in her past work. Part of that also comes from working with Pharrell, who produces the vast majority of the tracks and enjoys a kooky musical turn as well as an unexpected turn of phrase. The two perform together on “blazed,” where they sandwich the divine search for a soulmate between a lyric about getting high (“Don't think that it cannot happen, 'cause it can / Shawty, you can get blazed / Sleep if you want, and wake up in love again"). He compliments Grande’s unpredictable creative impulses, and “successful,” with its Us3 “Cataloop” sounding groove, is a particular standout in a sea of off-kilter songs, as are “R.E.M.” and the album’s title track. Together, Pharrell and Grande make a pop sound unlike anything else happening right now. It’s a mixture of signature N.E.R.D. beats filtered through the negative space so popular in SoundCloud rap, with Grande’s distinct, feminine signature embossed on top. It’s a giant step away from the standard Max Martin template, and nothing like the Jack Antonoff production scheme that has come to define the sound of women in pop.
Following the suicide bombing at one of her concerts in Manchester in 2017, the singer has had a lot to overcome: anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. But Grande seems to have taken to heart the idea that living one's best life is a way to combat that darkness. She celebrates those ideas all over Sweetener, but they come through strongly in “breathin,” “the light is coming,” and especially in “ God is a woman,” the only song with a capital letter in the title. “God,” along with “successful,” is an epic dismissal of the religious dogma that subjugates women and the art they create. Grande has always identified as a feminist, but after what she has been through and the place American women currently find themselves in, it’s radical to hear a young, female artist talk about how she’s excelling and why she’s influential.
The album does have its lighter moments, most of which are focused on relationships. The lightest of the light is, hands down, the brief track written for her fiancé, “ pete davidson.” There’s a universality in the Imogene Heap-sampling “goodnight n go” as well as “everytime.” In the end, Grande is an optimist on “ get well soon,” a love letter to the fans who are struggling to get through the day. There is less vibrato, less of that signature high-pitched melisma and more from Grande’s lower ranges. It feels like with every “yup” and “woop” we’re hearing Grande’s id in a way we never have before.
Via humor, true ferocity, charismatic wackiness, and not much sentimentality, Sweetener paints a completely unexpected and honest (if at times abstract) picture of Grande right now – a year after tragedy and in the throes of romantic bliss. She seems to have unlocked a new level of creativity, one that goes beyond a good single here and there.
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