Like with most major beauty trends, the so-called nail art bubble hit fast and hard, followed by years of armchair analysis about when the trend would be declared officially dead. The truth? That nail art bubble didn’t exist; The artform is here to stay, as evidenced by a continuum of creativity kicked out by the top nail artists in the game.
With veterans like Madeline Poole turning the page with unexpected color combinations, fresh talent like Cassandre Marie breathing new life into negative space manis, and innovators like Betina Goldstein and Park Eun Kyung bringing chains, pearls, and nail jewelry (custom created, btw) to digits, there’s no better time to add a little something — anything — to a plain-polish mani.
Get inspired with some of the most creative forces in the field, ahead.
What To Expect: Minimal designs that run the gamut from politically inspired to designer driven, with plenty of riffs on current fashion collections (particularly for Gucci Gang devotees). Kate Hudson has LA-based nail artist Hang Nguyen on speed dial, and it’s easy to see why.
What To Expect: Teyana Taylor’s Harlem-based salon specializes in extra-long acrylic designs. The of-the-moment sets, include everything from minimal graphic looks to maximal mixed-media designs.
What To Expect: The sickest color combinations on fingertips. Madeline Poole isn’t just an OG in the nail community — she's served as Global Color Ambassador for Sally Hansen since 2014 — she’s also a master of hue. It's as if she took lessons directly from Albert Munsell’s color theory and applied them to sick-ass manis.
What To Expect: Soft and feminine designs rule nail artist Cassandre Marie’s universe — and one scroll through her feed shows it’s a lovely place to be. The Seattle-based pro specializes in a clean aesthetic and geometric designs that feel both of-the-moment and timeless.
What To Expect: Miss Pop lives up to her name with brightly-colored manicures that regularly grace the color-drunk runways of Moschino. As of late, she’s taken her signature dose of fun past the nails, creating hand art that extends down the fingers.
What To Expect: Nail art painted on short nails can be tricky because too elaborate designs can crowd shorter nails. Celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein makes out-of-the-box manis done on short nails look elegant, thanks to smart use of negative space and the introduction of pearls, chains, and manicure rings (which she creates herself and will soon sell under the name DoubleMoss Jewelry). No wonder celebs like Zoë Kravitz and Dakota Johnson are fans.
What To Expect: A taste of the runway spun from Gucci bags and Prada looks and delivered in the most attainable way. New York-based manicurist Alicia Torello employs expert color blocking and strategic use of metallic accents to further seal the deal. When our single-shade manis start to feel meh, Torello’s feed serves as the perfect antidote.
What To Expect: Even the most perfect of polish jobs can feel half baked next to the 3-D creations by Park Eun Kyung, a South Korea-based nail artist who helped bring glass, wire, and LED manicures to the forefront. More recent creations use brightly-colored sugar, pearls, and plenty of nail jewelry to make otherwise minimal manis pop.
What To Expect: If Missy Elliot can do no wrong (and let’s face it: stylistically, she can’t), then the same goes for her nail artist. The Atlanta-based talent not only creates legendary looks for Ms. Missy, but has done the same for the stars of show Claws. She's known for her multi-textural and multimedia designs.
What To Expect: Trippy holographic, watercolor, and glow-in-the-dark designs created by the pros at Ariana Grande’s go-to nail salon in downtown LA. They're something out of Alice in Wonderland (or the “God Is A Woman ” video) — and when it comes to the people who brought us tarot nails, we wouldn’t expect anything less.
What To Expect: Hand-painted designs that are intricate, but not fussy. You can tell that UK nail artist Sophie Harris-Greenslade studied illustration in college. The styles range from classic patterns (florals, plaids) to gem-covered creations, and we’ve been pining for our own The Illustrated Nail mani since MIA wore Harris-Greenslade’s creations back in 2011. Now, we don’t need a transatlantic ticket make that happen: the manicurist has just launched a faux nail range with Boots.
What To Expect: Jewel-toned squares stacked on transparent tips made to resemble the Saturday Night Fever dance floor. Full sets that don’t repeat a single pattern. Statement nails painted with perfect typography. New York-based nail artist Mei Kawajiri never settles for what’s been done, which is why you find her fresh designs on the fingers of a range of cool-kid celebs, from Justine Skye to Bella Hadid to Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness.
What To Expect: Jewel-encrusted creations painted in rich shades. Nothing says wealth — as in “I have a staff that does stuff like open soda cans for me” wealth — like the creations coming from New York’s Jenny Bui. For more-is-more mani inspo, what better feed to stalk than that of the nail artist who turns out Cardi B.'s famous talons?
What To Expect: Nail art for everyone from gaming geeks to marathoners. Among our favorites frequently found on the Olive & June feed? Designs inspired by frequently used emojis, like lightning bolts, hearts, and teeny rainbows, which are cute enough to make us want to book a standing weekly appointment (or at least add the salon’s own nail art stickers to cart).
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Following the backlash, the brand released a statement from chief marketing officer of L Brands Ed Razek on Twitter.
“My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show came across as insensitive. I apologize. To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model in our show. We've had transgender models come to castings...And like many others, they didn't make it. It was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.”
Ahead of the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show, Razek and the executive vice president of public relations at VS, Monica Mitro, explained why neither has appeared in the show in an interview with Vogue. "I don’t think we can be all things to all customers. It is a specialty business; it isn’t a department store,” Razek said.
He went on to defend the brand’s decision to exclude curvier models, citing that “no one had any interest” in watching a show featuring them in the past and “still don’t.” Later, he specifically explained why transgender models are also a no-go for VS. "’Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show?’ No. No, I don’t think we should. ‘Well, why not?’ Because the show is a fantasy,” he said.
Razek’s comments, specifically the anti-trans ones, drew heavy criticism from many on social media.
The audacity of suggesting that trans women aren't fantasy-worthy. Such bullshit. They're far more magical than you could ever be.
Hey @VictoriasSecret you need plus size models, trans models, and plus size trans models. If you’re marketing to actual women and not the disgusting “fantasy” of a woman that men want to see then make your material relatable. Honestly this is basic shit. Shame on you
While transgender visibility on the catwalk is somewhat improving – 45 transgender models and four non-binary models walked major and semi-major runways this past season – comments like Razek’s keep any major progress from being made. So hopefully this incident will inspire VS to make a real change and adjust their scope on what being diverse truly means.
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At least nine people are dead as a result of wildfires in California that have decimated over 100,000 acres of land. According to CBS, it is the deadliest wildfire outbreak since record-keeping began.
The wildfires are comprised of three separate fires. Camp Fire, the largest, is in Butte County, which is north of Sacramento in the California Central Valley. It is also the fire that caused the death of nine people, five of whom were seemingly overtaken by the blaze in their cars while trying to evacuate, according to the Sacramento Bee. As of Saturday morning, the fire was 20% contained, according to ABC.
The Woolsey Fire affects Malibu, Topanga Canyon, and the San Fernando Valley, and, according to the Los Angeles Times, has forced at least 250,000 people (including many celebrity residents, such as Kim Kardashian West) to evacuate. According to NBC Los Angeles, the fire has burned through at least 70,000 acres and was 0% contained on Saturday morning. The smaller Hill Fire is in Camarillo Springs and the Cal State Channel Islands and just a few miles away from Thousand Oaks, which is still reeling from a deadly mass shooting in a bar. It has burned through 6,000 acres of land, according to the Los Angeles Times.
For all the fires, poor conditions – including dry weather and fierce winds – have contributed to the difficulty of fighting them, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
The wildfires have also affected the Los Angeles Zoo. On Friday morning, a brush fire erupted in nearby Griffith Park, causing employees to close the zoo to the public and evacuate some animals, according to CNN. By late morning, the fire was extinguished. No structures were burned down and no animals or zoo employees were hurt. One firefighter was injured, though fire department officials said he wasn’t burned, according to the Los Angeles Times.
President Donald Trump remarked on the fires, issuing a deceleration of emergency for California and then threatening to cut federal funding to the state on Twitter citing poor forest management.
Wildfires are burning throughout Northern and Southern California. The Camp Fire, north of Sacramento, has killed nine people, and left countless more homeless. The Washington Post reports that the town of Paradise is almost completely destroyed. Near Los Angeles, the Woosley and Hill Fires are devastating neighborhoods, including Thousand Oaks, which is still grieving over this week’s mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill. Here’s what President Donald Trump had to say in reaction to the devastating fire that has burned more than 100,000 acres and put over a quarter of a million people under evacuation orders:
“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor,” Trump tweeted this morning. “Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”
There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!
Scientists point to climate change as the reason for the outbreak in forest fires along the West Coast. “Drier areas become drier,” notes the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit collective of private and academic climate scientists. Incidences of wildfires are also projected to rise in the upcoming years.
Trump has declared a state of emergency for California, which enables the state to request funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist the numerous government, state, and private agencies working to put out the fires.
California’s new governor-elect Gavin Newsom wrote that “CA mourns tonight.”
CA mourns tonight -- for the lives lost and communities consumed by these devastating fires.
If you live in or near affected areas, please stay alert. Prepare to evacuate. Listen to local authorities. https://t.co/FgTXvW8MgB
Celebrities, state politicians, and climate change experts quickly denounced Trump’s comments. Some noted the insensitivity of his tweet in the wake of multiple deaths and homelessness while others asserted that he is factually incorrect regarding the causes of wildfires.
Responses from Katy Perry, John Legend, Ava DuVernay, and others blasted Trump’s lack of compassion.
This is an absolutely heartless response. There aren’t even politics involved. Just good American families losing their homes as you tweet, evacuating into shelters. https://t.co/DJ4PN26bLZ
1. Zero consolation to those who have lost life & property. 2. The Bureau of Land Management's budget is determined by Congress. 3. Your own proposed BLM budget fails to properly fund prevention. 4. The mismanagement is a GOP Congress that refuses give BLM the resources it needs.
Three major wildfires – Camp, Woolsey, and Hill – have engulfed the state of California.
Camp Fire, in the northern part of the state, has destroyed more than 6,700 structures and killed at least nine people, making it California's most destructive wildfire. The blaze also consumed most of Paradise, a town north of Sacramento. In Southern California, firefighters estimate that more than the 250,000 people have been forced to evacuate from their homes because of the Woolsey and Hill fires.
As the wildfires continue to rage, those looking to help can support those suffering from the devastation in a number of ways. Here are some local, regional, and national organizations seeking help with relief efforts.
Organizations To Donate To
American Red Cross workers have set up temporary shelters and food sites across the state.
Donate to the efforts by visiting redcross.org or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donors can even specifically request their monies go towards California relief efforts by writing the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check made out to the organization.
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation supports the first responders fighting on the frontlines of the wildfires. They are currently requesting donations to put towards hydration backpacks for the firefighters.
The CCF Wildfire Relief Fund supports immediate recovery efforts for major California wildfires, as well as long-term preparedness efforts.
The United Way of Greater Los Angeles is partnering with United Way of Ventura County to collect donations for its its Disaster Relief Fund.
Baby2Baby is working to get high-need items to children affected by the ongoing Camp, Hill, and Woolsey fires in California. Help them supply diapers, wipes, blankets, and other basic baby essentials to families in need by purchasing from their registry.
Donate directly to Direct Relief, which helps provide resources to healthcare agencies and first responders in wildfire-affected areas across California. Tito's Handmade Vodka has pledged to match all donations, up to $15,000.
CNN’s Impact Your World initiative has created a page to collect donations that will go towards supporting seven organizations including The Community Foundation Sonoma County, Convoy of Hope and Direct Relief.
The Firefighters Charitable Foundationaccepts donations to support volunteer fire stations and helps wildfire victims.
California Volunteers, a state office that manages volunteer programs in California, has created a list of services and donation options to help victims affected by the Camp, Woolsey, and Hill fires. Use this list to find information about making donations and volunteering.
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Think of Singles' Day as the precursor to Treat Yo Self Day, a chance for singles to buy gifts for themselves and each other. Even the date is super single: It's 11/11 (all ones, get it?).
Never one to pass up a good sale, more retailers in the U.S. are catching on to and participating in Singles' Day deals each year. The sales are almost entirely online which means, like Cyber Monday, you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home to take advantage of the discounts. Another bonus to Singles' Day is that if gives you another day of great sales to get your holiday shopping done early – or just a day to treat yourself before the rest of the year flies by in the blink of an eye.
Click through to see some of our favorite Singles' Day deals.
Three of Foreo's top items are on sale till the clock strikes midnight on 11/11. The LUNA 2, ISSA 2, or ISSA mini 2 is 30% off. The deals can be found on Foreo's hidden Singles' Day page, here.
Foreo Issam Mini Electric Toothbrush, $95, available at Foreo
Stock up on your favorite, scented bath products. The Body Shop is offering a special Singles' Day deal. Buy any two items sitewide and get one free. Did we mention they're also offering free shipping?
The Body Shop British Rose Bath Foam, $10.5, available at The Body Shop
Singles' Day is about celebrating me, myself, and I. Treat yourself with Lelo's sale. Get up to 50% off select products when you use the code "SD2018" and receive a complimentary surprise gift with an $80+ purchase.
Puma is offering up to 25% sneakers and free shipping through November 12. Use code "SINGLES18" at checkout or visit Puma's special sales page for details, here.
PUMA Thunder Desert Sneakers, $99.99, available at PUMA
Celebrate being single with a variety of discounts at SkinStore. They have a whole section online of products that are 30% off when you use the code "SINGLES30."
First Aid Beauty First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $30, available at SkinStore
This Singles' Day, W Concept is throwing more than one fun sale. From 11/9 - 11/12, use the code "SINGLES18" to save 11% off sitewide; save up to 76% (plus an additional 11%) off W Concept's top brands; and shop 111 parkas for up to 55% (plus an additional 11%) off.
Lookast Cashmere Notched Lapel Handmade Coat, $352, available at W Concept
Treat yourself to glowing skin with Clarisonic's sale. Starting 11/9 to 11/12, shop Clarisonic's many offers which can be found here. Use the code "SINGLESDAY18" at checkout.
Clarisonic 11.11 Exclusive Mia Smart + Deep Pore Brush Head, $211, available at Clarisonic
BB creams, lip tints, ceramide balms, bottled essences, sheet masks: The contents of my medicine cabinet say all I need to know about how heavily influenced I am by K-beauty trends. But of all the things I've loved that have originated in South Korea, nothing hit me quite as hard as "glass skin." When the concept of a bouncy, youthful, reflective glow hit the States, I knew my skin-care routine would never be the same.
Unfortunately, my "glass skin" didn't come as easily as I'd hoped. After running several personal, highly unscientific trials of layering serums, lotions, and oils, my skin was as dull and my pores as clogged as they'd ever been. Neither my makeup, my skin-care routine, or chugging nearly two liters of water a day gave me the poreless sheen I'd been searching for. Then, I met VDL Cosmetics' Metal Cushion Primer.
Housed inside a travel-friendly cushion compact, the primer fuses light-reflecting pearls with a combination of skin-conditioning ingredients, like niacinamide and adenosine, to create a 3D glow. To dispense the primer, which looks a lot like unicorn blood, all you have to do is gently press down on the metal plate, and the opalescent formula appears. Rather than use the included cushion, I prefer to dip a brush directly into the product before swirling it all over my face. The result is a highlighted glow that creates that lit-from-within effect I've heard so much about, but rarely see. Makeup artist Nam Vo calls it "the ultra-violet underglow."
The underglow is so strong that, even after I've put on my foundation and concealer, the subtle shine still shows through in the best way. When that's not enough, I'll tap a little more on top of the rest of my makeup to use it like a buildable highlighter. Not only does it help my foundation last all day without fading, but that glow still holds strong (and, more importantly, still looks good) during my 4 p.m. slump, often spent in the fluorescent-lit office bathroom where I realize just how much sleep I didn't get the night before. Needless to say, I found my fix for "glass skin" — or at least one way to fake it until I finally perfect my skin-care routine.
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. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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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.
Calling all entrepreneurs:We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary.Submit here.
Today: an engineer working in architecture who makes $68,224 per year and spends some of her money this week on Tums.
Occupation: Engineer Industry: Architecture Age: 24 Location: New York, NY Salary: $68,224 Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $2,624
Monthly Expenses Rent: $200 (I live at home in Queens, where I was born and raised, and pay my mom a small amount every month.) Student Loan Payment: $0 (I had about $35,000 in loans after graduating. I paid for $15,000 and my mom paid for $20,000.) Netflix: $10.99 (I share with my mom, sister, and boyfriend.) Weights Class: $25 per week MetroCard: $200 (pre-tax) Savings: $1,200 (I automatically transfer $600 to my savings after every paycheck.) 401(k): $1,469.44 (I'm maxing out contribution. My company matches 50% of the first 6%.)
Day One
6:25 a.m. — I wake up and lie in bed for a few minutes to enjoy the comfort of all my little pillows. Then I hop into the shower, and put on a tank top, long sleeve mock turtleneck, short sleeve shirt, and jacket — all to prepare for a potential seasonal crisis. I go to the kitchen and drink Danimals children's yogurt (my mom randomly bought this because it was on sale) and head to the Queens/Manhattan Express bus stop ($6.75 with my MetroCard).
8:05 a.m. — I arrive in Manhattan and get off one stop early in order to get in some early morning walking. I head towards my building, say hi to the doorman, and get to my desk. Today I am trying to finish my design for some steel column connections. I set up the structural analysis model yesterday and hope to run the analysis today.
12 p.m. — I attempt to research a side-face blowout of concrete, but instead Google shows me a YouTube video of a woman trying to blow-dry her hair sideways. I immediately close the window out of fear that someone will think that I am loitering on YouTube. I then have an hour-long meeting with a colleague to discuss my design.
1 p.m. — My coworker spots free sandwiches leftover from a meeting that just ended and encourages me to take one before anyone notices. We immediately help ourselves to sandwiches and highly coveted 40% less sodium potato chips.
7 p.m. — I finally head home and opt to take the train and bus home instead of the express bus ($2.25). It takes an hour and a half, but that's the sacrifice you make when you live with your parents.
9:30 p.m. — After taking the subway, I wait for the regular MTA Queens bus to get home. I end up bumping into a lady from my weekly yoga class, and we discover that we work a few streets away from each other in the city. She tells me about her grown kids and we both complain about our commutes. I love randomly bumping into people on public transportation; one of the best ways to reconnect with people is when you are both trapped on the bus or train. When I get home, I eat bean soup (courtesy of my mom) and we split an orange. We watch an episode of Perry Mason together. I eventually get into bed and fall asleep watching a Bon Appétit YouTube video. I'm asleep by 10 p.m.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
6:25 a.m. — I wake up and hop in the shower, only to find that the water won't get hot. It barely reaches lukewarm, which is a form of torture on this cold day. I change, grab a banana and umbrella, and am out the door. The express bus is packed ($6.75). It's also raining like crazy outside, so everything in the bus is wet. I read a book on my Kindle about a man who quits his 9-to-5 job in order to hike the Appalachian Trail.
8:05 a.m. — I get into the office and have to work extra hard this morning — we have some drawings due that are in bad shape. I make green tea in the kitchen. In general, I don't drink coffee because it makes me more nervous than I already am.
12:30 p.m. — My supervisor tells me that actually we have until tomorrow morning to work on the drawings. I tell him that I have dinner plans, so I need to leave the office by 6 p.m. That's considered early if there's a submission due, but he says it's okay. I eat my packed lunch from yesterday and hide out on a different floor to avoid seeing my coworkers. I really like them, but sometimes I need my alone time.
5 p.m. — I start to get stressed because in doing the submission, I neglected other work that had to get done. I need to finish the steel design as soon as possible, and my boss says I can charge as many hours as I want because this week I am allowed to get overtime.
6 p.m. — I finally escape the office! I am meeting up with my boyfriend at a restaurant on the Lower East Side. We've been trying to get reservations at this place for a while, so are excited to finally get a spot. My boyfriend also lives at home with his parents. We're on that money-saving grind so that one day we can buy property in the city. We meet up at the restaurant and order an heirloom tomato salad, mussels for an appetizer, filet mignon, and a whole trout for our main course, but we're slightly disappointed. The food was good, but a little lackluster, and we felt like we were swimming in mashed potatoes for most of the meal. We split the check and head out. $72
8:30 p.m. — My boyfriend waits for me to get an Uber home because I'm too tired to take public transportation. Uber Pool costs $28, which is really cheap considering how far out into Queens I live. The ride is actually so far that my Uber driver doesn't even end up picking anyone else up along the way. I use my $200 Uber gift card, so essentially it's a free ride. I got this gift card for being a tester for a program a few weeks ago, and I will savor it for as long as possible. I eventually get home, get ready for bed, and immediately pass out.
Daily Total: $72
Day Three
6:20 a.m. — I wake up, take a shower, rush to put on my office attire, and then go downstairs to make lunch. I pack rice, leftover bean soup, and some pieces of beef, but I don't eat breakfast because I'm still full from yesterday's dinner. I hop onto the express bus, which is packed ($6.75). I sit next to someone who sort of smells, and immediately regret this decision.
8:05 a.m. — I get into the office and make my usual green tea. Then I get started on the work I had put off yesterday, only to be told by another engineer that there is another submission for a different project that I need to work on. This project is fun, though — it's for a restaurant.
12:15 p.m. — I eat outside of the office with my older sister who works nearby. She also lives at home, but we don't always commute or eat together because we have different schedules. We take a stroll during lunch and she buys an empanada (and I eat her leftovers). We then discover a nice church, and while we're not particularly religious, we make plans to go back because it's so peaceful. After an hour, we go back to work.
4 p.m. — Later in the day, I help my desk neighbor with a structural analysis program. I have spent many long nights trying to understand the workings of the program and am glad to help. We end up discussing his model for about an hour, and he shares some cookies with me.
7:30 p.m. — I finally leave the office, feeling worried about the work piling up but ready to get out of there. I take the train and then the bus, but end up missing my stop, so I have to walk additional 15 minutes to get home. My mom brought leftover food home from her office, so I eat that for dinner. She always tries to bring home food from work when she can. I watch an episode of The Good Place on Netflix and fall asleep.
Daily Total: $0
Day Four
6:25 a.m. — I wake up feeling really tired. I take a shower, quickly put on clothes and light makeup, pat my mom on the head goodbye, and walk to the express bus. I stop at Essen near my office and get a small breakfast wrap that has turkey, avocado, and egg whites. The price is per pound and ends up costing $3.59. $3.59
8:15 a.m. — I get into the office, grab some tea, and begin to work. I notice that one of my desk plants now has two flowers, and I'm immensely happy about it. I have so many plants at my desk that I think the air quality around my desk is better. I get to work on the submission for the restaurant project.
12 p.m. — We have a meeting with free pizza! I sit and eat with some of my friends from the department. I get a grandma slice and a chicken slice.
4 p.m. — Steal some cookies that are leftover from a meeting.
7 p.m. — I head out of the office with my sister and we take the express bus home together ($6.75). We get home to find that my mom bought chicken from a Chinese restaurant, so we eat that and leftover vegetable soup for dinner. I fall asleep watching a YouTube video called "32 Ways To Cook Chicken Breast."
Daily Total: $3.59
Day Five
2:45 a.m. — I wake up in a panic, mostly about work and also some personal stuff. It is raining really loudly outside. I fall asleep but continue to wake up nearly every hour.
5:30 a.m. — I decide to just get up early and start getting ready for the day. I feel anxious about everything. I go to the bathroom and sit on the toilet, only to feel droplets of water dripping on my head from above. Our house is pretty old, so the roof leaks when it rains really hard. Usually the basement also floods and I really do not want to deal with that right now. I get changed and eat roast pork, plantains, and rice for breakfast. I don't pack lunch because my sister and I are planning to go out for lunch. I hope onto the express bus ($6.75).
8:15 a.m. — It's still pouring but I make my way into the office. I check my email and start to feel worried — I have a lot to do. I really enjoy being an engineer, but sometimes the stress can get intense. I glue my butt to my seat and haul ass. I produce drawings, respond to emails, and coordinate with architects.
12 p.m. — Come lunch time, my sister says that she brought food after all. I am annoyed and still stressed, so I end up eating nothing for lunch.
5 p.m. — I am almost ready to submit and am starting to feel better about life. I am thinking that maybe I won't have to work this weekend. I ask a senior engineer for advice on these calculations I am working on, and he reaffirms my design intent. Before submission, I ask another engineer to back check my work. He has a few minor comments but says that overall it's okay. I submit!
6 p.m. — I leave the office to meet my boyfriend at 34th Street for some Korean BBQ. We go to Jongro and get in line for the hour-long wait. When we're finally called for a table, we get the beef platter and all the little free side dishes it comes with. By the end, my stomach has expanded and I am thankful for the comfortable pants I chose to wear today. $54
9:20 p.m. — I say goodbye to my boyfriend and get on an express bus home ($6.75). Once I get on the bus, I tell my boyfriend to look at the moon because it is extremely large and yellow. I wonder if there is moon eclipse/holiday today that I am unaware of. After I get off the bus, I walk to Rite Aid and buy Tums ($2.47) with my debit card so that I can withdraw $20. $2.47
Daily Total: $56.47
Day Six
7:30 a.m. — I wake up and get ready for my Saturday morning yoga class ($15). The studio is a few blocks away from where I live, so I get ready and walk over. The teacher is the best yoga instructor I've had. We are all friends in the class, which is comprised of mostly women of all ages (me being the youngest) and a sprinkling of older men. $15
9:30 a.m. — I have a dentist appointment right across from the yoga studio afterwards, so I head over and get a cleaning and a few X-rays. My teeth are in good condition and the dentist asks if I got my teeth whitened. This surprises me because I've always felt like my teeth aren't very white — if anything, they're more on the gray side. I am still on my mom's insurance, but it doesn't cover dental, which is why the bill ends up being a bit pricey. $150
10:15 a.m. — I quickly hop on a bus ($2.75) and head to the optometrist. I now have an eye check-up, which I scheduled because I want new glasses and may need contacts. I don't normally wear contacts, but I'm going to a wedding in Atlanta next weekend, and the bridal party is supposed to wear fake eyelashes (which I have never worn before in my life), so I might want to wear contacts with them. I pay the co-pay ($30), which is cheaper because it's covered by my mom's insurance. $30
11 a.m. — The day is so nice and sunny that I decide to walk the 30-plus blocks home from the optometrist rather than taking the bus. When I get home, I eat a small bowl of roast pork and rice. I chop garlic for my mom and we wait for my dad to get back home so I can borrow the car to drive us to get groceries. First we go to Key Food, and next we go to the Chinese supermarket to buy vegetables. I really don't drive that much and have only been on the highway a few times, so I try to practice when I can. My mom pays for the groceries.
5 p.m. — My mom is going to a retirement party for one of her coworkers, and I tag along. It's a potluck, so we bring some shrimp that we cooked earlier. My dad drops us off, and there's a lot of food. I talk to some of her coworkers but mostly do a lot of observing because these women gossip like crazy!
9 p.m. — My dad picks us up and we head home. I am really tired, but stay up later to finish watching the first season of The Good Place on Netflix.
Daily Total: $195
Day Seven
7:30 a.m. — I wake up and get ready for my weights class. The studio is in the same location as my yoga class, so I walk there. My teacher is a bald, meaty guy who sometimes talks too much but means well. A few of my friends from yoga are also in the class. I deadlift 95 pounds, which technically is not a lot compared to others, but is a lot for someone of my size. After class, I go and help my mom prepare some food.
11:30 a.m. — My sister and I head to the city because we're meeting up with my cousin and her girlfriend, who are visiting for the weekend. We hop onto the bus and train ($2.25) to meet them for brunch on 53rd St. On the train ride there, a homeless man sitting next to my sister starts touching himself and, needless to say, she is not in a good mood afterwards.
12:30 p.m. — We finally meet up with my cousin and her girlfriend. I get avocado toast with a poached egg ($29). Everyone gets mimosas except for me, because I only drink every once in a while. Afterwards, we walk to Columbus Circle and loiter around. I buy fake eyelashes ($18) and eyelash glue ($9) for the wedding next weekend. $56
4 p.m. — My sister and I catch the express bus home to avoid the subway ($6.75), which has essentially failed us at this point. I get home and do some laundry. I also make avocado, scallion, tomato, and red onion salad with fish sauce. Today is a Filipino holiday (well technically it was yesterday), so my mom has cooked quite a few dishes. We eat noodles, mussels, crispy pork, salad, and rice. Afterwards I have some grapes and prepare lunch for tomorrow with leftovers.
7:30 p.m. — I am actually in bed already. The earlier I'm in bed, the happier I am. I proceed to watch YouTube videos and mentally prepare myself for another week.
Daily Total: $56
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But even with those wins, some key questions about the future of women in American politics remain (and not just when it comes to a number of big races that are too close to call or potentially heading to a runoff.). One of the biggest unknowns: will the oft-described “pink wave” of women running for and winning elected office in 2018 continue beyond this election cycle?
Early signs indicate the answer is: hell yes.
She Should Run, a nonpartisan group dedicated to supporting more women in office, saw a 900% increase in inquiries from potential candidates week over week after the midterms. Erin Loos Cutraro, the group’s founder and CEO, said that she and her colleagues were “holding our breath” ahead of the midterms, knowing that “whenever there is a big gain and a series of gains, there is potential for people to feel like we can let off the gas.” But she has been thrilled to see the opposite is true: women seem more revved up than ever about running in years to come.
She Should Run saw a 900% increase in inquiries from potential women candidates week over week after the midterms.
“Going into Tuesday, we weren’t sure what to expect. We weren’t sure if we would see this pause or fatigue after so many people had worked so hard to get women they cared about elected,” she said. “[But] what we’re seeing is that women are continuing to show up in ways they hadn’t prior to 2016. And the message from that is women aren't going anywhere.”
It’s not just She Should Run fielding fresh inquiries. Emily’s List, the pro-choice Democratic PAC that was instrumental in both getting more women elected and flipping the U.S. House of Representatives this year, is seeing a post-vote bump, too. While the numbers don’t yet match the resounding 42,000 could-be female candidates the group heard from in the 2018 cycle (a ginormous increase from the 920 who reached out ahead of 2016), scores of women are already calling about their future campaign aspirations.
"As we expected, we've seen an explosion of enthusiasm from women since Tuesday,” Emily’s List president Stephanie Schriock told Refinery29 in a statement. “Fifty-six women on Wednesday alone reached out to us about running for office — they're inspired by the historic number of victorious women who will be serving come January. This was never about one year; we're in this for the long run."
The long run is, of course, what’s really going to make a difference when it comes to closing the gender gap in politics. Even with this year’s record-setting gains, women will hold just 23% of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives come January and the number of women in the GOP caucus will likely drop by double digits. (Put another way, more than 75% of the people in Congress will still be men!) And despite some historic firsts, the election won’t increase from the previous highs for women serving in the Senate and governor’s mansions. Those figures, especially when it comes to setbacks and stagnation for female candidates on the right, highlight the challenges ahead.
What we’re seeing is that women are continuing to show up in ways they hadn’t prior to 2016. And the message from that is women aren't going anywhere.
"We've seen important breakthroughs, particularly in the U.S. House,” Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women in Politics, said in a statement. “But deepening disparities between the parties in women's representation will continue to hobble us on the path to parity. We need women elected on both sides of the aisle."
That’s a message that hits close to home to Cutraro, whose organization has set a goal of getting 250,000 women to run for office by 2030. She knows that in order to hit that number, women of all backgrounds and political affiliations need to step up. Cutraro is cautiously optimistic on that front. She Should Run has received inquiries from women from both sides of the aisle, as well as independents, since Election Day and senses that the “call for action for Republican women is stronger than it’s ever been.” But she acknowledges that paving the way for true gender parity is going to take concerted effort and time.
“I think we will see a historic number of women come out of this election cycle and put their names in the hat. It’s not going to come without work and it’s not [going to happen] without institutional players stepping up and doing something too. Now is the moment to show things have to be different and they can be different,” she said. “I’m very hopeful we will see a change, but we have a long way to go to really flood the system with more and more women.”
One thing Cutraro is sure about? That the masses of women motivated by the midterms won’t give up until they’ve hit their goals.
“They’re going to push forward. They are going to continue to be the story,” she said. “It’s not the year or the years of the women. Every year is going to be that year until we close the gap of women serving in elected office.”
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“Why Kate Middleton Is Eager to Be Back in the Royal Spotlight,” begins a well-meaning essay from E! News which posits that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is ready to resume her place in royal press coverage. Middleton took some time off from royal duties after the birth of her children, Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis and George, and her brother-in-law Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle,Duchess of Sussex. The essay is careful to insist that any jealousy between the two duchesses is wishful thinking, but the subtext is obvious: Middleton is chafing at ceding her spotlight to Markle, the feminist American upstart.
It’s a narrative that has been playing out in headlines throughout the year. There are rumors of a chasm between the two couples, speculation that Markle is unwelcome at family events, presumptions of how Markle could teach Middleton a thing or two about being “modern.” This dynamic persists, in part, because of antiquated rules about royal etiquette: rules that are less about respect and more about dominance. There is a pecking order among the royals, but to foment palace intrigue via the press just continues a cycle that, frankly, Middleton and Markle seem to care little about. Yes, Middleton is going to be the Queen...eventually. But if Markle was jealous about it, she probably wouldn’t have married Prince Harry. And if Middleton is really that envious of the Markle’s ability to court the press, she sure isn’t acting like it.
It adds up to an unspoken insistence that a rivalry exists. And that royal watchers should be on the lookout for signs, any signs, however tinfoil, of rifts. Drama, even. Because how could two women exist in the same place at the same time without hating each other? Obviously, this notion is sexist at its core.
Markle and Middleton aren’t just duchesses. They’re sisters-in-law, aunts to each other’s children, part of the same family, with the same goals: to be an active, happy, equal partner with their husbands, and cherished members of the royal fam. There is no evidence that one is trying to upstage the other; if anything, Middleton seemed more than willing to take a step back so the world could fall in love with Markle, just as the world fell in love with her. Plus, Middleton just had her third child! She deserves a break from wearing pantyhose in public.
Kensington Palace is huge place and there’s lots of room for many royals to exist. Who doesn’t love the fact that the two duchesses are fascinating, stylish women? The more of that in the world, the merrier. They each have their own talents that they bring to the crown: Markle, with her unabashed feminist thought, and Middleton, with her devotion to charitable causes. Why not celebrate these two public figures for their strengths, instead of pitting them against one another? The royals are famous, we get it, but let’s process their fame without sexism. God save the duchesses from false narratives.
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And today, ready-to-wear label Proenza Schouler announced its own buy-back plan: The New York-based brand is set to buy back the company in its entirety from its equity firm investor Castanea Partners and a group of private investors. In addition to reacquiring its minority shares, the brand announced a significant round of fresh capital funding through a group of private investors. The funds will be invested into the company's growth and developmental strategies, which include expansion in Proenza Schouler's businesses of ready-to-wear, leather goods, their affordable PSWL line, and fragrance.
The news includes changes to its executive staff, as well. Effective today, chief executive officer Judd Crane and chief financial officer John Paolicelli, who joined the company in 2016 and 2014, respectively, will be stepping down from their roles. Kay Hong, a retail industry vet who joins the company from Torrid, will assume the role of chief executive officer. Mary Wang, who was last the executive vice president of Alexander Wang, will join the company as chief operating officer. And lastly, Jonathan Friedman, a frequent consultant of the label, will join as interim chief financial officer. In addition to this news, the company also announced a newly elected board of directors.
Of the changes, designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are rightfully chuffed. "We are thrilled to embark on this new, very exciting chapter of Proenza Schouler and are delighted about the team of industry leaders we have assembled who, together with us, will help drive the business to its full potential," they said, via press release. "We couldn't be happier to have Kay, Mary, and Jon by our side and to once again have full authority over our company's destiny." It looks like McCollough and Hernandez are preparing for some sort of retail domination; we suggest you watch this space.
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It's officially time to start holiday shopping, and that means figuring out the perfect thing to buy for everyone on your list — from your Marie Kondo-worshipping relative who seems to have whittled down their personal possessions to a handful of items, to your fashion-obsessed friend who seems to have everything.
They may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the perfect holiday present, but coffee mugs are a surprisingly great gift. Everyone uses them, they're often relatively inexpensive, and they come in so many cute variations, there's no chance you won't be able to find the exact right one, no matter who you're buying for and how specific their style is. Read on for a few of our favorites — plus who on your list you should buy them for.
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. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
For The Hardcore Feminist
The Guerrilla Girls are a gorilla mask-wearing feminist art collective that advocate for better representation in museums and galleries. This “magic” mug changes colors when hot to reveal a Guerrilla Girls artwork, and also reads “if you keep women out, they get resentful.” Perfect for the always-on activist type, who will relish being asked about it by co-workers.
Guerilla Girls Gorilla Magic Mug, $23, available at Third Drawer Down
For The Cat Lover
Is there anything cuter than these little gold cat ears? We guarantee the cat lover in your life will think not. The best part? It says “Feline Good” (get it? Like, feelin’ good?) at the bottom of the cup, and the only thing cat people love more than cats are cat puns. That’s a fact.
Pinky Up Chloe White Cat Cups, $14.99, available at Amazon
For The Plant Lady
Sure, you might be tempted to just buy them a watering can, but they have to drink stuff too, right? This verdant mug means they can do so without ignoring the most important thing in their life: their plants, of course.
Vagabondary Plant Lady Coffee Mug, $12.95, available at Etsy
For The Cat-Loving Plant Lady
For that special person who fits into both of these very of-the-moment subcultures, a mug with plants and cats. They’ll never have reason to question your very deep understanding of them.
Any fashion lover worth their subscription to French Vogue will love this Gucci mug, made from Richard Gorini porcelain and featuring a sculptural lid and hand-painted gold details. Is it too beautiful and expensive to actually drink coffee out of? Maybe. But your stylish loved one will put it to good use somehow.
Finding a gift for someone who maintains few personal possessions beyond a perfectly-curated capsule wardrobe can be tough, but even the most staunch minimalist will appreciate this long-lasting, chip-resistant mug in glossy black.
Corelle Corelle Livingware Mug, $20.34, available at Amazon
For The Art Lover
Gift your gallery-going friend this mug set by Yayoi Kusama, the seminal artist known for her use of dots (not to mention her Instagram-worthy "infinity rooms"). The bold blue hue is on-trend and the funky face designs will never get boring.
Third Drawer Down Studio Yayoi Kusama Dreams Coffee Mug Set , $48, available at Amazon
For The Influencer
We all have that one friend with the scary-high follower count who’s always forcing us to take their picture, right? Nothing but the trendiest will do for this person, and you can bet they’re already obsessing about terrazzo, which trend forecasters predict will be everywhere next year. The fact that this mug is millennial pink doesn’t hurt either.
Maevo Studio Terrazzo ceramic cup , $29.3, available at Etsy
For The Kardashian Stan
Kim’s “ugly cry face” is one of the longest-running jokes of KUWTK (not to mention the internet), and a Kardashian devotee will enjoy pretending their morning brew somehow came from those most iconic of tear ducts.
Urban Outfitters Kim’s Tears Graphic Mug, $10, available at Urban Outfitters
For The New Yorker
For that die-hard New Yorker who will never leave the city — no matter how high rents soar, no matter long the L train is shut down — may we present these ceramic cups in the style of old-school cardboard bodega mugs. Cheap bodega coffee not included.
ExceptionLab Exceptionlab Inc. 10-Ounce Ceramic Cup, $13, available at Amazon
For The World Traveller
They’ve been to twelve countries and three continents this year alone, and they still can’t stop moving. “Marrakech for New Years this year?” they ask, while you can barely get off your couch. This David Shrigley-designed mug will speak to your globe-trotting loved one’s restless soul. That is, if they can stay in one place long enough to use it.
Third Drawer Down Studio I've Done Nothing or Everything Coffee Mug, $24, available at Amazon
For The Astrology Queen
They’re subscribed to at least three horoscope apps and know everyone’s rising signs by heart. Honor their obsession with this foil-embellished mug that will allow them to proudly proclaim their astrological pride to the world
You’ve never seen them awake on a weekend before 4 p.m. and you’re pretty sure “breakfast” isn’t part of their lexicon. Skip the coffee cup (they won’t use it) and get them this bronze Moscow Mule mug, complete with edgy agate handles.
Anthropologie Moscow Mule Mug, $30, available at Anthropologie
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Democrat Stacey Abrams is still fighting for every vote in the Georgia gubernatorial election. On Sunday, Abrams filed a new lawsuit in order to block two counties in Georgia from throwing out some absentee and provisional ballots, according to the Washington Post.
Abrams has refused to concede to Republican Brian Kemp, who has declared victory. A few days ago, Kemp resigned as the Secretary of State; in that role he was in charge of the state's elections, which were marred throughout by allegations of voter suppression and racist robocalls impersonating Oprah Winfrey.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State's website, as of Sunday, Kemp is leading with 50.3% of the vote to Abrams' 48.8%, which translates to fewer than 59,000 votes out of the 3.9 million that have been cast. Per Georgia law, candidates must win 50% of the vote in order to avoid a runoff election.
Abrams' lawsuit is seeking to stop Democratic-leaning Gwinnett and DeKalb counties from rejecting absentee ballots on which voters have made minor mistakes, instead saying they should get in touch with the voters.
Her campaign is also asking for officials to count the provisional ballots of voters who have moved, but whose registration still shows their old address. Georgia's counties have until Tuesday to certify the results, but Abrams hopes to extend the deadline until Wednesday.
"The bottom line is this race is not over. It is still too close to call, and we do not have confidence in the Secretary of State’s office," Abrams' campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo told reporters on Sunday.
Kemp's campaign claims that there is no way Abrams could still win. "Stacey Abrams and her radical backers have moved from desperation to delusion," campaign spokesperson Ryan Mahoney told the Washington Post. "Yesterday, military, overseas, and provisional ballots were reported throughout Georgia. The counts are in line with publicly available tracking reports. This is not breaking news and does not change the math. Stacey Abrams lost and her concession is long overdue."
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You might expect your favorite celebrities to show up to a big red carpet event in a shimmery smoky eye, monochromatic makeup, or an exaggerated cat-eye, but Kendall Jenner bucked tradition for last night's People's Choice Awards by wearing a makeup look that wasn't just new for her, but entirely new to us, too.
"For Kendall’s look we wanted to do a young, fun, artsy concept with a pop of color," Phillips tells Refinery29. "Kendall and I creatively collaborated on the look and placement. We thought the green would give enough color to stand out."
Though it could have easily looked like one of Jenner's nieces (Stormi, perhaps?) had scribbled across her face with a green marker, the result you see below looked more like a modern art masterpiece (albeit a very minimal one) fit for the MoMA. "The placement of the eyeliner was uniformed but also chaotic and unusual," Phillips says. "I wanted to take a classic length of eyeliner and break it up into three sections and place it on three different levels of the eye."
Now "abstract liner," as we're calling this look, isn't necessarily new — remember the big pointillism trend from last year? —but this is one of the first times something so artsy has popped up on a celeb as notable and influential as Jenner. So it's really only a matter of time until it's a full-blown makeup trend, which we're not mad about at all given how it looks easy as hell to recreate ourselves. Like, there's no real formula you have to consider, and no tools you have to use other than the eyeliner and brush. Plus, how long do you think this took to create? According to Phillips, just 10 minutes.
So if you're like us and refuse to spend more than a few minutes on any tiny makeup detail, consider abstract eyeliner your new go-to party look. Just make sure you opt for a long-wear formula and always use a primer to make sure that your art is preserved until it's time to wash it off.
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As Florida continues its legally mandated recount of some crucial races following Tuesday's midterm elections, President Donald Trump and other Republicans are claiming, without any evidence, that massive voter fraud has occurred in the Sunshine State. In both the gubernatorial and Senate races, Republicans Ron DeSantis, and Rick Scott are still ahead of their respective opponents, Democrats Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson, as of Monday at 12 p.m. EST, but the GOP is claiming Democrats are trying to "steal" the seats.
The myth of widespread voter fraud in the U.S. has been debunked multiple times by researchers, government officials, and federal courts. But that didn't stop Trump from demanding that all recount efforts be immediately stopped, ignoring the fact that counting every vote is the point of democracy.
Trump tweeted: "The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!"
Halting the recount now would directly disenfranchise military personnel stationed overseas, whose absentee ballots are legally allowed to be tallied up to Friday, November 16.
The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!
Trump has spent a great part of the last week railing, without any evidence, against "voter fraud" in Florida. He did something similar after the 2016 presidential election, in which he lost the popular vote. There was no evidence of voter fraud then, either. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan public policy and law institute, voter fraud serious enough tilt an election is virtually a myth.
The scarce times there have been reports of voter fraud it can be traced directly to machine or human error. A 2012 investigation by the News21 journalism project found 2,068 cases of alleged election-fraud cases in general elections between 2000 and 2012, out of 146 million registered voters — which translates to approximately 0.000003% alleged cases in a 12-year period. The report also found that nearly half of these alleged cases weren’t deemed credible.
So, why are Republicans alleging widespread voter fraud in Florida? On Tuesday night, it looked like Scott, who is currently the Governor of Florida, would defeat incumbent Senator Bill Nelson in the Senate race and DeSantis would beat Democrat Andrew Gillum in the state's gubernatorial race. Gillum even conceded Tuesday night, but then walked it back when after the vote counting continued and DeSantis' lead significantly narrowed.
Per Florida law, an automatic machine recount is triggered immediately when the margin is within less than half of a percentage point. The Florida races for Governor and Senate were declared within the margins for a recount officially over the weekend. As of Monday, DeSantis had about 33,000 more votes than Gillum, and Scott had a lead of roughly 12,5000 votes over Nelson.
In a tweet Friday, Trump made it seem like these votes were magically "found." But despite his conspiracy theories, it is completely normal for results to change in an election as more votes — including from vote-by-mail, provisional, and overseas ballots — are counted. A race being "called" by the media is not an official declaration of results.
"Election officials are literally just counting the ballots. This isn’t corruption or fraud. It is literally the best of democracy," David Becker, the executive director for the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said on Twitter. "Let election officials do their job and count the ballots."
Local officials in Florida have found absolutely no evidence of voter fraud, either. State election monitors in Broward County — which has been singled out by Trump and Scott due to its long history of election-related issues, none of which are related to voter fraud — told the Miami Herald there's no evidence of voter fraud in the county. In Palm Beach County, Democratic State Attorney Dave Aronberg says there's no proof supporting the election-fraud claims.
Scott's own State Department has said via a spokesperson: "Our staff has seen no evidence of criminal activity at this time." The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is tasked with overseeing elections, has not opened an investigation into claims of voter fraud — because there isn't any evidence. Except for the claims being peddled by the president and other Republicans online, the department hasn't received any official complaints.
On a tweet Monday, Gillum hit back at Trump, writing: "You sound nervous."
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While you’re probably already hip to how great Amazon is for purchasing inexpensive electronics and other everyday essentials, we’re not so sure you knew how awesome the website’s home decor selection could be. Believe it or not, the site we all know and love for its cheap well…just about everything also features a surprising assortment of affordable and design-forward home goods. That’s right, the next time you’re stocking up on socks or your favorite discontinued lipstick, you can just as easily throw a fab apartment furnishing in the mix to meet the free shipping minimum, too.
However, as with any large conglomerate, separating the good stuff from the basic can be almost as tricky as staying on budget. Lucky for us, we have Canopy, Amazon’s beautifully curated housewares boutique, to look to for interior guidance. In an effort to scope out all the very best products, we scoured both sites and rounded up some of the coolest — and most economical — home accents that Amazon has to offer. Scroll ahead for the fairly priced decorative items that you can order from the privacy of your own home (pants optional).
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. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
A design-savvy clock with a pop of color will liven up just about any space.
Kvell Home Pop Wall Clock, Passionate Plum, $39.99, available at Amazon
Store your odds and ends in spooky style with this sleek, gilded skull container.
Suck UK Jewellry Box and Accessories Container, $80, available at Amazon
A wireless speaker that doubles as artful (and super chill) bulldog-decor.
Dornlat French Bulldog Portable Bluetooth Speakers, $32.99, available at Amazon
Let’s be honest — you’re probably due for a new shower curtain. So why not go with this dramatic sloth steal?
Sharp Shirter Sloth Shower Curtain, $29.99, available at Amazon
Employ an geometric-patterned throw pillow to create a more artful sofa scene.
Now House by Jonathan Adler Chain Stitch Fractal Pillow, Multi, $38, available at Amazon
Start a desk fire by planting your most colorful succulent inside this tiny ceramic log pile.
Fred And Friends Fancy Ceramic Mini Air Plant/Succulent Holder, Campfire, $9, available at Amazon
A stylish oil diffuser that moonlights as an air purifier and humidifier? Yes, please!
InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser/Humidifier, $19.98, available at Amazon
Vamp up a boring table or bookshelf in no time with a polished pair of pink elephants.
Topbuti Pink Elephant Bookends, 1 pair, $9.94, available at Amazon
An easy (and affordable) way to jump on the geode home decor trend without overdoing it.
Rock Paradise Home Decor Agate Coaster - Set of 4, $26.5, available at Amazon
Dress up your desk succulents with this stylish geometric planter set.
Umbra Trigg Desktop Planter Vase & Geometric Container, $32.81, available at Amazon
An Eames-inspired armchair for less than $75. Need we say more?
Poly & Bark Poly and Bark Vortex Arm Chair, White, $69, available at Amazon
Not only can this adorable — and portable — turntable play all your favorite vinyl records, but it’s also Bluetooth-enabled, allowing you to stream music straight from your mobile phone, too.
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speak, $47.85, available at Amazon
Keep your keys in check at all times with this clever key holder.
Twone White Cloud Magnetic Wall Key Holder, $7.98, available at Amazon
To brie or not to brie — now that is the question.
Kinson Bamboo Cheese Board with Cutlery Knife Set, $22.87, available at Amazon
Dress up your bar cart — or just an end table — with a cool cocktail set like this one that’ll make everyone want to play bartender.
S'well Cocktail Kit, One Size, White Marble, $95, available at Amazon
This tiny, Japanese-inspired plant holder is perfect for housing succulents.
T4U Ceramic japanese Style Serial No.5 succulent Plant Pot, $9.93, available at Amazon
A splashy espresso maker proves a swanky addition to any stovetop.
Pantone Universe Pantone Coffee Percolator 6 Espresso Cup Strong Red, $27.95, available at Amazon
Elevate the ambience of your place with a few simple but sophisticated light pendants.
Plumen Drop Cap Pendant Set, Brass, $39.95, available at Amazon
Brighten up a humdrum nightstand or end table with a colorful desk lamp.
Tomons Wood Adjustable Head Desk Lamp, $15.99, available at Amazon
Make your morning coffee and afternoon teas even cozier this season with a porcelain rabbit "mugtail" from Kinto.
Investing in some hardcover art books is an easy way to incorporate fancy art into your apartment, sans a hefty price tag.
Samantha Friedman Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, $44.36, available at Amazon
If you’re searching for a hip way to display anything from pens and pencils to your toothpaste and brush, look no further than this fun, easy-to-clean organizer.
Umbra Grassy Organizer, White, $24.12, available at Amazon
A chic alternative to an otherwise unsightly accessory, this bamboo scale is as fashionable as it is affordable.
Red Rock Modern Bamboo Weighing Body Scale , $22.99, available at Amazon
Show off stellar album covers, magazines, and books with this stylish floating metal wall shelf.
Umbra Strum Wall Shelf, Copper, $15, available at Amazon
Instantly step up your bathroom game with this sleek acrylic organizer — great for holding everything from cotton balls to makeup brushes.
BINO 'The Glamour Caddy', $14.99, available at Amazon
Use this marble magnetic orb to spruce up your desk space by stylishly holding a stash of gold paperclips or hair pins.
METAN Marble White Paper Clips Holder Magnetic, $10.98, available at Amazon
How many kitchenwares can you come up with that are cute, multifunctional (as in do everything, from grate cheese to squeeze lemons), and under 10 bucks? 'Cuz we got one.
Bento & Co. Bin 8 Multi Kitchen Tool, $5.99, available at Amazon
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Search "holiday makeup" online, and you'll surely come across an endless sea of bright-red lips and super-full lashes that could keep you scrolling for hours on end. And while there's objectively nothing wrong with a classic crimson lip (we'll certainly be sporting the look once — or twice — this party season), we're just ready to crank up the volume on our holiday glam and bring to life a few new festive ideas for our next night out.
Which is why we've rounded up seven beauty buys we're scooping up at Ulta Beauty to help us achieve said next-level looks and shine a little brighter this holiday season. Think: cherry-hued smoky eyeshadow that'll amp up any vibe, metallic matte lip creams in a full rainbow range, and — of course — multiple types of seasonal glow, from iridescent glitter to lit-from-within foundation. Wallflowers, be warned: The following picks are guaranteed to make you the life of any party.
Apply this long-wear glitter cream shadow all over your lids for a burst of shine at every ordinary blink. And the best part about a creamy formula like this one? It adheres to lids right away and gives you the slightly glossy finish that's been oh-so popular as of late.
Ulta Beauty Collection Glitter Cream Eyeshadow, $8.5, available at Ulta Beauty
Ditch your #basic, natural smoky eyeshadow palette for this version featuring dark cherry red and deep wine burgundy hues. Between the buildable shades and diverse set of finishes (from totally matte to micro-sparkle), the possibilities are endless.
Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette, $49, available at Ulta Beauty
Stand out at your next soiree with one of these pearly metallic lip creams in super unique shades. From a turquoise jade for the ever-adventurous to a burnt-orange beige for the slightly more subtle, this rainbow slew of options is sure to get you through your entire party circuit.
NYX Professional Makeup Lip Snacks Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream Set, $25, available at Ulta Beauty
Ward off any dry winter skin woes with this summer-in-a-bottle gel-cream foundation infused with watermelon, cucumber, and vitamin C. Featuring a fruity melon scent and a sheer, glowing finish, this dewy-skin favorite will lend you that happily hydrated glow all night long.
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Dew You Fresh Glow Foundation, $36, available at Ulta Beauty
That's right — even the way you apply your makeup can stand to be a little more extra this season. This confetti-detail set comes with five essential brushes — like an angled Kabuki brush for seamless foundation and a flat, densely packed option for precise shadow lining — all in a playful geometric case that can double as a statement clutch.
It Cosmetics Your Glam Must-Haves 5 Pc Brush Set + Exclusive Clutch, $125, available at Ulta Beauty
The quickest way to make a statement? Add glitter. Simply apply this ultra-metallic loose glitter across your lids for a shimmering finish or, if you're feeling adventurous, on top of glossed lips for more of a backstage-beauty vibe. Pro tip: Keep scotch tape on hand to pick up any pesky, unwanted fallout.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Glitter, $15, available at Ulta Beauty
Achieve glowing, just-pinched cheeks with this velvety powder blush kit. Build up any one of the three soft shades (a sheer golden apricot, a matte rosy mauve, and the cult-favorite pink) for a gorgeous winter flush that will bring any look to life. Not to mention, the ruby-red spiked packaging is luxurious as hell.
NARS Heartbreaker Cheek Palette, $42, available at Ulta Beauty
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Think about the perfect holiday party. Maybe it's at a jam-packed dive bar with sparkly ornaments hanging down from the ceiling, and you're swaying to the tune of Feliz Navidad. Or, it's more low-key, just a few friends around your coffee table catching up over champagne and assorted cheeses. Either way, you're probably already planning your outfit.
And no outfit — be it a slinky LBD with strappy heels or a cheesy bright green Grinch sweater — is complete without the festive hair and makeup to match. Luckily, this year, we're making the getting ready process a nonissue by dropping a treasure trove of chic beauty looks that will take you from your college friend's Ugly Sweater banger to your parents' classy NYE dinner party in style.
Ahead, check out our editors' favorite holiday makeup looks — from dark vampy lips to pink glitter eyelids — that are getting us excited for all the parties to come.
Welcome toMyIdentity. The road to owning youridentityis rarely easy. In this yearlong program, we will celebrate that journey and explore how the choices we make on the outside reflect what we're feeling on the inside — and the important role fashion and beauty play in helping people find and express who they are.
"' I love glitter! ' is an expression I have never uttered — ever. But there is something about a sparkly swoop of vibrant color that I can't wait to experiment with come party season."— Lexy Lebsack, Senior Beauty Editor
"Magenta? Orchid? Hot pink? I'm not sure what to call this color, but I know I want to wear it this holiday season. Paired with a (nearly) bare face, air-dried hair, and glossy lips, this is a rad look to wear to any festive occasion this year."— Lebsack
"For the nights when my personal brand is, 'I'm way too fucking cool for this party...'" — Lebsack
"And here, my friends, is my holiday piece de resistance: inky lips, metallic eyes, and a shimmery pink cheek. See you at the bar." — Lebsack
"Lately, I've been obsessed with the blush-as-eyeshadow draping technique. If I can use just one shade from cheekbone to browbone, it simplifies the whole process. Add a lot of highlight, and I'll be gleaming all the way through New Year's night." — Jessica Cruel, Deputy Beauty Director
"Loving a good two-toned eye lately! It's punchy, adds definition if you layer the deeper color on the outer third of your eye, and is surprisingly easy to do yourself since it literally takes two shadows, max (and maybe some mascara)." — Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer
"I'm kind of obsessed with this play on smoky gunmetal gray. Like Olivia Palermo, I want to wear the color in my deconstructed off-the shoulder knit sweater and my soft metallic eyeshadow." — Megan Decker, Beauty Assistant
"A great party look is always backed by killer confidence, and nothing has me feeling myself more than a soft, dewy highlight that bounces light off my cheekbones. The VS Angels, who got the Charlotte Tilbury glow treatment, are my visual inspiration." — Decker
"It's no secret that I love any opportunity to wear glitter, and this holiday season is when my sparkly obsession will hit its peak. Right now, I'm really digging this look Nina Park created for Zoë Kravitz. The translucent base lets the iridescent flecks of glitter really shine and keeps anyone who is kind of glitter crazy from going overboard." — Sam Sasso, Beauty Writer
"I know, I know, it sounds pretty lame that the one makeup trend I'm most excited try this season is a cat-eye. Nonetheless, I'm finally ready to commit to mastering the look that, let's be real, is REALLY tricky to get right. Besides, who wouldn't be inspired by a glossy, glowy look like this?" — Sasso
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We're officially still in that weird fall-to-winter limbo that makes getting ready 10 times more difficult in the morning. We're talking about the days when the temperature continues to teeter from slightly chilly to ice cold, and you're stuck deciding what to wear (jacket vs. coat), what to drink (PSLs vs. peppermint lattes), or what to do on the weekends (Netflix vs. Netflix). But here to make our #firstworldproblems a little easier is one makeup trend that's perfect for perking you up in this colder weather: green eye makeup.
The shade isn't so bright that it'd look weird with your all-black ensemble, and isn't so dark that it makes you look sickly. "Green is a very powerful color, yet it represents freshness, which is a very big trend right now," says celebrity makeup artist Rokael Lizama.
Makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan agrees, suggesting that you keep the focus on the eyes when trying out the trend, but letting the rest of the rules fly out the window."There’s no right or wrong in choosing your shade," she says. "If you’re going green, you’re going for a fun look and [you] can apply as little or as much as desired!"
For ideas on how to pull off green shadow and eyeliner — without looking like a Marvel villain — check out the celebrities and models who nailed the trend, ahead.
Kendall Jenner
For a color as bold as this, a little can go a long way. For the 2018 People's Choice Awards, makeup artist Mary Phillips used a bright green eyeliner to draw seemingly random lines on Kendall Jenner's waterline, upper lashline, and eyelid for an instantly artsy effect.
Instagram
Issa Rae
If you look closely, you'll see that makeup artist Joanna Simkin dusted green above and below her crease — a fresh, whimsical approach that perfectly complemented Rae's citrus, floral dress.
Photo: FilmMagic/FilmMagic.
Mila Kunis
Make an all-black outfit stand out with a shock of emerald on the eyes, like Mila Kunis did for her recent The Tonight Show appearance.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
Lala Anthony
Makeup artist Rokael Lizama swept the shade "Exotic" from the Natasha Denona Tropic Eyeshadow Palette onto Lala Anthony's lids to achieve that " dinero green," as he calls it. "When going for a bold green eyeshadow look, go for emerald hues rather than yellow tones," suggests Lizama. "Emerald is more regal. Pair it with gold accessories, [and] it can be the perfect statement for a night out."
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
Lucy Hale
When dreaming up Hale's makeup for the 2018 Teen Choice Awards, Deenihan took inspiration from a magenta eyeshadow look she recently did on the actress. "We thought blue was a little too funky for the occasion," she tells Refinery29. "So, we decided green was a happy medium of keeping the look bold. There was green in the pattern on Lucy's dress, so we went there with it."
Want a more subtle take on the trend? Layer black liner over your top and bottom lash lines to give your eyes more depth while also toning down the green color. Bonus points if you match it perfectly to your emerald gown, like Holt.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
Damaris Lewis
Makeup artist Lindsey Williams lined Lewis' eyes with shimmery green eyeshadow from Cozzette Beauty to give the model's neutral makeup look a colorful twist.
Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images.
Morena Baccarin
"Turns out, when you’re fully bedazzled, all you need for your #makeupmonday look is a bold green eye," captioned the Deadpool actress of her look by Matin Maulawizada.
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images.
Rita Ora
Ora matched her all-green leopard ensemble (dress, stockings, and heels) with touches of glitter eyeshadow in the same shade for her performance at the VMA Kickoff Concert in August. Because if you're going to go bold with your look, why not go all in?
Margaux Alexandra
The shade of envy has made its way from red carpets to photoshoots, as seen on the model for an upcoming campaign.
@nikki_makeup
Kaia Gerber
It's unlikely that we'd ever wear — or even get our hands on — green Swarovski crystals, but that doesn't mean we're not totally inspired by this divine emerald look by Pat McGrath from the Valentino runway.
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.
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Today: a software engineer working in manufacturing who makes $85,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on Birkenstocks.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $920 (I split the $1,840 rent 50/50 with my boyfriend, L.) Student Loan Payment: $0 (I was fortunate to receive multiple generous scholarships.) Car Payment: $0 (My parents bought me a used car in high school that I still drive and can hopefully drive for a while longer *fingers crossed*.) Health Insurance: $0 (My work covers a high deductible plan.) Health Savings Account: $170 Utilities/Gas/Electricity: $100 Internet: $0 (My boyfriend's work covers this.) Cell Phone: $50 (I'm on my parents' family plan and reimburse them each month.) Hulu: $6 (L. and I split the $12/month subscription.) 401(k): $2,000 (I started my job late in the year and want to be able to max out my 401(k) for the year.) Roth IRA: ~$458 (I contribute the annual maximum amount of $5,500.) Other Savings Contribution: $2,000 AMC A-List Membership: $20
Day One
7:15 a.m. — My second alarm goes off and I resist the urge to keep sleeping. I get up, throw on the work outfit that I picked out last night, put in contacts, brush my hair, do my makeup, grab my lunch and smoothie that I packed last night (not a morning person whatsoever), and am out the door by 7:45.
8:15 a.m. — On my way to work, I drink the smoothie I made with frozen berries, almond milk, kale, and liquid Stevia. When I arrive, I make a cup of green tea (my office provides tea and coffee), go through emails, and then get to work on fixing a bug in the code I'm working on.
12:30 p.m. — I've had a productive morning and take a break to heat up my lunch — leftover “taco bowl,” which consist of brown rice, beefless ground beef crumbles from Trader Joe's cooked with taco seasoning, and hot sauce. I top it off with avocado and eat it at my desk while I continue to work.
2:30 p.m. — After working on a frustrating bug all day, I finally have (almost) solved the problem. I celebrate with a cup of white tea and an apple for an afternoon snack.
4 p.m. — The database for one of the applications I work on is down, so one of the other developers and I work with the administrator to get it back up.
4:45 p.m. — The database is back up and all is well. I breathe a sigh of relief, pack up, and head out for the day.
5:15 p.m. — I arrive at home after my drive. I'm making (semi) homemade pizzas tonight featuring Trader Joe's butternut squash pizza crust (which is similar to their cauliflower crust) topped with another TJ's fall staple: Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce. Plus dairy-free mozzarella cheese, garlic sautéed mushrooms (yum), and kale, too. (I try to limit my dairy intake because dairy irritates my chronic sinus condition.)
6:15 p.m. — L. gets home from work and we catch up on each other's days, eat pizza, and then watch Drake & Josh on Hulu (throwback to our childhoods) while L. does the dishes. I also vacuum the apartment since we have friends coming over this weekend for a Halloween get-together.
7 p.m. — I received a text earlier in the day that I had a prescription ready to pick up, so we walk to Target to pick it up. The walk is about 45 minutes round trip, which feels nice in the light rain and gives us a chance to get out of the apartment for a while. My prescription is covered by insurance.
8 p.m. — Back home, I make my smoothie for tomorrow with kale, frozen berries, almond milk, and Stevia. Then I take a shower, relax by reading articles on my phone, and watch more Drake & Josh.
10:30 p.m. — We start to get sleepy, so we head to bed, where we continue to watch TV. We're asleep by 11.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
7:30 a.m. — My bed is extra comfy this morning and waking up is a bit tougher today. I figure the extra time I stayed at work yesterday while putting out the database fire makes up for me rolling in a little late today (and it is Friday, after all). I do my typical morning routine, grab my lunch and smoothie, and get on the road by just before 8.
8:30 a.m. — I arrive at work and notice my coworker has invited me to a workshop next Monday. I'm excited to attend, as it will focus on a technical topic that I'm really interested in. I RSVP, email my boss to give him a heads up about where I'll be on Monday, and move some meetings around.
12 p.m. — I heat up the lunch I brought from home: leftover Thai green curry. (The ingredients are so simple and all from Trader Joe's — tofu, Harvest Hodgepodge frozen vegetable blend, green curry sauce, and half white rice/half cauliflower rice to serve it over.) I eat at my desk while working.
1 p.m. — I have a meeting to prepare for an upcoming demo. It goes well and I feel somewhat prepared but we still have some work to do before we present to our customers next week.
3:30 p.m. — I need an afternoon pick-me-up, so I grab a cup of peach white tea to drink at my desk. I get a notification from Poshmark that a pair of new Birkenstock sandals I was eyeing have dropped in price. Since they're such a great price and Birkenstocks are my favorite sandals to wear in summer (which is a while away from now but I like to get deals by buying clothes that are out of season), I decide to buy them. $34.99
4:30 p.m. — Done with work for the day and feeling accomplished. I recently became the lead on one of my projects, so I'm a bit concerned about juggling my project management responsibilities with my software development tasks. Today I proved to myself that I can manage to do both successfully, which feels good. I drive home.
5 p.m. — I change into workout clothes and head down to our apartment building's gym. I run three miles on the treadmill and do some stretches. Afterward, I go back up to my apartment, shower, and get ready to meet up with friends for dinner. L. gets home and we head out.
7 p.m. — We arrive at the restaurant and I order grilled shrimp with steamed broccoli. $18
9 p.m. — We drive to a friend's apartment to play Mario Party. I'm just as bad at it as I remember being, but it's still a fun time. While I'm there, my phone randomly shuts off and won't turn back on. It's an iPhone 8 and I've had it for a little over a year, so this is troubling.
11 p.m. — L. drives us home and I start looking up the phone issue online but don't find much helpful information. I try a few things with no success. I guess a portion of my Saturday is going to be spent at the Apple Store.
12:45 a.m. — After catching up on this week's episodes of Superstore and The Good Place, we head to bed.
Daily Total: $52.99
Day Three
9 a.m. — I wake up and get ready for the day. We leave by 9:30 to get to the Apple Store by 10.
10 a.m. — I arrive at the Apple Store and put my name down for a Genius Bar appointment. They tell me they'll text me in about two hours when they're ready for my appointment.
10:30 a.m. — I'm in need of caffeine, so I stop at Starbucks and grab and Americano with soy milk. $4
11 a.m. — While wandering around the mall, I see that Payless is having a 40% off sale. I stop in looking for flats for work, but leave with slip-ons that look just like Steve Maddens for a killer price. $6.60
12 p.m. — L. gets the text on his phone that it's almost time for my appointment, so we head back to the Apple Store. An Apple associate diagnoses it as a software problem. I'm so thankful it's not a hardware problem, since I'm 10 days out of the one-year warranty period. After he does another hard restart, it seems to be working fine. I leave happy and hope that my phone keeps working. We drive back to Seattle.
1:30 p.m. — We stop by Trader Joe's for groceries for the week. We pick up kale, avocados, a cucumber, spicy hummus, coconut aminos, tofu, jackfruit yellow curry, veggie burgers, stir-fry veggies, riced cauliflower, marinara sauce, spiralized zucchini, sweet potato crackers, plantain chips, frozen mango, almond milk, lemonade, sparkling water, and ghost pepper chips. We split the $46 total evenly. L. and I make similar incomes, so we split expenses 50/50. $23
2:30 p.m. — We arrive back at home, put away the groceries, and clean up a little more in preparation for our get-together tonight. I clean the bathroom while L. takes out the trash and sweeps the kitchen.
3:30 p.m. — L. and I leave to walk to a volunteer event we're doing. It's a walk to raise money for blood cancer research and awareness near the Space Needle.
4 p.m. — I get my volunteer assignment and end up working with the sweetest people. Hearing the stories of how blood cancer has taken the lives of so many people's loved ones breaks my heart, but it's so fulfilling to be donating my time to such a great cause.
6:30 p.m. — We're done volunteering and we grab boba teas from a place in the Seattle Center Armory. I get a Thai tea with tapioca pearls ($6). Before we leave, we place mobile orders for Veggie Grill to pick up on the way home. L. and I both order their seasonal Luxe Burgers and fries. I have a $9 reward on the app that I use, so it comes to $5. $11
6:45 p.m. — We pick up our food from Veggie Grill, then resume our walk home in the pouring rain. Once we get home, we change out of our soaked clothes and eat our food. Then I take a shower and get ready for our friends to come over.
8:45 p.m. — People start to arrive and we have pumpkin cider, vodka lemonades, Coronas, and chips.
10:30 p.m. — We're having fun hanging out at our place, but we decide to head out to a bar. L. calls an UberXL and we all Venmo him for our shares. $6
11 p.m. — We arrive in Capitol Hill and find a bar that a friend says is fun, plus it doesn't have a line down the block. The cover charge is $10. L. and I each get a Long Island once we're inside and they're $12 with tip. $22
1:30 a.m. — We've been having an amazing time dancing but L. and I are super tired, so we decide to walk home.
1:30 a.m. — We arrive at home, drink water, and are in bed by 2.
Daily Total: $72.60
Day Four
11 a.m. — We sleep in and it feels great. After I get up, I preheat the oven to make pumpkin rolls and heat up meatless breakfast sausages.
11:30 a.m. — The rolls are out of the oven and we eat. Then we lounge on the couch in our pajamas while watching Drake & Josh.
1 p.m. — We decide to finally get ready for the day. This is shaping up to be a true lazy Sunday and I'm not mad about it.
2:30 p.m. — We decide to go to a showing of Hocus Pocus at a movie theater in a nearby mall, because L. has never seen it and I love it. We are both AMC Stubs A-List members, so the tickets have no additional cost. I have a $5 reward, so I use it towards an order of mozzarella sticks ($2.10).
4:15 p.m. — Hocus Pocus was awesome as usual, and afterward we walk around the mall. I wander into Payless again because they have a great deal on no-show socks. I buy three pairs. $4
6 p.m. — We get back home, FaceTime L.'s family, and then start thinking about where to eat for dinner. Our laziness is making us want to get something delivered, but we want poke bowls from a place that doesn't deliver, so we make the 30-minute trek there.
7:15 p.m. — We're back home with our poke bowls. They're delicious as always. $12
8:30 p.m. — I'm working from home tomorrow morning and the workshop in the afternoon provides lunch, so I enjoy the fact that I do not have to pack a lunch or make a smoothie for tomorrow. I shower and change into pajamas.
10 p.m. — After watching more Drake & Josh, we get tired and head to bed. We're asleep by 11.
Daily Total: $16
Day Five
7:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off and I roll out of bed. I make a cup of chai, make a bowl of cereal with almond milk, turn on my computer, and get to work.
10:45 a.m. — After a couple of meetings and getting work done, I leave for my workshop. It takes me much longer than anticipated to find a spot in the company's parking lot, but I manage to make it into the building right before the workshop starts.
12 p.m. — Lunch is catered. I have half a turkey sandwich, arugula salad, and a sparkling water.
5 p.m. — The workshop was super informative and I learned a lot. I walk back to my car and start my drive home. Traffic isn't too bad, thankfully. I get home, check my email, and then watch a YouTube video. When L. gets home, we start dinner: Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi with Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce. It's delicious, easy, and filling.
7 p.m. — L. wants to see if GameStop has a new game that came out. We walk to the mall downtown, which takes us about 25 minutes. The GameStop ends up not having the game, so we decide to walk around Barnes & Noble since we're already at the mall. They don't have anything that catches our eye, though, so we leave.
7:30 p.m. — We get back home and watch an episode of 90 Day Fiancé.
8:30 p.m. — I'm going to be starting my day again from home and we have a team lunch at a restaurant, so I don't need to pack a lunch or breakfast again. I shower and relax on the couch with L. while watching, you guessed it, Drake & Josh. (We are seriously blowing right through the episodes on Hulu and loving every minute of reliving our childhoods.)
10:30 p.m. — Sleepiness sets in, so we head to bed.
Daily Total: $0
Day Six
7 a.m. — My alarm goes off, I snooze for about 10 minutes, and then get up because I need to get work done before I head to a demo for the morning. I make a cup of chai to drink while I work.
8:15 a.m. — After doing an hour of work, I get ready (put in contacts, brush hair, do makeup, change my clothes) and grab a protein bar for the road. I head out to an office in another city where the demo is. En route, I can't find my protein bar and I convince myself I left it at home (though it was in my pocket the whole time, and I don't realize this until it's already a melted mess that I don't want to risk eating while wearing a white sweater, ugh), so I skip breakfast.
9:30 a.m. — Parking around this place is truly a nightmare and takes half an hour. I park so far away that it takes me forever to find the building I'm supposed to meet my colleagues at. Like yesterday's workshop, I manage to slip in just as the demo is starting, and I breathe a sigh of relief that I got here in time.
10:30 a.m. — The demo was awesome, and I need to head back to the area where my office is for a team lunch. I get on the road and make the 45-minute drive to the restaurant we're meeting at.
11:30 a.m. — The team lunch is a great time to bond with my boss and coworkers while celebrating a coworker's retirement. We go to a Thai place and I order the pad Thai with tofu and a Thai iced tea to drink. It's delicious and I leave with leftovers.
12:45 p.m. — On the way back to the office, I notice that my car is almost down to a quarter of a tank of gas, so I fill up my gas tank. $33
1 p.m. — I'm back in the office after lunch and determined to have a super productive afternoon. I get to work on checking things off my to-do list.
4:30 p.m. — I wrap up for the day, pack up, walk to my car, realize I left my leftovers in the fridge, run back to grab them, and am on the road by 4:40.
5:15 p.m. — I'm home and so hungry. The Thai iced tea filled me up during lunch, so I didn't eat much of my entrée. I eat a small portion of my pad Thai as a snack, and still have enough left over for lunch for the next two days. (It was seriously a huge portion.)
6 p.m. — L. gets home and I make dinner: half spiralized zucchini, half quinoa spaghetti with Trader Joe's Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce and Ikea vegetable balls.
7 p.m. — We're almost out of toilet paper and I need more lip balm, so we walk to the nearby drug store. We also see that Haribo Halloween sour bats are on sale for $1, so we grab a bag. $13
8 p.m. — We're back home and I make my smoothie for breakfast tomorrow with kale, frozen mango, a small honeycrisp apple that's about to go bad, and half an avocado. Then I take a shower while L. does the dishes. (In case you were wondering, our system is that I cook and L. does the dishes because I love to cook, especially because the dinners I make are super easy, but I hate doing dishes.)
9 p.m. — While lounging on the couch watching Drake & Josh, I eat Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Crunch Enlightened ice cream.
10 p.m. — We get tired, head to bed, and are asleep by 11.
Daily Total: $46
Day Seven
7:20 a.m. — Today is actually a normal day spent in the office, and although the last two days were exciting, I'm grateful to be back in my routine. I get ready, grab my lunch and smoothie, and head out the door.
8 a.m. — I arrive at my desk and get started for the day. I drink a cup of green tea that I make in our office's kitchen.
12 p.m. — I take a pause from one of the projects I'm working work on to heat up my leftover pad Thai, which I eat at my desk while working.
2 p.m. — Afternoon tea time: I grab a cup of peach white tea and sip it at my desk while working through some bug fixes.
4:15 p.m. — I'm done with work for the day, so I pack up and head out. Once I get home, I change into workout clothes and head down to our apartment gym.
5:30 p.m. — I'm done with my elliptical workout and a few strength exercises and I head back up to my apartment to take a shower.
6:15 p.m. — I make a very simple dinner: rice with mashed up avocado, some garlic powder, and hot sauce. It sounds weird, but I swear it's delicious, creamy, and comforting.
6:30 p.m. — L. and I eat dinner while watching Boo 2! A Madea Halloween on Hulu. I also enjoy some of the sour gummy bats we bought yesterday.
8 p.m. — The movie's over so we watch more Drake & Josh. My phone continues to act up and I am so not amused.
9 p.m. — For a snack, I eat some more of the Enlightened ice cream. Then, I make my smoothie for breakfast tomorrow (with kale, avocado, cucumber, frozen mango, almond milk, and liquid Stevia) and my lunch (more leftover pad Thai with sliced cucumbers and hummus on the side).
10:30 — We get tired and head to bed. It's warm in our apartment, so we open the window only to hear people yelling outside (since it's Halloween, and we live above a bar). I put in some ear plugs and fall asleep by 11.
Daily Total: $0
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.
Have you been working for at least 8 years and seen your salary increase or fluctuate?If so, fill outthis formfor a chance to be featured on our Salary Story series!
Have a Money Diary you'd like to share? Right now, in addition to our ongoing diaries, we're looking for potential diarists along the following theme:
Your Spending In Your State:We want to run one Money Diary from a different state each week. Want to rep your state? Submithere! In particular, we're looking for diaries from Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Rhode Island.
Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here:r29.co/mdfaqs
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
