Keeping up with hair color trends is almost as hard as keeping up with the Kardashians. One day neons greens and pastel pinks are all the rage and the next a new blonde or brunette highlighting technique pops up. Red, however, is one color that isn't new to being trendy — especially on the heads of women of color.
Back in the day, different shades of burgundy and red were very common to see on women of color, whether their hair was permed or natural. Many of them achieved the color with at-home box dyes or temporary color rinses. According to Mezei Jefferson, director of multicultural education at L'Oreal, Dark & Lovely's third bestselling shade of all time is — you guessed it — Vivacious Red.
The crimson trend is still alive and well in the natural hair community, though it goes beyond just being a flattering tone on deeper complexions. "When most women with natural hair come into the salon for color, their biggest concern is not damaging their curls," says Jaxcee, color director at Hair Rules. "Dyeing your hair red is easy because it's one of the only dramatic shades that picks up on dark hair without bleach, per se. Because of this, those burgundy and red tones are easier to achieve, especially if you're coloring your hair at home because lightener is hardly ever involved."
If you've been holding off on having fun with your natural hair color out of fear of permanently ruining your curls, consider going red. It's an easy way to transform your curls without compromising the health of your hair. From red velvet tint, mulled wine, to copper, there's a million different ways to embrace the shade. Find some of our favorite ways to rock it, ahead.
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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: a project manager working in risk management who makes $92,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a turtleneck from Alabama Chanin.
Occupation: Project Manager Industry: Risk Management Age: 40 Location: Kansas City, MO Salary: $92,000 base with a ~$30,000 bonus Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $2,619
Monthly Expenses House Payment: $1,000 (for maintenance and property taxes) Car Fund: $400 (for taxes and eventually buying a new car) Health Insurance: $35 (high deductible plan) Home & Auto Insurance: $168 Utilities: $240 Home Security Monitoring: $35 Cable/Internet: $198 Cell Phone: $89 Netflix: $8 Hulu: $13 Yoga Streaming Subscription: $10 Audible: $15 Eyelash Extension Membership: $60 (service only, I tip each visit) Savings: $750 401(k): $460 (My employer matches my 6%.)
Day One
7:30 a.m. — First alarm. (Google Home, which I immediately tell to turn off.)
7:45 a.m. — Second alarm (iPhone — I reach over and hit snooze.)
7:54 a.m. — Third alarm (iPhone again). Okay, I really need to get up today. It's my last day of work before a week and a half of PTO. I'm looking forward to turning off my work computer and phone tonight!
8 a.m. — Get dressed, make coffee, and wander into my home office.
10 a.m. — After slogging through emails and preparing an end-of-month report, I drive to the nearest Starbucks with my reusable mug and order a short flat white. There is a local café closer to my house, but after a recent work trip I've collected some rewards on my Starbucks card and want to take advantage of the free drink. I stop at QT to fill up the gas tank on my way home. $45
5:45 p.m. — After a marathon of work, I set my out-of-office email notification and record a new voicemail. I'm thankful for the job I have and the privilege to work from home. It's been a busy season full of travel and long hours, though, so I'm excited to disconnect. It dawns on me that other than the flat white, I've only consumed a protein bar today. I quickly heat up a frozen meal (General Tso tofu from Good Earth – two thumbs up).
6:30 p.m. — Have a couple of friends over. I prepare margaritas for the group and probably drink two to three myself. We graze on chips/salsa, popcorn, and hummus.
9 p.m. — A few of us plan a movie/dinner night this upcoming Saturday, and we'll all hang out during election-related activities next week. Once everyone leaves, I fill my 25-ounce Swell bottle with water, grab the rest of the popcorn, and park myself on the couch to watch my favorite movie of all time, The Shining.
Daily Total: $45
Day Two
9 a.m. — I set an alarm for two reasons: my dad is coming over to help tackle the leaf situation in my yard, and — this is important — without an alarm, I will sleep indefinitely. I cannot overstate how much I love sleeping. My love of uninterrupted sleep is one of the top reasons I have never wanted children. (Halfway kidding; it's true I've never wanted to be a parent, but for better reasons.)
10 a.m. — After my first cup of coffee and two frozen waffles, I get started outside. Dad comes over with his own leaf blower, and we attack the backyard in sections.
1:30 p.m. — We've filled 20 bags with mulched leaf material. It's hardly finished, but the yard is clear enough to mow at this point. That's a chore for another day. I help my dad load the bags onto his truck bed, because he is generously dropping them off for me at the waste facility. I toast a pita, then dip it in a mixture of hummus, feta, and Sriracha.
2:30 p.m. — I'd love to take a shower, but since I'm already covered in leaf dust and wearing my workout clothes, it's time for a jog. I take a four-mile route through the neighborhood and notice how many peoples' yards are also covered in leaves. Damn those mature oak trees.
3:30 p.m. — I finally take a shower, then work through my “morning” skincare routine and get dressed. I don't have anything planned for tonight, and my refrigerator is nearly bare after getting home from a three-week work trip. I sit down at the kitchen table and compile a grocery list. I spent most of last month dining out, so I'm looking forward to cooking at home for a stretch.
5:30 p.m. — I usually take advantage of my work-from-home situation and grocery shop over my lunch hour, and this is why — the market is packed with people on their way home from the office right now. Kids, too. It's a zoo. I buy quinoa, rice, cheese, plenty of fruits and veggies, soup, and brownie mix. I leave with two giant BAGGU bags, practically bursting. I should be set for the next week at home. $94
7:30 p.m. — I make my favorite caprese quinoa bake for dinner (like lasagna, but a bit healthier). I have a glass of wine while cooking, and then a second glass while settling in for the final couple episodes of season two of Making a Murderer. Then I go online and order a Tom Ford candle I've been thinking about for a couple of weeks. The scent is called “Fucking Fabulous.” It's expensive, but I'll reuse the jar once it burns through. I consider it a payment to myself for the leaf project. $108
Daily Total: $202
Day Three
9 a.m. — I wake up to another alarm and lounge on the couch with coffee and an RXbar while I listen to CNN and manage my regular paycheck. I get paid every other Friday. This is the first check of the month, so I move $350 into my general savings account and $1,000 into my house fund. I own my home outright, so instead of paying a mortgage, I set aside this money to cover property taxes and any maintenance issues that arise. The roof and the electrical and HVAC systems are all in great condition, but I expect to replace the windows within two to three years, which will cost around $15,000. (When I get my second check, I'll put another $350 into general savings and $400 in my car fund. My bonus is paid separately, toward the end of the month, and that goes to my discretionary spending fund.) Since I get paid 26 times a year, every six months I get an “extra” regular check that I split between general savings and my discretionary fund.
12 p.m. — I'm hungry, so I eat another helping of the caprese quinoa. I have a full schedule coming up this weekend, so I spend the afternoon deep cleaning the house, doing laundry, and listening to an audiobook.
5 p.m. — It's almost dark out, so I change into sneakers and go for a leisurely three-mile jog. Once back, I walk down to the makeshift gym in my unfinished basement and complete a 60-minute yoga video. Nearly all of the Yoga With Adriene videos I use on a regular basis are available on her YouTube channel, but I pay for the monthly subscription because it seems fair. I relied on a handful of her “yoga for back pain” videos a few years ago while recovering from an injury, and they really helped me feel better.
8 p.m. — Hell yeah, House of Cards!! Claire has always been my favorite character, and I'm looking forward to bingeing this final season. I could have happily eaten more quinoa for dinner, but I decide to mix it up with lentil soup and a side of toasted pita, followed by an Asian pear for dessert. I power through three episodes and have to convince myself to go to bed shortly after midnight. PTO is awesome.
Daily Total: $0
Day Four
8 a.m. — Early wake-up call (for a Saturday) because I need to fit in a workout. It's now or never. I decide to walk downstairs and do an old P90X video. It's in the low 40s this morning and breezy, and I don't feel like breathing in all of that cold air during a run.
10 a.m. — After my shower, I make some coffee and start getting ready for the day. Yesterday was basically my perfect day, since I'm a hardcore introvert. I feel a twinge of anxiety thinking about my plans today — once I leave the house this morning, I won't have a moment to myself. I convince myself it'll be fine.
11:30 a.m. — I meet a work friend for brunch and order a French press and a yogurt/fruit/granola bowl. It's really good! I offer to pay for brunch because I chose the restaurant, and my friend had to drive a lot further. We agree that I'll pay the check, and she'll leave a cash tip. $28
1:30 p.m. — Errand time. I squeeze in a trip to the tailor to drop off a new pair of pants that need a shorter hem. (It'll be $25 when I pick them up next weekend). Next I go to my parents' house to help them install and set up their Ring doorbell — my mother bought it a few months ago after seeing the camera footage from mine. Finally, I go to the eyelash studio for a touch up. This isn't part of my regular plan, but something I need after excessively washing/rubbing my eyes a couple of days ago after all that leaf dust. My appointment is with a new technician who I like more than the woman who usually does my refill. I think I might make a permanent switch. $50
6 p.m. — Dinner and a movie at Alamo Drafthouse. I convinced my friends to see Suspiria. I love the original — I love nearly all of Dario Argento's films. The remake is fine; I would have liked it more if I'd never seen the first. I have a grilled cheese with fries and a Guinness during the movie. I had fun, but I feel sluggish after sitting for so long and eating a heavy meal. I'm looking forward to a hot bath, reading, and falling asleep before midnight. $40
Daily Total: $118
Day Five
9 a.m. — Wake up. I brought my laptop to bed with me last night, so I pick up where I left off reading the news.
10 a.m. — Eventually I get out of bed, make coffee, eat an English muffin with peanut butter, and watch the Sunday morning shows. I'm a news junkie. During commercial breaks I move back and forth to get dressed and apply makeup.
12:30 p.m. — Mani-pedi time. I've been looking forward to this appointment all week. I usually have a manicure every other week and then do a pedicure every other time, but I haven't seen my regular manicurist in almost six weeks due to work travel. I stop at the Caribou Coffee across the parking lot for a latte to enjoy while I'm soaking in the pedicure tub ($4). When the appointment is over, I feel put together again. ($128 including tip). $132
3 p.m. — My parents usually host a family dinner on Sunday nights. But this week, my father is having a Chiefs watch party at the house. I find football painfully boring, but stop over toward the end of the game to say hello to my parents and some family friends. I have a glass of pinot grigio, chips, salsa and — drumroll — homemade guacamole. Avocados are probably my favorite food, ever.
5:30 p.m. — I arrive home and head to the basement for a workout. I do a 30-minute yoga routine and then jog on the treadmill while I watch '80s music videos on YouTube. I watch "Total Eclipse of the Heart" twice, because it's the greatest music video of all time, and I find it strangely motivating.
7 p.m. — After I shower, I apply my weekly Babyfacial treatment from Drunk Elephant and dye my eyebrows. For the brows, I use a Godefroy kit. I used to have my brows tinted by a professional, but it only lasted seven to 10 days before fading. The kit costs about $8 per application, which is better than spending $30-$35 plus a tip to have someone else do it. It's easy to do on my own, but a little more time-consuming than the instructions suggest. I'm a big believer in not paying someone else to do something I can manage on my own.
8 p.m. — I'm hungry again, so I finish off the caprese quinoa. I pour a glass of malbec and attack my annual closet cull. It doesn't take long; I don't have anything to donate this year, but I do find a few sweaters that need repair. Before bed, I remember to go online and restock my everyday skincare products, because the 20% coupon at Sephora is about to expire. It adds up quickly — once the charge posts, I'll pay it with money from my discretionary spending account. $321
Daily Total: $453
Day Six
7:30 a.m. — I wake up before my alarm. Monday is trash day in my neighborhood, and the trucks are loud. It's fine, though, because despite being on PTO for another five days, there are some work responsibilities I have that it doesn't make sense to delegate — so I have about two hours of computer time ahead of me.
8 a.m. — I make coffee and a big bowl of oatmeal before heading to my home office. I spend the next few hours lazily moving back and forth between my work laptop and browsing the new waffle knits on the Alabama Chanin website. I decide to order the turtleneck. I'm a little annoyed that there's a separate shipping fee (when almost all of your business is online, shouldn't that be figured into the item cost?), but I still want the top. $170
12 p.m. — My friend and I volunteered to sit at an info table for a candidate we support in tomorrow's election. I'm passionate about politics, but deeply uncomfortable approaching strangers to discuss the topic. Neighborhood door-to-door canvassing is completely off the table for me. Usually I just write a check. This year, I am excited to do more. I feel totally comfortable sharing information with anyone who makes the first move. I'm pleasantly surprised to find that a number of people stop by the table to talk (mostly to say they're voting for our candidate), and I had no confrontations with passersby who supported the opponent. I was really nervous about that.
5 p.m. — Back home, I inhale a protein bar and then squeeze in a short three-mile jog. I usually do at least one long run every week (over five miles), but haven't done one in a month. I promise myself I'll get back on track after the election.
7 p.m. — After I shower, I make a batch of rice and beans for tonight's dinner and lunches for the rest of the week. I add avocado slices, corn, shredded cheese, and salsa to my dinner portion for tonight. It's as good as a Chipotle bowl. After eating and cleaning the stovetop, I warm up the oven and make brownies for my election watch party tomorrow night. I obviously have to sample a finished brownie, for quality control.
9:30 p.m. — Time to continue my House of Cards binge. It's cold, so I make some hot tea. I watch a couple episodes in the living room, then transition to my bedroom and listen to a podcast before falling asleep.
Daily Total: $170
Day Seven
7 a.m. — My alarm goes off, and I jump out of bed. It's finally here — Election Day! I've been waiting two years for this. I celebrate by browning some halloumi for breakfast. I heard someone call halloumi “the vegetarian alternative to bacon,” and that's a pretty apt description. It's salty goodness, for sure.
8:30 a.m. — After getting dressed and made up, I head out the door with a travel coffee in hand. There's often a line at my polling place. Today, I only have to wait five minutes or so to retrieve my ballot. There's a café across the street, and I walk over to refill my coffee mug with a cappuccino. $3
1 p.m. — I meet my mother for lunch, as is our Election Day tradition. This year we chose a Thai restaurant. We each have a cup of soup and split pineapple fried rice with tofu. Mom pays for lunch. We're both cautiously optimistic about local and state races. We were overconfident back in 2016.
3 p.m. — I stop at the liquor store to buy a couple bottles of wine for tonight's party, then drive home to start watching CNN. $33
6:30 p.m. — A friend picks me up, and we head to the election party, brownies and wine in tow. I stay until 11, catching a ride home with someone else. I'm stuffed after snacking on apps and dessert all night, plus at least three glasses of wine. It was a rollercoaster night. My congressional candidate was a winner, so that was great, but we lost more statewide races than we won. My city and my neighborhood in particular lean progressive, but every year it seems like the rest of the state gets more and more conservative. Still, I go to bed feeling optimistic about 2020.
Daily Total: $36
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It’s getting colder outside, the perfect weather for movie marathons and listening to holiday music tucked up in blankets, so now couldn’t be a more perfect time to get your streaming subscriptions in order. What better way to break in the new smart speaker or TV you bought?
Read on for some of the best deals we found.
Spotify
Get Spotify premium for three months for just $0.99. Not per month. $0.99, period. If you’re looking for a deal on their family plan, you’re in luck. From now until the end of the year, you can get a free Google Home Mini whether you are a new subscriber or an existing one. You won’t get a discount on the monthly rate, which is $14.99 per month for up to six people, but a free Google Home Mini is a pretty sweet deal.
Hulu
Through the end of Cyber Monday, Hulu is offering 12 months of its limited commercial plan for only $0.99 per month. Usually, this service runs for $7.99 per month. That’s like getting Hulu for about 88% off its normal price. Cyber Monday deals are good, but rarely are they that good.
This deal is only available to new subscribers or returning subscribers who haven’t had a Hulu subscription for at least the past 12 months.
Tidal
Not quite as sweet of a deal as Hulu, but Tidal is offering three months of their music streaming service for just $0.99 per month. You can also get their HD streaming service for $1.99 per month for the first three months. The premium and HD plans are usually $9.99 and $19.99 per month, respectively. Both offers only apply to first-time subscribers.
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The day after Thanksgiving — when many Americans are sleeping off their feasts and hunkering down for the holiday weekend — is a notoriously effective day for burying any major news. But this weekend, a big story dropped: a new report on global warming was issued by more than a dozen federal agencies outlining the national risks of unchecked climate change.
This landmark report, the second volume of the National Climate Assessment, was mandated by Congress and publicly released by the White House on Friday afternoon. The findings conclude that public health, the environment, and the national economy will be threatened by climate change over the next century if we do not take action.
According to the assessment, many predicted effects of climate change are already coming true, as reported by The New York Times. Tides are rising, with more reports of flooding in coastal regions, and warmer oceans are disrupting the fishing industry. The amount of ozone, smoke, and other air pollutants that cause illness and early death is increasing as wildfires grow larger, last longer, and become more dangerous. According to the Department of Defense, global warming also causes and prolongs political instability abroad, especially in countries with fewer resources; the strain of adjusting to climate change “degrades living conditions, human security and the ability of governments to meet the basic needs of their populations.”
It is vital to contact your representatives to make sure they know that climate change is a priority.
If these losses are not sufficiently tangible, volume two of the National Climate Assessment offers projected costs of climate change — literally. By the end of the century, the United States is set to lose $141 billion from heat-related deaths, $118 billion from rising sea levels, and $32 billion from damaged infrastructure, among other costs. The findings conclude that the national economy could shrink up to 10% by 2100 if there is no change.
It remains to be seen how the White House will react to this news, if at all. On Wednesday, a major cold front hit the northeast, and The Washington Post reports that much of the region saw record-low temperatures over the Thanksgiving holiday. In response, President Donald Trump tweeted, “Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS - Whatever happened to Global Warming?”
Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS - Whatever happened to Global Warming?
The president’s remarks reiterate and underscore his administration’s approaches to climate change and environmental policy, which are directly challenged and often contradicted by the findings in this new report. The president himself has even called climate change a “hoax.”
Among many other changes, National Geographic reports that in the last year alone, the Trump administration has dismantled an Obama-era policy intended to limit car greenhouse gas emissions, loosened toxic air pollution regulations on private companies, and disbanded an EPA air pollution advisory panel. From high-profile moves, such as pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, to various environmental policychanges and rollbacks over the past two years, this administration’s actions suggest it will continue to put the needs of manufacturing, oil, and big business ahead of addressing climate change.
The climate change crisis is not limited to the U.S. Per the New York Times, this new report comes about a month after the release of a United Nations study which found that climate change poses severe international humanitarian and economic threats that could come to pass as early as 2040.
The U.S. can take decisive and immediate action to help curb the effects of climate change.
This can feel like an insurmountable problem — how do we fight against climate change in the present to prevent it from undermining our future? But the U.S. can take decisive and immediate action to help curb the effects of climate change. In order to help mitigate global warming, the report recommends establishing federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. It also recommends imposing taxes or fees on companies that regularly release greenhouse gases and spending public money on clean-energy research.
It’s important to understand that the power to make this happen does not rest solely with the White House. The Supreme Court, for example, has refused the Trump administration’s request to block an unprecedented climate change lawsuit brought by a group of teens and young adults. They’re suing the federal government, arguing that they are being deprived of their rights to life, liberty, and property by the government’s failure to properly address climate change.
Even more immediately, Congress can take legislative action. The House of Representatives flipped in Democrats’ favor after the midterms, but nothing is set in stone — so it is vital to contact your representatives to make sure they know that climate change is a priority.
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No matter how many times your Apple Watch reminds you to get up to refill your glass water bottle and do a lap around the office during the day, and regardless of whether you prefer the soft mouthfeel of Evian to the crisp neutrality of Poland Spring, the human body is, and always will be, composed of more than 50% water. Consuming ample H2O on a daily basis is so much more than just a bragging right; it is essential for sustaining life, for powering your brain (73% water), your muscles (79%), and, perhaps most importantly, your skin (a healthy 64%).
Moisturizer, then, is as crucial to your quality of life as a S'well bottle, or owning a Brita filter, or having a Smartwater sponsorship, like Jennifer Aniston. (Which is to say: great if you can swing it, but as long as you have access to clean drinking water, that's all that really matters.) And, as with water varietals, there are countless different moisturizers on the market; some subtly different, others markedly so, at a wide range of price points, to suit nearly any taste.
So we tried $639 worth of them, on all different skin types and with only the highest standards. (Consider us the water sommeliers of the skin-care world.) Ahead, the five formulas that made the cut — and the one that really quenched our thirst, and emerged victorious in our 2018 Beauty Innovator Awards.
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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In the Venn diagram of the biggest travel weekend of the year and the biggest shopping weekend of the year, lies Cyber Monday luggage deals right there in the middle. In fact you may very well be clicking on this as you're waiting to board a plane/train/yet another plane, right this very moment. Whatever serendipitous algorithm brought you here, we're glad it did, because the sales on travel goods are peaking and this is the time to cash in on stylish, seamless, smart gear that makes your life that much better en route.
Shop on before the deals are gone — it's a mixed bag of Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday, and simply darn good fall sales that we've rounded up for you and several tout the anxiety-inducing "limited availability." But don't fret, there's lots to choose from so the only direction you can go from here is wheels up.
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Have you been putting off getting an Apple Watch? If so, this Monday might be the day to finally take the plunge.
On Monday, November 26 — known affectionately to deal-hunters everywhere as “Cyber Monday ” or "Cyber Week " — Apple Watch prices will be joining brands like Glossier and Macy's by dramatically slashing prices on Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and even Apple’s own website. Basically? It’s absolutely worth checking out the sales ahead of time, whether you’re definitely going to buy a watch or only want to take a look at them — you know, just to see what’s out there. Either way, here are the best Apple Watch deals for this Cyber Monday.
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Thanksgiving and Black Friday may be over, but the deals most definitely are not. In fact, they are just heating up on Cyber Monday.
That new smartphone, tablet, or laptop you've been eying all year long could be yours on the internet's favorite post-Turkey day holiday. As if you needed another reason to splurge on electronics, Apple is totally making it worth your while. Now through Cyber Monday, the tech retailer is offering special deals and givebacks (such as gift cards) when you buy select products. Yup, it’s like getting paid to shop. And who doesn't love that?
Even better is the fact that you can take advantage of the deals from the comfort of your own bed or sofa. From a $200 Apple Store gift card when you buy a Mac to a $50 Apple Store gift card when you buy select Beats, here are some pretty sweet deals from Apple.
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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: a senior director working in technology who makes $250,000 per year ($400,000 combined with her husband) and spends some of her money this week on a new passport.
Occupation: Senior Director Industry: Technology Age: 30 Location: New York, NY My Salary: $220,000 plus ~$30,000 bonus My Husband's Salary: ~$150,000 (with overtime) My Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $5,124 My Husband's Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): It varies, but it's usually around $2,500.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $2,000 for our one-bedroom in Manhattan. We spent SO LONG looking for this rent-controlled spot — it's literally a steal for how big it is. It's definitely not perfect, and it's super loud over a busy avenue, but I can't complain one bit with the cost! Mortgage For Rental Property: $2,500 Student Loans: $0 (I worked my ass off to get a scholarship, and my husband paid his off a few years ago.) MetroCard: $50 Spotify Family Plan: $15 (My sis, BFF, and bro are also on the plan.) Gym: $99 (My husband's work comps his gym membership.) Phone: $50 (I pay my dad for our share of the family plan.) Netflix: $50 Cable: $180 (We have cable for sports, ugh) AmazonSubscribe & Save: $30 monthly plus $150 every three months for vitamins and skincare Retirement: I max out at $5,000/year in my IRA, and my husband puts his max allotment of 18% into his pension every year. We also are trying to save $100,000 this year, which is a super lofty goal, but we want to buy Manhattan real estate soon.
Annual Expenses Amazon Prime: $99 Car, Renters & Home Insurance: $2,000 Thrive Market: $50 (It's SO much cheaper for organic foods.)
Day One
6 a.m. — Alarm goes off, and I awake from a coma. I check texts and emails from bed and answer a few time-sensitive Slacks. Then I groggily throw my workout clothes on, brush my teeth, down a glass of water and a probiotic, and I'm out the door to the gym. I try to find a new Spotify playlist on the short walk over and stumble upon a '90s hip-hop one. Just what I need this morning. I do a 20-minute warm-up on the StairMaster then and a brutal but fun full-body HIIT workout.
7:20 a.m. — Stayed a little longer than I meant to, as usual. This is my me time, and sometimes I lose track of time. I speed walk home and pop into the bodega under my apartment — I ran out of bananas this week and need them for my morning smoothie! I also buy more almond milk (running low), and peanut butter cups for my husband, B., as a treat for when he gets home. It's the little things that matter! $15.33
8 a.m. — Once I'm showered and moisturized, I make my go-to morning smoothie: spinach, almond milk, two scoops of collagen powder, a banana, and a small spoonful of coconut oil. So good! I down it as I put on my light makeup: powder, mascara, brows, and a bit of blush. Today is a no-wash day, so I brush my hair and flat iron it a bit to look presentable. Then I throw on some low-heeled booties, jeans, and a blouse, and I'm out the door. I have exactly four minutes to make it to the stop before I miss the bus. I love cutting it close.
8:15 a.m. — My team has been at the office late all week preparing for a huge release we have coming up, so I stop at a cute coffee shop by the office to get some croissants and a few coffees for the crew to show a little appreciation. I make sure to get my other fellow celiac coworker a GF muffin. I expense it. On the elevator ride up to the office, I try to answer a Slack while balancing coffees, and it's almost a nightmare. I remind myself to put the phone away and do a quick 30 seconds of relaxed breathing. We have a crazy day ahead. ($35 expensed)
11:55 a.m. — I have five minutes between meetings to eat. I'm usually able to eat my breakfast at 10:15, but today there were fires to put out left and right. I grab my breakfast from the fridge: two hard-boiled eggs, chicken sausage, and sautéed peppers I brought from home. I don't even have the patience to wait for the microwave and practically swallow it whole as I refill my water bottle. After I eat, I chitchat with a coworker for a minute about a project we're working on. Off to more meetings!
2:15 p.m. — Another break between meetings — this time I have a full 30 minutes, which means it's lunchtime. I grab my prepped salad out of the fridge, which I made with a protein salad mix, candied pecans from Trader Joe's, butternut squash, cranberries, and some Applegate turkey meat I cut up and threw in, tossed with lemon-turmeric dressing. I thought it would be weird, but it's actually so good! The greens feel like weeds though. I'll stick to spring mix. After lunch, I head into the handicap bathroom for my three minutes of quiet time. This is a new thing I am trying: I set a timer on my watch, close my eyes, and try to meditate. Sometimes I end up scrolling on Instagram or just thinking of my huge to-do list instead, but I try and calm my breath at least. Work in progress, right? I text B. a fun Bitmoji, grab some mouthwash in the bathroom, and head off to my next meeting.
5 p.m. — In the middle of a meeting, I realize my sister's birthday is next week and I haven't gotten her anything yet! She is so tough to shop for, so I typically go for a sentimental gift or an activity together. I start browsing for show tickets, and remember that Mean Girls is on Broadway. We used to love Regina George! I get us two tickets for the premium seating up front. We have a small family, so I feel okay spending a chunk of money on her birthday present. It's literally one of the few I have to buy all year. $250
8:30 p.m. — Finally leave work. I thoroughly enjoy my 25-minute walk home — I get to listen to half a podcast and decompress. I get a text from B. asking me to pick up orange juice, shampoo, and hand soap on the way home. Every time I go to Duane Reade, I just don't understand where the money goes. We try to buy everything for our home in bulk from Boxed (SO MUCH CHEAPER), but the choices of shampoo are limited. Plus those bottles are giant — it's like a workout just to lather. $27.22
8:45 p.m. — Dinner time! B. already ate, so he sits with me while I finish the rest of a meal I prepped: salsa verde/tomatillo tri-tip roast that I cooked in the Crock-Pot on Sunday, rice, and roasted broccoli. I douse it with Sriracha. We catch up on our days and then move to the couch to cuddle and watch an episode of The Sinner. It's soooo good! I want to binge-watch, but B. is exhausted from working last night, so he heads to bed. I catch up on a few emails and work on a presentation for next week. At around 10:30, I fall asleep at the keyboard and then force myself to do my nighttime routine and head to bed.
Daily Total: $292.55
Day Two
6 a.m. — Alarm goes off, and I groggily stumble out of bed and trip over the blankets in the process. I try so hard not to wake B., but the sound of me trying to avoid face-planting into the wall startles him awake. Oops. Typical morning routine — I throw on my workout clothes and check my emails while brushing my teeth. There's nothing that can't wait a few hours. I used to respond to everything right away, but it's not worth it anymore. I go for a 4.5 mile run outside and listen to some throwback jams.
7:30 a.m. — It's Friday, which is my YOLO Day. I meal prep for Monday through Thursday, and Friday is the day I eat out/order in for lunch and dinner. I also let myself buy coffee on Fridays if I am really feeling it. I like nitro cold brew, which is ridiculously expensive for the tiny cups they serve it in, but I have it once or twice a month and it always feels like such a treat! Today I savor every sip on my endorphin-filled walk back to my apartment. $4.50
8:15 a.m. — Shower, moisturize, and apply a daily serum. I use a new brand called Tula, and I seriously LOVE it. It smells good and makes my skin glow, and the Subscribe & Save lets me save a decent amount every few months. While I let my hair air dry, I make my spinach smoothie (never gets old) and sip it while doing my makeup. I am hungry this morning, so I also make myself two pieces of gluten-free toast with butter. (Our fridge is getting pretty empty.) My hair is half-dry already, so I finish it off with my blowdryer. After a recommendation from a coworker, I splurged on a pricey blowdryer last month, and it was worth every penny. My hair dries in eight minutes flat, and I have long hair! I go over some ends with my straightener, get dressed, and head out the door.
9:30 a.m. — After a good power-hour of work at my desk, I preorder my Sweetgreen salad for lunch. I have another day of back-to-backs and love that it will be ready exactly at 12:15 and I won't need to wait in line. I make my own salad with steelhead and my favorite spicy dressing. Already looking forward to lunch! $15
10:20 a.m. — Head to the kitchen for a snack and fill up my water bottle.
12:15 p.m. — Hope the walk to Sweetgreen to pick up my lunch will help re-energize me. It doesn't. I get that second coffee from the office machine and drink it black. Then I power through the afternoon because I want to leave early today.
3:30 p.m. — I get an email that an order I placed on Saks Off Fifth this week was declined. I absolutely hate talking on the phone, especially if I have to be on hold, but there's a 50% off deal on the whole site that ends today, so I want to take advantage of it. I call and it surprisingly goes pretty fast — they apologize for the issue and give me free overnight shipping! Even better. The sweet guy on the line even compliments me for my choices (jeans, a cashmere cardigan, and a few new white tees, lol). I have been on the hunt for a high-waisted, mid-wash pair of jeans, so I'm hoping these fit! $220
5:30 p.m. — After powering through the afternoon, I'm feeling really good about where things stand for our release next week. B. and I head for a date night at a new cute Mexican spot that opened near our apartment. We get chips and guac, I get two carnitas tacos and one chorizo, and he gets four carnitas and one pescado. That man eats so much. I share half my chorizo with him because I don't love it. Back home, we crash on the couch and watch more of The Sinner. B. is working this weekend, so I enjoy my time with him. $62
Daily Total: $301.50
Day Three
8:15 a.m. — B. left for work already, so I ease into the morning, scrolling on Insta/reading the news/ looking up recipes in bed. Get up, down some water, brush my teeth, and make a grocery list for after the gym. Since I have more time, I walk the extra few blocks to a different gym location. This one is bigger and all around nicer, plus it's closer to Trader Joe's. I do another HIIT body session with way too many squats and some treadmill incline sprints, and finish it up with some upper body work. My new music Friday playlist this week is FIRE.
10 a.m. — After the gym, I change into dry athleisure and eat an Rxbar. Then I stop for a cold brew — I need all the energy I can for my Trader Joe's shopping trip. No one is their best self in there. This week I buy: spinach, mixed greens, bananas, apples, berries, mushrooms, bell peppers, two shallots, sweet potatoes, chicken breast, ground turkey, Applegate herbed turkey cold cuts, salsa verde, peanut butter chocolate pretzels (for B.), two dozen eggs, Kerrygold butter, canned tomatoes, canned sauce, chicken broth, Rxbars, and dried mangos. Can't help but grab a bag of Scandinavian Swimmers while I'm in line either. They're so good! I manage to make it home with the shopping cart and two bags on each shoulder! (I bring the slightly embarrassing but oh-so-functional grocery cart to haul all the food 10 blocks back to my apartment.) Workout part two, done. $168
11 a.m. — After a shower, I make myself brunch while I catch up with my BFF who lives across the country. We talk about my upcoming visit in a few weeks. (It's a work trip that I'm extending.) I make two sunny-side up eggs, chicken apple sausage, sautéed spinach, and a side of gluten-free toast. Once I'm done, I get to work meal-prepping, and first up is the chicken cacciatore. I sauté peppers and mushrooms in pan and then assemble the chicken, tomatoes, sauce, and seasoning in the slow cooker. Then I add veggies and put it in the fridge. I'm going to turn it on tomorrow morning so it's ready by dinner time. I throw rice in the rice cooker and start browning turkey in a pan with taco seasoning. Once that's done, I chop some veggies for salads for the week (cucumbers, more peppers, and cherry tomatoes) and Tupperware it. This is five dinners and four lunches! All in a day's work.
2 p.m. — I set up shop on the couch with my Scandinavian gummies and watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix. I thought it would be cheesy, but it's so cute. I really enjoy it. While I watch, I casually check email and scroll the 'gram a bit. Nothing urgent, thank god.
5 p.m. — Head out to shop for birthday cards and gifts for a few friends, including one whose birthday dinner is tonight. I head to Walgreens to buy two birthday cards, tissue paper, and a gift bag for the super soft sweater I bought for tonight's birthday girl. I then head down to Soho to shop for my other friend's birthday gift. I find the cutest embroidered pineapple t-shirt at Madewell that screams my friend, so I buy it for her along with cute socks. $95
6 p.m. — Time to start getting ready! I haven't seen this friend much recently, so I am excited. I curl my hair, pull on my favorite black jeans and slinky black tank, and take a selfie and send it to B. I am going to be the awkward seventh wheel tonight since B. is at work. I take an Uber to the restaurant. $12.50
10 p.m. — This group doesn't get together often, but we love a good birthday celebration. We order several pitchers of sangria, tons of paella, and lots of bacon-y appetizers, and the couples share tons of delicious stuff I can't have. Having celiac sucks, but I drown my sorrows over my lack of croquettes in sangria. One of the girls brought cupcakes for dessert from my friend's favorite bakery and even brought me a GF one — so sweet! We all split the bill and cover my friend's tab. I Venmo my other friend for my portion of the cupcakes. $182
10:30 p.m. — We hang out after dinner, but I can barely keep my eyes open. I call an Uber to head home. It's surge fare, which makes me rage-y. I chug two glasses of water when I get home — I barely drink, and I know I am going to be hurting tomorrow. Fall asleep watching Friends. $16
Daily Total: $473.50
Day Four
8 a.m. — B. and I cuddle for a bit, and then I get up while he takes a long nap. I clean up around the apartment, turn on the slow cooker, and work for a bit.
10 a.m. — I head to our favorite coffee shop and buy B. a large cold brew. I'm starving, but we're going out to brunch in a few hours and I don't want to spoil my appetite. I eat an apple with peanut butter to hold me over. $3.53
12:30 p.m. — We have another birthday brunch today! Everyone we know has birthdays within a two-week period, so it's a little crazy. I shower, get ready, and wake B. up. Our bathroom is so small that it's impossible to fit two people in there (#NYCLIVING), so I try to time it right. That's one good thing about having different schedules! G. takes exactly 12 minutes to get ready — so annoying, and he looks amazing. We call an Uber and head to Battery Park. $17
2 p.m. — This place has gluten-free eggs Benedict, so I happily slurp up the hollandaise. We split the bill, and then I give my friend the present I got her. Turns out, she just bought the Madewell shirt herself (I have good taste, what can I say), but she has the gift receipt and can buy something else. We both laugh about it because the pineapple is so her! $58
2:30 p.m. — Uber home and chill on the couch watching football. B. and I are both exhausted, and the smell of the slow cooker is making us hungry again. $14.22
5 p.m. — We go for a run outside. Our tradition is to always run together once a weekend — it's one of our favorite things to do together. We cover five miles and enjoy pointing out all the new buildings popping up on the other side of the Hudson. We talk about where we want to buy — we've been saving for a down payment for years now, but can't decide if we want to stay in the city or go out further into the 'burbs. We don't have kids yet, so we're in no rush...plus we both love our short commutes too much to leave yet.
6 p.m. — The chicken cacciatore is ready, and we eat it over rice while we watch more football. After a shower and more snuggles, we head to bed early.
Daily Total: $92.75
Day Five
6 a.m. — Rise and shine. Big day today, so I head into work super early.
6:20 a.m. — Do a quick 21-minute BBG workout in the living room and hope my downstairs neighbors don't hear me jumping around. Then I shower, blow dry my hair, and pick out my "power outfit": a peplum sweater tank, black jeans, and black heels.
7:45 a.m. — Today is worthy of a mid-week coffee. I need the nitro! $5
1 p.m. — Break for lunch amidst craziness. I eat my prepped taco bowl salad with rice, lettuce, taco seasoning, ground turkey, Sriracha, and salsa verde at my desk while I read over release notes.
7 p.m. — A busy and long but exciting day! The presentation went great, so we head out to drinks to celebrate. I have soda water and lime — it's the best because no one asks why you're not drinking. Sometimes I just don't really want a drink. After a couple rounds, I pay the tab (expensing it to work), and head home early. My team is probably going to stay out late tonight, so I make a mental note to move our meeting back to 10 a.m. tomorrow. ($250 expensed)
Daily Total: $5
Day Six
4:43 a.m. — I am heading to Boston for a day to do a presentation, so I'm up early to catch a flight. I jump in the shower for a quick rinse, put on makeup, fix my hair, and head out. I just have my tote because I'm not even staying the night. No matter the traffic, I am always shocked at the cost of an Uber to LGA. ($120 expensed)
6:30 a.m. — Spend $18 on runny tasteless eggs and bacon at an airport restaurant. Why is it so expensive and never good? At least this is expensed. I thank myself for bringing snacks for later. ($18 expensed)
12:30 p.m. — The team takes me out to lunch to celebrate a good meeting before I head back to the airport.
4:30 p.m. — Back in NYC. Can't wait to head home and be on my couch. This is peak traffic time, so the ride takes upwards of two hours. At least the ridiculous Uber cost is expensed? ($120 expensed)
Daily Total: $0
Day Seven
6 a.m. — I sleep nine hours and wake up feeling phenomenal. Throw on workout clothes, down a glass of water, and head to Barry's Bootcamp. I got a five-pack as a gift for my birthday, and I'm trying to spread them out so I can enjoy them for longer. I love Barry's, but it's so expensive, especially when I know I can get in a good workout on my own for free. Today is my favorite instructor's class — if you're in NYC, take Dan's class. His playlists are amazing, and he is really hard — my legs are shaking when I walk out of there!
8 a.m. — After a shower, I get ready, make my standard green smoothie, and ride a Citi Bike to work. $3.25
10 a.m. — Grab a coffee and some fruit from the office kitchen to hold me over until lunch. I forgot to bring snacks, but need to wait until 12 to eat my lunch or I'll be starving later.
3 p.m. — I get a reminder on my calendar that my passport is expiring next month. I am planning a trip to Europe for our wedding anniversary, so I need to renew it. (I haven't decided where yet, but I have flight alerts up for Vienna, Geneva, and Berlin.) I fill out the paperwork online and pay the exorbitant fee to renew. $265
Daily Total: $268.25
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There's no time to let any shopping blues get you down once Black Friday ends. Where one sales day ends, another begins. Cyber Monday has become the premier date to ignore your coworkers' small talk about their holiday weekend, flex your credit card number memorization skills, and covertly spend the first day back at work scrolling through the hundreds of sales happening online.
To help you avoid the grueling process of scrolling through one too many email newsletters, we're rounding up all the best sales your favorite sites have to offer. From promo codes to sale details to who's offering gifts with purchases this year, the list ahead is your guide to it all.
Kick back, relax, and prepare to break a shopping sweat with our A to Z list to Cyber Monday's best sales ahead.
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When it comes to buying a TV — so many choices! So little time! — there are amazing deals to be had on Cyber Monday, when retailers such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon offer up absurdly cheap prices on televisions (and other tech items) that might otherwise cost you a month's rent.
The only problem? The deals are so widespread, and they only last for so long, which makes the task of pulling the trigger on a Samsung or LG flat-screen extra difficult, even if you have been lusting over one for a long time.
But don't worry! We've picked through the very best deals, making it so that all you have to do is click through and pick one. Check out the best TV deals for Cyber Monday right here.
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Welcome to Hype Machine, our hit-list of the top reviewed products across the web — according to a crowd of die-hard shoppers. Call this your 4-star & up only club, with entry granted by our devoted-to-the-goods shop editors.
In the search for the most comfortable pair of boots out there, we often turn to our fellow shoppers. Sure, we can size up the shoe and make an easy call on the looks of it, but how it feels — ya never know. Except that you can get a pretty good idea by wading through the town hall of shopping, also known as the reviews section. People love to share a happy shoe story or send a warning if they've been scorned by an evil heel. And our choices are all the better for these saints of comments.
For this round of Hype Machine we went deep on Zappos. The online retailer has a cult following specifically for its customer service and after reading hundreds of reviews on the site, one of the biggest take-aways is that people genuinely like shopping the retailer because they're so helpful. And with a face-melting 10,432 shoes and counting, there is a full breadth of prices and brands at the ready for comfy shoe judgement day. The shoes we included are the highest reviewed, best in class examples of each category from Western to hiking boot. But, if you're craving a good Cyber Monday sale, you're good to go right here. And feel free to add in your "Best in Shoe" comments below. If you've bought a comfy boot this season, spill. Your fellow shoe shoppers want to know.
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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.
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Today: a registered nurse who makes $62,700 per year and spends some of her money this week on Arby's curly fries.
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: $1,200 split with my husband ($600 each) School Tuition: $2,726 for the semester Car Payment: $385 Car Insurance: My husband pays for both of ours. Health Insurance: $80 Sephora Now: $10 Apple Music: $10 Netflix: $12.99 (I pay for Netflix, and my brother pays for Hulu.) 401(k): 6% of my paycheck with company match Savings: $500 from each check goes into my credit union account, which I don't touch. My car payment is the only thing that comes out of the account. The rest goes to savings. I have about $27,000 in savings right now. Donations: I donate $20 a month to the Humane Society, which gets automatically deducted from my paycheck. Utilities: ~$150 split with my husband Cell Phone: $100 (My husband's phone is paid for by his work, so I'm on my own plan.)
Day One
7:45 a.m. — Alarm goes off. Happy Halloween! I recently switched from working 12-hour night shifts at a hospital to nursing in an office setting. While I'm happy not to be working nights and weekends, I'm definitely not a morning person. I snooze until 8 a.m. and rush out the door by 8:25.
9 a.m. — Start my work day. I keep oatmeal at my desk and make a cup of free office coffee, which is gross.
1 p.m. — Lunchtime! I heat up some leftover broccoli pasta from earlier in the week. I try not to buy food at work during the week so I can save money to go out for dinner over the weekend. There are leftover sandwiches from a meeting up for grabs, so I snag a sandwich, too.
5:30 p.m. — I leave work, fill up my gas tank, and pick up some pizza my husband, L., already paid for. Eating pizza at home and watching scary movies is our Halloween tradition. $38
10 p.m. — We live in a small neighborhood without many kids, but this year we have a group of trick-or-treaters, yay! We still end up with a ton of candy that we'll eat way too much of. L. and I watch Hocus Pocus and Scream and drink two bottles of Witches Brew wine, a spicy red wine made by a Michigan winery. Then we pass out with our pups.
Daily Total: $38
Day Two
6 a.m. — The dogs are stirring, and I have to go to the bathroom. I get up, feed them quickly, and belly flop back into bed. Alarm goes off at 8 a.m., and I quickly get ready, make some avocado toast, and throw a pork loin, potatoes, and carrots into the slow cooker for dinner tonight. I kiss L. goodbye. He's still in bed. I think someone may have had too much wine and candy last night — ha!
9:30 a.m. —I get an iced Americano. $3.50
1 p.m. — More leftover broccoli pasta for lunch. I sit in the break room and read Crazy Rich Asians. I really want to finish the book before I see the movie, and I'm loving it so far.
7 p.m. — Home from work! I beat L. home, so I feed the pups and let them outside to do their business. It's raining, so we don't play outside for too long. A contractor comes over to check out our master bathroom and give us a quote for renovating it. I hope the quote won't be over $8,000!! We moved into our house a year ago and have been wanting to redo the bathroom because it's terribly small and outdated. We eat our slow cooker meal, and it's delish!
9 p.m. — I do a Beachbody On Demand workout in the basement, take a shower, drink a protein shake, and work on a homework assignment while L. plays Mario Kart. We used some money we still had from our wedding to buy a Nintendo Switch a few weeks ago. (We thought it would give us something to do at home so we wouldn't go out and spend money.) Then it's bedtime!
Daily Total: $3.50
Day Three
8:15 a.m. — Yes! It's Friday! I quickly get ready so I can leave a little early to get an iced coffee from my favorite local coffee place. I usually treat myself on Fridays. $3.83
6 p.m. — Home from work! L. and I are feeling really lazy tonight, so we decide to go pick up some Arby's for dinner. We rarely eat fast food, and Arby's curly fries are just so damn good! I pay. Then we catch up on this week's American Horror Story. I really like this season, but it's a little slow right now. L. goes to bed at 9:30 because he has to wake up early to go tailgating tomorrow. $17.02
12 a.m. — I stay up late watching Letterkenny, a hilariously weird Canadian show.
Daily Total: $20.85
Day Four
10:30 a.m. — I meet my mom at Old Navy to buy some new work clothes. I find some good stuff, but while I'm in line I notice my wallet isn't in my purse. I panic and run out to my car to find my wallet on the pavement outside my car door with nothing missing. Whew, talk about being #blessed. I buy a sweater, jeans, a cute faux suede moto jacket, and a dress. $124
12 p.m. — I buy a coffee, and we walk around perusing Joann Fabrics for bit, but I don't buy anything. Then we grab lunch at Qdoba and my mom treats. Thanks, Mom! $2.85
5 p.m. — After lunch, I go visit my grandparents. I love them — they're my favorite people. They give me some allium bulbs to plant that will hopefully bloom in the summer. (Alliums are awesome flowers that look like they're straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.) Then I go back to my parents' house to see my dad. My dad works in the auto business and got laid off for a few weeks since the industry is pretty slow right now. He used to get laid off all the time when I was a kid, but it really worries me now because my mom is retired, and if he gets laid off for too long, they could lose their health insurance.
8 p.m. — I get home and watch the Michigan game from the warmth and comfort of my couch with my snuggly pups. Then I make a grilled cheese and butternut squash soup for dinner — yum! L. gets home at 8 p.m. At around 10:30 I pass out in bed, and L. isn't far behind me.
Daily Total: $126.85
Day Five
9 a.m. — Typical Sunday routine of coffee and Pioneer Woman on Food Network. She's my hero. I do a Beachbody on Demand workout while L. roasts coffee. We're huge coffee nerds. The best flavor comes from roasting your beans right at home!
1 p.m. — I go outside to plant my allium bulbs, and then we tag team attack all the leaves in our front yard. We get a solid three full bags done. Then I head inside to shower, and we go to Costco for some grocery shopping. We get Kirkland Prosecco (the best and so cheap!), apples, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, steak, butternut squash ravioli, and laundry detergent. We also smash a bunch of free samples. L. picks up with bill. Gas is pretty cheap at Costco, so I top my car off. $21.25
3:30 p.m. — We stop at our local grocery store to get some non-bulk items: ground turkey, sweet potatoes, bananas, salsa, tortillas, boxed scalloped potatoes, shredded cheese, protein muffin mix, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, sugar, vanilla ice cream, and red wine to go with our steaks. There's also a wine tasting stand, so we try two free red wine samples, and dang — the lady gives generous pours. I pay this time. $69.37
7 p.m. — We grill steaks, roast Brussels sprouts, and bake scalloped potatoes for dinner. It's delish with our wine. Then we snuggle up on the couch and watch football. L.'s fantasy football team is sucking, so we watch a few episodes of The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, and I get super creeped out because I'm a wuss. Bedtime at 11!
Daily Total: $90.62
Day Six
9 a.m. — I'm taking the morning off of work because I have a doctor's appointment, so the pups and I enjoy an extra hour of sleep and cuddles.
10:45 a.m. — At the gynecologist's office for my 10:45 a.m. appointment, but of course they don't call my name until 11:30. Grr. I had an abnormal Pap smear almost two years ago that showed “precancerous cell changes.” Thankfully it was caught early, and I had a small procedure to remove the suspicious cells. My doctor has done a Pap smear every three to six months since to continue to monitor me. I feel so thankful to have access to healthcare, and it breaks my heart that some women don't have access to basic preventative care. Resources like Planned Parenthood are so important. A simple Pap smear could potentially save a life by preventing a future cervical cancer diagnosis! Get yo' Paps ladies! I pay my $25 co-pay and make an appointment for six months from now. $25
1 p.m. — Pick up some Jimmy John's and get to work to finish out the day. I leave at 5:30 p.m. $8.79
8 p.m. — Make a random dinner of tilapia, mac and cheese, and sweet potato fries. Then I play Mario Kart, watch Monday Night Football, and pass out around 10ish.
Daily Total: $33.79
Day Seven
7:45 a.m. — Typical morning routine — snooze until I'm almost late and am out the door by 8:25 a.m.
6 p.m. — I go to my fave local coffee shop ($2.89) and work on a paper for school for an hour before heading to my friend's house. Every few months all of my nurse friends meet up for a “dip night,” where everyone brings a bottle of wine and a different dip to eat. Sweatpants and messy hair encouraged, and no men allowed. I bring $2 Aldi wine from home and mini cupcakes from the grocery store since I'm heading to the party from work ($3.99). $6.88
11 p.m. — Dip night was awesome as always. Loved catching up with all my friends I don't get to see much anymore. When I get home, L. is already passed out in bed. Ugh, I'm going to be tired tomorrow, but it's worth it!
Daily Total: $6.88
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Spending the night in an ice hotel is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences we can't wait to check off our bucket lists. While they are not exactly known for being comfortable — how cozy can an ice-carved bed be? — these man-made wonders are just incredible to behold. The construction alone requires muscle power, snow ploughs, and tons of ice — a very respectable feat considering the fact that these hotels have to be built from scratch every year. And, we haven't even started on the ice sculptures yet.
Most of these establishments open their doors in January and remain in operation through April. Click ahead for the most stunning ice hotels from around the world that are so Instagrammable, they might just be worth the frostbite.
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Leaving your house in the dead of winter can feel like an herculean task, especially when the weather is gloomy and there's black ice on the ground. But getting out of town sounds like the perfect antidote for our mounting seasonal affective disorder: We want a vacation, and we want it now.
While we would normally recommend a beach break as a nice way to deal with the weather, there's something to be said about destinations that pull off the winter wonderland look spectacularly. We're talking about places that offer impressive holiday decorations, lively Christmas markets, and readily available fireplaces. If a city looks quaint enough to be featured in a holiday card, we can (maybe) overlook the frostbites.
From a quaint ski town to a snowy wonderland, we've rounded up five postcard-perfect trips you should take while there's still snow on the ground. And, just so you'll know what to do should you decide to make an impulsive visit, we've also included the coziest hotels in the area, plus the insider intel you need to know.
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Border Patrol officials fired tear gas on hundreds of migrants, including small children, as they tried to enter the U.S. on Sunday. As a result, U.S. officials shut down the San Ysidro Port of Entry between San Diego and Tijuana for several hours.
Rodney Scott, chief patrol agent of the Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector, defended the use of tear gas, saying some of the migrants threw rocks at the agents. "What we saw over and over yesterday was the group, the caravan, would push women and children towards the front and then, basically, 'rocking' our agents," he said on CNN on Monday. "We tried to target the instigators, specifically those assaulting the agents, but once that chemical is released, it does go through the air."
Toddlers were seen running away barefoot from the tear gas as it spread.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended border patrol's actions. "DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons," she said in a statement on Sunday.
Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted that Mexico should send the migrants, "many of whom are stone cold criminals," back to their home countries in Central America. "We will close the Border permanently if need be."
Some of the migrants reportedly said that they attempted to cross over after being denied at the port of entry, where they tried to claim asylum. Seeking asylum, as thousands of people are doing after fleeing violence in their home countries, is legal despite Trump's attempts to crack down on it. According to Nicole Narea, senior immigration reporter at legal news outlet Law360, the people at the border "could have grounds to sue under [the Refugee Act of 1980] on the basis that the Trump administration has effectively denied them access to the U.S. asylum system."
Democrats and human rights defenders were outraged over the treatment of the migrants, many of whom are currently being housed in shelters in Tijuana.
"Our government fired tear gas canisters at a group of scared women and children who are already in a desperate situation," Efrén Olivares, racial and economic justice director at the Texas Civil Rights Project, told Refinery29. "We condemn these actions and remember the broader issue at stake. Through a series of policies and barriers, the White House has de facto made it near impossible for migrants to seek asylum, and a judge has temporarily put a stop to those efforts. The desperation felt by the thousands of families waiting at the border will only intensify if the administration continues with its illegal actions to limit the legal right to seek asylum."
Asking to be considered a refugee & applying for status isn’t a crime.
It wasn’t for Jewish families fleeing Germany. It wasn’t for targeted families fleeing Rwanda. It wasn’t for communities fleeing war-torn Syria. And it isn’t for those fleeing violence in Central America. https://t.co/qhv7Rr1itn
Amazon may be known best for its self-made Prime Day, but its Cyber Monday deals are seriously impressive too — especially since the deals hit right when you need them most.
We've been eyeing all the usual Cyber Monday tech deals: headphones, accessories for our new Apple devices, bluetooth speakers, as well as a few items you wouldn't normally think to get the day after Thanksgiving. With free standard shipping for holiday orders, the discounts have gotten even more tempting.
It may be getting late, but don't discount Cyber Monday just yet (pun intended). Amazon is coming through with some big deals well into the evening, especially when it comes to their own tech products.
Click through to see some of the Amazon devices and tech goodies on sale now.
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The future of beauty is here — and you’re invited. Check out the rest of our 2018Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Awardswinners for a full look at the products, brands, and people that are breaking the rules and redefining beauty standards, one lipstick at a time.
Can we get a big "hell yeah!" for eye creams? Without them we would be lost, wandering around hopelessly, looking just as tired as we feel. Yes, this is hyperbolic, but thanks to these potions, our puffiness, fatigue, and dark circles really are reduced — and for that, we celebrate.
Due to a combination of late nights and poor sleep habits, we've had more than our fair share of opportunities to test out puff-reducing, bag-demolishing eye creams. We've tried the good, the bad — and then we've tried the miracle workers. That's what the eye creams ahead are: cool, creamy miracles.
Now, we're not naive enough to think that a tube of cream alone can fix fatigue. No, it comes down to a combo of an out-of-this-world product and some serious application know-how. So, we went to the woman with all the complexion-perfecting answers to get the scoop on the best way to apply your eye cream in order to make your gaze its most rested.
According to celebrity aesthetician and perfect-skin-whisperer (we've told her she needs to put that on her business cards) Joanna Czech, you can tailor your application to the type of results you want: anti-aging or de-puffing.
For anti-aging, here's what she advises: "Start with your inner eye and apply the cream, but do a little press-and-release motion. Apply your cream in a few points around the eye, and then, using your middle or ring finger, place them in the inner corner of the eye below the brow on the upper lid. Slightly press and release, working outward. Do the same on the bottom, but work from the outer corner to the inner corner."
According to Czech, with this technique you are working against gravity — and against the lines. "When you press your skin, it microscopically stretches, and when you release it grabs the product and draws it into the surface of the skin." She advises that this method is better for the evening and with a richer cream, since the focus is anti-aging and hydration. As a follow-up, she recommends placing two lukewarm chamomile tea bags on your eyes and laying down for 20 minutes. This will provide soothing and anti-redness relief.
For de-puffing, it's all about fluid drainage. Puffiness is caused by a buildup of fluid in your undereye area, so diminishing it comes down to (gently!) pushing it out of there. Says Czech, "I would do the upper lid the exact same way as the anti-aging method, and then on the undereye I would go from the inner corner to outer, sliding my finger down to give a form of lymphatic drainage. Very slight pressing motion as you slide." She advises that this is great to do in the morning, and that you can enhance the de-puffing effects by using a cold product, so pop that a.m. eye cream in the fridge for best results. Now that you know the secrets of eye cream application, read on for our top product picks.
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Holiday tunes may already be pumping out of the speakers at our local grocery stores, but we're not out of the Cyber Week woods yet. Cyber Monday sales are here to conclude the shopping weekend marathon and we're stoked to report they're ending things with a bang. Case in point, Amazon's bevy of deals today.
We know you're already busy scouting out the deals of the day for an instant pot, but don't skimp past the fashion sales. Now's the ideal time to stock up on everything you'll need to get through the winter. For Cyber Monday, you can shop winter fashion picks for up to 30% off and shop Amazon's brands for up to 50% off. Meaning those cozy Lark & Ro sweaters, puffer coats on puffer coats, and cold-weather friendly boots can all be found for truly affordable prices.
Embrace the upcoming season with our favorite winter-friendly Amazon fashion picks ahead.
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If you've been waffling over whether or not to shop on this Cyber Monday, we have the push that will have you fishing for your credit card out of your bag as fast your fingers will move. That's because Ulta Beauty just announced its cyber flash sale and the savings are so insane — we're talking half off brands like Benefit and Urban Decay — it would be borderline criminal not to at least check it out over your lunch break.
There are over 180 deals when you click over to Ulta Beauty right now, including bestsellers from Urban Decay, MAC, Benefit, and BareMinerals — but you'll also get free shipping on any order over $35, plus a bonus $10 off any purchase of $50 or more, when you use the code CYBERMON18 at checkout.
Shop it on your own or find a handy guide to our favorite deals from the sale ahead. Either way, we recommend speedy shopping, because the savings will disappear tomorrow, Tuesday, November 27, at exactly 12 p.m. PST.
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