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White, Pink, & Green Bathroom Ideas

July 5, 2020October 19, 2020by lkb1 Comment

Ever since we found out we’re moving, I’ve been very, very excited to decorate our new place. I’ve also been telling myself that I’m not going to give up on projects I want to do in the apartment — like, potentially paint — because I either think we aren’t going to live in the apartment very long, or I wait too long to start and then feel like it’s not worth it. I put off a lot of projects in our current apartment and now we’ve been here for nearly three years. The crappy paint job the previous tenants did still bothers me.

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Home

A Big Move

June 28, 2020June 28, 2020by lkbLeave a Comment

I’m moving! Out of state!

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style

december ‘fits

January 3, 2020June 26, 2020by lkbLeave a Comment

Hello! Check out how the pics mildly improve when I get a new phone on this episode of Shit I’ve Been Wearing Recently: December Edition.

Items that are still available are linked

#1
For: Working in a coffee shop
Wore: Forever 21 coat (via Poshmark), K-Mart sweatshirt, Old Navy jeans, Vans

#2
For: Tom and Ariana from Vanderpump Rules book signing lol
Wore: H&M sweatshirt, Zara jeans, ASOS boots

#3
For: Can’t remember. Probably working at coffee shop
Wore: Mango coat (similar), Zara jeans, old Walmart sweatshirt, ASOS boots, Alexander Wang bag

#4
For: ???
Wore: Mango coat, Gap jeans, Gap sweater, ASOS boots, Alexander Wang bag

#5
For: Christmas Eve
Wore: Thrifted jacket, Gap jeans, very old thrifted holiday-themed sweatshirt, Vans, Alexnader Wang bag

#6
For: New Year’s Eve
Wore: Target dress from Buffalo Exchange, sash from a differ dress tied around head, ASOS boots

Life

2020 goals & a look back

January 2, 2020January 2, 2020by lkbLeave a Comment

I’m back and keeping up with one of my goals from last year. Just kidding. I didn’t do so well with writing on the blog last year, so here we go again.

Last year I posted that my three resolutions were to blog more, meditate more, and wear spf consistently. I didn’t do so great with the first one — I only wrote 13 posts last year. So, blogging more is one of my goals again for this year. Things have changed some with my work recently, so I’m hopeful that the refresh there will help me write more here.

As far as meditating more, I did do that last year. But still, the consistency wasn’t there. I’d have a month of doing it every day, and then stop, only starting again when I was feeling particularly anxious or stressed out. The idea of meditating is, for me, for it to help me not get to that point in the first place, so, again, I have “meditate more” on my list for 2020.

Lastly, I was supposed to wear spf more regularly, and I did do that. Was it everyday? Nope. But I was particularly good about putting it on before walking to the gym, which is one of the times I’m in the sun for the longest stretch.

In addition to carrying over blogging more and meditating more, I’m adding that I’d like to read more books. I’m really awful about finishing books and making time to read besides when I’m on the subway. Also, I’d like to try yoga, because I’ve been really stiff and achy recently.

And this isn’t really a concrete goal, but I want to stop holding myself back from doing things because I’m waiting for the “right” moment or for things to be perfect. I do this in pretty much every aspect of life. (In fact, I was recently reminded of this by our dog trainer. My first session with her felt like therapy for me, though she couldn’t have known that. Just a lot of things she said, I could easily relate to other areas of my life.)

That’s all for now. I’m letting the fact that this one took only a few minutes to write be an inspiration for me to do this more.

style, Wardrobe

a week-ish of outfits #4

October 28, 2019October 27, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

If there’s one blog-related thing I’ve been keeping up with recently, it’s taking a pic of my outfit in my (poorly lit) mirror. So, I’ve got another week-ish of outfits! And I’m not even going to be unnecessarily long-winded before getting into the pics this time. (This doesn’t count.)

Items that are still available are linked

#1
For: A press junket for work
Wore: Gap blazer (similar), Bershka T-shirt, ASOS boots, Gap jeans

#2
For: Getting a drink with Michael
Wore: Thrifted jacket, Gap sweater, Gap jeans, Steve Madden boots, Rebecca Minkoff bag

#3
For: Seeing Parasite
Wore: Uniqlo sweater, Gap jeans, ASOS boots, Rebecca Minkoff bag

#4
For: Regular day stuff, then dinner with a friend
Wore: Madewell jacket, H&M sweater, Gap jeans, Vans

#5
For: Same as above, but with different friend
Wore: Madewell jacket, J.Crew shirt (via Poshmark), Gap jeans, Vans

style, Wardrobe

a week-ish of outfits #3

October 16, 2019October 15, 2019by lkb1 Comment

I recently started posting my outfits on Instagram, with the idea being that if I like looking at other people’s outfits on Instagram so much, then why shouldn’t I join in? That’s how I got into this blogging thing the first time around (way, way back when) and used to post on things like My Style Diary and Lookbook. Instagram is just weird, though, because it’s not specifically for that, so it feels like I’m also showing pictures of my outfits to friends who were just expecting my dog or random life stuff. It’s a different audience, in a way? I think this whole fashion blogging thing just takes me back to the old things are more anonymous on the internet days, so it feels like things should be more separate, even though they shouldn’t necessarily.

ANYWAY, that’s a long way of saying: Here are some recent outfits I wore. This is more like some outfits over two weeks-ish, because I waited too long to post, then got sick.

Linking the things that still exist:

#1: Levi’s shorts (Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal line), Old Navy button-up, Vans, Chloé bag

#2: Thrifted T-shirt, Old Navy jeans, Kork-ease sandals, Forever 21 bag

#3: Dash T-shirt (RIP), H&M shorts, Target slides, Rebecca Minkoff bag

#4: Thrifted jean jacket, H&M tank top, Aerie leggings, Adidas slides

#5: Mango “coatigan” (similar), Norma Kamali x Walmart sweatshirt from 11 years ago, Michael’s old gray H&M T-shirt, Gap jeans, Vans

Beauty

a natural deodorant update

July 20, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

A year ago, I wrote about my experience using natural deodorant, and things have changed a lot since then. (I also can’t believe I wrote that a year ago.) So, I thought I’d share an update since I’ve tried a couple more options and like what I’m using now a lot more than what I was using then.

After I last ran out of my Crystal roll-on, I decided to try Schmidt’s when I saw one in Marshalls’ big discount beauty products section. I’d heard good things about it, so I picked up one in Rose + Vanilla. The scent didn’t end up being my favorite thing ever once I started using it, but I did notice that it actually kept my armpits dry. This was quite a revelation after I’d basically accepted that using natural deodorant meant not being smelly, but still being sweaty.

And then, I started getting a rash on my armpits. Things got kinda… red and peel-y. (I’m only describing this in case other people have a similar symptom.) I couldn’t know for sure, but I suspected that I was having an allergy to the baking soda, as I’d read that some people react poorly to it as a deodorant ingredient. So then, I saw that Schmidt’s does a sensitive skin formula and when I saw it in the store I noticed that it has less ingredients and doesn’t include baking soda. It was time to test this out.

I got the sensitive skin formula in Geranium Flower a couple months ago, and so far, I love it. My armpits aren’t soaking wet! It’s a miracle! The scent is nice, but a little stronger than I’d like. I picked up a Coconut Pineapple one when I saw it on sale recently, and at least from smelling it in the container it seems like it will be lighter than the Geranium. (Gonna use that one up first before I start the new one.)

Another thing I noticed throughout this is that a couple of my white shirts started getting a little yellow in the armpits. As I noted in the previous post, with Crystal deodorant, I didn’t have any issues with staining, but since switching I’ve noticed it staring back up again. Schmidt’s isn’t supposed to stain (since it doesn’t contain aluminum), but since it is happening, I’m now wondering if it was the original formula, the sensitive skin one, or both. Will have to keep watching on this point and report back. For now, I’m glad to have found this sensitive skin formula of Schmidt’s that’s keeping me dry — At least in my armpits. Boob sweat abounds! — in this very hot summer weather. I hope a year from now, it’s still working out.

Beauty, Life

package-free soap

April 21, 2019April 16, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

When it comes to changes I can make in my life to be more eco-friendly, something I keep in mind is just going ahead and doing things that are already going to be pretty easy. (This is was also my thought process when I became pescatarian.) And one change I made last year was to start buying package-free bar soap for the shower.

(I always feel the need to disclaim this stuff — which in itself is probably a bigger issue for another day — but I am just a regular person who is trying out stuff and learning. Anyway…)

Michael and I had already been using bar soap in the shower — often Dr. Bronner’s — but it was when I remembered that Whole Foods sells Good Soap without any packaging that I decided to just keep up with buying those. They’re three for $6 (this last time I got them, they were on sale for only $1.50 each), and you can put them in one of the little paper bags the store supplies — or not. I’ve been taking back the same bag since I just kept them stored in there under our sink, anyway. The soap comes in a wide variety of scents, including cucumber, lavender, and lemonade. I usually go for coconut, because I usually go for coconut in everything.

Related: I also have always liked Sappo Hill soaps — especially the almond one — and they don’t have packaging either.

I am not someone who can preach a package-free life AT ALL. AT ALLLLLL. And, as far as showers, specifically, go, I do still keep around a bottle of this Aveeno body wash since I get really dry, itchy skin in the winter. (I’ve had the bottle I have now for two winters.) But, again, this was just a small place where I was easily able to be more mindful and I feel like that’s where a lot of change could add up. After all, things that don’t need to have packaging… shouldn’t have packaging. (This also feels like where I would naturally launch into my rant about biodegradable chip bags, so I’ll leave things here.)

Beauty

a year of empties

April 17, 2019April 15, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

Last April, I decided to document my year of empty beauty products after watching a video from one of my favorite YouTubers, Stephanie of Soothing Sista. Obviously, hers was in video form, but I was intrigued by the idea of tracking something like this over such a long period. I was curious about what I went through and what I liked, but it was through actually doing it that I realized that I didn’t have a totally clear idea of what I was doing when I set out.

For example: soap. In tracking one’s “beauty products”, do you count soap? I didn’t. I use bar soap that is shared with my partner and I just didn’t even think about it until halfway through the year of doing this. (Also, they don’t have packaging, so nothing was really… empty.) Or what about razor blades? I didn’t go through many of these, but I also definitely didn’t count them because I didn’t know if they… count.

I realized that the divisions between “beauty product” and “toiletry” are confusing. Eva Chen certainly isn’t (wasn’t?) uploading photos of her floss containers when she reviews products with her empties posts. So, what I realized is, my project lies somewhere between seeing which products I enjoy and seeing how much stuff I go through. Which, while that makes this whole thing incomplete on the latter point, feels pretty appropriate for where I and this blog currently stand.

So, yeah, anyway, here’s a list of a bunch of shit I used and either liked or didn’t like.

Aveeno Moisturizing Bar

Would I repurchase? Maybe. It was fine, but, as seen below, I’ve been using another cleanser since I had this and I like it better.

Bag of Ulta Cotton Balls

Would I repurchase? I have repurchased cotton balls since this, yes. I don’t use as many cotton balls as some people do, but I am interested in looking further into washable cotton pads. I’ve just been unsure since I don’t have my own washing machine. (P.S. Clearly, I forgot to take my own photos of these first two.)

Aussie Miraculously Smooth Conditioner

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I used Aussie brand shampoo and conditioner since high school and was unwavering on it. Last year — yes, it took this very curly-haired person until the age of 29 — to be sure to use sulfate-free shampoo and Aussie shampoo has sulfates, so I just stopped getting the conditioner along with it, too.

Aussie Mega Moist Shampoo

Would I repurchase? No. See above

OGX Coconut Curls Shampoo

Would I repurchase? Yes! And I have. This is currently “my shampoo”.

Crystal Essence Vanilla Jasmine Deodorant

Would I repurchase? Maybe not this scent. My natural deodorant journey is still very much a journey.

Crystal Essence Chamomile & Green Tea Deodorant

Would I repurchase? I did repurchase this, but I also have been trying Schmidt’s and can’t tell if it gave me a rash so… Yeah, I want to know the answer to whether I’ll end up repurchasing this again, too.

OGX Coconut Curls Conditioner

Would I repurchase? Yes, and have.

Maybelline Great Lash Big Mascara in Blackest Black

Would I repurchase? Yes. And I have. Many times. I have used this since I started using mascara and only this year did I decide to try a fancier one — Lancôme Monsieur Big — and I really feel like it’s not the same. Not as in it’s bad, but as in the brush doesn’t feel the same in my hand and, apparently, I have a fully formed sense memory for Great Lash.

Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream

Would I repurchase? No. It made my face feel sweaty at times when it wasn’t sweaty, and the packaging was inconvenient as far as being able to get all of the cream out and being able to tell how much is left.

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

Would I repurchase? Yes, and have. It does what the name says and doesn’t make my skin red and irritated, which is something I’d had a problem with.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette

Would I repurchase? Yes, but don’t plan to right now. As you can see, there is still a lot left in this, which means it’s not “an empty”. But the thing is, I had this what felt like… too long to keep something that goes on a sensitive part of your body. While I think this is a really great palette, I decided to try this Rimmel one out in Blush, just because I’d never tried Rimmel stuff before and it had comparable colors. I like it, but I liked this Maybelline one better.

OGX Coconut Water Conditioner

Would I repurchase? No. It was like if the Coconut Curls one was trying less hard.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Would I repurchase? Yes, this is great for my dry ass skin — unscented and soothing.

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Cream

Would I repurchase? Well, I didn’t purchase this in the first place. Got it from the beauty closet at my old work and just used it for my dry hands at night. But no, I would not spend my money on this. It kind of smells like Play-Doh, and also I have recently started using the Lush Sleepy lotion on my hands at night and it’s actually helps me sleep.

Kat Von D Ink Liner

I took a photo of both of these together because they both needed to go, but the Revlon one was another beauty closet find and I never used it and it totally dried up, so no need to even talk about that. As for the Kat Von D liner…

Would I repurchase? No. But, I did happen to be given a free sample of it at Sephora recently and have been using it… I didn’t feel like I wanted to give money to this brand after the vaccine stuff, so this is definitely, like, a convenient situation Iv’e found myself in, and it is a very good liner, as everyone and their grandma knows. But, there are also lots of other very good liners, and I’ll be interested in looking into them once my sample runs out.

Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Oil

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I did like this, but also there are soooo many products like this, so I’d probably just try out a different one. Need to do that soon. My hair is thirsty and doesn’t like what I’ve been using in the meantime.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB

I never purposely made Maybelline my drugstore brand of choice, but clearly, it happened.

Would I repurchase? Probably not. I was really into this for a while and this was my second bottle, but I have other things I like now.

OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo

Would I repurchase? Probably not, just because I like the Coconut Curls one better. And can I just say, OGX might have too many coconut shampoos/conditioners. I’ve listed three varieties here and I know for certain there is at least one more.

So I have to say, this is really less than I thought it was going to be. As I was taking these pictures throughout the year, I felt like there was so much, so I’m pretty relieved at that. It’s clear that I go through shampoo/conditioner more than the other stuff and that I basically never get to the end of makeup. I think there were a couple lipsticks I tossed, but they weren’t empty and, clearly, I didn’t have clear rules for this because I took a pic of the non-empty eyeshadow palette. I think I’ll try this whole thing again for this year, just to see if there are any changes or anything I’m more consistent with.

Also, I am interested in trying shampoo bars to save on plastic. Lush has a bunch of them, but they all have sulfates. But also, Lush really emphasizes that sulfates aren’t that bad in this case because you’re only using the foam on your hair and not directly putting the product? My issue with not wanting sulfates is because I have curly hair, which means they make it more frizzy and dry. Anyone ever use the Lush shampoo bars or anything else similar?

Wardrobe

a week-ish of outfits #2

April 14, 2019April 14, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

But Lia, what if you never post a “week-ish of outfits” again? What if it’s weird to put “#2” because the first week of outfits didn’t have a number in the title? What if one day you gain the power of consistency and it actually is a week of outfits rather than sort of a week?

These are the types of things that go through my head simply from titling a blog post.(Deciding what tags to put is another story. What if one day you gain the power of consistency and you wish you’d categorized things better?!) But, really, I just have to push all that aside because otherwise I won’t write any posts. (See: the large gaps in posts that this blog already has and which I am trying to fight off with my new year’s resolution.)

Anyway, I took a week-ish worth of photos of what I wore around the first week of April, which makes them spring-ish outfits. I just wanted to share to slightly greater success than I did here. Movin’ on up! Just think, one day I’ll move all the shit that’s next to and in front of the mirror!

I’ll link the stuff that still exists.

#1: Madewell jacket, Old Navy shirt, Gap jeans, Forever 21 bag, ASOS boots (Am I doing this right?? I’m rusty.)

#2 Random-brand-on-Amazon-because-I-had-a-gift-card-several-years-ago trench coat, Old Navy jeans, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Dolce Vita (via Poshmark) boots

#3 Madewell jacket, Gap T-shirt, Gap jeans, thrifted belt, ASOS boots, Alexander Wang bag

(A note on the Madewell jacket: I LOVE IT. I had never shopped at Madewell before and this was a splurge for me, but I wear it all the time. It’s one of those things where you don’t realize right away how versatile it is. It’s sold out, but just did a quick search and there are a few on Poshmark.)