Thursday Thoughts: What I'm Currently

Reading...Out of the Easy ETA finished that last night, library day today!

Watching...nothing. I haven't watched TV at home this week. At the shore Sunday I caught a few episodes of Naked and Afraid. I love that show.

Listening to...All E-Street Radio, all the time. And some Prince tributes here and there.

Searching for...a waterproof watch that doesn't look like a plastic dork mess and isn't a trillion dollars. I finally found one for $60 I can clean with at the shore, wear in the ocean, and all that stuff so I'll pull my phone out less as a time telling device. Thanks, Overstock. Next up: pocket digital camera. Do you see the rely on phone less theme here?

Wearing...Pixie pants from Old Navy, daily. They're my uniform.

Drinking...Iced green tea with mint made from these Twinings Cold Brew bags. I'm about to try Honey Lavender Yogi tea too.

Trying...to get my summer schedule down for the weekends. When will I be home? Rarely. When will I be out of town? Most of the time. LOL

Stalking...A number of contractors at the shore. Mama's on a tight timeline. Weekend renters start on 5/11 and we're full up through Labor Day. The window for doing any inside work has gotten significantly smaller. Installation of a new split duct AC/heating unit on the main floor began yesterday. Huzzah!

Moving...shit around in the basement. Still. Ho hum. I could've done some last night but instead I got into bed before 8. I needed to. I would really like to finish this project up this weekend. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.

Loving...When the skies open up after a hard rain.

Hating...The anti-transgender shit thinly disguised as concern for women and children in public bathrooms. First of all, we've all been going to the bathroom with transgender people for years, we just didn't know it because no one is required to flash their private parts to go to the bathroom in a public restroom. Secondly, I have used the men's room a million times because the lines in the women's rooms are out of control. Will I be arrested now? Third, if you are worried about men pretending to be women so they have easy access to women and children alone in bathrooms, see below. Fourth, if you think for a fucking second that rapists or molesters have any respect for "safe places," or that safe places even exist you are sadly mistaken. You have not been concerned about our safety on streets in daylight or at night, in parks, in parking garages, at concerts, in schools or dorms or pews or stores or anywhere, so don't get in a huff about us peeing next to transgender people in public restrooms to suit your personal agenda. NEWSFLASH: We're always at risk. Kids have been molested IN CHURCHES. By PRIESTS. Women have been assaulted EVERYWHERE, including at their workplaces, in their own rooms at college, and in their own homes, by people they know and people they don't. Women and children get attacked and raped all across this country every day and no one gives a fuck until now, when people want to pee with people they look like instead of where the genitals they were born with say they should pee. Stop using your fear of something you don't understand as an excuse to vilify people who are different than you and concentrate your energy on making rape culture die an immediate death, making it shameful for the perpetrator and not for the victims, and prosecuting actual rapists and pedophiles swiftly and severely instead of putting the onus on victims to just deal with it, brushing it off, showing leniency because they're "good people," or saying she asked for it. The former Speaker of the House and child molester just got two years of supervised release. Supervised release...really. Be concerned about that bullshit, and the message that extremely lenient sentence sends to the people he abused and to others afraid to come forward against their abusers because of the shit they'll have to go through just for their abuser to get off with like no punishment. I have no time for this fake, very convenient concern bullshit. It's enough.

Behind on...Emails. In all email accounts. Apologies to the world.

Looking forward to...twp concerts this summer, said the non-concert goer. Paul Simon on June 25 with MFD, Stephen & Aubrey; and the Counting Crows August 10 with Melissa and Debbie for sure and maybe a few other ladies too. Considering The Beach Boys in OCNJ in July.

What's going on with you? 

All I am saying ... is give threes a chance

This is a little ditty about the Goodreads star rating system sung to the tune of Give Peace a Chance. Sing along with me now.

Jana and I have discussed the Goodreads rating system a few times on The Armchair Librarians podcast, Kristen did a post on how she rates books on goodreads, and I may have mentioned here or there that I dislike star rating systems but haven't really talked about how I rate books using a star system.

The simple answer is it varies.

The complicated answer is it varies.

It depends on my state of mind when I close that book for the last time. Anyone who is an avid reader knows a book that is like a punch to the gut in a good way might not pack the same punch if it's re-read again 10 years down the line. You're a different person then. You interact with that same book differently. So much of what we like or dislike about novels is ourselves reflected back at us.

It also depends on the day. In times of contentment, I will typically love a book that makes me yearn for something. If I was giving it a star rating, I'd close that book and give it a four or five. In times of discontent, a part of me will probably hate that same book because I have enough of that going on in reality, but I recognize that it's well done and might give it a three star rating.

I would venture to guess that I rate most books a three on goodreads. It never occurred to me until I was talking to a friend at work that three was a meh rating to most people. She told me she'd not even consider adding a book to her to read list that carried a less than an average four star rating. That blew me away. I was like but you're missing a lot of solid three reads! The three star rating is my workhorse. It didn't blow me away but I still enjoyed the read.

I read whatever I want to read, regardless of what others thought of it. It's always nice to hear people liked it, but even if people didn't, I still might. And if I start it and it sucks, I can just stop. 

At the end of the day, I think you should give a book a chance because you like the title, cover, or description; because a friend liked it; because a friend didn't like it; because you've never heard of it or because it's everywhere; because you want to see if the average five star rating is right or because you want to see if the average two star rating is right; or just because anything about it is whispering read me to you. Know that there are many people out there like me who give arbitrary ratings. Know that everyone could hate a book and you can love it or vice versa and that it's fine. Chart your own reading path!

And give threes a chance.

What's in Jill's Makeup Bag?

It's that time again! My great friend and personal product guru Jill, a professional makeup artist and cosmetology educator at PB Beauty School in NJ, is back today for her monthly post. Beauty is her passion and she's gracious enough to stop by here once a month to share her knowledge and favorites with us. 

Click here to learn more about Jill.

Follow Jill on Instagram: @kicksandlipsticks
Previous blogs by Jill:
Bargain Beauty Buys, LUSHtastic

                                                  **********************

Hello again everyone! I am getting ready to head out on vacation this Friday on a 15 night Disney Cruise through the Panama Canal. That being said, packing for a total of 18 days is giving me a ton of anxiety. Over the years of traveling with Steph I have become much better about packing, especially with space saving. See her shout out on Ebags Packing Cubes here, we both really find them useful! This month I want to share with you my travel makeup must haves. What I can't live without. Most makeup artists have their own personal Ulta at their disposal, so picking and choosing what to bring can be difficult. Of all my "babies," the following is what I just can't be without! 

I'm not going to break down my skin care essentials because we talked about it last month, but you can read about my beauty routine here in case you missed it. I find the Slim Packing Cube to be really useful in packing those items. It is perfect for holding my toiletries, just the right size and it has a strap for convenient hanging in a hotel bathroom.

 

I got this awesome quad of travel bags when I was shopping around in Victoria's Secret a few weeks ago, they were only $29.95. They're not available in this print anymore but they have a ton of similar items on their website. I like that the pieces in this set can fit inside the large one or can be thrown in a purse or beach bag separately.

  

I will also be using my Eve Pearl Satchel Drawstring Makeup Bag ($34) This thing is a Mary Poppins bag of sorts. It holds so much! It cinches up and also has a convenient strap.

I love Eve and really like a lot of her products - check her out if you aren't familiar! Her line is very skin friendly. I had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks back and have to share these pics of Eve and I, also me and one of Eve's Emmys (a girl can dream!).

  My Makeup Must Haves:

Face Staples

 1.) Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation $48

This stuff is amazing and literally worth every cent. I often work 11 hr days sweating behind a blow dryer and this stuff doesn't budge. It goes on smooth and gives the skin a nice glow.

 2.) Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow $45

I use this bronzer everyday. It is quite big and I would say it lasts me about six months. I love this for a little sun-kissed look or even to do my cheek contour with.

3.) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light $45

I know this is pricey, but I use it to just highlight my cheekbones and my chin. Nothing I have ever tried worked as well as this. Highlighting powder is helpful in giving the face dimension especially in pictures!

4.) Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Powder in Luminous $30

This shimmering powder can be used on the face and the body. I use it a lot in the summer on my collarbones and upper chest to give the skin some glow. I love sparkles so if I can make my skin sparkle like Edward Cullen in Twilight I am buying it.

5.) My favorite trio of Mac Blushes $17

Melba, Sunbasque, and Devil all have orange or coral undertones. I love these for summer but Melba is my main blush I wear all year round!

 6.) Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo $23

I have pretty thick brows so I do not use a pencil or a brow paste. I simply use the powder duo to just fill in the shape. It sets nicely and it isn't overly dramatic. Also, when I wash it off it's easy to remove, not like a paste that sometimes leaves you looking like Groucho Marx.

7.) SmashBox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner $20

This liner is AMAZING! I have it in a few colors and will be packing it in brown and black. The best part about this besides being waterproof is that there is a built in sharpener in the cap, no reason to pack one because this baby is always sharp!

8.) Nyx Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Porcelain $4.99

I use this to spot treat any blemishes that arise and I also will use this to contour and brighten under the eye. This is probably my go to concealer line for when I am working as well. It comes in a ton of shades as well as three color correcting shades. 

9.) Makeup For Ever HD Microfinish Powder $35

I use this in place of a colored setting powder. I like the way it sits on my skin and it is lightweight and translucent so it can be worn with any skin tone and it is talc-free so it does not dry out the skin.

10.) Too Faced Better Than Sex Water Proof Mascara $23

I had been using Calvin Klein CK One Mascara for a while and LOVED IT! Then of course like most things we find and love, it was discontinued. I have been bouncing from mascara to mascara since to find one I like. This is the current one I am using and honestly I do really like it, it lengthens and defines and the brush is nice. Plus, its waterproof.

 

LIPS

I love Lipstick. I think I am like most women, in that even if I am not doing a full face of makeup a little lip color and mascara is something we gravitate to. Just makes you feel good.

11.) Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipsticks $18

Can't say enough about this stuff. I am obsessed. The color is super pigmented, goes on and stays on. Smooth and creamy application and doesn't dry out the lips like many matte lipsticks can.

 

12.) Mac Lipsticks $17

 I really like to have a variety of lipsticks no matter what the occasion, so I know it seems like I am packing a lot of them but I just can't choose one or two. I love them all so much!

13.) Lip Liners and Lip Glosses 

BH Cosmetics - Candy and Raspberry $4.50

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma, Trick and Sebastian  $16

Dose of Colors Lipgloss in Bellini $15

Mac Lipglass in Nymphette and Saint Germain $15

These are all a bunch of shades that compliment most lipsticks, pinky orange undertones are kind of what looks best on my skin so that makes up a large portion of my personal collection.

EYES 

I love having a few options for eyes as well. I have my fall back shades that I tend to use everyday but on vacation when I have a little more time to play around I like trying new looks and using a little more color.

14.) Naked One Palette $54 

 This is my favorite shadow palette, I love the colors in it and it is always my go to.

15.) Urban Decay XX Vice LTD Reloaded Palette $56

 I do not need to bring this but I just picked it up and will play around with it on my trip. I like the colors in it so far and any UD shadow is good quality.

16.) Dose of Colors Eye Deal Duo in Disco and Pixie Dust $25

I am obsessed with these glitters. They have a built-in primer that sits above the loose sparkle pigment. I like to be glittery and I love both of these shades so much.

Lastly, Brushes

What is an artist without a brush? I love Real Techniques Brushes. They are my go-to for work and play. Plus you can't beat the quality for the price! The three sets that they make are perfect for face, eye and brow. I really feel like you do not need anything besides the three kits listed below. In addition they come in a great little travel case. Also, right now at Ulta you can get them Buy 1, Get 1 50% off . They run this deal a lot so its a good chance to stock up on them.

17.) Real Techniques Core Collection $17.99

18.) Real Techniques Starter Kit $17.99

18) Real Techniques Brow Set $19.99

19.) Dose of Colors Brushes 

 Flat Contour Brush $24

Vegan and Cruelty Free, soft and great upscale addition to any brush collection

Blending Brush $18

Love this for working on my eyes, especially when creating a little more of a smokey look.

Tapered Blush Brush $24

This is perfect for applying blush, plus it is so soft and fluffy it feels great on the skin

One last little gem I can't forget about is my Mac Fix + Setting Spray. I use this to lock my makeup in and I also will use it on the beach or by the pool for a refreshing mist on my skin when its hot.

Mac has made it in a small travel size and you can grab it for $10 dollars. Not bad.

 

I hope you guys have enjoyed taking a peek into my travel bag. I have my makeup figured out now its on to packing my clothes and shoes! Yikes, I am glad with Southwest Bags Fly Free!

 Bon Voyage Beauties! See you next month!!

********************** 

Thanks so much to Jill for the peek inside of her makeup bag. Did you find anything you liked? 

TWTW - the one outside

Friday night I got to the shore a little after 8, watched the Flyers win, and was up until 1. Sleep schedule fail. Saturday started with donuts from The Fractured Prune.

It was rainy, so I took my work crew on a field trip to Home Depot like the kind and benevolent boss I am. Carol took this photo of me testing the rocker I was about to purchase while my Dad hauled my shit around the store. Typical! 

Carol assembled shelves, a drying rack, and a deck box seat while my Dad hung new blinds on the second floor, a mirror and some canvas prints in the efficiency, and shelves in the entry. I organized under beds, bought Dolly Parton tickets, met with two HVAC guys and signed a contract for a new split air/heater unit on the main floor.

I gave my parents free time while I hit the grocery store and Bennie's Breads for a random spread that was dinner. MFD and I took the dogs for a beach walk. 

Ice cream at Kohr Bros on the boardwalk finished off the day. While we were living the life of mundane people, my brother, Aub, and Lola Jean were hobnobbing with Bill fucking Clinton. Like, actually having conversations with him. Stephen sent me a photo of the four of them that I am framing and hanging in my house. Hello! My niece met a President.

My parents left early Sunday, and MFD was gone by 7 to fish. I washed the siding on the efficiency porch and set the furniture up. Then I cleaned out the outdoor shower, utility closet, and alley behind the house from the funk of fall and winter. Gross, gross, and gross.

Part time resident things: Positively Fourth Street for muffins and iced coffee, new harnesses for Gus & Geege to match Mae's at Animal House, and a long walk on the beach in the afternoon with the dogs. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is English muffins with PB and bananas; snacks are cantaloupe, red grapes, and celery with hummus; lunches are breaded Greek yogurt chicken cutlets with steamed green beans and roasted sweet potatoes. Dinners are pan seared steaks, rice, and veggies; and whatever leftovers we have from the 42 inch striper MFD caught on Sunday.

MFD got home from fishing at 6 and we ate dinner down there: fresh striper, wild rice, steamed green beans, and braided bread from Boyar's...it was fabulous! I was home by 8:30 and in bed by 10.

Thanks to another weekend of tremendous help from my Dad and Carol, my shore to do list for the season is finally under 10 items and MFD's is under five. It feels good!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending &

Can you be a podcaster and not listen to podcasts?

If you're me, you can. I listened to Serial because who could resist the siren song of Adnan's story, but other than that I've turned most podcasts off after a while. Frankly, I'd rather write or read than listen in my spare time. 

I have never done a video blog (vlog for those not in the biz) and am never planning to do a video blog because 1) I don't really like videos and 2) I am not really video friendly. I'm not a fashionista, I never blowdry my hair, and I might wear makeup once or twice a week if the world is lucky. I'm not knocking myself, but my appearance is honestly not at the top of things I think about unless I am unfortunate enough to see someone I haven't seen in a while when I am out in public looking like I just crawled out of the sewer where I was living for 37 days. 

I also never even considered doing a podcast because 1) I hate the sound of my voice when it's recorded and 2) What the hell would I even talk about and 3) I have no interest in working the technology and 4) I use like like a crutch and am pretty unapologetic about it. 

But I guess this podcast thing is a case of never say never, because here I am doing The Armchair Librarians with Jana. This is her baby, and she asked me to join her on it. I am pleasantly surprised at how much fun it is to record once a week, to just have 30 minutes to an hour to discuss one of my favorite things: books, reading, and all the things in between...we're not professionals and staying on course is not really our strong suit. Sometimes I forget we're recording. So thanks, Jana, for this. 

If you like reading and books and hearing friends talk about it, give The Armchair Librarians a go. I haven't listened, but I imagine it's like eavesdropping on a conversation, which let's be real all of us like to do. Jana and I met in college in 1995, lost touch for a while, were reunited through facebook, and happily found out that we both blog and read like our lives depended on it. 

How do you find this podcast? If you have a podcast app on your phone, it's searchable on iTunes. You can also find all the episodes on our website by clicking here. Jana usually puts a new episode up on Thursdays, which means one dropped yesterday. 

Before you listen ... the first four (five?) episodes have some hinky audio issues. And honestly, the audio will never be perfect. We're not in a studio. We're two women leading full lives approaching 40. Ain't nobody got time for a background perfectly devoid of noise. 

The Armchair Librarians Podcast with me & Jana of Jana Says...episodes release most Thursdays

Visit our website for episodes:
The Armchair Librarian

Searchable on iTunes or click here: 
http://thearmchairlibrarians.libsyn.com/podcast

If you already listen, thank you! Is there any general topic related to books or reading that you'd like us to cover, or a book you'd like us to read and discuss?

Not a podcast listener? Join us for book talk the second Tuesday of every month when we co-host Show Us Your Books. Do you like neither and want in on this in some way? We need a designer for a logo - the one we use now is not doing it for us. 

That'll do it for the week. 

LYLAS. 

Thursday Thoughts

1. Newest weird fear: I will end a business call with I love you. I don't know why this has popped into my head, but I have alerted my closest coworkers so when it happens and I am on the floor in the fetal position, they'll know why.

2. New favorite pajamas: these pants from Target. So soft. Yes, I will be the loon roaming the shore streets this summer in printed pajama pants while urging my dogs to poop so we can go back home.

3. Swann Fountain is back on. I love it. Even when it's blowing every which way like it was Tuesday.

4. Other scenes from my walk to the library Tuesday - the trees in front of The Barnes, a lone daffodil, library dork tote bag, the mecca itself:

5. The Pennsylvania Primary is on Tuesday. I'll be voting. I will never not vote and I'll never take my right to vote for granted, because people like Alice Paul were imprisoned trying to get it for me. But I am royally pissed off at this government - I feel like it doesn't matter WHO gets elected President because Congress is sitting in D.C. like babies refusing to work or compromise or get over themselves and remember that they work for the people.

6. Speaking of women's rights, did you know that the Missouri legislature is threatening to jail the CEO of the local Planned Parenthood because she will not hand over patient medical files? Confidential, personal medical files. They don't only want to see the fetal tissue documents...they want to see abortion consent forms. Yeah, but we're equal. Federal privacy laws prohibit PP from releasing the materials but the GOP is still requesting them. This is seriously some fucking bullshit. p.s. : Periods for Pence is NOT bullshit. Go to the page. Follow along. Enjoy.

7. My pug shoes arrived. Gus is not impressed.

8. Next Sunday I'll be walking for my little girlfriend Eva the Diva on Team Eva the Diva in the March for Babies. Eva was born eight weeks early, weighed just over three pounds, and spent her first four weeks in the NICU. It was hard to watch Frank and Amanda go through that, so I can't imagine how hard it was for them to actually go through it. Eva is now a fierce, fiesty toddler, thanks in part to exceptional medical care and research funded by the March of Dimes. If you'd like to donate, please click here.

9. Hair done last night thanks to the fabulous Kristi at Sensational Scissors. No makeup thanks to Wednesday.

10. E-card of the week: