Week Enders | 26May17

Well, that happened….
I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video. I’m not going to find joy in that hand-swatting video.

.beauty.
During my wanders, The Sun has been shrugging, “and,” at my natural spf. Like, I can feel my chest sizzle. It hurts. I’ve, kinda, been forgetting to cover or cover well-enough. I, usually, whine, in my head or out loud, that I don’t like the white cast from most sunscreen creams and lotions. Glossier just launched, Invisible Shield, a clear spf. I’m drawn to it, well, because, I’m all obvious. I’m not drawn to the $34 price tag or that it’s only spf 35. I think I’m just looking for reasons to not. So, for now, I’ll stick to my Neutrogena. It’s water-resistant and spf 55. It’s a goes on a little white, but that doesn’t last.

.heard. + .read.

Really want to read Lizzy Goodman’s Meet Me in The Bathroom. It’s an oral history of NYC’s rock scene in the aughts. Can’t decide if I’m going to Kindle or paper it?  Here’s a Stroke’s excerpt from New York Magazine.

.seen.

My First Bond…
Roger Moore passed away this week. He was and will always be my first.

This, here.
I don’t watch any of The Bachelor/ette shows. I have, i think. Years ago. An episode, here or there. I only thought of watching last season because of Roxane Gay’s tweets. She makes it so interesting. Then, you know, I watched an ep and nah. So, when they announced THE FIRST BLACK BACHELORETTE, I thought I might. Then, I saw the guys and read a bit of their bios. So, nah. Then, I caught a few of Bim’s tweets  and almost watched the premiere live. Then, I watched other things. I woke up to commentary from Roxane, Vulture’s Ali Barthwell and Jenna, The God/dess. I’ll definitely catch up over the long weekend.

I. CAN’T. BREATHE.
GoT. July, girl. Where you at?

This weekend, I might be:

+ hanging with family.
+ pondering hotel rooms in the suburbs.
+ thinking about my granddad who drove a tank in WWII.

Happy Memorial Day Wknd!

What are you up to?

Week Enders | 22April17

 

Well, that happened.
It’s been a year since he passed away. It still hurts when I let myself feel it. It still makes no sense that Prince is gone. I was listening to “Around The World In A Day” on the way home, mouthing every word. Thinking about how that record comforted me during a really awkward phase. And then, the tears just fell. I couldn’t keep it together for my two stop commute.

The crazy thing about this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction video, is that I couldn’t remember if I was there or not. I was working at VH1 at the time and every year, I wrangled talent on the red carpet and brought artists back for interviews with our producer in the 1-on-1 area during the show. The more I thought about it, I remembered I was there. It was the year that no one really did press during/after the ceremony. And everyone bounced because Prince had a surprise show later that night.

The clip just has me in tears, again. The guitar solo in the George Harrison tribute still amazes.

.I’M HUNGRY.

Put it on everything…
I can’t stop thinking about the party to celebrate M. Tony Peralta “Rolos and Icons II” exhibition at the Mexican Consulate. I wandered around looking at canvases of the images I’d only seen on screen. I had spiked horchata. Then, I stood in line for cotton candy. I know. Crazy. I don’t think I’ve had cotton candy this century. But, really it was MANGO FLAVORED COTTON CANDY. I watched as Twisted4Sugar spun tropical gold and then, sprinkled lime/chile/salty tangy goodness all over that cloud of joy. Tajín, bitches. I normally have tajín on the street-cut fruit cups from the carts on random LA streets. I have a bottle at home. I think I even put tiny travel-sized bottles in a friend’s gift bag, once. But, mostly, I have it when co-workers offer up late afternoon sliced snacks. Yes, please and thank you. If you’ve never had mango, watermelon or oranges given the spicy/tart, seasoned treatment, get a bottle in the produce section of your grocery store. Please. You’ll thank me.

.HEARD.

Giggly+Screechy!
It’s late and I’m loud because this Spotify playlist just made me soo happy. All thanks to All Out 80s. An 80s playlist full of hits and lots of Prince. Junior high me is hugging the fuck out of a radio right now.

Is this the end of Keverything?
Well, this week was the last in-studio episode (for the foreseeable future) of the Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor Of All Time Period podcast. No more Kamau and Kevin. No more Black People’s Homework. No more Working Black Actors. Sure, I’m going to miss all the Denzel stories and dissection of every Denzel film ever made by those who worked with him, superfans and occasionally those whose affinity for his work could be considered Denzel-Lite. What I’m really going to miss, though, is the thoughtful discussions about craft and showbiz while Black. Thankfully, I still have a few super-old episodes to catch up on.

.SEEN.

Bye, now.
Girls ended. Everyone had a say about whether or not it was done well. I’m cool with it being done. Let it be of its time, with all the quirks, flaws, head-shaking laughs and flashes of brilliance.

Welp.
Dear White People is coming. Like, next week. The series, based on Justin Simien’s 2014 satire about black students on a predominantly white Ivy League college campus, will be out on Netflix, April 28th.

Yes, I’m also excited because the the guy I can’t really talk about for a while directs an episode. (Hey, Barry!)

This weekend, I might be:
+ brunching.
+ honoring purple royalty.
+ wishing sunday was saturday.

What are you up to?

Week Enders | 7April17

Well, that happened…
It took two whole days to watch the six ep, season 2 of Chewing Gum. I kinda paced myself and I’m proud. I’d been so eager to see it, I watched a couple of episodes on my phone, before I even got home. (Netflix)

Like, SRSLY.
Tank and The Bangas got me fucked up.  I cried for the entirety of this Tiny Desk concert.

If you don’t have Logo…
Strike A Pose, the doc about the lives of the dancers from Madonna’s Blond Ambition tour and documentary, Madonna:Truth or Dare, twenty-five years later, premiered recently on Logo. If you LOVED Truth or Dare, like I did, it’s on Netflix, too.

The Smell of Spring at Sephora.
I’m throwing things in my cart waiting for the spring sale. I’ve got a bit of skincare, another wash for the body and makeup. I try to restock, buy something new and pick up something I’ve been holding off on. Not sure if I’m getting everything in the cart, because even with the discount, I tend to be a bit spendy.

That New Collab
Have clothes ever made you want to have kids? Ugghhh, the Victoria Beckham for Target collection launches this weekend and I’m having feelings. The little girl’s bunny outfit is beyond adorable.

This weekend, I might be:
+ binge watching 13 reasons why.
+ falling down a Madonna music video rabbit hole.
+ wishing sunday was saturday.

What are you up to?

Week Enders | 1April17

Well, that happened…
I went to the farmers market near work for the first time in AAAGGGEEESSSS. You know when you know something isn’t in season, but it’s in your face anyway? Yeah, strawberries. I bought them, and in my best Kevin Hart voice, they weren’t ready.

Thanks, Canada.
Get thee to YouTube or some other viewing entity and find your way to the hilarious Canadian sitcom, Kim’s Convenience. It’s about a Korean Canadian family who own a corner store in a downtown Toronto neighborhood. I can’t decide which of the parents I love more. Mr. and Mrs. Kim aka Appa and Umma, are just gloriously-much immigrant parents, with first gen twenty-something children, who are funny, human, complicated and caring in an everyday-messy, meddling parent kind of way. I love that, for the entire family, their multicultural worlds exists in all areas of their lives from the friendships they have to the communities that populate the store and their church. You see lives intersecting, easily.


Damn, Gina.
Since the Hulu/CW (that’s what it’s called, right?) deal ended and The CW went home with all of its shows, I keep forgetting about Jane The Virgin. Good thing is The CW site and app aren’t restricted to a cable login. It’s super easy to watch the last 5 eps. But, how am I going to remember check the app, though? No, really. I need to work on that.

My So-Pod Life …
Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor Of All Time Period – Vincent D’Onofrio talks craft and Denzel on the latest ep. He’s much funnier than I would have thought and I’ve crushed on him since Mystic Pizza.
They Call Us Bruce – Pop, Politics, Culture in Asian America. In ep 1., Jeff Yang and Angry Asian Man’s Phil Yu talk about the heavily shaded Netflix series, Iron Fist. It’s also where I got the Kim’s Convenience tip.
S-Town – I know, I know. Everybody’s talking and typing about this newly launched podcast from the folks that had everyone obsessed with Serial. I’ll check it out.

Almost gone, Girl.
Here are a few movies that are leaving the stream in April. I’m going to have a binge session with a few of these this wknd: Terms of Endearment (Hulu), Fatal Attraction (Hulu) Menace II Society (Netflix) Resident Evil: Extinction (Netflix) Drumline (HBO) Romancing The Stone (HBO). New York Mag has the full list for HBO, Hulu, Netflix and more.

What’s Really Real…
Now that I’ve got Sling, I watch all of the US Real Housewives franchises. Well, except New Jersey. And Dallas. I don’t watch those. We’re looking at major season/city shifts happening in the next two weeks. The newest crew, the ladies of Potomac, start season 2, on Sunday. Season finale for RHOBH is Tuesday. New York returns on Wednesday. The Atlanta finale is Sunday, April 9th. But, I’m really waiting for the Atlanta reunion, because, well, Andy said to.

This weekend, I might be:
+ hanging out at the Glossier LA pop-up.
+ staring at the ocean.
+ binge watching Kim’s Convenience.

What are you up to?

Week Enders | 25March17

Well, that happened…
I’m on a staycation and I’m not sure where the week went. And I don’t want it to end.

Just Beauty…
I haven’t picked up a copy of Allure in years. The last time I’d looked at the website, it was a jumbled mess. The April ’17 issue caught my eye as I was getting in line at the drugstore. Three beautiful women of varying shades of brown. The Beauty of Diversity headline. I didn’t have time to flip through it before I got to the register. So, I bought it. I loved reading the variety of voices of women of color.  I appreciated seeing WoC throughout the issue, but is it just for this month or is the new way things are done?

ICYMI
Shots Fired. Fox. Set in small-town North Carolina, Shots Fired opens with the investigation of the killing of an unarmed white motorist by a black police officer. The 10-episode limited series, created by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood, stars Sanaa Lathan as a DoJ investigator. When I first heard about the show, I was skeptical. I didn’t want it to minimize what Black folks go through, just to get white people to try to understand it, because the victim looks like them. But, after watching the first episode, seeing what it is and is building up to be, I’m in.

Louie. I never really watched Louis CK’s Louie. When I was writing about Susan Kelechi Watson from This Is Us a few weeks ago, I looked at Claire 2.0’s IMDB page.  I saw Louie, but it didn’t really cross my mind to see what role she played and watch a few clips. Then, I read her anecdote in the new issue of Allure. She talked about how she was cast to play Louie’s ex-wife.  From the few episodes I’d seen, his kids were played by two young white actresses. I was just as confused and intrigued as she was. I’m venturing back into Louie-land, just to see Susan.

Run The Jewels.  The first official video off of RTJ3 for “Legend Has It” is out. Killer Mike and EL-P performed “Legend Has It” on Fallon last week.  And they did a fucking Tiny Desk Concert last month.  Lord, NPR.  I love you.  Here’s a long conversation with Ebro an ‘nem on Hot 97.

Legend Has It

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

Pitchfork Live in NYC 1March17

Drake.  His More Life “playlist” dropped last week. It’s been on #ObsessiveRepeat ever since.

Rupaul’s Drag Race moved from Logo to VH1.  It’s like VH1 and Logo are co-parenting.  Eps premiere with a bang over on VH1, then come back home to Logo.  The new season kicked off with, hello, LADY GAGA as guest judge/major inspiration.

This weekend, I might be:
+ watching a LOT of Bravo.
+ thinking about staring at the ocean.
+ buying ingredients for my first attempt at faux nashville-hot chicken.

What are you up to?

Week Enders | 18March17

Well, that happened.
I did it.  I watched the finale of This Is Us, when it was actually on, and I didn’t cry.  Of course, when I read Vulture’s This Is Us Best Cries List, I, you know, got a little emotional.

Mastry
Kerry James Marshall’s retrospective exhibition, Kerry James Marshall: Mastry, opened at MOCA this week.  Seeing it for the first time, Thursday night, was all visceral reaction.  Blackness and Black people, beautifully depicted.  It was regular, normal, every day black.  I felt intense joy.  I was so proud.  Inches away and dwarfed by canvases covered in the blackest of black and the most vibrant of reds and greens and blues, yellows and pinks.  It was everything and too much to take in at the same time.

I’m so excited to be able to experience it again.  To study the work, to go beyond my initial reaction and impressions.  It is, as we are, multi-layered, complex, rich and bold.

If you’re in LA or will be before July 13th, see it.

Kerry James Marshall in conversation with Theaster Gates | NY Times
Feist!
I’d been thinking a lot about Feist recently.  “La Sirena” from Monarch, on repeat in my head a few weeks ago.  I woke up yesterday, happily surprised to find new music from Feist.  “Pleasure” is the title track to her new album, out on April 28th.

More Feist – Including the hard to find Monarch.

Seeing Red
You know how this works. You go in for one thing and then, something just gets ya. I went into MAC just to smell, okay, buy the travel-sized scented Fix+ in Coconut. Ended up walking out with red mascara. It’s the In Extreme Dimension Mascara, from the Work It Out collection, in Heart Rate’s Rising. Red mascara?  Really?  For someone older than 25?  Yep.  I’m digging it.  If you want to go extra, you can.  But, it’s so wearable with just a few coats.  Check out the top lashes in this bit of selfie action.  I may need to get one or two of the other 11 colors.  MAC Select members get 25% off until March 20th.

Coming Soon and Soon-ish
Podcast Politically Reactive returns March 29th.
Man, I’ve missed Hari’s laugh.  Okay, and the thoughtful progressive political conversation between comedians W. Kamau Bell, Hari Kondabolu and their guests.  It feels like it’s been a long, long time since season one ended right after the election,with no guarantee of S2.  Thankfully, they’re going to keep this special thing going.  Hopefully, they’ll have ideas and interesting discussions that will help us to continue to stand firm, fight back and get through this thing with 45.

Grace + Frankie S3 premiers March 24th.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are back as Grace + Frankie, still navigating their unexpected chapter as single seniors making new lives for themselves, together, after their husbands come out and declare their decades-long love and affair.  Next weekend will, definitely, be spent binge-watching season three.  And I can’t be the only one who kinda internally demands lots of June Diane Raphael as Grace’s daughter, Brianna, right?  Sorry, she’s just great. (Netflix)

Chewing Gum S2 launches in the US April 4th.
I’m all for another gloriously awkward black girl. The hilarious British comedy, Chewing Gum, is written by and stars Michaela Coel. The show follows the misadventures of Tracy, an endearingly-odd 24 year-old virgin, from a super-religious family, in her pursuit of, you know, getting some, on a housing estate in London. I’ve watched the first season three times since it premiered in the US last October. (Netflix)

Game of Thrones S7 delayed start on July 16th.
I didn’t regularly watch until the end of s5. I’ve seen all of s1. Maybe a few eps of s2, The Red Wedding and the episode where Joffrey dies. I could try to fill in holes before S7 starts in July. But, do I need to? Is it worth it? Am I really missing anything?

Insecure S2 is coming back, July 23rd.  I was NOT expecting season 2 so soon. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

This weekend, I might be:

+ washing my hair because I didn’t last week.
+ going to see T2 Trainspotting.
+ cooking up some experiments in vegan-ization.
+ wandering.

What are you up to?

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Week Enders | 11March17

Well, that happened…
Last week, I wrote about needing to find ways to more deeply connect to my body.  To feel and deal better with frustration and anxiety.  Well, I started somewhere.  Breathed a little heavy.  I looked for workouts on YouTube and started living the Nike+ Training app life.  I took the stairs at work.  Mostly down only, but, still, that is, again, a start.  I’ve been doing the wander, too.  I’ve been thinking about new routes in the hood and I’m working on wander playlists.  Glad I started somewhere.  I just need to keep going.  Is it weird to want to do a push up?

Wait, it was there all along?
I resisted some serious pull last week.  Glossier launched blushes.  Wayne Goss released an updated makeup brush set.  Sephora was even tempting folks with La Mer deluxe samples.  I didn’t buy any of it.  Not saying something GossyGlossi won’t come my way in the future, just not near.  I think my discipline was rewarded.  I randomly used the Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Golden Peach from last year’s Soleil Summer Collection that was just sitting in the shadow drawer.  Ummm… Hello, Pretty.  So, so sorry you’ve been ignored.  That won’t happen again.  It’s still available and there are new shadow shades for 2017 that I won’t be getting, because Naked Bronze and Golden Peach are already owned and everything.   https://www.beautylish.com/s/tom-ford-beauty-cream-and-powder-eye-color-golden-peach

Logan.
So damn good.  A tear might have even fallen.  Is it wrong to want to climb the bad guys to kick their friends in the face?  If you’re a Marvel fan or long for a superhero film worthy of all the exclamation points, go see Logan while it’s on the biggest of screens.  See buffed Hugh Jackman in a tee as a Wolverine for the last time.  If you want a film full of action and a well-told story, but can’t make it to the theater, definitely get it on demand.  If catching it on cable is more your speed, it will be worth every minute spent.

This Really Is Us
I don’t understand how you guys do it.  How can you sit down and watch this every week?  I want to call the show emotionally manipulative trash, but This Is Us is just great TV.  It’s messy and life-y, all love and loss. Complicated and so normal.  Well-written and acted.  And I can’t handle it.  I have to watch in mini binges.  It’s easier to cry 2 out of 4 hours, than to know every single week, I could have my heart broken.  I caught up to the Memphis episode last weekend and was a mess.  Well, except for when I said Paper Boi five times after seeing Brian Tyree Henry.  I don’t know why I thought I had recovered enough to watch this week’s episode in real-ish time, breaking from my emotionally-supportive pattern.  Seriously, they had those beautiful little girls put their tiny hands in my chest and rip my heart to shreds.  Even, the mailman had me fucked up.  Ugh.

For the record and later discussion: Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth is the new Claire Huxtable.

All the cool kids are in Austin.
SXSW started. The music kicks off later in the week.  NPR has a preview mix.  Spotify has a SXSW Latino playlist of bands that will be at the festival.  And The Fader will be streaming live from The Fader Fort.

This weekend, I might be:
+ washing my hair.
+ doing an african dance workout.
+ wandering.

What are you up to?

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week enders | 3march17

Well, that happened…
Bill Paxton died way too fucking soon.   Moonlight won Best MOTHERFUCKING Picture!   And I was longing for Friday on Sunday afternoon.  That’s not a good way to live.

Nothing to see here.
I’m not buying anything.  Really.  I’m taking inventory.  I don’t even know what I have.  Until I do, I’m not buying anything I don’t need.

If I feel the urge, I’ll shop the stash.  I remember the Christmas that I took a dictionary from my brother’s room, wrapped it and gave it to myself.  I can get joy from things I already own.  And yes, the last sentence doesn’t really work, having read the sentence that preceded it.  You’d just have to be LittleMe or have questionable boundaries, which may actually be the same thing.

I’ve had a shitty week.  Work sucks.  The world sucks.  And I’m not handling it well.

Nothing’s working.

“Bad” food doesn’t taste good enough.  It can’t cause heartburn and be disappointing.
The spending high doesn’t last.  I just have more stuff and nowhere to put it.
The wine isn’t working.  The bottle is empty, the calories count and I’m not all that tipsy.
I’m not seeing anyone.  So, the intimacy intramurals are cancelled.
I don’t need a weed habit, legal or kinda.

I need figure my way out of this.  I need ways to get through the anxiety and frustration.

I know connecting deeply with my body will help.

First inclination, though, is to spend!  Join a gym.  Buy new outfits.  Buy weights and other exercise-y things.

Guess what.  I have things.  I’ve got mats and weights and balls.  At home.  What I really need, is to be active.  I need to do things.  I need to swim and wander and breathe and sweat.  A lot.  Every day.

So that I don’t get caught up in the planning of, instead of the actual doing of,  I’m just going to start somewhere.  Then, see how it goes.

These Three: 
Moonlight.  The script.  The greatness, is on the page.
I saw Get Out.  It’s WILD.  Def more thriller than horror.  See it.
Prepping for more posts.  Not sure if beauty or food will be first.  What would you like to see?

Rufus&Clem Week Enders Playlist on Spotify
Putting together some mood music for the resistance.  Be it to hold joy or for relative calm or just a soundtrack to badass-ery.


This weekend, I might be:
+ going to see Moonlight with a friend who’s been out of the country. He’s excused from the sideeye. I got the note from his mom.
+ going to the beach.  I want to hear the waves.
+ looking for music to share.

What are you up to?

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week enders | 24feb17

Well, that happened…
My momma came to LA.  I don’t think I ever been so grateful for a layover.  She was on her way home from the other side of the world.  We chatted.  She showed me pictures.  I stared at her.  Her skin, still a cool brown, but interestingly not as deep as I remember.  Her bracelets, silver rope replacing years of trade beads.  I took in her energy, for the first time, in my LA space.  It was so cool.

I don’t see her enough.

Changing that.

Wait. WHAT?!!! Prince is on Spotify?
I’m giggly+screechy!  No.  Really, just screechy.  All this Prince in one place.  Go check your streaming palace of choice.  Is he there?
(The picture above is a chopped and screwed snap from Purple Rain at Hollywood Forever last summer. )

Same problem. Different choices.
I’m bought a record player.  This one.  Not the one I planned, but it’ll do while I save for the other one.  I know what you’re thinking, hell, I know what I’m thinking and I’m okay with that.

Game Over, Man.  Game Over.
I’ve been watching the reboot of Training Day on CBS.  The ghost of Denzel’s Alonzo looms large, talking madddd shit.  Bill Paxton’s Detective Frank Rourke is more average antihero than engaging villain, which feels a bit worn at this point.  I wish he was an asshole, otherwise it’s just a cranky cop vs. earnest cop anti-buddy cop show.  I already watch cranky cop who might be doing bad things to get the bad guys on NBC.  I don’t know if there’s room for another that doesn’t stand out.  Look, I love Bill Paxton. Have since I was a kid.  He gives good asshole.  So, I might keep watching.  Hoping for it.  The other problem is that because Rourke is likable, Jason Cornwell’s Detective Kyle Craig ends up being a bit of an annoying killjoy.  The show is familiar and watchable.  It bats third show/emptied bottle of wine in the daily decompression lineup.  It’s kinda just on.

Moonlight, FTW.
The Academy Awards are this weekend.  That means two things: I can’t go to my Sephora at Hollywood & Highland and I will be in my feelings with whatever happens for the amazingly talented cast and crew of Moonlight.  I’ll see La La Land when they release the Hamilton DVD with the original cast.  Just saying.

Cause it’s supposed to always be sunny and hasn’t been, I think I might be doing these things:
+ going to see Get Out.
+ stopping by my local where my favorite librarian is putting on event about racism.
+ not talking about incense making cause I’ve not done it, but need to.
+ taking pictures of things.

What are you up to?

 

 

Week Ender | 18Feb17

Well, that happened…
I’ve spent most of the last week sick and voiceless.  While trying to fight whatever I’ve got, I started watching Suits.  Clicked on the first couple eps of S6 on Sling.  Started watching from the beginning on Amazon Prime.  Now, I’m midway through S2.  Hello, Hooked.  Honestly, they had me at Devlin-MacGregor.

Not quite sure why I’ve not seen any of it until now.  I was cable-free when it premiered, and I’m not sure if it was easy to see without opening up a vein to Time Warner or Comcast.  And, I guess, I didn’t see a reason to “find” a way to watch it.  Now that I’m here, I’m all in.  I really like the entire cast, but, you know, I LOVE Gina Torres and Rick Hoffman.  After years of L&O, I want more than the case.  I want the inter-office interpersonal relationships that are more interesting onscreen than the annoying ones in real life.  I love these characters and the way they play off of each other.  Plus, I get to see all my Toronto acting faves!

Yes, I know Gina left midway through season six.  That means I’ve got five and a half seasons of great acting in a killer wardrobe and aspirational low-key super sophisticated makeup.  Starting next month, with the return of The Catch, Gina will be a part of the Shondaland Lady Gang, on another show with a talented cast, great makeup and fab costume design.

I bought some stuff and it got delivert… I know the war is coming.  Sometimes, though, I just want to play on my face with colors.

Green Beauty – Late into the night I placed a Detox Market order.  Caroline Hirons made me do it.  I live in LA and could have just done the brick and mortar, but the internet and late nights were made for shopping.  SuperCool thing is sample pack you can create to try out coveted+expensive potions like the Vintners Daughter serum! More on the order later.

Charlotte Tilbury – Last week’s order came with samples, even ones I didn’t request. Perks for ordering directly from CT.  Big NO for Kim K.W. and Bitch Perfect lipsticks. Waaay too pale. Like major whiteness on my lips.  I, mean, okay, I guess for So Marilyn.  It’s bight red on me.  Wearable bright red.  I’m just not wearing red right now.  Very Victoria breaks my rule from last week.  I’ll have to put it on the list for when the moratorium lifts or when I stop lying to myself about there being a moratorium on nude-y/neutral pinky/mauve-y/peachy lipsticks.  Magic Foundation in 10 is a bit dark and red.  I’ll try a bit of the 9.5 or 9 when I order the Very Victoria.  Someday. Oh and the thing I actually ordered, the Pillow Talk lipstick is cute.  It does need a hint of MAC Chestnut liner.

Sephora – You know, the one from last week with the powder and ABH palette. I think I love the ABH palette.  The shadows are rich and pigmented and not the same bronze, brown and green that I always buy.  Playtime, people.  Time to PLAY!

Nars – I went into Sephora three different times to look at this limited edition palette.  The first time, I walked away sure that I didn’t need it.  The second time was a swatch only trip, but I knew.  The third time, I had to have it.  But, I waited.  I wanted to make sure I was paying cash and not just charging another haul.  Now, it’s mine.  I’m good on blush.  Well, there is that Hourglass one.  (I have a problem. I just said it out loud.)

Screw Winter…
It feels like winter somewhere not here.  It’s cold and rainy.  Where is my sunshine?  Why am I wearing something resembling a coat, a lot?  Why am I thinking about buying, like, sweaters?  Not cardigans, but comfy crewneck pullovers.  It’s like I’m dreaming in Fair Isle or something.

I’m watching that…
The Good Fight… On Sunday, Christine Baranski is back as Diane Lockhart in The Good Wife spinoff.  I’m excited for the character’s return and more Cush Jumbo. The thing is, the premiere is going to be on CBS and then, the show moves exclusively to the CBS streaming platform.  I just don’t know if I’m going to shell out more money for another streaming service. Yes, it’s only $6.99 a month. Just thinking about it, though, is making me wonder if I pay too much for what I already have and don’t really watch.  Showtime might be put on pause until Lena Waithe’s Chi gets a premiere date.  That does not mean an automatic pickup for CBS.  I just don’t know.  If I do it, it may be only for the duration of The Good Fight season one.  We’ll see.

Cause it was supposed to rain lots… 
I got drenched on my Friday afternoon commute.  What am I going to do on the long holiday weekend? I plan to be productive.  If that happens, though, I’ll be surprised.

But, maybe, I’ll be…
+ listening to bon iver playlists on spotify.
+ making and burning the incense.
+ sleeping. i shouldn’t but, really.
+ getting back to my freaking bullet journal.
+ taking pictures of pretty things in my apartment.

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