The Weekly, 04.12.21

Coming to you from super rainy weekend vibes, it was a low key weekend with some solid plans, and I am just recovering on the couch. Chris and I got facials (his first!) at Rescue Spa on Saturday – it was our first time there, and it was a gorgeous facility. I would 100% recommend. They used the cult-following and their signature product, the Biologique Recherche P50 lotion as part of the facial, and I immediately went home to purchase the products. My pores just feel…free, and my skin is glowing. Used as a toner, it’s meant to hydrate, exfoliate and balance the pH levels of skin, and while pricy, it definitely seems to have a following for a reason.

We also had some social plans for the first time in forever, and we went for another fire pit at our friends who live in South Brooklyn. The weather held out Saturday for a perfectly temperatured night for a fire, and as (almost) all of us are fully vaccinated, we were able to relax a bit outdoors while we hung out, which felt foreign but wonderful. It seems like a sense of normalcy is slowing slipping back into our lives…

I’ve been sleeping like garbage for the last three weeks, and as a result, I’ve been doing a lot of late-night shopping, which is certainly not a positive habit to maintain. With so many Spring sales happening at various stores, I’ve been on a tear to build my wardrobe for warmer weather, especially since I’ll be going into work most days now. The minute it feels appropriate (which is all but two months of the year for me), I break out some white jeans. White jeans are notoriously hard to sharp for, especially as a curvier person, and I have always had trouble finding a pair that didn’t feel suctioned or see-through. Behold, I have found an excellent, comfortable pair, and opted to size up for a much more relaxed fit that reduces so many of the issues that make most avoid white denim. I’m back with more Abercrombie content, with these high-rise skinny jeans. They are slightly long on my 5’2″ inch frame, but the best part of exposed hems being in is that you can tailor your own jeans at home with a pair of scissors. I also stocked up on a second pair of these 4 inch Mom shorts from Abercrombie in white, and sized up here, as well, which I just think is the most necessary trick for white denim to not look like sausage casings. These shorts are it for summer – the length, the fit on the butt and waist (no gapping), and the perfect amount of distressing for anyone who isn’t in their teen years.

Holding onto the denim train, if you don’t watch Top Chef or know who Gail Simmons is, you are missing out on the best jumpsuit look from last week’s episode. Immediately went on a search for denim romper or coverall situation, and immediately added to cart and ordered this one from Everlane, which I think is going to be a seasonal staple with sandals to booties or sneakers. I grabbed it in the off-white color, perfect for warmer temps, and I cannot wait until it comes in in early May. Other add to cart items from Everlane? Their cotton face masks. I love these most for all-day wear, and I have found that it was time to add some new ones to the stock, as something you give so much wear and tear needs replacing at this point. I grabbed this classic primary colors pack that will go with just about everything.

The other thing I’ve been late-night shopping? Spring and summer shoes, which means sandals and sneakers exclusively for me, especially as I start living less of a hermit life with work and socializing. I really wanted a pair of sandals that I could dress up or down, perfect for packing for weekends visiting my in-laws, where we spend time at their Club during the day and transition to dinner at night. I grabbed these darling sandals from Loeffler Randall that can be worn with a simple sundress or with some cropped denim or cutoffs. I love the ruffled bow and the pretty floral fabric. Bows aren’t your thing? This pair of classic slides features the same fabric with a squared-toe, very in for this season. I always size up a half-size in their shoes for a better fit. I also grabbed this pair of YSL dupes from Zara, which I think are a perfect pair of sandals to pair with just about everything, and have a little heel cushion. Zara and Mango are by far the best place to get that designer chic style for less than $100. Other sandals currently in my cart? These big-buckle Birkenstock sandals in white leather. Chris’ least favorite shoe, but you can’t beat the comfort of these sandals. I size down two-sizes.

The other shoe I am seeing everywhere in fashion? The return of the Converse high-top sneaker in white, off-whites, and pastels. So you know I have had them sitting in my cart and just decided to purchase this week after seeing them styled by Stephanie Trotta and Maxey Greene for Spring, with wide-leg cut jeans/pants, or paired with a mini or maxi dress. I can’t wait for my classic optic white pair to arrive, and feeling like they are going to be the perfect work shoe to bring a casual element to any look, while also giving me some comfort (a perfect shoe to add insole inserts). I size down a full size here. Very Gen-Z.

I’m hoping you can tell, but I am working on more consciously shopping more Black-owned brands and featuring those purchases on the blog. This is a commitment I made last summer, and I am working towards ensuring they are not just empty promises. My newest and most anticipated purchase was a Telfar shopping bag, which is the bag of the season, and many say is as hard to get as a Hermes Kelly bag this season. These bags were recently all over the news, and they launched a drop to pre-order their always-sold-out bags for a summer 2021 arrival. Made of vegan leather, and created in a collection of gorgeous colors, these bags are super cute and functional staple bags to have in your rotation. I decided to treat myself and my mother-in-law (for her upcoming birthday) to one of these bags in red in the medium size, and will be patiently awaiting their arrival sometime this summer. Moderately priced, very functional, and classic style, this bag is going to be perfect for weekend, errands, or work. You can sign up for alerts for their ongoing drops, as their pre-order secure sale has closed.

Don’t worry, I am still on my Spring dress kick. Afraid to put on anything with a waist-band after living in sweats for over a year? Not to fear, grab an easy breezy dress. I decided to grab this adorable white puff-sleeve dress from Grace Atwood’s Amazon the Drop collection of classic staples that she released this week (she reassured it is not see-through by trying it on with a purple bra, which can be tricky with white dresses). Still available in a few colors and sizes, this is a dress I know I am going to be wearing on repeat for the next few months – super versatile and comfortable!

Finishing fashion and moving into skincare and beauty, I placed a huge order from the Sephora sale this week, and it runs through this week. If you missed my post, you can check out what was in my cart and what I would shop based on my own loves. This my favorite sale of the year, and it’s not one that happens more than twice a year, so I highly suggest stocking up on some staples or trying something new. Two of my empties from this week? My Necessaire body wash and the body lotion. I wrote a whole post reviewing the full line of products, but I really do love them and think they are worth their price tag. They are available in the Sephora sale this week, so I suggest stocking up on their Body Serum (this is their gold-star product, in my opinion), paired with their Body Lotion (I didn’t think this product was so game-changing at first, but I really do love the way it combines with other products, especially self-tanner), and of course their signature spa-scented body wash and exfoliator – I love the Eucalyptus and Sandalwood scents the most. Grab them for up to 20% during the sale.

I’ve ben working out more regularly at Orange Theory, which means working out in a mask. While not nearly as a bad as I anticipated, the worst side effect is most definitely the dryness it exacerbates on my skin, especially on my nose and around my eyes where there is friction with the sweat. For me, that means focusing on hydrating skincare ingredients and holding off on more of my actives until I can get my skin back on track. Farmacy beauty released their newest product, Filling Good, which is a honey-nut scented hyaluronic acid product that is meant to hydrate, plump and fill in fine lines. I grabbed this right away, and it is super dreamy paired with their Honey Halo moisturizer and Honey Grail facial oil for bedtime – all included in the Sephora sale. I am absolutely loving this skincare combination to give my skin some hydration overnight. I also grabbed this comb-shaped gua sha tool I saw Jennifer Adell use to help with tension headaches (check), hair growth and follicle stimulation (check), and just overall drainage (check). I can’t wait to combine for a nice nightly massage.

Goals for this week? Avoid ordering out. We ordered out almost all of last week, and my stomach is seriously paying the price. This week, I need to get inspired to cook again, so I ordered this Persian recipe book for Chris and me to try. Although these recipes often take a lot of TLC, Persian food is by far one of my favorites, and the flavors and spice in their food are so unique and powerful in a savory kind of way. I am most definitely looking forward to trying some of these recipes this week.

Last week, I had drinks with a friend who was one of the reasons I started this blog after I helped him start his own skincare routine as a means of self-care and self-investment. He reminded me of how much I love sharing all of my own growing knowledge around skincare with all of you, and how important it is to do little things for yourself throughout the day to remind yourself to slow down, take care of you and your needs, and just really invest is your own health and wellness, something that so quickly slips to the back burner. He talked about his skincare like it was such a life changing element of his daily routines that brought him some self-centering, especially for someone who gives so much of himself to others. That being said, I am nearing 100 published blog posts this week, and want to thank all of you who continue to read, share and support Pretty Busy Brooklyn, a hobby that has come to mean so much to my own self-journey. If you want to support this blog, you can always share my blog with friends and family, shop using one of my affiliated links (the money I make goes towards site upkeep), and just telling me what you love and want to see here on the blog. On that note, don’t forget to take some time for you this week, whether that’s sticking to your skincare routine, or treating yourself to something you’ve wanted for a while. Stay pretty busy, friends.

Thank you for shopping my blog post! For transparency, some of the links in this post may be affiliated, which means I may make a small commission, at no extra cost or effort to you, when you purchase something using these links. I only share what I shop and love on Pretty Busy Brooklyn, and I appreciate your ongoing support for my work.