The Weekly, 09.21.20

Well, friends, I have to admit. Friday night really rocked me. After work, I went and ran some errands, and decided to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure. I was feeling great, and it was such beautiful weather that it just felt like I was being called to be outdoors. So Chris and I went to a little French bistro in our neighborhood, and enjoyed a delicious steak frites and some cocktails. I was on a high, and then we sit on our couch, and the news alert comes in about RBG…

And I lost it. Tears, anxiety, mass texts of “FUCK!” (cc: this post) and that was that- Friday night high pretty much destroyed. There are so many jokes and memes about 2020- it’s pretty much the answer for anything remotely horrible that happens now. But this left me without the ability to even make a joke about this shit-storm of a year.

I watched the documentary on Ruth Bader Ginsburg a few years ago when it came out, on a flight home from somewhere- I don’t remember. And boy, did I cry like a baby on that plane. Her story, her marriage, her career, her spirit, it all resonated so deeply of things to aspire to in life. She stood for so much more than her political prowess- she represented a lot of womanhood- the balance of marriage and family with your career, the work it takes to use your skills to do something more than yourself, and the way to keep true to your spirit and truth in your work. She really was a super power, dedicating herself to a greater good until the very last second.

Truthfully, I am at the point right now where even the smallest thing can put me into an emotional tailspin, or lead me to a good cry. And that’s okay- at least, I am trying to be more okay with that. @thedailyseyi posted a quote yesterday that spoke to me about mindset in the midst of year filled with so much despair- a Bible quote, oddly enough, that hit me in my heart: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Now I am not here to tell you to believe in anything, and even I consider myself more spiritual than religious. But I can appreciate these words right now more than ever, and so today, I am going to do just that. I am going to talk about and appreciate some of the great things in my life that are excellent and worthy of praise, because that’s really what I try to do in this weekly post- share with you the things that are inspiring me. So the theme of today’s Weekly is a few really great things. Here we go…

We hosted some friends over for Rosh Hashanah dinner last night, because they weren’t able to be with family. Not only did my friend my the best matzo-ball soup that I’ve ever had in my life, but it felt so great just to host people in our home (we are already carpooling to work, so we are exposed to each other anyways). They got to see some of the tiny tweaks that Chris and I have made to our apartment (I shared our new bookcase last week).

Our framed art came in from Minted, and it looks amazing- I love their print sets– they make it so easy to decorate if you don’t have an eye for art. In a time when we are all spending so much time at home, making your home a place you love takes time (and money). In another life, I would be an interior decorator- my mom and I have always loved home decor. I’m putting together another post for upgrading small spaces this week, hopefully. You can check out my first post on maximizing small spaces here.

I spent so much time listening to podcasts during the summer, that I wanted to find a way to try and incorporate them into my day when I went back to work. I kind of forgot how much I missed my morning routine – I get up really early, and love to take my time getting ready. I am a morning person, so I don’t mind giving myself that extra time to put myself together, drink my hot water with lemon, Manuka honey and collagen (swear by this combo for allergies and warding off colds/sinus infections), and, newly added, listening to a podcast. Last Sunday’s episode from the Daily on homeless students in New York City was so illuminating, and I highly encourage any teacher, but really any human, to listen to this for some perspective. And if you haven’t listened to Nice White Parents and you’re white, I cannot say it too many times- you gotta do it.

You know I am really into dresses at the moment, and I want to spotlight two pink dresses that I recently ordered and loved. I most definitely have a thing for the color pink (I just think it looks great on everyone), and this season there are so many pretty pink looks. Both of these dresses are super comfortable, perfect for transitioning from summer to Fall weather, and are the easiest fashion ever. This gorgeous hot pink mumu from Lou & Grey was a fan favorite when I wore it the other day to work. Not only is it like wearing a flattering nightgown because of it’s super soft material and tiered skirt, but it’s color just brightens up any room and my spirit- something we all need more of right now. And then I posted about this dress last week, but when it came in, it really blew me away. It is quality, my friends. I love the dusty pink color, and the fit, even with a curvy bottom, is very flattering with sneakers or booties for Fall.

More fashion finds for you. A few weeks ago, I said I was trying this new style of Madewell jeans to see if they compare to my favorite mom jeans. And, honestly? Dare I say it, they are as good, if not better than my Levi’s, depending on how you like them to fit. If you’re looking for that classic straight, no stretch, boot hugging jean, but can’t stand the feeling of being constricted in any way by jeans, then these are the pair for you. They fit like a dream- I got a 31, a size up from my normal Madewell size based on reviews, and I could have sized down. But the size up gives me room, and the material is so soft. I love the light distressing and the wash on these, and they will absolutely be a go-to style for me moving forward. They are a yes for curves, for me.

I mentioned I was on the hunt for great underwear recently, and I came across Tommy John on every list I read. So I ordered, and, well, they live up to the hype. They are a comfortable pair of underwear. I love the second skin bikini briefs and the cool cotton thong. I have already bought more, and even got these super comfortable joggers, perfect for weekends on the couch. Don’t hesitate.

Now that I am back at work, I am wearing real shoes again. And I have to give a shout-out to loafers- by far, my favorite shoes for every season. You cannot go wrong with a classic loafer, which is why I think these timeless leather loafers are worth the investment. But if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly find, then you need to give these a try. I have their mules and the loafer style, and I wore them almost every day last year before we started working from home. They are classic, they go with every outfit, and they are comfortable- that is a combination that cannot be beat.

Last bit of noteworthy fashion for Fall is tiny bags. You should know I love a good quality bag- always have and always will. But never have I appreciated the tiny bag as much as I have lately, when I want to be hands free, but don’t want to carry around my life in a bag with all of the walking. Enter- tiny bags. I use this belt bag for walks or errands, or these two leather bags for weekends or dates- a crossbody and a belt bag. Both just make things so much simpler right now, and all you need is your phone, your wallet, and your hand sanitizer these days, so there isn’t much to clean up when you get home. Yes to tiny bags.

Now onto really great beauty buys of the summer that deserve special mentions. As we get into cooler weather, we have the return of dry skin season. For the most luxurious shower ever, you must try this LuvScrub. I have purchased two, and they give you the greatest lather and some gentle exfoliation that has helped with the bumps on the backs of my arms. It is perfect for before you shave, for which I use my Billie razor. Recently, a friend asked me if they were worth the hype, and after using a drug store razor when I forgot mine this summer, the answer is 200% yes. It’s just great quality, for a great price, and I actually change out my blades on a normal basis because I never have to think about rebuying with my subscription- they are just there. Top it off with the world’s greatest unscented lotion, and you’ve got a dream combo to combat dry skin.

Not sure if it’s stress, or just feelings of getting older, but I have noticed the fine lines and puffiness around my eyes so much more lately. I have mentioned my love for the GloPro before, but I recently bought the eye roller, and woah– the difference is real. If you are wondering what this tool is and whether it’s worth the splurge- it’s a tiny microneedling device that basically pokes tiny holes in the skin that allows products to penetrate the surface layers of skin to work at deeper levels. It is amazing, and I’ve seen a lot of change with my acne scarring. The eye roller, in combination with this firming and plumping serum from PCA skin, and I’ve been waking up looking refreshed AF. I highly recommend this splurge if you’re looking to up your skincare game, and get the most out of your products.

I’ve also got to give love to this clean beauty brand I discovered this summer- Ilia. I first tried the super serum skin tint with SPF, and I just love that it’s a two in one- skincare and coverage. It’s a texture you definitely need to get used to, but it leaves you with the juiciest skin, and it slowly seeps in through the day, leaving my skin hydrated throughout the day. This is my go-to foundation right now for wearing under a mask. And then I tried their mascara in my recent post, and I have quickly become obsessed. The length and last of this mascara without flaking is incredible- definitely worth trying. I will be repurchasing as soon as I run out.

One last beauty find that I can no longer live without are this eyebrow pencil and this brow pen from Anastasia BH. I tried them to compare to my Glossier faves, and honestly, they have blown me away. I use them as a combo, and they are giving me majorly strong brows. I think the pen is the best on the market right now.

If I am going to show appreciation, then I need to give thanks to Equilibria. After watching months and months of influencer ads about these CBD products, I decided to try when my headaches and anxiety were at an all-time high this summer. And I really, really love their products now that I have tried for two months. I am using the extended release capsules in the morning, and a half a dropper when I’m feeling really anxious. And then I use a full dropper about an hour before bed- this just lets me unwind a bit, and get myself into a more zen state.

If you’re nervous about CBD, I can tell you that you will not feel out of control or anything to that extent. As someone who doesn’t even really drink because I hate that feeling, this the complete opposite of the anxiety that comes with alcohol for me. This just takes the sharp edges off of things, and allows me to quiet my mind a bit so I can focus on the task at hand, even if that’s just reading a book. If you’ve been thinking about it, let this be your push to try it out for yourself. You can use my code REFAAESCOBA for $20 off your first order. And yes, men can use it, too. Chris now has his own dropper bottle, because he kept stealing from me.

Ok, this became more than a few things, but it felt good to take time to appreciate the positives, so here we are. If you’re looking for a way to do something in honor of RBG, text “RBG” to 504-09 (ResistBot), and they will guide you through the process of writing letters to your senators asking them not to confirm a Supreme Court justice until after Inauguration Day. It takes less than five minutes, and it’s a minimal lift we can take to resist. Stay pretty busy!

Some of the links used in this post are affiliated, which means that I may make a small commission off of any purchases of these products.