Happy Thursday, my friend. How goes it? You know what I discovered in the past few weeks? If you need someone to chat with for 45 minutes about blinds versus roller shades versus curtains, I AM YOUR GIRL.
Did I actually create a slideshow about curtains? YOU BETCHA.
Nobody ever told me that adulting would involve being annoyed by cords on blinds or thinking about various roller shade mounting techniques at 3 a.m.!
Anyway, hi from my hopefully soon-to-be roller-shade-filled home, LOL! I gotta keep telling myself it will be squared away soon, otherwise I may lose my mind very soon.
On a beauty note, I went to Ulta last week because 1) I needed a treat yourself moment, and 2) I was running low on staples.
Why is it that whenever you run out of basics like toothpaste or lotion or razors that it all happens at the same freaking time? It’s crazy.
Back to Ulta. I bought body lotion (good ol’ CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, with a pump, of course), a Hask Repairing Deep Conditioner Hair Mask (my mane needs some serious TLC), an OPI gel polish in the shade Half Past Nude (it’s a pale warm pink that’s slightly darker than Bubble Bath), and because Connor was with me, I bought her a bottle of orange nail polish from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line.
If you have a little girl who loves painting her nails, the Insta-Dris are the BEST! It only takes about 10 minutes for your nails to fully set. It’s the only nail polish she’ll sit still for.
The last thing I bought was another bottle of Avene Solaire UV Mineral Sunscreen. I wore it to the pumpkin patch last weekend and even though I was in the sun all day — and without a hat on, my bad! — I didn’t pick up any color. I hope Avene *never* discontinues this sunscreen because it’s my favorite face sunscreen out of all the ones I’ve tried in the past two years, and girl, I’ve tried a ton. Try it if you haven’t already!
Life on this end has been good but busy. When I’m not juggling our family calendar or shuttling Connor to a playdate or a dance class, I’m balancing life, work and all the things. You know how it is. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to manage it all, and I was wondering what systems you use to keep track?
We have a central family calendar which me and El Hub share. I also just recently started using the reminder feature on my phone, and it really helps a lot because I don’t feel like I have to carry so much in my head. Anyway, I would love to hear what you use to keep your life and your family’s life organized.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
If you use a digital calendar I’m pretty sure you can share that calendar with whomever (like your spouse) so that you’re synced up! I like to have things written down and in my phone so I use both a paper calendar and my iPhone one. Since my boyfriend stays at home with the girls, his schedule usually isn’t too packed. I will text him the day before if they have an appointment or if I have something going on because I think it helps to have it in writing!
Was it on this blog we were discussing how awful the Papyrus font is (the one that Hask uses)? Lol I die laughing at that Ryan Gosling SNL skit about it.
Google calendar and the notes app on my iphone keep me in line. However, if I fail to look at my calendar first thing or miss a notification, it gets bad so I may also start using Reminders.
Also, next time you’re going to Ulta let me know because I’ve got a List!
Don’t get me started on curtains and blinds and whatnot. That sort of thing makes my eyes glaze over. I really, really hate it.
I have a roller shade pro tip, if you haven’t already ordered them: I’m an architect and roller shades are often part of our commercial projects. When selecting the fabric/color for the shades, a dark color will transmit a LOT more heat & glare than a light color in the same fabric. It’s a bit counter-intuitive, but if heat and harsh glare are an issue, go with light fabric. This applies to the fabric that aren’t the black-out type, but with a certain amount of transparency – the usual percentages are 1%, 3%, or 5% open (how close together the threads in the fabric are…) If you want to cut glare and heat gain but still see out a little, go with 3% or 5%. Enjoy your shades – I like them because they’re so sleek and clean-lined.
That Avene sunscreen is the best. I originally bought it when you first told us about it, and am on about my third bottle now.
Hoping you enjoy your blinds.
My last trip to Ulta (yesterday) was so dull, I only bought Paul Mitchell tea tree shampoo for my husband! I have a bunch of points I’m deciding what to use on.
I have nothing to say about Ulta or your roller shade angst—lol—but I did want to say how beautiful Connor is becoming. She was always adorable, but she’s growing into quite the beauty.
Fantastical calendar as well as the remind me feature on my apple, which is the one thing that keeps my dentist visits and other medical maintenance stuff at least semi-regular.
And I really write everything in there, all the tiny details of my and the kids schedule.
That Avene sunscreen is SO GOOD. I remember you shared once that you mix the tinted and untinted and that for me is perfection! Not a tiny bit of white cast- but amazing sun protection! Honestly that slight tint is all I want these days other than a bit of concealer. I hope that product sticks around forever!