Happy Friday

My new idea is to accomplish at least one pre-determined thing every weekend. This weekend I plan to finish this masterpiece:. Colum McCann's TRANSATLANTIC (on sale in June).

(And forgive my banged-up copy.. I have been taking this everywhere with me.)

Cosmetics Market

I visited the Cosmetics Market today when I had some free time, and let me tell you, it is one big mess. I did find a couple things, but I had to dig. For those who don't know, the Cosmetics Market on 37th and 5th is a discounted warehouse-style store for makeup and beauty products. They have a lot of name-brand items for very little money. I picked up a Revlon Kissable balm stain for $2, for example. That said, the place is a mess! They should clean it up a bit. But it is fun to go in and look -- they never have exactly what I'm looking for but I always end up leaving with a few things..

Today I picked up:
1. Estee Lauder large handbag mirror ($2)
2. Revlon Kissable balm stain (around $2)
3. Lisi eyeshadow in Satin Eyes (a pretty light purple with gold flecks -- $4). And can I say their packaging is lot like NARS?

Tips for the Cosmetics Market:
-Just breathe, the nasty testers won't hurt you. Just don't touch them.
-There are golden bits beneath the grossness! Be patient.
-Go for products that have definitely not been opened. Boxed eye-shadows, plastic-sealed lip stains and the like.
-Check expiration dates if possible -- makeup does expire!

It was fun, but I only go about once every 6 months I'd say.. just not someplace I need to visit regularly.

Thrifty find - "FYI"

Unopened box of cards from Thomaspaul: $1 at Goodwill on West 8th Street in Manhattan. Orange on the back!

Feeling organized and Buffalo Exchange

One of the best parts of Spring, in my opinion, is feeling a sense of renewal. The actual start of the new year doesn't do it for me acutally -- it is when the weather changes and I feel the sudden urge to clean and organize and start fresh that I really get going.

After cleaning my apartment last weekend and giving everything a good scrub, I am sooo unhappy to have to take my winter coat back out of my closet, put my winter boots back near the front door, and wear a wool scarf in the morning. Go away! But really, the nastiness that my shoes pick up from the NYC streets needs to go away.

That said, I still did "spring clean," and it still satisfied that feeling of starting over. Closet is organized, summer clothes, though still in their plastic bin, are waiting to be taken out. Also clearing out my wardrobe and making decisions like, "do I actually wear this? Have I ever worn this?" did me some good. I have a bag of things waiting to go to Buffalo Exchange so I can find some new pieces and get rid of the old. And on that note, some tips for Buffalo Exchange:

1. Don't go on the weekends if possible. The store is not only crazy, the line for selling is usually out the door. Just don't do it. In NYC they're open until 7 or 8 I think, or if you have a weekday off go then.
2. Bring your own bag -- Buffalo Exchange I think just recently stopped providing plastic bags for purchased items. You can buy one of their reusable bags, but why not bring your own?
3. Don't bring items that are visably worn. I once brought a pair of pants that I had honestly worn once and decided I didn't like. Almost brand new, the buyer noticed a spot of dirt on the bottom pant leg and wouldn't take them. I was bummed but understood why. Just make sure to clean items before bringing!
4. Don't bring items from stores like Forever21, Target, or H&M. Though I have actually seen items from these stores for sale at Buffalo Exchange, when I've tried to sell them they always always tell me that they don't like buying them. The reason is that since the retail price for these items is already pretty low, they can't sell for a great discount or else they wouldn't make much profit. Also, they aren't well made.
5. I know this sounds silly, but it is all about the presentation. Don't shove all your clothes in a trash bag and pull them out like your dirty laundry. It will make the buyer less interested in what you're pulling out of the bag. When it is your turn to go up to the counter, lay everything out nicely in piles or lay nice pieces out flat.
6. Something else you can do is actually call the store before you go and ask what they're looking for. That is helpful, but honestly you can just think about what season is coming up and what you see in stores at the time. Right now, for instance, they are not looking for winter coats or sweaters. So don't even try!
7. If you have something to say about an item (like: "It's brand new" or "This is vintage").. say it. I don't know whether or not it really helps but it just might swing the buyer.
8. Be friendly towards the buyer you get -- it sounds totally unfair but if they like you, they might be more into what items you show them. I've seen people come in and be rude and you know what happened? Instead of the buyer wanting to look at the clothing, she instead went through it as fast as she could to get the woman out of her face. Seriously.
9. Don't sell something if you aren't happy with the price they're paying! I once brought a pair of leather boots that I bought and ended up not liking at all.. I didn't return them when I bought them because they were final sale for $50 down from $200, and I ended up never wearing them. I brought them in to Buffalo Exchange and told the buyer I'd never worn them, and they wanted to give me $15. I said no thankyou, and then brought them to a different Buffalo Exchange location in the city where I got $30 for them. Since the buyers make up prices on the spot, you really can get a range of prices depending on who you speak to and where you go.
10. And lastly, just don't bring clothing items that are CLEARLY a million years old and completely out of style. You can try, but it 'aint gonna happen. I once saw a woman bring in two carts of children's clothing clearly from the 90s. In fact, I probably owned some of the same styles when I was 8. The buyer bought nothing. It was sad but she should have known that they weren't going to buy 5 pairs of different colored corduroy overalls. No.

So that's it! I love going, but you have to detach yourself from the things you are bringing. The buyer is not commenting on your personal style when her or she doesn't take something. They are thinking about what is right for the store.

Packing

Even though my trip to Paris is two weeks away, I've started mildly panicking about packing and weather and all that good stuff. I don't want to do anything stupid like take something with me on my carry-on bag that they make me throw out, or forget something essential and then have to buy it there. So many things to think about. But because I've decided to tackle this early, I thought I'd share at least a little bit of what the mess in my head looks like. Also, I should note, I'm totally making this as my actual packing list and will refer back to it when actually packing. Yes, I'm using my own blog.

For my carry-on bag:

Want to bring my new purse (found at Buffalo Exchange for $20, reduced from $40, reduced from $390 retail?!?!) which I think will hold most of what I need. It is the Cole Haan Denny bag in a stone color, and it not only is the perfect shoulder bag, it's pretty. :)

Inside the bag!
-Kindle - must remember to pack it full of manuscripts!!! and also charge!!
-Kindle charger -- do planes have chargers? God, I haven't been on one in AGES and can't remember. Maybe?
-Notepad - for the thoughts.
-Pen - for to write the thoughts.
-Lip balm - going to bring my trusy Blistex Moisture Melt balm that got me through this past winter.
-Hand lotion - if I still have any left in two weeks (OBSESSED), will bring my Caudalie "creme gourmande mains et ongles." It is a sample size from Birchbox so it should be perfect.
-iPhone - for music. Must add music I'm not sick of!!
-Headphones
-Makeup wipes - though I don't plan to wear makeup to the airport (does bad bad things to skin on planes I hear), I might want to refresh my face at some point. And on that note...
-I NEED to find a face lotion that works!!!! And then put it in my bag.
-Gum -- my ears pop and it hurts.
-Toothbrush and toothpaste - travel size.
-Sunglasses
-Some kind of tinted moisturizer to put on right before I get off the plane. So I don't look like hell.
-Eye mask? Do I need this? Might be nice for sleeping.

Is that it? Probably not, but I think it might be! I'm going to check my suitcase and the thought of packing that is a little too much for me right now, so I'm going to put it off. Because we're going in April I honestly do not know what the heck to bring clothing-wise. Coat? Tights? Scarf? Are these really necessary? Hard to know, so they're goin' in the bag!

Swap!

My best friend Lillian and I got together today and did a swap of sorts..clothing and makeup... we realized we hadn't done one since high school at which point we were both just wearing the same American Eagle clothing in different sizes and colors. So not much of a swap there but today was excellent. Lillian and I are very different in size but somehow managed to come away with a bunch of things that we both (I'll speak for her if she'll let me!.. no choice. I win!) really love. I came away with three dresses all perfect for spring, a bag, some really nice sweat pant things,  two tank tops, and a button-up army green shirt that I am in love with. When we were trying things on it was funny to watch how things fit sooo differently.. something that just never fit me right instantly fit her perfectly and vice versa. 

It was also so nice to see my beautiful goddaughter Laila and look through all her clothing for the upcoming year and get really excited about everything yet to come! Run-on sentence. But she is just so amazingly adorable.

And in other news, Lillian and I stopped at her local CVS and of course I find something I've been looking for for a while! And of course I couldn't' find it in any Manhattan drug store. The city that has everything doesn't actually. Okay so here it is..

Ever since the lovely Estee from Essiebutton introduced me to this Wet n Wild palette (738 Comfort Zone) on her YouTube channel I have needed it. Not only is it super inexpensive $5, it also has a lot of colors I think I'll wear. And Estee just hyped it up so much that for $5, I had to give it a try. But of course as soon as I set out to find it (I thought I could walk into any Duane Reade in NYC and there it would be), it was no where to be found. I feel like I see Wet n Wild all the time everywhere and never thought to look much at it and the moment I needed it, nothing. But thanks to that Tarrytown CVS, I have my palette. Along with another one that looked really nice and was only $2..(335 Silent Treatment).

Okay okay and I also splurged a little on a Bobbi Brown corrector. But for good reason. There aren't many things I'll spend full price for and a lot of money for, but this is one of them. Because it works so freakin well. I have the Bobbi Brown duo eye concealer in Sand and though I like it, I never use the powder included. I actually hate it. And I've actually run out of the concealer part so time for new. Luckily Grand Central Station has a Bobbi Brown store and as I was early to the train today, I took a walk down Lexington Passage and voila, purchase made (Light Beige). And by the way I love that particular Bobbi Brown store because it is usually dead and the people working there are very nice and helpful.

So way to go, me, making a weekend I dread (St. Patrick's Day) seem less horrific. I did have to punch some drunk wanna-be-leprechauns in the face on the way, though. Just kidding! :)

More Birchbox love

ANOTHER reason why I love Birchbox is the points business. I realllly love it. This is how it works:

Every month when I get my Birchbox I try all the products and then I go to Birchbox.com to rate them. Every product has a survey that takes literally 10 seconds to complete with pull-down menus and all. After I rate each product in my box for that month Birchbox gives me 10 points per product. When I have collected 100 points, Birchbox gives me $10 to spend in the Birchbox online store. SO COOL. I save up my points and then I get products that I love and need to own for free.

For example, I saved up 300 points (or $30) and decided to get..

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (24-Hour Miracle Cream) - 30 ml -- I have a really mini sample I got in a birchbox at one point and I love it. I keep it in my makeup bag and apply it to my face right before I put on makeup. It hydrates and doesn't have a scent and is just a go-to product for sure. This baby was $16 but for me, free.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - 30 ml -- I have actually not tried this but I love these mists for your face. I always feel like the skin on my face is dry no matter what, and these kinds of products just instantly wake me up and make me feel hydrated. I've heard great reviews and well, I wanted it. $18, but for me.. well. . okay I spent $7 on the whole order. Yeah.

They haven't come in the mail yet but I can't wait!

Collection

We all have collections, and I realized mine for the first time today. Strange, but true. It didn't occur to me when I actually bought large expandable file folders (with dividers) to hold my various articles of paper that I have a collection, and that is paper goods. Anything, really, that is pretty or interesting or can be used to make handmade cards or gifts is keepable. Keepable, I say! And yes, I realized it today because I came across this card that I just love. It is also sparkly and handmade on handmade paper. Could I get more crafty? Maybe, if I had made it myself.

NYX Blush

Another product I'm loving right now is a blush by NYX in terra cotta. It isn't something I would normally pick up but when I was in Ricky's the other day I saw it and thought, I could do this. I also thought the name sounded familiar (and that would mean familiar in that I heard it on YouTube. ahem). So it's beautiful and I love it and NYX is so great for a couple things (lipgloss, for example) so I thought I'd try their blush and I'm happy. And also, they're super cheap. Think this was $5. Hooray.

Also it looks like a bronzer but it really is more peachy than bronze-y. Just so ya know.

A couple things

Firstly, I have to talk about the bar I went to last night. It was just so cool and I want everyone to go there so it never goes out of business ever. It is called KBG bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and it is just so great. The reason why I went there with my friend Alexandra is because an author I work with was doing a reading (at a bar? Really? Could that work? Yes. Though, I will say there were some awkward moments about it), and I ended up really loving the atmosphere. It is Russian-themed and kinda dingy, but in a old bookstore kind of way. You know? And the other thing.. it is on the second floor of the building so you have to walk up some stairs (thus deterring a lot of dumb drunk people from entering) so the atmosphere is just so my style. Not so crowded you can't move, and not so loud you can't talk. Okay so here we get to the reading part -- the night we were there was their monthly (?) reading series and it lasted about an hour. Yes, the bar gets quiet for that hour so you can listen to the words they are saying, but then everything goes back to normal after (and in between each speaker with a 5 minute break). I thought it was great. I really really did. Not just because my author was there but because it's just different -- a cool thing to do on a Thursday night at 7PM.

Okay, the awkward parts:
1. The hostess of this reading night was super weird which is fine, I'm okay with that. What was not okay with me was that she, througout the night, got up to the mic and pressured everyone in the bar to donate money to this thing that I didn't pay attention to after the first minute because it was a strange donation. At every table and at the bar and stuff were envelopes. You had to fill out a form inside and essentially volunteer to teach at a local school and then in addition you had to put money in there as a donation. So you couldn't just donate you also had to volunteer. Weird. And I wouldn't mind donating but I just didn't like the way they did it. So I didn't. So this hostess, who was a good hostess I think, got up to the mic many times throughout the evening and was like, "heyyyyy I haven't gotten all your envelopes yet....reallllly.... give me your envelopes...." and I just thought it was rude. You made your speech about what they were for and what you could win at the end of the night (from all the envelopes they were going to pick one randomly and that person would get all the books from the authors reading that evening.. signed..) but like, shut up. Don't make people feel uncomfortable. If I didn't like the atmosphere of the bar and if I didn't know that she wouldn't be there all the time, I would not go back.

2. The author I went to see gets up to the podium and starts to read. It's great. He's funny and I loved the book etc. etc. THEN! All of a sudden the door to the bar slams open and all of these drunk "young people" (my age, actually let's just say it.. hipsters) come flooding into the bar. They all had nametags on. I was so confused because I just did not know where they came from?! The roof? The outside? Was this some sort of party somehwere else in the building and they could only get alcohol here? Well, in any case, they proceeded to not realize what was going on (the reading) and just talk and shout and be obnoxious all over the place. And guess what, this bar is super small. My friend and I just happened to be at the back of the bar near the door and had to witness all these hooligans up close, and we missed about half of the reading. Because of course the author didn't stop reading. Of course he just assumed they'd realize. And at some point they kinda did but then more of them came stampeding in (from upstairs, I could hear more clearly at this pont). Just a mess. They got their alcohol (mostly twist-off wine which I thought was odd at this kind of bar) and went away.

So besides those two awkward parts it was a fun evening. I am especially excited to read this book by Aria Beth Sloss called Autobiography of Us which really made an impact on me.  Go check it out!

Second part to this rambling post is that I got a new Revlon lip butter (the one that I've been eyeing but couldnt tell if it would actually be as dark as it looks.. AND IT IS NOT!!) and I love it. I think i've applied it already 5x since I bought it 30 minutes ago just because I love it so much. I probably look like a clown with too much lip product on.

It is the shade Fig Jam and it is just sooo pretty.

Okay that is that! Thanks for reading.