friday things

a day late.

happy december!

i don’t do christmas before december. so i can officially begin the jingle jangle starting right. now.

let’s look at some christmas..


still not there? this tumblr might help. ornaments from here. i will take them all.

the decorations are removing themselves from the attic as we speak. the tree will have to wait til tomorrow bc it’s raining. but i. am. ready.

in other not christmas news…

is it weird that i want these?

this wrapping paper is delightful. not at all christmas-y.

why you should redecorate til you die. i feel so heard!

coats make great gifts

i have a gift guide in the works. i mean i’m not a monster! it’s just that i’m always late to the party bc i assume more people are like me, which is to say last minute shoppers? but fuck, it’s not even december yet. all that to say- this isn’t my gift guide. it’s A gift guide.

give a coat. what a great gift. i need a warmer coat that’s for sure. the wind chill here this morning was 17. SEVENTEEN. let me remind you that this is atlanta. that happens maybe once a year and it’s usually in january. not november. i was not prepared when i went to take a bunch of kids to school. i walked outside and my nuts crawled right up my b-hole.

here are some GREAT coats.

  1. dark green wool blend cape coat - i love this coat. personally think it would make a great gift for any woman any age. who doesn’t love that color? and the cape is so extra.

2. long faux fur coat - well this is nice. i dare say we all need a long coat that you can wear over a cocktail dress when it’s ass cold.

3. coral quilted water repellent coat - i quite enjoy the collar here.

4. faux sheepskin jacket - this isn’t quite a coat but it sure looks warm.

5. emerald green quilted water repellent coat - basic but not boring. looks warm.

6. faux shearling hooded coat - like wearing a teddy bear. everyone will probably hug you though.

7. canada goose altona coat in admiral blue - this is pricey but it’s designed for arctic conditions, so it’s gonna keep you toasty. plus it’s deadass great looking. also comes in black.

8. brown belted coat - this is so good looking. a little oversized which i super dig and the brown makes it feel very designer-y.

9. hide vegan leather puffer coat - i love the structure and shine. cool cut. it feels sporty and sexy and sophisticated.

10. unstructured wool blend coat - this is a great basic coat that will go with anything you throw it over. literally anything. it’s no bells and whistles quality makes it so versatile. like, if you’re unsure what to get…go with this one.

11. oversized quilted coat - another basic but not boring coat for those extra cold days. i like that it’s a little longer but loose so your butt will stay warm too.

12. belted quilted feather coat - super cute. even over your raggedy house clothes this will take your vibe up a notch.

what i'm doing for cyber monday

oh lord how i know there are sales to be had. and oh lord how i know that it can be overwhelming. even to us bloggers who have all the inside 411. i tend to close my computer right about the time i start having palpitations. like, i black friday’d out. i didn’t post. i didn’t shop. i didn’t look at one single sale. and i definitely didn’t go to a mall.

that said, i do 100% of my shopping online. and so, it makes a lot of sense that on the online shopping sale day of the year one should take advantage of things. but what things? ALL the things?! well, i suppose if i could i would. but instead i am replenishing all the things i use every single day (in reality not all of them bc i just replenished some of them) that i am currently out of or almost out of. and i threw in a few things that i want to try new. like vitamin c serum. because i am out and i need new but i’ve been dying to try the vitamin c serum that everyone swears is the only one you’ll ever need. except it’s $200. so, bring on the cyber!

anyway i thought i would share the things i use every day and swear by so much that i am ordering again and again and again. because you all seem to think i have great skin so here’s how i get it.

bioderma micellar cleansing water - this is just one of those things i can’t live without. in the sense that it takes off makeup like nothing else with very little effort. it’s also great for that last bit of mascara that hangs out under the eye that you thought you cleared. just one swipe of a q-tip dipped in this stuff and it’s gone. also great for makeup mistakes and eyeshadow fallout. and i’ve tried other micellar waters and this is the best for the price IMO. (use code: CYBER)


the ordinary caffeine solution - another i have bought repeatedly. for the price you can’t beat it and it works. you can keep it in the fridge for added de-puffing benefits but i don’t bc the fridge is too far. i swipe the dropper right on to my eye bags as soon as i wake up and they’re gone within 15 minutes. then when i go to put makeup on i take a warm cloth and wipe it away. you definitely don’t need to do this but it’s a gel and when i cover it with concealer or foundation it can roll up into little blobs. so i let it do it’s thing and wipe it off before makeup. otherwise i’ll just leave it. (use code: CYBER)

the ordinary resveratrol and ferulic acid - yep. this is a must too. i have absolutely no idea what it’s doing for me in scientific terms but i know that i’ve been using it for a few years religiously and people tell me my skin is good. so. there you have it. (use code: CYBER)


the ordinary retinol 1% - this the ordinary’s highest level of retinol in a product. i personally think it’s the thing that has made the biggest difference in my skin. it’s 8 bucks. bye. (use code: CYBER)


embryolisse lait creme concentrate - it’s just the best moisturizer i’ve ever used and it’s 20 bucks. admittedly i try new moisturizers but i always have this on hand. it’s so soothing and such a badass under makeup primer. (use code: CYBER)


weleda skin food - oh friends. have you ever tried skin food? if you haven’t you’re missing out. it smells like limes? not sure. everyone tells me i smell amazing and it’s usually always this. it’s thiccccc tho. great for hands in this dry ass cold ass weather. and i surely use it there. but i also use it on my lips and cheekbones as highlighter. they are releasing a skin food light sometime in the near future and i couldn’t be more thrilled.


glossier stretch concealer - this is been with me since glossier first came out. i like it better than RMS uncover up. it’s lighter. but it’s buildable. i use it sort of as a foundation in the center of my face and on the high points. i use it over my lighter foundations. i’m shade light and it’s perfect for me. it’s decent at covering dark circles too if you build it up. it’s not great for covering blemishes as it’s too dewy. but again, that’s just not what i use it for. i go in with other concealers for spots which i will talk about in a minute. (20% off)

glossier bow brow - i try the others. i really do. but this one is the one i keep coming back to. the only issue i have with this is it’s SO small. i run out so fast. and it comes out with so much product on the brush that i always have to wipe it away. but the fact that i keep coming back to it is testament to how great it is. i use the blonde shade and it’s perfect. i don’t need any other brow product. it darkens and fluffs. if you have sparse brows i recommend mac shape and shade to “draw in” little hairs then go over the whole brow with this in your shade. you could also use the clear version of boy brow which i haven’t tried but imagine it’s great just like the colored versions. in fact i may order both! (20% off)


mac studio face and body foundation - this is the foundation i use every day. it’s verrrry sheer. but it’s buildable. it goes on like water almost and then as it dries it thickens up. it’s best applied with your fingers/hands. though i’ve used it with a foundation brush just fine. as i said it’s light so you either love it like that because your skin is perfect or you add concealer to the center of your face and high points as i do with the glossier stretch concealer. if you need convincing here is a silly photo of me wearing both products. there is no filter on this photo. it’s the aforementioned products only. (25% off plus free eyeshadow with orders over $50)

wearing mac face and body in N1 and glossier stretch concealer in light over embryolisse lait creme concentrate

yes my boobs are huge. don’t @ me.

real techniques instant brush cleaner with towel - this. is. hard. to. find. real techniques products are sold in target, ulta and the like. but this shit is never there. so buy it here. because it’s genius. it does exactly what it says it does. i ordered 2.

blinc mascara - i have talked about this for years. it’s the only mascara i use on my bottom lashes. never ever does it run. i’ve tried others. they all promise they won’t but they always do. maybe it’s bc i prefer that greased up face look (dewy) and so everything just slides off. blinc stays put because it’s not actually mascara. it’s little hairy tubes. or something. in any case it’s great.


illes formula finishing serum - this is one of those desert island products. trust me. your hair will never look as good without it. smells amazing too.

and finally…

cle de peau concealer - this might be the most expensive concealer there is (at least one of them) but it’s aaammmmaaaaazing. also i’ve had the same tube for 4 years. it’s the best at covering pimples and dark spots. i use beige but i think i will go one shade lighter on the re-purchase. (use code CYBER15)

and now for the things i want to try.

melanie simon c serum - this is the one everyone is raving about. anyone tried it? (use code CYBER15)

charlotte tilbury hollywood flawless filter - this is technically not a foundation. but i’ve heard that when you use it as such it IS A GREAT SHEER FOUNDATION. i want to try it. anyone out there tried it? (use code CYBER15)

my thanksgiving line up

i don’t have a large family to cook for on thanksgiving. and most of the extended portion live far away. nope, it’s just the three of us and a couple of grandparents. sometimes a nephew shows up. it’s super chill in the cooking department so i love trying new things. but i’m not in the kitchen cooking more than i need to. i mean leftovers are great but i don’t want to be eating them for an entire week.

here’s my menu:

my mom is making the biscuits and the cake. she makes great everything but baking is her sweet spot (no pun intended). i’ve made the cake before and it’s better than any pumpkin pie.

i make a new turkey recipe each year bc nothing blows me away or is “foolproof” or a “winner every time”. ovens vary. skills vary. also some bloggers honestly can’t be trusted as “chefs”. i’m no chef but i have been cooking for a looooong time and consider myself pretty fucking savvy in the kitchen. yes, i burn shit but that’s bc i drink too much wine and forget i’m cooking. but if i have my game face on i can pretty much cook anything well. i can also read a recipe and find the flaws before i set out to cook it. with that i can almost guarantee that tieghan’s herb and butter roasted turkey is a winner. the butter-soaked cheesecloth draped over the bird for the entire cooking time kind of makes it a sure thing. a couple of things i question within the recipe:

#1. she suggests cooking the bird for 45 minutes in a 450 degree oven. i’m not so sure about this. that’s hot. and 45 minutes is a long time. now, the real issue with a dry bird is never whether or not it’s brined or injected with all the things it’s HOW HOT IS YOUR FUCKING OVEN AND DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW IF YOUR OVEN IS ACCURATE? seriously get an oven thermometer and you absolutely cannot cook a large bird without an meat thermometer. these 2 things alone can ensure your best turkey ever.

#2. ok so the other thing is the time. while she does turn down the heat after 45 minutes to 350 she also says to cook the bird an additional 2-3 hours. now, i’m not saying she’s wrong. i think for her it’s right bc she knows her oven and she used a pretty large bird (14-16 lbs). what i’m saying is if your bird is on the smaller side (10-12 lbs) you’re going to want to cook it a lot less than 3 hours. even at 350. that said….GET A THERMOMETER. that truly is the secret. i like to take the bird out at 160 degrees and let it rest for about 20 minutes or more.

make ahead white wine gravy also from tieghan. this is basically the same gravy that’s served with the herb butter turkey you just make the majority of it in advance adding the drippings from the roasted bird to finish. i like anything that i can make ahead. if you can make it ahead, do it! trust.


i have not made this angel corn. i had never even heard of it. i think it’s basically a corn casserole. but when i saw it and then read the recipe it was a must try. nutmeg, butter, cream, ritz crackers, chives….yes please.

braised leeks. another one i’ve never tried. it sounds so luxurious. and who doesn’t love a leek?! such a gentle onion flavor. plus i think the leftovers of these could go a long way in the possibility department. on a toast topped with a fried egg? chopped in a salad? in a turkey pot pie? you feel me?

this one bowl pumpkin sheet cake couldn’t be easier to put together (one bowl and a sheet pan) and it’s really delicious. also the frosting is literally dumped on top and spread like a 5 year old did it. so. like. get your 5 year old to do it.

so yeah. no green bean casserole. no stuffing bc biscuits. no salad. and i’m fine with it.