Hello, friends! Long time, no blog. It’s been a busy month so far—I was traveling for a week, and then I jumped right back into classes, work, and NaNoWriMo(!). Balancing all of these commitments has been no easy feat, but this weekend I have a bit more time to relax and decided to get a blog post up.
I’ve bought some new things recently, as I am wont to do, and have been getting a lot of use and enjoyment out of them, both out of town and in. But I didn’t want to do a post dedicated solely to new stuff, so I am mixing them in with three “old” belongings that I’ve been using and enjoying just as much. I’ve had each of the “old” things for at least a year, and bought each of the “new” things within the past month or so. Without further ado, let’s get started!
I’ve always loved the look of classic Doc Martens patent boots, but I don’t love the leather they are traditionally made of. Luckily, Dr. M has us vegans covered with a whole range of animal-free boots and accessories. I bought this classic style, the 1460, in black vegan leather over 2 years ago and they show no signs of wear so far. I wear these boots at least a few times a week through the fall and winter, and I look forward to keeping them for many more years.
New: Rifle Paper Co x Corkcicle water bottle
Over the years, I’ve collected a number of water bottles (and lost a fair amount of them). But somehow, I found myself at the beginning of this school year with several bottles, but none that didn’t leak in my backpack. I put off getting a new bottle because I already had a few, but the leaking was getting to me. Then I stumbled upon this beautiful bottle in Birdfolk Collective, a delightful gift shop near me that I will definitely be returning to for my holiday card purchases. The bottle is by Corkcicle, and it’s designed by Rifle Paper Co, a company that can take my money all day, every day with everything they make. (What can I say, I love well-designed, whimsical floral prints!!!) I have had a bit of an aversion to the color pink for most of my life (internalized misogyny, anyone?), but I liked this bottle so much that I decided to go for it. And I love it! It’s so pretty, the shape is easy to hold, and it DOES. NOT. LEAK. If you’re in the market for a new water bottle that’s a bit more elegant than the tried and true Hydro Flask or Nalgene (no shade—I still love those brands, too), check out this collection!
Old: My makeup bags
The first makeup bag I ever used was a gift-with-purchase one from the Clinique counter at Boscov’s when I first started wearing makeup. It was a loud pink-and-orange floral print, and not exactly my style. It served me well for years, but I’ve since acquired a few makeup bags that are much more personal and that I love to use. One is from a gift shop in St. Louis (it’s on the Delmar Loop, but I don’t remember the name!), and it is made of a fabric with animals and cacti all over it. Delightful! (Upon recent, closer examination, the brand seems to be called Danica Studios.) The other was a Christmas gift from a friend while she was in the UK, and it features…wait for it…the periodic table of elements. It’s an unexpected combination, and it tickles me every time I use it! This bigger bag is primarily for toiletries, and I use the smaller, printed fabric one for makeup. They’re the best travel companions.
New: Ilia Beauty Necessary Palette in Cool Nudes
I’ve been eyeing this Ilia palette for months and months, and I finally ordered it a few weeks ago. It’s a wonderfully compact range of shades that I will actually use, and the cool tones are perfect for winter (and for making brown eyes pop!). I appreciate Ilia’s commitment to ethical, cruelty-free beauty, and I am really loving this palette so far. It’s perfect for travel and everyday use. And if warm shades are more your speed, they have a “Warm Nudes” palette, too.
Old: girlfriend collective leggings
Girlfriend makes amazing activewear out of recycled plastic water bottles. How neat is that?! Not only is it a great, sustainable concept, the pieces are wonderful (and come in a size-inclusive size range, too). I’ve acquired three pairs of girlfriend leggings in the past several years—the first I tore a hole in during an overly enthusiastic game of volleyball at the Y, so I bought an identical pair of the standard black leggings to replace them. (I still have that first pair with a hole in them, but I might be sending them in soon to take advantage of the reGirlfriend program. This company puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to sustainability. Oh, and speaking of sustainability, I got both of those leggings gently used on thredUp for a fraction of the retail cost. Score!) The classic black leggings are probably my most-worn bottoms; I wear them at least a couple times a week and they are durable, stretchy, comfy, flattering…truly, what more can you ask for in a legging?
New: Everlane Cheeky Straight Jeans
Like the Cool Nudes palette, I’ve been eyeing these jeans for months. For the past year or so I’ve only had a pair of dark-wash skinnies and a stained, distressed pair of boyfriend jeans in the denim department, and I’ve been craving a middle ground—something that’s not skinny, but still fitted and flattering, but also comfy. These Cheeky Straight jeans from Everlane fit the bill perfectly, and I loved my first pair so much that I got them in another color, too (Washed Black and Sky Blue). I was compulsively checking PoshMark multiple times a day to see if a pair had popped up in my size and preferred color, and luckily, they did! These jeans are versatile; I wear them from the office to the field to a night out with friends, and they handle it all with style and ease.
I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my “old and new” favorite things! What have you been loving lately, whether it’s a new find, a rediscovered treasure, or a tried-and-true standby? Let me know!
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