Joseph Steven Carrizales, 26, who was arrested by Laredo, TX, police after briefly fleeing to Mexico across the Rio Grande, told authorities that on July 7 he went to The Happy Hour, a bar in downtown Laredo, with a coworker. When he left, he said he started walking around the downtown area and saw Camarillo crying on a bench.
“Carrizales stated that he and Myriam did a line of cocaine together on the bench as a Lyft...was summoned to pick them up,” according to the affidavit, as LMT Online reported. Previous reports had said that Camarillo was caught on surveillance camera leaving The Happy Hour with Carrizales.
Carrizales said they took the Lyft to his house, where they had sex and did cocaine, after which they fell asleep side by side. The next day, he said he woke up at 2 p.m. and saw Camarillo dead next to him. “Carrizales stated that he panicked and was afraid to call authorities out of fear that he would be accused of killing Myriam. Carrizales stated that the following day, he put Myriam’s body in a tote bucket. Carrizales then placed the tote (containing Myriam’s body) in an upstairs bedroom closet,” according to the affidavit. “Carrizales acknowledged that the body began to cause a foul odor which he tried to mask with bleach.”
After Camarillo's mother filed a missing persons report, police traced the young woman's disappearance to Carrizales' residence when they learned that she had taken a Lyft there. In an upstairs bedroom, they said a "clear plastic tote bucket was discovered containing a human corpse of a young adult female." Carrizales reportedly fled the scene while investigators were still at the house, and neighbors said they saw him running toward the Rio Grande, which is steps away from the residence and marks the border with Mexico. With the help of U.S. Marshals, Laredo police communicated with Mexican authorities, and they apprehended Carrizales, who had reportedly been beaten by drug cartel members.
“Carrizales was found to have been assaulted and beaten by subjects believed to be affiliated with Mexican drug cartels,” according to the affidavit.
Carrizales was arrested and charged with tampering and fabricating physical evidence, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. No bond has been set for him.
“Our worst fears were confirmed when her body was discovered... This case is a tragic one, but there’s a lot of investigation to uncover,” police investigator Joe E. Baeza told LMT Online. “We as a department send our most sincere condolences to the family of Myriam Camarillo and her mother.”
The Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office is working on finding the cause of Camarillo's death, which will help determine whether the case is a homicide, Baeza said.
Camarillo's obituary says she was a basketball enthusiast and animal lover. Her family held a memorial service for her this week. “She loved butterflies, roses, and the color pink. Everything had to be pink. Family always came first for Myriam and she was foremost in lending others a helping hand. A kind heart, a gentle mind, and a beautiful soul gone entirely too soon. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she has touched,” says the obituary.
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If you were looking for a working-class hero, put down the Bruce Springsteen cassette tapes and let's talk about Brittany Howard. The Alabama Shakes frontwoman is dropping a solo album in September and her video for "Stay High" is all about her father, who did shift work in a factory, and the tiny moments Howard remembers of him. Terry Crews plays her dad in the video shot in her hometown of Athens, AL and features cameos of her family and friends. Make no mistake: Howard is making Americana, but it's also rock music, soul music, and indie. Howard is one of those once-in-a-generation artists who bends music to her will; she can't be quantified as one thing or another. This feel-good gem will get you through any rough times and slap a smile back on your face.
The Highwomen "Redesigning Women"
This isn't a song. This isn't a supergroup. It's a motherfucking movement. Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby are the Highwomen (with some help from producer Dave Cobb and Jason Isbell co-writing some tracks). And they're here to burn down the idea that women stick out/don't fit in on country radio. The song reminds me of blistering '90s country hits like Mindy McCready's "Guys Do It All the Time" and Deana Carter's "Did I Shave My Legs For This?," and Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine." The one difference is that the Highwomen (a takeoff on the '70s country supergroup the Highway Men) are overtly feminist, inclusionist, and about equality. There's no battle of the sexes here. It's about letting women share their point of view and giving women a voice in a format that keeps shutting them down.
Hayley Kiyoko "I Wish"
Ahhhhh Hayley Kiyoko is back, and her new video has a very strong The Craft vibe. Do I have to tell you more than that to make you watch it? If so: it's about a love that's not being returned in quite the wrong way, and that "I wish, I wish, I wish" that keeps repeating is putting it on track to be the song you can't stop listening to for the rest of the summer. In a fight with your S.O.? Just finding it hard to match with someone who isn't an asshole on Bumble? Yeah, you need this song.
Sarah Jaffe "Lay Low (Take Care)"
Look, going through a breakup is hard. Going through life is sometimes hard. Sarah Jaffe, who just dropped two new EPs, nails the feeling with this pep talk masquerading as a song. The Dallas native has created an anthem for all of us who do not have our shit together. Which is me, far more often than I care to admit.
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Katelyn Ohashiis a four-time member of USA Gymnastics’ Junior National Team. After competing with a fractured back and two torn shoulders, she decided to stop performing at the elite level, and found joy in college gymnastics at The University of California, Los Angeles. Last month, she graduated from UCLA with a major in gender studies. She writes poetry on body shaming and empowerment, and has participated in speaking opportunities and volunteering with Project Heal, a non-profit focused on recovery from eating disorders. She recently won an ESPY award, and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award. Here's what makes her feel powerful...
I feel most powerful when…
I take ownership over my own life and am in control of the things I have control over. For instance, I feel like I took a lot of control over my life going into my sophomore year of college. Just figuring out what I wanted to do. So, I started my blog, and started getting interested in things that I really enjoy , such as writing and TED Talks.
What does power mean to you?
I think power means to be heard and to have a voice. To be able to speak your own mind is having power. But not just speaking — being listened to.
What do you do when you feel powerless?
I typically write a lot when I feel powerless. That helps me get all of my emotions out, and helps me figure out how to solve my own problems and go from there.
I don’t have one. Icon is a really powerful word. And I think looking up to people is cool. For me, looking up to people is really getting inspired by someone... it’s very powerful. But I don’t have someone that I try to follow or that’s really an icon.
I don’t think you should follow anyone’s path, because everyone is put out there for different reasons. And we have our own uniqueness that we’re supposed to follow. So I think it’s cool to get inspiration from people, but never to try to be another person. I just try to stay true to myself as much as possible, and do the things that I’m passionate about.
As a beauty editor who tests products and interviews the biggest makeup artists in the game, I can officially say I have my foundation application down pat and know all the right spots to apply highlighter to (almost) glow like Beyoncé. However, there has long been one step in my everyday routine I just couldn't get the hang of: filled-in brows.
I'm no quitter, so whenever a new product drops that promises easy application, I jump at it. The problem? I find that with many formulas, the browns are too light for my coloring, while the black shades are too dark. On top of that, the shape of many pencil tips are designed to create "hairs," yet I'm still left with a solid block of color above my eyes.
All this changed when I was introduced to Hourglass' newest innovation: the Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil. The brand's Director of Global Artistry, Marc Reagan, used the product on me ahead of its launch and left me getting compliments for the rest of the day. I know what you're thinking: Obviously, he's a makeup artist! The real test started the next day when I tackled my arches myself.
I put the formula to the test the next morning and was incredibly impressed at how much control I had in drawing in tiny strokes. It was thanks to the slimmest, yet still flat, tip I'd ever seen. Soft results and no block-y look? I was shocked.
My naked eyebrows without product. My eyebrows drawn in with the Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil.
I haven't stopped using the eyebrow pencil since — which was one month ago —and I dare to call it my newest holy grail item, especially for summer. With its waterproof and smudge-proof formula, I've put it to the test at an outdoor electronic concert that involved lots of jumping up and down, during a New York City heat advisory that had my foundation melting off, and even a quick dip in the pool in humid Miami. Yes, my eyebrows have stayed intact through it all.
I never thought I'd see the day that a brow pencil would mean as much to me as my brow stylist. But hey, I also never thought I’d cut my hair — and that happened, too.
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It’s here! Nordstrom’s legendary Anniversary Sale will open to the public starting at 12:30 p. m. today. For a full tantalizing week, only Nordstrom’s credit card-holders have been able to shop the sweet deals from beloved beauty brands like Laura Mercier and Supergoop!, wardrobe staples from Madewell and AllSaints, and stylish, well-priced home accents from Nordy’s own collection. (If you are a cardholder, we’re jealous — you’ll have to fill us in on some of your scores in the comments.) But it’s finally time for the rest of us to enjoy the Festivus of deals that Nordstrom will be peddling from today until August 4 — at which point all of the sale prices will (gasp!) go. Back. Up. (Don’t let this happen to you.)
Truth be told, we’re coming off a whirlwind of discounts these past few weeks, from 4th of July markdowns from indie brands to big-box shops and their battle for the Prime Day dollar, and we know you may not have much room in the budget for a great big spree. But we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to ascend to binge levels to enjoy Nordstrom’s savings — we’ve rounded up the best finds that clock in under $50 (and many of them well below that target) across home, beauty, and fashion. So whether you’re looking to re-up Ouai’s addictive rose hair and body oil or add to your Vans collection, there’s something (affordable) for you in this roundup. Click through to see what we dug up so that you can put those last few pennies to good use.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
One of the nicest things you can do for your head is to massage this exfoliating scrub into your scalp and then work a few drops of the accompanying rose-scented oil into your tresses after rinsing. If your hair doesn’t need any TLC (yeah right), you can apply the scrub-and-oil regimen to your skin. Trust us, it’s heavenly.
Ouai OUAI to Glow Set, $38, available at Nordstrom
Pretty much anywhere you shop, you’ll find a pileup of positive reviews on Calvin Klein’s signature t-shirt bra — in Nordstrom’s case, we counted 243. With very light padding and next-to-no frippery, this is the ultimate minimalist’s bra.
Calvin Klein Modern T-Shirt Bra, $29.9, available at Nordstrom
It's July, which means your Google Calendar is probably packed with weddings, baby showers, and birthday brunches. Save yourself some time and skip the spray tan for this at-home express self-tanner instead. You'll be glowing in an hour.
St. Tropez Jumbo Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse ($80 value), $46, available at Nordstrom
A classic pair of small hoops will enhance any outfit, pretty much anytime of year — and we love that these thick rounded ones come in both silver or gold, for the reasonable price of less than $40.
Argento Vivo Huggie Hoop Earrings, $37.9, available at Nordstrom
“I like make up that is easy and idiot proof,” explained a reviewers of this highly touted brow pencil. Hear, hear! “This is exactly that,” she continued. “The product is so natural. Your brows look done without looking too done.” With both eyebrow pencil/spoolie tool and a clear setting gel, this discounted duo is a must-have for striking, defined brows.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo, $25, available at Nordstrom
Bath towels: one of those things you don’t always buy, but are so glad when you do take the time to splurge on a fluffy new set. Nordstrom’s top-rated ones are marked down to a mere $20 each — quite a steal for an item that has over 500 customer accolades.
Nordstrom At Home Hydrocotton Bath Towel, $20.9, available at Nordstrom
With figure-flattering stripes in ice-cream adjacent colors, this easy-but-sophisticated dress will be a stunner at the office or at after-work cocktails.
Leith Stripe Fit & Flare Sweater Dress, $49.9, available at Nordstrom
Our evangelism for this skin-friendly sunscreen brand knows no bounds, and when you pair their non-toxic, vitamin C-based formula with a spray application that contains 35% less alcohol than traditional spray sunscreens, the result is something that we will definitely be adding to our carts. This trio, which would normally clock in at $57, can be had for $38 thanks to Nordstrom.
Supergoop! SPF 50 Antioxidant Infused Sunscreen Mist Trio, $38, available at Nordstrom
Choose from rose, white, or yellow gold when adding these subtle-but-special charm earrings to your cart. “I love that they are nice and small,” said a reviewer. “They are a good work earring when I don’t want anything flashy.” We could definitely see ourselves wearing these to the office and to happy hour.
Kendra Scott Starburst Huggie Hoop Earrings, $39.9, available at Nordstrom
Don’t underestimate the power of a few new accents pillows — when strategically placed on beds and couches, they can really freshen up a space. This luxurious, deep-pile reminds us of something Meghan Markle would have had in her pre-Harry apartment.
DKNY Pure Looped Decorative Pillow, $32.9, available at Nordstrom
A crucial serving accessory for those tiny-apartment dinner parties that happen around the coffee table, the lazy Susan will help keep exclamations of “pardon my reach!” to a minimum. (Although there’s really nothing wrong with this, come to think of it.) An elevated, modern marble top and dark wood base sets this style apart from your grandmother’s tableware.
Nordstrom At Home Marble & Acacia Wood Lazy Susan, $45.9, available at Nordstrom
Nordy sweetens their Anniversary Sale beauty deals by bundling like products into irresistibly convenient and well-priced packages — and this Laura Mercier set consists of some of the heaviest hitters in the luxe brand’s skin-perfecting arsenal.
Laura Mercier Prime & Perfect Collection, $39, available at Nordstrom
Did you know that the classic striped long-sleeve tee looks perfect and sophisticated with everything? We pair ours with jeans and pencil skirts alike, or use layer it over slipdresses during the summer when the office AC gets a little too aggressive. We love J.Crew’s version for its cool dropped shoulder and just-right slouchy fit.
J.Crew Striped Tee with Grosgrain Trim, $35.9, available at Nordstrom
Give your burgeoning wine collection the respect it deserves with a minimal and stylish rack that will look really, really nice sitting in your kitchen — or wherever you can find space for it.
Nordstrom At Home Wine Rack, $29.9, available at Nordstrom
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: an insurance agent working in financial services who makes $38,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on 5-Hour Energy.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $875 Student Loans: $200 Other Loans: $300 Spotify: $12 Gym: $25 Yoga: $99 Car Insurance: $176 Phone/Wi-Fi: $0 (My dad pays for my phone bill, and I don't have Wi-Fi or cable in my apartment.)
Day One
8 a.m. — I have to rush to work this morning! I have a bad habit of hitting my snooze too often, which means I didn't have any spare time to fix a cup of coffee. I visit a local coffee stop and order a Red Bull with raspberry flavoring and a 5-Hour Energy mix to add into it. I sip my raspberry-flavored heart-attack drink during my drive to the office. My head is aching, so I take some ibuprofen and mentally prepare myself for the day. $8
12 p.m. — It's my lunch break, and I'm starving. I brought a salad with miso dressing. I use my lunch break to drive over to a friend's apartment and hang out while I eat my lunch. I prefer to eat lunch with company.
5 p.m. — I call around to get quotes on my car insurance before I make my monthly payment, because I still feel like I'm paying too much for my lackluster coverage. I work in insurance, so I know the importance of having good coverages, but it's going to be expensive for me until I turn 25, so I keep my benefits to a minimum. No other company can beat my rate. I can't get insurance through the company I work for due to my age, but I don't want any of my associates to know how young I am. I tell them it's because I'm on a “restricted income.”
7 p.m. — I live alone, so I don't often cook for myself. I snack on some chips and salsa while I get my bath ready. My tub is huge and has jets! I get relaxed with bath bombs and scroll through my social media before washing up and going to bed.
Daily Total: $8
Day Two
8 a.m. — I wake up late again, despite falling asleep at 9:30. I never feel well-rested. I rush to the gas station that's closest to my office and pick up a Bang energy drink — the zero-calorie, 350 mg caffeinated drink. I go with the cotton-candy-flavored can, and I also buy a small bag of Annie's cheddar snacks. I get to the office right on time for our morning meetings! $5
12 p.m. — I'm feeling empty — it's been too long without a proper meal. I drive to my friend's apartment again and fix up a bowl of instant cranberry oatmeal and then snack on my cheddar crisps. My hour break goes by too fast — back to work. I have to make my monthly sales quota! Being an insurance salesperson is so easy; everyone needs insurance. BUT selling insurance that is more expensive than most companies' and selling intangible value? That's what is so hard. I could easily work for another company and make twice the amount of sales I'm producing, but I choose to stay with my agency because I think it's the best quality insurance. I do wish I was making more money than I currently am, though.
6 p.m. — I had a long, long day, so I stop by the mall on my way home. I buy a new pair of Toms, some socks, makeup, and dinner to bring home. I get sesame chicken and fried rice from the food court, but by the time I get home I'm super exhausted. I fall asleep before I can even take a bite. Oops! $80
Daily Total: $85
Day Three
8 a.m. — I wake up early enough to fix myself my own cup of coffee and make it to work. I don't eat breakfast, as you probably have noticed by now. I'll be spending the rest of the morning at my desk doing my sales thing.
1 p.m. — Salad lunch! I love love love vegetables. I add in nuts this time to switch things up. I also take my lunch break time to stop by the gas station to fill my tank up. $31
7 p.m. — After work I drive to pick my younger sister up. We Google Chinese food in our area, and only two spots are open. We stop by one of the places that has a bar and walk straight back out of there because it's full of drunk people and also smells bad. We get back in the car for a long drive to the other side of town to the other place that's open. I'm glad we made the trek. The food is AMAZING, and the server is also amazing. I pay for her dinner because she's 18 and doesn't work ($33 and I tip our server $10). $42
Daily Total: $73
Day Four
8 a.m. — My mornings are almost always the same. As long as I get my caffeine intake satisfied, I'm on a roll. I work 40 hours a week, so my social life is not thriving. I get onto my Snapchat and reply back to messages from last night. There's a handful of men who message me on the daily about taking me out on dates or hooking up. I don't have any interest in dating at the moment, so I don't reply back to most of the messages. It's funny how now that I pay my own bills and spoil myself, I've noticed that most men don't have much to offer. I'm the only unmarried single representative at my work, and I'm also the youngest! I'm not too worried about being in any relationships. I'm just trying to get my college degree and “secure my bag” — that's millennial talk for "I'm just trying to make as much money as possible."
3 p.m. — I skip out on lunch today because I have an appointment with a prospective client. I help this elderly couple switch their insurance over to my company's plan. My favorite part of my job is meeting and helping elderly couples. This particular couple still flirts around with each other, even after 30 years of marriage. I make a huge closing sale and then snack on some cookies and a candy bar and get back to work.
7 p.m. — I stop by McDonald's on my way home to pick up some plain cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, which remind me of how much I've been slacking! It's been a while since I've gone to the gym or taken a yoga or cycling class. How do people have the time to work 9-5, study, go to the gym, and still have a social life? Beats me. I go home and watch Netflix movies before I shower and fall asleep. $15
Daily Total: $15
Day Five
8 a.m. — Another Red Bull/5-Hour Energy heart-attack drink to start my day! I have a headache, and I'm hoping this caffeine makes it go away. $8
12 p.m. — I get a vanilla latte today for my lunch. I'm exhausted, and I have no appetite from this headache! $6
6 p.m. — It's Friday night, which means movie time! I'm excited because I'm taking my youngest sister out for the night. I swing by and pick her up and then head to the theater. I didn't realize how much the total cost of all of our snacks was going to be. I don't remember how much the movie tickets cost (we bought them a week ago), but the total of how much I spent on concessions shocked me. I pay for the date because she's my baby sister and I don't expect my family to pay for anything or owe me back. I bring her home and then head back to my place and get straight to bed. $60
Daily Total: $74
Day Six
11 a.m. — I get a Red Bull soda again, but this time without the 5-Hour Energy. I'm planning to knock out some errands today. My fridge is empty, so I need groceries, and I need to visit my bank to get a cashier's check for next month's rent payment! $7
3 p.m. — I get the check for my rent from my bank and then head to the grocery store. I end up spending quite a bit on groceries, but it's enough to stock my fridge for a while. I head home for a nap. I love Saturdays. $69
10 p.m. — There is not an awful lot of things to do in this town, so some friends and I kill time by driving around. We stop at a gas station to get snacks and drinks for the ride. We end the night at a friend's apartment, playing beer pong and watching movies. $50
Daily Total: $126
Day Seven
12 p.m. — I ended up spending the night at my friend's house, whoops. I get up and drive one of my friends home and then stop at McDonald's to get a breakfast sandwich, hash browns, juice, and a smoothie. I then head home to take a bath and spend the day relaxing. $12
3 p.m. — It's truly a lazy Sunday. I spend basically the whole day snacking on chips and salsa and watching Riverdale on Netflix. I'm not mad! I fall asleep around 9.
Daily Total: $12
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.
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After she was introduced to Trump, Murad told him her story and how she came to be part of the group of people he was meeting with that day. She explained how even though ISIS no longer poses a threat to her home, going back is not as simple as booking a plane ticket. “Now there’s no ISIS, but we cannot go back [home] because the Kurdish government and the Iraqi government, they are fighting each other [over] who will control my area,” said Murad. “They killed my mom, my six brothers.”
“Where are they now?” Trump asked. Murad repeated herself, responding, “They are in the mass graves in Sinjar. And I’m still fighting just to live safe. Please do something.” Murad has spent years speaking out against ISIS for the rape and trafficking of thousands of Yazidi women. “And you had the Nobel Prize. That’s incredible. They gave it to you for what reason?” Trump asked, prompting Murad to explain her plight again.
Nadia Murad won the Nobel Prize for her horrific struggle with ISIS-the same ISIS Trump uses to scare his base. His reaction to her is a combo of jealous over a prize he wants and not really listening distain.
-Nadia Murad: “They [ISIS] Killed my mom, my six brothers” -Donald Trump: “Where are they now?” -Murad: “They Killed them..they are in the mass graves in Sinjar” [Trump nods...]pic.twitter.com/g4YPUFStWI
Trump doesn’t know who Nadia Murad is, doesn’t seem to care, doesn’t listen as she tells her horrific story, overhears her saying her family was killed - the only thing of interest to him is that she got the Nobel peace prize and he wants to know why pic.twitter.com/CuJhubVZRN
Donald Trump says that he cares about combating sex trafficking, but he couldn't even manage to have a coherent three-minute conversation with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, a trafficking survivor and global leader on ending sexual violence.pic.twitter.com/Mxd6tX9alP
Murad pressed on and said there are still 3,000 Yazidi women and children missing including her niece, nephew, and sister-in-law. Trump responded by promising to look into it.
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“I want my friend out. I appreciate you trying to help him. But while your [sic] at it @realDonaldTrump can you also let those kids out of cages?” Bieber wrote.
The “cages” the singer is referring to are the detention centers where asylum seekers, including many children, are being held. Numerous reports have called the overcrowded facilities “inhumane” with detainees reportedly being held without soap, beds, or toothbrushes.
I want my friend out.. I appreciate you trying to help him. But while your at it @realDonaldTrump can you also let those kids out of cages?
Trump has yet to publicly respond to Bieber’s request.
As far as A$AP Rocky, in addition to Bieber, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West have lobbied for the rapper’s release. A$AP Rocky, née Rakim Mayers, was detained in Sweden after allegedly being involved in a street fight following his performance at the Smash X Stadion festival in Stockholm. A petition calling for his release has garnered more than 70,000 signatures.
On Saturday, Trump tweeted that he spoke with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and said the Swedish leader had pledged the rapper “will be treated fairly.”
“Just had a very good call with @SwedishPM Stefan Löfven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly. Likewise, I assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk and offered to personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative,” Trump tweeted.
Just had a very good call with @SwedishPM Stefan Löfven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly. Likewise, I assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk and offered to personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative....
Don't put your credit card away just yet: Amazon Prime Day may be over, but there are still a few more things to check off your wishlist. Fortunately, another massive sale is on the horizon, and it's offering deals you literally can't find anywhere else.
Technically Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale kicked off last week, but it's only been available to Nordstrom cardmembers — until now. Starting July 19 and running through August 4, everyone will have over two weeks to stock up on makeup, skin, and hair must-haves you'll likely never see again. Think: exclusive jumbo-sized bottles of Philosophy's Purity Made Simple, never-before-seen lip shades from Charlotte Tilbury and Dior, and even Le Labo fragrances that won't drain your checking account.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Foreo LUNA Mini 2 Compact Facial Cleansing Device
Get a gentle, deep clean with the Foreo Mini 2, a tiny but mighty take on the original silicone cleansing brush, on sale for just $93.
Foreo LUNA™ mini 2 Compact Facial Cleansing Device, $93.13, available at Nordstrom
Clarins Double Serum Set
One for you, one for a friend. (Or, you know, two for you.) Stock up on Clarins' best-selling Double Serum with this sale-exclusive serum two-pack.
Clarins Double Serum Set ($243 value), $177, available at Nordstrom
Estée Lauder Repair + Renew Set
This four-piece set is worth it for the full-size Advanced Night Repair serum alone. However, the three deluxe sample sizes of Advanced Night Repair Eye, Perfectly Clean foaming cleanser, and Revitalizing Supreme face cream.
Estée Lauder Repair + Renew Set ($152 value), $104, available at Nordstrom
St. Tropez Jumbo Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
It's July, which means your Google Calendar is probably packed with weddings, baby showers, and birthday brunches. Save yourself some time and skip the spray tan for this at-home express self-tanner instead. You'll be glowing in an hour.
St. Tropez Jumbo Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse ($80 value), $46, available at Nordstrom
Philosophy Purity Trio Set
When it comes to holy-grail beauty products, Philosophy's Purity reigns supreme at the top of countless lists. Why not stock up on the creamy cleanser while you can?
Philosophy Purity Trio Set ($87 Value), $55, available at Nordstrom
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Set
No one can bottle sex quite like YSL — Black Opium is the get-you-laid scent you never knew you needed. Luckily, this three-piece set comes with a tiny travel-size bottle that fits comfortably in your purse for those times you really do need it.
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Set ($218 Value), $150, available at Nordstrom
Laura Mercier Prime & Perfect Collection
Nothing is more iconic than Laura Mercier's loose setting powder. Snag this set and you'll never have to worry about your makeup melting again.
Laura Mercier Prime & Perfect Collection ($54 Value), $39, available at Nordstrom
GHD Black Platinum+ 1-Inch Styler
Finally, you can master the celebrity-approved beachy texture stars like Khloé Kardashian and Ashley Graham are known for thanks to this innovative flat iron. Not only does it make frying your hair virtually impossible with its temperature-adjusting technology, but also only takes 10 seconds to heat up.
GHD Black Platinum+ 1-Inch Styler ($249 Value), $166, available at Nordstrom
MAC Cosmetics MAC Eye & Face Kit
A palette that contains 12 eyeshadows that flatter every skin tone and rings in under $50? Sold.
MAC Cosmetics MAC Eye & Face Kit ($82 Value), $45, available at Nordstrom
Fresh Rose Hydration Rush Ritual Set
Find out exactly why Fresh's rose collection is so popular thanks to this five-piece skin set, including a cleanser, toner, face mask, face cream, and lip balm.
Fresh Rose Hydration Rush Ritual Set ($101 Value), $69, available at Nordstrom
Diptyque Set of 5 Travel Size Candles
Scoring one Diptyque candle feels like winning the lottery, but getting five for less than $55 feels like a case for the FBI — it's that good.
Diptyque Set of 5 Travel Size Candles ($75 Value), $55, available at Nordstrom
Dior Addicted to Glow Deep Glow Set
Buy this three-piece set of Dior Lip Glows for the Nordstrom-exclusive shade Hit, but stay for the chic clutch it comes in.
Dior Addicted to Glow Deep Glow Set ($93 Value), $70, available at Nordstrom
Makeup Eraser Wild Hearts The Original Makeup Eraser Duo
Eco-friendly cleansing never looked so cute with these machine-washable cloths — which last up to 1,000 washes, FYI.
Makeup Eraser Wild Hearts The Original Makeup Eraser Duo ($40 Value), $25, available at Nordstrom
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil Duo
Get that just-got-back-from-vacation glow with these dual body shimmers that don't leave behind a greasy residue.
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil Duo ($90 Value), $72, available at Nordstrom
NeuBrow neuBROW® Brow Enhancing Serum
Forget about all your over-plucking woes with this pro-approved brow serum that works instantly. Not only does the serum use a subtle tint to create the appearance of thicker arches straight away, but it also offers biotin and keratin to strengthen and smooth your brow hair over time.
NeuBrow neuBROW® Brow Enhancing Serum ($200 Value), $100, available at Nordstrom
Artis The Elite Black Finish Collection
Never get caught with dirty makeup brushes again, with Artis' on-the-go wipes that dust off every last particle of old foundation from your favorite brushes.
Artis The Elite Black Finish Collection ($138.50 Value), $95, available at Nordstrom
Stila Eyeliner & Liquid Eyeshadow Set ($34 Value), $20, available at Nordstrom
DryBar Get Brushin' & Crushin' Set
We never thought at-home blowouts could be fun... or fast. Since this straightening hair brush is usually $150, you're practically getting everything else — including three full-size styling products — for free.
DryBar Get Brushin' & Crushin' Set ($238 Value), $165, available at Nordstrom
Le Labo Discovery Set
Most people would pay a whole month's rent for one drop of Le Labo's iconic fragrances, so snagging four sample bottles for less than $90 is a deal we can feel great about.
Le Labo Discovery Set, $85, available at Nordstrom
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle The Party Essentials
Peak French-girl cool looks a lot like a Chanel red lipstick and purse-friendly bottle of Coco Mademoiselle.
Chanel COCO MADEMOISELLE The Party Essentials, $122, available at Nordstrom
La Mer Mini Miracles Set
Believe it: The hype over La Mer's Soft Cream is real, and you can try it for yourself for less than $100. Miracles do happen.
La Mer Mini Miracles Set ($122 Value), $90, available at Nordstrom
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We’re tempted to take more risks this Sunday when seductive Venus opposes transformative Pluto. Instead of acting on your impulses, talk out your fantasies when the Sun conjuncts a retrograde Mercury on Sunday. This conjunction offers us a little break from the messenger’s backward motion, helping us to connect with others and explore our creative sides. Our hearts open more freely on Sunday, as the Moon wanes in Pisces until Monday morning at 6:02 a.m. EST. We’re ready to stand up for what we believe in on Monday when the Sun enters charismatic Leo. Draw on the inner lessons that Cancer season brought you and go forward into the week with courage. Consider what lies on the other side of your fears and embrace your power. The Moon wanes into fiery Aries at 6:02 a.m. EST on Monday morning, inspiring us to take action in finishing up old projects until Wednesday at 10:47 a.m. EST. On Wednesday, compliments paid will go a long way as Mercury retrograde conjuncts with Venus. If you’ve been working to break down some emotional barriers, take a look into your shared history and find common ground. It’s a brilliant day to build up your relationships on a more meaningful level. Perfect your follow-through while the Moon wanes in Taurus from 5:42 p.m. EST on Wednesday evening until early Saturday morning at 12:27 a.m. EST. Our focus sharpens when the Moon illuminates this hard-working sign, so make the most of its influence in the last few days of the week. Action planet Mars trines a retrograde Jupiter on Thursday, putting us in the mood to challenge each other and support each other’s ambitions. It’s a great day to get started on your latest passion project or challenge your friends to a friendly game of cards. On Saturday, charming Venus leaves intuitive Cancer and makes her way into the passionate sign of Leo. The planet of love and beauty helps us command attention in the way that we carry ourselves and dress. We’re insistent on fact-finding on Saturday morning as of 2:28 a.m. EST, when the Moon wanes in Gemini. Instead of pressing others for the information you seek, look inward to yourself for direction.
March 21 to April 19
Sunday is anything but a lazy day for you, Aries. The Sun, your personal planet of entertainment and creativity conjuncts Mercury, your health and work ruler, helping you find fun in productivity. Follow your bliss on Monday, when the Sun lights up your 5th house of creativity, pleasure, and romance. You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way when the Moon, your domestic ruler, wanes in Aries at 6:02 a.m. EST. Harness this positive energy by putting your can-do spirit to work. It’s time for you to ramp down on your projects so that you can get started on bigger and better things until Wednesday morning at 10:47 a.m. EST. Mercury, your personal planet of well-being, conjuncts Venus, your planetary ruler of love, helping you to invest your time in self-love. Get in tune with your body and prioritize your needs. If you want to heat up your next make-out session, take the lead and show off your best snogging skills. Are you ready for a new adventure? Start planning your next rendezvous on Thursday, when your ruling planet, Mars, trines Jupiter, your personal planet of expansion and travel. Sensual Venus encourages you to be fearless in love on Saturday, as she enters the charming sign of Leo. Venus also rules your financial zone, which could burn a hole in your pocket as she tours this majestic sign. Find ways to build yourself up, and budget accordingly so that you don’t get caught off-guard.
Celia Jacobs.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
In the mood to mix up your space, Taurus? The Sun, your domestic ruler, conjuncts money-minded Mercury on Sunday, giving you cost-effective ideas to improve your home. Hit up yard sales or Amazon’s hidden gems to focus on saving while Mercury, your financial ruler, moves retrograde. Let the challenge of a shoe-string budget inspire your creativity and find your home design persona. Pour your energy into creating harmony into your dwelling on Monday when the Sun makes his way into your 4th house of family, instincts, and foundations. Prioritize your closest relationships and get comfortable with saying “no.” It’s time for you to put your needs first, sweet Bull. Invest in yourself on Wednesday when your financial ruler, Mercury, conjuncts with Venus, your personal planet of well-being. Switch up your regular grocery store run by avoiding the center aisles, where pre-packaged foods live. Instead, buy fresh ingredients in small batches, and experiment with new recipes that save you time. The Moon blesses you with a sense of peace on Wednesday night when she wanes in Taurus at 5:42 p.m. EST. Work hard and focus on your goals while the Moon inhabits your sign until 12:27 a.m. EST on Saturday morning. You’ve got a new spring in your step on Saturday, when Venus, your planetary ruler of health and work, enters proud Leo. Show off a little — you deserve the recognition.
Cachetejack.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
Home is your number one destination this Sunday, Gemini. Gather your strength for the week ahead as the Sun conjuncts Mercury, your domestic ruler. Search for lost things, prepare for the week ahead, and enjoy stillness while the messenger planet moves in reverse. You’ll be ready for a change of pace on Monday when the Sun lights up your 3rd house of communication, thought, and community. You’ve been given a little edge over Mercury retrograde, as the Sun sharpens your quick wit this week. Get ahead of the curve: organize your inbox, catch up on your correspondence, and reach out to acquaintances you’ve meant to reconnect with. Work to make your space a little more magical on Wednesday, when Mercury, your personal planet of home and family, conjuncts charming Venus. The romantic atmosphere that you build at home will inspire you to take a chance on love on Thursday when fearless Mars trines Jupiter, your love ruler. Instead of meeting up for drinks, get out of your comfort zone, and invite that special someone to embark on a summer adventure. Review your finances on the weekend while the Moon, your money ruler, wanes in Gemini onwards from Saturday after 2:28 a.m. EST. You’re ready to catch small details that can help you create a healthier financial future.
Amber Vittoria.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
How do you evaluate your worth, Cancer? Put this abstract concept into perspective and think about your talents with your most basic needs. Meditate on your idea of worth and value, when your financial ruler, the Sun, conjuncts Mercury, your planetary ruler of inner growth. Your focus becomes more deeply ingrained in material matters as the Sun lights up your 2nd house of finances, values, and possessions on Monday. Take a closer look at your spending while the Sun moves through this house, and consider what no longer serves you. Investigate where you can trim the fat, and what financial goals you’d like to achieve. Now is the time to be conscious of your habits and how they affect your personal happiness in the long run. This is a wonderful opportunity to step out of your usual routine and make important edits. Seize the opportunity to improve your work-life on Thursday when Mars, your personal planet of career, trines Jupiter, your planetary ruler of well-being. Set boundaries with your coworkers, and escape the office with a walk during your lunch hour. Indulge yourself at home on Saturday, when your domestic ruler Venus makes her way into the regal sign of Leo.
Ariel Davis.
Leo July 23 to August 22
Keep your cool, Leo. Your family could offer some unsolicited advice regarding your professional choices on Sunday. Venus, your personal planet of career opposes Pluto, your domestic ruler. Remember that their concerns come from a place of love, and try to take advice graciously while these planets are at odds. The Sun, your ruling planet conjuncts Mercury, your money ruler on Sunday, boosting your intuition towards finances. It’s a good day to consider your value — is it time that you asked for a raise? Your confidence is renewed on Monday as we begin Leo season. The Sun shines his light on your 1st house of self, first impressions, and appearance, boosting your mood and helping you to get comfortable in your own skin. Take a fashion risk and have fun with your summer style, as only a Leo can. You’re oozing wealth on Wednesday when Mercury, your financial ruler, conjuncts Venus, your career planet. Give your desk a deep clean and treat yourself to a happy little plant to keep your spirits high. Consider how your work makes you feel while professional Venus spends her last week in the sensitive sign of Cancer. Get ready to work towards conquering your goals on Saturday, when she enters courageous Leo.
Lynnie Z.
Virgo August 23 to September 22
Are you getting enough credit, Virgo? You may be craving a little recognition for your efforts on Sunday when the Sun conjuncts your career ruler Mercury. Be ready to stand up for your accomplishments and celebrate your team’s efforts. You’re ready to break away from socializing and partying on Monday when the Sun enters your 12th house of inner growth, vulnerability, and conclusion. Your focus shifts towards developing your spiritual side — take time to get away from unnecessary distractions. Pay attention to your opportunities on Wednesday when Mercury, your planetary ruler of career, conjuncts money-minded Venus. If you’ve been looking to move up in your field, you could be presented with options that offer you more financial freedom. Don’t be afraid to talk yourself up during this lucky transit. If you’ve been romance-starved, circle Thursday in your calendar as a day to heat things up in the bedroom. Mars, your personal planet of sex, trines domestic Jupiter, helping to enchant the object of your affection. Venus, your financial ruler, emboldens you to make brave decisions with cash as of Saturday when she moves into charismatic Leo.
Simone Noronha.
Libra September 23 to October 22
All work and no play will make anyone dull, Libra. Get ready to start socializing on Monday, when the Sun shifts his gaze from your 10th house of career to your 11th house of groups, friendships, and goals. Reconnect with friends and make plans to hit the beach in style. The world is your oyster on Wednesday, when your ruling planet Venus conjuncts Mercury, your planetary ruler of inner growth and good luck. Treat yourself to something special, and keep the good vibes flowing with a random act of kindness. You could be ready to get serious with someone new on Thursday when your romantic ruler Mars trines Jupiter, your planetary ruler of communication. If you’re in a relationship, take the time to enjoy an impromptu date night or get creative in the kitchen. Ruling Venus makes a major change in your attitude on Saturday as she enters irresistible Leo. Embrace your inner royal and carry yourself with pride while Venus moves through this sign.
Sarah Mazzeti.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21
Your analytical mind never stops moving, Scorpio. Make notes about your ideas on Sunday while the Sun, your personal career planet, conjuncts quick-thinking Mercury. The messenger planet is currently moving backward, helping you to look at your challenges from a new perspective. On Monday, the Sun enters your 10th house of career, structure, and public image, helping you to get your ideas off the ground and seek support from your network. You’re a hot commodity this week, so strategize accordingly. Work on your online presence, and if you’re on the hunt for work, brush up your LinkedIn and online resumes to increase your chances of catching an employer’s eye. Mars, your personal planet of health and work, trines Jupiter, your financial ruler on Thursday encouraging you to stretch your dollars a little further. Pick up a workout routine that’s easy on your wallet and makes you feel great. This is a great day to start a workout challenge and stay focused. On Saturday your personal planet of love,Venus, speeds into the passionate sign of Leo. Enjoy taking the lead in your romantic relationships while she moves through this confident sign.
Kelsey Wrotten.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21
Are you having an “Ah-Ha!” moment, Sagittarius? The Sun conjuncts Mercury on Sunday, bringing you a small revelation. The messenger planet helps to guide both your love life and your career, so keep an open mind as you navigate the day. Take time to process any new information that comes your way before making any major decisions while Mercury moves retrograde. You’re ready for the Sun to light up your 9th house of exploration, adventure, and belief on Monday, considering it’s your favorite house. Make a list of the places that you’d like to travel, or opt for a more laid back getaway at a lake house this summer. Feed your mind while the Sun moves through this house and get reading recommendations while you unplug. Quiet your mind on Wednesday, when your love and career ruler Mercury conjuncts Venus, your personal planet of well-being. As a fire sign, you’re used to constantly being on the go — relax and try to slow down to find harmony in your romantic and professional relationships. Don’t second guess your decisions on Thursday when feisty Mars trines your ruling planet Jupiter. On Saturday, your personal planet of health and work Venus, move into poised Leo. Adopt a minimalist look that keeps you fresh and breezy on your commute to work, and you’ll be ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Kissi Ussuki.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
You’ve got the recipe for success, Capricorn. If you’d like to operate on auto-pilot this week, spend Sunday preparing your meals and outfits ahead of time while the Sun conjuncts Mercury, your personal planet of health and work. You’ll be glad for a sense of structure on Monday when the Sun illuminates your 8th house of transformation, mystery, and dramatic change. It could be time for you to let go of old ways of thinking that no longer serve you. Instead of relying solely on yourself, reach out to loved ones when you need support. Take note of your wins on Wednesday when your personal planet of well-being, Mercury, conjuncts Venus, your planetary ruler of career. Replenish yourself at home on Thursday, when your domestic ruler Mars trines Jupiter, your planetary ruler of inner growth. Make a conscious effort to unplug and take a digital detox. On Saturday, professional Venus inspires you to take on more leadership at work as she makes her way into Leo. If you’re interested in leveling up, spend a little time this weekend researching what you need to make the next step count in your career.
Loveis Wise.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18
You’ve been building up your strength this summer, Aquarius. Instead of soldiering on alone, use it to help support your network on Monday, when the Sun, your planetary ruler of love, lights your 7th house of partnerships, contracts, and business. Make time to get together with people whom you admire and spitball on your wildest ideas. There’s a chance that you could connect with someone that could help you to make creative magic with. On Wednesday, messenger Mercury conjuncts Venus, your planetary ruler of home and family, helping you to find serenity at home. Don’t hold yourself back on Thursday, when action planet Mars trines lucky Jupiter — it’s time to bring your fantasies to reality. Bounce your ideas off your colleagues and friends to help yourself think out loud. Prioritize your space as of Saturday, when Venus, your domestic planet, enters charismatic Leo. Take time to frame old prints, remove useless junk, and tackle small jobs that make your home sparkle.
Hilda Palafox.
Pisces February 19 to March 20
You often wear your emotions on your sleeve, Pisces. Embrace your openness on Sunday when the Moon, your planetary ruler of creativity and love, wanes in your sign until early Monday at 6:02 a.m. EST. The rest of the zodiac will be on the same wavelength, making it easier to understand each other’s feelings. Focus on creating a safe space in your home on Sunday when the Sun, your planetary ruler of health and work, conjuncts a retrograde Mercury, your domestic ruler. When the messenger planet moves in reverse, he often brings things and people from the past with him. Set boundaries for yourself to protect your happiness. The Sun moves to enhance your well-being as of Monday when he enters your 6th house of health, order, and service. It’s time for you to fixate your energy on building routines that support your physical being, and sticking to a schedule. Reassess your value at work on Thursday, when Mars, your personal planet of finances trines Jupiter, your career ruler. Jump on the chance to inquire about a raise or the chance to climb the ranks at work. Push your fear aside and take note of what you need to make your next move.
Rachel Jo.
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I’m out on the ice. I feel like that’s my element of choice. I grew up in the era of Hannah Montana. When I was off the ice, I was just a normal kid, and when I was on the ice, I was an athlete going out in full force to achieve my dreams and goals. That gave me the most power. When I set out to achieve something that feels impossible, that’s the closest thing to feeling like a superhero.
What does power mean to you?
Power is influence. It’s about how you can influence yourself, and use your influence for good.
I'm really proud to be Asian American — a community that hasn't historically been very outspoken. But for the next generation, it's all about breaking down those barriers and doing things that weren't even an option to us growing up.
In figure skating, I'm really lucky that I had role models to look up to, so it was a little easier for me to chase my dreams, make the 2018 Olympic team after being cut in 2014, and landing that triple axel. For me, that was power, and it was influenced by those who came before me.
What do you do when you feel powerless?
I find power in my family, and reaching out to them. I also share a really deep connection with my dogs. I find sometimes when I don’t have the power to fight for myself, to have an animal who relies on me — relies on me emotionally and financially to feed him — it gives me purpose. Sometimes I feel like I’m really selfish, so to be able to go out and fight for something other than myself is really what I do when I’m feeling powerless.
Today, I have three dogs. But in 2014, I leaned on my deep shared connection with my pugalier. His name’s Lincoln. I got him when I was feeling my loneliest after 2014. I got him at the shelter, and he was just sitting in the window. I felt like a shell of a person, but he followed me around everywhere and helped me overcome 2014.
What's your power anthem?
I really like Eminem, going into competition. I think he really raps with a message. So, I like the song “Not Afraid.”
Who's your power icon?
Definitely Michelle Obama. As First Lady, she embodied the definition of female boss lady. And to see how she championed the cause of healthy school lunches for all was truly inspiring.
What do you wear when you want to feel powerful?
I really find it ironic that I ended up becoming a figure skater. Because figure skaters have this stigma that we’re girly girls who like the sparkles and the beauty aspect of the sport. Ultimately, when you tear that away, the sport is hard on the body. And so, I feel most comfortable and powerful when I'm in my yoga pants.
Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.
For more female-athlete content, check out On Her Turf.
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a content marketing intern working in design who makes $18 per hour and spends some of her money this week on horchata.
Occupation: Marketing Intern Industry: Design Age: 21 Location: New York, NY Salary: $18/hr Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $576 Gender Identity: Woman
Monthly Expenses Rent: $0 (I'm a college student, and I live at home with my parents. Since we're only about an hour and a half from my school by public transit, they decided against spending on the astronomical dorm and apartment costs.) Student Loans: $0 (I'm still in school.) Wi-Fi & Cable: $126.74 (I started paying this bill about six months ago as a decision between me and my parents.) Cell Phone: $0 (I'm on my parents' plan.) Health Insurance: $0 (I'm on my parents' plan.) MetroCard: About $80 Birth Control: $15 (I get it from my school's health center — don't tell my mom.) Netflix: $3.50 (I split the monthly payment with a few other friends.) Hulu: $0 (Thanks to my boyfriend.) Spotify: $2.50 (I'm on a family plan with a few of my friends.) Savings: I have about $3,200 saved as of this month. It's from working full-time for the past two summers and part-time for two semesters.
Day One
6:30 a.m. — I purposefully set an alarm for 30 minutes before I actually need to wake up, because hitting snooze gives me some semblance of having control over my sleep schedule. I highly recommend it. However, today is actually my first day of work at my new job, so I'm actually pretty eager to get out of bed.
7 a.m. — I'm awake, but my legs aren't. I stumble ungracefully into the bathroom, pee, brush my teeth, wash my face, and put in my contacts. I notice my eyes are extremely puffy from crying last night (a lot to unpack there), but I decide not to worry too much about it.
7:20 a.m. — Even if you think you're an early riser, there's always an Asian parent who beat you to it. My parents have the day off and are both sitting down at the dining table already. They've made steamed dumplings, which I pour a generous amount of Chinkiang black vinegar over, and eat about seven of them.
9 a.m. — I arrive at my new office on time — no signal problems, no sick passengers, #blessed. I'm a little nervous to go in at first, but my supervisor comes to meet me and shows me to my desk. They've piled it with a bunch of company merch and a welcome card. I'm not going to lie, my heart melts a little bit from the kindness of the gesture, and also because I love free things.
10:30 a.m. — I spend most of the morning meeting the team, getting a tour of the office, and reading up on the company. My supervisor has given me a to-do list for the next few days, so I slowly work my way through it.
1 p.m. — My supervisor takes me out to lunch, expensed. We go to a nearby café that I've never been to before. I order a shrimp avocado salad, and we get fries to share. We talk about the company, career stuff, and my plans for the future. Her advice is really helpful.
4:30 p.m. — The rest of the day has flown by, and I can hardly believe it's almost the end of it.
6 p.m. — A 20-minute train ride later, I arrive at my clinic for my first ever Pap smear. It has been a day of new beginnings.
7:30 p.m. — I get home, shower, and have dinner with my family — my parents ask me about my day, and I try to explain what marketing is in my conversational Chinese. They nod politely.
9 p.m. — My boyfriend calls me as he's getting out of work (he's on the West Coast for the summer), since he's three hours behind. I catch him up on my first day, and he tells me about his day.
11:30 p.m. — I'm in bed! It'll probably be another hour before I fall asleep, but that's something I've accepted anyway. My head hits the pillow for some well-deserved rest.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
7:15 a.m. — I'm out of bed a little later than yesterday, so I move more quickly.
7:30 a.m — I make myself some earl grey tea with honey and almond milk. My parents left me some udon noodles for breakfast, so I have those and go back upstairs to change and finish getting ready.
9:15 a.m — I arrive in the office and open up my to-do list for the day. My first assignment is writing out thank you notes for clients and assembling gift boxes to be shipped out.
9:30 a.m. — I'm surrounded by tape, scissors, and cardboard, kneeling on the floor taping up boxes. Never have I felt more like an intern.
1 p.m. — For lunch, I get a spicy Thai salad from By Chloe (comped by work). I text my friends and scroll through Twitter and Instagram.
2 p.m. — My boss sends me assignments. I put the gift boxes to the side for now and get to work on what she sent me.
5:15 p.m. — I find myself pretty swamped with assignments for the rest of the day– my boss gives me the okay to leave, so I head out and start walking to Chinatown, where I'm meeting a friend for dinner.
6 p.m. — My friend and I catch up over Shanghainese food. We order scallion pancakes, Shanghai lo mein, cold jellyfish, and cold chicken. We split the bill evenly. $13.89
8:15 p.m. — I get home and hang out on the couch with my brother for a bit before going upstairs to shower. I used his Metrocard today, so I Venmo him back for two rides. $5.50
10 p.m. — I text my boyfriend for a little bit before he goes to watch the new Spiderman movie. I spend the rest of the night on YouTube, and remember to take my birth control.
11:30 p.m. — Time for bed! I spray my pillow and sheets with a lavender oil mist that I got from Whole Foods when I was feeling indulgent one time.
Daily Total: $19.39
Day Three
7 a.m. — I'm up! I feel like my body is getting used to waking up at 7 again.
8:15 a.m — The 20-minute walk from my house to the subway station leaves me drenched in sweat, but today is the last day of the week before we get time off for the Fourth of July, so I'm excited about that.
9 a.m. — Arrive at work and take care of some short assignments my boss gave me.
10:30 a.m. — Finish filling up the boxes, then manually inputting information for 27 shipping labels to tape on the boxes. Absolutely thrilling, and I can barely contain myself.
1:30 p.m. — My supervisor wants me to have a social media launch plan by our 2:30 meeting. I go into STRESS packing mode.
2 p.m. — Every last box has been taped up, labeled, and is ready for shipping. I can't tell if my lower back hurts from crouching or if I generally just have very poor posture. I alternate between standing and kneeling on the floor to give my legs a break. These gift boxes are my magnum opus. I word-vomit social media campaign ideas into my notebook in preparation for my meeting in 30 minutes.
3 p.m. — I raid the office kitchen for a granola bar and almonds.
4 p.m. — I have my meeting with my boss, and it's pretty quick. We decide on a social media launch for the coming week and I get to work on it. She sends me a copywriting example from our marketing director, and I'm so impressed by her writing. I give myself a reminder to speak with her sometime during the summer about career stuff.
5:20 p.m. — I finally muster up the courage to ask my boss if I can leave, since I'm done with my assignments. She wishes me a good Fourth of July weekend, and I'm out the door.
5:45 p.m. — I meet my friends, A. and R., at R.'s apartment since we're getting tacos together. We go to my favorite taco place, Taqueria, located on St. Marks Place. I get a lengua taco, a chorizo taco, and a horchata. Chips and salsa are free. $12.78
6:30 p.m. — We go back to R.'s apartment and A. makes a gin and tonic, which we share. It relaxes me, and I sink into the couch, scrolling through Twitter and giggling to myself.
6:55 p.m. — A. and I live in the same neighborhood, so we decide to head home together. I haven't seen him since I started working, so I catch him up on my job and how things have been going. He's currently prepping for the LSAT and has been pretty stressed, so we haven't had the chance to talk much recently. We joke about non-work-and-LSAT-related things too, because balance is important.
8:30 p.m. — I arrive home and decide that I'm too lazy to shower yet, so I call my boyfriend. Since we didn't get to talk much yesterday, we talk about how the week has been going for us. I'm really proud of him, and myself, for where we are in terms of figuring out what we want to do in the future. I'm lucky to have someone who I feel like I can grow alongside, and these conversations I have with him really remind me of that.
12 a.m. — I get off the phone with my boyfriend and get into bed with my phone. I alternate between scrolling through social media and texting my boyfriend for a while longer before I fall asleep at around 2 a.m.
Daily Total: $12.78
Day Four
10:15 a.m. — It's the Fourth of July and I don't have work, so I get to sleep in. I take my time getting out of bed, brushing my teeth, and changing into my workout clothes.
10:30 a.m. — I've had a gym memberships on and off, but nowadays I find that I'm able to fit in workouts more regularly by doing them at home. I usually just do two or three workout videos at a time, one cardio and one or two strength-training.
12:45 p.m. — I've showered and made myself breakfast/lunch. I eat really weird food combinations when I'm home alone, and today's consists of noodles, boiled dumplings (cut in half), and an egg cracked on top. I eat it out of the pot and season it with gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a little bit of black vinegar and it's good, I swear! While eating, I start bingeing the new season of Stranger Things.
4 p.m. — We're having a family barbecue today, so I go downstairs and start prepping some skewers for later while watching Stranger Things.
5:30 p.m. — My parents come home from work and more relatives show up. I help out with some more food prep, and I realize my absolute KING of an uncle brought PORK BELLY to the barbecue. There are also little toddlers running around, and they're adorable but also very draining to play with.
8:30 p.m. — The sun has set, so the fireworks start. My family and I watch them from the backyard. No matter how old I get, there's still something pretty magical about the sight and sound of fireworks in the sky. I also find myself glancing over at the toddlers to see their reactions to the fireworks — the way their faces light up in awe is the cutest, most innocent thing ever.
11 p.m. — The barbecue is pretty much over, and I've retreated to bed to finish where I left off on Stranger Things. It gets a little too intense for pre-bedtime (I get nightmares easily), so I decide to stop for a bit before falling asleep shortly thereafter.
Daily Total: $0
Day Five
10:30 a.m. — The only thing better than barbecue food is barbecue leftovers, and that's what I have for breakfast. I don't really have anything planned for the day, and I'm not really feeling like working out. I text my cousin asking if she wants to go to the mall later, since I need a new bathing suit top. She offers to come with me later.
11 a.m. — It's a lazy, Stranger Things- type of morning.
2 p.m. — My cousin comes to pick me up and drive me to the mall. A Primark opened up recently, and it's my first time going. It's the type of place where I can definitely see myself buying a ton of things I don't need, so I keep in mind that I'm here for a bathing suit top and nothing else. But I do end up buying a pumice scrubber for my feet, because who's trying to show up at the beach with crusty heels, especially during #hotgirlsummer?? My cousin buys a sun hat and nail polish, but I ask if she can pay for my scrubber with her stuff, because the shame of going up to the cashier with my single item being a foot scrubber is too much. $1.50
3:30 p.m. — At Hollister, I finally find the right bikini top. (Is there anything more annoying to buy than swimwear?) It was originally $28.79, but I get it on sale for $17.37. $17.37
6:30 p.m. — I have dinner with my family and talk to my brother about his new job. It's his first time working retail, and lately he's been coming home exhausted from his eight-hour shifts. I'm worried about his physical and mental state, but he says that he can handle it, and hopefully he won't have to work as many days once the holiday weekend is over.
9 p.m. — My boyfriend's sister is arriving in town tonight, and I ask her if she wants to go to brunch tomorrow. The pressure is on for me to find something solid, because for some reason I decided to tell her that “I know some really good brunch places,” even though I've been to brunch maybe four, five times in my life. I start Yelp-ing and researching a good spot for us to go tomorrow and decide on Café Mogador.
10 p.m. — I'm not sure what I spent the last three hours doing between dinner and now, but it probably involved some YouTube and texting my friends and boyfriend. I'm super tired despite not having had too busy of a day, and I knock out in the middle of an ASMR henna tattoo drawing video.
Daily Total: $18.87
Day Six
5:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off for my 8 a.m. driving lesson, my first one ever. For some reason, even as I try to go back to sleep (30 more minutes), I feel a weird sense of heaviness and anxiety in my chest. This doesn't happen much anymore, but when it does, it always feels the same, and it's almost always in the morning.
7:50 a.m. — I arrive at the driving school to wait for my instructor. He goes through the process of telling me where everything is, and teaches me how to start the car and pull out. Midway through, he switches seats with me and I'm behind the wheel for the first time ever. Maybe I'm too tired to be nervous, but I think I do pretty well for my first lesson. We spend the next hour and a half driving through the residential area, while I practice my left turns, right turns, and stops.
10:15 a.m. — I get home and decide that I need to nap. Twenty minutes later, I drag myself out of bed and do a workout.
2:45 p.m. — I'm running a little late because the trains were running local (love when that happens) and I meet my boyfriend's sister outside the restaurant. I apologize for being late, but luckily, she doesn't seem very bothered by it. I'm relieved because some of my morning anxiety carried over into the train ride, and I was worried about bringing any negativity to the meeting. We have good, easy conversation and my anxiety gradually melts away. We order the same thing, poached eggs in tomato sauce, which comes with pita and home fries, and a mimosa each. It's good food, but I wouldn't say it's super filling. Including tip, it comes out to just over $20, which is probably why I've only ever gotten brunch four times. $22.87
3:30 p.m. — We walk to a café where my friend works. He graciously comps us for two iced lattes and I sit and talk with my boyfriend's sister until about 5:40, when I start to head out to midtown to celebrate my friend V.'s 21st birthday with her.
6 p.m. — I meet my friends in front of the Presbyterian church on 5th Ave, and we start walking together toward the Peninsula Hotel. When we get to the rooftop bar, Salon de Ning, we're told that there currently isn't any outdoor seating at the moment, and to wait and order drinks at the bar. We decide to just stand on the terrace and take in the view, but I'm getting worried because the skies are pretty overcast. Sure enough, the waiter tells us that they might close the rooftop soon because of the rain. We cut our losses and make our way downstairs to use their bathroom instead. (It's a really nice bathroom, okay.)
7 p.m. — After being denied entry to the 230 Fifth Avenue rooftop bar (one of our friends isn't 21), V. decides that we should head over to Eataly instead. I order a pesto pasta, and my friends get cacio e pepe. We all agree that pasta was the best decision of the night. And it stopped raining. $19
8:30 p.m. — We get a text from a friend who's hosting a party on a nearby rooftop. It's only a short walk away, so we take our time eating and waiting on an unnecessarily long line for gelato. I love us. $5.33
9 p.m. — We arrive at the rooftop, and I have to admit, it has a pretty amazing view, especially since it's nighttime. I've lived here my whole life, and yet there's still perspectives from which I've never seen the city before, and I wonder how many others there are yet to see.
10:30 p.m. — I'm one game of beer pong in and my social battery is close to depletion. Luckily, it's not too big of a party, but I'm about ready to go pretty soon. My friends agree, and we decide to head out in a bit. It takes V. about another thirty minutes to say goodbye to everyone, and then we start to make our way back down to the lobby.
10:45 p.m. — V. and I both live in south Brooklyn, albeit on opposite ends. I decide to take the train with her back to her neighborhood, since I don't want to take the subway alone. I figure I can just Uber from her stop back home. We're both pretty sleepy on the train ride, but manage to squeeze in one last heart to heart conversation. Late night subway heart to hearts = priceless.
12 a.m. — We arrive at V.'s train stop. She tries finding me an Uber on her phone, but there aren't any cars in the area. Who would've thought that traveling from one end of south Brooklyn to another at midnight wouldn't be a very popular route?? Luckily, I'm able to get a Lyft, and I part ways with V. after she swears to me several times that she's fine to walk home by herself.
12:25 a.m. — I arrive home, shower, and promptly get into bed. I tip the Lyft driver because without him, I'm not sure how I would've gotten home. $16.11
Daily Total: $63.31
Day Seven
10 a.m. — I wake up to the sound of my mom's voice telling me to get up, because we're meeting our family friends for dim sum. I get out of bed for dim sum. I'd do anything for dim sum.
11:30 a.m. — I spend some time reading before we head out and use the time alone to collect my thoughts from the busyness of yesterday.
12:30 p.m. — It's about a 30-minute wait for seating, but it's worth it. We order barbecue pork buns, har gow, chicken feet, fried pumpkin cakes, a flaky durian pastry, and steamed rice rolls.
4:30 p.m. — I have my second driving lesson, and today I learn how to pull over and parallel park. Correction: I attempt to learn to parallel park.
6:30 p.m. — I get home and have dinner with my family, but I'm feeling a combination of dehydrated, irritated, and antsy. Is it the Sunday scaries? Imposter syndrome? Or just mild food poisoning? It's hard to say. I go upstairs to use my laptop and try to wait for the feeling to pass.
10 p.m. — The feeling still hasn't passed, so I decide to work on something that will keep my hands busy, and hopefully my mind as well. I cropped a polo that my dad gave me a few days ago, so I work on hemming the bottom so the edges don't curl up in the wash. It takes a while since I'm doing it by hand, but the combination of working in the tiny stitches and having YouTube playing in the background does help to relax me.
11:30 p.m. — I decide to call it a night, since I'm back at work tomorrow. I remind myself that a shitty day doesn't equal a shitty life, and then I'm asleep.
Daily Total: $0
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Speaking at an immigration town hall in her home district, the New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for a “9/11-style commission” to investigate child separations on the border with Mexico on Saturday.
"In the 9/11 commission they had — they were charged with investigating and making sure they dug up every nook and cranny of what happened and how it happened in our system, and I think that that kind of study is what's going to be required in order to reunify as many children with their parents as possible," Ocasio-Cortez said during a town hall held in her district, CNN reports.
Thousands of children were separated from their parents at the southern border last year, under a “zero tolerance” policy meant to deter migrants from Central America. The effects have been lasting, and potentially devastating, as an unknown number of children have been separated from their families. A report filed by an internal watchdog released in January claims that thousands more children have been separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border than the 2,737 listed by the government.
“Even if you separate a kid from their parents for two days you have already created lifelong, lasting trauma,” Ocasio-Cortez said, speaking to about 250 people at the Nancy DeBenedittis School in Corona, Queens.
“And there are children who have been separated that we have reunified, and it took about a year to reunify some of these kids with their parents. Lifelong trauma for which we, the United States, are responsible.
“And it chills me to my core to think about 20 years from now, when these kids grow up, the story that they will have about America,” she continued. “That is exactly why we cannot allow this administration to define immigration policy within the United States. This is something that I think is going to have to take a 9/11-style commission.”
She added, “I believe we have a responsibility to provide mental healthcare services to those children for the rest of their lives.
While the topic of the town hall was immigration, Ocasio-Cortez addressed President Donald Trump’s racist subtweet and chants at his rally about her and three other freshmen congresswomen of color this week, and tied them back to the issue at hand.
“All you need to do is hear what the president did this week to know that this is not about immigration at all. Because once you start telling American citizens to quote ‘go back to their countries,’ this tells you that this president’s policies are not about immigration, it’s about ethnicity and race,” she said.
The 9/11 commission the Ocasio-Cortez was referring to — officially called the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States — was created in 2002 to provide a "complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks."
Advocates expect that the number of children separated from their parents and placed in detention will continue to surge in upcoming months. Here are a few ways in which you can help these families.
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If you have a Nordstrom Clubmembers card, you've probably spent the last week shopping every nook and cranny of the beloved department store's anniversary sale. But after what's felt like a lifetime twiddling our thumbs, this epic round of discounts is finally open to the public.
From now until August 4th, everyone (and we mean everyone) can get their hands on this season's most sought-after trends at a quarter of their original prices. Think dickies (a top contender during Fashion Month), oversized suits, chunky boots and more, all wrapped up in a shiny silver package. And if you're worried that cardmembers already bought up all the best finds, don't fret; we're here to prove that this round of discounts is nowhere close to being over.
To make sorting through it all just a little bit easier, we got to work scouring Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, or more specifically the designer section of it, and hand-selecting only the most exclusive deals. See what we found in the slideshow ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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July is a scuba dive into the deep sea of sales. Post Prime Day, our shopping tanks are running on empty and we're ready to come up for air — but, just as we start to surface, another lure of irresistible deals floats in to hook us: a big kahuna called Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale. The annual event kicked off today with major cross-category discounts on premium brands that not even our spent bank accounts can resist.
Before you take a shopping reprieve, join us for one final dive into the most wanted Nordstrom scores. We looked back at last year's carts and crafted a list of R29 reader's most wanted products to shop for 2019's extravaganza. There's a little sale something for everyone; from exclusive beauty sets to plush home bundles, top-rated fashion basics, stylish luggage, and more. With just enough shopping oxygen left in the month, it's time to swim through the 29 deals ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
PSA: cult favorite beauty buy on sale. Described as a, "universally flattering peachy-pink shade," this Orgasm themed trio comes complete with a hydrating lip balm, cream highlighter stick, and classic powder blush in the ever popular shade.
NARS Orgasm Makeup Set, $35, available at Nordstrom
What constitutes as a cult-favorite good? We'd say this pair of high-waisted black leggings made from moisture-wicking materials with nearly 6,000 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating fits the bill. The customer praise extends from,"Cute alert," to, "Best leggings I’ve ever owned. I love these leggings so much. I always stock up during anniversary sale! Even full price, they’re super affordable and crazy high quality," and beyond.
Zella Live In High Waist Leggings, $38.9, available at Nordstrom
Our readers don't sleep on 100% cotton towels — especially when it's a bundle of six cut from yarn-dyed and drop-stitched jacquard velour on sale for $32 (that's $5 a towel).
Peri Home Mingled Stripe Set of 6 Towels, $32.9, available at Nordstrom
Ruled, "a great basic bra," with the, "perfect fit," by zealous (and well supported) reviewers. This most wanted sale buy is crafted with lightly padded microfiber cups that create a smooth and contoured shape for easy wearing underneath your outfit of choice.
Calvin Klein Modern T-Shirt Bra, $29.9, available at Nordstrom
This Nordy sale exclusive bundles the luxe beauty brand's most popular complexion-perfecting goods: a travel-sized trio of foundation primer, translucent setting powder with matching velour puff, and secret under-eye brightening powder.
Laura Mercier Prime & Perfect Collection, $39, available at Nordstrom
Sunscreen isn't a seasonal buy, it's a year-round essential — and it isn't cheap. Which is exactly why we're doing backflips over this paraben and oxybenzone-free brand favorite's discounted set. The limited edition kit contains SPF-infused hand cream, lip shine, oil-free face and body lotion, and refreshing rosemary setting mist.
Supergoop! Supergoop! Live Life in the Sunshine Kit, $45, available at Nordstrom
R29 readers love a stylish, multi-season shirtdress that can be worn to work then seamlessly transitioned to an evening out — and this vibrantly color-blocked Topshop number is ready to do the trick for $62.
Topshop at Nordstrom Tie Waist Midi Shirtdress, $62.9, available at Nordstrom
Get you a diffuser that also doubles as a serene cool-misting machine — this ceramic model with a built-in timer and automatic shutoff capabilities will deliver for a $25 score.
Serene House Ultrasonic Cool Mist Aromatherapy Diffuser, $25.9, available at Nordstrom
Whether you're heading back to school or hitting the hiking trails, this durable pack in a stylish blush hue wields dual storage compartments for safely housing all of your life essentials — from books to snacks and electronics.
The North Face Mini Crevasse Backpack, $62.3, available at Nordstrom
If you haven't noticed, R29 readers are serious about sleep — making this sateen pillow filled with high-loft PrimaLoft for medium support a most-added-to-cart sale score.
Nordstrom At Home Medium Support PrimaLoft® Pillow, $35.9, available at Nordstrom
We are eagerly awaiting the sale price to drop on this limited-edition eye palette born out of an exclusive collaboration with Nordstrom and shimmering makeup star, Charlotte Tilbury.
Charlotte Tilbury Easy Portable Pocket Sized Eye Palette, $55, available at Nordstrom
Unless you go commando, comfy underwear is a necessity. This particularly pretty lace thong favorite from Hanky Panky boasts over 288 reviews, 4.8 out of 5 stars, and a sweet sale price that breaks down to $14.75 per pair when you purchase four. Oh, and comfy underwear-wearing customers call it the best, most comfortable pair of panties around.
Hanky Panky Regular Rise Lace Thong, $16.9, available at Nordstrom
Another skincare set we have our eyes, hearts, and carts set on — this curated La Mer face collection, which includes travel-friendly minis of the The Treatment Lotion, Moisturizing Soft Cream, and the Eye Concentrate.
La Mer Mini Miracles Set ($122 value), $90, available at Nordstrom
Rich yellow wrap dresses have been R29 readers' dress of choice this summer — and we are majorly digging this J.Crew sale find complete with a luxe sash and front pockets (for stashin' snacks).
J. Crew Short Sleeve Wrap Dress, $91.9, available at Nordstrom
Colorful area rugs are yet another must-cart home buy — especially when slashed price tags apply. Pop this plush, sea-foam blue number anywhere inside your space for a subtly elevated vibe.
We'll be wearing this top-shopped straw hat with a tonal passementerie trim, molded crown, and flat brim for the remainder of summer and all the way through fall.
Brixton Lera II Straw Fedora, $44.9, available at Nordstrom
Reviewers are enthusiastic (to say the least) when it comes to describing their T3 Cura dryer with digitally controlled heat, a gentle airstream, and built-in ion generator; The raves span from, "The best hairdryer that I have ever used. Leaves my hair feeling soft and luxurious. None of that over blown frizz," to "Worth every penny... seriously! I never leave reviews but this blow dryer is amazing. I have thick curly hair and this cut my drying time in half and on a lower heat setting. My hair feels so soft and less frizzy after using this, and I'm sure will save it from the heat damage going forward. Love my T3."
Displaying your burgeoning booze collection is a lewk — so do it in sophisticated decor style with this brushed gold-tone rack that will house your six favorite vintages.
Nordstrom At Home Wine Rack, $29.9, available at Nordstrom
It's hard to believe this simple mess bag costs only $12 yet it boasts over 302 rave reviews, garnering it a near 5 out of 5-star rating. Customers accolades say it all: "This lingerie bag is of very high quality. I bought this one to replace one that lasted over 10 years of twice-weekly (or more) washing. Same design and construction, so I expect this to last a long time, as well. I love the little hanging loop. I hang this on the outside of my laundry basket, so it stays open and ready to catch bras and tiny socks."
Nordstrom Lingerie Large Lingerie Wash Bag, $12, available at Nordstrom
These top-rated hoops are studded with diamond-like stones on the slender golden interior and exterior — reviewers deem them delicate, beautiful, and luxe-looking.
Nordstrom Medium Seamless Pavé Hoop Earrings, $38.9, available at Nordstrom
Whether carted as a gift or a personal staple for elevating charcuterie games, this marble and brass hedgehog-shaped board is a most wanted buy that radiates elegant whimsy (and looks really cute covered in brie).
Anthropologie Hedgehog Marble & Brass Cheese Board, $44.9, available at Nordstrom
Another theme with R29 readers: they like to travel light and in style. This most wanted leather crossbody is currently on sale for $100 off its usual premium price — plus, savvy shoppers can snag it in colors from black to orange, pink, red, or blue.
Marc Jacobs The Box Leather Crossbody Bag, $195.9, available at Nordstrom
Slap a monogram on it and you better believe it's a must cart! This classic decanter and glass set with weighted bottoms can be elegantly personalized with etched single initials.
Cathy's Concept Monogram Five-Piece Decanter Set, $55.9, available at Amazon
If there's ever a time to splurge on expensive candles, it's during a sale. This premium set from luxe fragrance boss Diptyque delivers four travel-sized and decor-worthy votives of berry, wood fire, fig tree, and mimosa-scented styles.
Diptyque Set of 5 Travel Size Candles, $55, available at Nordstrom
Stylish and lightweight, hard-shell carry-ons for under $100 are tough to come by — so you may want to nab this Nordstrom travel favorite while you still can.
Nordstrom Chevron 18-Inch Spinner Carry-On, $92.9, available at Nordstrom
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Every year when fall comes around, I am awash with a post-summer longing for school. But alas, my days of schlepping a duffel bag up a hill into a musty dorm room on move-in day are over. The part that I miss most: the first day of class, where I would crack open a fresh academic planner that I'd treat as my bible for the first few weeks of the semester and then inevitably get too lazy to keep up with.
I love planners: the month-at-a-glance grid, the daily breakdown, the blank lines for one-off reminders, the inspirational quotes at the start of each month. I mean, what's a new school year without bullet pointed lists jotted down in your planner's margins during drop/add period?
Whether you're into planners of the uber-structured variety where everything has its designated space, or fancy yourself a minimalist and prefer more doodle room, check out this roundup of 2019's cute and useful college planners at a variety of price points.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
This floral planner is adorned with gold foil accents and has weekly and monthly page layouts, plus month tabs and plenty of stickers.
Rifle Paper Co 2020 Garden Party, $34, available at Rifle Paper Co
If you want to design your own planner down to the page — this one's for you. Plum Planner lets you choose from a variety of sizes, layouts, and patterns, and even personalize the cover.
Plum Paper Plum Paper 7" X 9" Personalized Planner, $32, available at Plum Paper
This planner has a vertical page layout that's perfect for organizing daily appointments and keeping lists. Plus it has tabs, a cute little pocket folder in front and back, and an emerald watercolor cover!
Paper Source 2019-2020 Emerald Glaze Medium Planner, $29.95, available at Paper Source
This Shinola planner is perhaps the fanciest-looking of the bunch. It's sleek, smooth, and can be personalized with your monogram. And it includes moon phases! It's also inconspicuous enough for class or a meeting.
Shinola 18 Month Runwell Planner, $26, available at Shinola
Yearly, monthly, weekly, daily — this planner has it all. Still, its interior is on the sparse side (with plenty of blank pages), which means you'll never run out of the room. Also, the cover is v chic.
Poketo Daily Weekly Monthly Planner in Abstract, $34, available at Poketo
This planner wins as cutest of the bunch. It's full of artwork, many, many stickers, and would make for a great gift. And it comes in a variety of pretty colors/designs, too. But perhaps the best perk of all is ban.do's matching planner accessories.
Bando Medium 17-Month Academic Planner - Block Party, $28, available at Bando
I have been an ardent Erin Condren fan since middle school and remain one to this day. There's something about that spiral binding. This planner comes in a variety of designs, includes detailed pages meant for projects and exams, and has assignment-specific stickers to help you stay organized.
Erin Condren Fruity Beauty Academic Planner, $37, available at Erin Condren
If you're looking for a planner with less structure, this one's for you. Fill in the date, your to-do list, notes, and whatever else you need it for. And it comes with a sweet ribbon for a page holder.
Urban Outfitters Daily Planner Journal, $18, available at Urban Outfitters
A tried and true classic. If you're looking for a straightforward planner without all the frills, look no further. There's ample note and list room — the weekly view on the left is paired with a ruled page on the right. Also, the binding lets you lay the planner flat on your desk, which is great if you're looking for something less bulky.
Moleskine 18-Month Weekly Notebook Planner, $17.95, available at Moleskine
A planner for the do-er: This one is all about pushing you to achieve your goals, both short-term and long-term. For each day, there's a section for your top three to-do prompts, plus there are built-in reminders to keep you in check.
Day Designer Academic Year 2019-2020 Daily Planner, $59, available at Day Designer
It's one of the simpler options, but with nice paper and a gorgeous cover — it wins for the best visuals of the bunch. Plus, it comes with a variety of different covers to choose from.
Papier Earth Mother Weekly Planner, $28.99, available at Papier
Who said pretty planners have to cost the big bucks? This option from Target is inexpensive and has all the fixings, plus tabs that make it super easy to toggle between months.
Blue Sky 2018-19 Academic Planner 5" x 8" , $7.99, available at Target
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Like palm trees, ladybugs, and itty-bitty flowers, butterflies have long been a staple on the nail-art menu of most salons. The last time you wore the half-heart wings on your fingernails was probably around the same time you had the hair clips to match — circa mid-'90s — but if there was ever a time to bring the old-school butterfly back into your nail-art rotation, it's right now.
On Instagram, Kylie Jenner just showed off her take on butterfly nail art, and the '90s design has seen a big trend resurgence as of late, according to cool-girl salons like NYC's Vanity Projects. Rita Pinto, the salon's owner and founder, tells us that summer 2019 has been all about retro nail art. "It sounds odd, but all of this summer's biggest nail trends are '90s throwbacks: deep white French, rainbows, and now butterflies," Pinto says.
Ahead, find an up-close shot of Kylie's nails, plus the chicest butterfly manicures new to Instagram. Scroll through the gallery and screenshot your favorite look before your next salon appointment, or try the trend in its DIY — and also very '90s — form with a pack of nail-art stickers.
In her most recent Instagram post, Jenner showed an in-shower shot promoting her new KylieSkin Coconut Body Scrub and showing off the more subtle, tiny pink butterfly decals on her acrylics.
"We've seen the butterfly design in a bunch of different styles," Pinto says. "Most looks have the wings floating asymmetrically across the fingers."
Ayumu Takasawa, resident nail artist at Vanity Projects, tells us that brightly -colored butterflies painted with blue or orange polish give a feminine touch to any manicure.
If you look closely, you can see that nail artist Hang Nguyen remixed her butterfly design by combining it with a leopard-spotted tip.
If you talk to any two people about their experiences in the workforce, you’ll get two entirely different answers. We’re in an age of nonlinear career paths — of early starts, late blooms, extreme pivots, and, more often than not, an accumulation of wildly different roles — and there is something to be learned from everyone’s unique path. That’s why we partnered with Clear Eyes, the #1 selling eye drop brand whose latest campaign is all about celebrating the moments in life when we truly shine. Together, we spoke to women whose trajectories have been anything but traditional — and landed them right where they were meant to be.
Making lipstick can’t be rocket science, KJ Miller thought, in the earliest stages of launching her cosmetics company. Wholesale lipstick manufacturers told her she would need to order thousands of units of lipstick if she wanted to create the perfect nude shade to match her skin tone, but she and her cofounder didn’t want to agree to the minimum before they knew if anyone liked the product. So, Miller found a video of a woman making her own lipstick on YouTube. “I sent the link to Amanda and said, ‘We gotta do this; we’ve got to teach ourselves to make lipstick, because we don’t want to pay all this money,’” she says.
Along with Amanda E. Johnson, Miller is the cofounder of Mented Cosmetics, a makeup line for women of color, which began as a project the two pursued on the weekends in their New York kitchens after graduating from Harvard Business School. At the time, they both had full-time jobs, so it functioned as a side-hustle. “We bought the molds, we bought the ingredients, we bought the colorants, and we made our original capsule collection of nude lipsticks,” she says. And from there, the team relied on feedback from family, friends, and influencers before officially opening for business.
Since January 2017, the month Mented first launched, the beauty landscape has changed significantly. A celebrity-owned prestige brand, which launched in September 2017, set the bar high for new brands, which now tend to include about 50 shades of foundation to match the nuance in skin tones. “Women of color deserve lots of options — there shouldn’t just be a brand,” Miller says. “I remember we were mentioned in an article by a writer who was on the hunt for her perfect foundation shade. One of the things she said was, I love [this celebrity’s brand], but her foundation is so mattefying, and that’s just not the look I’m going for. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with [that] brand, it just means that we all deserve more choice.” Before Mented, Miller worked in retail buying and consulting, went to business school, and piloted a few other business ideas. But she’s never been afraid to pivot to get closer to her goals.
After graduating from Harvard undergrad in 2008, Miller became an analyst in a new role that was part of a pilot program aimed at course-correcting a major — albeit struggling — department store chain. “What I quickly realized was that the role had not been well-defined, no one in the organization really knew what it was, and I wasn’t in the best position to learn about retail.” After seeing how the buyers carried the most influence in the company, she pivoted into the fashion jewelry team as an assistant buyer. Her peer analysts were confused: Why had Miller pursued a less prestigious role in the company, along with a pay cut? Two years later, she became the head buyer for a mid-size e-commerce company.
“That was another move where a lot of people questioned it,” Miller says. “They were like, ‘You’re a buyer at a multi-billion-dollar company, now you’re moving to this small e-commerce company most people have never heard of. What are you doing?’ For me, it made perfect sense because I was a small fish in a big pond, now I’m a big fish in a small pond.” Because she chose the brands and pieces that appeared on the site’s roster, Miller learned she wanted to become an entrepreneur.
“I very much value experience over title, over brand name, over a lot of things,” Miller says. “I value experience and I value learning, and I feel like if I’m not always learning, I’m wasting my time.” To keep challenging herself, she tinkered with a handful of business ideas, “but none of them really went anywhere,” she says. Still, she’d caught the entrepreneurship bug and got accepted to Harvard Business School. While attending Harvard (for the second time!), she tried to launch a few other businesses. The one that made it the furthest was a concept called Extensive, a mobile hair salon that catered to Black women using hair extensions. Throughout her second year at Harvard Business School, Miller surveyed more than 100 Black women and interviewed nearly 20 stylists to figure out if there was enough demand for such a service. Ultimately, it wasn’t scalable, but she would follow the same research process while developing Mented.
At business school, Miller also met her cofounder, Johnson. “By the time we graduated, we were not only close friends, but we worked together on a couple of school projects, we felt we worked well together, and we both wanted to start a company in the retail/consumer space.” They both moved to New York and took corporate jobs — Johnson at a high-end department store and Miller at a consulting firm. Every so often, they would get together and bounce around ideas for startups. During one of those conversations, Johnson mentioned offhand she’d been looking for the perfect nude lipstick for three years. “I was like, ‘Wow I can’t find any lipstick I like, much less a nude lipstick,’” Miller recalls. “There were so few brands that catered to our beauty needs, and in the world of beauty, we both felt like afterthoughts.”
They realized they had been forced to piece together products that would work for their skin tone, as opposed to just buying a product off a shelf. “We didn’t like feeling that way, and we suspected that no one else did, either.” Together, and still while working full-time jobs, they started researching, focus-grouping, and surveying friends and family. Overwhelmingly, there was dissatisfaction with the beauty options available to Black women. Once they DIY’d those first nude lipsticks, they sent samples to their focus groups, plus influencers.
“In the beginning, we weren’t even asking them to post it,” she said. “We got enough great feedback, enough people asking about it, enough people posting about it, that we decided to turn it from a weekend hobby into a real business.” By the end of that year, they had investors on board, a term sheet, a manufacturer, and enough confidence to quit their jobs in November 2016. Mented launched the following January. It’s been two and a half years since then, and a lot has changed. For one, the line has expanded beyond just lipstick to include a contour/concealer stick, an eyeshadow palette, nail polish, and more. The company has also raised $4 million in venture capital. Now, as the team gears up for another round of funding, it’s less difficult to get the right people in the room.
As she looks ahead, Miller feels personalization is the next buzzword in both beauty and direct-to-consumer retail more generally. “We’re just going to see consumers who feel like, Yeah, my whole makeup bag is brands that thought specifically about me and my needs and created products for me,” she says. But like matching foundation to skin, she’s learned there’s no one-size-fits-all career path for becoming a successful entrepreneur.
“It’s easy to feel so anxious about any decision you’re making, but what I’ve realized is my instincts are strong, and I’m good at course correcting,” she says. “Even when I do the thing that isn’t the right thing, I’m good at finding the right thing out of the bad thing, if that makes sense.” Now, the Mented operation is a far cry from DIY lipstick, but Miller looks back fondly at those early days. “Just the two of us, packing orders, that was a huge moment for us.”
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No one truly knows. But despite the fact that Trump has chosen to stand next to her husband, the President, while he's insulted sexual assault victims, and has made inflammatory remarks about women, immigrants, Blacks, the news media, and more, the internet continues to impose narratives on her clothing choices. So perhaps that's why, when Anna Wintour was asked if she valued Melania's role as transatlantic fashion ambassador of sorts during an interview with Anne McElvoy on The Economist's podcast, she chose to talk about former First Lady Michelle Obama instead.
“I think first lady Michelle Obama really was so incredible in every decision she made about fashion,” Wintour tells The Economist. “She supported young American designers. She supported designers, indeed, from all over the world. She was the best ambassador this country could possibly have in many ways, obviously, way beyond fashion.”
When McElvoy pushed about Melania, reminding her “But she’s not the first lady now. “So what about the one you’ve got now?”
Wintour responded: “To me she [Obama] is the example that I admire.” The longterm edtrix's reply isn't surprising considering in April she told CNN that she would “take a stand” and not give the current FLOTUS (a former model) a cover. Melania's then-spokeswoman and new White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham responded with an underhanded statement.
“To be on the cover of Vogue doesn’t define Mrs. Trump, she’s been there, done that long before she was first lady,” Grisham said. “Her role as first lady of the United States and all that she does is much more important than some superficial photo shoot and cover,” she added. “This just further demonstrates how biased the fashion magazine industry is, and shows how insecure and small-minded Anna Wintour really is.”
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a recruiter who makes $70,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a vodka cranberry.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $800 (I live with my boyfriend, and he pays the other $1,000.) Student Loans: $0 (I just paid off my student loans!) Car Payment: $180 Car Insurance: $100 Gym: $80 AmazonPrime: $14 401(k): $288 Netflix, Hulu, HBO: $0 (courtesy of a variety of family members) WSG: $40 Electric: $70 Pet Insurance: $15 Donations: $20
Day One
6:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off, but I lie in bed until 7:10. I meal-prepped last night (woo-hoo), so I curl my hair, wash my face, play with my cat, throw mascara on, get dressed, and brush my teeth. I have a little extra time, so I throw two waffles in the toaster for my boyfriend, E.
8:35 a.m. — I arrive to work via bus. My company pays for my bus pass. I chat with my colleagues and grab coffee from the kitchen. I heat up a chicken sausage that I packed and head back to my desk to start working.
12 p.m. — Lunch! I feel like I'm the only person who brings food, but hey, a girl's gotta save some money. I brought veggie stir-fry. I heat it up, sit at my desk, and chat with my colleagues a little more. I also packed a protein bar that I eat shortly after lunch.
6 p.m. — I pack up and head to a gym class with a friend.
7:30 p.m. — Home and really hungry. E. made me dinner — sweet potato and black bean tacos, which makes my heart happy. We have a quiet night in, chatting and watching TV.
10 p.m. — I shower and brush my teeth, then get in bed and watch Tasty videos until I fall asleep.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
6:30 a.m. — My alarm goes off yet again. I should mention, my cat wakes me up every morning between 3-4. I always just feed him, pet him, and go back to sleep. I do my regular routine and throw waffles in the toaster right before I head out the door.
8:30 a.m. — I arrive at work, and it's the same deal. Grab some free coffee in the kitchen, make my chicken sausage and yogurt, and start my day.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch is my go-to veggie stir-fry. I'm going to happy hour with the team today, so I didn't pack any snacks, hoping that I make it through the day.
4 p.m. — We get to head out a little early today! We are going to happy hour because a colleague of ours is visiting from out of town. We head downstairs to a bar and order a few things to munch on. Pizza, cheese board, and like 20 oysters. I don't eat oysters, so I go for the pizza instead. I get a whiskey mule, and we also get a bottle of wine for the table. Our coworker covers the bill, because it's a team event. I don't drink often, so I'm feeling a bit tipsy by the end of the evening. I decide a drunk gym trip is a good idea, so I head to the gym.
7 p.m. — I walk into the gym and hop on the elliptical for a quick 30-minute workout. Okay, it was closer to 25 minutes on the elliptical and 10 minutes in the sauna. Nothing like sweating the booze out.
8 p.m. — I take the bus home, where I play with my cat while chatting with a friend on the phone. E. gets home from board-game night around 9:30. We talk a bit and head to bed.
Daily Total: $0
Day Three
6:45 a.m. — Good morning! My cat woke me up several times throughout the night, but I finally get out of bed and move to the couch. I take my time getting ready, and eventually get out the door and head into work.
1 p.m. — After lunch (stir-fry, you all know the drill), I'm craving boba! We have a cute place nearby that sells boba out of mason jars with corgis on the front. SIGN ME UP! I walk there with my coworker. I grab a dirty horchata (coffee and horchata) boba in a cute mug. It costs $9 with tip — I'm not mad, it's reusable and so cute! $9
5 p.m. — I head to the gym with my friend. She makes me lift heavy things before we go to a barre class. This class is like no other barre class — it's fairly cardio and plank heavy. I love it, but man, I am sweaty and sore!
7:30 p.m. — I head home and make dinner. I also snack on an apple and powdered peanut butter while I cook. I make pita pizzas with mushrooms, spinach, and cheese for me. I add chicken and jalapeños for E. We go on a walk after dinner. Then I shower and get ready for bed.
10 p.m. — I'm in bed and realize I forgot to get my sister a diaper service! My sister is having her first baby, and I'm going to be an auntie for the first time. My whole family lives on the East Coast, so I am racked with guilt. I plan to fly home when the baby is born, but for now I am going to spoil my nephew. I order a diaper delivery service for her that includes newborn diapers and a reusable diaper. My dad bought her a few as well. Okay, that's all. Good night. $65
Daily Total: $74
Day Four
7.30 a.m. — I'm actually able to sleep in a bit, though I was woken up several times. My cat likes to lick my face and nibble on my chin while I sleep (please someone tell me if that is normal or if my kitty is trying to eat my face off). I get up and get ready for my doctor's appointment. I pop a Trader Joe's breakfast pastry in the oven for E. He's already awake, and I set an alarm.
9:30 a.m. — I haven't been to a primary doctor in like six years. They want to do all of the things, like a pap smear and regular shots that you get every 10 years. Luckily, I'm able to talk them down to a normal check-up. All is good, and I don't owe any co-pay. I'm confused now, but I guess I'll get a bill in the mail. I drive home, drop my car off, grab an apple and peanut butter, and hop on the bus to work.
1 p.m. — I eat lunch at my desk — I packed some lentils and a string cheese. We have a stock of chocolate that I try to avoid, but it's just one of those chocolate days. I grab a piece of salted caramel dark chocolate to eat after lunch. It hits the spot!
5:45 p.m. — Every couple of months, my friend and I meet up for tea. I get a matcha tea and an almond butter protein bar. We chat a bit and then decide to grab dinner. $6.50
7:30 p.m. — I order a regular mule and veggie dumplings. He gets pork, so I can't eat any, but he does enjoy some of mine. We finish off a total of 24 delicious dumplings and head our separate ways. I'm going to see him tomorrow, so we end the night fairly early. $23
9 p.m. — I'm home, tired, and full. E. already ate dinner, so we hang out and get ready for bed. I'm asleep by 10.
Daily Total: $29.50
Day Five
7 a.m. — I'm out of bed and ready to go. I head to work a little earlier than usual. Once every four months, my friends and I explore a new neighborhood by going on a bar crawl, and I want to look nice. The weather is already gorgeous, so I put on a dress, get ready, and head to work.
12 p.m. — I completely forgot to eat breakfast. I grab a hummus and pretzel dish from the store and eat it on the way to the gym. I'm taking a body pump class over lunch. This class kicks my butt! I wash off real quick after the class and head back to the office. $2.50
4:30 p.m. — I head out early, and the bar crawl begins! We get to our first bar, and it has an amazing happy hour menu. Cocktails for $5.50 and fries for $3. I order three drinks while there. E. shows up for a round of drinks and snacks, but leaves shortly after. The four of us haven't been all together for a couple of months now, so it's so good to catch up. The bar starts getting crowded, so we move on to food. $37
7:30 p.m. — Next stop, pizza. I'm from the East Coast, and I understand that pizza isn't the best out here, but it will always be my go-to food. We each grab a slice, eat it outside in the street, and walk to the next bar. $3
8:00 p.m. — Bar number two has a different vibe and mostly beers. I grab a nitro beer. Two other people show up for some drinks. They are a few years younger, so they throw back their drinks and grab another round. I'm sticking to my slow pace. This bar is just okay, so we move on to the next place. $6.50
8:50 p.m. — On the walk to bar number three, I run into a former coworker. She's pregnant and adorable! I give her a hug and run to catch up with my friends at the next place. This bar is also beer-heavy. I'm not a huge IPA drinker, so I sit this one out. Two of my friends get a tasting, so I try a few beers, but they're not for me. The bar has a great vibe, though.
10 p.m. — At bar four, we move on to shots. HMMM, okay, this is happening. We get two rounds of lemon drops. The bar is so crowded, so we finish the drinks and go.
10:30 p.m. — At bar five, we get more shots. No idea where these are coming from. This time, it's Irish car bombs. We take our shots, but again, the bar is so crowded that we can't actually hear one another. We decide it's time to call it quits. We step outside and quickly decide that we want to keep the night going. I call a Lyft, because someone got me a shot.We head to my friend's place, because he has a gorgeous balcony with a great view. $7
1 a.m. — Not sure how this happened, but we're still hanging on my friend's roof. We go downstairs to get another Lyft, but before I call a car, we find a dive bar. Of course, we go in and grab a drink. It's actually last call. I get my friend a vodka cranberry to pay her back for the lemon drop. We finish half of the drink and then hop in a Lyft. $6
1:45 a.m. — We giggle the whole ride home. I love sleep, and my friends are night owls. They appreciate that I stay out late, but it's definitely time for bed. I give them hugs once we get to my place and head upstairs. I pop an Advil and fall asleep in my clothes and makeup. $7
Daily Total: $69
Day Six
9:30 a.m. — I'm up by 9:30 (though I was up briefly at 6 to feed my cat). I'm not feeling 100%, probably closer to 25%. I move to the couch. I eat some string cheese, chug some water, and put on Stranger Things.
1 p.m. — Still not tip-top, but I have to drop off my car for an oil change and alignment. I lease my car and pay for additional coverage in my lease, so I shouldn't owe anything for the maintenance. I leave the car at the service station and head to the movies with E. We go see Spider-Man. He buys popcorn, one of my top three favorite foods. I eat most of the popcorn, but he's not surprised by that. Once the movie is over, we head over to pick up the car. $17
4:30 p.m. — Turns out they forgot to do the oil change — it is what it is. I'll pick up the car on Monday; I'm too hungover to negotiate. We decide to run to Trader Joe's, since it's right around the corner. I don't have a full list, but I come up with a couple of meals on the fly. We pick up ground chicken, ginger, garlic, chicken boobies, frozen breaded eggplant, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, strawberries, apples, spinach, mushrooms, pizza dough, jalapeños, chips, mozz cheese, protein bars, frozen veggie medley, everything-seasoning buns, and protein ice cream. The total is $88.40. We split that down the middle. This week I'm making a very simple eggplant Parm for me and chicken Parm for E. I already have marinara sauce, and I grow basil on my patio. $44.20
7 p.m. — We're home and unpacked by 7. We decide to go on a quick walk, and I head home earlier to start making a pizza. I add spinach and mushrooms to mine and chicken, jalapeños, and spinach to E.'s. The rest of the evening is lazy. I shower and get ready for bed by 10:30.
Daily Total: $61.20
Day Seven
8 a.m. — I am feeling a million times better! E. is still sleeping, but I walk to the gym for a quick cardio session. It's a 20-minute walk, and I do 30 minutes split between elliptical and stairs. I see the bus on my way out of the gym, so I hop on that to get home.
11:20 a.m. — I make a quick egg breakfast for us, water the plants, and head out the door. We are going to a soccer match today! Although I am not from Seattle, I am a big Sounders fan. We have season tickets that we bought earlier in the year. I have Women's World Cup withdrawal (YAY USA!!!), so we head to the match early. We both have bus passes and arrive to the stadium with enough time to grab coffee. E. buys a grande cold brew that we split. I normally bring a water bottle to the stadium, but I forgot mine, so I pick up two waters to bring into the game. $3
4 p.m. — WE WON!!! It was a great match. E. buys a scarf on his way out — we have close to 15 scarves, so I don't buy any for me. We head home, change, and head to my gym and use my guest pass for E. He runs while I do a mix of lifting and cardio. Second workout of the day??? Who am I??!
7:30 p.m. — We walk home from the gym. I start making Thai chicken meatballs, they are so tasty! E. makes the sauce while I wipe down the counters. I'm not a fan of cleaning. E. tidies up in five minutes, while I'll take two hours and it's still not clean. We eat dinner and relax for the rest of the night. It's Monday tomorrow, so I wash my face and get ready for bed. I'm tucked in by 9:30. Good night!
Daily Total: $3
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