It’s been a hot minute since I’ve jumped on the Currently train. Mostly because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve actually spent any time working on creating new content for my blog. But here I am, y’all!
Linking up (at the very last moment) with Anne and Shea for this month’s Currently Link up.
Currently…
snacking (on)…
Hi my name is Stephanie and I am obsessed with Veggie Chips. The plain sea salt ones are SO GOOD. Do y’all hear me? They are SO GOOD. Buy them all and buy them often. They’re like Pringles but apparently better for you because they have “veggie” in the name. Also, I got a bunch of salami + deli meats sent to me from Columbus Meats and I’ve been snacking on these a LOT. Justen and I kept commenting on how sometimes they had more of a kick to them than other times and I only just realized that there are more than one flavor, haha. They’re REALLY good.
anticipating…
Well, moving into our apartment. If you remember, I’ve never actually been in our apartment. In just a few days I will be there! Justen’s picking up the keys TODAY and I’ll get to see it on Wednesday WHEN I START MOVING IN. The. Anticipation.!
borrowing…
vehicles to move stuff! We actually don’t have much to move in. Last month my mom spotted a really nice couch + loveseat on Facebook so we bought those. That and my bed are really the only things we have to move in that require more than just our vehicles. It will be interesting to see how that changes whenever we move out.
admiring…
all the pretty Pinterest pins. This is a huge deal for me, you guys. I’ve been living either with my mom or roommates (who had their own stuff) for my whole life. This will really be the first time that I get to make a space mine. and by mine, I do mean mine and Justen’s but he is part of the equation that makes it mine. So I’ve been looking at Pinterest for ideas and inspiration for the feel of our apartment. I guess I’ll just share some here and y’all can let me know what you think! 😉
purchasing…
a LOT of coffee. Y’all my coffee spending has SKYROCKETED in the past month. I’m really looking forward to mornings at home with a pot of coffee. I’m trying really hard not to purchase a bunch of stuff because my employment situation is up in the air and that could be really awful combined with getting a wedding put together and all of these changes.
Overall, I’m currently just ready to unpack from Nashville and figure out what life is going to look like for at least the next few months… then I get to adjust to a whole new life living with a boy.
For the past two and a half-ish years, I’ve been really bad the worst at reading. My goal to read 50 books in 2.75 years was laughable. I hardly picked up a book, and then at the end of last year I thought “well (@*&%, I need to read the whole Harry Potter series,” so back in November I decided to try and re-read the HP series by the beginning of June.
Last night I put down Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with a heavy but empty heart and stared at the ceiling and thought, “where do I go from here?”
I’ve read Harry Potter. I’ve seen the movies. But each time I read the books, I pick up on more than I did before.
I’m about to spoil some stuff so if you’ve never read the books or seen the movies and don’t want to know anything, then please X out now.
On this read through I fully appreciated the growth of Ginny and Harry’s relationship. I’m not sure why but I kind of glazed over it previously. I was reading the part where Harry was suppressing his feelings towards her because she’s Ron’s sister and I had to stop and show Ernie the Cho Chang song from A Very Potter Musical (PLEASE TELL ME YOU’VE SEEN THIS IF YOU’RE A HARRY POTTER FAN). Unfortunately for me, Ernie Halter has no interest in Harry Potter and as I was reading the scene where Dumbledore dies, Ernie kept singing “CHO CHANG!” at the top of his lungs, and I just couldn’t handle it.
For the first time I actually understood why Harry was the proper master of the Elder Wand. For whatever reason I just kind of shrugged and agreed and it didn’t make sense to me, but this time I read it and completely understood it.
At the end of The Goblet of Fire, when Voldemort comes back, I felt a sense of fear and panic that I’ve never felt before and was so stupid since I OBVIOUSLY knew what was going to happen. I remember putting the book down and getting up and pacing around the room, wishing I had HP + The Order of the Phoenix with me so I could keep going. I’ve never had such an intense response to the story. It was kind of weird.
I texted Mei-Ling about how I’d finished it and she said it gets worse each time you re-read it. I realized it’s kind of like how drunk drivers walk away with less pain from a car crash than the person they hit – they have no idea what’s coming, but the sober drivers see the danger, tense up, and tries to avoid it. Re-reading HP is like being the sober driver in that example. You know what’s coming and you’re bracing yourself for it, which means you’re likely to walk away a little more sore than if you had no idea what was coming.
This read through I was able to really appreciate the way that Harry Potter becomes a man. We see him go from being a little boy to trying to figure out girls to making really big decisions all on his own. I think it’s the whole trying to figure out girls thing that made me really appreciate the journey he was on.
My new 101 in 1001 list has me re-reading and re-watching the Harry Potter series in the next two and a half years, so I’m excited to see what I pick up on this next time. I’ve already started re-watching them in anticipating of going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in October (as part of our honeymoon!). I cannot wait for the butterbeer ;D
Let’s geek out about Harry Potter. What are some things you’ve picked up on during your second or third or etc read-throughs? What house are you sorted into? I’m definitely Gryffindor, but I’m definitely Neville Longbottom.
ps these really terrible pictures are from a time when I was going to post a Butterbeer Latte recipe, but realized that the pictures sucked, I lost the recipe and I didn’t actually know what Butterbeer tasted like, haha.
Visit a church in Tennessee
It just wasn’t a priority, and that’s just being honest.
Visit 2 coffee shops {1. Billy Goat Coffee Cafe 2. Rembrandt Coffee}
Hit $3,000 in Poshmark sales {2,793 as of 7/30/17}
Visiting Washington and then packing for going home is what held this back, I think. At some point I stopped listing new inventory and packed a bunch of stuff, meaning all of my inventory wasn’t accessible for shipping and had to be marked as not for sale. It was a small hiccup, so I’m not beating myself up over this.
Get a manicure
I decided I actually didn’t want to spend the money. Insert the shrug emoji right here.
Buy 3 things for the wedding {3 of 3}
Make macarons
Okay so it was MEANT TO BE – I saw my sweet friend Amber post a picture of some macarons she’d just baked and a light bulb went off in my head because making macarons was on my 101 list! I added it to my July Goals and asked if she’d be down to help – which she was! She surprised me with the flavor (coconut mocha WHAT!) and helped me make them. They were so tasty and now I feel like I could make a fair attempt at making macarons on my own. Who knew they were so specific in how they’re made?!
Total June goals accomplished: 60%
Thaaat’s a D-. Yikes! Barely passing, haha.
August Goals
List all of my Poshmark inventory
Hit $4,000 in Poshmark sales
Post 10 blog posts
Read 2 books
Redo my Whole 30 mocha post
Make a list of 25 things I like about myself
Try a new recipe
Get rid of all but 50 pens
Get rid of all but 5 nail polishes
Buy fresh flowers
Here’s what’s up with these goals, y’all. In case you missed it, Justen and I got an apartment (YAY!) that I’ll be moving into as soon as I get myself back home. I’m currently 100% unsure about my whole income situation, so I’m looking at this transition as if I’m going to have to work. my. butt. off. Poshmark has been going well for me, and I have a bunch of inventory to list (it’s only $0.80/lb in Nashville, y’all!!!) so I’m going to dream big and work hard. It’s scary but exciting.
My goals are partially related to all of that. They’re all about putting up guardrails to protect myself from apathy and move myself more towards the mental/physical/emotional space I’m wanting to be at.
Justen and I have found the place we’ll live in after we’re married (AND THEY APPROVED US TO LIVE THERE). Insert that happy crying emoji RIGHT HERE.
I’ve been wanting to find a place that wasn’t cookie cutter. I didn’t want the same cream carpet and beige walls and brown cabinets. I wanted character and charm and something that was different. I’ve been trolling listings for awhile and FREAKED OUT about this one. Justen went to see the apartment, we decided to apply, and then about a week later we found out we’re approved and get the keys right after we get back.
Oh and… I haven’t ever actually seen it. Justen FaceTimed me while he walked through it, and I loved it, but still. My first time seeing the apartment is when I’m bringing stuff into it to move in (I’ll be moving in first).
But y’all. It’s located above an antique store on a cute little downtown street we’ve visited many times before. It has hardwood floors and an exposed brick wall in the kitchen and pretty white doors. I’d show you the pictures but they just don’t seem to do it justice. It’s within walking distance of a $5 theater, a coffee shop that serves Monin coconut syrup, and a bakery with the best nitro cold brew I’ve ever had. AND IT IS ABOVE AN ANTIQUE STORE.
So anyway. When I get home, I’ll be packing my stuff up to move in. and you know what I’m excited about? I’m excited about a blank slate in which to not put a bunch of crap. It’s like the ultimate act of decluttering. Do I take the crap or not?
I’ve already begun to think about what I will not be taking with me to our new home.
More than 5 bottles of nail polish
One of my 101 in 1001 items is to get rid of all but 5 bottles of nail polish and not buy any more until I use them all up. This seems like the absolute best time to do this. While there is something really definitively girly about having eighteen zillion shades of pink nail polish, I will never be able to use them up. They will always win. It’s a small victory over clutter and I’m going to claim it.
Bread and Milk
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen the post I made about being ready to do Whole30 in September. A few years ago I was 100% rocking the gluten/dairy-free lifestyle. It was my jam (on gf bread, of course). After my last Whole30, idk what happened. I went food crazy and I’ve been eating all the crap. Having empty cupboards and an empty fridge gives me the opportunity to NOT put things in there. Things like bread and milk and cheese. Instead, I can stock foods that are 100% good to put in my body and not have to worry about it.
More than 50 pens
This was also on my 101 in 1001 list – to get rid of all but 50 pens. Justen wrote me a letter earlier this summer and in it mentioned that he didn’t have many pens and would have to get more. I freaked and told him NO WAY JOSE, because I have more pens than I should! Again, it’s that same setting myself up for a small clutter victory thing. Instead of bringing all infinityzillion (made that up) of my pens and then deciding what to keep, I’ll only bring what I’m going to keep.
Samples
This is a big one, y’all. Today I was using up a teeny tiny bottle of cleanser I got in a Birchbox a few months ago and I realized that I need to just clean slate the samples. I’ve been trying to be more diligent with using them up, but there’s no way I’ll be able to get this under control. Honestly, I just need to go through and only bring the makeup/products I actually use, and then it will be a joy and not a burden to receive new samples in the mail each month. This one might be hard.
Trinkets I’ve kept out of sentimentality
I’m the worst at keeping things because they were gifts. I have a really hard time getting rid of gifts, no matter how small or insignificant. Over the course of my life, I have collected quite the trinket collection. But since this will be Justen’s home too, I don’t want for him to have to be surrounded by tiny clutter-y gifts people have given me over my lifetime. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy taking care of these items and now it’s time to say goodbye to them and move on.
Books I’ll probably never read
Whenever someone offers to loan me a book, I lose my mind. I have so many books, y’all. Books can be so cheap if you buy them at second hand bookstores, garage sales or thrift store 1/2 off days. Like the trinkets, I’ve accumulated a collection of books I’ll probably never read. Instead of bringing them with me to be a constant, daily reminder of how I don’t read as much as I should, I’m just going to put them back into the second hand bookstore, garage sale, thrift store cycle.
I’m sure that as I’m packing things up, I’ll find more things that aren’t worth taking with me – any suggestions? I’ll keep y’all updated. It’s like the biggest, most efficient decluttering ever. Just don’t take stuff. I love it and I’m so excited.
Plus.
This apartment, you guys.
I’ll take more pictures once I step into it and see it for myself 😉
Justen and I have started the task of apartment hunting (YAYYYYYYY!!!!!). I’m a little overwhelmed with the thought of packing everything up and moving out, but I’m also really excited. Honestly, it will be the best thing to help me declutter. It’s one thing to see hundreds of things and decide to keep or put back or organize or something, and it’s another thing to start with an empty space and have to choose to make it cluttery. Cluttery is a new word I just made up, fyi.
Coming to Nashville, I brought a bunch of small sample products so that I could use up more of them while I’m here. I’ve been keeping them in a little drawer in the bathroom and the drawer was getting hard to open, so I figured it’s time to share what I’ve used up in the past two months. I’m trying to do these once a month for a year, so get used to seeing my garbage more often, haha.
I’ve decided to start allowing myself to just THROW THINGS AWAY if I don’t like them. I’m not sure why that’s so freaking hard for me, but it is.
Derma E Scrub
This is one of my favorites. I decided to try a new Derma E scrub after I received a sample of it in Birchbox, but I would and will always recommend this scrub as a product to always have on hand.
Trusted Health Products Amazingly Beautiful Moisturizing Body Serum
I won this from a blog giveaway awhile ago. I’d actually previously won another product from them, which I LOVED and was so excited to win and try. I really love these products. This had an orange scent to it (which Justen noticed and liked, which was a plus!) and it lasted for like… idk… EVER.
Taylor Swift Incredible Things Body Scrub + Body Wash
A few months ago I found this little Taylor Swift gift pack for $4 at Goodwill. Brand new. FOUR DOLLARS. I LOVE the Wonderstruck scent Taylor Swift makes so I assumed I’d like this but… nah. Not really that great. It had kind of a cleaning product scent to it. I’ve used it consistently (just to get rid of it, haha) and it never grew on me.
Simple Micellar Cleansing Water
I got this in a limited edition Birchbox I had ordered, and it had exploded everywhere! I was really looking forward to trying this product so I e-mailed Birchbox and they sent me an entire replacement box! Anyway that’s a random piece of info. I liked this! It was really effective and it lasted a long time. I really love this whole micellar cleansing water thing. Anybody have any tried + true micellar cleansing waters that you’d highly recommend?
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
Okay so this could be a HUGE coincidence but when I started using this, my face got REALLY dry around my mouth. I’m not sure if it’s because of some other factor, but once I used this up and started using another cream on the dry patches, it healed up. So who even knows.
Vasanti Brighten Up Moisturizer
This was in my string of moisturizers – I liked it. Nothing great. It moisturized and did its job and there you go.
Origins Original Skin Renewal serum
Oh I liked this serum – it wasn’t greasy at all, and it was a little bit tinted which I loved because it wasn’t as obvious if I didn’t rub it in completely. I really like this.
Jurlique Soothing Moisturizing Cream
This stuff was really thick and felt really good applying it, but the smell was awful. Maybe I’ve had it for too long (QUITE POSSIBLE) but yuck. I can’t stop smelling it on my face and I need to immediately wash it off.
Ponds Rejuvenate Wrinkle Cream
I’ve never been able to commit to a moisturizer, and so I’ve supplemented breaks in getting samples from Birchbox with these travel sized Ponds tubs and then I realized that THIS IS AN ANTI WRINKLE CREAM, not just a moisturizer. And again, I’m allowing myself to just throw it away so GOODBYE WRINKLE CREAM THAT ISN’T ACTUALLY A MOISTURIZER.
Those two lipsticks on the left are ones I’m giving to someone else that can rock the bright, bold lipsticks.
Coastal Scents Revealed2 Palette Sampler Ballerina
I actually have the full palette of this! I’m definitely a light/nude/gold/rose gold eye shadow kind of girl, so I used the two colors I love the most and realize that I’ll never use up the last two colors, so I’m just going to toss it here and now. I love this palette because it’s full of really natural colors.
Root G3.5 Pearl Powder Mineral Foundation Sample
The last time I posted an empties recapping the zillions of products I’d been hoarding, I shared that I’d purchased a color of this powder but discovered it wasn’t as great of a match as I’d originally thought so I bought a sample that sealed the deal.
3 Perfume samples
This is from what I’ve written in the Notes app on my phone.
MMM… – Kind of spicy, earthy tones. Has a kick to it.
TokyoMilk – Creamyish scent that I didn’t like.
Other one (I can’t tell what it is!) smelled like cleaner.
Hard pass on all of them.
The Beauty Crop Fabulous Flocking Lashes
I wanted to love this mascara so bad. It’s pink with flamingos, it’s like everything you could ever want in a mascara… oh, except the actual mascara part itself. It was clumpy and then it literally turned into a big swab of mascara – you couldn’t even see the wand. So disappointing.
Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream
I bought this probably way too long ago when I first got into BB Creams and I was traveling and forgot my trusty Dr. Jart+ at home. At first it was too greasy and bronze-y looking, but as I started blending it with other BB creams to tone it down and then eventually started using the Root Pretty powder over it, I actually really started to enjoy this! I won’t buy it again since I LOOOVE the Root Pretty stuff, but I did eventually enjoy this!
Alright y’all, this is month 1 of 12 months of Empties posts. Let’s deplete my beauty sample stash over the next year!
I live in the Pacific Northwest, where I love to drink coffee and adventure. I blog because I think life matters too much to let it go by without noticing.
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