Opt Outside + deals before Black Friday

Hello mon frers. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I will be rolling my overstuffed self all over this beach town today as I Opt Outside on Black Friday and get some of the butter and gravy moving through the system.

I've never been a Black Friday shopper. I hate crowds and I prefer to have 80% of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving, but I do like to take advantage of deals online on things for me and MFD (I buy both of our Christmas gifts) or the house. You can get great deals on the internets too. And on Wednesday, which means there's no need for Thursday or Friday shopping in my life. Here are some things I picked up this year, and as always no affiliate links:

Sephora had 50% off certain items Wednesday
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick $8.50, regularly $17 (in F-Bomb and TMI)
Living Proof Dry Shampoo Duo $22, regularly $34 (thanks Emily for the heads up)

Target had a Black Friday sneak peak for redcard holders Wednesday so I got the shore house some gifts. You have to add/change little things every year to keep it fresh.
Crock Pot 4.5 qt $10, regularly $19.99
Threshold fuzzy blankets in full/queen in scarlet mystery and green $18, regularly $39.99
Bodum French Press $10, regularly $19.99

Old Navy was running 50% off on Wednesday
Black dress for $18.49, originally $36.99
Go-warm open front hoodie for $18.49, originally $36.99 - my obsession this year. I have the heather gray and love it and I got the other two colors (navy and black)
Pixie Long Pants in olive through this for $17.49, originally $34.99 and rarely on sale. I live in these for work.

TOMs is offering 25% off certain styles with the code THANKFUL, so I ordered a pair of black velvet and black wool but will only be keeping one. 

I'm waiting to pull the trigger on a cart full of books on Amazon to take advantage of their $10 off $25 deal they usually run around now. 

I like the premise of the Opt Outside movement. Today's activities will include a sunrise, beach trash pickup, many dog walks, and watching Santa ascend from atop a building (pics below from 2015). ho ho ho, mofos.

What are your plans for today? Will you be outside, inside shopping, or both? Have you come upon any awesome deals? Anyone see a stainless steel roasting pan at a great price? Anyone? Bueller?

Thursday Thoughts: The Original

1. Do you know how hard it is to get rid of free things? Pretty fucking hard. We got a new bed for our efficiency at the shore, and I put the old one up on a local page for $50 - for a queen bed and boxspring. A few people contact me, and then got all aggressive "How much? Free, right?" One day before I need it out? Sure, now it's free. Come see it and get it out of there if you want it. The original description stated the age and appearance of the mattress. Do not interview me about this bed like I am a suspect in a murder associated with it. By 10 a.m. yesterday I sent MFD many fuck this and fuck these people texts and said I will actually pay for someone to come and pick it up rather than dealing with these dicks. It's free! Don't act like you're doing me a favor taking it. Take it or leave it but stop asking me questions about it.

2. Blog friends are the shit. Jen from That's What She Read mailed me her copy of The Woman in Cabin 10, which I've been dying to read even though I was stuck in the basement of the library hold list. And she's cool with me mailing it to Jana so we can discuss it for The Armchair Librarians before we send it back Jen's way. And Steph from Not Entirely Perfect sent me her Bumble & Bumble pret-a-powder to try.

3. Speaking of books, because I'm always speaking of books and feel a compulsion to do so, The Woman in Cabin 10 is the fourth book I've begun since Saturday. I've hit a streak of can't put 'em down novels. My personal sweet spot.

4. When I pop into Sephora, nine times out of 10 it's to re-stock my daily go-to lip product.

5. Geege went to the vet Tuesday night - he needs some teeth removed, which the in-home vets don't do. This was for his pre-dental surgery check-up. I also wanted to get him started with acupuncture before his back leg issues get worse. We're going with an acupuncture and injections treatment hoping to boost his energy and strengthen his cartilage. The golden turmeric paste the dogs are getting is helping too. I could make a full time job out of the health maintenance of these aging dogs, but I need my full time job to pay for them.

6. Yesterday our last renters of the summer checked out at the shore. It was a successful first season, and one in which I learned a gazillion lessons. I'm looking forward to not being on the business end of the house and instead actually enjoying it over the next few months. We have family and friends down in the next few weeks and most weekends in September and October with only one weekend of people we don't know in the house. September at the shore is one of my favorites. Last year we listed the house on VRBO the first week of January and were booked for the season by the second week of February. I'm hoping for more of the same, and given the amount of inquiries I've already had for the 2017 summer season, I think it'll happen. I already booked a week in July. Plan a head people are my favorite.

7. Last week I talked about officially reaching the point in the summer where I'm wearing the same five things with no regard for anything else in my closet. This week I talk about where I've officially reached the point in the summer where I have no desire to do any food prep or meal planning. Toast for dinner it is! 

8. Top two recent assholes: Lying Liar Lochte and EPI pen price gougers. 

9. Reminder. 

10.  E-card of the week: The poor bats, right?

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart - KahlilGibran

Since I can't show you a photo of the light in my heart without the aid of machines, I will share my five favorite beauty things instead. Have you ever known a physical beauty who is so ugly in their soul that they appear off in an ugly way on the exterior? Me too. Don't ever let that be you. Trust that there is a light in my heart that I cultivate daily, and be sure you're cultivating yours as well.

My five favorite beauty products:

1. MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light Plus
2. I like to call #2 Filene's Basement because this shit is at rock bottom prices. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes - this is the poor lady's Lancome Definicils. There's legitimately no difference. Trust me. I used to shell out the bucks for the Lancome version. There is also no difference between this $2 elf eyelash curler and my now defunct $20 Shu Uemura eyelash curler. What's in a name? In the case of these items, a lot of wasted money, that's what.
3. Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion - no other primer comes close to the staying power of this one.
4. I made the nice lady at Sephora try every MFing concealer in the store under my eyes to match my doesn't appear yellow but is undertone, and I ended up with Yves St. Laurent Anti-Cernes. I can get you the color if you want it but concealer is personal.
5. Lipstick is also personal, says my BFF Raymond at the MAC counter at Macy's Center City. However I strongly suggest you try MAC Twig for your every day lip color. It looks perfect on everyone I force it on.

In the interest of full disclosure, Monday through Wednesday I'm lucky to swipe mascara on before leaving the house. I apply my lipstick on the train. By Thursday I've usually gotten the ass about me to put some eyeliner and eyeshadow on. If I go out on the weekend I might even use face makeup. I am not a full makeup face girl. When I do wear more, these are some of my favorites:

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
2. Clinique Quickliner for Eyes
3. Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in peach beige
4. Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer and Benefit High Beam. The Laura is expensive but doesn't break me out like every other blasted thing. The Benefit was in a gift bag and it's awesome.

Do you use any of these? What are your top five must have beauty products?

Kiss kiss hug hug.

 

Linking up with The Sowell Life - The Friday Five
Follow the Ruels and The Diary of a Real Housewife for Friday Favorites