Pandemic Life Lately
Life has been a bit bananas lately, particularly in my personal life, so I haven’t had as much time to blog. I finally stopped by my gym, 16 months after I was last there, to collect my things from my locker. It felt strange to return to a place I used to frequent on a regular basis knowing I wouldn’t be back.
Yesterday most of the Bay Area returned to an indoor mask mandate, though it doesn’t apply to indoor dining as I saw people eating inside restaurants. For some of us (me), we never stopped masking in public spaces. I’ve visited with friends who are likewise vaccinated without masks indoors. But now I’m worried about the more contagious Delta variant, breakthrough cases, and how the J&J vaccine (which I received) doesn’t seem as effective as the two-dose mRNA vaccines against Delta.
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Things I Bought in June & July
Just because I was busy doesn’t mean that I didn’t take a peek at some sales, though in general, my online window shopping was way down. I browsed sales over at Vetta (still going on) and Two Days Off, but nothing caught my eye. I didn’t even look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which has become less interesting to me over the years. The only purchase I made was the Stila eyeliner set since it’s a decent discount for a product I use regularly.
There was one sale I did give in to: dr. Liza’s 60% off summer sale. I’ve been quite happy with the two pairs of shoes I own from this small brand. (See my review of the ballet flats here). With such a generous sale, I treated myself to three pairs of shoes, including these new sneaker sandals, which have the look of the sandals that first got my attention, but with a shorter heel.
Zahara Lounge Set – $111 USD
I was also gifted something from a brand, so I guess that counts as shopping: this cute lounge set by TAMGA Designs, an ethical and sustainable Canadian brand that makes clothes in floral prints. You’ll be seeing this soon on the Gram and I’ll write about it more after I’ve had a chance to wear it some more. (UPDATE: here’s my review.)
I also added something back to my wardrobe that I had previously KonMaried. So, while that’s not shopping exactly, it added to my wardrobe count. Previously, I had removed every single one of my work dresses (think sheath dresses) since I no longer work in an office. When I say removed, I mean I listed them on Poshmark, but they were all still hanging in my closet. Not surprisingly, office wear hasn’t sold well, so I decided to free up the closet space.
Recently I gathered them up to donate to Dress for Success. But at the last moment, I decided that it was reasonable to keep just one. The one I kept wasn’t necessarily the most flattering shape-wise on me, but it was the most unique, made by a local designer out of high quality natural fabrics like wool and silk. Have you ever reinstated something from your donate pile? What was it?
In non-clothing items, I bought this Merit combo foundation and concealer stick. I figured it was time to throw out the liquid products that I’ve been using since 2016. (Yes, I have been ignoring the little symbols on the packaging indicating things expired in 12 or 24 months because they seemed fine. It’s fine to use makeup for 5 years, right?) I used the shade quiz on Sephora’s website, and to my surprise, it worked. So far, so good. I feel like it blends quite nicely and I like the convenience of two products in one, and in stick form at that.
Welcome Objects 2021 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 5
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 0
Subtractions: 0
Total Number of Wardrobe Items: 160
Things I’m Shopping For
Dreaming of traveling again, I’ve started looking around at carry-on luggage, though I don’t have any trips planned. My last carry-on bag was this Travelpro rollerboard. I bought it based on the WireCutter’s recommendation, but I never felt completely satisfied with it. It just seemed meh to me, both in terms of its conventional looks and its functionality. (It’s a two-wheeler and I wish I had bought a four-wheel spinner instead.) I ended up giving it to a relative who needed a suitcase.
Must-haves for my carry-on include:
- spinner wheels
- lightweight
- side and top handles
- at least 13.5″ wide inside
- exterior pocket
Right now I have my eye on the Monos Carry-On Pro. I have to admit that part of its appeal is its sleek minimalist aesthetic, though from the reviews it sounds solidly made. If you have a carry-on bag that you love, tell me about it.
