When you think of YSL Beauty, a few things come to mind. For me, I think of Touche Éclat concealer and Dua Lipa. For others, you may simply know the three iconic initials as an iconic French fashion house. All of these things are true, but during a recent trip with the brand to Marrakech (a home and huge source of inspiration to the brand’s founder, Algerian-born Yves Saint Laurent), I discovered that there was so much to YSL Beauty that meets the eye. And not to mention, some seriously excellent products to boot.
Over four days, I got the chance to visit Morocco’s Ourika Gardens, where YSL Beauty grows botanical ingredients for its suite of makeup, skincare products, and fragrances. (I’ll never forget hand-picking jasmine flowers that would end up in bottles of Libre perfume.) It’s as good a crash course as I could’ve dreamed of, and along the way, I tested out hundreds of dollars’ worth of product to determine which are the most exciting, covetable ones to try this year.
In a crowded landscape of lip gloss-treatment hybrids, YSL Beauty’s Loveshine is a standout. The shades are curated and truly unique — my two favorites are California Sunshine, a shimmery cinnamon, and Thunder Stealer, a sparkly frosted lavender that feels like it’s from the future. In addition to a kiss of color, the formula has ginger and pepper oils to boost circulation and naturally plump lips.
These adorable powder blushes remind me of French macarons — colorful, cute, and utterly irresistible. Available in both matte and satin finishes, these silky powder blushes are intensely pigmented and have pretty impressive staying power. (They held up all day, even on the hottest days walking around Marrakech.) My favorites of the bunch are Peachy Nude and Berry Bang, but to be honest, there’s not a blah shade in the bunch.
Lip gloss in a stick? Genius, if you ask me. It’s easier to apply without a mirror, less prone to getting everywhere, and when the packaging is this good, what’s not to love? I love to wear this with a lip pencil for an easy, effortless lip combo. You can also wear it alone for a barely-there hint of hydrating color.
I’m pretty picky with my mascara. I like my lashes to look effortlessly fluttery and defined, even when I do a more bold, voluminous lash look. I’m wearing YSL Beauty’s Lash Clash mascara here, and as you can see, it’s all about flirty, look-at-me lashes without any heaviness or clumps. YSL Beauty’s Global Makeup Artist Sam Visser gave me a life-changing tip for applying lots of mascara: Wipe off any excess from the wand before applying it to your lashes, which gives you more control over building up coats as needed.
These compact eyeshadow quads are high fashion, but for your eyes. There are two new palettes to look forward to this year, Captivating Dunes and Sunrise Safari, and the former has become my current obsession. It’s the perfect mix of earthy, cool-toned neutrals that are super elevated. I like to apply a wash of champagne shimmer all over my lid, and then define the crease with the medium taupe. For date night, I turn it into a smoky eye with the dark chocolate matte along the upper and lower lash lines. The powders are silky and soft to wear — never chalky — and are actually infused with fig cactus oil from the Ourika Gardens that I toured.
Yes, it’s a lip balm — but a really, really nice one. Like, the nicest I own. I love the shade 8B (a warm rose) to prep my lips while I do the rest of my makeup. It’s silky and hydrating, but not too heavy. I will be honest, the tint on this is quite sheer; but that isn’t a dealbreaker for me since I’m not a huge lipstick person anyway. The packaging is also stunning, and looks like something Marie Antoinette would’ve kept in her vanity.
I’m not normally a floral perfume girlie but Libre’s gorgeous mix of orange blossom, jasmine, lavender, and musk is like a warm, sensual embrace in olfactive form. According to perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim, Libre was born from the idea of starting with a fougère — a traditionally masculine structure within fragrance — and adding feminine, floral notes for a juxtaposition. The result? A sexy, complex floral scent that evokes both strength and sensuality. We filled our own bottles in the gardens, and I love how the refills include two bottles’ (aka 100mL) worth of juice for $135. (A 50mL bottle retails for $140.)
I’m not a huge fan of highlighter, since I already have very oily skin that usually gleams a bit too much on its own. (I also lived through the unicorn strobing trend of the mid-2010s and had years of highlighter fatigue!) But trust YSL Beauty to snap me out of my funk with this finely milled powder highlighter. It’s shockingly subtle, which is why it’s so good: I added a dusting along high points of the face (and even as eyeshadow!) for a bit of eye-catching brightness, as if I turned up my phone’s exposure levels. Hypnotic Honey is the prettiest golden-hour shade that doesn’t look too pigmented — just an expensive, gilded glow.
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For many TV watchers The Bear and controversial Emmy nominations go hand in hand. For the last few years, every time the show scores Emmys nominations — like this year’s 13 nods — the same statement inevitably gets cranked out of the discourse machine: “The Bear is not a comedy.” The show has consistently earned nominations and won in comedic Emmy categories, sparking outcry from viewers and critics who ask, “How can a show about anxiety, trauma, and family breakdowns be a comedy?” But this leads to another question: In an era where genres are constantly being blurred and reimagined, do categories even matter? And further, does this whole debate overshadow artists’ achievements?
This year, one of The Bear’s breakout stars Ayo Edebiri has made Emmys history. She’s the first woman ever to be nominated for both acting and directing in a comedy series and she’s the youngest Black woman to have earned three acting nominations. She’s up for ‘Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy Series’ and ‘Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series’ for her directing work on the episode “Napkins”. While calling The Bear a “comedy” might be questionable, there’s no doubt that Edebiri’s phenomenal work, both in front of and behind the camera, deserves recognition — and award wins.
That tension between the category and the content has made The Bear a lightning rod for awards discourse and, to be fair, the “Emmys fraud” debate isn’t entirely without merit. There’s a long history of shows making strategic decisions to improve their chances of success. At the Emmys, shows can submit themselves to any category they choose, so they tend to pick the one they believe they are more likely to win. Lead actors submit themselves to the supporting actor category or more dramatic shows submit themselves to the comedy categories, bending the rules to secure an award. For example, in 2014, Joe Morton — who played protagonist Oliva’s father in Scandal — was submitted for the “Outstanding Guest Star” award category despite appearing in most episodes that season.
It also doesn’t help that the Television Academy (who runs the Emmys) used to state for years that comedies were defined as having a run time of 30 minutes. Therefore, a show like The Bear, exploring panic attacks, grief spirals, and high-stakes emotional reckoning alongside lighter comedic moments ended up being classified as a comedy by default because most of the episodes’ runtimes fit the comedic categories by definition. They changed these rules in 2021. Comedic acting has historically been undervalued, so when a show like The Bear dominates the comedy category, it raises valid concerns about whether dramas-in-disguise are crowding out more traditional, and equally deserving comedic work. The reality is TV genres straddle a medley of storytelling styles, which is great for viewers who appreciate innovation — award shows need to keep up.
Bearing all this in mind, it’s difficult not to feel happy for Edebiri — what matters most is her work being recognized. Her work in front of and behind the camera has been exceptional. Season 3 of The Bear often felt sluggish and struggled to find its feet, but flashback episode “Napkins” (Edebiri’s directorial debut and written by Catherine Schetina) stood out as a beautiful, tender insight into chef Tina (played by Liza Colón-Zayas) and how she became who is in the kitchen. We see the working-class woman of color, mother, and wife struggle after being suddenly thrust back into the modern LinkedIn-ified world of work, pitted against graduates and younger workers vying for the same jobs, facing endless faux-polite rejections and the immense pressure to continue providing for her family in a job market that doesn’t value her. A coincidental but deeply meaningful encounter with Mikey at The Beef helps Tina reinvent herself in the workplace.
The Bear tends to veer between unbearably hectic and tranquil; Edebiri shows her directorial chops by directing an episode imbued with that quiet stillness. We see the camera focus on aspects of Tina’s everyday routine, and watch as the stability of her life begins crumbling. Whilst this part of Tina’s story is sad, she’s not a pitiful figure. Edebiri gives the character a sense of fight, determination and dignity despite the anguish.
Edebiri has continued to build on her skills in 2025’s Season 4, directing and starring in the episode “Worms” — a tender portrait of Blackness, family, and community whilst also a highly introspective character study. Sydney (Edebiri) is facing a long stretched out dilemma: should she stay at The Bear or leave to join Chef Adam Shapiro’s new venture? As Shapiro begins to feel like an awkward mismatch rather than a viable new business partner, it’s also the first time we see the show delve more explicitly into racial themes.
In the episode, Shapiro doesn’t understand that Sydney’s hair appointment is likely to take all day, he over-explains why he’s blasting an East Coast rap song, and is then surprised when she chooses to put Beethoven on instead. He expects her to “bring in Afro Caribbean influences” to the restaurant, despite the fact we’ve never really seen her cook that style of cuisine (Sydney is also Nigerian). Later, he asks her if she’s seen the Chris Rock documentary Good Hair. He has the air of a 2020 self-described “white ally” who reduces Sydney to her racial identity, putting her in a box and diminishing her humanity. (Predictably, his good nature quickly disappears when he doesn’t get what he wants from her later in the series.)
While calling The Bear a “comedy” might be questionable, there’s no doubt that Edebiri’s phenomenal work, both in front of and behind the camera, deserves recognition.
“Worms” also reflects the deeply familiar shared experience of Black women getting their hair done: Sydney gossiping hairstylist/cousin Chantel (played by Danielle Deadwyler who is hilarious in the episode), getting her hair braided at home rather than in a salon, the stylist code-switching on the phone then back to her authentic self with Sydney, Chantel scolding her young daughter TJ for talking back. It’s a very believable portrayal of a near-universal experience for Black women.
The exploration of Sydney’s dilemma through her conversation with the much younger TJ is an interesting twist. There’s hardly any food in the house, so they go on an impromptu shopping trip, and leisurely make a home-cooked meal; the timer on the oven is stuck at 12:00. Unlike the demands of the professional kitchen, time is suspended and Sydney has the time to contemplate her choices through the simplicity of a child-like metaphor: choosing which house to go to for a sleepover. Getting a glimpse into Sydney’s familial relationships creates a contrast with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), who can’t even remember he’s now an uncle.
“Worms” demonstrates deftly the tension of choosing between someone who seems “right” on paper (Shapiro) and people who — despite their flaws — feel like home (Syd’s coworkers at The Bear). Edebiri’s ability to convey that tension in her meandering dialogue, wide eyes, pauses, and sometimes unconvincing justifications for why she’s still at The Bear is outstanding.
Comedy or drama, The Bear’s writing, storytelling and directing is warm, grounded, realistic and brings us back to the heart of the show: food. The Bear is often far more interested in the personal and the micro, than the political and macro, but to me it has always quietly reflected a truth about multi-racial America, particularly for working-class people. People from different backgrounds work, socialize and care about each other. The Bear restaurant is often referred to as a family— albeit a chaotic one— and that extends to something very true about people in America more broadly, contrary to the story that more Conservative power holders want to tell. In a wider landscape of ICE raids and other racially hostile policies, the quiet politics Edibiri skillfully and convincingly teases out feels important.
The Emmys will likely continue to cause controversy but Edebiri’s work in The Bear has been extraordinary, whether she’s stealing scenes on camera, or shaping the emotional storytelling behind it. The show may be blurring the lines of comedy and drama — but that is actually a key ingredient in making The Bear unmissable TV.
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The moment I get a few inches cut off my hair, all I can think about is growing it back to Rapunzel-like tresses. It’s a familiar dilemma and one I’ve fallen into many times, thanks to my love-hate relationship with the bob haircut. From the Italian bob to the “boyfriend” bob, I’ve more or less tried them all, and while I do enjoy the look, there’s always a part of me that misses the ease of having longer hair.
But what if there was a haircut that allowed you to dabble in both? I’m talking a short, sharp bob and flowing lengths — no post-salon regret here. Happily, there is, and it’s all thanks to the innovative two-in-one haircut, a trend that’s flooding Korean hair salons and TikTok feeds.
What is the Korean two-in-one haircut, and what are the benefits?
The Korean two-in-one haircut involves splitting the hair into two sections and cutting the underside straight across into a bob. The top layer is left untouched, besides a subtle trim if you need it. When the top section is tied or clipped up, it reveals the bob underneath, giving the appearance of shorter hair, and when worn down, it looks as though your hair hasn’t been cut at all. Genius, right?
“This style is a clever optical illusion,” says hairstylist and hair trend forecaster Tom Smith. “You get the polish of a bob when your hair is tied up, but still enjoy the length and versatility of long hair when it’s down,” he says. Adding, “It’s perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with a shorter look without fully committing, or for those who like to switch up their vibe regularly.”
Even better, this work with different hair lengths, says Philipp Haug, cofounder of Haug London Haus hair salon, who recalls doing many of these cuts — a step up from the undercut — in the early ‘00s: “One person might have a shorter baseline and another might prefer something more mid-length, but then when you put the hair down, you’ve got a long haircut no matter what length you’ve gone for underneath.”
Mercedes, a hairstylist at The Young American in California, has recently cut several of these styles. She thinks it’s a lot of fun: “I love both long and short haircuts, so I’m always excited to do one of these,” she says. Mercedes suggests it’s a more wearable version of the also-viral “jellyfish” haircut, which is shorter on top and longer underneath. “The two-in-one Korean cut is like this, but flipped,” says Mercedes, allowing you to conceal the shorter section and wear your hair up or down with ease.
Which hair types suit the Korean two-in-one haircut — and which don’t?
Haug points out that this cut works especially well on medium to thick hair, as the underneath needs to be proportioned correctly. “When you cut the underneath short, you need to have enough length left on top to fall over the top of it,” he says.Smith agrees that a cut like this works best on thick or medium-density hair, and this is because there’s enough hair bulk to split into two lengths. “Straight to wavy textures will find it easiest”, he says, “as the contrast between layers is more defined and the hair holds its shape.”
Smith adds that those with very fine hair might not have enough weight to disguise the shorter undercut when worn down, so it could peek through and look slightly disjointed. “Very curly or textured hair will need to be styled to allow the disconnection to fall into place as desired,” Smith says. Mercedes points out that if you have very thick or curly hair, this might not be the cut for you. This is because you’ll likely need to put the top part up often, adds Mercedes, which could feel too heavy or put strain on claw clips.
What’s the maintenance like for the Korean two-in-one haircut?
Unlike the jellyfish cut, which requires regular trims to stay in shape, the reversed two-in-one haircut is surprisingly low-maintenance, says Smith: “The shorter underlayer is hidden most of the time, so you won’t notice regrowth as quickly as you would with a typical bob,” says Smith. He believes you can easily go a few months between trims, much like with very long hair. “If you do find yourself wearing the shorter length more frequently, you may prefer to have it trimmed more regularly or start the length at a slightly shorter point so that you keep it looking sharp more of the time,” he adds.
If you want to maintain a clean trim, Mercedes recommends visiting the salon every eight to 10 weeks. “Otherwise, the shorter pieces will start to look a little funky,” she says. That is, unless you’re growing out the underside of your hair. In that case, you can simply let it do its thing.
As expected, the comments are full of questions — mainly, are there any downsides? Underneath a video of the haircut posted to Instagram by Hove Salon, one person replied that they have no regrets since their hair is much lighter and easier to dry. That said, they noted it can be a bit inconvenient when trying to tie all their hair up, like when brushing their teeth or washing their face, as it now takes both a claw clip and a headband to keep the long and short pieces out of the way.
What should I ask for if I want the Korean two-in-one haircut?
Thanks to its low-maintenance nature and the versatility of wearing your hair two ways, Mercedes thinks this trend will be everywhere soon: “It’s a two-in-one haircut! Who hasn’t had the ‘Should I go short or leave it long?’ struggle? I think everyone has said this at some point.”
Likewise, Haug thinks this style is a really good introduction to shorter hair. “Especially if you want a bob haircut but aren’t confident enough to take the plunge,” he says. “This is like an in-between step.”
So how do you ask for the two-in-one cut? Photos might not do it justice, so it’s best to show your hairstylist the cut in action. TikTok offers plenty of inspiration, but since it’s still a relatively new trend, it’s only been shown on a select few hair types, typically straighter hair. If you’re unsure whether it will work for you, consider booking a (usually free) consultation with your hairstylist before committing to the full chop.
This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
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Welcome toMoney Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar. Today: a program manager who has a $120,000 household income and who spends some of her money this week on a massive fern and a tiny cactus. If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via ouronline form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.
Occupation: Program manager Industry: Non-profit Age: 37 Location: Providence, RI Salary: $55,000 Household Income/Financial Setup: $120,000. I work part-time, on average around 25 hours a week. I moved into this role a few years ago thinking the part-time life wouldn’t last, but I’m still here! I feel incredibly lucky to have a job that gives me so much free time and flexibility but still pays a salary I can live on. My partner K. is a nurse making around $65,000. She and I maintain separate finances but split a lot of costs including rent and utilities, pet expenses, and shared discretionary purchases. We have a shared credit card for these expenses that we split 50/50 each month. A couple years ago, she switched careers and carries some student loan debt from that. Assets: Checking account: $23,000 (recently pulled most of this out of a CD and haven’t gotten around to putting it elsewhere. However, it’s not as bad as it sounds: My checking account earns interest similar to a HYSA); HYSA: $12,500; IRA: $45,000; Roth IRA: $71,000; mutual fund: $31,500. Debt: $0 Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $1,675 Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $1,140 rent for a one-bedroom, heat included. My partner K. and I split this 50/50. The apartment itself is dated and small, but in a good location and this is a great price. We’ve been here for seven years with only small yearly increases and are paying under market rent. I always hold my breath when the lease renewal paperwork arrives. (Our last apartment was turned into an Airbnb with a month’s notice so I may be carrying some residual anxiety!) Loan Payments: $0 Electricity: I cover this, it’s between $50-$80, depending on usage. Internet: K. covers this this; it’s $60. Phone: $20 Retirement Contribution: I max my IRA or Roth IRA each year. I don’t currently have access to a 401(k). Car Insurance: $208, split with K. Health Insurance: $275. I get health insurance via the State Exchange; this cost went down a bit when I renewed so I think I’m probably getting a small subsidy now which I may owe back at tax time. I don’t have dental insurance, I pay for cleanings out of pocket and hope I don’t need a root canal. Rental Insurance: $12 Pet Insurance: $21, split with K. Climbing Gym Membership: $89 Spotify: $12.83 Netflix: $19.25 Donations: Around $100: $22 to a local immigrant rights/mutual aid group, and then donations of $5-$10 to a handful of local journalists and podcasters. I also budget $50 to give each month as I feel moved.
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? It was generally expected that I go to college. I applied to a few different colleges and ended up going to a small liberal arts school because it was the cheapest option after aid and scholarships were applied, even cheaper than the state school. I used a combination of need-based aid, scholarships, loans, and part-time work to pay for tuition and living expenses. My parents contributed around $5,000 and kept me on their health insurance. They also gifted me an old car of theirs. I graduated with a very manageable loan amount, around $14,000, which I mostly paid off with two AmeriCorps education awards.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances? My parents are both very debt-averse and savings-oriented and they instilled that in me and my brother. They took us to open our first bank accounts and encouraged us to save birthday money or any money we earned. They also taught us to be pretty thrifty and live well on less, which I think is an underrated financial skill. I don’t really remember them talking to me about investing or retirement, but we chat about that sometimes now. My dad is a Nervous Nelly about the stock market and is prone to making poor market-timing decisions with his retirement account, so he has been a bit of a cautionary example.
What was your first job and why did you get it? I helped out on my family’s strawberry farm starting when I was maybe 10 or 11 and my parents paid me for it. This was… Semi-voluntary. It was expected that I would help, but I had a fair amount of say over how much I worked and was paid in accordance. When I was 15 or 16 I started my first actual job, working at a local after-school program for younger kids. It paid $6.15 an hour. I liked having more spending money and it was also an opportunity to hang out with friends.
Did you worry about money growing up? I didn’t worry that much about money but I was certainly aware of it. I grew up in a predominantly working-class area and I felt well-off compared to many of my friends because we were very financially stable, but money was not exactly abundant. When I was very young both of my parents had unsteady income that came from selling crafts, small-scale farming and odd jobs. Though their incomes were low, our lifestyle was more self-sufficient than average: we lived in a rural area and grew or hunted a lot of our food, and my dad built our house. We always had food, medical care, and housing (though not always bourgeois amenities like running water or flooring. The house was built *while* we lived in it, and before the house was ready we lived in a tent and a pop-up camper on the build site.) We also had some generational wealth that smoothed the way: My mom inherited some money around the time that I was born, and my paternal grandparents had a comfortable retirement and would help us out occasionally. When I was older, my mom started working an office job and we had more of the trappings of a middle-class life, like summer road trips to see the national parks and money to pay for extracurricular activities. My parents’ marriage was always strained (they eventually divorced), and as I got older I understood how much money was a factor in that.
Do you worry about money now? I don’t worry about money in a day-to-day sense. I do budget pretty carefully, but I’m more financially comfortable than I’ve ever been. If the car needs a repair, it’s not a big deal. If I want to go on a trip, I go. That said, like most people I have an anxious orientation to money that leads me to dedicate a fair amount of brain space to worrying about things like layoffs and recessions and lease non-renewals. In particular, I worry that I missed the boat on buying a home here in Providence. Real estate values have skyrocketed since COVID-19. Even if I were working full time, it would be tough to make the math work on buying a house. If I could get a do-over, I would have figured out how to buy in my early 30s, but at the time I didn’t feel a pressing desire to own a house and I didn’t know that a window of opportunity was closing.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? When I was in college, my parents contributed to tuition and covered a few bills for me (health insurance, car insurance). I used money from working part-time for any living expenses. By the time I graduated and started working full time in my early 20s, I was pretty independent from them but we still share expenses like streaming services from time to time. If I needed them as a safety net, I suspect they’d be able to lend me a bit of money, and in the worst-case scenario they both own homes outright and have space for me to move back in with them.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. Yes, I received around $20,000 in EE-bonds as an inheritance from my paternal grandparents. Though I don’t count on it, I may get a modest inheritance from one or both of my parents eventually.
Day One: Monday
7:45 a.m. — Up a little late and make coffee. My partner K. doesn’t work on Mondays; since my schedule is fairly flexible, sometimes I take the day off as well so that we can take a long weekend camping trip or go to the beach. Today, though, she has a lot of other obligations so I’m planning to work. While I drink my coffee, I play Which Year, a daily game where you guess the year of archival photos. I send my score to my mom and brother; we have a friendly rivalry going on.
9 a.m. — K. and I take the dog for a walk together. We have a very sweet, very anxious small dog that we rescued a few years ago. She LOVES walks. Usually these morning walks are my job; if the weather is decent we’ll walk for at least a half-hour. It’s a nice start to the day.
9:45 a.m. — I eat a bowl of cottage cheese and blueberries while I answer a few emails and get myself organized for the day. I generally work from home, but I have in-person meetings on a regular basis.
11 a.m. — K. has a few Zoom meetings and virtual appointments today, so I decide to work in a coffee shop. Two people working from home in a one-bedroom apartment is a recipe for frustration, as we learned during COVID-19. I walk to a coffeeshop nearby, snag a table and order a large iced chai and leave a tip. I spend a few hours drafting a grant application. $8.19
2:30 p.m. — Head home and work on the grant application financial documentation (I actually love working on budgets). As a late lunch, I eat leftovers from a cookbook club that we attended last night. The cookbook was Start Here by Sohla El-Waylly. I made a bisteeya-inspired chicken pie and K. made a tahdig. Both were good, as were all of the other dishes that people brought.
5:45 p.m. — Wrap up work and meet up with my running group for an easy run through the neighborhood. It’s a small crew today and we only go a few miles.
6:30 p.m. — Back home and take a quick shower. K. is on a Zoom meeting, so I (quietly, did I mention our apartment is small?) make dinner. I make a chaat-spiced skillet fry-up with potatoes, roasted chickpeas, and green peas. I top it with some leftover tamarind chutney, onions, a cumin yogurt sauce, and fresh mint and cilantro. After several failures, I’m finally meeting some success with growing an herb garden on my fire escape.
7 p.m. — K. heads out to get a drink with work friends and I watch La Casa de las Flores on Netflix (Spanish practice, though I get lazy midway through and turn on the subtitles).
Daily Total: $8.19
Day Two: Tuesday
6:30 a.m. — K. is working today, which means that everyone is up earlier. She has already made coffee when I get out of bed (this is generally her job).
7:30 a.m. — I take the dog for a long walk and swing by my community garden plot, where I pick some rhubarb and a big bunch of mint. The dog spots a rabbit, very exciting stuff.
8:30 a.m. — Breakfast is cottage cheese and frozen blueberries. I catch up on a few things for an organization that I’m on the board for, and then do a few small admin tasks and email for work.
10:30 a.m. — Head to a follow-up appointment for LASIK, which I got around a month ago. All of the appointments were included in the cost, which was $4,100. They say my eyes look good and my vision is 20/20, which is excellent news after spending the last 25 years of my life in glasses. The procedure wasn’t cheap, but contacts and glasses aren’t either. So far I wouldn’t say that it’s changed my life, but it was really great not dealing with glasses and contacts when we went camping a few weeks ago.
11 a.m. — Back home and work for a few hours. I’m a little hungry but don’t feel like making anything, so I eat an apple and a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter.
1:30 p.m. — The dog has a vet appointment. This is our third attempt at taking a blood sample, she freaks out every time. We have been medicating her in increasingly large amounts. Putting her harness on, I have my doubts that we’ve medicated her enough, she seems quite alert and happy to go for a walk. Unfortunately I am correct: after around 15 minutes of attempts, the vet tech throws in the towel. We talk about other med options and they tell me the vet will follow up. Today’s appointment doesn’t cost me anything since it was a failure. How thrifty.
2 p.m. — Back home, still hungry. Eat a packet of instant ramen with an egg. The egg makes it healthy. I also start steeping a big pot of iced Moroccan mint tea with the mint from the garden. Then back to work for a bit.
4 p.m. — I remember that I need to make a boarding appointment for the dog later on in the summer. K. and I signed up to volunteer at the Newport Folk Fest. I haven’t been in years because it’s hard to get tickets. As volunteers, we’ll get in free but staying nearby in Newport would be crazy expensive. With the hour-long drive each day, we’ll be gone a lot and it feels best to board the pup. For 48 hours it will be $130, but we won’t pay until we pick her up.
4:30 p.m. — Take the dog on a quick walk and then head to the climbing gym for a bouldering session. I don’t climb for too long but I tackle my least favorite style: overhangs.
7:30 p.m. — Arrive back home and K. is making some sort of Greek potato pie with leftover phyllo dough and fresh herbs from the windowsill herb garden. I help out a little and then take a shower while the pie is in the oven. It’s pretty good, but then again… iIt’s potato and phyllo. How could it be bad?
8:45 p.m. — We put on an episode of Killing Eve and tackle folding clothes. The volume of clean, unfolded clothing in our bedroom corner feels obscene. It could clothe a whole Medieval village. Then, bedtime. It’s chilly tonight, I turn on my mattress pad heater (a purchase that has greatly increased my quality of life) and snuggle in.
Daily Total: $0
Day Three: Wednesday
7:30 a.m. — Tired and stiff this morning. Probably the climbing yesterday. Get up, coffee, take the dog on a walk.
9:15 a.m. — I am planning on doing some yoga and starting work a little late but then I realize I have a 9:30 a.m. meeting. Darn. I throw the leftover potato pie in the oven for breakfast and log on.
11 a.m. — Meeting is wrapped up and I’m still feeling hungry, so I make a bowl of oatmeal. It’s a chilly day and oatmeal with cranberries, apples, and brown sugar feels like a treat. After, I change into semi-professional clothing and bike a few miles downtown for a meeting. I’ve been trying to bike to most of my downtown meetings now that the weather has improved — it’s fun and generally a bit faster because I don’t need to find parking.
12:25 p.m. — My meeting has wrapped up and I have a little time to kill, so I duck into the Japanese market where I buy a shrimp tempura onigiri, salmon sashimi, frozen udon noodles, and a small chocolate bar. $24.70
1:50 p.m. — I bike over to a community garden. I’m meeting someone here to show me a space that I’m planning to start gardening in. They’re trying to get it started up again after a few years of neglect. It is a bit far from my apartment and I already have a plot at a different garden that I tend to with a group, so here I’m planning to just do flowers and a few low-maintenance veggies. I eat the onigiri and chocolate bar while I wait. The garden space is definitely rough, there are lots of old pallets that I’ll need to clear out, but I enjoy tackling messy spaces, so it’s up my alley.
2:15 p.m. — Back home again. Tell the dog that I love her and that she’s beautiful and perfect. Make a big cup of chai; it’s deceptively chilly out today and I need something warming. Do a little work to follow up from my meetings and then log off around 3:30 p.m.
4 p.m. — Walk the dog. I spot a forest green fabric basket on the curb and snag it. I really appreciate the robust curbside redistribution system that our neighborhood has. I don’t bother taking anything to the thrift store anymore.
5 p.m. — Need to swing by the organization that I volunteer for to drop some items off, so I combine that with a run. Stop by and chat with other volunteers, and then go to a nearby riverside bike path that is just a little too far for me to regularly incorporate into my runs.
6:30 p.m. — Get home and shower while K. starts making poke bowls with the salmon sashimi. We top them with salmon, mango, sriracha mayo, furikake, and cucumber. After, we settle in for an episode of Killing Eve, then early bed.
Daily Total: $24.70
Day Four: Thursday
7:15 a.m. — Wake up to torrential rain. Boo. The apartment is freezing; wish we owned a space heater. Make coffee and play Which Year, hold off on walking the dog in the hopes that the rain will let up.
8:15 a.m. — Do a short yoga session before hopping on a 9 a.m. Zoom meeting. The meeting lasts much longer than I expected and I wish that I’d eaten breakfast before.
10:30 a.m. — Finally free! I bite the bullet and take the dog out, then make a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast which I eat in front of my computer.
12:15 p.m. — I head to my ceramics studio for a session. I work on glazing a few plates and then handbuild a footed jewelry tray (strongly influenced by one I saw on Etsy). I buy three-hour blocks of studio access in packages of ten so I don’t need to pay anything today. Generally they are $30 each unless I get them on sale, and then I spend another couple hundred a year on clay, glazes, and firing fees. On the plus side, I save lots of money on gifts! Everyone wants more mugs, right?
3 p.m. — Back home just in time for another Zoom meeting. After, I wrap up a few follow up items and then log off.
4:30 p.m. — Still cold, still rainy. I take a nap in bed with my heated mattress pad, which is a delight. After, I decide to make rhubarb bars. They sound like a good treat today and running the oven will warm the apartment up.
5 p.m. — The rain has finally cleared, so I take the dog on a walk. I call my mom to coordinate with her about summer plans. She’s going to be coming out to New England for a few weeks with my cousin and her kids. They have found an affordable vacation rental for their Rhode Island stay; I tell her it’s not in the trendiest location but should be convenient to the beach and to me. I also tell my cousin she can use my car for two weeks. Mistake? Maybe! But it will force me to bike more.
7 p.m. — K. usually works a 12-hour shift on Thursdays, but she comes home early today and we make dinner together: Japanese-style potato and carrot curry with big chewy udon noodles. After, spend some time reading before bed. I’m finally reading Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.
Daily Total: $0
Day Five: Friday
7:30 a.m. — A little warmer today. Coffee and Which Year, then take the dog on a walk (extra long this morning since we didn’t get out much yesterday).
9 a.m. — I do a few small things for my job, but I’m not planning on working much today since I’m close to hitting 25 hours for the week. To be honest, work has felt slow recently; there’s a few big federal grants that are in limbo under the current administration and so we don’t have as many projects going as usual. It’s a weird time.
10:30 a.m. — Wrap up work, eat some blueberries and cottage cheese for breakfast. Put on an old episode of You’re Wrong About and spend half an hour cleaning the apartment in the company of my para-social friendships with Sarah and Michael.
12 p.m. — Eat a can of Amy’s lentil soup for lunch (underwhelming) then head out to run some errands. Stop at the bank and withdraw $80 in quarters for laundry (we have coin op machines in the basement), then swing by a carwash to vacuum out my car. Love having a clean car. $2
12:45 p.m. — Stop by one of my favorite houseplant stores. It’s this oasis in a converted mill building. I really love these old mill buildings. You go inside and it’s this maze of repurposed spaces hosting retail, artist studios, dance studios, and community organizations. One of them nearby has a pinball museum and an indoor skatepark! It’s so important for a city to have affordable commercial space for these kinds of fun, oddball ventures, and I worry that we’re starting to lose that here. Anyway, off my soapbox. I buy a massive fern for a plant propagation workshop I’m teaching tomorrow, and a tiny cactus. I could probably get the fern reimbursed if I asked but I don’t really mind donating it. $49.20
3 p.m. — Back home and spend some time prepping for the plant propagation workshop. End up going down a plant-care rabbit hole that culminates in me chopping my huge monstera into a bunch of smaller pieces. Someone on YouTube assures me that once I replant them I’ll have a healthier, happier plant and I’m trusting the process.
6 p.m. — I’m just finishing sweeping up when K. gets home. She’s wiped from the week and doesn’t really feel like going anywhere, so we decide to stay in. She makes a Persian chicken and rice dish for dinner (this is one of her specialties, it’s very delicious) and I clean up. Then we watch a few episodes of Killing Eve. Not sure I’m as into the second season.
Daily Total: $51.20
Day Six: Saturday
9 a.m. — Sleep in a little, then up to make coffee and walk the dog.
11 a.m. — Head out to a volunteer shift at the tool library. It’s busy today, this time of year is always full of people working on their gardens and house projects and starting new hobbies. Today we have a bunch of people just hanging out as well. It’s started to feel like a third space, which is fun.
2 p.m. — It’s time for the plant propagation workshop I’m leading. We have 12 people attend, which is a larger group than I was anticipating and flusters me a little, since I had planned for it to be very hands-on. Hopefully everyone enjoys it and learns something. Dividing up the giant fern seems to be the highlight.
3 p.m. — The plant propagation workshop is followed by a plant swap. I end up taking home an unnecessary number of seedlings and plant cuttings (pilea, jade, pothos, stonecrop, elderberry, and something called oregano brujo, which is used medicinally in Puerto Rico, according to the woman who brings it). Also, a very sad cactus arrangement that I hope I can revive.
5:30 p.m. — Home from the plant swap and K. is heading out for a karaoke night. Karaoke is not one of my favorite activities so I will not be joining her. Instead, I go on a quick run with the dog and order takeout from my go-to Cambodian place. I get crispy wings, nime chow, and crab rangoon. Then I settle in with my takeout and watch the first half of Sirens. $32.86
Daily Total: $32.86
Day Seven: Sunday
9 a.m. — Sleep in, coffee. Score in the second percentile on Which Year, very exciting.
10:30 a.m. — Walk the dog and then spend a bit of time catching up on financial stuff. I ask K. to venmo me half of our shared credit card balance and catch up on categorizing transactions in my budget. I also catch up on my bank account bonus churning. I’m not as into this as some people, I consider it a small side hustle. I have a spreadsheet that tracks all of my in-process bank account and credit card sign up bonuses. I’m currently trying to trigger a checking account bonus from Chase and need a direct deposit. I read reports that an eBay deposit will do it, so I list K.’s old Xbox for sale.
11 a.m. — K. is working on sewing projects this morning so I ask her to mend a few items of my clothing with small tears or missing buttons. We also debate whether she is capable of altering a too-large linen jumpsuit I got at a recent clothing swap. She says she’ll make an attempt.
12 p.m. — Try to buy a kitchen cart off of Facebook Marketplace but lose out to another buyer. The search continues.
1 p.m. — Head out for a grocery shopping run. We’re going to a Memorial Day barbeque later on, so first I stop by the liquor store to buy wine and brandy for sangria (split with K.; my share is $14.37), and then to the grocery store for the fruit and normal grocery haul. Rhode Island doesn’t sell any alcohol in grocery stores, which is highly inconvenient. I buy peaches and strawberries for the sangria, potatoes, onions, apples, mangos, bell peppers, ginger, a few tubs each of cottage cheese and yogurt, a few bags of frozen blueberries, milk, half and half, butter, dried cranberries, couscous, chicken, chickpeas and kidney beans, and eggs. I feel like it’s a lot of stuff but the total is only $92 (split with K, my share $46.13). $60.50
2 p.m. — Throw together the sangria, bid the dog farewell, and head over to the cookout. Our friends live in the neighborhood, so we can walk. The food spread is delicious, and they have the most amazing garden, I am very jealous. My least favorite thing about our place is the lack of outdoor space.
7 p.m. — Home to feed and walk the dog, then back out again for a parking lot show at a local dive bar. They do these free parking lot punk and metal shows in the summer that last all day; this is the first one of the season. This isn’t normally my scene but it’s a fun summer tradition. I always appreciate how diverse in age the crowd is: there’s folks age 7 to 70 bopping around and catching up. We get a beer ($7.35 each with tip) and chat with some acquaintances in between sets. I am a little hungry so we each get a hot dog from a food vendor ($5 each, but K. pays because I can’t get Venmo to work). $7.35
9:30 — We’re tired and a little cold, so we head home. I’m still complaining that I missed snagging the last cupcake at the cookout this afternoon, so K. makes a quick batch of brownies to placate me. Then bedtime.
Daily Total: $67.85
The Breakdown
Conclusion
“This ended up being a slightly lower-spend week than normal. It was a little quieter than usual in general, and I did a number of free things, the show, the plant swap, the barbecue. And not having to pay the vet bill certainly helped! I’ve been trying to cut down on my consumer spending on “stuff”, so it was gratifying to see that I didn’t spend much in that area. I think in general I do wonder if I can really afford to keep working in this job as the cost of living goes up. I don’t save as much as I did working full time, obviously!
“Also, a quick update: The week after I submitted this, I found out that our landlord is selling all of his properties, including our building, to an investor. So that’s probably the end of our cheap rent. I feel like I jinxed myself! We’re still waiting to find out the upshot of this for us, but if we do need to move, our rent will likely double in the fall.”
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Roll your sleeves up because life is about to get extra messy! From July 22nd to August 22nd, the sun will be shining in the constellation of Leo. The friendly lion will be stirring up the theatrics, making us all a little extra — which isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes we need to lead with our passions in order to be in touch with our hearts.
Leo is the fire sign who loves to perform, so over the next month, we will display our attributes for people to see. After all, life is but a stage, and we will be feeling ourselves during Leo season. That is good because we need to get our rizz back and show off our charming personalities. We can enrich ourselves and step into our strengths without caring what anyone thinks. The only opinion that matters is ours. We are in the driving seat now.
Leo is the zodiac’s boldest, confident, self-assured, most generous, and most loving. Leos are sweethearts who’ll do just about anything for the one they adore. They have a big roar when upset and will refuse to back down from an argument when they believe in the cause. This is due to their fixed nature. The lion likes to put on the razzle dazzle and let people see all sides: being ruled by the sun means they are extremely powerful and motivated. Since Leo loves to care for others and inspires friends to grow, being the scene leader will make us peppy and optimistic for the next few weeks. We’ll have a sense of bravado and take charge by allowing our authenticity to shine.
On the other hand, competitiveness will be intense. The fire sign will do anything to come out on top, but we shouldn’t use manipulation or lie to get our way. Everyone can be shady, but the lion knows how to spin a tale and make it seem real because they are the actors of the zodiac and will do anything to get their way. Be careful because seeming sincerity could be false and lead to disappointment.
We’ll all be taking on all these energies for the next month, so we mustn’t misbehave and start nonsense with those we care about. If we do, the results won’t be pretty, especially as this Leo season is starting off bumpy due to the aspects between the sun and Saturn retrograde in Aries, Neptune retrograde in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, and Pluto retrograde in Aquarius. These planets will bring out triangular situations and urge us to break free from toxic cycles. It’ll be hard to do since we’re wrapped up in them. Mercury’s backward spin in Leo lasts from July 18th to August 11th and will stir the pot even more. Miscommunications will cause tensions with others, and the retrograde might hold us back from moving forward. When Mercury turns direct on August 11th, our goals will become clearer and concise.
The upcoming month wants us to break free and focus on the next steps in our lives. The only way to find our footing is to heal the past. The four retrogrades (Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto) encourage us to do so. In the process, we’ll find our way to enlightenment and embrace our brave and daring attitude. That is the biggest flex of all. Let’s slay Leo season!
Important Dates For Leo Season:
July 22nd: The sun enters Leo, heightening our desires and swagger.
July 24th: The New Moon in Leo gives us the chance to pivot into a fresh start.
July 30th: Venus swims into Cancer, allowing us to understand our feelings in partnerships.
August 6th: Mars moves into Libra, making us more diplomatic.
August 9th: The Full Moon in Aquarius lights up the sky, urging us to embrace our unique visions.
August 1st: Mercury turns direct, ending the retrograde journey that began July 18th. Life will move swifter and with clearer communication.
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From pimple patches to spot treatments to lasers, there’s little I haven’t tried in the name of clear skin. And when it comes to beauty tech specifically, I’m hardly a novice, either — LED masks, sleek hair stylers, high frequency wands, cleansing tools…I use ‘em all! But, if I had to use only one for the rest of my life, it would easily be the ZIIP.
Microcurrent is perhaps most popular for its “snatching” abilities (aka the ability to sculpt and tone facial muscles), but I’ve personally noticed the most dramatic improvements with my acne. Microcurrent is an effective treatment for acne because it draws out acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation, sometimes before it even has a chance to come to a head. ZIIP, co-founded by facialist Melanie Simon, is perhaps best known for the Halo — a small, computer-mouse-shaped device that treats myriad skin concerns, from wrinkles to puffiness to yes, acne.
I’m 31, and genetically blessed with few wrinkles and good bone structure, so while I loved the Halo (truly, it was a cornerstone of my wedding skin prep), I almost exclusively used it to ward off breakouts. At $399, the Halo is far from cheap — and if you’re only interested in it for acne treatment, I might not have recommended it. But here’s where the ZIIP Dot comes in.
As if the beauty gods themselves heard me, an acne-focused ZIIP device finally arrived. Unlike the Halo, the Dot doesn’t require a companion app to select which treatment to load. It arrives preset with a 90-second spot treatment routine (60 seconds of Treat mode, followed by 30 seconds of Calm to reduce inflammation) and a six-minute full-face routine (four minutes of Treat mode and two minutes of Calm).
It looks like a mini doughnut and has two thin, slightly curved electrical nodes on the underside of the device. In the box was a bottle of Clear Gel (one of the various conductive gels the brand makes), along with a charging cable and manual. It’s super lightweight and fits comfortably in my hand. After cleansing and patting my skin dry, I applied a few pumps of gel all over my face. Pressing and holding the Dot’s power button activated the full-face routine, and I slowly glided the device over my face. I tend to notice a slight warming sensation when the microcurrent “finds” the active acne — this is totally normal! Depending on how severe the breakout is, things can get a little tingly, but nothing unbearable. (Compared to other devices I’ve tried, I find that ZIIP’s are not only the most effective but also the most gentle.)
I tend to break out most on my chin and jawline, but occasionally get acne in congested areas like my nose. The Dot is small enough to get into hard-to-reach spots, and I liked that you can start your treatment right away without having to pull up and sync the device with the app. After use, I wiped the Dot clean with a towel, rinsed off any excess gel, and proceeded with the rest of my nighttime skincare routine.
The following morning, I swear that the early rumblings of a cystic pimple were gone. (Formerly, I’d only seen results that fast with a dermatologist appointment and cortisone injection.) The one-two punch of microcurrent to kill bacteria and nanocurrent to quell inflammation — at its core, that’s what acne is, after all — is a pimple’s worst nightmare, and my new best friend.
The brand recommends using the Dot two to three times a week, which is perfect for keeping breakouts at bay. The full-face routine has really helped maintain clear skin, but I’ve also used the spot treatment for a quick zippity-zap if I’m in a rush. Depending on the stage my acne is at, that’s been enough to reduce the lifespan and severity of the breakout dramatically. (In my aforementioned example, I was able to “catch” the pimple before it had a chance to wreak havoc; since I tend to scar easily, this was still a great tool to have to reduce hyperpigmentation.)
If acne is your primary skin concern, then at $200 (half the price of the Halo) the Dot is an amazing addition to any acne-haver’s routine. I love that it’s compact enough to easily travel with — great news if your skin tends to flare up after a long flight. With this sleek new skin gadget as part of my acne routine, I feel like I’m truly taking care of my skin — and that’s a very, very good thing.
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