fresh sugar coral alternative?

my lips have always been pale and i've been conscious to keep a tinted lip balm in my bag

my favorite has been the fresh sugar coral.

Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

at $22.50, it's a risky buy because i always lose lip balms. same goes for pens, rings, and bracelets.

does anyone know a just as good alternative? i love the color, the texture and the longevity of this balm, and i just might fork over the money for the rose color next.. or coral?! you don't want my problems..

30% off wedges and heels at Forever 21

forever 21 will always have a place in my heart. chockfull of polyester dresses, polyester tees, and PVC bags, it offered more disposable clothing that my high school self could handle.

because now i am saving up for vegas and denver, i'll "have to learn to window shop", as my mom puts it. but these heels are so perfect for EDC! who cares if me/my friend/strangers puke on these? they're $25

FOREVER 21 Faux Suede Wedge Sandals

FOREVER 21 Patent Wedge Sandals

FOREVER 21 Peep Toe Platform Wedges

john steinbeck

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

from http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/

metropolitan diary

METROPOLITAN DIARY December 17, 2012, 3:00 am

A Gift of Flowers

By JOAN OLECK

Dear Diary:

I had an unusual experience recently.

The morning seemed like a run-of-the-mill weekday. I had just dropped off my daughter for school on Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope and was waiting for a friend and fellow mom to emerge from her car to chat when a man came out of DNY Natural Land. He was carrying a bouquet of roses.

Feeling a bit playful, I addressed him. “Oh, for me?” I asked, expecting a smile and a polite brushoff.

But something entirely different occurred: The man looked me full in the eye, grinned, and said, “Yes. For you!” then handed me the roses.

“Ha, ha!” I laughed and handed back the bouquet. Or tried to. He refused to accept them.

“No, no, you can’t mean this!” I screeched.

“I do,” he insisted, and walked back into the store to buy a second bouquet.

What could have precipitated such a generous act? Had the love of his life just accepted his proposal? Had he snagged a new job or promotion? Or was he simply glad to be alive on this beautiful wintry morning? I’ll never know — only that a stranger on the street initiated an unexpected act of kindness. And for that, lovely, anonymous man, thank you.

skin care routine

i've been off birth control for about a year, and suddenly acne flared up. i thought it was my skincare routine, and so for the past year i've been looking high and low, until i read a cosmo article about acne post birth control. it all made sense. here's what i've been using to subside the facial craters ::

NOW's organic jojoba oil

i know, i know, the idea of putting oil on your face is really gross and perhaps a little counter intuitive, but this is the best toner in the winter, and best makeup remover all year round

no harsh chemicals, more affordable and no scent. i'm sold

Ole Henriksen's The Whole Truth Kit

Worth the splurge. the faint orange scent is super nice, and the serum is allure-acclaimed. i also use the cleanser (that i got for $9 on olehenriksen.com! the moisturizer is my day and night except when i need sunscreen....

boscia's self defense anti oxidant moisturizer spf 30

i walked into sephora on the day this arrived, and it was love at first sight. how could i not fall in love with the packaging? the moisturizer is perfect for my combination skin, and even with post birth control hormones awry, this is not oily.

i use organic, raw honey as a mask on my face daily for 20 minutes. i love trader joe's honey in a pinch, but the union square farmer's markets have so many great options too