Things That Are Making Me Feel Good Right Now
A speed round of my monthly favourites.
This past week has been a bit of a mess. My husband was admitted to the hospital with an appendix ripe for removal; they operated, and he was discharged for what lasted a grand total of 24 hours, then he was readmitted via a trip to the A&E department. He’s thankfully now home and back on the mend, but it’s been a hard week trying to keep all the plates spinning and making life feel as normal as possible for our little one. A big week as an emetophobe✌️ So this month’s favourites edit is a little abridged and spotlights the things that have made me feel GOOD when, quite frankly, I’ve felt like an overwhelmed shell of a human. Grateful for a New Girl rewatch and M&S Milk Chocolate Cookies as always (a monthly favourites staple at this point).
I sometimes wonder if you lot are psychic, because Judith posted in the chat about the J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater* mere seconds after I tried it on at home. Guys, I was wowed. Comfort levels off the chart. As a double-chinned gal, I’m not classically drawn to rollnecks, but this is more of a ribbed wide neck that rolls back on itself a little, rather than a full rollneck that covers your whole neck. It’s also 100% cotton, so it is exactly the kind of piece you’ll reach for daily in these shoulder seasons. There was a lot of debate in the chat about sizing, but I went with my usual (a medium) and have zero complaints. It feels like a hug and looks crisp as hell with a pair of cotton poplin trousers*.
What did I wear when I had to take Mark to A&E? My black version of the Le Bon Shoppe Balloon Pants (U.K link here - I’m wearing the cream version above). It’s a bit bizarre to think about what I wore in that moment, but I guess when it’s a true emergency, you reach for comfort and practicality, and these tick both of those boxes in a big way. I’ll admit that last month I bought two more pairs, so I now have the cream, the black and the grey pair (I sold the brown as I found the colour tricky to style!). The only downside is the size range. I’m a U.K 12, and I wear them in a large.
My husband was in surgery on this day, and I couldn’t get through to the right person on the switchboard to see if he was out of the theatre. My Oura ring was like, ARE YOU OK HUN!? I needed a distraction, so I wore a new-ish secondhand purchase - The Row Cary Loafers in a bright red ponyhair (there are a few pairs on Vestiaire here*). I’d been thinking about them nonstop since I saw a girl in New York wearing them last autumn, and promised myself that if I ever found them preloved, I’d do what needed to be done. I did find a pair online, but the condition was pretty grim. Thankfully, the guys at The Seam worked their magic and have given them a new lease of life.
Have I committed Courtney Grow’s full makeup routine to memory? Yes, yes, I have. Now I didn’t have every single product she mentioned in my beauty drawers, but I did have similar enough things that I could run through most of the steps and my word, the glow!! The natural (but kinda full) coverage! It’s not a routine I’d whip out every single morning, but for a pick-me-up, instant-mood-boost situation, I’m completely sold. Here’s everything I used:
m.ph Underpainting Palette in Medium* - the peachy shade to colour correct and the lightest concealer-type shade to highlight. All smooshed in with a BeautyBlender*.
KOSAS Revealer Concealer in 3* - for general spot cover-up.
Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer in Light/Medium* - stamped across the outer temples, jawline, and cheeks where you would apply contour, with a brush like this*.
MERIT Flush Balm in Fox* - applied to your hand and worked into the same brush you just used, then applied to the very tops of your cheeks and up to your hairline.
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint in 3* - a tiny amount, swirled under your bronzer, across your forehead, and anywhere else you need coverage, worked into this brush*.
Hourglass Ambient Setting Powder in Diffused Light* - I use this brush*.
…then here’s where I go a little off piste. I set my brows with this brow gel*, line my lips with this* and apply a little lip balm too*. Then I swipe a little of the top-right shade from the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes* across my lids with this brush*, and curl my lashes. DONE.
As if Grace Atwood just posted a newsletter with the title ‘Buy Yourself the Flowers’ because that’s exactly what I did yesterday. After a rough start on Monday, I realised I needed to ditch the bad mood, so I trundled down to the local florist to buy myself an arrangement, and they lifted my spirits and made the kitchen feel more spring-like.
M&S needs to stop releasing pistachio-related goods because, let me tell you, my jeans are getting tight and I have zero self-control. Thankfully, they are redeeming themselves slightly with this ‘Nutrient Dense’ range of preprepared salads (that can be found right next to the sandwich section). This beetroot and feta one?! Divine. And there’s a third of your recommended daily fibre intake in one serving. I’ve been popping mine in a bowl with a few added red pickled onions and whatever leftover protein I have hanging around for a speedy, nutritious lunch.
My number one parenting hack? Get your kids into music that you like to listen to. It’s a sure-fire way to make car journeys tolerable, nay, enjoyable. I’ll admit it’s tricky with toddlers, but we’ve managed to get our four-year-old into some pretty decent tunes, and when he listens to one he likes, we add it to his very own playlist. Spice Girls, sadly, haven’t had much of an effect, but yesterday he asked me to play David Bowie's ‘Modern Love’, and I realised I have given birth to the coolest dude on the planet.
That’s all from me today, folks. I’m hoping that I’ll be back in my usual flow of content on here by early next week. But I missed ya! Thanks for all your kind words xx
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So glad to hear your husband is on the mend. Your organized wardrobe is goals! Also, can't believe how incredible those loafers look after being restored 🙌🏽
Omg what a week!! When it rains, it pours, Anna. This post was the warm hug I needed, Anna. So glad he is on the mend and that you are buying yourself flowers. 💐💐💐