Luce Ends: July 31st
October feels extremely far away.
Welp, you’re getting my Friday Luce Ends on a Saturday.
Honestly, I went a little too hard yesterday (aka I was running around most of the day) and, now that I am officially in my third trimester, my body crashed hard. Unfortunately, we’re in the stage of pregnancy where I am very pregnant but not even close to being pregnant enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I’m just a grump on top of everything. I’m at the point where I’m due in October, but I’m not saying when in October because I am INSISTING on being induced early (before the induction haters come to get me, it’s actually recommend based on my how my kids refuse to self evict and my blood pressure has spiked postpartum every time!)—obviously I want this little monster to cook as long as they need to, but I refuse to acknowledge my actual due date because it sounds too extreme.
Maybe people will stop looking at me with pity when it’s August. To be fair, October sounds way closer August than October….but yeah, I’m COOKED.
People will assume it’s the heat, but I do think the three kids in five years has taken a toll on my loins and something about the way this baby is sitting I’ve felt deeply in my pelvic area since about twenty-two weeks. The good news is, I still don’t feel as hideous as I have in previous pregnancies which, again, has me wondering if this is a boy (people loved to say with Coco and Frankie “girls steal your beauty” as apart of their rationale when guessing which might be as infuriating as “are there twins in there?” because you’re calling me ugly….and then I had girls so they were sort of right), but maybe this is a girl and she’s just using all her voodoo to curse my crotch instead of my face because we barely even speak of her. Who’s to say!
Other than that, I’ve spent my week OBSESSING over patio furniture, teetering between high energy and needing a nap before noon, trying to get back into my Bravo shows and watching way too many fan edits of Tom + Zendaya and Lorenzo.
And that, in a nut shell, has been my week!
This Week’s Luce Ends…
Love Island UK Finale Thoughts (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Checking Back Into Reality
Luce Ends Links
And incase you missed this week’s post…
We Came Here For Love….We Left With Lorenzo
It happens every year—I stay as up to date as possible with UK, only for the finale to be spoiled for me IMMEDIATELY. It’s my own fault, I know to download a VPN and watch live so this doesn’t happen, but this year I had more regrets than ever because (SPOILER) I was shocked by the results!!
Am I mad about the results….no? I guess not? But I have stated I trust the UK public implicitly throughout this season because they have (for the most part) voted for the correct Islanders time and time again…but the finale was a very different situation because I will die on the hill that Simba and Angie should have won HANDS DOWN. Was I shocked the UK public didn’t vote for them? No, I’ve watched this show before…I know it’s track record. But to give them third?? I remain perplexed.
This doesn’t mean I hated Lorenzo winning — I’ve been a Jasmine Day One fan, but she lost herself the game when she moped around the Villa after a twenty-one-year-old man child and then told he and his buffoon of a brother that the other islanders were not loyal when they sided with Julia. But when she was a baddie, she really was the coolest. She just got lame!
So if it can’t be Angie and Simba, it should be Lorenzo and Julia. Now, would this finale would have been an entirely different story if Samraj and Mica, who, despite being completely confused by the former Islanders votes and bitching about every single one, had sent Lorenzo and Julia home over Yas and Tommy?? UMM YEAH. Even though I found Yas and Tommy inherently boring and the break up debacle getting brought up by production right before the finale sabotaged them, I’m still not sure HOW they didn’t make it? Maybe the logic was Yas and Tommy got the most votes besides them but….Lorenzo and Julia don’t say I love you. They’re just vibing and hoping to have some fun outside the Villa but they wouldn’t even bet on themselves. And I’m not saying that can’t win you the show because clearly it did, I just figured that was the low hanging fruit for Mica and a very bitter Samraj, but I guess Friendship Island was the true name of the game this season!
In the end, we were gifted one of my favorite Islanders of all time—Lorenzo. And I can’t believe, after just seeing him lint roll that pillow in the dark, we’re being forced to say goodbye? I can only PRAY we get to see him again…maybe on Traitors.
Also shout out to Simba this last minute entry as one of my favorite moments of this GLORIOUS SEASON.
Back to Reality (What I’ve Been Watching)
I’ve mentioned this multiple times, but just in case you forgot—things rarely hold my attention while pregnant. I’m behind on all the biggest shows, but even the most basic TV programing I’ve struggled to keep up with!! (Especially with all the Love Island)
But I’m back! Sort of! Enough that I thought…let me give some QUICK thoughts on the few shows I’ve dabbled in, in case you all are in that funk too. Or just like hearing me ramble!
The Valley ★ ★ ★ ?
I actually don’t know what to rate this show because every topic is miserable to talk about. But something about it is oddly compelling so I caught up just in time to watch the finale live and WHAT A SHIT SHOW. Jasmine loses it out of nowhere on some random girl, Jesse and Michelle are back to fighting after having an emotional and sentimental divorce date, Jason still has a bum leg, Danny is drunk and Jesse is trying to pretend he isn’t and Kristen is rewriting history. And yet, with all that happening, the main thought running through my mind is…what would Dr. Dre be doing at this party? Also Zack as a vampire Gaston does something for me.
Headed into the Reunion, I hope we discuss how Nia’s baby (her actual baby, not Daniel) is getting more camera time than Jason this season and should be compensated for her work.
House of Stassi ★ ★
To preface, these stars are TBD because I’m so early on, but….I’m not sure what I’m watching? An infomercial for Hulu’s slate of programming? Stassi’s debut as a producer who only breaks the fourth wall? A tribute video to Kris Jenner??? Beau’s cry for help?? I’m only an episode or so in, but we’re essentially watching a show about Stassi making a show and production realizing she needs more of an ensemble cast for her show to actually work forcing Stassi to gathering people for her show and beg them to be on it.
I actually do think bringing Katie on was a smart move, but we need to just move away from bitching about their VPR days. Which INCLUDES leaving Scheana alone! I don’t care if she’s desperate to get back on reality TV, so is Stassi!! It seems no one can do anything without mentioning She-Shu which I think says a lot.
But back to Stassi—I do think Beau and his sister’s dynamic is odd and it’s really odd that a man covered in tattoos does not want to even put his wife and mother of his two children’s initials on his body, but I want to see a little less of the staged confessionals and more just day-to-day stuff I guess?? Either way, I cannot understand how such a large of the internet believes this is the most groundbreaking television they’ve ever watched and Bravo should be shaking in their boots but… maybe I’m just a hater!!
Or maybe everyone else is hoping for an invite to Hulu’s Get Real Party next year? Who’s to say!
Next Gen NYC ★ ★ ★ ★
I’ve said this on IG and felt vindicated so doubling down here—I don’t like the majority of this cast. And yet it works?? I am very much into Emira and Ariana, sometimes Brooks and regrettably Charlie (but not in a die on the hill way, more so in this man is crazy way and will be in prison but they need him for something to talk about), but everyone else is meh. Riley needs a reality check from Kandi, Georgia needs to take it down five notches, Gia needs to take it up three notches, I fear Ava doesn’t have any notches and the only way she could get another season was to latch onto Kyle Cooke and all the other men look the same! Except for Zaxby’s chicken (is that the place his family owns?) who is going through some very strange transformation and I need Ariana to not get back with him….oh and while we’re here, Brooke Shields’ daughter was an excellent casting choice.
Real Housewives of Atlanta ★ ★ ★ ★
I think this has been an EXCELLENT season. I really have zero notes on it and am so glad I stuck with it even when I was not feeling TV—it’s funny (it always is) and dramatic, but in a lighter Housewives way. Some seasons across all the franchises have gotten so dark lately that it was nice to have one be low steaks drama! I think we need to keep the entire cast….except maybe Shamea who I really do think is living in an alternate universe?
Project Runway ★ ★ ★
I am a Project Runway stan and believe last season was one of the best season’s they’ve had in YEARS so I have been hyped to finally catch up on this new one….and when I tell you the formatting of the first two episodes/eliminations made me want to stop watching, I mean it! AND we’re sticking to the “tune in next week to see who went home” ending that I HATE!!! DON’T DO THAT. As far as the designers, I do think we have some talented ones there, but I think they’re overshadowed by ones who think their shit don’t stink. Luckily, the runways that are unbearable (THE NFL CHALLENGE!!!! WHERE ARE WE WEARING THESE LOOKS???) are made bearable by Law Roach slinging insults at Tyra.
As always, sharing my ShopMy and Amazon pages here and the Luce End’s linked below all here!
I’ve been wearing these Dolce Vita slides everywhere—and I have them in two colors!
I got a rug! For the living room! I have been back and forth on a few, but suddenly this one was VERY on sale so I just decided….why not???
I’ve talked about Merit a lot and I’m doing it again because I got my mom a few things and I’m very excited for her review—I LOVE THIS MINIMALIST STICK!
This Anthro bag is my go-to back for fall (and yes I consider August fall)
I got patio furniture!!! And then I returned it!!! Because I got THIS patio furniture which is the dining set that matches my couch I already had and went on MAJOR SALE THIS WEEK
Bauble Bar is doing their 25% off sale and I love all the color options for these beaded necklace
I got this cute hydrangea notebook to make me more productive…stay tuned
Anthro has my favorite New Balance tennis shoes on sale
Also this Anthro dress is great—you can DEFINITELY size down and FYI it’s more maroony than brown!
Cann is celebrating National Spritz Day by giving a bottle away with every order this weekend! Use code LUCY20!!!
🕸 We saw Spider-Man this week (loved it, really fun, incredible cinematography/graphics, last one is still my favorite) but I LOVE that it has already broken the record for most money made ahead of it’s debut weekend!! Yay Tommy!
🍝 It dropped to 80 degrees last night so I made my favorite spicy vodka pasta that we haven’t had in MONTHS—it was delicious yet again
👠 The Met has announced their 2027 exhibit and it’s dedicated to John Galliano who has a rich history at both Givenchy and Dior, while also touching on his downfall when he was cancelled after making antisemitic remarks at a Paris bar in 2011 (he’s only the third living designer to be honored…very interesting choice!)
🛒 There are a LOT of end the summer sales this weekend so dropping the best below!
AYR is doing up to 60% off — I have these Roadie’s and love!
Hill House Stockroom Sale is live and you can get an extra 30% off with the code STOCKROOM
Did you see the LI interview on UK show This Morning? Awkward.