Luce Ends: May 15
The last one before I'm thirty-five.
In case you missed it….
To say this secret has been hard to keep this a secret would be a colossal exaggeration. I am essentially the Kylie Jenner of baby news. If I could make it to my due date without revealing myself to the internet, I probably would. But alas, I decided to dress as Ciara Miller as the Lorax (not to be confused with the cover photo of this post which is me dressed as Shannon Beador dressed as Brett Michaels) for my trivia this week and way more people than I expected showed up (thank you!!) and I sort of thought “no time like the present” (and my husband was sharing pictures of me that made me looked like I’d just been putting away a case of beer a night and not growing a human so I couldn’t let that stand) and here we are!!
I’ve promised to not make pregnancy/ becoming a mom of three my entire personality (it’s actually my greatest fear, just ask my therapist!) so you can expect some mentions of it sprinkled throughout (see here for my post with a few Q&As already out of the way), but basically I’m living my same old life, just moving it to Kansas (now you understand why I needed a house!) and with far far far less brain power.
No truly, I’ve never been stupider.
In other news, the next time you speak to me, I’ll be drastically older. My friends and I decided last year that, unlike twenty-five, thirty-five constitutes as “early thirties” versus “mid thirties” and I’m holding tight to that hypothesis as we head into my last few days as a thirty-four-year-old. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I treat my birthday as a new fiscal year (if corporate can do it, so can I!!!) so look out for a post next week where I really dive into what it means to me to be halfway through my thirties (spoiler, there will be panicking involved.)
As for this week, the here and now, I’ve actually got some thoughts, reviews and recommendations to rant my way through so let’s get this show on the road before I lose my train of thought!!
This week’s Luce Ends include…
My initial thoughts on Off-Campus
I’m obsessed with NYT’s Crossplay
A few new makeup favorites (if you want to trust me, the beauty influencer) with makeup tips
I NEED EVERYONE TO LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST
And links…alwayssssss some links
Off Campus (Episodes 1-4)
As someone who suffers from second hand embarrassment, sometimes these shows are too much for me. And I’ll be honest, this one can be too. But the actors themselves have completely charmed me in a way that I can’t explain….especially Dean and Allie.
THIS WAS HOT.
Are some lines cheesy? Yes. Does it play on the stereotypical need of the costume department to make the leading lady pair her jeans with a tucked in shirt and belt in an attempt to make her look less hot? Annoyingly so. But I’ve only cringed so hard I’ve left the room once and the leading men have completely won me over (did I mention Allie????? A star!!! But ladies, PSA — YOU CAN’T PULL OFF THAT HAIR NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT LOOKS ON HER)
My biggest gripe with this show really isn’t a gripe about the show—it’s the immediate realization that the man playing Justin (I think it’s Justin???) is one of the alleged front runners for Xaden from Fourth Wing and I think everyone will agree….
And while we’re on the subject, has anyone considered the actor playing Graham as a possibility? What casting gods must I speak with??
Anywho, I’m enjoying myself and will continue on and also….did I mention I’m obsessed with Dean and Allie? OBSESSED.
Crossplay Notifications OFF
As with every pregnancy, I have become obsessed with some a new game. With Coco, it was Sudoku—I would give myself five minutes to beat and expert level and if I didn’t (often I wasn’t even close) I'd worry about what pregnancy had done to my brain and then try again. Relentlessly.
With Frankie, it was the NYT app in general — Wordle, Connections, whatever I could get my hands on to, again, make sure I wasn’t getting stupider.
But now…in the last week…I’ve discovered Crossplay. It’s legit just Scrabble rebranded, but I am forcing myself to turn off notifications because I’m far too obsessed with beating strangers. I have two games going with Bill and text him when he doesn’t play me back fast enough (so now he’s just not playing me at all to try and teach me self restraint), I have two people I refer to as “my nemesis”….they are strangers…and I’ve challenged about fifteen other strangers who, like everyone else, don’t play me fast enough.
Essentially, this has become a huge problem and, while I do feel smarter, I also feel like I'm even less patient than I was a week ago which is saying something. If anyone else is obsessed…please challenge me to a game but also…please don’t?
My New Makeup Routine
As with all my pregnancies, I am not “glowing.” But I also don’t feel like I look the worst I’ve ever looked (that honor goes to my first pregnancy.)
I do suspect some of that is because I’m carrying a boy — REMINDER: I don’t know what I'm having and I’m not finding out BUT strangers have messaged me during prior pregnancies to tell me “girls steal your beauty!” and I’m happy to report no one has said that this time so either society is improving OR I am having a boy like everyone suspects — but regardless, I did receive some new makeup in the mail and, combined with some old favorites and some fresh highlights, I feel like I’m maybe doing a good job masking just how exhausted and hideous I feel which is a win!
Tarte Foundation: I try a lot of foundations, especially when I’m trying to look less exhausted, and something about the texture/color/coverage of this feels extremely light while very much getting the job done!
Merit Minimalist Stick: I know, I know, I talk about this all the time so I’ll just say “here it is again because I do love it” and move on!
Rare Beauty Blush: I LOVE this blush and I love this color!!
Love Tapped Podcast
Remember when I was OBSESSED with talking about the book Strangers by Belle Burden? (still obsessed if you want to talk about it) This is just as big of an obsession for me—I mentioned it last week when I was only a few episodes in and now that I’ve finished I need to close the look and say….
That woman is DEEPLY unwell. And so is her mother.
I can’t begin to understand how this woman was allowed to wreak the havoc she did for as long as she did, but also the confidence in which she lies is truly astounding. If it wasn’t so unbelievable and damaging….I might be impressed! I’d love an ounce of her delusion, but I fear I’d get the ounce that makes you a certifiable narcissist and a danger to society so I guess I’ll admire her commitment to her lies from afar and pray she gets jail time.
Also….if this gets a little more traction (WHICH IT SHOULD), I’d be shocked if they don’t consider Clayton for Traitors or Dancing with the Stars (which is apparently his dream.) If Colton, the stalker, can get a spot on Traitors, then so should Clayton! Maybe then I’ll stop mixing them up!
Aerie Martini Olive Jams (stackable SHOPMY20 code—EXPIRES 5/16!!!)
Hatch Maternity 25% off site wide (I think I’m getting these cropped jeans)
I love this Ralph Lauren dress on Tuckernuck
St. Tropez is doing a flash sale (40% off!!) on their 10-day tanner!!
Beats Pro Studios are 50% off on Amazon right now!
J. Crew is doing 40% off Summer Staples: I really love this pull on midi skirt, and this brown sheath dress
J. Crew Factory also having a huge sale—(50% off PLUS 25% off $125+ with code “SUMMER”) I got this yellow “le beach” sweatshirt and this red sleeveless dress (lots of colors!) I’m also eyeing this navy woven scallop-trim bucket hat.
My biker shorts pack is on sale — I get the 5in, great for accommodating the bump too
I just saw Hotel Lobby’s New York scent hand wash is back in stock — I KNOW IT’S $$$ BUT WE WORSHIP THIS SOAP!!!!
My friend Kate Kennedy had the host of Love Tapped on her podcast, Be There in Five—will obviously be binging that!!
I love this article about what to read next based on your favorite 90s/2000s Romcom from Lizzie Campbell
My Eby Bras code is still live for 15% off (code LUCY-15) — I’ve been living in this one as my boobs start ballooning
This Antiques Road Show find blew my mind—I need to start thrifting again!
Code “LUCY20” gives you 20% off my favorite CBD Cann’s
Coco is getting a big girl bed in the new house and we went with this one by Leesa
Homeworthy dropped this walkthrough, calling out the home’s “Nancy Meyers charmed”….so obviously I loved
The viral pillows are still 30% off!!!
Ruggable is doing a 20% off End of Summer sale and you know I love my Ruggables — (they also have a LOT of cute new Summer rugs including this cute doormat I got for the new house)
PSA — YOU CAN’T PULL OFF THAT HAIR NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT LOOKS ON HER - i already knew this, but also needed to hear it before my hair appointment next week hahha.
and congrats!