The holiday season is over, the glitter has settled, and I am back with a roundup of my favourite things from the month of January – a number of which were Christmas gifts!
SLEEPER EARRINGS
Where have these been all my life? No, really – how have I never owned earrings in which I can comfortably sleep?
John bought me a sweet little set of hoops (at my favourite consignment store!) and I now wear them 90% of the time.
KNOCK-OFF BOGG BAG
I can’t remember where I first saw these bags, but I spotted a dupe in Portugal this summer and hummed and hawed too long and regretted not buying it.
John found a dupe online ($40 instead of $200) and bought it for me as a Christmas gift.
This thing is magical. It stays upright and is shockingly stable. It’s light. It’s roomy. I want about a dozen more in various sizes and colours. A shopping bag! A beach bag! A church bag! A gym bag!
So functional.
UPRIGHT VACUUM
Okay, so clearly my husband knocked Christmas gifting out of the park. My “big” gift was this upright vacuum. Once again, I am going to throw around the term life-changing because it is.
It’s light and it also HAS a light. It is scary how much that light shows in terms of dust. The reviews on it were great and so far this is my new favourite gadget.
Vacuuming is legit fun with this thing, the brush somehow magically doesn’t get twisted up with hair, and it’s a cinch to charge. But beware of the light. It will show you some crazy things!
PEPPERMINT MOCHA CREAMER
This will almost certainly receive annual mentions from me until the day I die.
If Silk ever dares to discontinue the product, I will find their headquarters and stake out in protest until they change their mind.
TUBING MASCARA
I have tried a lot of mascaras. The Maybelline Surreal Falsies Lash Lift is great. But I was ready to try something new after TWO tubes of that mascara clumped up much too quickly and I grew tired of evening racoon eyes.
(Let’s be real, I was primarily desperate to find something that would reduce my face-washing time each night because I live in dread of washing my face.)
Enter tubing mascara which was, until a month or two ago, something I had never heard of before. It’s a completely different type of formulation that coats each eyelash with little water resistant tubes. It never smudges or flakes, and to remove it you need just your fingertips and some warm water. A warning that it looks bizarre to remove and you might think all your eyelashes are coming out – they’re not, it’s the tubes rubbing off. If for some reason you actually like using eye-makeup removal products, note they won’t work with tubing mascara – you need warm water (and your fingertips, but that’s it – a cloth isn’t necessary).
Is it buildable? No idea. Is it the best mascara for volume? No idea.
But I think tubing mascara will be with me for the rest of my life. It literally looks the same 12 hours after application – and ZERO raccoon eyes.
I bought e.l.f. Lash XTNDR in Deep Brown because I think it compliments my skin tone better and isn’t quite so jarring, but it also comes in Soft Black and Pitch Black. Regular price = $10.99. I think it’s about $7 in the US.
I have probably just changed someone’s life forever.
You’re welcome.
Your turn.
- What were some of your favourite items in January?
- Do you have an upright, rechargeable vacuum?
- Have you ever used a tubing mascara?
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mbmom11
I bought a knock off bogg bag for my daughter for Christmas- I saw someone at school with one and thought it looked so practical. (She was a little dubious.) Glad you enjoy yours – it gives me hope she will cone to love it. I figure she can leave it in the car for groceries if nothing else. (Hers is mint green- your bright pink/fushua one is so cute.)
And I too am wearing the hoops that are small enough to sleep in and hardly take them out. Even back in high school, this style was my go-to. (I remember one friend looking at me and asking why didn’t I wear sonething different for once. Lazy, but I also liked the look and comfort.)
Stick vacuums look cool, but I don’t think I can justify the cost right now. Maybe next Christmas. But does your Eufy get jealous?
Elisabeth
I have long appreciated switching my earrings daily, but I’m not convinced the fun of changing my earrings can compete with the joy of waking up and already feeling semi put-together (I NEVER feel ready for the day without earrings in).
I WILL admit to using Eufy less, but I still love Eufy. They just serve different purposes. Right now with all the winter gear, I feel like I have more things to pick up off the floor to be able to run Eufy, but I’m still using them regularly in the bedrooms. They are so good for getting all the nooks and crannies under dressers and beds. So I am not completely neglecting Eufy despite my newfound affection for a stick vacuum.
Nicole MacPherson
Tubing mascara! Hmmm. I have wondered about it honestly, but I always default to my Falsies. I do like buildable volume, though, but maybe I’ll do a little experiment. That sounds fun and exactly what I need right now, a little makeup experiment. Okay, I’m on it, I shall report back.
That bag would be perfect for the garden!
Sleeper hoop twins! I have sleepers and I basically never take them out. I know you like to choose your earrings but earrings are to me what washing your face is to you, and I just don’t want to. So I wear sleepers all the time unless it’s a special occasion. Then I wear my “fancier” hoops. Always hoops with me! I don’t know, I like what I like I guess.
I still have some of that creamer! I only really drink it once a week as I prefer black coffee but sometimes want that little sweet hit. But that is the best creamer in the world, no notes.
We have a Shark upright vacuum and whoa nelly, the light on it is really illuminating on many levels *so much dirt* *side eyes Rex*
Elisabeth
I think you would LOVE a Bogg bag (though, again, the real deal is ridiculously expensive).
I think you should try tubing mascara and see what you think. It’s an inexpensive investment and maybe you’ll love it. Though I know you don’t mind washing your face, so then again…it might not matter to you. Perhaps certain types are better for volume as well? I picked one with good reviews but didn’t do an excessive amount of research.
I think hoops are naturally flattering to all face structures!
My side eyes are for the kids (they still track in so much dirt) + my ridiculous level of hair shedding.
Jenny
Ha ha, nooo don’t show me all the dirt and dust! I don’t think I can handle a vacuum with a light like that.
You got some great Christmas gifts! I too am still drinking my tea with peppermint mocha creamer (when I’m drinking plain black- not Earl Grey bc that would be gross) because I got two cartons of the Nutpod brand on clearance for 99 cents. I still have one to go, so it should take me through February.
Elisabeth
The light is SHOCKING, Jenny. The sad thing is, it shows things I would never see otherwise.
I just started my last carton of the Silk creamer. I need to go to the store this week and I have all my fingers and toes crossed that they will still have some. I want to stock up on a few last cartons to last me into late February/early March!!
NGS
I have endless hoops that are particularly useful for my cartilage and second holes. I can just go to sleep with them in and it’s no big deal.
I am such a picky lady about mascara. I feel like tubing mascara is not good at mascaring. Because it’s so easy to wash off (which is its only redeeming factor), it doesn’t actually make my lashes thicker or longer. What are you even doing, tubing mascara?!?! Anyway, this is more of a ME problem than a tubing mascara problem, but I’m just giving your readers another perspective from a person who spends way too much time talking about mascara.
My current mascara is terrible, by the way. It rubs on my lids and so I always have black just as my eyeshadow ends and I hate it. That’s all. I’ve just written too many words about mascara on your blog, but I stand by it.
Elisabeth
Oh no – sorry tubing mascara hasn’t worked for you. I find with curling before hand it makes my lashes look quite defined! But I’m not very particular about my mascara if it’s easy to remove and it doesn’t smudge or flake!
Write as many mascara words as you need 😉
Sophie
That vacuum with the light reminds me of those lighted magnifying mirrors – no one needs to see their skin or dusty floor that clearly! Hehe
Never heard of tubing mascara- sounds great! I’ll have to try it, but how do you find it? Do all the major brands sell it, or only e.l.f.?
Elisabeth
I know lots of other brands make tubing mascara (here’s a review of 9 drugstore brands: https://www.byrdie.com/best-tubing-mascaras-8701187); I’m having an e.l.f. moment so went with that, but I’m sure there are pricier (and likely better?) tubing options out there. I’m hoping other people can weigh in about other brands because as much as I’ve been happy with the e.l.f., I’m certainly open to trying other brands.
Suzanne
Oh my goodness Elisabeth, I am HERE for the mascara conversation! Removing mascara is the bane of my existence. THE BANE. Plus, tubing mascara sounds super weird and I am just plain curious about it. I am going to get myself some tubing mascara.
Elisabeth
I am so glad I’m not the only one. I HATE removing mascara and have found tubing mascara to be a nice change of pace. Also, I just like not having to worry about flakes. I can’t speak to any other brand and I also am not overly picky about mascara…but hopefully you like it?
Melissa
I hardly ever wear mascara—or makeup in general, really—but I’m intrigued. I might give it a go. If it works, I may be more likely to do my face when I go out. Our old house had a ducted vacuum system, so when we moved, we needed a vacuum and chose an upright one. I love it. We did not go with the one with the light, but I like that I don’t need to worry about the cord or the vacuum hitting or scraping the walls, and it is super easy to use.
Elisabeth
It is so nice to have no cord. It makes all the difference in the world for me. I used to hate vacuuming but now it’s borderline fun!
J
I just heard of tubing mascara last week, and am kind of intrigued. I used to have thick kind of long lashes, though blonde, so you couldn’t really see them. Menopause has been the end of all that, sadly. I don’t wear makeup every day, but when I do, I cannot go without mascara. Maybe I’ll try a tubing option…I did a bit of reading on them, and some do say they are buildable.
Elisabeth
I did very little research so I’m sure there are different formulations with different results!
Joy
Hmm, that mascara sounds interesting.
That bag looks perfect for so many things. No wonder you were charmed.
I CANNOT sleep with earrings in. I’ve tried all types and every time, I end up taking them off, sticking them on my bedside table, and hoping the cat doesn’t find them before morning. Those are very pretty though.
Elisabeth
Literally until this pair I have never been able to sleep in earrings. I didn’t think it would be possible for me to sleep – night after night – in earrings. But I can and it is SO NICE!
Allison McCaskill
I am forever on the lookout for good mascara (I found the same thing with Falsies – good for about three applications, then clumpy – so I’m totally going to try the Tubing mascara. You don’t like washing your face? I love washing my face, I do it multiple times a day lol. If I were you I’d be really scared about the peppermint mocha stuff because it seems like everything I love and depend on gets discontinued, but I’ll keep hope for you.
Elisabeth
You like washing your face? WHYYY? Ugh. I hate it and I’m literally sitting in my PJs this second dreading the fact I need to go wash my face.
Argh. Isn’t that the truth – anytime I get attached to a product that basically ensures it will get pulled from the shelves forever.
Lisa’s Yarbs
I haven’t tried tubing mascara but plan to when I buy my next tube! And I want an upright rechargeable vacuum. We have a dust buster but it’s not great.
My fave new-to-me thing is voice to text! I had never used it before having hand surgery. It’s amazing.
Elisabeth
We had and used our beloved dustbuster for almost a decade. It owed us nothing, but parts of it had broken and the battery didn’t last very long. This is a big upgrade.
I hope you like the tubing mascara as much as I have; I do think my hatred of washing my face has a lot to do with my contentment, but it also (at least the e.l.f. brand I’m using) hasn’t clumped at all!
Stephany
I looooove my upright vacuum. I do not love how much cat hair it catches in five minutes of vacuuming. “SO much cat hair,” I say dramatically to the cats as I dump it all out.
I’ve never tried tubing mascara but I’m intrigued enough to try it out. The thing I hate about mascara is the way it gives me raccoon eyes after a few hours. The Falsies don’t do that, thankfully, but every other mascara I’ve ever tried does.
Elisabeth
The Falsies is definitely the best regular mascara I’ve ever used and it also rarely gave me racoon eyes! But I still HATED removing it. I’ll be curious to see what people think of the tubing mascara. Makeup products can land so differently for different people. Please report back 🙂
Ernie
I don’t have pierced ears, but I’m happy you found earring you can sleep in. It never occurred to me that earrings wouldn’t be comfortable to sleep in. I’ve not heard of this tubing mascara. I don’t wear makeup much, but I think I’ll stick with my regular mascara. It comes off easily with a makeup wipe. My fear would be that the tube mascara would come off if I cried. No? What am I missing. That bag does look really handy. I do NOT have a rechargeable upright vacuum and it does sound amazing. Is it for hard wood floor vs carpet?
Elisabeth
Most earrings have a sharp backing that will dig into the soft skin behind your ear on the side of your head. It’s so uncomfortable.
We have laminate floors and rugs (so no thick carpet) and it does great going between the different surfaces, but if it was a lot of carpet, that might be a different story?
San
My parents have one of those upright vacuums and I had THE MOST fun vacuuming for my mom when I visited because I was so fascinated by the light that showed all the dust on the floor LOL
I need that Peppermint Mocha Creamer, damnit.
Oh, and I was influenced (by you) today and bought the e.l.f. mascara in brown! Curious to try!
Elisabeth
The light really does both horrify AND thrill me!
You’ll have to report back about the mascara. I’ll admit I’m a bit nervous everyone that has tried it because of my recommendation is going to hate it. Eeks.
Suz
You did change my life. Thank you. 😁
I’ve never heard of tubing mascara. NEVER. What in the world?
I’ve seen those bogg bags, and I had ZERO idea that they were so expensive.
I love my ‘huggy’ (sleeper) earrings–I never take them off!
Elisabeth
You are welcome!
I have no idea why the “real” bags are so expensive, but I will admit they are kinda life changing.
Anne
I was today years old when I learned that there is such a thing as “sleeper earrings” and “tubing mascara”. Thanks for educating me. 😉 I wear tiny silver studs with screw backs all the time – never change them anymore. Boring? Yes. Would I change them periodically if I could find essentially the same earrings with a (faux) gemstone in them? Yes, but I have not found those so I carry on.
Those vacuums seem really neat – I have a huge upright one that does the job, much better than the awful Dirt Devil I had for years, but it is huge and heavy and… yeah. It works, though, so not planning to replace it any time soon.
Elisabeth
Ha – “today years old”. I’ve never heard of that before. Hilarious!
Marcia from OrganisingQueen
How you feel about that bogg bag is how I feel about my Antelo Emmy. I have them in so many colours and one is a laptop bag, gym bag, normal bag, and I change them according to my mood. It is the perfect size. I just counted and I have… gulp… 7.
https://antelo.co.za/products/emmy-unlined-leather-tote-with-zip?variant=47172955308335
Elisabeth
Okay – that purse looks both stunning and practical. I can see why you have 7!!!!