A Soft-ish Landing

Sweet treats, a sweater to dress up or down, bobby pins that mimic a hairstyle, and my own Hallmark-ish moment

Hello, Gorgeous!

I sometimes feel like my weeks are an endless task treadmill, with the weekend being a chance to try to catch up.

This time around for the weekend roundup, I’m going to try to include things that make your life the slightest bit easier.

A gentle but powerful cleanser

I often try to detox my face over the weekend. I said I try; I didn’t say I always succeed. Silver Mirror Skincare was created to bring the feeling of Silver Mirror spa treatments to your home. Their Everyday Cream Cleanser has grapeseed oil and marshmallow root to soothe and hydrate. Antioxidant-rich bilberry and sea buckthorn extracts brighten and protect skin, so your face doesn’t feel parched after washing. It’s a nice way to pamper your skin as you wash off the week. ($41, Silvermirror.com).

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I may earn a small commission from sales made using the links in this post. (Probably not, since I’m kinda lazy about chasing down affiliate programs).

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A moisturizing base coat for nails

KBShimmer is an affordable and incredible brand that deserves much more love. Their new Stay Put Hydrating Base Coat features funky ingredients like prickly pear extract, seaweed, and vitamin E. The idea is to create a protective layer on your nails before applying polish. It also adds a grip, so your polish stays on beautifully. Remember that this isn’t a nail hardener, but if you wash your hands frequently, it’s another way to help keep nails from drying out. ($7.50, KBshimmer.com).

A sweater that looks dressy

Hate getting dressed or dressing up over the weekend? Slip on this cardigan with two bows from 525 for a demure look in traditional or meme mode. Wear it with a tank top and jeans for weekend casual. A black turtleneck and short black skirt and tights bring you more into dressy brunch mode. Or skip a top altogether and wear this cute cardi alone for a slightly sexy look. It's very slightly sexy, though, since I’m pretty sure Princess Kate would feel perfectly comfortable in this sweater. ($129, 525america.com).

A yummy treat

I love wandering into specialty food stores featuring imported snacks, especially chocolate from the U.K. (we’ll talk about Dubai chocolate another time). Yesterday, we discovered Cadbury Oreo Bites, which elevate the idea of candy bars and biscuits by creating a nearly magical combination. They’re more widely distributed at Walmart or Amazon, and prices vary. Unfortunately, more mass market locations only sell 10 packs, so you’ll need extreme willpower or a group of friends with the munchies. ($49.75 for a pack of 10 on Amazon.com).

Ombre bobby pins

Growing out your highlights? Or maybe you’re too lazy to pretend to do your hair this weekend. Scunci makes these clever-looking pins with a double swirl of honey and caramel colors, so they’re mostly invisible in most brunette hair. Or maybe you can create the messiest updo possible and pretend it’s the look you were going for. No judgment here! For some reason, Amazon has these on Fresh for $2.49. I bought them at a local drugstore for about $4.00.

A novel that will make you appreciate your own family

I love me a good mystery/thriller. I’m also a huge fan of Scotland, so The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhelecha drew me in before it drew me in. Think Crazy Rich Asians meets Lost. I’m not sure, though, why the story was told from different points of view since none of them had a unique voice that told me whose story I was reading or why. So, while I didn’t love this book, the final twist made it worth reading ($26, Amazon).

A familiar face

Weekends are a great time to organize the pics on your phone or to even go through an old photo album.

It’s no secret that during times of high stress, I self-soothe with Hallmark mysteries. They aren’t scary or complicated; everyone is nice (except for the killer, of course), and the flirting is exceptionally civilized. There’s also no real learning curve since you’ll see the same familiar faces in series and movies, including the tall, dark, and handsome Victor Webster. Webster most recently popped up as the new love interest on the Hannah Swensen mysteries co-starring Alison Sweeney. He looked really familiar this time around. And then it hit me. Some years back, I had a Hallmark-ish moment when working at a Golden Globes gifting suite and meeting a younger and equally swoony Webster. Confession time. I’ve been writing a cozy mystery series and would be pleased as punch if Victor Webster played the hot detective/love interest someday.

So, what will you be snacking on, slathering on, or watching over the weekend? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss.

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋