Happy Tuesday, friends! One of the best parts about a week after a holiday weekend is that it’s a short workweek! My Labor Day Weekend was good. I mostly hung out around my apartment and packed up for my move this coming weekend—more on the below. On Saturday night, I grabbed margs with my Dad and sister, which was really fun, and on Sunday, I went wine tasting with my sister, my best friend Hilary, and Hilary’s sister Erica at Quattro Goombas Winery and Dry Mill Vineyards. We posted up at the latter for several hours enjoying their signature wine slushies.

I’m in denial that summer is winding down, but I guess one of the things that makes it so magical is that it is fleeting. I was able to make some great memories this summer “on the road” in Key West, Charleston, Newport, and Cape Cod, and at home at fun happy hours, by the pool, seeing Hamilton, attending Diner en Blanc, and crossing quite a few restaurants off my DC bucket list. It was a great several months, and I’ll be savoring the warm days for as long as they choose to hang around.

MOVING + REMOVING MY TEMPORARY WALLPAPER /

EEK—the day is almost here! I move to Dupont Circle this weekend and I am really excited for this next adventure. My friend gave me the tip that liquor stores give away boxes for free, so I went by after work on Friday and picked up a ton. I spent the majority of the weekend when I was home packing, and only have a few things I use on a daily basis left to box up. I pick my keys up on Friday after work and plan to move a few of my more delicate things over then. My movers arrive bright and early on Saturday morning to do the rest of the hard work!

This is my third move in as many years, so I feel like I have moving down to a science at this point, and generally speaking, have not been as stressed out about this move as past moves. But, when I started packing up all my things and living in a sea of boxes, I think reality hit and a bit of stress set in. I’m excited to have the physical move behind me and get all set up in the new place. I’m a little bit anxious about how all my furniture is going to fit since my new place is about half the square footage, but hey, if it doesn’t, that means there’s a fun new design project waiting for me.

As part of prep for the move, I took down the temporary wallpaper in my current apartment yesterday. I was really nervous it was going to rip the paint or otherwise permanently damage the wall, but luckily for me, it came off very easily and only ripped off a few small pieces of paint. Knowing this, I would definitely recommend temporary wallpaper to any renters—or homeowners!—who want to make a big impact on their space without committing to anything permanent. I’m considering putting up temporary wallpaper again in my new place, but I want to live in the space for a while and see which wall I think might be best for that treatment.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS /

After work on Friday, I caught a matinee showing of Crazy Rich Asians. This was actually the first movie I’ve ever seen by myself—and now I’m kicking myself for not hitting up the theater solo more often. Since you don’t talk to anyone during the film, I think it’s one of the least lonely things to do by yourself. I will definitely be making it more of a point to see more movies that I want to see on the big screen instead of waiting them to come out on streaming services or DVD.

As for the film itself, I absolutely loved it! I read the book a few years ago, and while I liked it okay, I didn’t read any of the sequels or find it particularly memorable. I thought the movie was so much better—it was a great Rom Com, and I loved seeing Singapore and Asian culture come to life on the big screen. The fashion and the music were so much fun, and I really liked the adaptions to the book they made to make the plot work for a feature-length film. When I got home, I immediately Googled if there would be a sequel and was so happy to see that one is in the works! I would totally see it in the theater again, and will definitely be purchasing it when it comes out on DVD. (LOL, yes I still own and watch DVDs.)

RECENT MAKEUP OBSESSIONS /

Recently, Monica alerted me to the fact that they are discontinuing the original Naked Palette. It’s been a staple in my beauty routine for years, so I went ahead and ordered another one to have as backup—a decision made especially easy by the fact that they are 50% off online. I had purchased one from Macy’s, but they delayed my order by 10 days, so I canceled that order and ended up grabbing it from Ulta.

While I was on the Ulta site, I also stocked up on my favorite IT Cosmetics Brow Powder that I apply with this brush. I used to use the IT Cosmetics Brow Pencil, but I think the powder gives a more natural look and is easier to apply. I usually finish it off with either the IT Cosmetics Brow Power Pomade or the Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eye Gel—the first is colorless and the second I have in a light brown, so I pick based on what look I am going for.

Last year, my friend Emma gave me a ton of beauty samples, and in that goody bag was the Dior Diorshow PumpnVolume Instant Volume Squeezable Mascara. I tried really hard not to like it since it’s $30 a pop, but it really is the best mascara I’ve ever used. So, when my drugstore mascara ran out the other day, I splurged on the Dior. The squeezable tube is not only fun to use, but really helps you avoid clumpy lashes since it limits the amount of product that is on the brush. I’d totally recommend it!

UPCOMING TRAVEL /

I’m making an effort to stay in town more this fall than I did last fall in an effort to explore my new neighborhood. However, in a few weeks, I am heading back to the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond for my friends’ wedding! I met them both at spin class, and was completely surprised and honored when they invited me to be present at their special day. My favorite spin coach and I are road tripping down together and it should be a really fun weekend.

Later this month, Monica, her good friend from college, Kim, and I are heading to the St. Michaels, Maryland area for the weekend! We all hung out earlier this summer and decided a fall weekend trip was in order. I’ve never been before, and am really excited—I’ve heard it’s a super quaint town with lots of cute restaurants and shops, and I’m excited to grab a drink at The Inn at Perry Cabin.

Other than that, I don’t have any other trips on the calendar—but I am sure some fun adventures lie ahead!

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That’s what’s been new with me these days—I’d love to know what’s been new in your life lately! x