***
1) I love football. From training camp to the draft, I’m never miss a minute. But it’s an insult to the millions of female fans who love the NFL when the league suspends pot-smokers for an entire season, but a player who beats his fiancee into unconsciousness gets a two-game bench-warming.
The ESPN article linked above mentions nearly a dozen incidents in which small infractions (eating an unapproved protein bar, taking an unapproved fertility drug) yield greater punishments than acts of felony aggravated assault. It’s sick, it’s sad, and it needs to stop.
2) Like personalized jewelry? Nordstrom has several customizable pieces from Moon and Lola for under-$50. Instead of my name, I ordered a necklace with my motto–fail better–on it.
3) One of the most fascinating things that I read this week was a kottke.org post about pickpockets in New York City. One part Dickens, one part Thomas Crown Affair.
4) I’m trying to finish out the summer in the sandals that I bought last year, but they’re about to fall apart. I’d like to find something for under-$150 that I could wear the rest of this season and next summer. These silver and gold Yosi Samra sandals are awesome. I also like these simple Splendid sandals for $65.
5) If you’re struggling to keep cool in the sweltering heat of summer, Lifehacker has some tips for keeping your bedroom cool and comfortable.
6) To prevent bathroom spills, I moved my Clinique Clarifying Toner and my eye makeup remover to these inexpensive pump bottles from Ulta. So much better than the big bottles. It’s also great for nail polish remover.
7) New York City’s Inclusionary Housing Program helps provide housing for working class residents by giving tax breaks to luxury condo buildings that allocate units for lower-income people. There’s just one problem, the lower-income tenants are supposed to use the “poor door” at the rear of the building. Keep it classy, Manhattan.
8) This BCBG sweatshirt with sheer sleeves is perfect. The sleek, modern style is right in my wheel-house. But at that price, maybe I should stick with H&M?
9) Need a quick way to clean your engagement ring or other diamond jewelry? How about dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush?
10) BodenUSA is having a great sale. There are more than a few lovely dresses to choose from. I adore this Portland dress with a flirty skirt. Their Alexa dress is a great basic shift. But my favorite piece is this wonderful eyelet dress in white, navy or yellow.
11) Four words for you: Honey Beer-Glazed Carmelized Shallots.
12) A reader sent me the link to this Alessandra Rich dress with the subject line, “In case you need a laugh.” That works.
While I am not a football fan, I find this story utterly horrific. I was watching the local news last night when a reporter mentioned the two game penalty and a fine. Another (male) reporter said, “Oh, that’s gotta hurt.” Oh right, I bet that fine is gunna “hurt,” but how about being beaten unconscious? I bet that REALLY hurts. I was infuriated.
I feel twice as bad for her because now everyone in the country knows she married her abuser.
If you’re looking for sturdy sandals, I bought a pair of Juil sandals (they sell them online on Nordstrom), and they’re amazing. Super comfy, flexible, made with real leather, and a decent amount of cushion. I’ve kind of developed old lady feet, so the rock hard, flat, skinny strap ones don’t fly. If you look on their site, they’re a little hippy dippy – designed by yogis and have these copper conductors under the toes to “keep you grounded” – but they’re great. I have the Nala in brown and the leather has worn really nicely. I’ve given them quite the beating too.
I’m also a big football fan, college and pro, and this is just appalling. What is worse is the commentary around it on ESPN etc discussing a women’s responsibility to avoid getting hit. Women make up a huge portion of the NFL fan base. Ridiculous.
https://deadspin.com/first-take-discusses-a-womans-responsibility-to-avoid-b-1610831462
I’ll never buy NFL merchandise again. That type of rhetoric really shows that society is accepting of violence against women in large part. Absolutely disgusting.
Be careful with the toothbrush trick on any pave or shared-prong settings. Recipe for loose or worse–lost!–stones. Fill a shot glass with hot water and windex, drop the jewelry in, and swirl. Let them sit for about a half hour, then air dry. More gentle, less risk of lost stones.
Hot water and windex…I’m going to try that.
That Alessandra Dress is horrific. I am actually so curious if/how many people actually purchased it!
Glad the dress had the intended effect! And Sarah a similar one is sold out!
I can’t even. I hope it’s sold out because there was just one for sale.
That is one too many.
One of my college classmates worked at a jewelry store. She recommended using dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush after submerging the jewelry for a few seconds in near-boiling water. The heat helps loosen up the grime that results from applying lotion without removing rings first.
I’m sure we’ll see the Alessandra Rich dress on the Awkward Family Photos (Wedding Edition) website soon. That is, if it wasn’t already posted in someone’s wedding from 1975 🙂
I honestly needed a minute before I understood what I was looking at with that dress!
That dress needs some serious bedazzling.
This might be the one time where bedazzling could actually help. Hide the denim.
Not a big football fan, but irrespective, he deserved a life time ban! A woman beater should not be glorified in any sport. Period. Ugh.
Love the bottles from Ulta, they are the best things I found ever along with the eos lip balms. 🙂
have a great weekend.
6) Target sells those pump bottles for 97 cents. I just bought one recently for the same reasons.