In Refinery29'sSweet Digs, we take a look inside the sometimes small, sometimes spacious homes of millennial women. Today, 27-year-old Jazmine Reed-Clark and her husband Jordan Clark, 30, share their Dallas apartment.
In her early twenties, Jazmine Reed-Clark was obsessed with having everything be picture-perfect. "I wanted my home to look like a magazine," she says.
But over time, Jazmine started finding herself drawn to different items that didn't quite fit her established aesthetic. And her multi-personality apartment grew. "The older I got, I just thought, I don't care if this is trendy or in style, as much as if I think it's cool," she says.
When she and her husband moved into a much-larger two-bedroom duplex in Dallas neighborhood Lower Greenville, she had even more room to play. Thus: The "mid-century coze eclectic" living room; the "jungle cafe" dining room, the "marble farmhouse" kitchen, and "Southwestern sexy" bedroom.
Watch their home tour above to see what all those terms mean, and read on for decorating tips and more.
How did you find this space?
"Jordan actually found it. I was unfamiliar with the area, but he had heard great reviews about our landlord, so once we got engaged we wanted to look for a place with outdoor space. We were living in another building our landlord owned, and we just stumbled on this place. I think it's 1600 square feet with a patio, backyard, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. And for this, we just paid one month's rent, which is our security deposit, and that's it."
You must have had a lot of rooms to fill up. What decorating rules do you follow?
"I do like to follow the rule of threes. Depending on the room, though. Some rooms it might be more geometric so I'll care more about symmetry, but I like to make a place feel lived in. So I mix textures and I experiment, and I try not to do too much. But I like to buy things that catch my eye, and then I'll put it in the design closet because I can't find the proper home for it. And every now and then I'll go into the design closet and I'll be like, oh I have the perfect spot for this. So my tip is mix and match, and don't be afraid to experiment."
I love the artwork on your walls. Can you talk about where you found all these prints?
"For my husband, he's lived in Egypt and Spain — he grew up in Indiana — so he likes to college maps. So now we have a lot of maps framed around the house.
"For me, I feel like I have a really simple philosophy when it comes to art. I love art museums and getting lost in them, but at home I believe you should have stuff you just love. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I just did not see representation of Black beauty, so it was really important to me that when we have family members coming through, I wanted them to see that celebration of Black beauty. I wanted it to be intentional and have Black queens throughout my house. So we have Issa Rae, we have books by Phoebe Robinson, we have a framed photo of Serena Williams. And I remember seeing that Solange cover art and thinking That's incredible. I always feel something when I walk past it."
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This Easter morning, Kanye West stood on the mount – a man-made spot literally referred to as “The Mountain” – at Coachella to perform his Sunday Service. The super-secret Calabasas concert series, which is usually invitation-only and requires a signed NDA, has been a hot ticket for celebrities such as Katy Perry and Busy Philipps looking for a quasi-religious experience, a Kanye performance, and a full-on gospel choir all in one. (And, if you’re lucky, it’ll also include an appearance from North West, whose mic may or may not be turned on.) Since January, normies like us only get a glimpse of this spiritual art experiment – is it a party? An actual church? – in Kim Kardashian-West ’s Instagram stories or the well-curated @kanyessundayservice. But on this morning in the California desert, Kanye brought it to the masses via YouTube and took Coachella to church.
On the same day Jesus resurrected, Kanye was looking to do the same with his career by offering a church-like experience that could wash away his long-list of recent PR sins. Praise be to ‘Ye and Coachella for making this happen so quickly. Originally slated to headline Coachella, Kanye bowed out after the festival reportedly couldn’t build him a giant dome. But, build Kanye a mountain and he will come in his Sunday best.
There were no sermons, or rants, which have been par for the course for anyone who has seen Kanye live as of late. But in Indio, CA, the home of many golf courses, it was just good vibes and G.O.O.D. Music seen through a telescope, which made it feel like you were spying on this not-so-secret Sunday Service.
For the first time in a long time, Kanye let the music do the talking, saying nothing for most of the performance, which included dancers intermingled in the crowd and a shot of North West showing off her moves. In fact, Kanye barely popped up on the screen, but the few times he did, he looked overcome with joy. A reminder that yes, Kanye does smile.
Instead of the “me,” Kanye was focused on the “we,” playing band leader of this ensemble that was ready to get a little funky in their mauve Church Clothes that made them look like a little Polyphonic Spree. When Kanye finally did take the mic for The College Dropout classic “All Falls Down,” he seemed unsure if he even wanted it, a change for a guy famously known for stealing the mic away from Taylor Swift.
Nearly two decades after “Jesus Walks,” Kanye is still merging hip-hop and gospel in his image, but his Coachella performance, not unlike Beyoncé’s Homecoming, had him unapologetically showing what it is he believes in. While Bey went for a drumline in her celebration of HBCUs and Black excellence, Ye went with Wurlitzers to go full-tilt for the Black church. Kim K recently told Jimmy Kimmel Live! that Sunday Service is "more of just a healing experience" than a religious one. "There’s no praying, there’s no sermon, no word, just music, and just a feeling,” she said, “and it’s Christian.”
Oh, this Coachella Sunday Service was definitely Christian in ways that are bound to turn people off — but for those willing to catch the spirit there was something powerful about a performance that stanned for a brighter day to come.
Over the course of the over two-and-a-half-hour, 24-song performance, Chance The Rapper preached “Jesus Christ is Lord” on the already spiritual “Ultralight Beam” right before DMX gave a sermon. “Fade” became a praise Jesus dance-off that had them reworking ‘Ye’s original non-denominational lyrics to “He’s alive.” That “he” was Jesus, but no one would blame you for thinking it was Kanye, too.
On this day, “Power” was a spiritual for those who think no one besides God should have all that power – something Kanye might understand a little too well in the decade since writing My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Let’s just say Kanye shouting about the devil trying to bring him down on “Jesus Walks” felt a little more real than usual.
In between, Kanye’s choir turned Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” into an ode to Jesus, before letting Coachella know “we have everything we need” in a new song that is presumably off his next album, Yandhi, a Yeezy spin on Gandhi. Kanye also debuted the new track “Water,” which looks at starting over fresh. “We are water,” it repeats, “like a newborn daughter.”
On this highest of holy days, “Highlights” off Life Of Pablo stood out. It was Kanye’s confession, him asking for forgiveness for all that came before this moment. There was no Christ-like posturing from the rapper, though there were a lot of tears.
It was just him asking Jesus and, perhaps, those at Coachella and watching on YouTube to save him from the old Kanye and welcome this new Kanye with open arms. But instead of repeating four Hail Mary’s and an Our Father, he decided to dance it in the Palm Springs desert, hands up to the heavens.
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Warning: This recap contains major spoilers for Episode 2 of the final season of Game of Thrones, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms."
Last week’s season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones, titled “Winterfell,” set the mood: Shit’s going down, and everybody holding onto petty grudges needs to get with the program and start thinking about the horde of invading White Walkers. So no, Cersei, you don’t get elephants. And sorry Daenerys, no one in the North is down to pal around with a dragon lady. Jon? You are officially Top Targaryen. But that won’t matter very much if the Night King comes to steal your crown. No one wants a dead popsicle monarch — even if he does have perfect curls.
The only mortal drama I have time to care about is the fact that Arya and Gendry just totally had hot sex!! In an episode full of extended reunions, this is one I can root for!
Episode 2, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," shows Winterfell preparing for war — there’s even a Jon-narrated getting-ready-for-battle montage that’s straight out of Lord of the Rings. But don’t let all that armor clanking fool you. The episode is rife with… more personal drama. Look, I get it. A lot of these people are presumably going to die next week, and we all love an unlikely conversation pairing — but am I the only one who felt like this had the vibe of a bad Cheers spinoff? Winterfell! The place where everybody knows your name because they’ve probably fought against you at some point in this long saga.
Still, there were some highlights, starting with the (kind of) trial of Jaime Lannister, who arrived at Winterfell in the final moments of the premiere. For a second, it looks as if Daenerys and Sansa ’s (who somehow found time to nail her eyeliner — wow, girl) hatred for him might be his downfall. (This episode shows them trying to find common ground, even if they’re not quite there yet.) Tyrion, on his second major fuckup (he foolishly believed Cersei when she said she was sending troops), tries to speak up for him and fails. But it’s Brienne who saves the day, convincing Sansa that Jaime is in fact honorable and wants to do the right thing. This is pretty much the highest compliment Jaime can receive, and probably explains why he spends the rest of the episode acting majorly weird around Brienne. (That jump up when she enters the room — who are you?)
The interesting fallout of this incident is that it puts Daenerys’ volatile dictator-like tendencies on full-display. Displeased with the outcome and Sansa’s lack of respect, she threatens to replace Tyrion as hand, until Jorah talks her out of it. He also suggests she might want to put the only other powerful woman in Winterfell in her corner. But sadly, Daenerys isn’t that skilled a negotiator. I appreciate Game of Thrones acknowledging all that these women have in common, even as it continues to put them at odds. Dany and Sansa's real-talk conversation feels less like a catfight and more like a battle of wits between two women at the height of their individual fields, who can’t agree on a common outcome. Which, really, is something we see men fight over all the time.
But rivalry aside, their conversation is one of most interesting of the episode, mostly because it addresses the great unsaid subtext of the battle ahead: What comes next? Sansa and Daenerys are allies of convenience, happy to set aside their differences while the dead are coming. But what about after? When Daenerys has taken up her crown and wants to use the North as a vassal state. Sansa’s not content with leaving that up in the air. (Personally, I would like a one-way ticket to Greyworm and Missandei ’s beach vacation.) It’s an issue that comes up during Jaime’s conversation with Bran in the godswood, as well. For all their talk of dying tomorrow, everyone is still convinced that the realms of men will outlast this fight. But what if they don’t?
Speaking of the Night King, it looks like there’s finally a plan to deal with him, courtesy of Bran The Three-Eyed Raven. (Coincidentally, it’s funny how everyone is just on board with him being that now. He’s the socially awkward cousin who says strange things and everyone is like, ‘Yeah okay,’ and moves on.) Since killing a White Walker means death to all the wights he created, Jon has a brainwave that someone should probably kill the Night King. Bran volunteers to act as bait, seeing as the Night King is coming for him anyway. And Theon, who has come to fight for Winterfell (an admission that made Sansa far too weepy — please, Game of Thrones, don’t make them fall in love), promises to guard him in an attempt to redeem himself for his treatment of the Starks all those years ago.
That heartwarming sentiment is a perfect lead-in to talk about all these reunions. So many! Arya and the Hound; Arya and Beric Dondarrion; Jaime, Brienne and Tormund; Jorah and Lyanna Mormont (whose scathing "we're done here" made me cheer out loud); Sam, Jon and Dolorous Edd; Pod and Tyrion; Tyrion and Jaime; Jaime and Bran (who repeats the infamous “the things I do for love” back to him in the most hilariously deadpan way).
And if this all feels like we’re still hashing out the drama from last week, well that’s because we are. I lost track of the amount of times someone (mainly Tyrion) started a sentence with “Remember when?” Like yes, we get it. It’s the final season. It’s insane that you are all fighting together. It's obviously amusing to see everyone interact. But to keep repeating it over and over feels like a cheap play on nostalgia rather than something that’s actually moving the story forward. The one big emotional payoff was Jaime knighting Brienne, a moment that denotes a much more powerful connection between the two that Tormund and his jokes can ever hope to achieve. (But man was it delightful to watch him clap for her — an ally!)
Still, it’s all fun. In fact, between Sam, Edd and Jon’s Night’s Watch virginity jokes, Daenerys making fun of Jon’s height, and Tormund’s insane giant story, this episode definitely appeared to be playing up levity, knowing full well that next week will probably find us weeping. And so, while it did feel like a 58-minute catch-up with friends, I’m sure it’s one we’ll probably be rewatching to soothe our pain after next week’s big battle.
And it looks like that’s a pretty done deal. The episode ends with Jon choosing the worst possible time to confess his true identity to Daenerys, ending his tale just as the horn blows. The White Walkers are here — and the the expression on Tyrion’s face as he stares out from the ramparts seems a pretty good sign that a lot of the people we had fun mocking this week may not survive the day.
And now — you didn’t think we were going to end this without talking about Arya and Gendry, now did you? I just want it on the record that I have been talking about this pairing non-stop for the last two years, and I feel vindicated!!!
Their hookup was clearly signaled from the very beginning of the season, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that it would actually happen. But man, from that early hiss of his dragonglass hitting water as she stared at him from the shadows, I lost the ability to speak coherently. And the event itself was just perfect. She remained Arya, in control, asking for what she wanted. And he, well, was Gendry: hot, kind of dumbstruck, and ready to take his pants off at the request of a domineering lady.
So, tune in next week, as we watch a lot of men wield heavy swords even as Arya, that little girl with greyscale, and Lyanna Mormont obviously steal the day. Women get shit done!
PS — Pod's beautiful singing voice! What a delight he continues to be.
Correction: This recap previously referred to "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" as a bottle episode. It's not.
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The answer to both questions is yes — and no one should be spending their last hours with Game of Thrones judging Arya’s decisions. Not only for logical reasons — but, because GoT seemingly figured out the real trick to hot Westerosi sex scenes.
When it comes to the matter of Arya’s age, the facts are with us. The character, played by 22-year-old Maisie Williams, is simply “old enough” to decide to have sex for the first time. Arya Stark is currently about 18 years old. Remember, her big sister Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) confirms she is 14 years old at the time of her season 3 wedding to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). Arya is a year younger than Sansa, making her about 13 during the same season. If we look at each season as roughly a year in these characters lives, Arya would be 18 five seasons later in season 8. Considering all the time jumps and lengthy travel, Arya may even be older than 18.
Gendry’s portrayer, 31-year-old Joe Demspie certainly agrees, telling Entertainment Weekly, “It’s obviously slightly strange for me because I’ve known Maisie since she was 11, 12 years old. At the same time, I don’t want to be patronizing toward Maisie — she’s a 20-year-old woman. So we just had a lot of fun with it.”
Photo: Courtesy of HBO.
If Gendry himself isn't “patronizing” Williams, or Arya, over her big sex scene, neither should we. Instead, we should focus on just how sexy her hookup was. The reason it was so very steamy? Arya is in charge from the beginning.
The road to Gendrya’s makeshift love nest of grain begins in flirty earnest with last week’s season 8 premiere “Winterfell.” Known Westerosi sex symbol Gendry bumbles over compliments while Arya taunts him for not knowing “any other rich girls.” There’s a saucy eyebrow raise. Sparks, see flight pattern.
Then, “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” brings us to the random corridor of Winterfell’s basement where Arya slowly unveils her plan to seduce Gendry, whom she once intensely checked out during an especially sultry session of smithing. First, she asks him just how many women he has slept with. It’s unclear why Arya is investigating Gendry's sexual history — is this her playful way of getting him to talk about sex? — but, a personal favorite theory is that Arya is hoping to confirm Gendry may know something about pleasing a woman before giving him his momentous sex assignment. If you may only get one roll in the grain before becoming a blue-eyed zombie, you want it to be good, right?
Robert Baratheon: I have a son, you have a daughter. We'll join our houses.
Arya herself adds credence to that explanation, telling Gendry, “We’re probably going to die soon. I want to know what it’s like before that happens.” This isn't romance — it's horny pragmatism. So, she kisses Gendry before tossing him into a pile of provisions that make for a perfect stand-in bed. When Arya realizes Gendry is taking his sweet time slipping his trousers off, she quips, “I’m not the Red Woman, take your own bloody pants off.” As he obliges, she gets on top of him. Arya may be a sex novice, but she is the one controlling every single part of this sex scene, down to which positions are on the metaphorical table. Kiss-happy Gendry is more than happy to follow her lead.
In the immortal words of Paris Hilton, that’s hot.
A long time ago, Gendry’s biological father Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) famously spent Thrones ' series premiere telling Arya’s dad Ned Stark (Sean Bean), “I have a son. You have a daughter. We’ll join our houses.” He had no idea a night of pre-apocalyptic passion would finally make his prophetic words come true. Praise the Old Gods and the New.
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As we know from Money Diaries, we all have our unique styles when it comes to saving and spending money. Some people are partial to money-saving apps that do (some of) the work, others use piggy banks, and some are ready to hit purchase on the cart that's been filled for days as soon as that direct deposit hits.
These habits doesn't necessarily have to do with salary: Sometimes, a diarist with an entry level salary one-third of what our highest-paid diarists earn is the most willing to shell out cash on beauty products or morning coffee. The bottom line is: Everyone has a different idea of what's worth spending on and what they can afford — be it a fresh pair of Gucci loafers, a honeymoon, or a home. We don't judge! But the interesting thing to know is why these purchases were worth the hard-earned cash.
Ahead, some recent Money Diarists tell us their biggest purchases, why they bought them, and — most importantly — how they feel about them now.
This assistant to a VP at a think tank wrote in her Money Diary about paying off undergraduate student loans while saving up for law school.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase (that I’ve paid for entirely on my own) was a three-week trip around Europe (London, Paris, Cologne, Munich, Berlin) that I took this month!"
Was it impromptu or did you save up?
"I definitely saved up for it. I graduated in May 2017, and many of my friends were scattered all over, with most in Western Europe. Knowing this, we planned for a meet up about a year after graduation. This was my first time in Europe, so I also knew I wanted to go big (and saved up almost all of my money by December 2017). I saved about $2K, estimating I'd spend around $1,750 (flights included), and threw in some extra cushion room because you never know what happens when you travel. I had lodging with friends while in London and spent $20-30 per night in hostels for about nine nights.
"I also knew I’d save on food costs because I aimed for lots of small snacks (most purchased from a local grocery) instead of dining out for large meals, and I spent a lot of time exploring and hunting down street foods! I chose to spend money on museums, day trips, and excursions. I signed up for Chase Sapphire Preferred so that I could accumulate points for future travel. Also, there are no foreign transaction fees, in addition to the great travel and purchase protection policy. I tried to be as strategic with savings and expenses as possible, as it was such a big trip!"
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"Definitely no buyer's remorse. It was amazing to see my friends, but half of my vacation was also spent solo! I love solo trips (my first was to New Zealand) and I was very much looking forward to practicing the language skills I picked up in college. I love looking at photos of my best friends and me goofing off at Trafalgar Square, and I cherished recreating our hangout nights in college — with takeout, Netflix, and all of us crammed onto someone’s bed in our pajamas. I also feel so at peace when traveling by myself — it was a challenge that I eagerly accepted!"
Was it worth it?
"Definitely. This was a big cost, especially on a starting salary, but the experience of travel and creating these memories with my friends was so worth it."
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"I recently purchased the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Ultra White. I bought them on the day they came out for $220."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I’d been wanting Yeezys since they originally came out a few years ago, but it was so hard to get access. A week before they released them, I was able to get early access (meaning I could order a couple days before they released them to the public). I’m not sure how this happened, but it pretty much validated that I needed the shoes. Once it was time to order, I hesitated for at least 30 minutes at my desk and consulted every one of my coworkers. I decided to go for it, and if I didn’t like them, I was pretty much guaranteed resale value."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"I had initial buyer's remorse just because I had to guess my size (they are in men’s sizes), but again reminded myself I could resell. Once they arrived a couple weeks later, I instantly fell in love."
Was it worth it?
"They fit perfectly and are honestly so comfortable. The shoes are definitely 'extra,' but I don’t have anything else like them, so they're kind of cool to have. The best part is they will (hopefully) be worth more in a few years."
During the week of her Money Diary, this 25-year-old copywriter in Shanghai spent money on acupuncture and cupping and prepared for her upcoming wedding.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"To be honest, I have probably spent an average of $1,200 twice a year on flights home to the U.S., and I don't think twice about it, because in my mind it's mandatory that I see my family that often. Besides these international flights, my most expensive purchase to date was a one night stay at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. One night in a basic room, with no breakfast included, was $600. (I'm 25, and this is a lot of money for me — okay?!)"
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I had been living in Singapore for about a year and a half and had planned on moving to a new country soon. My boyfriend (now husband) and I decided that we couldn't leave Singapore without staying in this hotel and swimming in their epic infinity pool (and getting a sweet picture of it for the 'gram #sorrynotsorry). Despite having a beautiful apartment down the road from this magnificent hotel, I treated us to a one night staycation. I was basically living paycheck to paycheck in Singapore, so I just splurged on a whim and tried to avoid looking at my bank balance as much as possible that month."
Did you have buyer's remorse?
"I had mentally prepared for this staycation for months, so I didn't have any buyer's remorse from it. However, during our stay, I did think to myself, 'Wow, I just paid $600 to essentially swim in a pool and sleep in a comfy bed.'"
Was it worth it?
"It was absolutely worth it. The view from that hotel is unlike anything I've ever experienced."
In her Money Diary, this business analyst in Houston, TX, was in a cookie bake-off competition and had a no-spend day, something she tries to do once a week.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"The most expensive purchase I have ever made was on an IRO jacket that I bought at Harrods when I was living in London a few years ago. It was 475 GBP, which is about $611."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I was out shopping for a new jacket, but I did not intend to spend near that amount of money. I had money in the bank to cover the purchase, but I did not actively save up for this purchase."
Did you have buyer's remorse?
"I think initially I had a bit of buyer's remorse. I did not (and still don't) regularly drop hundreds of dollars on clothing items, but I think living in London made me a bit more materialistic. I felt like I was surrounded by people with beautiful things — clothing, handbags, jewelry — and I wanted to step up my game. I did consider returning the jacket, but I truly loved it. It made me feel gorgeous and powerful."
Was it worth it?
"I definitely think it was worth it. It may not have been the wisest decision at the time, but I still own the jacket and get the same rush when wearing it. It will be a piece I cherish forever."
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase was my dog — not up front, but over time. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my dog, but getting a dog is expensive in a lot of ways. We got him as a puppy from some people on Craigslist for $100 (sounds like a good deal right?). First day’s vet visit cost $250 because he was not being taken care of and was really sick, and then we had to go to the vet every few weeks to get him all his puppy shots, and will continue taking him to the vet at least once a year. Each visit is ~$100.
"Since he’s got a lot of energy, he needs a yard to run and play, so instead of living in an apartment that would cost $1,500/month, we rent a house with a yard for almost $3,000/month. All the little things add up (higher rent, food, toys, vet visits, medicine, etc.)."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"My boyfriend and I had been thinking about getting a dog for a couple years, so it wasn’t impromptu, but we didn’t fully realize how much having a dog would cost, especially when renting."
Did you have buyer's remorse?
"No, but my advice if you’re thinking about getting a dog: wait until you own a home! If you have a small dog, you can probably get away with an apartment, but most will not allow dogs, or they require an additional deposit. Renting with bigger dogs means you can’t live in a cheap apartment without a yard. You’ll end up paying the premium to make sure your dog can have a happy life."
Was it worth it?
"Even if he's expensive, my dog makes me so happy, and getting him was soooo worth it."
Photo: Getty Images.
In her Money Diary, this media strategist in Hoboken, NJ, spent money on a clothing subscription box and celebrated her birthday at dinner with friends.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"The most expensive purchase I ever made was a 10-day solo trip to Spain that I took last year. I spent five days in Barcelona and five days in Madrid. Factoring in flight, hotels, transportation, and money spent while there (on food, drinks, tours and activities), the total cost came to about $3,000."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"It was a little bit of both. A few months earlier, I had gone through an ugly breakup with my then-boyfriend who I was living with. Post-breakup, I moved back home into my mom's house for the first time in a long time while I figured out my living situation. I saved a ton of money, as I wasn't paying rent/utilities living at home, but I wasn't saving specifically for a trip. At the time, I was incredibly heartbroken and just going through a really rough patch. So one random day (after a particularly stressful day at work), I decided I deserved to treat myself, and I just booked the flight!
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"Not one bit. I've always been very much a saver, and never make any crazy expensive or spur-of-the-moment purchases like this. Travel is something that I've always been passionate about, so I decided to spare absolutely no expense for this trip — I booked Airbnbs in the hot-spot neighborhoods, ate and drank every single thing I wanted, and did every tour/saw every sight that I wanted to."
Was it worth it?
"Absolutely. I know it sounds corny, but a solo-vacation to a foreign country was exactly what I needed to 'find myself' in the aftermath of my failed relationship — I met incredible people from other countries (some of whom I still keep in touch with!), ate the most delicious food I've ever had, saw incredible sights, and just had a great amazing trip overall."
Photo: Getty Images.
In this Money Diary, a marketing coordinator in Los Angeles, CA, spent money on vegan potato tacos from Taco Bell and went to a Drag Queen-themed spin class.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase was going to Burning Man. I didn't live in Los Angeles yet, so the whole thing involved: tickets and a car pass (which I got at a discount through the Low Income Ticket Program), round-trip flight to L.A. to meet up with my friend who was also going, camp fees, gas for the drive there, and supplies. You can't buy things once you're there, so 'supplies' included food and water for seven days. It cost me about $1,400."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I applied for a Low Income ticket on a whim. I was 22 and I'd just left my corporate job and moved to Texas where I was waiting tables. If I'm being candid, I was severely depressed at the corporate job. Even though I knew I needed to leave that job for my own mental health, I felt ashamed for quitting. I was feeling really lost and needed something to look forward to, so I decided to go to Burning Man. I saved up for months while simultaneously saving to move somewhere new to start over. It was an overwhelmingly messy time in my life. I look back and feel a tinge of pride that I made it through."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"No. Absolutely not. That trip was life-changing for me. Not in a 'I went to the desert, took LSD, and saw God' kind of way, but in a 'You can get through this and be okay again' way. I met some of my best friends at Burning Man that year and they gave me the confidence and courage to finally crawl out of my depression hole. I hadn't felt fun or funny in months, but the people I met through my camp saw value in me. They made me feel like myself again. Wow, I'm getting a little emotional even thinking about it."
Was it worth it?
"It was completely worth it. I'm stressed out now just thinking about what a financial strain it was, but I'd do it all over again. The day I flew home from that trip, I used my newfound confidence to apply for the job that eventually brought me to California. I'm trying to say this in the least dramatic way possible, but had I not gone on that trip — I wouldn't live in L.A., I wouldn't know the majority of my closest friends, and I probably wouldn't be as happy as I am with my life right now. It wasn't even about Burning Man as a place or event. It was about me finding a way to hit the reset button on my relationship with myself. In retrospect, it's wild that I even felt the urge to apply for those tickets in the first place. None of my friends had ever even gone to Burning Man, and most didn't even know what it was. I just had a gut feeling that I needed to go, and the rest is history!"
Photo: Getty Images.
In this Money Diary, an executive recruiter in Austin, TX, bought herself new Vince Camuto boots and got stood up at the dog park by a Bumble BFF match.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase to date is my Mazda sedan, which I bought when I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. I made a $3,000 down payment and financed $17,000, but I'm going to end up paying around $21,000, due to interest."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"Once I knew that we were moving to L.A., I decided to buy a car, and saved up enough money for what I thought was a hefty down payment."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"I definitely do. I moved to L.A. with my boyfriend for his new job, and we thought he'd be driving into an office every day. I work from home, but I bought a car so that I'd be able to run errands and visit with friends while he was at work. Three months after the move, his position transitioned to full-time remote, and we definitely didn't need two cars.
"I've owned the car for two years now, and it has less than 9,000 miles on it. It would be even lower if we hadn't driven from L.A. to Austin, TX, when we moved here last December. I'm still making payments on the car, though I've really buckled down on paying off debt this year, and should pay it off nearly two years early this July. I really let my emotions get the better of me with this purchase. I was so excited for the freedom of having a car after living in NYC for almost five years, that I didn't really think it through."
Was it worth it?
"Yes and no. The car is very nice and incredibly reliable. At the rate that I use it, I could drive it for the next decade without hitting 100,000 miles. In that sense, it's a good value. However, I'd much rather have avoided the 'stupid tax' in the form of interest on my auto loan. Not paying for a car payment/gas/insurance for the last two years would have made a big difference on my overall financial situation. Plus, I've learned that my car is really too small for what I want to do with it. When my family visits, they can't all fit comfortably in the back seat, and I plan on getting a second, larger dog. I wish I'd purchased an SUV instead of a sedan."
This communications manager in Glendale, CA, spends her Money Diary reading parenting books and buying things for her nursery in preparation for the birth of her baby.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"A new King-size bedroom set and mattress that we bought when I was pregnant with my son. One of my friends works at a mattress store, so we were able to buy our mattress and sheets at a major discount. Our bed and dresser are the matching dark gray Hemnes set from IKEA. Altogether, the furniture, mattress, and bedding came out to about $2,500. Before that, my husband and I were sleeping in the Queen-size bed he had since high school. When we moved in together, we were saving up for our wedding, so we re-stained his bed and dresser ourselves to avoid buying new stuff."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"We had been talking about buying a new 'grown up' bedroom set for a while, but it wasn’t a priority. With my pregnancy support pillows taking up most of the bed and our 60-pound dog who loves to hop in bed with us, there was barely any room left for my husband. It was definitely time for an upgrade.
"We hadn’t specifically saved up for a new bedroom set, but we do have a savings account dedicated to miscellaneous big purchases that might pop up, like this one."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"When the mattress arrived, it felt a lot softer than I remembered it being at the store, but we decided to try it out for a few days. But then the holidays happened, and our baby was born, and we never got around to reevaluating if the mattress was the right firmness before the return window expired. I still think it’s too soft (while my husband thinks it’s perfect), so I’m having a bit of buyer’s remorse. It probably wasn't a good idea to buy a new mattress while I was pregnant."
Was it worth it?
"The size upgrade was definitely worth it; it feels so luxurious to be able to stretch out as much as we want and also have our dog and baby in there with us. But I wish we had spent a little more time and effort making sure the mattress was a better fit for my preference, because it’s something we’re going to keep for the next decade, and having the right amount of support is essential for preventing back pain. At least for now I have an excuse to indulge in more massages, so there’s a bright side."
In this Money Diary, a service coordinator in NYC spends most of her money on clothing and makeup. She has a skincare obsession and a Sephora VIB Rouge card to prove it.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase was my Givenchy Small Antigona leather satchel. It was $2,290, before tax. My mom loves it and asks how much I paid for it, but I'll never tell her since she would probably murder me, lol."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"It was a bit of both. I tend to be careful with my spending and I work VERY hard for my money. But I'd been wanting a designer bag for so long, and I finally found the perfect one, so why not?"
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"Initially I was like, 'Whoa, this is f**king ridiculous, I can't believed I really paid this much for a bag.' After that, I fell in love with it. It makes ANY outfit look amazing and I get compliments on it all the time."
Was it worth it?
"YES. It's my go-to bag. I know this will sound vain, but when you walk into any place with a designer bag, that place turns into your runway. It's an amazing feeling."
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"A road bike in the summer of 2014, which was about $950."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I bought it on layaway, giving the bike shop $200-$300 whenever I could. I finally took it home with me about three months after I first saw it. I bought it because my boyfriend at the time was a cyclist, and I wanted to be able to ride with him."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"I occasionally have buyer’s remorse, because I’ve ridden it maybe 10 times in four years. I keep saying this will be the year I get out and ride it, and I even bought one of those stands to make it into a stationary bike so I can ride it indoors during the winter. We’ll see if I actually follow through on riding it outdoors."
Was it worth it?
"Yes, because I’d really like to be a person who cycles regularly. But I’m also sort of terrified of riding it on the actual road, even if it’s just a small stretch that connects trails."
This deputy director in Silicon Valleywrote in her Money Diary about how she and her husband sleep on a mattress on the floor because they aren't ready to buy a bed as expensive as what they ultimately want.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"The most expensive purchase I’ve ever made was my three-week honeymoon to Europe. It was a little under $16,000 altogether, including airfare, trains, hotels, restaurants, and tours."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"It was the opposite of impromptu, as you might have guessed from the London planning in my Diary. I meticulously researched everything we did, from hotels to tours to restaurants. I knew approximately how much the trip would cost ahead of time, and we were fully prepared."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"We save pretty effectively most of the time, so we made a conscious decision to spend a chunk of our savings on this trip. We didn’t travel much in our 20s, so we decided to do and eat everything we wanted to in Europe. We spent almost no money on shopping, however. Every expense was experience-related. I have no buyer's remorse."
Was it worth it?
"With the exception of one tour guide who I didn’t like much (he only took up six hours of our three-week trip), I loved our honeymoon. It was worth every penny."
Photo: Getty Images.
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If the beauty gods gave us the choice to switch eyebrows with any famous person, we'd have a hard time picking just one. Between Kaia Gerber, Lucy Hale, Zendaya, and Kylie Jenner, the competition is stiff. But luckily for people after a set of arches like Jenner's, you don't need a fairy godmother to make it happen. The mogul just announced that she is entering the eyebrow category with her latest Kylie Cosmetics release: Kybrow.
The newest addition to the billion-dollar Kylie Cosmetics empire drops in exactly one week. Jenner announced Kybrow in an Instagram video, flaunting perfectly filled-in brows (of course). News of the launch comes less than a week after Jenner's highly anticipated fragrance with KKW Beauty was postponed due to a manufacturing error. And just last week, Jenner sparked rumors that a skin-care line is on the horizo n, thanks to a handful of suggestive makeup-free selfies.
Luckily, fans of the Kylie brand have a new collection to hold them over. According to the Kylie Cosmetics Instagram account, the Kybrow range will feature six products: an eyebrow pencil, pomade, powder duo, gel, highlighter, and an angled brush. An Instagram user asked if customers can expect the new goods to come in multiple shades, and the brand responded, "Yes! More information coming soon."
Like all things Kylie Cosmetics, we can bet on this launch selling out quickly. So get your credit cards ready to act fast when the collection is released on April 29, and keep your eyes brows peeled for more information.
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So, to navigate the ever-booming world of YA fiction, we turned to the experts: authors themselves. We asked some of our favorite YA authors working today, like Tomi Adeyemi, Sarah Dessen, Ellen Hopkins, and Maurene Goo, to tell us the book they can't stop raving about. We'll be updating this story throughout the course of Refinery29's YA Month in April, so be sure to check back in.
Refinery29 is proud to partner with Penguin Teen on YA Month.
Calling My Name by Liara Tamani. In Calling My Name, Taja Brown is redefining who she is and what she believes. Growing up in a loving, but strict, religious family, she battles expectations and struggles to find her purpose. Tamani’s lyrical, episodic writing is moving and makes this novel an unforgettable read."
" Brown Girl Dreamingby Jacqueline Woodson. I loved Brown Girl Dreaming for its lyrical, stunning, and brilliant images. It hooked me from the start, and I found myself marking each poem to teach my students. I loved following her journey and family history through poems. It was a supreme joy to read and will stay forever on my bookshelf."
" I'll Give You the Sunby Jandy Nelson. This book takes no prisoners. It reaches into darkness, using dual time-lines that ask the reader to stretch, and ultimately brings everyone--characters, readers, all of us--into the light. Each time I read it, I find something else about it that I didn't see before--like it takes a new reading to find the layer that needs to be pulled away. Importantly, it's centered around the soul-rescuing and life-affirming power of art, in all of its varied manifestations, giving us so many ways to deal with grief and ultimately love. The book is a masterpiece, and the prose is beautiful enough to break the heart."
" Three Dark Crownsby Kendare Blake is the dark, moody, matriarchal book series of my heart. The mysterious world building is without a doubt my favorite part: The hidden island of Fennbirn is in thrall to the cult of the goddess and the tradition of triplet queens who murder one another generation after generation for the throne. The plot is slow building and exquisitely tense, filled with women in positions of power plotting and scheming and outmaneuvering one another."
" Contagion by Erin Bowman. This book was like all of my favorite deep space sci-fi films rolled into one compelling YA package. If you loved Pandorum, Event Horizon, and Alien, you won't be disappointed with one. The audiobook is also wonderful!"
" Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Kidney transplant between best friends! Unrequited love! Bisexual main character! Solomon's trademark ability to make you ugly-cry like you're an infant and your bottle's late!"
"Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh, which has gorgeous prose and imagery that you can see in your mind as you read. Rebel Seoul an exploration of nationhood (something so important to Korean people today) in a futuristic setting where much of Eastern Asia has combined into a super power. While I have a soft spot for the male characters in this debut, it is the female characters that give the book its spirit. I love that the girls are both the most accomplished soldiers in the nation, but aren't so hardened that they don't feel relatable teen girl feelings. This is a YA debut that is fresh and imaginative, and I am so excited because it has a companion novel, Rogue Heart coming out soon!"
" I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It's a moving story that explores grief and love and sibling relationships with absolutely exquisite prose. I've never encountered another book that so accurately captured what the world looks like to a sensitive, artistic soul who doesn't really fit in anywhere else. I wish I'd had this book when I was a teenager, and I share it whenever I get the chance."
" A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti. This book depicts — heartbreakingly, achingly, and beautifully — what it's like to be a girl (and, for that matter, a woman) today, in a world of incomprehensible violence and in a society when, even as a victim, you can be made to feel you did something wrong. Oh, it's just so good. Everyone should read it. And we should all use it to become better."
" The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo has won all the awards and then some, and it deserves even more. It's a sensational story with some of the most beautiful language I have ever read in my life!"
" Truly Deviousby Maureen Johnson, and its sequel, The Vanishing Stair(which just released in January!). I am a sucker for a murder mystery, and this book/series has everything a reader could ever want. A great main character, Stevie, who is interesting, original, funny, and smart. A fantastic setting (a glamorous old home/school in Vermont). It also boasts a wonderful cast of supporting characters, stunning twists and turns, and a haunting, clever mystery-within-a-mystery in the form of an unsolved kidnapping from decades ago. The whole thing is heart-poundingly good, and just plain fun to read."
" Hey Kiddoby Jarrett J. Krosoczka rocked my world. It's an award-winning graphic novel about a teen with a parent who has an addiction issue. It's incredible."
" The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk. This book is a haunting exploration of tragedy and its aftermath; a brilliant examination of what happens when grief and heartache settle into the space once occupied by love and seeming invincibility. And much like the music driving its characters, it is deeply lyrical, supremely thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful."
" The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (and the sequel, The Wicked King). Holly is the mistress of faerie. Her knowledge and mastery of fantasy is so deep — even if you aren't a fantasy reader, you'll be swept into this book. It's a court romance. It's an adventure. It's amazing."
"Let Me Hear A Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson, a love letter to hip hop and Brooklyn that took me back to high school. It follows three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive, and reminded me how deep the bonds of friendship went during those days; where friends were family, hip-hop and rap music were stitched into the fabric of how you related to a person, and there wasn't anything you wouldn't do to make sure your friend got the respect he or she deserved."
" When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore. McLemore's novel is such a beautiful exploration of family, gender identity, and young love. It is rich with fantastical elements, poetic, and haunting."
" Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere. Her book I'll Give You the Sun might have earned more accolades, but I loved her first book. Dealing with grief is something every young person must eventually face, and this book is a gorgeous study. Jandy's an MFA poet, and while the book isn't in verse, her poetry is obvious in the beautiful language. Stunning."
" My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows. It is quirky, magical, hysterical, and romantic, with just enough "real history" mixed in to make me curious about what really transpired hundreds of years ago."
" Tell Me Everythingby Sarah Enni. Sarah Enni has been a big part of the YA community for the past few years with her amazing podcast, First Draft, where she interviews writers about their journeys and creative processes. Like Sarah, her debut is clever, hilarious, and full of heart. Tell Me Everything is pitched as Amelie meets Instagram and it's both fun and incredibly timely — I highly recommend it for lovers of contemporary YA!"
Hafsah Faizal Author of the forthcoming fantasy novel We Hunt the Flame
"The one YA novel I remember connecting with so deeply that it made me sob in the middle of the night isI'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. Demetrios gives us a protagonist who is vulnerable and fierce, who sees her world falling apart, struggles to take control, and suffers through so much; only to surface stronger than ever before."
" This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. This book made me nauseous but like...in a good way. I've never read anything quite like it. It twists genre conventions and eviscerates expectations. Science! A virus that makes people literally explode! Hacker girls! Seriously...what are you waiting for?"
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Just two months after Vogue Brazil's fashion director resigned from her role with the company after being called out for cultural insensitivity, another Condé Nast International title is in hot water. According to WWD, a beauty editor at Glamour Hungary told photographer Brenda Nasr, the magazine "is only allowed to have editorials with Caucasian models." At the time, the photographer was pitching a fashion editorial shot with a single Black model.
“In an industry like this, you typically can’t call people out, because you never know for sure,” Nasr tells WWD. “You might have a hunch that they don’t want something [for a specific reason], but you can’t call them out directly — but she just told me.” When Nasr reached out to Condé Nast International, Glamour Hungary's editor-in-chief Krisztina Maróy apologized for "any offense" to her as "we absolutely did not mean to." Further, Nasr tells WWD, Maróy said she considers she and her colleagues “committed devotee[s] of human rights, democracy and female empowerment.” Maróy claims the editor was "rather awkward" because English isn't her first language.
“[The editor] simply meant that our beauty pages work on mirroring the reader and in a magazine like Glamour and in a country like Hungary they are practical, not inspirational,” Maróy wrote. However, Wolfgang Blau, president of Condé Nast Internatonal called the comments “wrong, offensive and indefensible.” “We at Conde Nast International unreservedly apologize for that.” Further, the editor, who was freelance, will no longer work for the magazine — or any other Condé Nast magazine for that matter.
“All of our fashion and beauty editorial teams around the world not only embrace diversity but are actively promoting and celebrating inclusion in all its forms,” Blau says. “This quite explicitly includes our Glamour team in Hungary, which has consistently promoted new models and talent of all backgrounds and races.”
Blau also said that CNI is “reviewing Glamour Hungary’s diversity policy together with the editor in chief as well as the team’s internal training programs for staff and freelancers so that this never happens again.”
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Calling all entrepreneurs:We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary.Submit here.
Travel Diaries:We're looking to get the inside scoop on when, where, and how our peers are using their vacation days. Open to tracking your travel expenses during an upcoming trip? Email us at traveldiary@refinery29.com.
Today: a PhD candidate who makes $35,936 per year and spends some of her money on apples.
Editor's note: All prices have been converted to U.S. dollars.
Occupation: University Assistant / Phd Candidate Industry: Higher Education / Law Age: 28 Location: Vienna, Austria Salary: $35,936.48 Paycheck Amount (1x month): $2,494.19 Gender Identity: Woman
Monthly Expenses Monthly Rent: $823 for a 90 square meter apartment. My parents own the building and live in the attic, so I pay rent to them. (I just moved, and my former apartment was $507 for a 52 square meter apartment. I plan on getting a flatmate, since this new apartment is too big for me by myself.) Loans: $0 (Higher education is still free in Austria) Gas/Electricity: $80 Internet: $34 Cell Phone: $11.27 Netflix: $0 (I used my best friend's father's account) Transportation: $37 (covers all public transport in Vienna) Climbing Gym: $25 Boxing: $60/semester Musical InstrumentInsurance: $400/year Household Insurance: $83/year Women's Association Memebership: $11 Austrian Alpine Association: $70/year Austrian Automobile Association: $20/year (for my father's motorcycle, which I almost never ride, but always forget to cancel my membership) Savings: $536-$1,127 (depending on the month)
Day One
7:30 a.m. — I wake up in my new apartment, which I just moved into on Saturday, and turn on the radio to listen to the news. My boyfriend, F., is sleeping next to me and wants to cuddle, but I'm pretty distracted, because there are workers in the garden and on the roof and I have no curtains yet, so I feel a bit exposed.
8 a.m. — We get up and have coffee and leftover carrot cake my mom made over the weekend. I also manage to assemble lunch to take to work with me, which consists of green beans, cherry tomatoes and orzo. I leave F. money to buy filler because he's going to start fixing the holes in my old apartment while I'm at work. $22.46
9:15 a.m. — I arrive at work. On Mondays, I work for the in-house legal department at my university. I get to work on a draft for some new internal regulations.
12 p.m. — It's time for lunch, and I meet my co-workers in the kitchen. My salad thingy is nice, but it doesn't fill me up. I know I'll be hungry later. Someone brews a pot of (workplace provided) coffee for everybody, so I have some of that.
1:30 p.m. — I have a meeting with my boss at the legal department. We discuss the draft and make some changes.
2:30 p.m. — The afternoon drags. My colleague suggests going for a run, but I ran nine miles yesterday, and my knee says no. I also chat on the phone with F. who says he finished filling some of the holes and will be out tonight for a beer with friends. He asks if I want to come along, but I decline because I really want to spend time in my new apartment.
6 p.m. — Because no one is expecting me home and because my productivity was seriously lacking today, I stay longer in the office. On my way to my old apartment, I go to the drugstore to buy skin cream, various mothproofing agents, dishwasher salt, dishwashing detergent, chewing gum, and panty liners. $25.83
6:30 p.m. — I arrive at my old apartment and get to work on filling holes. The filler F. bought is supposed to be white but looks rather grey. I'm a bit alarmed because I went crazy with installing shelves in this apartment, and don't want them all to be visible when I give back the apartment.
7:45 p.m. — On my way home, I stop at the supermarket and buy gnocchi, two cucumbers, broccoli, salad, sauerkraut, toothpaste, and supposedly eco-friendly dishwashing sponges (they are way more expensive than normal dishwashing sponges, but I buy them anyway because I'm a slave to "green" products). $12.59
8:15 p.m. — At home I chop up the broccoli and fry it with lots of wild garlic (which I picked last year and preserved in oil and salt). I mix this with pecorino cheese and the gnocchi. It tastes okay, but the broccoli is a bit mushy. After dinner I remember that a new apartment is the opportunity to form new habits, so I clean the kitchen surfaces and wash all the dishes instead of leaving them in my sink until there's no more space. I then proceed to fold laundry, clean up, and repot some plants that are in desperate need of care. I am not good with plants, and one Oleander seems to be dead. I feel sorry for him; he was a fighter and even bloomed last year. I stick the brittle and dry plant in some water to see if there's any trace of life left, but my hopes are small.
10 p.m. — This new me is amazing! After cleaning up, I sit down to read Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex. I only manage to read the introduction, but still feel great about my adult ways and myself. Around 11, I text F. to tell him that I am about to go to bed; he responds that he will be on his way soon. When he arrives I am fast asleep and barely notice him.
Daily Total: $60.88
Day Two
7 a.m. — My alarm goes off and we turn on the radio only to sleep through the morning news. This happens a lot, and makes me wake up with a slightly confused mush of the news mixed with whatever I was dreaming about that night.
7:45 a.m. — F. makes coffee and we have the last of leftover cake for breakfast. We chat about our plans for today and arrange to meet each other for lunch. I pack the leftovers from yesterday in a big Tupperware for us to share.
8:45 a.m. — I'm running late! I'm never efficient in the mornings, and am even more confused in my new apartment. I get to work using public transport and read a bit of Catcher in the Rye. I encounter a woman asking for money on my way, and want to give her a 2 Euro coin. But when I drop it into her cup, I realize it isn't a 2 Euro coin but some foreign coin that was in my pocket for some reason. I apologize and then fumble around awkwardly in my backpack until I finally retrieve my purse and thankfully find real money in there. $2.24
9:15 a.m. — I arrive at work, finish some of the projects for the legal department and submit my draft for the regulations. After that, I work on an exam for first year students and chat with my colleagues.
12 p.m. — F. picks me up for lunch. He just had an interview for an internship and it went well; it's unpaid, though, so he will have to find some job on the side. We wander into the park behind the campus and settle on a bench to eat our lunch. Afterwards, we take a short walk before I head back to the office.
4:30 p.m. — My productivity is seriously lacking today, so I go for a run with a colleague. She tells me she just finished her thesis. I congratulate her, but on the inside I'm beating myself up, because everybody else seems to be able to actually sit down and write that damn thing.
5:20 p.m. — We ran around five miles and I take a quick shower in the office. When I come out, my other colleague tells me we just got the proofs for a study textbook my boss wrote, and have to correct and proofread them before Monday. Happy times! I aim to work a bit before I meet F. at 6:30 at the train station but get lost in the depths of an online sale. I settle on two sweaters, a pair of pants and a linen tablecloth (which I aim to use as a bed cover), but due to some error, I can't complete my purchase. Anyhow, I'm late now and have to call F. that I won't make it for the 6:30 train.
6:45 p.m. — I make it to the train station and we get on the next train. My brother and his girlfriend invited us to dinner, and they live in a different part of the city.
7:30 p.m. — I have never been to my brother's apartment before, so I'm excited. We each have a beer and a shot of vodka before dinner. Dinner is cold cuts, vegetables, cheese, olives, and dried meat I brought my brother back from South Korea when I went there in June. He has a thing for weird food and dried meat, so I brought him horse jerky and octopus jerky (which looks like an octopus that's been run over by a car). Both are really good. We talk and drink more vodka and beer. My brother's girlfriend tells us she quit her job to become self-employed, which I think is really brave. I offer to help with any legal issues.
10.30 p.m. — My sister also stops by and we have more vodka. It's a lot of fun, but I'm getting tired.
11:20 p.m. — I check tram times and see that we should get going since the last tram leaves at 11:50. We have one more vodka and then leave. We arrive home an 12:30 and go straight to bed.
Daily Total: $2.24
Day Three
6 a.m. — I get up. I recently started going to boxing classes twice a week and they start at 6:45 a.m. I thought I would quit after a few classes, but I actually really like them. It also helps that four friends are in the same class. I make some coffee and pack my things. I am a bit hungover, but I cycle to the sports center and make it on time.
7:30 a.m. — This boxing class is no joke. Today I'm paired up with a girl who takes her punches seriously. I enjoy it, and since the classes are so short, it doesn't feel overwhelming. We usually finish the class with 100 push-ups, but I am dead after 30.
7:45 a.m. — I say goodbye to my friends. Usually we would go have a quick breakfast together, but I have a day off, so I cycle back home without showering. I stop at a bakery to get rolls for breakfast. $2.25
8 a.m. — I'm back home wanting to shower, but F. who is still asleep, senses my presence and pulls me into bed. We cuddle for a long time. I almost fall back asleep.
9:30 a.m. — F. finally wakes up and is in the mood for some morning sex, but since there are workers on the terrace and in the garden, I just know I won't be able to enjoy it. We plan to take a shower together for some privacy, but then my father calls, saying he needs to move some things from my flat, so sex is cancelled altogether.
10 a.m. — F. gets to packing and I shower and eat breakfast (rolls with butter and jam). I attempt to buy something from that online shop again. I will probably regret spending money on linen table cloths, but they're organic and reduced, and I convince myself that I need them. I buy one blue and one white, but hold off on all other purchases. $86.46
11 a.m. — I accompany F. to the metro and say goodbye, as he's on his way to the airport. He studies abroad, and we have been doing this long distance relationship for around two years now. I am sick of it, but can't think of an alternative. After saying goodbye, I walk to my old apartment to finish the walls and clean everything. On my way I stop at my favorite neighborhood thrift store. I buy a check patterned silk blouse and a pair of weird polyester Levi's. $5.61
11:30 a.m. — The filler has dried white, and the walls look mostly okay! I sand a few places and apply new plaster to holes that are not completely covered yet. I also screw a few things back into place, like the hood for the oven and a toothbrush holder. I'm a bit nervous about giving back this apartment. I took down a couple of ugly kitchen cupboards and replaced them with a ventilation hood. In my book that's an improvement, but I'm not sure the landlord agrees. I also can't find one of my spare keys.
3 p.m. — I pack up some random things that are still in the apartment and transport them on a flat-tired bike that I meant to repair for ages. I wobble home (luckily my old apartment is only a 10 minute walk from my new one). At home, I unpack my stuff and cook some orzo. I make myself a salad with nutritional yeast on top.
3:45 p.m. — I make a few calls, first to a renters aid organization to ask about possible problems arising from the “taking down cupboards” situation. The man on the other line is really unpleasant to talk to and hangs up on me without giving me any valuable information. I then call a locksmith to find out how much it would be to get the keys replaced. He tells me it would be around $60 — which is okay, but I still hope to find them. I then call F., who just arrived in Sweden. We chat a bit. A while later I get a text from my best friend saying that she has my spare key. What a relief!
4:30 p.m. — I warm up some coffee from this morning and aim to work on some proofs, but get very distracted and watch a bunch of YouTube videos instead (there goes the new me…).
6 p.m. — My sister drops by and searches for something in my father's old workshop that she can use to make dramatic poi for her upcoming shows in the summer seasons (in the summer she often has gigs as a circus artist). She finds some curtain rails that work, and I help her saw them to the correct length. While we're at it, my parents come home and we all chat a bit.
7 p.m. — I realize that I have to leave. I volunteer with an organization that provides legal aid to migrants, and I scheduled an appointment for 7:30. I cycle like crazy and make it almost on time only to find out that my client has not arrived yet.
7:50 p.m. — Still no client. It isn't a time sensitive matter, so I leave it up to the client to schedule a new appointment.
8:10 p.m. — On my way out, I decide to stop by the place where we conduct out initial consultations. When I arrive, I see that the waiting space is still full, so I decide to do a few consultations myself.
8:45 p.m. — After finishing my two consultations, I hang around a bit and contemplate going back to the office, but then decide to cycle back to my old apartment to finish those walls. I sand the rest of the walls and then vacuum and mop everything. The walls are looking good!
10 p.m. — I arrive home and clean up, because tomorrow the carpenters are coming inside to fix a few doors. I go to sleep around 11.
Daily Total: $94.32
Day Four
7 a.m. — My alarm goes off and I hit snooze numerous times.
7:45 a.m. — I finally get up; I make some coffee and assemble lunch out of cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, salad, and orzo.
9:15 a.m. — I arrive at work and continue working on those proofs. It's really boring, and my mind wanders.
12 p.m. — I have lunch with my colleagues and eat the salad I prepared.
4 p.m. — My attention span is like five minutes today. I surrender and go for a run with two of my colleagues — we run around five miles. Afterwards, I take a quick shower and then leave work. I take the train to meet a woman from Willhaben, which is the Austrian equivalent of Craigslist. I buy an enamel casserole from her, which I plan to gift to my best friend. I've let her borrow my casserole dish for the last two years because it wouldn't fit in the oven of my old apartment; now that I have a bigger oven, I want it back. Since she got very attached to that particular casserole, I buy her a similar model in a different design. $28
6 p.m. — After meeting the seller, I take public transport to go pick up a carpet I had repaired (for $392 - already paid). When I pick it up, I decide to be diligent and check if it was done properly, since I paid so much for the repair. A small hole has not been mended, and the woman offers to mend it on the spot. I agree and go to the supermarket next door while she works. I get eggs, mushrooms, sour cream, and apples. $10.96
6:40 p.m. — I pick up the carpet and leave. It's quite heavy to drag home, but luckily it's just a short tram ride. I call my best friend to tell her I am on my way, because I will be babysitting her son at my place tonight. When I get home, my father is in my apartment making some repairs. My friend and her son, L., arrive five minutes after I get home, and we briefly chat before she heads out for the night.
7:10 p.m. — I start preparing dinner (homemade noodles with mushroom paprikash). L. is disappointed at the lack of internet in my apartment (I usually let him listen to children's detective audio books when he is at my place), but he eventually starts to help with the cooking and gets really enthusiastic about frying mushrooms. We invite my father to eat with us, and he offers me a beer, which I happily accept. We chat a bit over dinner and afterwards L. manages to convince my father to go upstairs to their flat to find something sweet for dessert. We all have some sweets and then L. and I play with Beyblades until he gets picked up.
9:10 p.m. — L. gets picked up and I give my friend the casserole. Afterwards I clean up a bit to honor the new me and then start mindlessly scrolling on my phone... I go to sleep around 11.
Daily Total: $38.96
Day Five
6:15 a.m. — After hitting snooze twice, I finally get up and make some coffee. I didn't pack my things for boxing class last night, so I'm running late.
6:50 a.m. — I cycle to my boxing class and am only five minutes late. The instructor makes me pay for being late by making me to do 30 extra burpees.
7:45 a.m. — After class, I take a quick shower, go for a coffee with two former colleagues. I get a Melange (like a cappuccino but with a little less milk) and tip around 10%. $3.30
9 a.m. — I am at work on time. I make myself porridge and celebrate being on time by losing myself in the depths of the internet before I manage to finalize the proofs. It is very dull work. Throughout the day, I eat the remains of yesterday's dinner, two apples, some more porridge, and a protein chocolate bar. My linen tablecloths arrive at my office — they are nice, but I still know it was an unnecessary purchase.
5:30 p.m. — I leave the office and head home. It's my friend's birthday today, and I told her she could have the party at my old, already empty flat. I call her and she and another friend are on their way to the supermarket. I decide to head home first to unload some stuff before joining them for preparations. At home, I eat the leftover paprikash from yesterday. I change my clothes, wash my face, and put on some tinted moisturizer before heading out.
6:30 p.m. — I meet my friends at the supermarket next to my apartment. I buy seven boxes of chocolate for my neighbors because I forgot to tell them we were having a party. At my old apartment, I write some notes to my neighbors and add my phone number in case it gets too loud. $19
7 p.m. — My friends arrive and we prep the empty apartment. We drag up some garden furniture from the cellar and decorate with what we still have on hand. We use cardboard beer cases as lampshades to dim the lights a bit, which works surprisingly well. I also put out all the empty jam jars that have accumulated in the last two years for the guests to use as drinking glasses. The party starts around 8, and I eat sour worms, pizza buns, and chips. I drink a white wine spritzer as well as beer, aperol spritz, and at some point, an averna sour. I regret not having had more parties in this flat while I was actually living here.
3:47 a.m. — I finally leave after wanting to do so for the last two hours — people are still dancing but so far no complaints from my neighbors. I walk home and immediately fall asleep.
Daily Total: $22.30
Day Six
10 a.m. — My father is working in the yard and I wake up to drilling sounds. I am still sleepy, but force myself out of bed because we arranged to work on my kitchen today. Since moving back into the same house as my parents, I've noticed how freakishly productive people are who are not slaves to their computers/cell phones.
10:30 a.m. — I pack some totes in a basket and walk to the farmers market which is right around the corner. I get some spinach, scallions, parsley, potatoes, and apples. Back home, I put my groceries away and walk upstairs, because my parents invited me for breakfast. $11
12 p.m. — I arranged to work with my father on my kitchen cupboards later, but he tells me he needs to finish something first. While I wait, I tidy up a bit. I realize I am out of toilet paper, so I walk to the drugstore. I get the toilet paper and also a cleansing milk I don't need, and two bottles of body oil (I couldn't resist the “buy one get one free" promotion). $13.53
1:30 p.m. — When I get home, my father is still drilling something. I feel slightly hungover and lie down, but do not manage to sleep. Eventually I get up and decide to wash my windows — I do a terrible job and leave streaks all over, so I stop again.
5 p.m. — My father and I finally start working. I'm still tired and slightly hungover, so I am not a big help. We cut the first cabinet with the wrong measurements. My friend who celebrated her birthday yesterday comes over to give me the keys back. The party went on until five in the morning, but nobody ever complained. They cleaned the whole apartment today. We have a quick coffee together and then she is off again and I vow to focus on the kitchen cabinets.
7 p.m. — I am doing better — we finish a second cabinet, which is only slightly lopsided and then attach wooden strips to the countertops.
9 p.m. — We have to stop working. My father, my sister, and I all head upstairs. We make a quick dinner of homemade pesto (with wild garlic instead of basil), pasta, and a salad.
10 p.m. — I am back in my own apartment without plans for the evening. I decide to take my bike trailer over to my old apartment to see if I can haul all my stuff out. When I arrive, I notice that there is a lot more stuff here than I realized. I left some chairs, a carpet, and the stereo equipment for my friend's party as well as some tools and other random stuff. In addition, my friends left me all their leftover alcohol, which is nice of them, but now I have to transport it somehow. No way is this going to fit in the trailer. I pack the stereo, the carpet, and some curtains, and make my way back. It's only a 10-minute walk, but it's really annoying because I have to haul the trailer by hand. I was supposed to go on a hike with my brother and parents tomorrow, but realize this is going to take longer than anticipated, so I call my parents and cancel.
12:30 a.m. — After three trips I finally got most of my stuff out. I am dead tired. I fall asleep around 1AM.
Daily Total: $24.53
Day Seven
12 p.m. — I wake up and am very happy I did not join my family on that hike. For breakfast, I make myself coffee and a huge pancake with plum jam. It's pretty warm outside, so I have breakfast on my terrace. A friend texts to ask if I want to go climbing tonight, and I reply with a maybe. I usually go bouldering at least twice a week with a group of friends, but the last few weeks our schedules haven't matched up, and I miss spending time with them.
1:30 p.m. — I vacuum my whole apartment, which takes forever. Then, I sort and wash some laundry.
2:30 p.m. — I text a friend of mine to see if he wants to go for a run, but he replies that he has already been. I slowly get ready and realize I left my headphones at the office. I usually listen to podcasts while running. I think about running by my office to get there, but decide to just run without them.
2:45 p.m. — I stop by my old apartment to get the recycling and end staying to clean the surfaces again as well as fix some last things. I am nervous about giving back the apartment and want it to look right.
3:50 p.m. — I am finally running. I run to the Viennese forest and then circle around there until I get in enough miles to run back.
5:45 p.m. — I managed to run 13 miles and am pretty worn out. In the forest, I found a blue sweater someone lost and after running by it four times, took it home with me. On my way back, I also find a pair of white leather slippers in an open trashcan filled with perfectly in-shape leather shoes and take those home, too. At home, I meet my parents in the yard and we chat briefly.
6:30 p.m. — After showering, I cancel climbing and cook myself dinner, which is potato mash with scallions, parsley, spinach, and lots of butter. I eat that with an egg and a salad and put the rest in boxes to take to work with me.
8:30 — After dinner I clean up, call F. and call it a night. I read a bit in Catcher in the Rye before falling asleep.
Daily Total: $0
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Recycling is so much more than tossing out your empty kombucha bottle and separating your plastics from your paper products. And even if those things have become second nature in your regular routine, there are things we often overlook in the recycling process — like our makeup.
It's easy to rack up on loads of compacts, lipstick tubes, and foundation bottles, only to toss them in the trash when you're done. But more brands are trying to make your beauty routine more eco-conscious. For example, Seed Phytonutrients offers shower-friendly hair products made from recyclable material. Brands like Le Labo and L'Occitane offer refillable services at discounted prices, so customers can re-up on product without extra waste. And companies like TerraCycle work with beauty brands, like Garnier and Burt's Bees, to help recycle empty packages.
MAC Cosmetics also gives customers rewards for recycling. When you return six completely used containers to the MAC counter, you can walk away with free makeup. "Because we share your commitment to the environment, customers returning to a MAC counter or MAC Cosmetics online, you can receive a free MAC Cosmetics lipstick, or, lipglass, or eyeshadow if you're part of the MAC Lovers program," a representative for the brand tells Refinery29.Qualified containers include blush compacts, eyeshadow pots, foundation bottles, lipstick tubes, and more. And once the products are returned to MAC through this program, they get recycled by the retailer.
So, instead of tossing that taupe shadow you just hit pan on or the Ruby Woo you've smeared to the last drop, save your empty tins. You'll be cutting back on the staggering cosmetic waste problem (have you heard of "dumpster diving"?), saving money on your next MAC purchase, and you'll be minimizing your carbon footprint.
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Although our best intentions are to approach every day as Earth Day, sometimes we need a reminder (and a little green-guidance) in order to lead more eco-conscious lives. So, in honor of today's celebration supporting worldwide environmental protection, we're tackling an at-home sustainability step that's easy enough to practice in your sleep. It all starts with waking up and making a more sustainable bed.
Ahead we've rounded up ten sustainable companies that are redefining our concept of what trendy bedding looks and feels like — from the softest sheet sets made with chemical and cruelty-free manufacturing to partially biodegradable-fill comforters, certified-organic mattresses, fair-trade pillows, and more. The rise in direct-to-consumer bedding brands not only translates to higher quality goods for fairer prices but also to higher quality goods made with fairer environmental practices. In addition to premium eco-friendly products, many of these companies also partner with environmental-protection groups to promote social action too; whether it's planting a tree per purchase, exploring alternative energy options, practicing people-first employee ethics and equal pay, or even just minimizing water consumption.
Scroll on to take a small step towards a more sustainable life simply by making your bed.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
With the tagline, "Make Your Bed Your Happy Place," Gryphon delivers on luxuriously comfortable bedding you can feel good in and about — each of the brand's products (from sheets to pillow cases and duvet covers) is sustainably-sourced and crafted with environmentally and ethically-friendly practices from recycled and harmful chemical-free materials. Gryphon also claims to reduce water consumption in its production by an impressive, "51.94 million gallons of water year over year."
Gryphon Comfort Washed Duvet Cover Set, $149.99, available at Gryphon Home
Buffy's super-soft comforters are not only made from 100%-natural eucalyptus fibers, but they're also made with cruelty-free and earth-friendly practices — by sourcing recycled water bottles into its eco-friendly fill, the company keeps, "6,000,000 bottles," out of oceans and landfills along with saving, "50 bottles," and, "12 geese," per sustainably-crafted comforter.
This beautiful brand, known for its vibrant lumbars to bohemian-woven rugs and throws, is also home to a line of luxury sustainable bedding that comes certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard — an organization that protects and maintains the highest sustainable and social production standards.
For today only the brand is promoting its special Earth Day Initiative, where for every $50 spent a tree will be planted in Indonesia.
The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Bed Bundle - Midnight Series, $435, available at The Citizenry
With a main company goal of producing, "quality luxury mattresses that are both eco-friendly and provide the highest quality sleep environment for our customers," Nest hits the sustainable bedding nail on the head — all of the brand's organic products (from mattresses to bedding essentials and more) are USA-made and CertiPUR-US certified (i.e. tested for harmful chemicals)
Nest Bedding Certified Organic Mattress (Full), $2799, available at Nest Bedding
The modern-minimalist style company practices, "full environmental sustainability," by going chemical-free, achieving organic verifications, and partnering with green-groups (like farm co-ops) to uphold strong social and earth-friendly integrity in the production of every super-soft, and dreamy cotton sheet set.
Alterra Pure Traditional Organic Bundle: Sheet Set + Duvet Cover , $285, available at Alterra Pure
This simple but stylish brand boasts a lineup of home essentials spanning from premium kitchenware to stone-washed linen bedding that all comes Oeko-Tex certified (i.e. tested-for and ensured free-of harmful chemical treatments, like pesticides or lead), packaged in 100%-recycled cardboard, and produced in factories with the highest commitments to social and environmental standards — Snowe's eco-company outlook is that, "avoiding dangerous chemicals on our textiles means pouring less chemicals into factories and back into the environment."
Snowe Linen Pillow Cases (Set of 2), $88, available at Snowe
Boll & Branch regards itself as, "the first organic, Fair Trade Certified bedding company," with a stacked lineup of consciously-designed mattresses to pillows, bath essentials, and sheet sets that are all ethically-sourced through a company commitment to sustainable business and people-first ethics (i.e. mandating fair wages and business practices).
Boll And Branch Luxury Down Alternative® Pillow, $80, available at Boll And Branch
Founded 25 years ago in Northern California, this clean-living brand's focus on organic farming (i.e. 60% less carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas output than conventional farming) resulted in mindful processing of chemical-free fibers for the softest and most sustainable bedding that the company describes as, "healthier for the home, and healthier for all the elements we need to keep the Earth alive." The toxic dye, chemical, and softener-free goods range from apparel to bed, bath, and beyond essentials that are waste-efficient and luxuriously-comfortable.
Coyuchi Cozy Cotton Organic Blanket, $298, available at Coyuchi
Primary's goods are as its brand name suggests: simple but essential. The company offers ethically and sustainably-produced linen to percale sheet sets that are crafted from high-quality materials in soft colors through water and waste-efficient methods.
In honor of Earth Day, for today only, the site is offering $50 off all orders over $325 with code, "EARTHDAY50"; $35 off $250 with code, "EARTHDAY35"; and $25 off $150 with code, "EARTHDAY25."
Primary Complete Bedding Set (Queen), $349, available at Primary
Touted as sustainable, organic, fair-trade, and transparent, SÕL Organics premium bedding is free of everything from pesticides to herbicides, child labor, and discrimination. The company's tagline of, "Making Ethical Luxury Affordable," with, "Equal pay for all," puts an appropriately comforting seal on its fine sateen to percale sheet bundles made from 100% organic and fair-trade-certified cotton.
SOL Organics Organic Down Comforter, $229, available at SOL Organics
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For beauty enthusiasts, there's no joy like testing out new releases or standing behind the belief that you can never own too many lipsticks — as you add two nearly identical coral shades to your shopping cart. That's how we end up with vanity organizers and overflowing bathroom cabinets, waiting to use up all our vitamin C serum so we can try another.
But what happens when you get to that last squeeze of foundation or reach the pan of your go-to bronzer, or even when you realize it's time to get rid of that blush that’s been sitting there for two years? Tossing your empties seems like the obvious answer — but that may be more harmful to the planet than you think.
When you send those compacts, containers, and lipstick tubes, you're essentially contributing to the pileup of unrecyclable plastics in landfills. Every year, 120 billion units of packaging are produced by the global cosmetics industry, according to a report by Zero Waste Europe; that's 120 billion units that will eventually need to be thrown out. Before the guilt trip hits you too hard, that doesn't mean you should lay off buying makeup forever — but there are ways to be more conscious of the recycling process.
To learn more, we spoke to Gina Herrera, Director of North American Client Services for the recycling program TerraCycle, which specializes in hard-to-recycle materials. She gave us the rundown on everything you need to know about tossing your cosmetics in an eco-friendly way.
Research Is Key
Being more environmentally friendly with your makeup disposal can start with the purchases you make. “When considering best practices for a minimal impact on the planet, consumers should be mindful when making purchases for beauty products,” says Herrera.
There are a variety of different factors you can look into: You can look for products with recyclable/refillable packaging, or alternatives like makeup removal towels. You can also buy from brands that have recycling programs: MAC Cosmetics, for example, has a Back To MAC initiative, where customers can bring in six lipstick tubes to be recycled by the brand and receive one lipstick for free in return. There’s also Garnier, which allows you to send their products (with the TerraCycle logo) to TerraCycle; with every unit collected, the beauty brand will donate two cents to the charity of your choice.
What You Might Not Know
It’s critical to know that simply tossing makeup products into recycling bins is not enough — and might not even ensure those products are properly recycled. “Where someone lives — as in, their local municipality — will dictate what can be recycled in their area,” says Herrera.“Each municipality has different recycling requirements, and consumers should check with their town to find out what can be put in their curbside bin.” This information could be found on your town or city's official website, or on Call2Recycle.org.
Aside from the technicalities of location, there’s also the fact that many makeup products cannot be recycled. The top culprits are anything with a mirror, pump, applicator, or magnet, and makeup brushes, too. "There’s not a pump in the industry that’s recyclable," Āether Beauty founder Tiila Abbitt previously told Refinery29.
Herrera also emphasizes the importance of emptying out any excess product; this applies whether you're sending the packaging off to organizations or just curbside. Doing this ensures that harmful chemicals don't end up being thrown into waste streams as facilities have to physically remove what's inside. The best way to clean out the leftover product is to rinse out the packaging and put the excess into a sealed jar before sending it off to the landfill; this proper seal guarantees that chemicals aren't seeping into the trash, which is ultimately harmful to the air.
What Now?
So, you’ve done your research and realized that some of your favorite products can’t be curbside recycled. That’s where recycling programs come in. Start off by researching to see if the brand that makes the product offers any initiatives; if it doesn't, that’s when you can look into organizations like TerraCycle. Signing up is free — and most programs under the organization are, too — and once you’ve registered, you can look into all the programs offered and solutions like zero waste boxes. In the United States alone, TerraCycle has recycled over 16 million pieces of beauty packaging, and now works with brands like eos, Burt's Bees, and L'Occitane.
“Beauty packaging sent in to TerraCycle for recycling will be shredded, cleaned, and sorted by plastic type,” explains Herrera. “The plastic shreds will then be melted and formed into small plastic pellets that can then be molded into a wide range of plastic products like plastic lumber, decking, and playground equipment.”
Lastly, it's also important to hold brands accountable and reach out to your favorites — whether it's through social media or a contact page — to create more sustainable packaging, offer recycling initiatives, or partner with third-party programs. Many brands are coming to terms with the fact that a shift is desperately needed and are repackaging products to be eco-friendly, with zero waste brands also entering the market. Now, it's our responsibility to spend our coins wisely.
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On any occasion, there’s really nothing like a customized gift — but on Mother’s Day, a piece of personalized jewelry can feel tear-sheddingly special. Our moms were our earliest jewelry role models, and our penchant for heirloom-feeling baubles — charm-laden pendant necklaces, stacks of tooled bangles, and engraved signet rings — originated with the inherited accessories that she’d pile on every day. We’d pore over the mysterious names and initials chased into the precious pieces she wore, which would prompt questions and stories about the female relatives who’d handed down these treasures.
Having gleaned so much inspiration from your mother’s style, perhaps now is the time to show her that you’ve been paying attention — with something wearable, sparkly, and stamped just for her. While she might tell you that she all the jewelry she needs, a modern-day version of one of her cherished engraved antiques is something that she’s probably not expecting. So if you’re looking to add to her collection of keepsakes, look no further. We rounded up some of the best customizable and personalized jewelry that we could find, and rest assured there’s something here for every budget — because every mom deserves something this special on Mother’s Day.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
These under-$30 necklaces have a “found” feel that will definitely delight your mom, no matter her style.
Picturing Initial Necklace, $28.56, available at Etsy
BaubleBar’s sparkly, turquoise-effect initial pendants are a cheerful way to liven up your mother’s jewelry box.
BaubleBar Chromatic Initial Pendant Necklace, $36, available at BaubleBar
Missoma 's engraver is on duty. You can have your own design sketched on over 40 jewelry designs, here.
When in doubt, choose a classic — an engraved signet will complement any mom’s taste, and will never go out of style.
Zoe Lev Signet Ring with Engraving, $80, available at Amazon
This simple initial necklace hides a positive, extra-special message on its reverse, so you can remind your mom she’s one in a million.
Kate Spade Letter Pendant Necklace, $58, available at Shopbop
A delicate, stamped bunny rabbit bangle is perfect for a new mom.
Sweet Auburn Studio Custom Bunny Initial Bracelet, $25, available at Etsy
Erica Weiner will engrave any name on a sterling silver, Victorian-inspired “love token.”
Erica Weiner Customizable Love Token Necklace, $115, available at Erica Weiner
A single 14K gold, diamond-studded initial stud is a must for cool moms.
Stone and Strand Alphabet 14-karat gold diamond earring, $145, available at Net-A-Porter
An open ring designed with two initials is a sweet way to commemorate multiple names.
Minimal Allure Open Initial Ring, $123.25, available at Etsy
Catbird’s ingenious letter charms offer three lines of text “written” on a tiny 14K gold envelope.
Catbird The Smallest Love Letter Charm, $138, available at Catbird
Jade Trau’s stacking ring provides a single-letter option for minimalist moms.
Jade Trau Typset Initial Ring, $280, available at Ylang23
Handmade "by woman, for woman," in California, these astrology pendant with necklace chain, lets you choose your mom's sign.
Thatch 14K Gold Zodiac Charm Necklace, $188, available at Anthropologie
Monica Vinader will customize a simple, hammered sterling pendant with a classic serif initial.
Monica Vinader Havana Large Round Pendant Charm, $135, available at Monica Vinader
When I decided to transition my hair from relaxed to natural over the course of a year or so, I naively thought I could continue my usual lazy-girl routine — which basically consisted of going to the hairdresser and having someone else deal with my head. But, as more and more new growth began to replace my straighter strands, I became concerned about not only the heat damage that might occur in the long run, but the fact that I was relying on somebody else to do all the work. So, I took on the task of doing my own hair.
I quickly realized I had no idea what I was doing. Turns out, reading countless natural hair blogs and watching many hours of YouTube tutorials does not make one an expert. My first twist-out was such a fail, I ended up covering my hack job with a hat. Don't even get me started on my botched bantu knots. Lawd.
Anyone who's gone natural, or is in the transitioning process, knows the pain I'm preaching. Trying to blend two vastly different textures — while coming up with hairstyles that are presentable enough to go out in public with — is hard work. That's why I enlisted Vida Latimer, senior stylist at Devachan Salon, to help transitioning ladies get through the awkward stages and see the light at the end of the natural hair tunnel.
Click through for some new looks to try out, broken down by your stage in the transitioning process.
Pineapple Transitioning phase: start one year in
If you want to preserve your curls after a twist-out, this high ponytail with a sleek base is the best (and cutest) way to do so.
Bantu Knots Transitioning phase: start to one year in
Bantu knots are a great way to mask your two different textures from the beginning until the end of your journey. Plus, they will give you much-needed practice for mastering the notoriously frustrating style.
Braid-Out Transitioning phase: start to one year in
With braid-outs, you can go the cornrow route, as seen here, or do free-form box braids. Leave them in overnight (on damp or dry hair) for the best results. When you take them out the next morning, you'll have big, beautiful hair, reminiscent of the '90s crimp look.
Perm Rod Set Transitioning phase: any
Craving some serious definition? After washing and conditioning, section your hair off and saturate it with a setting lotion, curling cream, and a little bit of oil, Textured Talk advises. Then, wrap your sections around perm rods that are most appropriate for your length. You can let your set dry overnight, or sit underneath a hooded dryer for the curls to form.
Comb Coils Transitioning phase: any
While your hair is wet with conditioner, moisturize with a non-flake gel or a cream. Take the end of a rattail comb and wrap small sections around it, creating a spiral. Dry overnight or sit underneath a hooded dryer. Some people use the actual fine teeth of a comb, but this takes a little bit of extra care to avoid breakage.
Photo: Via @tressedbyb.
Straw Set Transitioning phase: any
It's like a rod set, except with cut-up straws. Sounds odd, but the tinier curl formers are ideal for those with smaller Afros.
Top Bun Transitioning phase: one year in
The one-year mark is when the struggle starts to get real. Finding a cute, chic way to tame your new texture is not easy, and this is an inconspicuous way to keep it under wraps. If you have longer hair, this is a great go-to style for when you want to wear it away from your face (or are just having one of those lazy days). "The wide band keeps roots smooth," says Latimer.
Marley Twists Transitioning phase: start to one year in
This option is great if you want to give yourself a break from DIY styling, says Latimer.
Box Braids Transitioning phase: start to one year in
Latimer adds that when doing Marley twists or box braids, it's important to use good human hair and ensure the styles are not too tight."Otherwise, [your new hair coming in] won't be able to get enough conditioning for optimal growth," she says.
Box Braid Bantu Knots Transitioning phase: start to one year in
If your braids are starting to loosen up, hide your roots with this easy style (as seen at Curlfest 2017).
Photographed by Rochelle Brockington.
Braided Updo Transitioning phase: start to one year in
Another protective style to consider when transitioning to natural hair is this braided updo. Similar to box braids and Marley twists, it will keep your ends tucked in and shielded from the environmental stresses — AND it means your hair is already styled for you.
Twisted Updo Transitioning phase: three to six months
Remember that ultimate-curls look? This is a great follow-up, for once you grow tired of wearing your hair out. Just pin your hair toward the front of your head and flat-twist it in three sections up the back portion. When styling, Latimer recommends skipping the gel and opting for a cream instead, which will offer control along with moisture. Finish with a moisturizing shine serum (like this one from SheaMoisture).
Three-Bun Updo Transitioning phase: any
Issa Rae's hair always manages to wow us on the red carpet, and her looks are also great inspiration if you're in a rut with styles. In this video, her stylist Felicia Leatherwood breaks down how to achieve her signature three-bun updo. All you'll need are three vertically-lined buns, some extra hair (depending on your natural length), and lots of edge control.
Goddess Braid or Twist Transitioning phase: nine months to one year in
Some women worry that natural hair is "not work-appropriate." We think that's a load of BS, but if your coworkers aren't as enlightened as you, this wraparound braid is an elegant and finished 'do that will work in any office environment. "After this style, you can do a rod set or twist-out, to start to wear it curly," Latimer says. For similar tutorials, check out Black Girl with Long Hair.
Curly Fauxhawk Transitioning phase: any
This isn't for the faint of heart, as it takes some skill. But, if you can master cornrows and spiral curls, it's an edgy look that's sure to turn heads. Latimer says the braids shouldn't be too tight — and don't forget to hydrate.
Faux Undercut Transitioning phase: any
If you don't want to go full fauxhawk, just braid one side and leave your hair loose on the other, as seen in this editorial. Jeanie Syfu, hairstylist and Tresemmé spokesperson, suggests weaving three cornrows "in an undercut style to enhance the texture of the rest of [the] hair."
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.
Voluminous Curls Transitioning phase: one year in or more
Trimming off your damaged ends will add major bounce back into your curls and give you volume like you've never seen. Make sure to have a hydrating, lightweight serum on hand to restore any lost moisture.
Soft Twists Transitioning Phase: three to six months in
Updos can put a lot of tension on your growing hair, so let it relax with loose twists. These are great for shorter hair lengths looking to play with a fun style. Plus, you're able to add some needed nourishment if you seal in the ends with a bit of oil or serum.
Double Buns Transitioning phase: any
Follow Janelle Monáe's lead and go for playful, double buns. The best part? It takes barely any time at all. Part your hair straight down the middle (leaving your bangs out, if you have any), create high pigtails, then wrap the hair around the base of each and secure.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Half Up, Half Down Transitioning phase: start to one year in
For the days you can't deal with your hair in your face or deal with too much product, go for the half-up pony.
Crochet Braids Transitioning phase: any
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of a weave, crochet braids are your best friend. Instead of stressing out your strands with a sew-in that can damage your hairline, simply latch your extensions on to your cornrows with a needle.
Crochet Locs Transitioning phase: any
If you don't want your hair out, then crochet locs (installed the same way as braids) are a great option.
Tree Braids Transitioning phase: any
With tree braids, your stylist does cornrows but leaves the bulk of your extensions loose, according to Neno Natural. The braids are knotted to keep them from unraveling.
Flexi-rod Set
Transitioning phase: any
Flexi rods are a great tool for creating spiral curls. The style is especially great to help mask straight ends when you're in that "in-between" stage where your roots are curly, and ends are not.
Lemonade Braids
Transitioning phase: any
If you want to wear cornrows but want to switch up your look, try out Lemonade braids. The side-swept plaits, which can be big or small, were dubbed after Beyoncé's iconic Lemonade album cover and will look stylish during any phase of your switch to natural.
Passion Twists
Transitioning phase: any
If Senegalese twists and goddess locs had a baby it would look like passion twists. The style was created by Kailyn Rogers, a Miami-based natural hairstylist, who wanted to create a protective style that looked like unraveled twists. To achieve it, start a normal twist and push the hair up as you go to get a scrunched, lived-in effect.
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Your mom is obviously worth a million bucks — but we're going to assume that's nowhere near the budget you're working with this Mother's Day. (Unless your name is North West, in which case, please make your way over to the luxury gift guide and spend with abandon.) Still, even if you only have $20 — or, heck, $10 — you can treat her on May 12, and not in an "it's the thought that counts" way, either. Pair that sentiment with a small token of love and you've got yourself a recipe for a happy giftee.
Ahead, we rounded up 20 little treasures that ring in at under $20 and are sure to make her smile. And if you're on the hunt for something specific, give us a shout in the comments. You've still got time and we are here to help with all your shopping pursuits.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
These soaps look and smell like something you’d find in a cool French pharmacy, but — surprise! — you get them at Walmart. We’re not saying they’re going to transport mom to the Provence countryside, but they’ll definitely elevate her bathroom counter game.
Le Petit Marseillais 72% Extra Pur Bar Soap with Olive Oil (3 pack), $11.91, available at Walmart
This one's a shoe-in for most useful personalized gift. Choose your mom's initials for this gorgeous tumbler that can be used for drinking, as a toothbrush holder, vase, or anything she pleases — it will look beautiful in any space.
Anthropologie Wanda Monogram Tumbler, $11.2, available at Anthropologie
Your mom can play at-home spa or just get really radiant skin before a big night out with these K-Beauty sheet masks. We love the intensely hydrating and protective ingredients like plant-derived Squalane, Sodium hyaluronate, and Hydrolyzed collagen. Some serious stuff packed into a pretty little box.
Dr Althea Squalane Silk Mask (5 pack), $17, available at Soko Glam
All six of these pouches for under $20? That's a steal! This gift is perfect for the mom on the go who likes to stay organized. If she's got an upcoming trip she can use these to separate toiletries from unmentionables, electric wires, snacks, and doo-dads. Then she can take one out with her for the night.
America & Beyond Pompom Assorted Clutches - Pack of 6, $19.97, available at Nordstrom Rack
Pick a hand. Follow its lead. Each page opens to reveal one of 75 prompts and charming illustrated objects that will inspire mom with positive guidance, reflection, and contemplation.
Chronicle Books Everyday Offerings, $10.5, available at Amazon
Moms can multitask like nobody’s business, so this Fresh twofer Soy Face cleanser & Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask will be just her thing.
Made of cotton and light as air, this versatile bandana from Elizabeth Gillett combines durable, natural fabric with pretty florals. Mom can tie it around her neck on a warm day or add some flair to her everyday purse.
Terrain Floral Blooms Bandana, $18, available at Terrain
One of our editors swears by this tiny gift of love and refuses to share which part of the package she likes most. We're going with the sea salt caramel and Sicilian orange truffles but considering the decorative tin is sitting on her desk right now, she might give up the latter for choice.
Louis Sherry Jewel Box Chocolate Tin, $8.5, available at Catbird
If your mom always wears the same shade of barely-there pink, this shimmery pink will get her out of her rut, but not her comfort zone. To earn some bonus points, take her new lacquer for a test run with an afternoon at the salon.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer - Gatsby 110, $18, available at Net-A-Porter
This gift will be cherished by green thumbs, anglophiles, art-lovers, and anyone who enjoys a pretty object. Although, it does help said object-appreciation if mom's got some sort of garden set-up.
V&A Museum William Morris Pruning Shears, $14.99, available at World Market
Moms with dry or overworked hair will love this rich, deeply nourishing and cleansing kit. And with the sweet little box, she can trial the product at home or slip one in her suitcase for an upcoming trip.
Living Proof Healthy + Strong Mini Transformation Kit, $18, available at Sephora
Reward her sharp eye for shiny things with a dish suitable to hold all her most meaningful trinkets. (Pictured in the opener image with Oliver Bonas lucky cat collection.)
Oliver Bonas Floral Round Trinket Dish, $14, available at Oliver Bonas
This set of conversation cards gets the whole family going — in a good way. Take turns answering the question on each card, and then flip it over for more ways to enrich the conversation. With more than 150 prompts, these cards generate many rich opportunities for connection, and because the questions are open-ended, they can be reused again and again.
Chronicle Books Conversation Cards for the Whole Family, $12.99, available at Chronicle Books
Something special for the fromage-loving mom — a foursome of delectable maple syrups to pair with her next cheese board masterpiece.
Runamok Maple Syrup Runamok Cheese Pairing Maple Syrup Collection, $5.95, available at Terrain
Cute fruit handcrafted leather keychain options so mom can always think of you when she reaches for her keys. Plus, there's a fancy Barneys New York logo on the back.
Barneys New York Leather Keychain, $11, available at Barneys Warehouse
Your mom likely grew up when matte skin was all the rage, but it'll be hard for her to deny the power of a good glow after you gift her this highlighter set. She'll love that you're sharing the products a la mode from cult favorite brand ColourPop.
ColourPop Deux Of A Kind Super Shock Highlighter Duo, $14, available at Ulta Beauty
If mom loves her wine time, then she'll appreciate these innovate yet simple merino wool "Wine-Os" from SoCal sustainable lifestyle brand, Graft Lantz.
Graf Lantz Wine-O's Round 7-pack Rainbow, $12, available at Graf Lantz
You inherited your green thumb from your mom, so gift her a cutting from one of your own precious houseplants to show her that you retained her advice about how greenery thrives on neglect. Stick the seedling in pretty little $6 pot and voila — seriously thoughtful gift.
Urban Outfitters Cosmic Terracotta Planter, $6, available at Urban Outfitters
Admit it — you’ve broken a lot of her glasses over the years. A new set of four tumblers from this heritage Italian glassmaker will accommodate just the right amount of white wine during casual dinners at home, and they’re sturdy enough to hold up to your attempts at doing the dishes.
Bormioli Rocco Officina1825 10.25 Oz. Water Glass (Set of Four), $14.9, available at Wayfair
Success stories can seem just as fantastical as the fairy tales you (may have) loved growing up: Bold career woman finds herself in the right place at the right time, and poof, herfairy godmothermentor snaps her fingers, transforming our hero into an overnight success who brings home a seven-figure salary, jet-sets around the world spreading her you-can-have-it-all gospel, all while looking awesome and Instagramming the whole thing. Umm...really? Why do we so rarely hear the other side of the story — the false starts, the waves of doubt, the failures, and the fuck-ups? Those late-night worries and, occasionally, breakthroughs that are so relatable to the rest of us?
IntroducingSelf-Made, Refinery29's column spotlighting the real stories that fueled success — the wins, the fails, and the curveballs — proving there's no one path to getting what you want.
Shan-Lyn Ma, 41, is the CEO and cofounder of Zola, a wedding company that's revitalizing this $72 billion industry with a free suite of tools for couples to use to plan their big day. Any bride will tell you the months and weeks leading up to a wedding day can be some of the most stressful, and Zola is hoping to relieve some of that stress. Since it launched in October 2013, the platform has helped half a million couples and opened a pop-up shop in New York City, and Ma and her team have raised over $140 million in funding to date. So far in 2019, two female-founded companies (Glossier and Rent the Runway) have announced their unicorn status — could Zola be next?
Refinery29 talked to Ma about the challenges of thinking bigger, her self-care routine (which includesGame of Thrones), and how her experiences as an immigrant and woman of color have impacted the way she's built her business.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTA SCHLUETER.
What inspired you to launch Zola?
"When I was growing up in Australia, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I even had a picture of Jerry Yang, the founder of Yahoo (and now an investor in Zola), on my wall, next to a picture of Kylie Minogue. The idea for Zola specifically was born out of my own personal need. In 2013, all of my friends were getting married at exactly the same time, so I basically spent every weekend as a wedding guest. As a product manager with experience working for several retail companies, I was appalled at how impersonal and clunky the wedding-gift shopping experience was. As I was evaluating different business ideas with my cofounder, Nobu, reinventing the wedding registry was one that really resonated with both of us, and we knew we were the exact right people to do it. We used our experience building online products that customers love to build the best ever wedding registry."
What do you think the definition of self-made is, as it pertains to you?
"I’ve always worked really, really hard. In order to put myself through college, I worked three jobs, including being the absolute worst pizza waitress who ever lived. One time I even dropped a pizza into a customer's lap. When I was an MBA intern at Yahoo, my dream company, I worked my behind off, and as a result got a great offer to come back full-time. When Nobu and I were dreaming up Zola, we spent 24/7 working together in my tiny Manhattan living room to get our business off the ground. So working hard isn’t the only thing you need to do, but it’s absolutely a minimum requirement."
What quality do you think you possess that's made you a good candidate for self-making your destiny?
"I spent a long time working for other amazing founders before I felt ready to start Zola. I know some people jump from school into entrepreneurship, but that’s not my story. I’m also really lucky to have met Nobu. He is the most amazing design thinker I’ve ever met in my life, and I wouldn’t have started a company with anybody else. So we are self-making it together."
PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTA SCHLUETER.PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTA SCHLUETER.
Tell us a lesson you keep trying to learn, that you hope to master at some point?
"Something I’ve been working on over the past few years is how to be more present and live more in the moment. I just downloaded an app called Moment, which is my new fave app helping me resist the urge to stare at my phone 24/7. It helps track progress towards certain goals, like what percentage of my waking life is spent on my phone, and I’m hoping to learn how to be the master of my phone, rather than let my phone be the master of me!"
Zola is disrupting the retail industry, but recently you opened a traditional brick-and-mortar location in New York City. What made you decide to open a store? And how is the experience different for your customers from a more traditional shop?
"In six years we’ve grown from a wedding registry to a full-on wedding company. We built the store so everyone could experience the whole Zola world under one roof. It’s not a traditional retail store, it’s a wedding-planning paradise where you will get an extremely high level of customer service. We have wedding invitation stations, over 3,000 registry gifts that are all scannable through our app, and Zola advisers to help with anything and everything. We’re also about to bring in wedding party attire next week! We are so excited about how well the store has performed and how much our couples love it."
Being self-made means committing to self-care, too. How do you fuel and refresh yourself when shit really starts to get hard?
"I am a self-care junkie. I’m obsessed with SoulCycle, because you have to cycle so hard I can’t think about anything else. And my nighttime skin-care routine is my favorite part of the day that I make time for no matter what. On a typical Sunday night, I am watching Game of Thrones with a face mask on."
Can you talk about some of the challenges you’ve overcome raising capital for Zola?
"One of my favorite quotes of all time is when Susan Lyne said, 'Men pitch unicorns and women pitch businesses.’ That resonates with me, because during our earlier funding rounds I received feedback that I can come across as modest in comparison to how fast Zola is growing. It has taken me a while to get comfortable with the metaphorical banging my fists on the table about how we’re building a multi-billion-dollar company, but we are. Fortunately, now I can bang a little less loudly because our numbers tell the story."
PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTA SCHLUETER.
What's your Self-Made Mantra for other women, no matter where they are in the process?
"Can the idea be bigger? Can it be even bigger than what you are thinking about right now? That’s how we thought about Zola. We started as a registry, but we always knew it could be something that was much bigger than just wedding gifts — something that served millennial couples from engagement through to their first years of newlywed life together."
There is a lot of pressure of female CEOs and startup founders to be both great businesswomen and motivational leaders. Do you feel that pressure? And do you think those expectations set these women up to fail?
"I think every founder has to be a motivational leader in order to build a great team and business. I do feel an extra responsibility to show it’s possible to be a woman, be a respected leader, and run a fast-growing startup. I’m lucky to be a part of a growing community of female founders who I have to lean on for advice. I try to share my thoughts with female founders who are a few years behind me whenever I can, but only if asked!"
How have your experiences as an immigrant and woman of color impacted the way you run your business?
"Diversity has been a pillar of Zola since day one, and not just because we value that culture internally. Our couples are diverse in nearly every single way — race, sexual orientation, religion, where they live, where they work. And all of this really comes into play when you're planning a wedding. So it's vital that we pool together as many experiences and backgrounds as possible at Zola — including my own — in order to be able to serve such a diverse set of people."
What are you generally doing at midnight?
"I’m asleep!"
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On Easter Sunday, at least 321 people died in a spree of bombing attacks in Sri Lanka. On Monday, a spokesperson for ASOS confirmed that three of the children of Anders Holch Povlsen, the brand's billionaire exec, were among the slain. Victims also included a celebrity chef and her daughter, an American fifth grader, a British lawyer and her children, two Turkish engineers, and many who were worshipping at church. For more on how to help click here.
“I can confirm that three children have been killed," Jesper Stubkier, the communications manager for Holch Povlsen’s wholesale clothing business, Bestseller, tells the Guardian. "We have no further comment and we ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this time.” The spokesman declined to comment on which of Holch Povlsen’s four children had died, or whether other members of the family had been visiting Sri Lanka. CNN is reporting that Holch Povlsen was in Sri Lanka with his family on vacation, according to Danish media.
Holch Povlsen is worth $5.7 billion, and is Denmark’s wealthiest man, Forbes reports. Not only is he the largest stakeholder in ASOS, he is the CEO of the retail chain Bestseller and one of the largest landowners in Scotland.
On Tuesday, Sri Lankan officials said the Islamist militant group National Thowheeth Jama’ath is responsible for the highly coordinated attacks, targeting Roman Catholic churches in the midst of Easter celebrations, luxury hotels, and a housing development. Time magazine is reporting Rajitha Senaratne, the country’s health minister, said the seven suicide bombers who carried out the attacks were Sri Lankan citizens affiliated with the domestic group, but that authorities suspect foreign ties as well.
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Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Calling all entrepreneurs:We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary.Submit here.
Travel Diaries:We're looking to get the inside scoop on when, where, and how our peers are using their vacation days. Open to tracking your travel expenses during an upcoming trip? Email us attraveldiary@refinery29.com.
Today: a project engineer who makes $57,200 a year and spends some of her money on Swiffer refills.
Occupation: Project Engineer Industry: Manufacturing Age: 24 Location: Lafayette, Indiana Salary: $57,200 + annual bonus for me (between 2-6% based on performance), $42,000 for my fiancé (we have a joint bank account and all of our purchases come from the same account) Paycheck Amount (1x/week for me, 2x/month for my fiancé): $830 for me (after taxes, dental/vision insurance, and 401(k) contribution), $1,300 for my fiancé (after taxes) Gender Identity: Woman
Monthly Expenses Rent: $545 (My fiancé's and my share of a two-bedroom apartment that we live in with my sister.) My Car Loans: $449 (My car payment is very high because when I was 19, I bought a car with a very high-interest loan, since I really had to have one. Unfortunately, it was a lemon, and it was barely drivable through college. Since my commute is an hour each way, my fiancé and I decided to get a new one to ensure my safety. The loan on this car also includes what was left on the old loan.) Fiancé's Car Loans: $192 My Student Loans: $444 Fiancé's Student Loans: $30 to his parents Utilities (electricity & water): ~$150 depending on the time of year Cell Phones: $180 Car Insurance: $112 PlayStation Vue: $40 Netflix: $12.99 (My parents and sister also use this.) Hulu/Spotify: $4.99 (We get a student discount with my sister's school email. She uses it as well.) HBO GO: We use my fiancé's parents' account. Health Insurance: We're still on our parents' plans. Dental/Vision Insurance: $7.61/paycheck (My fiancé is still on his parents' plan.) Roth IRA: $300 My 401(k): $100 with employer match Fiancé's 403(b): $0 (He is a teacher, so his school corporation puts money in a 403(b) for him, but he does not currently contribute because we are trying to keep a lot of our savings liquid for our wedding and buying a house.) Savings Account: ~$1,500 a month between the two of us, sometimes more
Day One
6:30 a.m. — My fiancé, E., wakes up for work. I am working from home today, so I get up with him and take the dog out. On weekdays, this is sleeping in for me, so I get to work after E. heads to school.
10:30 a.m. — I finish everything I had to get done for work today. I am so much more productive at home! I grab my grocery list and head to do some grocery shopping. I stop for gas first. $31.11
11 a.m. — I leave my first grocery store. I literally only bought a block of cheese and reusable grocery bags for cold groceries. In my defense, the cheese was on killer sale. $2.64
11:45 a.m. — I hit two more grocery stores. I make a list every Thursday and compare prices at the two main stores close to us. It takes a long time to compare every item, but it probably saves me around $10 a trip. I buy ingredients for chicken enchiladas, chili, and lasagna. I also get strawberries, apples, bananas, grapes, celery, carrots, peppers, potatoes, milk, eggs, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, chicken breast slices, apple juice, Powerades for E.'s baseball games, Diet Mountain Dew, granola bars, and Bagel Bites for his classroom. $71.19
12 p.m. — I put the groceries away and eat leftover pasta with my sister, L., for lunch. She is in college and doesn't have class or work on Fridays.
1 p.m. — L. and I leave to go to my parents', who live about an hour away. We stop at their house to let the dog do his business, and then we drive to pick up my younger sister, V., from school. She is so excited to see the puppy. We stop for ice cream at our favorite local shop as a special after-school snack for her ($11). I have a chocolate cone, L. has a cup of black raspberry ice cream, and V. has a pretzel because she doesn't like ice cream. What kid doesn't like ice cream?! $11
5 p.m — My dad gets home from work, and my mom orders pizza. My parents pay.
8 p.m. — L. and I head out after an evening of playing with our sister and eating. We stop by a convenience store to get waters and gum for the drive ($5.56). E. grabs a buffalo chicken sandwich from a local spot ($12.23) and a soda ($1.38) on his way home from coaching baseball practice. $19.17
9 p.m. — We get home and hang out for a while. I take the pup out, take a shower, do my face routine, and we all go to sleep around 11.
Daily Total: $135.11
Day Two
5 a.m. — I wake up to take the dog out and go back to sleep.
9 a.m. — E. and I sleep in today. When we get out of bed, I make scrambled eggs and toast. We eat that with some grapes while we watch a few episodes of The League.
11:30 a.m. — After we clean up breakfast, we head to the library. E. picks up our books while I sit in the car with the dog. We try to bring him a lot of places because he loves car rides.
12 p.m. — We had to go to the library across town, so by the time we get to our side of town, we are hungry again. We stop at Wendy's. I get chicken nuggets and E. gets a hamburger and a chicken sandwich. We also each get fries and a Frosty. $20.58
1:30 p.m. — I get in the shower and get ready for my office Christmas party. It was originally supposed to be in January, but it was rescheduled for this weekend. Woo-hoo, Christmas in April! I put on a full face of makeup, straighten my hair, and get dressed. E. showers and packs while I primp (we're staying the night at the hotel where the party is happening).
3 p.m. — E. and I crate the dog and head out. My sister will be home in about an hour, so he won't be alone long.
5 p.m. — E. and I check into our hotel room and relax until the party starts.
6 p.m. — The party has started, and I have a vodka tonic from the open bar while we mingle. E. has a beer.
7 p.m. — Dinner is served. I have prime rib, mashed red potatoes, and a side salad. E. has prime rib, braised chicken, mashed potatoes, and a salad. For dessert, we each have a piece of cheesecake.
8 p.m. — The entertainment for the night is a hypnotist, which is always entertaining. I have another vodka tonic while we watch. We're going on a riverboat casino (fancy party!), so E. stops drinking so he can focus on gambling later. We have never gambled before and are pretty excited.
9:30 p.m. — E. and I head downstairs and onto the boat where the casino is. We each grab a beer before we start walking around ($7, plus $3 tip). $10
10 p.m. — I play a few different penny slots and video poker games and have absolutely no luck, so I decide that I am done for the night ($10). That's show business, baby. $10
10:30 p.m. — E. finds a $15 minimum blackjack table and puts a $20 down. After about 15 minutes, he is up $140 so he cashes out. On our way to the cashier, we spot my work friend at a $10 table and E. decides to hop in with him. I grab another beer ($3.50, tip $1.50). $25
12 a.m. — E. seems to be finishing up, so I grab a glass of wine while he decides if he should quit ($4.50, $2 tip). After I drink it, E. decides to cash out, which is probably wise because I am feeling tipsy. Over the course of the night, E. turned his original $20 into $285. We decide that it's probably beginner's luck, so we likely won't return to the casino in the morning. $6.50
12:30 a.m. — E. and I hang out in the hotel room, shower, and watch TV before we crash out around 1:30.
Daily Total: $72.08
Day Three
8:30 a.m. — We wake up slowly. I am feeling the drinks a little more than I expected to, but I guess that's what happens when you drink liquor, beer, and wine all in the same night. We collect all of our belongings and check out.
9:30 a.m. — We stop for McDonald's breakfast on the way home. Fast-food breakfast is our weakness on the weekends. I get a bacon-and-egg sandwich, and E. gets a steak-and-egg sandwich. We both get hash browns and a Diet Coke. $13.55
10 a.m. — We stop for gas off the interstate ($29.25), and I run into the station to get E. some ibuprofen because he has a headache ($2.15). $31.40
12 p.m. — We are finally home and with our precious pup. We do the weekend laundry and clean up so we can veg out the rest of the day.
1:30 p.m. — I head out to get more junk food lunch. We pick Five Guys. I get a cheeseburger and E. gets a cheeseburger with an extra patty. We split an order of fries. $20.78
7 p.m. — We have done nothing all day except watch The League. E. heads out to grab a buffalo chicken pizza for himself and garlic twists for me at a local pizza place ($27.60). We would never eat out three times in one day during a typical week, but E. is super proud of his winnings and wanted to spend a little before we put the rest in our bank account. Junk food and television is one of our favorite pastimes, so this is how he decides to splurge. Love him. $27.60
9 p.m. — We take the pup out for a bedtime stroll, clean up our lazy day mess, take showers, do our nighttime routines, make lunches, and hit the hay around 11.
Daily Total: $93.33
Day Four
5:30 a.m. — My alarm blares and I slowly, slowly roll out of bed.
5:45 a.m. — E. takes the dog out and makes me peanut butter toast while I do my hair, skin care (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer), and put on my work face (foundation, concealer, powder, blush, mascara).
6 a.m. — I leave the pup and E. to play until E. leaves for work. I listen to Crime Junkie and eat my toast on my hour-long commute.
7 a.m. — At my desk, I catch up on weekend news and get to work.
12 p.m. — I finally take a break to eat lunch. I eat in my car today, so I can make phone calls. I work in a very rural area, and I have to drive into town to get reception. I eat celery, carrots, an apple, a banana, and stick of mozzarella while I listen to more Crime Junkie. After I eat, I call the doctor to make an appointment, our apartment complex to set up a time to sign our lease for next year, and the bank to have a new debit card sent to me (I lost my other one and had it locked last week while I looked for it, but I never found it. We use a travel card for all purchases and pay it off every month, so it wasn't a big deal to wait).
12:10 p.m. — E. forgot his lunch at home, so he runs to Burger King on his lunch hour. I guess he is still in a junk food mood. $10.69
3 p.m. — I finish up work for the day and head home. I talk to my mom and listen to the new Murder Squad podcast on the hour-long commute. I'm a huge fan of true crime podcasts, clearly. I am also a fan of Paul Holes's voice.
4 p.m. — Before I get home, I stop at the grocery store to buy ground beef for the chili I'm making tonight ($8.28) and chicken breasts for the chicken enchiladas I'm making on Tuesday ($6.50). The thought of eating meat close to the expiration date really icks me out, so I always try and buy it the day I'm cooking it. $14.78
4:10 p.m. — I check the mail and then get the pup ready for a walk. We walk for about a half hour through the bog near the apartment. I talk to E. on the phone while he drives to his baseball game.
4:45 p.m. — Back at home, I strip my bed and wash all of the sheets and blankets. I also wash the bathroom linens. I empty the dishwasher while the ground beef browns. After the beef is done, I add the rest of the ingredients and leave it to simmer.
5 p.m. — While the chili simmers, I sweep the bedroom floor, make tomorrow's lunches/snacks, and prep chicken enchiladas so that they are ready to bake when I get home tomorrow.
6 p.m. — The chili is done, so my sister and I sit down to eat. We watch an episode of The Act on Hulu.
6:45 p.m. — I clean up dinner and wipe the kitchen counters down. I save a bowl of chili for E. to eat tonight and another for him to take to school for lunch tomorrow. L. and I resume watching The Act.
7:30 p.m. — I decide to shower before E. gets home. L. continues watching The Act and shouts what's happening as I shower. Sisterly love. After E.'s game ends, he stops at Taco Bell for a “light snack” of a mini chicken quesadilla and a bean-and-cheese burrito ($3.10). He's one of those guys that eats more than seems humanly possible but never puts on any weight. $3.10
8:30 p.m. — We're watching yet another episode when I notice the dog is not smelling his freshest. K. and I give him a bath, which he dislikes but allows. He looks like a fluff ball as he zooms around the apartment in an attempt to get dry. I take a few videos capturing his cuteness.
9:30 p.m. — E. finally gets home and eats the chili I made earlier. We all chat and play with the pup a while. I take the pup out at 10:30 p.m., and then we hit the hay after our nighttime routines.
Daily Total: $28.57
Day Five
5:30 a.m. — My alarm goes off, but the pup is quiet and the cuddles are too strong this morning. Snooze.
5:45 a.m. — I am up and rushing. I do my hair, skin care, and work face, and E. makes me some toast. The pup is exhausted this morning. Baths will do that to you, I guess.
6:05 a.m. — I hit the road a little later than usual. I eat my toast and listen to the rest of my Murder Squad episode.
7:02 a.m. — At my desk, I read some news, research the week's weather, and finally get to work.
10 a.m. — My morning is broken up a bit by a hilarious string of texts from my sister describing a nearly failed attempt at making French fries in the oven.
10:15 a.m. — I am already distracted, so I go ahead and place an order on Amazon. I get two dog toys for tough chewers. I get really nervous about the pup swallowing pieces of toys that he chews up, so these put my mind at ease. I also get a bowl for his crate because if he goes too long without food, he gets a bad stomachache. He doesn't stay in his crate too much, but occasionally he'll have to be in there for a few hours. He gets anxious when he can see that no one is home, so being in his crate helps him relax and not have accidents when we're all gone. I also get coconut oil, Swiffer pads, and the Swiffer Wet Jet liquid refills. $49.59
12 p.m. — It is finally lunchtime. I eat celery, carrots, an apple, a banana, and a piece of cheddar for lunch. This is my go-to lunch. If I eat anything heavier, I can't get anything done in the afternoon because I get groggy. I read in the lunch room while I eat.
1 p.m. — I remember I brought Wheat Thins for a snack, so I eat a few of those while I work.
3:05 p.m. — I look up from my computer, and it's time to go home! On my drive home I call my mom, and we chat for a while.
4 p.m. — I check the mail and take the pup outside when I get home. After, I do the dishes and sweep the floors.
4:30 p.m. — E. has been extra tired from teaching and coaching this season, so I decide to make him a treat. He loves no-bake cookies, so I go with that. The warm cookie mixture is impossible to resist, so I take a few bites while the cookies cool.
5:30 p.m. — I throw the enchiladas I prepped yesterday in the oven. I read while I wait for them to cook. They finish right as E. gets home from practice, and we eat while we catch up on our days.
6:30 p.m. — It's super nice outside, so we walk the dog to a dog park near our house. There are no other dogs there, but the pup has a great time chasing his ball and sniffing around. When we get home, I take my shower while E. cleans up dinner and takes the trash out.
7:15 p.m. — We sit down to watch The League while we eat no-bake cookies. I end up falling asleep on the couch after a couple of episodes. I don't wake up until around 10, when my sister gets home from work. It's E.'s turn to make lunches, so he does that while I do my nighttime routine and then we go to bed.
Daily Total: $49.59
Day Six
5:10 a.m. — I'm up early because I have a few things to do before work. I do my hair, skin care, and makeup while E. takes care of the dog and makes toast. I promise E.'s culinary skills go far beyond toast, but it's the only thing I can stomach this early. I am out the door by 5:30.
5:35 a.m. — I stop to get gas after I leave ($28.69). Then I stop at the ATM to deposit a reimbursement check that E. got from his school for paying for umpires at a baseball game last week. I also swing through Starbucks for a London Fog ($4.76). I try and only drink coffee on the weekends, because it makes me too jittery to focus at work. $33.45
6:50 a.m. — I look at the news and get to work on my current project.
12 p.m. — It's finally lunchtime. I eat my usual celery, carrots, apples, and cheese. I ran out of bananas, so I run to the local grocery store to get a new bundle as well as a pack of gum. $3.94
12:45 p.m. — On Wednesdays, E. has a long lunch break, so he and his work friend trade off buying food. It's E.'s turn this week, and they get burritos at a local restaurant. $18.58
2:40 p.m. — I leave a little early today, because the dog has a vet appointment right at 4. I talk to my mom on the phone while I drive.
3:40 p.m. — I scoop up the pup and we head to the vet. The appointment is only to take some stitches out, so there is no charge. I stop at a grocery store nearby and get some Italian sausage. I decide to drive across town to go to Pet Smart, too. Kong crate pads are on sale, and we need something durable since our boy has decided that he's a chewer. $45.25
5:30 p.m. — I make lasagna when I get home and put it in the oven. While it bakes, I shower and clean the bathroom. I like to cook and clean a lot to slow my thoughts down and keep my anxiety manageable.
6:45 p.m. — My sister and I eat while we watch The Act. When E. gets home from practice, he eats and we change over to The Wire. We clean up dinner and take the dog for a short walk.
8:30 p.m. — My sister gets ice cream for everyone. I have a peanut butter sundae. After I eat it, I fall asleep on the couch while they watch a few more episodes.
11 p.m. — E. wakes me up so I can do my night routine and go to bed.
Daily Total: $101.22
Day Seven
5:40 a.m. — I slowly wake up. I am not happy about it. I do my usual routine, and E. makes me some toast. I'm on the road by 6:05, listening to My Favorite Murder.
7 a.m. — At work, I chat with a coworker for a while and slowly get back to work on my project that's due at the end of the month.
12 p.m. — It is finally lunchtime. I talk with a coworker in the lunchroom for so long that I only manage to eat my carrots and celery. They probably think I'm a rabbit. I take the rest of my lunch into my office and eat my apple and crackers with turkey and cheese while I work.
3:15 p.m. — I leave the office for the day and talk to my mom on the phone while I drive.
4:10 p.m. — When I get home I take the pup out, empty the dishwasher, and make myself a baked potato. E. eats leftovers when he gets home, and I get ready to meet my friend for drinks downtown.
6 p.m. — E. drops me off downtown, and I get a pineapple margarita. My friend has a vodka cranberry, and we decide to split an order of chips with salsa, queso, and guacamole dipping options. I'm the type of girl who needs several dipping options.
8:45 p.m. — My friend and I wrap up our evening pretty early, since it's a weeknight. We both end the night with a glass of wine. I pick up the bill, since she's still a college student. I remember that struggle too well ($37.81 plus $11 tip). My friend walks home and E. picks me up. What an angel. $48.81
10 p.m. — By this time I am showered, through my nighttime routine, and in bed. Capping the night with a glass of wine always makes me ridiculously tired. I knock out almost immediately.
Daily Total: $48.81
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No shade to the classic ring finger, but the accent nail is finding a new home this spring. Playful, practical, and with way more real estate to get creative, thumbs are the latest hot spot to go wild with nail art — and one scroll through Instagram is proof.
From minimalist yellow smiley faces to heart-shaped embroidery, nail pros are turning to thumbs to show off their most intricate creations. "With everyone posting close-ups of their hands on Instagram, thumbnail art has recently taken off," says Olive & June founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle. And nail pro Jessica Washick echos that the thumbnail accent is a subtle way to upgrade any simple manicure. "You can be as expressive as you want on your thumbs," she explains. "And then, you still have the classic look of a polished manicure on every other fingernail."
The last time we saw a similar trend take off was in the early aughts when "Blackberry Bling " was all the rage. And while we sadly can't bring back our Sidekicks, this might be the next best thing. Scroll through for the coolest takes on the thumbnail accent, and wonder why you ever resorted to the ring finger in the first place.
We love the cheerful simplicity of this smiley face design. If you don't have a steady hand, just use a sticker.
In-the-know nail pro Hang Nguyen combines two major spring trends — hearts and floral accents — in a look she calls "wearing my heart on my thumb."
A lot of people say that Brie Larson became the busiest actor in Hollywood only after her breakout role in the 2015 film Room. But we'd say that Larson has been busy long before she won her Best Actress Oscar. Check her resume and you'll notice that not only has Larson been in show business since she was a child, but she's been working nonstop for almost two decades.
Now, the 29-year-old has landed the role of Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, the first female-led superhero film for Marvel. And since that's no small feat — even in the wake of DC Comics' Wonder Woman released by Warner Bros. — we decided to take a trip down memory lane. Turns out, Larson has come a long way since the humble beginnings of her preteen career. We also learned that, once upon a time, Larson was signed to the same record label as Lindsay Lohan.
In the midst of a steep climb to mainstream fame, Larson also experienced one impressive glow-up. From early '00s pigtail braids to award winning updos, Larson's beauty evolution is something no one should miss, whether you remember her as "Six Chick #3" in 30 Going On 30 or not.
You may think you know Larson from her interviews and relatable Instagram posts, but nothing makes the actress more approachable than the fact that she, too, tried this piece-y bang trend in 2002.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage.
We have to admit that for an up-and-coming, 14-year-old actress, Larson’s blonde highlights in 2003 were so good, we’d copy them tomorrow.
Photo: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images.
Braids and a bandana accessory were perfectly on brand for t he Home on the Range premiere in 2004.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage.
Remember two-toned hair? Larson does. In fact, she rocked the style in 2006. She certainly fit the image of an early noughties pop star, right?
Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images.
Not even Larson was immune to the appeal of extensions and side bangs in 2007.
Photo: M. Tran/FilmMagic.
This romantic, textured updo is from 2010’s Outfest Legacy Awards, but it’s one of our top looks for the young star.
Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage.
In 2011, Larson arrived to the ELLE Women in Television event with the kind of gritty waves only Courtney Love could create, or two whole bottles of Ouai Texture Spray.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
Larson proves there’s never a wrong time to add an accessory. Sure, this undone look may have been experimental for the actress, but with the addition of matching lip and cheek tint, it feels grown-up and polished.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic.
This wasn’t the first time Larson appeared at a premiere without a stitch of makeup on (save for some tinted lip balm). More often than not, Larson ditches full-glam makeup altogether — this look from 2013 just happens to be one of our faves.
Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic.
Whenever the Met Gala rolls around, our eyes are normally peeled for two people: Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker. But maybe we should add Larson to that list next May. In 2014, she attended the Charles James-themed ball with a structured updo that paid homage to the sculptural and mathematical approach James often took with his designs.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
If you haven’t noticed already, Larson is never afraid to test out a new hair color trend. She rocked this rich brunette for part of 2015 — and it's giving us all the cold-brew vibes for fall.
Photo: George Pimentel/Getty Images.
Larson swept awards season for her role in Room in 2016. Although, we bet her princess updos and classic makeup choices would've been a hit with or without the gold statues.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Just a few months later, Larson went lighter than ever with this golden shade of blonde at the 2016 LACMA Art & Film Gala. The only thing better than the new dye job was Larson’s risk-taking smoky makeup and blue waterline liner.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
She wasn’t nominated for an Oscar in 2017, but she did show up to the red carpet to win the (unofficial) beauty award in that cherry-red lip and ‘80s wavy brush back.
Of course, Larson would reveal the teaser trailer for Captain Marvel at the National Air & Space Museum with the kind of volume that's out of this world.
Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images.
For the UK gala screening of Captain Marvel in February 2019, Larson bleached her hair and swept it into a loose updo that basically says, "Prepare to see me kick some ass."
