Monday Musings: I’m Ready For Cozy
Fall arrived over the weekend, and I’m digging into all the cozy feelings. My daughter and I hit several yarn stores over the weekend so we could start new projects.
New Project
I haven’t had the best luck with my knitting projects lately. I’ve been knitting for 53 years, but lately, something always seems to go wrong. Either the gauge is off, so they’re too small (rookie mistake) or I decide the color I’ve chosen is quite possibly the most unflattering color ever. But since I knit for the process rather than the product, I’m always game to try again. My daughter and I have decided to knit this Novice Cardigan designed by PetiteKnits. This particular pattern calls for mohair, but after holding multiple skeins against our necks, we both decided that it was too scratchy for us. We decided to use this Berocco Vintage DK, which gives us the same gauge as 2 strands of mohair held together. I’ve made many complicated patterns over the years but my daughter is learning, so it’ll be fun to knit the same pattern together.
5 New To Me Beauty Products
As I finish up makeup, I like to try new ones. I have been looking to replace my favorite Clinique Airbrush concealer for several years since it has been discontinued. I’ve tried no less than eight different replacement concealers, all of which looked great in the store but did not work in daylight. My daughter introduced me to a new HausLabs concealer, which is a new brand to me. It’s a clean beauty brand, and vegan and cruelty free. I wear the 03 Fair Rosey which is not only pale enough for me, but more importantly, cool enough for my skin tone. It gives great coverage but doesn’t look cakey.
I bought this Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer during the Nsale, and I love it! It’s hard to believe my skin requires a tint this pale, but any darker looks like mud on the sides of my face. It only has a 15 SPF which I’d never rely on for coverage so I layer it over my sunscreen and concealer. It’s lightweight but provides just the right amount of coverage for me.
I’ve been looking for a mascara that’s not as dark as black or as warm as brown, so I was thrilled to discover this Jolie Sensitive Eyes Mascara. I bought the deep navy which doesn’t look blue, just soft and deep navy. It’s hypoallergenic and non-clumping, as well as paraben-free.
My new Urban Decay eye shadow (color: tease) is a cool taupe. I bought it to supplement my six shade, eyeshadow palette. I don’t know about you, but I always finish the mid-tone shadow in my palletes first, so this will help me get more use out of the rest of the pallete. It’s not exactly the same color as the mid-tone shade in my Urban Decay Naked 2 Nudes palette, but it’s close enough.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Air Brush Flawless Setting Spray helps to improve the longevity and staying power of your make up. I bought this last week in Dallas, when I knew I’d be outside in 96 degree, humid temps and didn’t want my makeup to melt off. Its rich in aloe, green tea, and vitamins – in order to hydrate your skin. The guy at the counter recommended you could also use this before your make up. It’s supposed to make your make up last sixteen hours without fading. Its a step that frankly I haven’t used in the past, but has always intrigued me.
Family Recipes
This Sunday we decided to make a top secret and beloved family recipe…my husband’s Italian grandmother’s spaghetti and meatballs. This recipe is a thing of legends in our home. It’s always been everyone’s favorite birthday meal request, or a Christmas eve delicacy and is affectionately known as liquid gold by my children.
Making it is an all-day affair. We start chopping vegetables during our first morning cup of coffee. My daughter came over to learn while we made it today so we’ve had multiple batches simmering on the stove all day. This sauce takes at least seven or eight hours to simmer to perfection. It’s the first time we cooked it in our new apartment, and we realized there are a few utensils we’re missing. The stove gets trashed, as does most of the kitchen as the pot simmers and bubbles up all day.
Do you have a top secret or favorite family recipe? If so, what is it?
I have a sugar cookie recipe that is a family secret. One person besides my family has it. My daughters come out close. But my 8 year old granddaughter mastered it this summer all on her own. Her goal was to make them as good as grandma’s. She is pretty close!
That’s awesome!
I loved knitting most of my life until my arthritis just got too bad to do it. My granddaughter Jennifer is the only knitter so far out of 7 children and 17 grandchildren. Maybe she will teach her daughter, Raelyn who is 14 now. We have fall weather for a few days and I’m back in jeans. I love your mixed email blog!
From last week’s post about John Hardy earrings, I was able to snag a pair of 1-1/4″ silver cable earrings for $200 and they are perfect!
Amazing! I have one pair of John Hardy earrings that were a gift many, many years ago, and I treasure them.
My favorite tinted moisturizer is DRMTLGY spf 46. I have very pale skin, sometimes flairs of Rosacea on my cheeks. This moisturizer gives great coverage. For everyday I use it instead of foundation. Great post all around…..here in the Bay Area, we’ll be in our hello Fall, lets pretend it’s Summer weather high 90’s to 100’s.. enjoy Vancouver…
I will have to try that. I’ve read loys of good things about DRMTLGY and I’m very curious. Thanks for the recommnedation. Which shade do you wear?
DRMTLGY comes in one shade, a light beige, but it just blends into my skin tone..I don’t know how they do it……I get mine on Amazon, and the under eye concealer is incredible. A little dab goes a long way……I get a slightly dewy look , compliments all the time…..
Okay! Thanks Nancy. I’ll order some.
I also like this DRMTLGY SPF 46 moisturizer. I’m very fair and it adjusts and even looks good on my skin, adding a tint that looks natural and healthy. I put a tiny bit of my daytime moisturizer underneath it, to keep the skin reasonably moist whether there is summer sun or dry indoor heat.
Your post brought back some wonderful memories. My mother was a knitter and used to make us lovely sweaters and I even remember a zip up cardigan with a reindeer motif! Unfortunately I never had the patience to learn. We had an Italian neighbour that taught us how to make real Italian sauce with meatballs – and that was also simmering for many hours and was delicious. I’ll have to ask my sister if she has the recipe. My fall comfort dinner is shepherds pie – to which I add asiago cheese to the mashed potatoes. Yummy, but very rich.
Our weather has been more like July than September, so I still haven’t put away my summer linens.
Have a great Week Jennifer.
My mother used to make Shepherds Pie when I was a little girl. The cheese would be a yummy addition. I hope you have a fabuous week my friend. xo
Hi Jennifer. I seem to be having trouble posting comments. So here goes. That recipe looks yummy.
Any advice for fall make up colours
In particular foundation, blush and lipstick? I’m in Victoria and fall is here!
I don’t change my makeup colors with the season. Maybe I should! I do add deeper lipsticks around the holidays when I wear more black.
Thank you. I tend to go a little darker in the fall. Plus less blond highlights in my hair. However we should do what we are comfortable with . You always look great.
I have a delicious spaghetti and meatballs recipe too! Also a great chili recipe. I agree that simmering low and slow makes them really yummy!
Honestly, it’s the simmer time that makes all the difference.
I have had the Pikolinos booties you highlighted for two years. They are very comfortable! So much so I got the blue ones, too! Really enjoy your blog!
Okay Lady, such a tease! Are you going to share the recipe with your devoted readers? lol
Lol, it’s not magical. I’m not a food blogger by a long shot so I’ll write it down and share with my subscribers.
I love that you share the love of knitting with your daughter! I was actually just reflecting on how my grandma and mother passed on to me their love of needle crafts. Now I get to teach my grandchildren. It is a gift of special time together and sharing.
It is such a special time. How wonderful to teach your grandchildren.
Oooh, can this secret family recipe be shared with your readers? We promise to keep your secret. 🤫 I love a good spaghetti sauce.
It’s great that you have an apartment in Vancouver and can spend so much time with your daughter. It’s precious time. My daughter lives in Ontario. We have such fun times but her life is there and I don’t want to leave the laid back lifestyle and weather of Vancouver Island.
I’ll write it down to share but I promise it’s not magical.
Vancouver Island is magical so I totally understand. We loved the lifestyle there too
I recently had my colors done and was told I should use brown mascara. So far it has been hard to find. I tried a MAC mascara that made my eyes burn and the Better Than Sex one that is thick and clumpy. I should have known that because I tried the BTS black a few years ago and hated it for the same reason. If anyone can recommend a good, non clumpy non flakey brown mascara I would love to know. I have already wasted about $60.
Try L’Oréal. They make fabulous mascara
Lancome has a brown mascara which I’ve recently gone to. I’ve discovered that black on me is much too harsh.
Hi Pam, I use a lot of Shisedo products, including their mascara. The main thing with that is I must use one stroke because it will clump because a little goes a long way! My eyes are very sensitive… so if nothing else works, maybe try this!
Lancôme Définicils is a great mascara with a brown color option. I.ve been using it for years with no complaints.
It’s always good to hear about new makeup choices. We have a similar family recipe marinara sauce from my brother in-laws mother. She made many Italian recipes but this is the best sauce. My son has now been making it in our family. Sounds like the same simmering all day process but so worth it.
Agreed, the simmering time is what’s makes the tomato purée turn into sauce.
Do we get the recipe that you have us drooling for?
It’s extremely simple but the simmering time (7 hours yesterday) is what makes it yummy. I’ll try to write it down. Mine seems to change a bit each time I make it.
I can’t click on the brown booties on the opening page. Can you give the info please.
The ones from the email are here
I love knitting too and have multiple projects always cast on cause sometimes I just don’t want to think really hard😵💫. Most of my knitting now is for charity and I take such joy in making hats for homeless, blankets for emergency services and even simple items like soap sacks for the shelters. The sweater pattern is lovely and so is the yarn – I may have to join you and your daughter and kit it up! Hope you post updates on your progress and the finished products!
I like to have several projects going with different size needles because it cuts down on hand fatigue too.
I guess you’re not going to share the recipe….
Such a sweet family tradition!
It wouldn’t seem impressive or special to anyone but us. I think mine is a teeny bit different each time I make it.
I had to laugh when you said you call the family sauce recipe liquid gold – the same thing we call my family’s pasta sauce recipe. Not a drop is ever wasted!
Exactly! The pot isn’t licked clean but it’s scraped of every drop!
What a fab varied post. I particularly like it that your daughter is learning to knit and help you cook the special family recipe. I think a lot of the ‘old’ recipes and crafts that we were taught as children seem to be disappearing. My friend is the best knitter ever she has perfect tension and thankfully her 40 yr old daughter wants to learn from her mother.
Love the colour and texture of the wool and the pattern . Goodluck with your project. It will be good to see the finished garment.
Loved your new Urban Decay eyeshadow, and your well used ones . Nice soft colours .I don’t really have a favourite family recipe but if I make the sauce meals I use my slow cooker , less stove trashing lol.
Hey thanks again for varied post.
Pamela UK
I’ve never used a slow cooker but it sounds like I need one. My stove will take lots of elbow grease to get clean again! The first try didn’t get it all 🤣
Good luck on your sweater project! I am an intermittent knitter. A favorite aunt taught me as a child, and I return to it every few years. Most of my projects are for charity, usually hats. Have decided to
move on to an interesting scarf pattern this fall and then try again on socks.
An heirloom recipe of spaghetti and meatballs is a true gift.
Our favorite treat comfort food is chicken pot pie from scratch. Have to plan ahead for it. Not just the prep, but avoiding carbs for a few days before!
I love a great chicken pot pie!