my clean makeup favorites

I WAS A VERY girlie girl growing up and probably imagined myself sailing through my adult life with perfectly coiffed hair and a perfectly lined lip. I still have that fantasy on occasion, but… my casual, active lifestyle just doesn’t really call for it and I’m usually in a pretty minimalist, ‘natural’ state. I mostly choose to focus that girlie energy and long-standing clean beauty obsession on my skin and skincare [and the 11 lip glosses I always have in my bag]. That said, I do use some pretty things when I want to get gussied up to go out or sometimes just because it’s fun to be a little extra. I try out a lot of makeup even though I don’t use it everyday. It’s just fun and I guess some of that girlie girl love of makeup is still thriving inside, even if it doesn’t always show on my lids and lashes. I love to stay up on the latest clean brands and trends, plus I learn a lot from the cutie teen girls in my life.

SO HERE are my current favorites for cheeks, lips and lashes. If you manage to sail through your life with perfectly coiffed hair and a perfectly lined lip, please do share how you do it, there’s still time for me to make my 12-year-old self extra proud. And to learn more about the skincare I love, check out My Clean Beauty Favorites for a BIG list. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

My Clean Makeup Favorites

+ Ok, I recognize that sunscreen does NOT qualify as makeup to normal people, but I LOVE Tower28’s Sunny Days SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen and I wear it everyday for some light coverage. It’s about as close as I get to a daily ‘foundation’ type product, so it’s ON the list. It’s a broad-spectrum SPF formula that comes in 14 shades [I like Ocean Park]. It goes on smooth, doesn’t feel heavy or greasy and doesn’t get all caught up in my wrinkles. It leaves my skin looking even and maintains the moisture that it so badly needs. It’s basically awesome. + $32

+ This Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is the closest I get to a foundation. It’s awesome. The coverage is light, but enough for me, and it’s super hydrating so it doesn’t settle into my wrinkles and make them look worse like some products do. It comes in like 87 shades, so you’ll def find one that works for you. I hoped when it launched that it could act as my daily SPF, but it’s just a bit too thick for that, especially when I’m working out + sweating. But for a low maintenance makeup person, this is perfection. + $48

+ I love a multitool and this Gen See Clean Sheen Cheek + Lip is versatile, so pretty and easy to use. It’s buildable and blendable and a little goes a long way. I like Lychee for my complexion, just a little dab on the cheeks and a swipe on the lips and I’m ready to go. + $24

+ I love this Ilia Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter + Lip Tint so much. It can be as subtle or pop-y as you like, it doesn’t get stuck in my wrinkles and it comes in a ton of pretty colors for every skin tone. It’s easy to apply, too, and doesn’t stain. I use Dreamer on cheeks and lips and it’s perfect for me. + $36

+ Saie is a gorgeous clean beauty brand that combines sophistication with accessibility. I really love their Glossybounch Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil and SuperSuede Powder Blush. I have the Dew Blush on my list. The lip shades look super bright, but they’re sheer and blend perfectly when they’re on. People also love the Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer SPF, but I haven’t tried it yet. It’s all super clean and lovely. +

+ Ok, this Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara won the Allure Best of Beauty award BEFORE it even launched and has since become a bit of a cult favorite and I think it’s totally deserved. Tower28 is formulated for sensitive skin and this def doesn’t mess with my super sensitive eyes. I love the silky, lightweight formula and the applicator, which combine to give you a super smooth and not at all clumpy look. LOVE it. + $20

+ I love the way this Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara doesn’t clump up my lashes. It goes on really smoothly because the unique brush has a different pattern on each side, one that lets you lift and separate while applying. It also has a bunch of super nourishing ingredients and it doesn’t bother my sensitive eyes. Love it. + $28

+ Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm ticks all of the boxes for me and my fussy lip needs. It has no bothersome taste or smell, isn’t sticky or tacky, has universally flattering colors and is super hydrating even after wearing it for a while. I have Cool Beige and it’s a pretty, neutral with enough hint of color for me. + $38

+ Love the Tower28 LipSofties even though they actually violate one of top my lip goo rules - they smell. But yummy. Not in a saccharine sweet Lip Smacker kind of way, but in a subtle, yummy way. Dulce de Leche and Red Bean Mochi are my favorites. They’re both super pretty neutrals. And the SOS clear balm is in my car, bag or pocket at the ready at ALL times. I also love Tower28 ShineOn Lip Jelly [love Pistachio]. + $16

+ I also love this Exa All Smiles Universal Glow Lip Oil. It’s not sticky, doesn’t smell, has a little hint of shimmer and is super hydrating. The colors looks wild, but they’re sheer and pretty. LOVE it. + $15

+ Kosas’ Wet Lip Oil Gloss is super hydrating and not sticky or stinky, so… I love it. It’s intended to ‘plump’ but I can’t make that claim, I don’t notice a difference. I will say it doesn’t feel all bee-stingy like some plumping glosses [personally do NOT like that feeling] and instead just feels really nourishing. Unhooked is an everyday go-to shade for a no-fuss, but put together vibe. + $24

BUY FROM KOSAS or FROM SEPHORA

double maple mummy cookies

SO PART of me can’t believe it’s almost Halloween and the other part is like ‘didn’t we do that 3 weeks ago?’ Maybe it’s because there has been Halloween stuff in the stores since July or because our weather has been so spectacular that it still feels like we’re tiptoeing away from Summer. In any case, my boys had their last Flag Football games of the season yesterday and it felt like treats were in order, so I figured I’d stick with the spooky theme until the bitter end. I saw these Runamok x Lenox Bakery Maple Mummy Cookies the other day and they looked so fun + yummy [and EASY]. And it turns out they are even better [and easier] than I expected, like SO so delicious that we might need to just give them all away. My boys were gushing and my little woke up this morning asking if he could have a cookie for breakfast [um, no, but I love the enthusiasm for my baking]. And if you leave off the goofy eyeballs, they’d be a fantastic treat anytime of the year, like maybe right next to the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

THIS RECIPE calls for Runamok maple syrup, but obvs use whatever kind you like. I will say, the Cinnamon + Vanilla infusion I used in the glaze was next level and I’m guessing any of Runamok’s Infused [Cardamom would be amazing] or Barrel Aged syrups would be super delicious. I modified the original recipe slightly to accommodate my family’s dietary needs and it worked perfectly. SO, if you still need a fun + scrumptious treat for this season or the next [or the next], give these little mummies a whirl and enjoy eating them with your favorite ghouls + ghosts [or little turkeys]. xo

Double Maple Mummy Cookies Recipe

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE cookies…

• 1/2 cup butter

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup [I used Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut]

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

• 2 1/3 cup flour (I use King Arthur Measure for Measure GF)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• candy eye balls

FOR THE glaze…

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/3 cup maple syrup [ I used Runamok Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused]

• 1-2 teaspoons milk (I used almond, but you could probs just use water, too)

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350

• With a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and light brown sugar

• Add in the eggs, maple syrup + vanilla

• Mix in the flour + baking soda

• Line a baking sheet with parchment and scoop the batter into little ping pong-sized balls

• Bake for about 10 minutes or until they have just started to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven to let cool. 

• Make the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, maple syrup and milk until well combined, then drizzle it on the cookies to make the cutie mummies. I started with 1 tsp of almond milk and then added a bit more to thin it enough for drizzling.

• Add the candy eyeballs if you’re making mummies

• Gobble them up with your favorite ghosts and ghouls [or little turkeys]

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pretty fall entertaining

I LOVE TO entertain any time of the year, but there’s something special about gathering in a cozy, beautiful space when the leaves start to fall and the temperature drops. I guess it’s my nesting instinct kicking in or me wanting to hold on to the beauty of the season before the holiday rush comes barreling at us, but something just makes want to create a warm spot to host friends and family to gather with big hearty bowls of soup and gooey treats. With that in mind, I’ve ‘gathered’ some really inspired, beautiful handmade things from Etsy that have me ready to invite all of you lovelies over for a warm meal. The rich texture, color and natural beauty of the season begs for handmade and there’s no better one-stop-shop for beautiful things made with love than Etsy. They’d all be gorgeous on your own table any day of the year and they’d also make stunning holiday or host/ess gifts if you’re lucky enough to be invited somewhere cozy for a warm bowl of hearty soup. You can also see Etsy’s own picks for Fall Decor Essentials for more ideas. Enjoy, lovelies. I’ll save you a seat. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Pretty Fall Entertaining

>> 194 Gift House hand-makes some really unique and stunning Wooden Salad Servers and little serving spoons in several pretty shapes. >> $17.99

>> These Leaf Name Tags are such a pretty detail and allow you to decide where everyone sits at the table. After dinner, they can either be saved for next year or given to your guests as party favors. They come in a bunch of pretty leaf shapes, too. >> $4.50

>> These smooth concrete Pumpkin Tea Light Holders would be so pretty on a table or in the bathroom >> $19.99

>> The ornate detail of these handmade Acorn Jars is so beautiful. They come in 4 different sizes to store anything from salt to cookies. >> from $48

>> Lovely cotton flour sack Block Printed Napkins will add such a pretty touch to your table. >> $40

>> I love the little pop of color these hand-made Concrete Salt Cellars add to the table. >> $14.50

>> Ooh I love the organic edge of this hand-built Rustic Ceramic Serving Bowl, It would be a serious show-stopper on your table. >> $65

>> These Brass Salad Servers are hand-forged from solid brass in Nova Scotia and GORGEOUS, I love the unique, pretty shape [she makes really pretty jewelry, too]. >> $125

>> I love the unique proportion of these handmade Short Taper Candles and the colors are perfect for fall. >> $25

>> These Natural Sisal Placemats are hand-braided and beautiful on a table for the holidays or any other day of the year. >> $45

MORE IN… holidays + special occasions

gifts i love: geometry

GEOMETRY’S towels are undeniably gorgeous and you know I’m a total sucker for pretty things, but I assure you that’s not even close to their best quality. Aside from brightening up my kitchen, they’re also super duper soft and quick-drying, which keeps them from getting that gross musty smell that my cotton kitchen towels cling to even after being washed. And they’re super absorbent, actually soaking up water instead of just pushing it around. PLUS they’re made entirely from recycled post-consumer materials, diverting all kinds of crud from the landfill, which is a total win-win. Because of the enormous selection of prints, they are a seriously gorgeous gift for just about everyone, including teachers, therapists, yoga instructors, book club members, mothers-in-law, pet-sitters, neighbors and hosts [or yourself, of course]. In case you’re not familiar with Geometry’s awesome lineup, I’ve outlined my favorite products for you, but you really can’t go wrong. Use code Darcie15 to save 15% off your Geometry order any day of the year. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Geometry Products I Love

TEA TOWELS: Ok, for all the reasons I just shared, I have almost entirely replaced my whole dish towel collection with Geometry Tea Towels and banished the old ones to the bike wash station in our garage. The Bar Towels are same-same, just a little bit smaller if that’s a better option for your space. And they introduced Double-Sided Tea Towels that have a different print on either side, they’re super cute.

DISHCLOTHS: I love the pretty little Geometry Dishcloths for all kinds of uses. They’re such a nice size for things like soaking up the water from a colander of dripping berries, wiping down counters and even as little napkins. They have some mixed sets with different prints or some all the same and either way, they’re a perfect little gift for just about anyone.

WASHCLOTHS: I loathe using those crunchy over-bleached washcloths on my face when we travel, so I started bringing my own. Geometry’s Waffle Washcloths and Luxe Washcloths are super compact, soft and dry fast. Plus they’re pretty. I have and love both.

BEACH BLANKETS + TOWELS: Whether you’re headed to the beach, pool. picnic, camping or your backyard sprinklers, Geometry Beach Blankets and Towels are perfect. They come in a ton of super cute prints, dry quickly and fold up small for easy transport.

FITNESS TOWELS: I keep a Geometry Fitness Towel in my car for post-sweaty hikes and runs. I mop my drippy forehead and lean on it so I don’t get stinky sweat on my seat and then jam it back into my center console when I’m done. Don’t judge, I promise it doesn’t smell AT ALL and is like brand new the next time I need it. It’s incredibly durable and the quick-drying, anti-stink nature of it is pretty darn awesome. They also make a Yoga Towel that goes over your mat to keep it clean and dry. It has a grippy backside to keep it in place and the same quick-drying, anti-stink properties. AND a Magna Towel that sticks magnetically to the equipment at the gym, keeping it off the grody floor. They’re all fantastic gifts for your favorite sporty teen, gym rat, golfer or yogi.

NAPKINS: I have used only cloth napkins in our house for the last 20 years. I just pop them in the laundry with the kitchen towels and I feel good about not wasting paper napkins. Geometry Dinner Napkins are soft and absorbent and the edges don’t curl up when I wash them like my weathered cotton ones do. I have friends who iron their cloth napkins [I’m looking at you, O], but I for sure can’t be bothered with that, so these are perfect.

BATH TOWELS: I love the Waffle Bath Towels, too. They’re pretty, very lightweight and dry quickly. We have the Dusty Rose color and it’s subtle and neutral and really pretty in our bathroom. They’re an awesome gift for grads or newlyweds or anyone launching out into the world on their own.

DOG TOWELS: I have gifted a few of the super adorable Geometry Plush Dog Towels and Paw Towels to favorite pooches. The Plush Towels are a really nice size for the car or couch and are super duper soft and fuzzy. Of course, the whole collection features the same awesome prints you’d expect from Geometry. They make such a great gift for the dogs and dog-lovers in your life.

GIFTS, OF COURSE: I love gifting Geometry Towels to friends, family, teachers and hosts. Seriously EVERYONE can use a new pretty towel [or like 10] so you really can’t go wrong.

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thanksgiving + autumn books

THANKSGIVING is such a lovely holiday. I mean, a day reserved just for cooking and eating with family and friends is a total winner in my book. I love hearing about other family’s traditions and the dishes they HAVE to have on their holiday table [def sweet potatoes with marshmallows here]. Plus there’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Westminster Dog Show and football… I love it all.

IT FEELS to me like the wealth of super amazing books that perfectly illustrate the lovely tradition and sentiment of Thanksgiving are a bit trickier to find than with some other holidays. Maybe it’s something to do with an adorable [only in books] farm animal being eaten at the end or the controversial history of the holiday that just makes it tough to honor properly? BUT, never fear, I totally have you covered. Our little family def has a few really beloved favorites that are meaningful and funny or sweet and help start a conversation about gratitude and enjoying family and friends [plus a few more that I have my eye on]. I also included a few really lovely books about nature and the magical season change. As always, if you know of some Turkey Day gems, please share them in the comments so we can add to our collection. And Happy Thanksgiving, lovelies. I’m so grateful for you. xo

thanksgiving + autumn books for kids

> Bear Says Thanks is our hands-down FAVORITE Thanksgiving book. We really love the whole series of ‘Bear’ books, they’re all so charming and lovely. And the perfect lilting rhyming aside, this is just the sweetest story and it beautifully captures the real spirit of the holiday.

> ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving is such a cute + FUNNY book from the creator of the super popular Dog Man and Captain Underpants series’. It follows the rhyming structure of its original counterpart, but has a VERY different ending. See what happens when a class full of kids on a farm field trip discover the fate of their new feathered friends. And of course Dav Pilkey’s illustrations are so fun and whimsical.

> Fans of Bruce will love this wee, funny Thanks for Nothing. The mice are SO thankful for everything that they accidentally leave nothing left to celebrate with.

> Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie is a super inclusive, interesting and cool story that both teaches you about the origin of some of your favorite Thanksgiving desserts AND gently encourages ‘particular’ kids to try something new.

> Holly's Thanksgiving Wish is a super cute book about following your dreams with the loving support and encouragement of family and friends. It has a fun rhyming style and adorable illustrations.

> Poor Fletcher is concerned about all of the leaves falling from the trees. When winter comes he gets a sweet surprise in Fletcher and the Falling Leaves.

> Learn about the puppeteer who invented the original balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Balloons Over Broadway. With incredibly detailed collage illustrations, this cool book really shows the genius behind the beloved tradition.

> I love Tomie dePaola [I mean, who doesn’t?]. Strega Nona was one of my absolute favorite books growing up. Strega Nona's Harvest has the beloved Italian grandmother teaching you about the season’s bounty and what it takes to get there.

> I am Thankful is an inclusive book about the true spirit of gratitude. It also includes a little section to practice your own gratitude.

> A sweet simple story about gratitude for nature that ends with all the ingredients needed for you to make an apple cake at home. Apple Cake: A Gratitude is super sweet for littles especially.

> The Leaf Thief is just about the cutest way ever to learn about the changing of the seasons. The illustrations are so adorable.

> Cynthia Rylant is known for her poetic + peaceful stories. In November is about nature’s seasonal cycles, people gathering together and family.

> Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn is such a sweet celebration of nature in all of its transitional glory.

> Thanks for Thanksgiving is a cute, simple book that highlights everyday things to be grateful for, like puppies and piggyback rides and rain boots. But MOSTLY for family. There’s a page in the back for kids to write their own list of things they’re thankful for, too.

> Ok Peppa Pig Day of Giving Thanks is just adorable. It’s a super sweet story about being thankful for the little things in nature. The end is pure Peppa and very cute, especially for little fans of the Pig family.

> The Scarecrow is a really precious story of unlikely friendship and defying expectations. The illustrations are very detailed but serene.

> Turkey is terrified when Moose comes looking for him for Thanksgiving dinner. A Turkey for Thanksgiving is a sweet story about friendship and a big misunderstanding.

> We are So Thankful is a guided gratitude journal that provides prompts for you to talk about what you’re grateful for each day.

> In true Peanuts style, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is about friendship and being together with a few of the gang’s silly snafus and life lessons along the way.

> Gratitude is my Superpower teaches kids that happiness is about simple things like family and friends and that gratitude is always in their hearts.

MORE IN… little kids + big kids