randoms.

so, i'd like to throw some things i've found recently, out there.

just in case you think they are neat.

like this:

is this where posh, grown-up games of beer pong happen?

i would give lots of stuff for this to wind up being in my backyard.

i love it in lots of ways. for lots of reasons.

and because i'm nothing if not predictable, i have a photo i snapped this weekend of the bouquets strewn around my house. this one is on the front table, as soon as you walk in the door...

so sorry it's messy. i didn't clean up before i took it.

it's where the mail goes to multiply and then die.

i hate mail. i hate mail. i hate mail.

most of it is junk and it gets thrown straight into recycling.

i wish there were a spam filter for real mail.

can we just switch everything to email from now on?

except for fine paper goods, like love letters, christmas cards, baby announcements with squishy babies on them, and wedding/party invites.

OH!! and MAGAZINES. duh.

and anthro catalogues.

thank you.

back to the flowers. my whole house smells divine. no jokes here.

and i have some on my desk right now, too.

everyone comments on their perfume.

heavenly.

but all these peonies live in my backyard. and i have to cut them and bring them inside, and donate to grandmas and neighbors, so that i can enjoy them, and others can enjoy them, because they are so fleeting.

and i'm officially finished with my ode to peonies 2013.

if you follow me on instagram, you're probably gagging by now.

sorry about that.

and then there's this:

you guys.

its the new maybelline colorsensational lipstick, in their new 'vivids' color line.

i have been searching the world (not really) for a fierce, bright, super saturated, not fully red, not fully orange lipstick since last summer. i've tried a few but i'm such a loyal to my fuchsia fever pink, that i kinda gave up.

until last night.

i was at walgreens and i bought this.

'vibrant mandarin'

i wore it to dinner.

i am wearing it to work right now.

i am a new lady (not really).

i love it.

i might buy another tube in case they discontinue it in the next 5 years.

you can get it online (cheaper!) here.

seriously though, i'm really happy with this brand/line of lipsticks. they last a good long time. both fuchsia fever and this vibrant mandarin. they last all day. i'm a cheap drugstore lipstick convert (if we're talking this kind).

and also.

i can't get this lamp outta my head: 

it's rita konig's.

i like her, you've seen me say this before.

i even remember when she bought this in an old domino magazine.

at a thrift/antique/junk store in some cool city.

anyway.

happy tuesday.

JILL

sometimes...

it seems like in the last few years, life has thrown alot onto the plates of jill and jay.

i know everyone gets life thrown in their faces at times... and that its just meant for us to get through to the other side wiser, stronger and better equipped for what comes next. and we will get there. sometimes i just want to press the pause button.

granted alot of our life is great, full of the holy goodness stuff that i wouldn't change for the world.

but then there's alot of meh stuff that i wish we didn't have to deal with.

its just that sometimes life requires a swipe of your big girl lipstick....

and the healthiest dose of courage to get through it all.

but we'll come out on the other end with a marriage that rivals the best of em, where the sunshine's 100% of the time, and we can look back and say, "remember when...? that sucked."

i know this is so vague.

its just not the right time to mention some of these things because we're still dealing.

i know we have it better than alot of people in the world and this is not me complaining or wishing my life were different, i just need that extra dose of courage sometimes and today's one of those days.

sorry i don't have a great post for you today.

i just couldn't muster one up.

even just typing out this cryptic message has me feeling a little bit better.

at least we have our faith and health.

and love, which is so corny but so true :)

and we're making our way through this maze of life together.

i hope the sun's shining on you guys today.

love you, mean it.

JILL

lipstick.

i think you can tell by now that elle and i are obsessing over pink pouts these days, with posts like this one and this one, or this one.

but whether you're in kansas city or new york city, or boise or birmingham, or london or tokyo, or timbuktu for that matter {i always thought it was tenbucktoo. ha}...

pink lips are where it's at.

LOOK:

i am calling out to the internets to help me find out what this is. or what else i could buy that looks just like this one. it's matte, and my fave, fuchsia fever really isn't that matte. and its a little more pure. {what does that mean? not sure.} but its as elle refers to it as 'the perfect light but bright but purpley but bubble gummy pink.' 

its all over pinterest and such, but none of them have links to where someone i could buy it.

and while you're at it, why don'tcha tell me what your favorite pink lipstick, or any other color for that matter is. also digging red right now. and via thedaybook blog, i need to try nars, heatwave. 

i like lipstick. its fun. and pretty.

and quite possibly the most fun 'girl thang' there is.

love.

JILL

the perfect bright but light but purply but bubble gummy pink lipstick

1. Revlon in Gentlemen Prefer Pink 2. NARS in Roman Holiday 3. CoverGirl in Hot Pink Shine 4. MAC in Saint Germain 5. YSL in Pink Mauve 6. Nicki Minaj for MAC in Pink Friday 7. Chanel in Rose Comete 8. Estee Lauder in Pink Champagne 9. Givenchy in Secret Pink 10. Dior in Singuliere

{via brunch at saks}

i have been on a mission since jill posted this pink lipstick to find a winner for myself and i came across two!! i just got mac in st. germain (4) and ysl in pink mauve (5). check out several other options here...

these give life to that mid winter porcelain pale skin

xoxo

elle.

lady powers.

at least that is how i feel when wearing my new lipstick.

it's not that new anymore but the feeling still feels new.

see. i am an eyeliner and mascara girl. as in eyeliner. and mascara. that's it. special occasions or really bad dark circles warrant the use of concealer.

but lately!

for the past few months i have also been seen sporting this:

maybelline (as in from wal-mart) fuchsia fever 140.

i.e. the hottest-but-still-beautiful bright pink lipstick on the market.

i didn't find it on my own. it was recommended by sydney of the daybook blog (my girl crush), who just had her first little baby. so adorable. her fashion blog is also pretty adorable... and she cracks me up.

this lipstick, albeit bright, goes with anything i'm wearing. and

since i've never been a big lipstick wearer, i still only do so for parties, or big meetings, or dates with husband... or any time that i want to fancy up a boring and plain outfit...

like: shoot-we're-out-of-rice-but-i-need-it-for-dinner-but-i've-already-changed-out-of-my-real-clothes-and-into-sweats-but-i-really-do-need-to-go-to-the-grocery-store... voila. swipe some pink on and now they're fancy sweats :)

it makes me walk a little taller and feel a smidge more confident.

powerful stuff.

and i don't think there is a limit on when or when not to wear pink lipstick. summer, fall, winter, spring. i think you can rock it. my grandma has been doing so since before i was born. {she loves that i've embraced her hot pink lips and that too, makes me smile}

plus, it's kinda fun for holiday parties.

know what i mean?

anything give you that powerful lady feeling?

JILL

it's summer...

with heat advisories, and i don't want to put any heat to my hair.

can i be really honest and say that i probably only dry my hair 3-5 times a year! no joke, special occasions only :) but i especially don't want to do it when it's pushin a 100 outside.

let's:

i cannot remember how to fishtail braid but i'm gonna re-learn, and add a little coral lipstick and call it good.

loving those coral lips, for blondes or brunettes! so summery.

happy thursday, and happy summer!

JILL

{images via pinterest, tumblr, experience parisienne, we heart it, recycled consignment and design}