Welcome to 2025! We last saw a beauty post in June, and I finished out the year as expected, collecting all my empties along the way. We'll do something a bit different this time in visiting my features first, then moving into all the miscellaneous products. And yet. Again, I am flabbergasted by how much … Continue reading A New Year, A New Set of Empties
Author: The Chemistress
Best Books of 2024
Books of 2024 Another year, another book round up! I paced alright for most of the year. My strategy of not reserving Libby books has been successful, pushing me in favor of books that may take time but are what I really want to read while using murder and romance audiobooks to keep me awake … Continue reading Best Books of 2024
Desire & Dopamine, Happiness & Hygge
Photo by Esra Korkmaz I have a shopping addiction. Or, I used to. Not one of the ones where I’m secretly in extreme credit card debt, but certainly one of the ones where I utilize impulsive purchases and the presence of small packages on the front door to give me a dopamine boost. Wandering the … Continue reading Desire & Dopamine, Happiness & Hygge
Learning to Live In Seasons
The Fall Bouquet Ivy picked for me on her walk Earlier this year, I lamented the prospect of middle age. The idea that with many of my life goals met, the next years would be waiting and waiting on retirement, stuck in a rut of nothing to do and nowhere to go. And then, it … Continue reading Learning to Live In Seasons
Beauty Break! Summer 2024
As discussed, I've been halfheartedly into beauty products for forever, seriously into beauty products for a little over a year. My scientist and overachiever hearts compete to explore everything. Once I decided to give up lipstick in lieu of tinted lip balm, I sashayed down to Ulta and immediately bought eight to try out. Obtain … Continue reading Beauty Break! Summer 2024
Independence Parenting
Photo by Our Ampersand Photo As I have told you before, I read six books about babies before having babies. It should be no surprise I’m delving into books about child rearing. As part of that endeavor, I will note American children don't seem to be doing very well. Notably in the fact that they … Continue reading Independence Parenting
Midlife Crisis? Torrid Tradition? Inevitable Developmental Stage?
The Black Dog by Taylor Swift As I mentioned in what I imagine is the far more popular post, I am now 35. Which I consider middle aged for dramatic effect, but a straight Google says isn't, but this PubMed scientific article says is indeed the Early Middle Aged category, so I suppose I was … Continue reading Midlife Crisis? Torrid Tradition? Inevitable Developmental Stage?
A Beautiful Thing…10 Years Later
Photos by Our Ampersand Photography and Birmingham Photographer Artist Moira Rose : I am suddenly overwhelmed with regret. It's a new feeling for me, and I don't find it at all pleasurable.Stevie Budd : You regret that embarrassing photos of you aren't online?Moira Rose : No, I regret that they're lost. They were the one … Continue reading A Beautiful Thing…10 Years Later
Cooking in 2024
Photo by RDNE Stock project At least half my Instagram posts feature my family and I going to eat delicious things. They say that there's a psychological trick which makes food other people prepare taste even better than food you prepare yourself. In part, I am sure that's because I don't have the resources or … Continue reading Cooking in 2024
Poetry, Passion, and Prose for 2024
Once upon a time I wrote poetry. I did! Published in an actual literary journal and everything. Not just one of those classroom anthologies from school either -a proper literary journal, citable from JSTOR and everything. I don't remember when I stopped writing poetry. Probably around the time I got my silly jobby job, and … Continue reading Poetry, Passion, and Prose for 2024
The Chemistress 