‘burb-ish

Posse!  What a great week, weatherwise!  So I went to the ‘burbs.  Well, ‘burb-ish.  Naperville is more a small city than a suburb anymore, with a hefty population, good transit, great shopping, etc.  I had some time before meeting my brother for his birthday (damb shame when it’s your birthday AND you still have to buy lunch but that’s what you get for having a janky sister! LOL!).  I decided to visit some downtown shops.  Naperville is much like the tonier NorthShore ‘burbs, it’s the canary in the coalmine for economics – and I’m pleased to say it has largely withstood the Covid economic bust that impacted so many towns and cities.  I was going to go into the lash bar but realized I really hate wearing false eyelashes so I went to bluemercury instead.  YAY!

I’ve never been in a bluemercury before – what a delightful experience!  Of course, I was stunned by the tasteful little sign that says they do not take cash.  At all.  I didn’t know you could do that – not take cash, I mean.  Am I having a ‘get off my lawn’ moment? I did try to write a check at Trader Joe’s a few weeks ago, just to see if I could.  They were game.  I was game.  The check machine was ‘ah… no!’.  I asked when the last time they’d used it and the young man said… ‘not since I’ve been here.  And I’ve been here … two years?’  THAT was fun – not (n.b.  I did credit.  That check machine was adamant in its refusal!)

Once I got over that no-cash startle, I was enchanted by the shop.  Yes, it’s a standard beauty boutique but it is well-curated and staffed by absolutely charming people.  My SA, a gorgeous girl named Krystal, was a delight, answering questions as I asked but not ‘hovering’.

Krystal. Adorbs! (permission granted, btw. I’m not a fiend)

It’s been so long since I really just looked at beauty lines, y’know?   I haven’t explored the ‘fresh‘ line since Gump’s closed (that’s where I first fell for Fresh Lemon Sugar perfume.  Yum!!  Krystal introduced me to a great new moisturizer from the line, Vitamin Nectar.  I’m pretty fussy about moisturizer, but I really liked this one.  Very emollient, very glow-y! 

But nothing – and I mean NOTHING, beat the Dr Barbara Sturm Lifting Serum.  Y’all.  Seriously?  Y’ALL!  This stuff is startlingly good – it’s like a little bit of Botox in a gel.  She put it atop my make up (apparently, if you put it under makeup it causes pilling.  I tried it, she wuz right.  So atop it is.  WOW!  I’d love to get a bit of ‘work’ done on my face but simoleans is TIGHT! right now, so Dr Sturm will have to do – and she is doing it very nicely, thank you very much!

OMG! yes!

I came out of there absolutely delighted!  Such a fun time and I learned about some new stuff, including this Vagus Nerve Oil (and vagus nerve spray) by Osea.  Who knew the vagus nerve was A Big Thing in beauty?  Welp!  Now I do.   Vagus nerve beauty oils and sprays!    I wore the oil for the day – very calming to sniff!  The spray is for your pillow at nighttime.  The rep gave me a little sample – I’ll let you know how it goes.  To be honest, I was so beat when I got home that it was all I could do to take my contacts out, take a shower and…. well that was it.  Luckily I made it to bed, though just sleeping in the shower sounded like a good idea.

Yeah, that beat.

The best part of the day, besides lunch with my brother, was… just sitting in the sunshine, enjoying all the people out and about, carrying little shopping bags.  Yay, economy!   Traffic!  Yeah, traffic.  Remember where I live now.  So, traffic.  I sat on the bench and watched smelly pre-teen boys, riding their bikes and jockeying for pre-teen supremacy.  Joyous!  Babies waving at me (I waved back.  I am not a fiend).  People said hello!  I spent an hour or more on that bench, in the sun – and it was time wonderfully spent.  Covid is beaten back, at least for now.  And it’s lovely to see folks out and about again.

And traffic.  YES!  TRAFFIC!  Deal with it.

Soon enough it was time to hie on back to the train.  I took a bus!  It ain’t my first bus – but this was special because it was the same driver I talked with heading out – we talked family, food… how much fun it can be to spend a Summer evening in downtown Naperville (hint:  It’s a lovely thing to do)… and then it was back home to the hinterlands.  Ah, well.  Nice to come home to that shower and bed.

So.  whazzup with YOU?  Have you been able to be out and about?  Any traffic?  Any new beauty?  I am going to do a teeny giveaway – I have a sample of the Sturm Lifting Serum and you will thank me!

and OOOH!  I didn’t nearly forget – I FORGOT!  sort of.  Well… oh, who cares!  I haz a Winner!!! for the Rose Trocadero:  rosarita!  Lordt.  Y’all are SO patient!  Send your evilauntieanita (AT gmail) your deets and I’ll get it out to you pronto!