Kimberly is one of my greatest supporters on Twitter. She’s not only a friend of the blog but she’s such a cheerleader for Musings of a Muse. She’s always tweeting me sale info or retweeting my posts. When you have a blog you need people like Kimberly in your life as she’s always doing her best to share my stuff all around the Internet. It means so much to me when someone shares or retweets something I posted and she does it constantly.

She posted something Donnie Wahlberg posted on Twitter recently (she’s a massive New Kids fan girl!) and it really struck a chord with me. Something I’m super guilty of. Allow me to explain.

With all this stuff going on right COVID-19, BLM, etc…it’s a bit overwhelming isn’t it? I’m pretty guilty of saying I wish things would go back to normal. I hate the new normal that’s for sure. The new normal of being scared to go grocery shopping. The new normal of wearing a mask everywhere. The new normal of no stores still not re-opening here in New York. It’s been pretty crazy isn’t it? We had over 378,000 cases here in New York and nearly 25,000 deaths. We were in complete lock down for 100 days until today when finally we are entering a Phase 1 opening that includes construction and manufacturing workers going back to work. No stores or restaurants are yet re-opening. At first I think some New Yorkers, myself included, were under the impression some stores would re-open but further news today reveals that’s not happening.

When George Floyd was tragically murdered the world spiraled into even more chaos with good reason. I think after two weeks of protests, violence, and an incredible amount of negativity across social media I was all, “I wish things would go back to normal”. I think most of us feel this way but this is where Donnie’s Instagram reminds us things shouldn’t be about returning to normal.

He posted: “When we say we just want to go back to normal. Let’s remember, that “normal” that we speak of, is what allowed so many black men and women to be unjustly killed.”

So, yeah, I’d love things to return to normal but we actually need a new normal. Not one that includes face masks and being scared to go outside but a new normal where when we say All Lives Matters it includes black ones.

So, even though we’re going to try for some beauty today on Musings of a Muse that doesn’t mean we’ll be silencing the fight for Black Lives Matter. I want to be able to create for you the safe environment I did when COVID broke out and you needed something to take your minds off of the daily news that was scaring the living daylights out of you. I’ll always be fighting the good fight over here but I’ll also do my best to stay on top of my beauty game as well.

I have a lot of comments to get through and I hope you’ll be patient while I get to them all. Thanks for always supporting me. Thanks for always being amazing humans.

I love you.

Be safe, be well, fight hard for what’s right. There are good days ahead keep that in mind!

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It was a little hit or miss whether the Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Summer 2020 was going to happen this year! I read a lot of people saying it wasn’t going to be called the semi-annual sale but it was only going to be referred to as a Summer Sale. I also read comments and blog posts about it not happening at all. Some people even said they spoke to SAs last year who said there wouldn’t be a Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Summer sale anymore that they would be limiting the sale to after the Holidays only.

With the current pandemic I think a lot of people were convinced the sale would even happen but certain stores are open across the US. New York stores are not yet open but the sale does start online June 14th. I’m not sure why they decided to start the sale later online versus in store but that’s what they are doing.

Right now I’ve seen a lot of Holiday items on sale but of course, items will vary store to store. $10 candles, $5 select lotions, $2 select travel size items, and 50-75% off a variety of other items!

There’s been no word of old favorite fragrances coming back. There’s a strong possibility we won’t see any returning favorites this year due to the pandemic but I’ll update if I see something pop!

I’m curious how good the sale will go. The last few years we have all come to agree that the sale does suck somewhat. But with such a backlog of product available with stores being closed maybe this year the sale will have some good finds.

What are you hoping to score at the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Summer 2020?

I’m feeling the love for some of the new Summer items like the watermelon and peach scents but I doubt they’ll be on sale.

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Time to check our pulse.

How you feeling over there my friends?

You know something, when someone asks me how I am my automatic response is great. Because I’m always great. I don’t let things get me down. But I’m just ok lately which sucks.

If you’re dealing with any illness right now I’m thinking of you and wishing you well. If you’re out protesting I’m holding you close to my heart and hoping for your safety. If your heart is hurt and heavy with what is happening right now I’m here for it, I know, I’m with you. I know I won’t always understand how it feels to be you or to appreciate your feelings completely but my promise is that I’ll do my best! And if we disagree on something, ever, let’s talk about it like real life adult humans. All this, “I’m unfollowing you because All Lives Matter” let’s stop that. Let’s do more of, “I don’t agree with you because but I want to explain to you why I feel like so and so and can you explain to me why you feel this way about so and so.” And we can end it with either changing each other’s minds or just agreeing not to agree. That’s what adults do but most important that’s what friends do. When a friend of yours disagrees with you do you get up and walk out on them? Or do you do your best to try to understand where they are coming from? I see so many people on Facebook or Twitter with “Unfollow me if you want! Unfriend me if you don’t agree!” What if we take a minute and try to listen, learn, and understand each other. That’s one of points of these protests right? To understand each other better. And you know what? If we don’t understand each other we can still be there for each other on some level. We don’t give up on each other. We hold each other up even though you like Diet Soda but I drink water or you like Doritos and I prefer pretzels.

I’ll be honest here. I don’t want to fill my life with people that can’t align with what I believe. It can cause stress and hurt for everyone involved.

I am always and always will be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. That has never been a secret and it has been loudly and proudly said on here over and over. I’ve literally received hate email because I supported gay rights in the military. I am an ally of the Black Lives Matter movement and I will be protesting this weekend. I’m scared. I’m scared of potentially getting ill. I’m scared I won’t be accepted. I’m scared of being trampled on (hey, super short girl check!). But if I do nothing am I bringing any change about? How can I do more? This is one simple thing I can do to show support.

I believe people are people no matter their race, sexuality, origin, nationality, shape, size, hair color, sex, etc…etc….etc…etc….

If you don’t agree with that I am going to try really, really, really hard to understand you. And hopefully you’ll understand me as well.

We need to be together right now. Not apart. Don’t let what you believe in make you lose family or friends. Try to work it out. Try hard. Do your best ok? Just love people. Not their color, not their size or their height, not their nationality or their sex, not how much money they do or don’t have. Just love people because you’re a person and they are a person. See? Two humans. You have something in common already! Build from there.

You’re all good humans! I know you are. Be good. Be well.

Keep your heads on tight, your hearts beating strong, and let the light shine from your soul so others can see it and find their way if they are lost in the dark right now.

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Happy Thursday!

Need a little retail therapy? That a bottle of whiskey maybe right? And I don’t even drink! Ha…!

The Balm is on sale at kohls.com today! Snag deals on a variety of items starting as low as $10 like the Balm Meet Matte Hughes Mini Liquid Lipstick Set ($14.50), the Balm Cabana Boy Blush ($10.50), and theBalm Hot Mama Eyeshadow & Blush ($10).

Also, EOS is on sale! Those cute little colored balms on featured last week are on sale for $4.80. Prices as low as $3!

Enjoy!

Where to buy

Kohl’s

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It’s been a rough few days and I’m going to attempt to jump back into beauty for a bit because we all need a little beautiful in our life. I hope that’s ok and I hope you find comfort in it the way I do.

So, to start! Head over to Ulta today and snag some Soap & Glory on sale!

Select Soap & Glory products are $4, $6, and $7 and others are buy 1, get 1 50% off. I’m obsessed with Soap and Glory and tend to stock up when a sale hits.

Snag the deals at Ulta now.

Let me know if you grab anything.

Love you guys. Be well for me.

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