Invisible Barn

I’m thinking a day-trip to Truckee may be in order, because I’m so curious to see this in person: Invisible Barn is a new mirror-finished structure at Sagehen Creek Field Station in Truckee, California, designed by Stpmj for UC Berkeley.

It reflects the trees, sky, and ground almost perfectly and is only a very narrow 72 square feet.

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How to order food in other languages (& Friday Links)

I think I’ve landed on the essential trick for ordering really delicious, interesting food (that you’ll actually like) when you’re traveling someplace you don’t speak the language.

While we were in Mexico, Aron did the majority of the talking. His Spanish is getting really good! But menus are tough for non-native speakers. They can be so specific—the cut of the meat, the preparation of the salad. So if you’re a fairly adventurous eater, you shouldn’t learn how to say what you like; you should learn to say what you don’t like. Then you can ask the server for recommendations. We would say: “qué me recomienda?” And then you could maybe add the translation for “no spicy” or “no innards” or “no fish”… whatever the case may be for you!

It’s so much more fun than just picking out the one thing you recognize on the menu. (Quesadilla, anyone?)

By the way, thank you for the great responses to the Mexico City travelogue I shared earlier this week. I really enjoy looking back at them and I’m glad that you all seem to enjoy them even if they’re on the long side! It really was such a cool place.

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Stowaway Cosmetics

I don’t try a lot of new makeup. I tend to find something that works for me, and then stick with it (probably for far too long). So it’s saying a lot that Stowaway’s peony cheek & lip rouge is now my #1 favorite beauty product.

Have you heard of Stowaway? I’ve started carrying all of their products around in the last week or so. They sent over some samples, and I love the concept: “makeup you love in sizes you can carry and actually finish.”

I routinely smear lipstick on my the temples of my cheeks and rub it in instead of using blush, so it’s like this rouge was made for me.

I think one of the reasons I started making my lipstick work so hard was that I just hated carrying around so much junk! I would get out the mascara and the eyeliner for dates and like how it looked (think: I should maybe do this more often), and then leave it behind (to expire) in the box where unused beauty products go to die.

Now, most of the time, I have a large bag, but it’s packed with diapers, snacks, and (cute) miniature hats. I tend to relegate myself to a clutch I toss inside with my phone, some money, sunglasses, and keys. And maybe that hardworking lipstick if there were room.

It was a little bit awesome when their kit arrived—radiant complexion BB cream, creaseless concealer, eyeliner, mascara, creme lipstick and, of course, cheek & lip rouge—and it all fit into the palm of my hand. And even better when I discovered I really liked everything. (I may even wear mascara beyond date-night.) Definitely a new fan.

You can create your own kit with your colors. Huge bonus: enter the code HITHERANDTHITHER and you get three of their summer products for free with the purchase of a kit—a free fig lipstick, cantaloupe lip & cheek pot rouge, and an extreme lash mascara. $42 in value.

And, great news, Stowaway is giving away three kits to three lucky readers! Visit Stowaway & enter your email to be entered to win.

What’s your makeup routine like? Do you have one thing—eyeliner? lipstick?—that you feel naked without?

Thank you, Stowaway, for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are mine. Enter to win giveaway here, within the week! Update: The winners have been contacted!