Just For Fun

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Rose notes: cute or cloying?

Cute, for sure. I love scents with rose notes, and my first “grown up” perfume was Paris by YSL, which has beautiful rose notes.

2. Have you ever had a tattoo removed?

Nah. I don’t have any tattoos.

3. How are your nail painting skills?

They used to be excellent, but I’ve lost a little bit of my edge ever since my closeup vision started going to sh*t. LOL! I still do OK, though.

4. What did you have for breakfast?

Oatmeal with milk, a dollop of peanut butter and a handful of chocolate chips. I used to eat it often before I got pregnant with Connor a few years ago, and I used to love it, but now I think it tastes a little gross. I think I must’ve overdone it back in the day.

5. Something you’d like to learn?

How to properly use a rowing machine!

6. When was the last big concert you went to?

Um, I think it was an “I Love the ’90s” concert, which I think was in 2018? That seems so long ago. I was supposed to see Lizzo in March of 2020 but the pandemic had other plans.

7. Did you have a pogo stick when you were a kid?

I did! It’s a miracle I didn’t crack my head open using it.

8. Last beauty goodies you bought?

I bought a stick of Shiseido sunscreen and a mineral lipstick from Supergoop at Sephora last Friday.

Hello, my friend. Just a quick reminder in case someone hasn’t told you lately – you’re beautiful inside and out! I hope that you’re feeling rested and happy today. I’m doing my best to stay positive and hopeful about the universe sending us all good things. 🙂

How was your weekend, by the way? Did you do anything fun?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Rose notes: cute or cloying?
2. Have you ever had a tattoo removed?
3. How are your nail painting skills?
4. What did you have for breakfast?
5. Something you’d like to learn?
6. When was the last big concert you went to?
7. Did you have a pogo stick when you were a kid?
8. Last beauty goodies you bought?

Hello and happy Saturday from me and my freshly painted paws.

You might say that I’m on a nail polish kick right now, LOL! What can I say? Painting nails is fun and kinda therapeutic. Plus, I figure when you can get some extra color in your life, that’s always a good thing. Gotta find joy in all the ways you can.

Today I’m wearing two coats of Chanel Immortelle 135, a light creamy purple in the newly reformulated formula. It’s an opaque pale purple that I think is super cute on short nails.

Seriously, if left unchecked, I’d just hoard all the purple polishes.

What are you up to today? Painting nails? Going out to brunch? Taking a nap? I hope whatever you’re doing lifts you up!

This week’s reading

• Honestly, I don’t know why I never get tired of these types of stories, but here’s how dermatologists reapply sunscreen over makeup — without making a mess! Side note, I just bought a Shiseido stick sunscreen.
• Favorite story of the week: “Photographer doesn’t force young girls to smile in photos and the results are powerful.”
• A behind-the-scenes look at a busy day in makeup artist Nick Barose’s workday.
• Science explains why you get the urge to sniff old books.
• The hidden risk of hair-lightening sprays.

This is so pretty and totally my style right meow

Chaka is a LEGEND!

How cute is she?

You learn something new every day

I’ll take all the advice I can get

Note to self

Have a great rest of your weekend. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What are the things that make you feel like the best version of you?

I was thinking about this today, because one of my goals this week is to do the things that serve me in a positive way, and I started by doing my hair this morning.

It’s amazing what getting my mop out of a messy bun does for my mood. Fun-buns are easy, and easy can be gloriously good, but sometimes Fun-buns make me feel disheveled, so when I take the time and make the effort to style my hair, I feel better and more capable.

Other things that help me…

• Going to bed early (this one’s a challenge for me because all I wanna do at the end of the day is veg out on my couch.)
• Cutting down on screen time, especially mindless scrolling before bed. If I leave the phone alone for at least an hour before I go to sleep, I fall asleep so much faster, and my next day is so much better.
• Eating lots of fresh vegetables (I have so much more energy when I do this, so yay for leafy greens!)
• Being militant about time management and keeping track of time (otherwise, every task will take two times longer than it needs to)
• Stretching for at least 10 minutes every day
• Putting on a little bit of makeup. At the very least, blush, bronzer, mascara and a lippie!

Also, trying to help other people always makes me feel like the best version of myself, and when I radiate happiness and light, it comes right back.

What are the things that make you feel like the best version of you? Volunteering? Drinking enough water (it makes a HUGE difference, doesn’t it)? Curling your lashes? Going to the beach?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Something in your makeup bag that you need to replace?

I should probably buy another stick of dark brown eyeliner because I have a feeling my Hourglass one is about to peace out. Side note, I’ve discovered that I’m a bougie eyeliner kind of girl. The last few inexpensive ones I’ve purchased made my eyes itch, gah!

2. Have you ever had your brows laminated?

No. I did go through a phase a few years ago when I loved brushed up, bushy brows, but I don’t love the look enough now to make a commitment to it.

3. How are your chopstick skills?

I get by ok with most things. Slippery noodles give me major chopstick anxiety though, ha ha ha!

4. A sunscreen that you like?

For my face, I’ve been into the Laneige one because it sinks in quickly and is super moisturizing. For my body I’ve been liking Banana Boat Light As Air.

5. Your biggest blush pet peeve?

I cannot deal with blush that’s difficult to blend. If it’s patchy or too overly pigmented and I need to be there swiping back and forth for days, then forget about it.

6. What’s your favorite summer fruit?

I have so many! I think summer is the best time for fruit. I love watermelon, cherries, strawberries and peaches, especially.

7. Did you get in trouble for cursing when you were a child?

Oh my gosh, I didn’t even attempt to curse when I was kid. There was an unspoken understanding that we were never to use foul language around adults.

8. Body splash, hair perfume or eau du toilette?

I’ll take a few spritzes of a summery eau du toilette today.

Hi, my sweet friend! Happy Monday. It’s the unofficial start of summer here in my neck of the woods, but you wouldn’t know it by the gloomy, overcast weather. I don’t mind the cool temps, though. I find that as I get older, I like it more than I used to.

What are you up to this week? Connor starts summer camp, so I’ll be juggling work and driving her to and from dance camp. One of these days I’m gonna put a tip jar in my car for chauffeur services!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Something in your makeup bag that you need to replace?
2. Have you ever had your brows laminated?
3. How are your chopstick skills?
4. A sunscreen that you like?
5. Your biggest blush pet peeve?
6. What’s your favorite summer fruit?
7. Did you get in trouble for cursing when you were a child?
8. Body splash, hair perfume or eau du toilette?

Today’s my birthday — forever 43, baby! LOL. Even though I don’t really have any exciting plans because I have lots of work to catch up on (I swear, the end-of-the-year school activities are intense), I’m feeling really good because I’m happy to be alive and to be surrounded by so much love.

I do have one small birthday request to ask of you, my friend. I want to keep the feeling good vibes, so if you could please share with me one nice thing that’s happened to you recently, that would be the best birthday present. When you feel joy, I feel joy, too. 🙂

I hope you have a fabulous Friday and that things are spectacular on your end.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen