Just For Fun

Dreaming of Spring at DSW

March 12th, 2019 by Karen 27 Comments

The sun came out yesterday for the first day in a loooong time, and I was able to walk outside without a sweater, a sweatshirt, a coat and a raincoat. ‘TWAS GLORIOUS. I could actually put my arms down without feeling like Randy from A Christmas Story in his snowsuit.

Every person I ran into yesterday said something along the lines of, “The sun is out! Let us bow down and worship it!”

Yeah, I’m exaggerating, but we Californians are nuts. 😂

It wasn’t quite warm enough to wear sandals outside yet (unless you’re one of those dudes who wears Tevas in a snowstorm), but the Coywolf and I still stopped to smell the flowers and the new spring shoes as DSW.

I love tennies with cute animal prints, and there were plenty of puppy patterns for all the #crazydogladies.

Are dressy flip-flops a thing? Because they should be. These Kate Spade slippers fit the bill. I like them, but I can’t spend $70 an a pair of fancy flip-flops, ya know?

To clarify: I really want to…but I can’t. If they go on sale, though? That’s another story! 😀

I haven’t worn a proper high heel in three years, but I liked this navy and tan Clarks of England sandal and this Dr. Scholl’s sandal. The heels don’t seem obnoxiously high…

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What’s Your Current Go-To Hair Style at the Moment?

March 12th, 2019 by Karen 25 Comments

karen chunky braid side — All about that chunky braid life

I’ve been doing some form or fashion of a chunky braid for the last month because it’s the only way I’ve been able to tolerate my hair. I’m way overdue for a cut, but I’ve been putting it off because I keep getting the urge to chop it off into a short, spunky bob.

Although I feel like I’m walking around with 20 pounds of hair on my head, I don’t want to do anything drastic or spur-of-the-moment, so I’m making myself wait!

So yeah. Not only does the chunky braid (or CB, as I like to call it) lift the hair off my shoulders and keep it out of my eyes, but it also tames the wayward silvers at my hairline and weaves the color of my natural hair into the colored bits in a way that isn’t jarring.

What’s your current go-to hair style at the moment? High pony? Pixie cut? Low bun? Loose waves?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 567

March 11th, 2019 by Karen 30 Comments

artistic colour revolution — Kinda springy, yeah?

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start.

1. What do you love about your hair?

Frankly, not much at the moment. It’s been driving me CRAY since I started growing out my natural color… It’s those rebellious silvers at along my hairline, man!

I do appreciate how fast my hair grows, though, because it’s made all of the terrible haircuts I’ve gotten throughout the years easier to endure.

2. Fruity or spicy? 🍑🌶️

Fruity, please.

3. When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter?

Geez… Honestly, I can’t remember. I think the last time I actually wrote a handwritten letter to someone, and not just filled out a greeting card, might’ve been in the ’90s?

I suspect that it could have been a love letter to some lame boy who didn’t deserve my awesomeness. 😁

4. Who do you resemble in your family?

I look a lot like my dad, who in turn looks like my glam granny.

5. I think it’s really important to _____.

Get enough sleep, and yes I know I sound like a broken record and it’s trite and cliche to say, but seriously, sleep makes everything so much better!

I’m a firm believer in going to bed at 8 sometimes.

I also think it’s important to remind yourself daily that you are enough, just as you are.

Heck, we gotta tell ourselves that multiple times a day, even. Do it every time you have a meal, or walk up and down a flight of stairs, or catch a glimpse of your bad self in the mirror.

Whatever the catalyst, just say it!

BONUS QUESTION: Cheesecake or ice cream?

The Golden Girl in me is saying “cheesecake” today, but I’d say yes to both in a heartbeat right now if I could. NO SHAME.

Spring shades

About those nail polishes at the top…I’m more of a green/blue/purple kinda girl when it comes to nail polish on my fingers, but those dainty bridal pastels at the top are totally doing it for me today. I like the idea of short nails in a pale semi-transparent cherry blossom petal pink or peach with a shiny top coat.

The cherry blossoms 🌸 are springing up all over my neighborhood right now (it’s that time of year!), so yeah.

A pastel pedicure is another story, though. I love pale shades like these on my toes, especially during sandal season, WHICH IS COMING UP SOON! I seriously can’t wait to free ‘ze feet. They’ve been oppressed by socks for way too long, LOL!

Random side note: Do you remember how some dudes wore Tevas or flip-flops or Adidas slides year round in the ’90s? Even when it rained? When I was in high school and college, there was always that one guy in class who would roll up to lecture wearing sandals in the middle of a deluge.

As you can tell, I’m totally over the rain 🌧️ and the ❄️ cold. Are you antsy for spring, too?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.

1. What do you love about your hair?
2. Fruity or spicy?
3. When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter?
4. Who do you resemble in your family?
5. I think it’s really important to be _____

BONUS QUESTION: Cheesecake or ice cream?

Go Forth and Smolder in the New Smoky Tee

March 11th, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Smoky lids-4-life! I’ve got mad love for smoky eyes. They’re my all-time favorite eye look to wear (and there are endless ways to wear them)…which is why I had to go and tell the world about it on a shirt.

Dark and dramatic? CHECK. Black sooty smoke? CHECK. Glossy and gray with a touch of taupe? AFFIRMATIVE. Burnished brown and blown out? YOU KNOW IT.

Basically, I will take ALL. THE. SMOKY. EYES.

If you love them as much as I do, peep the new Smoky Tee in the store. It’s available in sizes S to 2XL.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 544

March 10th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

Sometimes, less is more. A simple white pleather collar with a single silver clasp. A narrow navy blue or bright yellow nylon collar with a black plastic buckle.

But sometimes, like today, more is more, and you feel like reminding the world that you are totally willing to break fashion rules by simultaneously rocking multiple collars.

Bam.

Fashion rules really don’t apply to Tabs. There are just some cats who can wear anything and still look good.

So yeah, today was pretty uneventful except for a Harris sighting this afternoon. We’d gone back into the house after going outside on patrol — you know, inspecting the corporate property line. Tabs was doing his nails when we heard Connor Claire exclaim, “Mama, it’s Harris! Harris is on the deck!”

Tabs leaped to action!

Well, not really leaped… He slowly sauntered over to the sliding glass door, where he locked eyes with Harris through the glass.

Then, Tabs proceeded to meow, loudly, in protest, as if to say, “Guards, get the trespasser! Apprehend him!”

I ran to the front door, opened it and stepped outside, but by the time I got over to the side of the house/office, Harris was gone. He must have run away.

It was a disaster averted, but it still annoyed the heck out of Tabs…

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