Just For Fun

When Was the Last Time You Made a Spur-of-the-Moment Beauty Decision?

May 15th, 2019 by Karen 33 Comments

The time: last week.

The place: a local salon (but not my usual one).

I made a last-minute appointment, walked in, plopped down into the chair and asked the stylist to go to town. It was the most hair I’ve had cut in five years.

I’d actually been ruminating on doing something like this for a while, and I think that Tabs passing pushed me over the edge. (The whole “saying goodbye and moving into a different stage of life” thing.)

Also, I’d gotten to the point where I reached “mean piano teacher status,” and when you hit that level, it’s time to choppity-chop that hair.

I’ve basically been ignoring my hair for six or seven months. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I got a trim. I really couldn’t wear it down anymore because of how unruly it had become, and whenever I did try to “style it,” I’d just slick down the front and pull the rest into a tight ponytail or bun.

In my head, I was going for Vogue chic, but I think it made me look more severe and serious than I think I am…or at least want to be.

I’ll post a pic soon… I want to show you the hair, but I’m not quite there yet in terms of seeing myself in pics. For some reason, it’s my eyes. I still see a sad person staring back at me when I look at pics of myself.

Hard to explain.

I’ll try soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 553

May 12th, 2019 by Karen 53 Comments

I’m sitting here with a cup of green tea 🍵 in my hand and trying to figure out how to start this post, so I’ll start with some things that I know to be true.

Tomorrow (Monday) will mark one week since Tabs took his final runway walk.
I can’t say that I’m anywhere near feeling like my usual self again, but every day I hurt a little less.
Today I put on mascara for the first time in weeks.

And blush.

And concealer. (I would like to think Tabs would be proud.)

I may even paint my nails tonight. Chanel, of course — in honor of my husky ball of love.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there — cat moms, dog moms, bird moms, snake moms, gerbil moms, little monster moms and moms to humans.

I debated whether I should change the title of this post and the entire series from “Sundays With Tabs” to “Sundays Without Tabs,” but for now I’m going to keep it “Sundays With Tabs,” because, in his own way, he’s still with me.

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Rest in Peace, Sweet Boy

May 8th, 2019 by Karen 222 Comments

My dear friends. Our sweet Tabs left this world on Monday afternoon. It was peaceful and painless, and he was surrounded by so, so much love.

I’m not ready to talk about it yet, but I wanted to let you know what was going on, and to thank you for your support and love.

Thank you for loving him.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 574

May 6th, 2019 by Karen 22 Comments

karen and tabs every day is a gift — Today is a good day to have a good day. ☀️

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. Bath or shower?

I take showers our of sheer necessity because they’re so much quicker than long, luxurious (heavenly) baths, but if I were a lady of leisure, and perhaps also had a gloriously deep old-fashioned clawfoot tub, I’d be taking baths all day, every day, for sure.

With lots of bubbles… Can never have too many bubbles. And music!

2. A skin care step you won’t skip?

Removing my makeup every night before bed. I never skip it, even when I was shaking my groove thang and going out a lot back in the day and came home at an obnoxious hour (by which time I’m usually in my fourth or fifth REM cycle now), I would always take off my makeup.

I used to keep makeup remover wipes on my nightstand next to my bed so I could just collapse onto my comforter, start wiping my makeup away while I was horizontal, and then drift off to sleep right then and there…

3. What’s the last product you finished?

Body cream. I go through A LOT of that stuff. This time it was H2O Plus Coconut Lemon Verbena (smells tropical but not “sun-screeny”).

4. What’s the last dance you learned?

Um…that one that all the kids are doing, or may have been doing a few years ago? I think it’s called the floss?

It’s the one where you stand with your feet shoulder length apart and rock your arms back and forth (or something).

Previous to that, I also learned a six-step because I was learning how to break dance, but this was a while ago…

5. Your first beauty product obsession?

It was back in high school: Revlon Toast of New York lipstick!

All the girls wore it. (In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s still around.)

The thing I love most about cats

That you can never quite tell whether they’re about to swat you in the face, or give you a head boop.

They’ve got that whole mystery thing down pat! Even after all these years of assisting Tabs, I still can’t predict when he’s going to go full-on Naomi Campbell and throw a phone at me, or if he’s going to nuzzle me with purrs and lovies.

It’s one of his many talents…

He 🐱 and I want to remind you to make the most of this beautiful Monday. And in case you haven’t heard it yet today, you are 🌺 cherished, and you are loved. ❤️

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Tabs

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

1. Bath or shower?
2. A skin care step you won’t skip?
3. What’s the last product you finished?
4. What’s the last dance you learned?
5. Your first beauty product obsession?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 552

May 5th, 2019 by Karen 28 Comments

Meow, gorgeous. I just wanted to give you my deepest thanks for treating me like such a superstar over the years. You always made me feel lucky and special.

Have a spectacular week. Please be kind to yourself and to others, don’t sweat the small stuff, keep your eye on the prize, and be fabulous.

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