Just For Fun

1. They camouflage cray-cray hair

A beret instantly hides unruly baby hair so you don’t walk around looking like a mad scientists who hasn’t slept in days.

Added bonus: If the thought of brushing your mane sounds exhausting, a beret is your best friend! Just tuck those unruly strands underneath a chic beret.

2. They make great pop songs

Prince wrote a song about a raspberry beret found at a secondhand store. Can you imagine Raspberry Beret being something like Raspberry Bucket Hat or Raspberry Newsboy Cap or Raspberry Beanie? I don’t think so!

I would totally wear that cloud suit.

3. Cats love them!

Whether they’re wearing them, sleeping on them or attempting to tear them apart with their claws (ahem, *Rosie*), cats certainly love berets.

4. Berets effortlessly work with your favorite bold lip

Berets and bold lips are purrfection. This one is Chanel Eclosion, by the way, from the Spring-Summer 2021 collection.

5. No ears required!

Unlike earrings, glasses or a face mask, berets doesn’t rely on your ears for support (really, our ears are doing so much these days), so rejoice in your ear freedom as you jauntily place a beret atop your head.

6. An equal-opportunity hat

Both ladies and gents wear berets, so if your significant other has one you’re fond up, take note — it’s totally up for grabs!

7. A hat with history

The beret has long graced the heads of many iconic individuals throughout history, and they’ve often been symbols of revolution.

A few beautiful berets to consider…

• Halogen Wool Blend Beret, $29 — There’s a red one that’s always sold out, but mark my words, one day it shall be mine.
• Brixton Lennon Beret, $21.97 — I love the blush color and the gold trim
• Eugenia Kim Catarina, $227.50 (!) — Cat ears and pearls, what more could one want in a beret?

8. Famous people wear them…

Which may or may not be a plus, ha ha ha! Fun fact: Ernest Hemingway, cat fancier and novelist, liked berets.

9. You can have a beret for every mood

Depending on the material and size of said beret, you can either go chic and minimalist; or big, floppy and bold. There’s a beret for every occasion.

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 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. Pick one — furry boots or sequined vest?

Sequined vest! — presumably because it would be easier to clean?!

Maybe?

Maybe I’m wrong, but I can see furry boots being magnets for leaves, mud and whatnot. A big pain in the butt to keep tidy.

2. Are your holiday decorations still up?

Nah, everything’s been stored away. I like to put the decorations away shortly after New Years, because I know from experience that if I don’t do it then…we’ll still have our Christmas lights up in March. 🙄

3. Weirdest spice or condiment in your kitchen?

Banana ketchup. It’s a Filipino thing!

4. Yellow or orange?

Orange.

5. Something healthy that you can do for yourself this week?

Refrain from using my phone for at least an hour before bed, which I want to do because that thing is just too stimulating.

6. High-tops or high heels?

High-tops, because I can sprint at a moment’s notice in them if need be. Plus, I’m terribly out of practice wearing heels. I’d take a step and probably just fall over, LOL!

7. Do you have any original art on your walls?

If Connor’s drawings count, then yes. Otherwise, no. But I would love to have some original paintings on my walls someday.

8. Something you’re looking forward to in the spring?

Seeing my favorite tree in bloom once again. 🌸 It always takes my breath away.

9. Your most-used hair accessory?

My scrunchie, of course.

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. Pick one — furry boots or sequined vest?
2. Are your holiday decorations still up?
3. Weirdest spice or condiment in your kitchen?
4. Yellow or orange?
5. Something healthy that you can do for yourself this week?
6. High-tops or high heels?
7. Do you have any original art on your walls?
8. Something you’re looking forward to in the spring?
9. Your most-used hair accessory?

P.P.S. Good morning and happy Monday! Just a quick reminder in case you need it — you’re focused, you’re strong, and you’re getting better every day. Let’s do this! 🤗

Salutations on this spectacular Saturday! Hi, friend. 😃

OK, not-so-serious question for you… Have you discovered the wonder of combining popcorn with a handful of Peanut M&Ms?

Basically, IT IS A REVELATION. It’s my new favorite snack, and I can’t get enough of it. You get the salty popcorn coupled with the sweet chocolate. (Even Connor is obsessed!)

The trick — yes, there’s a trick to maximizing its greatness — is to start with a varietal of popcorn that isn’t too heavily flavored, and is only slightly salty. That way the popcorn-ness doesn’t clash with the candy. 😉

I recommend Angie’s Boomchickapop Sea Salt Popcorn, which I get at Target, because it comes in a big bag, so I’m able to just toss a handful into a small bowl when I need something to tide myself over. Plop a few Peanut M&Ms in there, and you’re set.

I have yet to enjoy this delectable delicacy as my breakfast…but I’m tempted to right now. 😋

Saturday Surfing

• New notables in the world of new makeup —-> makeup brands launching this month include Merit (from Katherine Power of Who What Wear) and About Face by singer Halsey.
• Just so you know, all kinds of skin care items are on sale at Ulta through January 23.
• The latest craze in skin care? Freeze-dried skin care technology!
• Inside the two biotech companies creating a Covid-19 vaccine for cats. 🐈
• Scent is still missing from the list of senses that are stimulated in film and TV entertainment, although entrepreneurs have often tried (and failed) to create scent-on-demand for a full sensory experience.
• This is what “hair ice” looks like… ❄️
• What is “combination hair?”
• Why hair goes gray, according to science.
• Speaking of hair…hair porosity is a thing.

An old-school jam with a new school spin

Oooh!

I love this.

Super pretty

This is totally my style.

It’s been drizzling off and on this entire week, so today we’re going hiking at the Fairway waterfall again to see if it’s a raging river now because of the rain.

I hope it’s raging!

What are your plans this weekend? I hope you’re doing well.

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 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. Your favorite green vegetables? (Yes, you can name more than one!)

Broccoli (you can do so much with it), spinach (like broccoli it’s super flexible), bok choy, napa cabbage and green beans.

2. Something you plan to do this year when “this is all over”?

First thing on the list is to invite my parents and brother over to spend the night so we can all just chill, eat pizza and watch a couple movies.

I’ve also decided that once the world starts really and truly opening up again, I’m going to wear sequins everywhere. All over the damn place. To the grocery store, to the library, to the park. SEQUINS EVERYWHERE!

3. What mascara are you wearing these days?

Bite Beauty’s new one has been in the rotation as of late.

4. Eyeliner — pencil or pen?

Pencil liner. That way I can also wear it on my waterline. 😉

5. Lipstick — crayon or liquid?

Crayon!

6. Where do you go if you have to buy someone (or yourself) a birthday cake?

There’s a bakery in town called Creekside that makes a delicious, light-as-air vanilla cake with whipped cream and strawberries. YUM! They’re my go-to for birthday cakes.

7. How good are you at hemming pants?

Well…not good at all! You’d think it would be a skill I’d place a high priority on since almost every pair of pants I’ve ever owned has needed to be hemmed, but alas, no.

Mind you, I can make a borderline functional hem in a pinch… Borderline though.

8. When was the last time you built a snowman?

I honestly haven’t a clue. It may have been sometime in the early 2000s? I vaguely recall going someplace snowy with El Hub early in our relationship and being very grumpy while we were there because I was so cold, LOL!

9. What’s your signature makeup look?

Some variation of smokey eyes with a nude lip, but that might change in 2021! You just never know.

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. Your favorite green vegetables? (Yes, you can name more than one!)
2. Something you plan to do this year when “this is all over”?
3. What mascara are you wearing these days?
4. Eyeliner — pencil or pen?
5. Lipstick — crayon or liquid?
6. Where do you go if you have to buy someone (or yourself) a birthday cake?
7. How good are you at hemming pants?
8. When was the last time you built a snowman?
9. What’s your signature makeup look?

P.P.S. Hi there! I hope your morning has been going great, my beautiful friend. Sending you a warm hug and a high five. We’ve got this! 🤗