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Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 673

April 12th, 2021 by Karen 22 Comments

you deserve to be happy doughnuts
Happy Monday, friend!

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. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?

    GIRL, isn’t that a right of passage for every beauty lover? I totes did it when I was a teen! I had the little green plastic container for the special soap and everything. 🤭

    2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?

    Nah, it’s a once-in-a-while thing, although I should probably do it more because I think bright blue lashes with a mask is cute and fun.

    3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?

    Hmm… Well, currently, I want to wear all of it, but I also don’t want to wear all of it. I still enjoy painting a full face, but I also really love the freedom of just throwing on some sunscreen, filling in my brows, putting on some mascara and going on my merry way. The last year has been liberating in that way.

    4. Something you could use right now?

    I would absolutely appreciate a substantial inheritance with no strings attached from a mysterious benefactor right now! LOL. If I couldn’t get that, I would love someone to help make the animals that I live with dinner every night.

    5. String cheese or Babybel?

    Babybel with a Honeycrisp apple. THE BEST SNACK!

    6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?

    Too tight pants, ugh. I can’t deal!

    7. Do you have spring allergies?

    Yup, I’m pretty much allergic to all of nature from now until June.

    8. Brows, lashes or lips?

    Lashes!

    9. What’s for lunch?

    Spinach salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, dried chickpeas and crumbled up pita chips. It’s my new favorite thing in the whole world for lunchies.

    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. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
    2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
    3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
    4. Something you could use right now?
    5. String cheese or Babybel?
    6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
    7. Do you have spring allergies?
    8. Brows, lashes or lips?
    9. What’s for lunch?

    P.P.S. Hello, my friend, and welcome to a new week. I hope your day is treating you well so far. Please remind yourself today (and all week long) that you’re doing great. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come. Be proud of yourself, too! 🤗

There are 22 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 654

April 11th, 2021 by Karen 4 Comments

So…someone was feeling feisty on her walk this morning. Yup, Rosie was in full-on MMA mode. She was quite the grumble bunny after our neighbor spotted us walking on the hill. He called out, “Is that Rosie?” and she let out a low growl. I guess she was in the middle of doing her science calculations and didn’t want to be interrupted.

Tabs used to get a little feisty on his walks too, but not because he was busy doing complex math. It was usually when he spotted a trespasser like Harris on company property. That was a surefire way to irritate him.

The nerve of some cats. They just don’t respect boundaries.

Rosie

I tried to tell Rosie that the heart charm on her yellow collar was upside down this morning, but she “shushed” me immediately. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Rosie, Tabs

Saturday Surfing, April 10, 2021

April 10th, 2021 by Karen 7 Comments

weekend reading magazines april 2021
Welcome to the weekend!

Greetings and salutations, friend! Happy Caturday morning.

I hope things are going well so far. Out here in Novato, we’re starting the day with some reading, because I’m all about reading first thing in the morning on the weekend.

Sometimes it’s digital (see below), and sometimes it’s old-school magazines (see above), but this morning it’s going to be me, tea and the three home decor magazines at the top.

Speaking of home decor…what do you think of these floors? I’m still doing flooring research as part of Project New Floors Spring 2021, and I’m currently waffling between dark and light luxury plank vinyl.

The part of me that loves traditional style wants darker floors, but the practical side of me that knows what how hard it is to keep dark floors looking clean says, GO TO THE LIGHT, CAROL ANNE.

I feel like I should strike while the iron’s hot, a.k.a. while I’m feeling sensible, and commit to the light floors already!

This weekend’s reading…

  • Stardust shadow is a thing. 🌟
  • Allegedly, these are the hottest hair and makeup trends this spring and summer, and I say “allegedly” because mullets are listed as the number one hair trend. SAY WHAT? 🤔
  • How to DIY your own waterproof makeup.
  • Here’s some of the new makeup coming out this month! I’m deeply intrigued by the Make Up For Ever Watertone Skin-Perfecting Tint, by the way.
  • Well…this is super pretty!

And some things to watch…


I want that kitteh.


I love the Amanda Uprichard Dress and the Free People Top.


It’s only a papermoon.


10 minutes, I’m into it.


Chanel, ooh la la

What do you have going on this weekend? Other than reading the aforementioned magazines on the couch with Rosie and enjoying breakfast (scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage and a chocolate croissant), Connor has a play date at a local park with a friend, and I’m already thinking about how many times I’m going to say, “OK, five more minutes and we’re leaving!” HAHAHA!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Spring Shoe Trends at DSW: Adventures in Platform Sandals

April 9th, 2021 by Karen 10 Comments

dsw spring 2021
Let’s look at shoes!

I glanced at my feet yesterday, which was the first time I’d paid attention to them in ages, and two thoughts came to mind…

  1. Yay! Sandal season is coming.
  2. BOO! Sandal season in coming. (Note to self: buy a tube of exfoliating foot cream ASAP.)

Warm weather is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to free the feet, so, because I like to be prepared (and, also, because I don’t own any flat sandals that are comfortable), my number one sidekick/sous chef and I went to DSW yesterday.

Guess what? They have quite a few options for ladies who can’t wait to liberate their toes from the suffocating oppression of socks.

I went in specifically looking for options that aren’t sky-high heels, and I was blown away by all of the choices this season.

SO MANY FLATS!

Flat sandals with a platform base, in particular, are having a moment, and I’m here for it 100%. I love the idea of combining the comfort of flats with an extra couple inches of height.

First big trend: flat platform sandals with a cork base

This trend is a little like your traditional cork wedge heel, but with a flatter base. I noticed plenty of neutral colors (black, tan, white and beige) and single thick straps around the ankles, often with a Velcro closure.

dsw spring 2021 snakeskin franco sarto platforms

dsw spring 2021 black adrienne vittadini platforms

dsw spring 2021 black franco sarto platforms

dsw spring 2021 tan clarks wedges

dsw spring 2021 gold ann klein platforms

dsw spring 2021 black white crown vintage sanadls

dsw spring 2021 dark brown franco sarto platform sandals

I debated for a long time whether to take these Franco Sarto sandals home, because I liked the warmth of the darker tan color and the detailing on the base. They were pretty comfortable too, but I could feel the ankle strap ever-so-slightly rubbing against my skin…

While I love the white base, it’s going to be hard to keep clean.

I’m CRAZY picky when it comes to shoes now (one of the unexpected side effects of the pandemic!), and if a shoe is even just a touch “off” from the get-go, I know I’m not going to wear them.

So, even though I liked them in theory, I didn’t bring them home.

dsw spring 2021 dark tan franco sarto platforms k mirror
These were kinda cute.

My Sous Chef also wasn’t a fan…

sous chef says no
Sous Chef says, “No thank you!”

Second big trend: espadrille flat platform sandals

I saw a lot of these espadrille flats with a platform base too.

dsw spring 2021 tan kelly katie platforms

dsw spring 2021 tan kelly katy espadrille platforms

dsw spring 2021 black kelly katie platforms

dsw spring 2021 black marc fisher platforms

Some of the espadrilles also had the same white base I saw from the Franco Sarto pair I tried on. Again, love this in theory, but dang… I’m going to get those dirty in a hot second. Too hard to keep tidy. 🙁

dsw spring 2021 olive black crown vintage platforms

dsw spring 2021 tan dr scholls platforms

dsw spring 2021 black tan dolce vita platforms

dsw spring 2021 navy blue franco sarto platform sandals

dsw spring 2021 tan adrienne vittadini platforms

dsw spring 2021 white franco sarto platform sandals

When Crocs move you…

I’ve never in my life been a Crocs person, but I was kinda moved by these platforms. They look a little inexpensive when you see them just sitting there because of the material, but they look higher end on your feet.

I tried on the taupe and liked how they looked and felt, but I didn’t pull the trigger! Now I’m thinking about the black and beige pair because I could wear them with so many things, and they actually looked quite chic.

dsw spring 2021 beige croc platforms

dsw spring 2021 black tancroc platforms

dsw spring 2021 taupe croc platforms with sous chef
Sous Chef is not impressed.

I’m still on the fence…

Anywho, I’m going to keep looking, and I’ll let you know if I find anything good!

Pet store visits

We’ve been going to Petco every day this week because Connor recently made a guinea pig friend.

coycoy peachy
Our daily visit to the pet store to visit Peachy the guinea pig

Connor is a little obsessed with a tan and white female guinea pig currently residing there named “Peaches.” I keep telling Connor that one day we’re going to go in and Peaches will be gone, because she’ll have found her forever home… I think Connor is not-so-secretly hoping we’ll adopt her.

peachy-the-guinea-pig

I would love to add Peaches to our family, but I’m afraid that Rosie would torture the poor thing! I would hate for Peaches to live her life in fear, ya know?

Does anyone have experience with guinea pigs cohabitating with cats? Can they live together?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Shoes

This or That: The High/Low-End Beauty Edition

April 8th, 2021 by Karen 14 Comments

freckles and bright lips flat lay
Get ready for another edition of This or That!

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. 💋

This or That: The High- or Low-End beauty Edition

  • Drugstore lipstick or drugstore mascara?
  • $5 or $35 shampoo?
  • Economical or extravagant skincare?
  • High-end or budget foundation?
  • Would you rather have a few pieces of Charlotte Tilbury makeup or a whole sh*t-ton of Milani makeup?
  • Save or splurge — nail polish?
  • Save or splurge — body wash?
  • Fancy body lotion or fancy perfume?
  • Would you rather have one hella expensive brush that you absolutely love, or a full set of inexpensive brushes that technically work but are a little scratchy?

Drugstore lipstick or drugstore mascara?

Drugstore mascara! There have been some been pretty great ones on the market for a while now, right up there with the expensive schtuff.

While I do love a good drugstore lippie, there’s just something extra special about a fancy-lady lipstick. 😁

$5 or $35 shampoo?

Eh, I’m down with the $5 shampoo. My hair is finicky, for sure, but the budget stuff generally works just fine for me (most of the time). I’d rather save on shampoo and splurge on other hair products, like conditioner and leave-ins. Now, those are a different story, ha!

Economical or extravagant skincare?

My checkbook says “economical,” but my heart (and my experience lines) scream “extravagant!”

High-end or budget foundation?

I can totally do budget foundation, but I’m more likely to find a good match for my skin tone with higher-end foundation lines… So high-end it is!

Would you rather have a few pieces of Charlotte Tilbury makeup, or a whole sh*t-ton of Milani makeup?

I’d rather have a few pieces of Charlotte Tilbury makeup. That would be cool. I’ll take a blush, bronzer and an eye quad please. Thank you very much!

Save or splurge — nail polish?

I love fancy $30 polish, but as of this very second…let’s go with “save.”

Save or splurge — body wash?

SAVE, no doubt. It just washes down the drain anyway! I’ll take anything by Aveeno.

Fancy body lotion or fancy perfume?

Ya know, even though the chances of me actually finishing a bottle of fancy body lotion are higher (I’ve done it before, and I can do it again!), in this instance I’d go with the fancy perfume, since it should, in theory, last longer.

Would you rather have one hella expensive brush that you absolutely love, or a full set of inexpensive brushes that technically work but are a little scratchy?

The one brush, because I got no time for brushes that bother me in any way, shape or form, hahaha!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Thursday! 😊

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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