Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 741

August 8th, 2022 by Karen 14 Comments

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. What scent/perfume are you wearing today?

One of my favorites, Eau de Jane. I love a fresh green vibe on a Monday.

2. If you could get a manicure today, which one would you choose — neutral or colorful fingernails?

My practical side says a soft, creamy pink won’t show chips as much, but the part of me that loves color says a dark burgundy would be very chic. Let’s go with the dark burgundy. 🙂

3. Something that helps you get through your day with a smile on your face?

Honestly, having a plan — even a really rough one — helps keep me sane. I’m a person who likes knowing the next steps.

4. Do you like it when your body lotion has a strong scent?

As long as I like the scent, I’m cool with it.

5. Best thing you ate over the weekend?

Oh my gosh, I had tempura for the first time in ages last Friday at dinner, and it was heavenly. And even though nobody asked, here’s the order in which I eat my tempura — shrimp, sweet potato (LOVE), broccoli, carrot, potato, zucchini, mushroom (YUCK).

6. Cleansing balm or cleansing oil?

Cleansing oil.

7. Lip and cheek stains — love ’em or leave ’em?

Leave ’em. If you asked me when I was 24, though, it would be another story.

8. Products with sheer color payoff — love ’em or leave ’em?

LOVE ‘EM.

9. Write a nice note to someone reading the comments today.

You’re doing better than you think, so keep at it. You’ll get there. Also, please remember that you are cherished and so, so loved!

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. What scent/perfume are you wearing today?
2. If you could get a manicure today, which one would you choose — neutral or colorful fingernails?
3. Something that helps you get through your day with a smile on your face?
4. Do you like it when your body lotion has a strong scent?
5. Best thing you ate over the weekend?
6. Cleansing balm or cleansing oil?
7. Lip and cheek stains — love ’em or leave ’em?
8. Products with sheer color payoff — love ’em or leave ’em?
9. Write a nice note to someone reading the comments today.

P.P.S. Hey, friend. Happy, happy Monday! Take a deep breath, and remember, you are a rock star! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 722

August 7th, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

Tabs had a special connection to flowers, and I’m not just referring to how he nibbled on my snapdragons and gerbera daisies.

He loved the colors, the fragrances — oh, the fragrances! You know, just before he headed over the Rainbow Bridge, we redid his 10-year business plan, and it included developing the fragrance notes from his favorite flowers into a line of candles for the home. That was then going to translate into an entire home decor line, which would then allow him to springboard into becoming the Martha Stewart of cats.

I gotta hand it to my little buddy; he always dreamt big. 🙂

He would never admit this, because he always wanted to be his own cat, but his favorite floral scent was the same as mine — violets.

Rosie

I’ve asked Rosie if roses are indeed her favorite flowers, but I generally get a noncommittal answer. She goes on and on about the different hybrid varieties of roses and the technical aspects of growing them, but she’s never actually sat down and said, “mrow,” which translated means “I like how roses smell.”

I found her pawing through Tabs’ old business notes today and perusing his plans to launch a fragrance/home empire, and I think that got her wheels a’turning. I’ve been finding books about perfumery and the science behind scent, so she might be cooking up something new.

I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed that it’s related to beauty. 😉

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, August 6, 2022!

August 6th, 2022 by Karen 14 Comments

Why is drawing with lipstick on watercolor paper so entertaining? LOL! Happy Saturday, friend. El Hub and Connor left early this morning to go fishing, so I have a rare Saturday morning to myself. I made French toast and coffee and watched a cheesy “woman in peril” thriller on Apple TV (“Surface,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and you know what? It’s like I barely even know how to relax anymore. I managed to successfully force myself to sit on the couch and do nothing for a bit, though, and it was kinda glorious.

Have you heard about this show? It’s set in San Francisco, and it’s about a woman who loses her memory in a traumatic way. She doesn’t know if her husband tried to kill her, and with the help of an undercover police officer, she searches for the truth.

I lived in San Francisco for a few years, and my big issue with the show so far is how the main character rarely wears layers. She’s always out and about with bare shoulders. Someone please give this woman a lightweight sweater and a blazer at the bare minimum! It’s a travesty. Side note: my guess is the husband is the bad guy.

What’ve you been watching lately?

This week’s reading

Favorite read of the week ——–>“What exactly is an Old Lady Perfume? The term is generally applied to perfumes launched between the 1920s to the 1980s. And though the fragrances that fall under the Old Lady Perfume umbrella aren’t a monolith, there are some common threads.”
Why scent only exists in your own head.
Estee Lauder might be buying Tom Ford.
The makeup in La Bouche Rouge, a Paris-based luxury startup, contains no microplastics.
What exactly is it about red lipstick that seems to make such a powerful and bold statement?
During menopause, hair can become drier, thinner, and frizzier before and during this life stage. Here’s what experts recommend during this transition.
The video game “Stray” is helping real stray cats.
Note to self (and to Rosie-Pose): Allegedly these scratching shields stop kittehs from destroying furniture.

This looks like fun!

I wish I was dancing in this video.

I’m listening!

What’s your morning routine?

A great cover or my favorite New Order song.

Have a great rest of your weekend. I will now attempt to tackle a mountain of laundry. It never ends!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

15 Things I’ve Learned (and Relearned) Recently, and a Tuesday FOTD with Chanel and Laura Mercier

August 2nd, 2022 by Karen 6 Comments

Learn new communication skills. It’s always a good thing.
You don’t have to respond right away. It’s fine to pause and take a few deep breaths while you think about your next step.
As much as you want and wish for other people in your life to change, if they’re not ready or if they’re unwilling, then you have to let it go.
Speaking of changes, personal change doesn’t always have to always be big, sweeping and dramatic. It can mean small tweaks along the way. Any progress is forward progress.
It’s OK if your interests evolve. You’re growing, so what you find interesting will evolve, too.
Fashion-related item: A puffed shoulder is cute, but sometimes, if the puff is even just a touch too puffy, it can veer into pirate territory.

You don’t have to have all the answers.
Even though it might feel like it was your fault, chances are it wasn’t, and you had no real control in how things played out.
A poker face comes in REALLY handy at work.
Side note to my inner child: You don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can and should ask for help from others.
If you’re feeling stuck, flip the script in some way. Try something different. It might just spark something.
If things are pretty good, then cherish those times. Each season is so fleeting, and there will be a time when you look back at that time with awe and wonder.
Even though I always feel like I have so much to learn about writing, sharing what I know about it with other people is fun.
Lists are also fun! Oh, and they don’t have to be too complicated or wordy.
It’s a good thing to sit down and write a list about things you’ve learned recently. It’s surprisingly eye opening.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 740

August 1st, 2022 by Karen 21 Comments

I hope this week is calm and peaceful for you.

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. Are you picky about the fabric your clothes are made out of?

Yeah. I used to not be particular about it at all, but after I had Connor, my body changed in so many ways. My skin became more sensitive, and I couldn’t tolerate how certain materials felt. I only like stuff that’s extremely soft now. I also prefer to wear cotton because I like how it breathes. Apparently, I can no longer be challenged by my clothing.

2. Would you rather watch a live musical or go hiking?

As much as I love musicals, if I sit in a dark room right meow, all I’ll do is fall asleep. I’ll take the hike — ideally one with lots of shade and that’s not too strenuous. LOL!

3. Body splash: love it or leave it?

Even though it’s a little cheesy, I love me some body splash. Reminds me of days spent feeling carefree!

4. How do you release stress?

Exercise really helps. Oh, and checking in with myself and doing deep breathing exercise throughout the day works for me, too.

5. Scalp scrub: your thoughts?

It seems to be trendy, yeah? If it works for you, great! I’m not really a fan, though. Too messy.

6. Are doing your own highlights good idea?

LOL, if I was in high school, I’d say yes. Now, unless you’re a professional stylist, I’d say so!

7. What’s for dinner tonight?

Honestly, I don’t have a lot in me today to devote to cooking. It’s going to be a bagged salad and spaghetti with red sauce kinda night.

8. What’s your hairstyle today?

I’m wearing it down today, with big, loose curls (thank you T3 Bodywaver). I’ve had it up all weekend long, and my fun bun needs a break.

9. What’s one nice thing you can do for yourself this week?

Go to bed early and catch up on sleep!

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. Are you picky about the fabric your clothes are made out of?
2. Would you rather watch a live musical or go hiking?
3. Body splash: love it or leave it?
4. How do you release stress?
5. Scalp scrub: your thoughts?
6. Are doing your own highlights good idea?
7. What’s for dinner tonight?
8. What’s your hairstyle today?
9. What’s one nice thing you can do for yourself this week?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, friend. New day, new week, new chance to fresh start. Enjoy this beautiful day, OK? 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 721

July 31st, 2022 by Karen 1 Comment

Tabs and Rosie have wildly different personalities, but one thing they do have in common is their absolute love for alone time, a.k.a. meow time.

Both cats, without any prompting, have abruptly shuttled us out of the house so they could spend time by themselves.

Tabs cherished his quiet time in large part because of his hectic schedule. His weekends spent alone were few and far between due to the demands of celebrity, but when he did have a quiet weekend, he did some of his best career planning and creative thinking.

He was really good at refilling his well. When he felt tapped out, he made sure to take a 15-hour nap.

Rosie

When Rosie’s alone, I want to believe she’s napping, because she’s also a workaholic and tends to come at things, even relaxation, with intensity.

When she kicks us out of the house like she did this weekend, I hope she doesn’t spend the whole time calculating and formulating and science-ing the heck out of everything. I hope she takes a cue from Tabs and chills out a bit.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, July 30, 2022!

July 30th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

Happy Caturday, and greetings from the Russian River. Rosie-Pose kicked us out to chill with her favorite petsitter (I’m starting to think she’s got a crush), so we’re spending a few days camping on the Russian River.

Hope you’re having a nice weekend so far. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

This week’s reading

How Tom Ford’s F*cking Fabulous fragrance got its name.
Gotta love a tiny bottle of mini perfume!
Well, this is an interesting perfume predicament that I’ve never considered.
FYI: Sulfur is back in vogue in skin care.
How the anti-aging brands hook ya for life.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Adventurous Are You When It Comes to Changing Your Hair Cut?

July 29th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

How adventurous are you when it comes to changing your hair cut? Do you play it safe and stick to a style that already works for you, or are you more willing to try new things? Inquiring minds want to know.

I used to be more adventurous in my 20s and 30s, trying different cuts and lengths to varying degrees of success and disaster, LOL. The worst by far was a razor layered cut; I looked like I had a bad ’80s rocker mullet and wore my hair up for a good year while the layers grew out.

Now I pretty much stick to subtle variations of subtle long layers, so I can easily put it up or wear it down. Kinda boring, I know, but it works for me.

How about you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy National Lipstick Day!

In this look, that’s Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Vice (all over lips) and MAC Lipstick in Heroine (center of lips).

P.P.S. TGIF!