1. Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes
I’ve been crabby lately.
I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I’m frustrated, and I’ve cried on more than one occasion.
I also haven’t really been totally jazzed about wearing tons o’ makeup, particularly over the past few days, but I have felt the urge one or two times, and this has been the only eyeshadow I can handle.
The Chubby Sticks are semi-sheer creams you can blend with your fingers (or a brush), and they’re precious gems when it comes to 10-minute makeup. I have them in a number of shades, but I definitely wear Portly Plum and Ample Amber the most.
2. Modern Love, on Amazon Prime Video
The biggest downside to this series is that there’s only one season! I think it’s so ridiculously well-written, authentic and poignant. I can’t even explain… It’s one of the best-written shows I’ve ever seen. The stories are based on the Modern Love column from The New York Times. Each self-contained episode thoughtfully explores many kinds and facets of love, from what it means to love, and to be loved.
Each episode is touching, but totally not in a corny and predictable rom-com sense, and the entire season is a work of art! If you’re a wimp like me and can’t currently handle shows with violent story lines, please give it a watch. Highly recommended.
3. Banza Pasta
Of all the gluten-free pastas I’ve tried (can’t believe I just typed that), the vast majority of which taste like stinky feet, Banza is among the best. It’s made from chickpeas (very high in protein!), but I can’t really taste any background chickpea “flavor.” The texture’s also very close to traditional glutinous pasta. I’ve served it to people without them knowing it was gluten-free, and no one has even noticed before.
I like the spirals, shells and linguine the best because they don’t fall apart, even a little. I’m not a big fan of the spaghetti, however, because it breaks apart too easily after it’s cooked.
Most of the pasta shapes recommend an 8-10 minute cook time, but I usually do 7 minutes, because anything more than that and it’s way too squishy. (I like my pasta al dente.)
4. The reporter who went live on air with no pants
For real, though, he only did what the rest of us are doing. #teamnopants all day, every day.
5. This trick to measuring out ingredients on the scale
I will do anything to avoid washing YET ANOTHER DISH, so this little trick has me shook. Say you want to measure out a tablespoon of peanut butter (16g) for a snack. All you do is pop your jar of peanut butter on the scale, hit “tare” to zero it out, and then remove however much peanut butter you want to use directly from the jar. The scale will show you how much you used. (See the negative sign in front of number 16?)
Mind blown!
This saves me from putting a clean plate or bowl on the scale just to measure out ingredients.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Gayle Montbriand says
April 30th, 2020 at 11:39 amHi Karen, thanks so much for your blog! I always look forward to seeing what you’re up to, and what you’re thinking. Be well, and all the best to your beautiful family. Chin up.
Karen says
April 30th, 2020 at 12:44 pmThanks, Gayle. I’m feeling a little better already. 🙂 I hope you’re hanging in there. Take care!
Crystal says
May 3rd, 2020 at 7:54 pm1) I need to appreciate Clinique more
2) HOW have I never thought to use the scale backwards lol. My life is forever changed.
Sharon DB says
April 30th, 2020 at 11:56 amHi Karen! Right there with ya with Modern Love – love stories in a fresh, unique, non-cheesy way. So good for the soul at a time like this. And I love that reporter too! I was getting fully dressed during week 1 (not work-dressed but non-schlubby weekend brunch-dressed). Now I’m in gym clothes, mainly so I can be ready for Go Noodle/Just Dance breaks with the kid. Hope y’all are hanging in there!
Karen says
April 30th, 2020 at 12:43 pmHi Sharon,
I’m wearing gym clothes right now, too, for the same reason. We just took a dance break a few minutes ago (did a bunch of high kicks like a two-person chorus line). 🙂 Also they are so much easier to stretch in… I may never go back to wearing real pants ever again. LOL!
I hope you’re having a good day so far. I’m feeling better already!
Carolyn says
April 30th, 2020 at 12:58 pmHi Karen,
Just wanted to say that I love your blog and sending love & well wishes your way!! <3 Also, thanks for the recommendation on Banza pasta — have seen this at the grocery store but now I'll plan to buy it in the near future!
Stay safe & take good care.
Karen says
April 30th, 2020 at 1:15 pmHi Carolyn,
Thank you so much. I’ll take all the love and well wishes I can get!
I hope you love the Banza pasta. We typically eat it with Classico sauce (I’m too lazy to make my own), which is also gluten free. 🙂
Suzanne C says
April 30th, 2020 at 4:25 pmCrabby. Mmm, yes. Because there’s always that one person who makes quarantine (and my entire life) just such a picnic for everyone. Anyway, moving on….
Chubby Sticks are the bomb. (As are LM Caviar sticks, as you know!) I’m fond of Lots ‘O Latte. If you haven’t tried them, the cheek Chubby Sticks are great, too, especially in warmer weather. They are Florida-summer-approved makeup, meaning they don’t melt off your face when you walk the few feet from the house to the car. (This is absolutely a thing. Sephora should label no-melt makeup “Florida Summer Approved” like they label clean makeup “Clean At Sephora”.)
Karen says
May 1st, 2020 at 9:39 amIt should TOTALLY be a thing. I also think you deserve a medal for being able to handle the humidity, because I TRULY COULD NOT. It gets hot here where I live in northern Marin County but at least it’s a dry heat, ya know? When you leave any air conditioned place, sure, you’re sweating like cray, but at least it doesn’t sit on your skin all day (and night).
I hope things get easier for you and your “co-workers.” I feel ya, lady!
Cha says
April 30th, 2020 at 4:27 pmHi Karen! I have that exact food scale! I bought it when I was pregnant because I was borderline GDM. I freaked out so my doctor referred me to a nutritionist who gave me a diet plan to stay on track and healthy. I still use it to this day. ☺️
Ive been bingeing on Never Have I Ever and 90 Day Fiancé this week. On Sundays, its a date with Outlander.
Hope all is well with you!
Karen says
May 1st, 2020 at 9:35 amHi Cha,
The scale is SO useful. It’s hands down of the most-used items in my kitchen. BTW I had gestational diabetes so I totally understand the nutrition challenges involved. I remember doing a *lot* of walking after meals to take down my sugar level. And the first time I had to test my blood sugar I had a meltdown in the office… LOL! At least now I can laugh about it.
Thanks for your recommendations. I think I’m going to fire up 90 Day Fiancé ASAP. Do you have Netflix, by the way? Because the show “Love Is Blind” is weirdly addictive.
Happy Friday!
Chelsea says
April 30th, 2020 at 5:34 pmI’ve never tried Banza but I should, I think it’s a Michigan-based company! (Even though we had some absolute idiots protesting at the Capitol today, I’m still a Michigan-native and want to support local brands)
Nice scale hack! Zack got a scale recently for coffeee stuff but we’re using it for baking too. I made a nice chocolate cake today, we made cinnamon rolls, I made some nutella-filled cookies… I want to start bread, I bought some nice flour from our local co-op.
I LMAOed at the no pants anchor. Did you see the newscaster who had his cat in the background going to town licking its butt?
Karen says
May 1st, 2020 at 9:29 amUntil I met Banza I thought we’d be doomed to terrible pseudo-pasta forever. It’s LEGIT. I like that I don’t have to cover up the flavor! You gotta try it. I know you’re not GF 24/7 now but it’s still nice to have the option.
And yay for using a scale for your baking. So excited for you! It really does take things to the next level.
I’m kinda excited about your cinnamon rolls, because I was thinking about making them this weekend. Did you do a gluten-free version or a gluten-ful?
Tatiana says
May 1st, 2020 at 1:52 pmI have many different brands of creamy, eyeshadow sticks but I always get frustrated because for me it’s hard to apply them evenly from eye to eye and get the same blended out look on each eye. That said, I don’t own a single Clinique Chubby Stick.
I hear you on the tears and frustration. It seems to get worse when I need to go shopping. The empty shelves. The rudeness and obliviousness of other customers. Dear Husband now has a sore throat and cough and I’m worried as heck about him. He did a drive through testing yesterday and we’re awaiting the results.
I wish Banzaa pasta was easier to find. It’s definitely one of my favorites when it comes to gluten free. It’s always sold out at the local Whole Foods.
Wish you good health and comfort.
TravelingBlush says
May 2nd, 2020 at 3:18 amI love the Modern Love series on NYT. Did not know they turned it into a tv series (I do know of the book).
https://www.nytimes.com/column/modern-love
Anne says
May 3rd, 2020 at 3:15 amI stopped reaching for Ample Amber because it used to disappear within two hours on my lids. Do you prime it with anything?
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