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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

October 14th, 2020 by Karen 23 Comments

5 things i've been loving lately

1. Bold-ish brows

OK, after months of wearing a chill, super relaxed brow look (and sometimes just skipping brow products entirely!), I’m back in the habit of doing a full brow again, and I had one of those “Why did I ever stop doing this?” moments.

When I put a little effort into my brows — extending the tail on my right brow and filling out the skinny spots (I’m talking to you, Raul!) — it’s kind of fantastic, and I feel like I can get away with less makeup.

Remember when Jeremy Renner said “Brows, Lashes, lips frame the face”? He really was the makeup prophet of our times…

By the way, I’ve been into an old-school UD product as of late, their Brow Beater pencil in Neutral Brown.

SO. GOOD.

It’s the one with a twist-up pencil on one side and a brow brush on the other. It’s harder than many pencils, and it stays put (the softer ones seem to disappear faster). It also looks natural because it has a perfect balance of pigment.

urban decay brow beater neutral brown
Good brow day! I’m wearing Urban Decay Brow Beater Pencil in Neutral Brown.

2. Chocolate sprinkles on toast

Thank you for educating me about Dutch hagelslag, otherwise known as “chocolate sprinkles on buttered toast,” otherwise known as “a delightful breakfast treat!” I bought a box of chocolate sprinkles at World Market a while back because the picture on the box was just so weird, and curiosity got the best of me.

Thanks to you, I now know that the secret to making this work is to lightly toast your bread, then butter it (Kerrygold salted butter is THE WAY), and then douse that mo-fo with all the chocolate sprinkles and then some.

Sounds and looks a little weird, but it’s really good.

Um…as you can see, someone couldn’t wait, LOL!

3. Name Bubbles

The Coywolf started her last year of in-person preschool last week (we’re a little nervous, but yeah), and every item she brings with her to school needs a label. I found these really cute ones from Name Bubbles. Shipping was fast, and the labels don’t come off in the wash.

Coycoy wanted whales because she’s been into animals lately…

name bubbles whales
These are handy!

4. Drooling over fall doorway decor…

What is it about fall door decor?! I have no interest in spring or summer entryways, but fall and winter? I’m like, dang! — PUT UP ALL THE CRAP.

fall door
Snazzy fall door decor by Pottery Barn

5. This Hawaiian-style chicken and coconut rice plate

OMG, this dinner. I made this a few weeks ago, and the family raved about it, so now it’s in our weekly rotation. It’s Hawaiian chicken (made it in my Instant Pot), coconut rice, Hawaiian-style mac salad (I almost wrote “MAC salad”) and Thai-inspired cucumber carrot salad. It’s got Asian flavors of pineapple, soy sauce (I used gluten-free Tamari because El Hub has Celiac) and coconut. Great blend of sweet and savory.

hawaiian chicken instant pot coconut rice
The new go-to dinner at our house

What have you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately / Originally published October 14th, 2020

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Comments

  1. Savannah says

    October 14th, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Ba ha ha! Put up all the crap! I’m like that too with fall and winter. The rest of the year? Eh, who cares.

    And wow, that dinner looks delicious!

    Lately I’ve been loving my free time to read all the books, relax, watch shows (even if I’ve seen them before), watch non-scary Halloween movies and play/be creative with make up again.

    If you love thrillers, I read B. A. Paris’s “Behind Closed Doors” and it spooked me! Super creepy! First thriller book I’ve read so far that thrilled me lol.

    I’ve also been mega loving the Tower 28 lipglosses and I just got their new, neutral offerings in the mail. They’ve been what I’ve been searching for years to replace the lipglosses I can no longer use. They are phenomenal. Super moisturizing and they wear well!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 14th, 2020 at 11:54 am

      OK, so I loooooove thrillers, but I’m no longer allowed to read them before bed because I go to sleep too late. But I’m definitely adding this one to my list!

      Reply
      • Dominique Clayton says

        October 14th, 2020 at 12:42 pm

        Your eyebrows look amazing!!!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 14th, 2020 at 1:02 pm

          Thank you! Amazing what a little bit of time and a great brow pencil can do for the overall look!

          Reply
  2. Suzanne C says

    October 14th, 2020 at 11:34 am

    One thing that I’ve been loving lately is Shiseido Color Gel Lip Balm in Dahlia. So good for dry lips.

    I love decorating for Fall, too. I actually went with a black & white buffalo check theme this year, rather than just putting out my entire (and formidable) collection of Fall decorations. With all the yummy candles, of course.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 14th, 2020 at 11:54 am

      Really, Shiseido is one of those under-the-radar but FABULOUS lines.

      Re: candles do you have Yankee Candle Cinnamon Stick? It’s my go-to fall candle!

      Reply
  3. Sarah Lowes says

    October 14th, 2020 at 11:41 am

    Please give us the recipes for ALL that food !!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Emmett says

      October 14th, 2020 at 11:45 am

      Totes! I’m soooo duplicating this meal!

      Reply
      • Karen says

        October 14th, 2020 at 11:51 am

        OK! I’m actually making it either tomorrow or on Friday (gotta buy some macaroni shaped Banza pasta first). I’ll take pictures and write down notes! I can do a post for next week with it.

        It’s really interesting to me how much people seem to like the recipe/baking posts. Should I do more?

        Reply
        • Tatiana says

          October 14th, 2020 at 12:04 pm

          Yes! Yes! Yes! And I can’t wait to see the recipes for this. The chicken sounds yummy. And dang, coconut rice is my favorite whenever we go out.

          Reply
          • Karen says

            October 14th, 2020 at 1:07 pm

            I love coconut rice too, although this version of it is more on the subtle side because I have the feeling if I go full-on coconutty the flavors will compete. LOL! I’ll make a note to take some pics and write everything down when I do this meal again (either tomorrow or Friday).

  4. Jennifer Emmett says

    October 14th, 2020 at 11:44 am

    MAC salad! Ha! It could be colorful, neutral, sparkly…. Does it have black packaging in the mix ?

    I’m loving Busbee Style videos on YouTube…. trying to be my best 40+ year self and look hot while doing so.
    The show Homeland is riveting.
    I found a bakery that sells blue corn masa sugar cookies, wow! Different but it totally works.
    And chilly nights have made our cats more snuggly so they join us in bed more!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 14th, 2020 at 11:52 am

      Haha! I think the MAC salad would need a Strobe Cream dressing…

      And perhaps a pinch of Loose Pigment!?

      Reply
      • Jennifer Emmett says

        October 14th, 2020 at 2:51 pm

        That’s the perfect dressing. Lol at my desk!!

        Reply
  5. Tatiana says

    October 14th, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    I love fall decor too! I really want a bunch of crows to decorate the front of my house. Since everything else basically stunk this year, I’m gonna try and go all out for the Winter Solstice holiday!
    Things I’ve been loving…
    Coconut rice from the local Singaporean restaurant. Mariage Frères tea. Koh Gen Do foundations. I recently restarted wearing these again and every time I do, Dear Husband compliments my skin and makeup. Barbell workouts with the trainer. Allie and Shiseido sunscreens from Japan, because the workouts happen outside, even though the gym is now re-opened. (Decided I’d rather workout outdoors than indoors and this way my trainer gets to keep all the $$ I give her instead of giving the gym owner 30%) Painting. Not the house. But pictures. I stink at it, but Dear Daughter comes by once a week and we paint together, while Dear Husband is out making food deliveries for his charity.
    Something I want to try is the Cle de Peau cream blush. But at $60 each I’m not sure which color to try first.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 14th, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      How sweet that you and your daughter paint together! I hope that will be me and Coywolf in the near future. What type of paint do you like to use? When I paint (it’s been years, and I’m terrible at it), I like acrylic and oil.

      Reply
      • Tatiana says

        October 15th, 2020 at 6:16 pm

        I really love oil paint, but I don’t want that smell or mess in the house. So until the garage gets completely cleared out, I paint in acrylic. I cover my cherry wood dining table with a painters drop cloth and Dear Daughter still managed to get acrylic paint on it. Luckily it was thin enough that I could just scratch it off with my nail.
        I’d better clear out the garage soon, before the cold and rain come. I need space big enough to workout in and still have my trainer keep her distance. I bought a barbell last night! Now I just need to find a bench and some plates!

        Reply
  6. Chelsea says

    October 14th, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    I bought a Halloween shower curtain with black cats on it, but it’s going to stay up after Halloween, I love it.

    What else am I loving? Lace tights, but I’ve loved those for over a decade.

    Reply
  7. Christine says

    October 14th, 2020 at 6:30 pm

    That plate lunch looks so ono!! Breaking my mouth just looking at it.
    Me, the adult, wants a bunch of those adorable name bubbles.

    I’ve been loving…my Byredo colour sticks!! “Mesolithic” is a buildable, flattering, “dry” textured plummy-pink for us medium/olive-yellow undertone folks that looks wonderful on lids, cheeks, and lips, and for a chic, monochrome face. “Vienna” is perfect, too — a subtle, dewy/glossy gold/nude/pink great for lips (it turned Mesolithic into this my-lips-but-better pigmented pink), brow highlight, cheek dew/highlight! So worth it and I love the packaging. The sample fragrances they gave me are so nice I think I’ll gift them away! If you get a chance to splurge, Karen, go for the Colour Sticks! Totally appropriate for the “clean” makeup minimalists out there. Not that I consider myself one, but I like multi-use products with the least amount of scary ingredients.

    How about a post where you turn your favorite makeup products into a sample dinner menu. Your MAC menu sounds divine! lol

    Reply
  8. Sarah says

    October 14th, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    I looovve everything in the fall decor photos!! I’ll take it all LOL! I don’t typically decorate seasonally but I love everything fall! It’s my favorite time of year. I just got the “All the Fall” essential oil blends set from Plant Therapy today and am SO excited to start diffusing them! Also, I am very much looking forward to the recipe for this meal!
    One thing I’ve been LOVING lately is Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. If you have not tried this yet, TRY IT!!! Not only does it look amazing on, but the ease of removal is unmatched. It literally just comes off with water. No makeup remover, no smearing, it just completely comes off! Life changing honestly. And no, I receive no compensation for praising it. I am just honestly so impressed. It’s also vegan and the company donates to women in need with every purchase. Wins all around!

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    October 16th, 2020 at 7:26 am

    Fall is the only time I decorate my porch as well – I wouldn´t really know what do put up for summer anyway, to be honest.
    Anne recently posted … Is the pixi Clarity Lotion good for oily skin? | Doctor Anne

    Reply
  10. Colleen says

    October 16th, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    I think we need a dinner tutorial please. That meal is mouthwatering.

    Reply
  11. TravelingBlush says

    October 20th, 2020 at 12:09 am

    The link to the recipe isn’t showing…

    Reply

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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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