Archives for September 2017

In addition to some of the requisite “adulting” things I have to do on Saturday mornings, like starting the laundry, watering the plants, getting breakfast started, administering lurvies to my feline overlord, etc., sometimes I actually get to sneak in some actual fun.

Like today, I played around a little with a new eye makeup trick I’ve been loving lately.

And, yes, I realize that I change favorites sometimes multiples times per day (haha), but as of meow it’s my new favorite eye makeup trick in the whole wide world!

I was inspired by this Instagram video from Alev Karsli, a MAC artist from Istanbul (not Constantinople), Turkey. She does a subdued bronzed glam look on a model that I don’t look anything like at all, but I REALLY liked the technique she used.

You take matte taupe MAC Groundwork Paint Pot cream shadow, add a few drops of Mac Essential Oil, mix them together with a brush, and apply that directly to your lids.

The MAC Paint Pots are dense cream shadows, and the oil thins them out a little, making them creamier and easier to blend. Plus, the oil adds a subtle glossy finish that just looks gloriously natural.

What a great idea! I wish I’d thought of it.

A post shared by ALEV KARSLI (@alevkarsli) on Jul 13, 2017 at 11:49pm PDT

And the fun doesn’t stop there. You can then layer something like sparkly golden champagne MAC Honey Lust shadow (permanent line) on top of Groundwork.

Also, if you want to smoke out your lower lash line, line it with good old bronzed MAC Teddy Eye Kohl. Smudge it out, then blend shimmery copper Amorous Alloy right on top.

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Girl, I realized last Monday night that it really, really helps to keep trash bags in your car.

Like, readily accessible trash bags that you can grab from the driver’s seat.

I came to this astonishingly mind-blowing revelation because, as I was driving home from the gym, I threw up in my mouth…and FYI, throwing up in your mouth is absolutely awful. I do not recommend it at all.

It was on the way home from HIIT class, and I think I know why it happened.

Right before I left the gym, I chugged a huge bottle of water.

Side note: I have a really hard time remembering to do all of the good-for-you post-workout things they say you’re supposed to do right after exercising, like drinking enough water right away and eating a healthy meal (or at least a snack) within 20 minutes, but I’m getting better about it, and since I’ve been more conscious of my post-workout routine, I’ve been recovering faster and feeling better the next day.

Anyway, I either worked out harder than I thought I did, or I chugged the water too quickly, because on the drive home I felt that all-to-familiar gross feeling of chunks coming up my throat.

It happened so quickly, too. One second I was singing Lil’ Kim’s first verse in Crush on You, and the next I was frantically looking for something to throw up into.

It was about to end up in my lap, so yeah…I held it in my mouth, pulled over and blechhh! — vomit city.

Needless to say, a garbage bag (or an empty Gatorade bottle) would’ve come in handy!

I don’t know why it never occurred to me to stash a trash bag in the car, because they’re so useful. Just finished eating a banana? Want your car to smell like eau de nasty old banana peel? Hell, no! Stick that thing in a bag. Need to change a dirty diaper? Throw that sh*t (haha, literally!) in a bag. Stepped in some dog poop? Don’t bring that crap in the car! Toss those shoes in a bag, and wash them off at home.

So, note to self, and note to you, keep a couple trash bags in the car.

I’m just sayin’… Right now if you can.

And may you never have to ever throw up in your mouth.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Officially, television rots your brain.

Unofficially, these are three things I’ve watched lately that I really enjoyed. 🙂

1. The Girl with All the Gifts

First, it’s a zombie movie…but before you roll your eyes at me (“Karen, I get it. YOU’RE INTO ZOMBIES!”), it’s a fresh take on the genre, which, I recognize, has gotten pretty tired.

This one takes place in post-apocalyptic England, and I think it’s the not-too-distant future because the technology looks like the stuff we have today.

The movie opens in a military bunker where a group of schoolkids, who look like normal kids but definitely aren’t, are all restrained and strapped into wheelchairs in a sterile military classroom with a teacher.

Basically, humanity has been overrun by a fungus that transforms human beings into brainless, flesh-eating monsters.

It’s the plants, man… They’re gonna take over the world.

Anyway, the kids were born to zombie moms, so they’re half-zombie, half-human hybrids who still crave flesh, but they’re also intelligent and capable of reasoning.

TWIST! 🙂

The movie follows one of the teachers and one of the zombie-hybrid kids, Melanie, who’s exceptionally bright, and there are moral dilemmas and conundrums about evolutionary biology.

It’s smarter than your average zombie movie but by no means slow. Highly recommended if you’re a sci-fi buff. I rented it on iTunes last weekend.

2. Vampire Academy

OK, so we go from zombies to vampires now (yes, I realize how this sounds). Vampire Academy is a few years old, but I don’t remember when it was in theaters (if it was in theaters). It’s based on a YA book series called — dun-dun-dun! — Vampire Academy.

It gets a shockingly bad score on rottentomatoes.com, but don’t let that deter you. It’s really fun! It’s like a vampire Harry Potter in the O.C.

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