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Checking In: Big Hair, Ice Cream Conundrums and Cute Masks

August 26th, 2021 by Karen 13 Comments

k big hair august 2021
Turn up the volume!

Greetings from the land of big hair!

Question for you: after someone cuts your hair, are you ever able to recreate the same exact style that you had when you walked out of the salon? Mine never seems to look the same. Who knows if I’ll ever be able to recreate the ’90s Cindy Crawford moment I had with Ariana right after she cut and styled my mane, but maybe if I practice a few times with my round brush and my T3, I can make it happen. I experimented on my hair with my curling iron yesterday, and so far I’m stoked about the big volume!

Oh! — can we talk about ice cream for a minute? It’s been on my mind this week because you’re officially looking at the lady who holds the title of “Ice Cream Fridays Volunteer” at Connor’s school. Yes, from now till June, I’ll be the person in charge of delivering the frozen treats for the weekly ice cream fundraisers at school.

About that, do you remember those little grocery store packaged ice cream sundae cups with the wooden spoon? When I was growing up, there were two options in our neck of the woods — vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, and another one that was vanilla with strawberry sauce.

I’m curious to know if you disliked the strawberry ones, because I found out from the last year’s ice cream volunteer that the kids NEVER touch the strawberry sundaes. Apparently, they only eat the chocolate ones!

chocolate sundae cups

strawberry sundae cups

I don’t remember disliking the strawberry sundaes, per se, but I do remember that if were given a choice, I’d always take the chocolate option, and I’m guessing it’s because vanilla and chocolate is a more predictable combination when you’re little? Or maybe kids see the strawberry sundaes and think it looks too weird? I totally can see the kindergarten version of me being grossed out by the strawberry sundaes because of the sauce looking too much like ketchup or fake movie blood. (Side note, I was kind of a weird kid!)

One last thing before I start my day: last fall I discovered these Caraa masks, and even though they’re a little pricey, I still love them so much (they’re incredibly comfortable!), so I’m going to get some new ones.

caraa mask review universal brights
These cheerful masks by Caraa are the most comfy ones I’ve found
caraa mask review filter pocket
The pocket for the filter, if you’d like to use one

coco caraa kids mask

Ours have generally held up well over the past year. That said, a couple have wires poking out now, and some have lost their little plastic toggles, so it’s time for a refresh. Anywho, I was looking around their website today and noticed these cute ones with embroidered daisies. Aren’t they adorable?

Yup, you know you’ve lived through a pandemic when you think about things like the cuteness of your face mask.

What’s going on with you? I hope you’re having a good week so far, my friend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Big Hair, Ice Cream Conundrums and Cute Masks / Originally published August 26th, 2021

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Comments

  1. Kim says

    August 26th, 2021 at 10:05 am

    I love the big hair and am totally jealous. We have our 50th bday party coming up and were looking through group shots of our 40th (I remember talking to you about that at the time; can you believe it’s been 10 years?!). I thought my hair was huge but it actually just looks normal. Can’t wait to pump it up again. HAHA!

    I bought a bunch of Caraa masks after you recommended them and I also like them. Naturally, they were all black. I’m always sad when I lose a toggle. The only place I need a mask now is if I go to the school or hospital and I generally wear my Bauer mask with the boys’ hockey team logo on it. Former hockey team. Excuse me for a few minutes… 🙁

    Reply
  2. SJ says

    August 26th, 2021 at 10:26 am

    I almost NEVER am able to recreate the look my stylist makes, ha! And this time around she made it special for me to be able to style it really easily, but wow she does it so much better still. Still, today I rolled out of bed and my hair looked rocking – somehow she made it so it looks great all rumpled up and with just air-drying. All I threw in was a ton of leave-in conditioner. A good stylist who makes it easy to style your hair is wonderful!

    I bought the Caraa masks on your recommendation, too! It was funny, I had just bought a new batch the day the CDC said it was okay to drop the mask when you’re vaccinated. (I disagreed with that recommendation, but it was terrible timing to buy masks, yikes.) I even like ironing them.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 26th, 2021 at 11:16 am

      Aww, how cute are you, ironing your Caraa masks? I have yet to do that, but the part of me that abhors wrinkled clothing is going, “GIRL, GET THAT IRON OUT.”

      Reply
      • SJ says

        August 26th, 2021 at 10:31 pm

        I feel like the masks fit me better when they’re all crisp! It’s a good amount of extra work though, lol.

        Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    August 26th, 2021 at 11:11 am

    Unlike your other readers, I still haven’t bought those Caraa masks. I’m a big fan of the hospital looking disposable ones. I bought a crapload at Sam’s Club maybe three months ago when everyone, at least, in the Northeast thought the worst was behind us.
    I also kept stockpiling hand sanitizer. So I am in it to win it!

    You’re such a good mom ice cream volunteer!
    I’m so glad they are letting the kids eat refined sugar. Things were weird around sugar when my kid was in grade school, especially for bake sales and I was always the mom bringing cupcakes loaded with icing and saturated with sprinkles. And whenever I got a side eye I wanted to scream “it’s called childhood!”

    Anyway, I’m in a mood. I’ll stop ranting. Your hair looks fab. And no, I’m never ever able to recreate my salon hair but why should I be able to? Hair is all my guy does all day, all year. When you’re in something like that, your proficiency builds and builds and just seeps into your bones and your blood.

    p.s. Have you watched that Miranda Otto show on Hulu? Super fun. I think it’s called The Unusual Suspects. You would enjoy I think.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 26th, 2021 at 11:14 am

      Girl, you crack me up! Thank you for being you!

      P.S. I haven’t seen that show. I’m still trying to wean myself off of “The Hills.” I’ll add it to my list!

      Reply
  4. Tisha says

    August 26th, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Love the Cara masks… Bought the set with blue daisies for my Little One, they look super cute on her and are great for school (she doesn’t have a uniform).

    Congratulations on the new ice cream responsibilities! 🙂 With my daughter, I remember Chocolate or Cookies and Cream were where it was at 😄.

    Reply
  5. Sarah Lowes says

    August 26th, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    Chocolate sundaes for me all the way…

    Reply
  6. Stephanie Smith says

    August 26th, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    Oh I loved those chocolate and vanilla sundaes! Always chocolate, never strawberry! Yay for being the ice cream delivery person, you’re officially the most favorite person in the school. I used to make really cute cupcakes and Rice Krispie treats for my daughters when they were in elementary school, I miss that. My older daughter is turning 19 on Monday, I might need to break out my skills and whip up some kitty cupcakes! Lol!

    I haven’t bought those masks, when this whole pandemic started, my friend made me some adorable pug masks, I have three pugs, so I’m still wearing those.

    Reply
  7. Eileen says

    August 26th, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    For myself, I like just a plain, black mask although I do think all the colors and prints are fun. Some people have become very creative in their choice of masks. I get a real kick out of the masks for the little kids that have Spider-Man, unicorns, and the like on them. I always make a point of telling the child how cool their mask is—a bit of encouragement can go a long way. We have a high vaccination rate where I live, but all the schools, stores, restaurants, gyms are back to asking everyone to wear a mask—vaccinated or not—because of Delta. The honor system simply didn’t work. Entirely too many people just stopped wearing masks and the Delta took off like wildfire.

    Those little ice cream cups! When I was little, we’d get them from the ice cream truck that would come through the neighborhood in the afternoon. Our version didn’t have the chocolate or strawberry swirled through the ice cream. Instead, it was like a layer spread over the top. The chocolate/vanilla was my favorite, too.

    Reply
  8. jane Lemberg says

    August 27th, 2021 at 6:56 am

    Karen,
    I was on the “Wednesday Pizza for Lunch” distribution for two years while I was out of work. I know it takes real commitment.
    I love your hair.

    Be well.

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    August 27th, 2021 at 11:56 pm

    I have never been able to recreate my stylists looks, never, no matter how hard I try. I guess it is that they have an extra hand (and years more of practice), but it feels like they are working with different hair.

    Reply
  10. Lena says

    August 28th, 2021 at 7:44 am

    Have you tried KN94 or KF94 masks? The fit is really good and there’s nothing brushing against your mouth so your words are clearer to others when you speak. Plus, the filtration is superior to cloth masks. People think cloth masks are most sustainable but studies have shown that cloth shopping totes are actually more resource-intensive and you’re supposed to used them thousands of times to at least get the resource use per unit equivalent of plastic.

    Reply

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