Karen

Hey friend, it’s been a crazy week. We’ve spent a good chunk of this week keeping up with friends and family who live in the LA area, and although the people we know were braced for evacuation, they never had to do it, thank goodness. So yeah, crazy times.

I don’t know if I ever talked about it here, but a few years back the police came banging on our door and told us we had 30 minutes to grab our things and leave because there was a growing fire on the hill behind our house. The fire department was able to put it out quickly, thank goodness, but a part of me will never forget frantically running around the house looking for Rosie (she did NOT want to go into her cat carrier) and stuffing Connor’s uniforms into a bag just in case she needed them for school the next day. I also vividly remember calling my neighbors, who weren’t home at the time, and asking them if they wanted us to get their pets out of the house.

The events this week reminded me that when you can move throughout your daily existence in a relatively normal fashion, it’s truly a gift. I’m counting my blessings, including the roof over my head, my little family and my health.

It’s also been a good reminder that there’s no time like the present; I’ve been meaning to post these pictures that I took in Hawaii recently, and today’s a good day as any.

When Connor and I were on Oahu last month, we took a day trip to the eastern side with my in-laws to the town they used to live in, Kaneohe. Right up the street from their old house is a cemetery nestled up against the mountains where they have a lot of relatives buried, and in the cemetery there’s a Buddhist temple called Byodo-In. It open to the public and if you get the chance to visit, please do. It’s beautiful and peaceful. Whenever I see these pictures, my heart feels at ease.

Anyway.This week I marked my one-year anniversary working at the college. Time really does fly! One thing that I’ve been thinking about lately is how, in many ways, I miss working from home, but I also enjoy being able to go to a different space where the boundaries between work and home are very clear.

It’s also been very cool to interact with students on their learning journey. Yesterday I helped an older lady from Russia. She wanted information on taking an ESL class, so I talked to her for a bit and then gave her some resources. It feels really good to help people, especially in person. I think that just might be the key to keepin’ on with a smile on your face; having the ability to make a difference in someone’s life, even in a small way, feels good.

One last thing. On a beauty-related note, yesterday I sat down to put on makeup in the morning, and I was absolutely shocked to find I had no more brow pencil left. I think someone needs to invent a twist-up brow pencil with clear packaging or something that lets you know exactly how much you have left. Anywho, I gotta stop by Ulta today. I’d been using the one from Rare Beauty, but I think I’m going to go back to the good old Anastasia Brow pencil just for funsies.

Thinking of you and hoping that you’re okay. Happy Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. If you could eat one food all day long, what would it be?

Popcorn! If left to my own devices, I could easily have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Who in your life is most like you?

To be honest, probably my dog, Marnie.

3. Your current favorite store?

Ooh, girl. You know you’ve crossed a bridge when you no longer want to hang out at Sephora or Nordstrom anymore. LOL! These days I’m all about Williams Sonoma (the fancy kitchen store)! Who wants to come with me to gawk at gadgets, dutch ovens and tableware?

4. What’s one thing you need to do today?

Vacuum, although honestly I don’t know why I keep trying to keep the floors clean. Between the pets, friends and family coming through, it’s a battle that I can’t seem to win.

5. What helps you have a good day?

For me, there are three things. First, I gotta cover my basic needs, like making sure I’m not hungry or thirsty, that I’ve brushed my teeth, gotten out of my jammies, those kinds of things. Second, I need to make a list, otherwise I’ll fritter away my time. The third thing is to remind myself that I can’t control other people by telling myself, “Just let them do what they’re going to do.” It’s been very freeing, doing this.

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. If you could eat one food all day long, what would it be?
2. Who in your life is most like you?
3. Your current favorite store?
4. What’s one thing you need to do today?
5. What helps you have a good day?

Happy New Year, friend! I sincerely believe 2025 will bring us so many wonderful things, including good health, joy and adventure!

Connor and I spent the last day of 2024 soaking up art at the SF Museum of Modern Art, aka the SF MOMA and one of my favorite places in the world, with some of our favorite people.

It was so nurturing for my soul to be surrounded by beautiful art and kind friends. ‘Twas the purr-fect way to wrap up the year.

We were there primarily to see the Amy Sherald exhibit; you might know her from her famous painting of First Lady Michelle Obama.

My favorite painting from the exhibit is this one of a young woman and her bike on a summer day. It’s called “A Midsummer Afternoon Dream.”

This one called “Innocent You, Innocent Me,” is Connor’s favorite.

I discovered a couple new-to-me artists to get excited about, like Yayoi Kusama, who does lots of colorful work, especially with polka dots.

There was a room that she made with crazy colors and glass that was super trippy!

I also loved this mural by Jenifer K Wofford of Vicki Manalo Draves, the first Asian American gold medalist who was Filipina and from the Bay Area.

This origami piece was fun. You write a dream that you want to achieve on a piece of paper, and then add it to the other dreams!

I love the displays where you get to interact the art in some way, like this color tunnel…

The girls (myself included) also thoroughly enjoyed walking through this gold beaded curtain, LOL!

Sending you good vibes for 2025!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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 do you need to do the most: rest, get organized or connect with others?

All of the above! Right now, the thing I need most is to get organized, though. Since October, I’ve felt like I’ve been pulled along by external forces, and I don’t want to feel like that anymore. I want to feel like I’m in charge of where my life is going, you know?

2. Who would you rather hang out with: Santa Claus, Snoop Dog, the aliens (let’s assume they’re friendly) or Cupid?

Santa Claus, of course! He’s my homeboy. Together we make magic happen.

3. Which would you rather do: visit a haunted house, fly a plane, sing in front of an audience or try rock climbing on actual rocks?

Sing in front of an audience because it’s the least terrifying of all the options, ha!

4. Which makeup item would you like to restock: foundation, mascara, eyeliner or concealer?

I would LOVE to restock my makeup bag for the new year, so all the things, please. (Side note, I think I just found my new beauty project.) If I have to pick just one, then I could really use some new foundation.

5. Which skincare would you like to restock: sunscreen, serum or moisturizer?

Serum! A bottle of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic would be great.

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 do you need to do the most: rest, get organized or connect with others?
2. Who would you rather hang out with: Santa Claus, Snoop Dog, the aliens (let’s assume they’re friendly) or Cupid?
3. Which would you rather do: visit a haunted house, fly a plane, sing in front of an audience or try rock climbing on actual rocks?
4. What makeup item would you like to restock: foundation, mascara, eyeliner or concealer?
5. What skincare would you like to restock: sunscreen, serum or moisturizer?

Hello, my friend. Merry Christmas to you! I hope that today you’re feeling loved, calm and joyful.

We got back from Hawaii a couple days ago, and it’s been a whirlwind of cookie baking, card writing and gift delivering so far. I still feel the aloha sprit in my heart, though, and it’s keeping me warm and cozy in this chilly Bay Area day.

How have your holidays been so far? I feel like mine flew by in the blink of an eye. Although I wanted to do so much more for everyone in my life, I’ve realized that at a certain point one just needs to accept that there’s only so many hours in the day and so much energy to go around, and you can only do the best you can. It’s truly been a season of grace on this end of the keyboard. Grace for myself, and grace for others.

Anywho, since I spent most of last week with my toes in the sand, here are some pictures that I’ve been meaning to post from my trip. Even though I’ve been to Hawaii countless times, the natural beauty around every corner still stuns me to this day.

Oh, did Santa bring you anything that you’re especially excited about? I got a book called “Girl Dinner,” which has a bunch of snack plate ideas and beautiful pictures. I’m all about snack plates for all meals of the day, LOL! I can’t wait to whip up something from it.

I hope the rest of your Christmas day is cozy and filled with so much love. Thinking of you on this beautiful day!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen