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. Boba or an Icee?

Boba, half sweet, light ice.

2. Could you survive a night out in the woods on your own?

I’m leaning towards yes, although I can’t say definitively that I’d make it out with all my limbs intact, OMG! The thought of being around for Connor and El Hub would be my prime motivator for making it through the night, which is a pretty powerful “why” for me, but I dunno. I’m not built for the outdoors.

3. Concealer: more coverage or less?

Less, please. If it’s too full coverage my skin looks funky.

4. Remote, in person or hybrid?

In person right now, but I’m hoping to do a hybrid schedule in the future.

5. Skorts: yes or no?

Sure, why not?

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. Boba or an Icee?
2. Could you survive a night out in the woods on your own?
3. Concealer: more coverage or less?
4. Remote, in person or hybrid?
5. Skorts: yes or no?

We’re lucky to have such a great leader here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC. Rosie, following in the larger-than-life footsteps of Tabs, runs a tight ship.

She likes to meet all the new recruits, go over the business, set expectations, etc., etc.

Some of the staff says she can be a little intimidating…

But really, she just expects a lot from her team, and she’s a stickler for rules. Like, when it’s Rosie’s time to eat, well, then it’s Rosie’s time to eat. And that’s all there is to it.

Marnie’s only been on the team for a few weeks, but she’s already settling in.

She also knows her way around.

And she really enjoys watching TV in the employee lounge.

Most of the time she takes her lunch in the employee cafeteria…

She’s been out once for drinks with the gals after work, and that was fun.

It’s always nice getting a little more dressed up than usual.

She even got her hair done special. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Well hi there and happy Saturday!

Today is the first weekend in a while that we don’t have anything to do or any place to be, so I’m looking forward to leisurely doing all the things I need to do to keep the house from getting buried under pet hair because OMG, there’s so much of it now!

What I want to do most, though, is wear stretchy pants and read. It’s weird, when I don’t get enough reading time in, I start to feel kinda funny, like my brain isn’t getting enough mental food for thought.

Anywho, after chipping away for months at “Lessons in Chemistry,” I’m going to finally finish it this weekend. I’d also like to restart “The Covenant of Water,” which I’ve stopped and started a couple times over the past few months.

Speaking of the last few months, I realized recently that my six month anniversary at the new job at the college is coming up in June, which is CRAZY to me. In regards to work, I’m in a good place now that I’ve been there for a while, but the other parts of my life, oh my goodness and LE SIGH! I don’t feel anywhere close to balancing everything else.

I feel like I’m pulled in so many directions all the time and that something always suffers.

Like with MBB, for example. I don’t have the same amount of time to cover things the way that I used to, and a part of me feels guilty because I want to be able to take pictures and swatch and do all the things that I know I can do, but part of me also feels like, “Well, this is your life evolving, and this is a chance to do something different.”

I’m trying to view the challenge as an opportunity to find another way to still keep writing that is creatively satisfying, but dang. It hasn’t been easy, as you could probably tell.

Or the house. Is it as clean or as organized as I know it could be? NOPE! I try my best to sneak in whatever cleaning or tidying I can, but it never feels completely clean. I’m trying my best, though.

When I run into other people around here, especially the moms, I wonder sometimes if it’s just me that is having a hard time juggling it all. I don’t know if it’s a Bay Area thing, but a lot of people here seem to present themselves as having it all figured out. Sometimes I feel like I’m nowhere close to that, and I wonder if showing my vulnerability is a flaw. Hmm. I’m probably over thinking this.

Anyway, it’s gonna be me and these books for a few hours today. I’m certainly looking forward to that!

Have a good weekend, and take good care of yourself, OK? Try to get some reading time in if you can.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Well, it took a few weeks, but we finally did it. Both Rosie Pose and Marnie are running free throughout the house, and so far, knock on wood, all relatively peaceful within our little corner of the universe.

For the most part Rosie appears to be disinterested in Marnie, except when she’s pulling a**hole power moves, LOL! Rosie definitely makes it known that she is the queen bee when it comes to commandeering our laps; Marnie has figured out that she needs to stay out of Rosie’s way otherwise she’ll suffer the consequences, aka a hiss or a swat or some combination of the two. I do think Rosie quite enjoys all the psychological games! She seems to delight in bossing little baby Marnie around.

Oh, and dagnabbit, I think this dog is going to make me a runner again. I used to love distance running, and for years, I’d get at least three miles in every day. Something changed within the last few years, though, and I fell out of love with running.

Anywho, I’ve found that Marnie seems happier when she runs in the morning, and so that’s what we’ve been doing. Nothing intense, just a mile or two, with breaks in between, which are mostly for me, ha ha ha!

When we get back from our early morning run, Marnie has her breakfast and so do I. My favorite thing to eat in the morning as of late has been a sweet quinoa bowl.

In a bowl, I add the following: a scoop of cooked quinoa, milk, maple syrup and cinnamon. I warm it up in the microwaves for a minute or two, then top it with berries and sliced almonds. It’s SO GOOD and keeps me full throughout the entire morning. Try it sometime! It’s delightful.

One last thing, which I think you might find mildly hilarious (I sure do). I realized this morning that I left my makeup bag at work yesterday. Ever since I edited my collection down to the bare minimum, I don’t really have any extra things strewn about like brow pencils or eyelash curlers. I mean, of course I’ll put some makeup on when I get to work, but it feels kinda weird not to have even the barest of the essentials within my reach.

Hope you’ve had a wonderful week so far! TGIF!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Apparently the universe needs to keep reminding me of these things! Maybe if I write them down, I’ll be less surprised when it happens again?

1. There’s a period of shock, but FYI…
2. It’s only temporary.
3. Your life will feel like it’s been turned upside down, but again…
4. It’s only temporary.
5. You might think you’ve made a mistake (or two or three or four) and you’ll also wonder if you did the right thing.
6. It might take a while, but you’ll find a way to adjust, and everyone around you will find a way to adjust, too.
7. You might not know all the answers right now, but you’ll figure it all out.
8. Take it easy on yourself. Give yourself copious amounts of grace.
9. It’s ok to mourn your previous life.
10. One more time for the cheap seats in the back! You’re never going to feel completely ready, ever.
11. Try to cover as many of the life basics as possible to keep you from losing your sh*t. For me, it’s getting enough sleep, eating and drinking things that make me feel good, making my bed and moving my body.
12. Let other people know you need help.
13. Let other people help you.
14. You’ll find a new rhythm. It might take some time, but you’ll get there.

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. Crocs or Birkenstocks?

I don’t own either, but I feel like Birkenstocks are a little more formal, so I’d go with those.

2. Do you tend to cook with a lot of spices?

Sure, if a recipe calls for them. When I’m left to my own devices I tend to keep it simple. Salt, pepper, that’s it!

3. Something that you’re hoping for?

I hope Marnie’s brother gets adopted soon. His adoption profile briefly disappeared from the Marin Humane website (which is what happens after an animal gets adopted), but then he showed up again last week.

4. Something you’re currently craving?

Toast with butter!

5. A small goal you’d like to accomplish this week?

I’d like to get everything done in the mornings with time to spare. I’ve been rushing lately and I don’t like the feeling of chaos first thing in the morning.

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. Crocs or Birkenstocks?
2. Do you tend to cook with a lot of spices?
3. Something that you’re hoping for?
4. Something you’re currently craving?
5. A small goal you’d like to accomplish this week?

Hi friend,

Just a quick hi to ya because we’re off to not one, not two, but three dance performances today!

Dance mom life is the best life. 🙂

Have a great Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen