Karen

“It’s time to spa!”

By far, this tag line I wrote for Connor’s spa-themed birthday party last weekend was the best thing I’ve ever written as a copywriter.

LOL! I’m glad Connor decided to add it to the welcome board she made for her birthday party.

How cool is this neon drawing board, though? Connor got it for her birthday from her nana and grandpa. I kinda want one for myself to have at work, so I can write things like, “Kindly please refrain from asking me questions today.” Or, “Shhhh, speak less.”

If you’ve got to buy a kid a present and they’re into art, I highly recommend it! It’s the Discovery Kids Neon Glow Drawing Easel.

It was a small but sweet party. The girls also ate pizza, cake and snacks, ran around, built a fort and watched a movie. I think they enjoyed it! I know I did.

The spa-themed part of the party was super cute, by the way. I was the “spa technician” for the day, so I painted nails and placed cucumbers and face masks on cute little faces. 🙂

While we’re on the subject of nail polish, for the longest time, the Target near my house had the gnarliest nail polish section.

The displays were always covered in polish, bottles were always in the wrong place, and I swear it seemed like every bottle had been previously opened by, um, enthusiastic testers. It was really gross, so I never bought any nail polish there.

Anyway, I was shocked when I stopped by recently and found clean displays and a relatively well-stocked nail polish section.

Let’s see how long it lasts!

Last week while I was shopping for party snacks at Trader Joe’s, I stumbled onto a new sorbet inspired by one of the distinct flavors of the Philippines, calamansi, which is a citrus fruit that tastes like a hybrid between a Meyer lemon and a mandarin orange.

Trader Joe’s Calamansi & Mango Sorbet is a citrusy treat that’s a little tart, a little sweet and a whole lotta refreshing. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it because the calamansi note is very distinct, so if it’s a little bit off it tastes weird, but the flavor is spot on and it tastes like the real thing! Try it if you get the chance.

One last thing before I head out to work. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I have a thing for cute dinnerware. A beautifully set table setting makes my heart sing. LOL! I stumbled onto this cute set by Lenox called French Perle Scallop, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ve had off-white farmhouse-style dishes from Crate & Barrel for a few years now, and while I like how sturdy they are and how their simplicity doesn’t compete with the food on your plate, I’m craving more color in my life.

I hope things on your end are going OK! What’ve you been up to lately?

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. French braid or high pony?

Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe the style that’s least likely to annoy me when I get a migraine? I guess I’d go with a high pony, then.

2. What time did you get up this morning?

6 a.m. right on the dot, but I could’ve used another hour or two of sleep.

3. How do you like to wear your eyeliner?

Lately I’ve been lining only the upper part of my lids. Last year I started to feel like lower lash line liner looks a little harsh on me; actually, now that I think about it, I feel like a lot of techniques I used to do look that way. Anywho, liner. If I’m short on time, I’ll do just the upper waterline, but if I have a little extra time, then I’ll trace a thin cat eye with the tiniest flick along my upper lashes.

4. Something that made your heart sing recently?

We had a birthday party at our house yesterday for Connor. At one point in time the house was so loud with screaming, laughing and barking (the kids were pretending they were stray animals that needed to be rescued, ha)! It was absolutely fantastic.

5. Something you need to replace in your makeup bag?

Goodness, so many things. I really need to pop by the beauty counter ASAP! Anywho, I desperately need a new brow pencil, and now the Hourglass twist-up liner I use every day has worn down to the last bits. I could also use a new mascara. And lipstick! And blush.

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. French braid or high pony?
2. What time did you get up this morning?
3. How do you like to wear your eyeliner?
4. Something that made your heart sing recently?
5. Something you need to replace in your makeup bag?

This not-so-little girl turned eight today! Hard to believe she was once a small peanut in the crook of my arm.

She currently loves Squishmallows (who doesn’t though), cats, watercolor painting, crafting, dancing, math and science.

She still loves spending time with mama and daddy, so I try to soak up all of the hangout time that I can get right meow! 🙂

It’s crazy to me that once upon a time she lived inside my body. Now she’s out and about in the world, sashaying her way across the stage and through life. She’s sweet, smart and sassy.

Thank you for being her cool internet Aunties. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Oh, and goddesses of the universe, if you’re listening, please shower her with love and light, watch over her and surround her with people who will bring out the best in her. And gift her with many, many more birthdays to come!

1. “Dance Life,” Amazon Prime

This reality show follows a group of talented young dancers who want to break into the competitive world of professional dance in Australia. I was impressed with their work ethic and the creative choreography!

The slow motion sequences are beautiful, by the way.

2. “Beecham House,” Amazon Prime

Do you love period piece dramas? Me too! Fire this up ASAP. Make sure you have on comfy pants and your favorite pillow and blanket nearby when you dive into this epic tale set in 1795 in Delhi.

3. “One Day,” Netflix

So, I enjoyed this TV series about an ill-fated pair of lovers, but daaaang it got slow in the middle. At that point I was so emotionally invested, though, and I couldn’t look away. If you want a condensed experience just watch the movie of the same name starring Anne Hathaway from 2011.

4. True Detective: Night Country, MAX

Scary! Don’t watch it when you’re alone at home at night. The leads, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, have so much acting game, which is why I kept coming back for more.

5. “Belgravia,” Amazon Prime

One more for my period piece friends. This one has drama for your mama! There is an almost shocking amount of shady behavior from all angles, which you’ll either love or loathe. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What’ve you been marathoning lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I randomly started streaming the Lifetime movie “Danger Below Deck” the other day when I needed a brain break.

Who knew it would prove to be so informative? I really wanted to look away, but dang — I COULD NOT!

About the Movie

Two influencers find themselves on a luxury cruise through the Caribbean and South Pacific. But when their dream vacation turns into a nightmare, they’ll need to do whatever it takes to stay together… and to stay alive.
—mylifetime.com

In case you need some life-saving tips today, FYI…

1. Say no to free cruises

If you make an enigmatic friend who’s a party girl at the club and has a seemingly large social media fan base, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, agree to go on an international cruise with her after only knowing her for like, two seconds. Even if she says the cruise is free, and that you’ll have a good time, don’t do it!

2. Note to self, there’s nothing casual about it

When you meet sketchy dudes in the bar on this cruise and you’re told by your party girl’s kinda-sorta-not-really boyfriend that all you need to do is hang out with them casually and make sure they have a good time, FYI, it’s never just casually “hanging out.” Trust me, before you sat down for those free margaritas, there were discussions about shady things happening.

3. Also, he’s not a nice guy

If you start having feelings for one of the sketchy dudes and you think to yourself, “He’s totally nice,” chances are, he’s not. He’s a wanna-be career criminal, and even if he shows flashes of kindness from his former pre-crime life, if almost every Lifetime movie ever made tells us anything, he’s really bad at his job, and you are in danger.

4. Don’t go into the jungle

If this guy asks you to take a road trip into the jungle in a country where people are known to disappear, YOU SAY NOOOOO! Do not go to a second location!

5. Again, stay on the boat

Should you end up going on this road trip (sigh), leave your passports and all your important documents on the boat. Or, better yet, STAY ON THE BOAT.

Oh, and if you happen to be taken hostage during this road trip by the bad guys, it’s because the “nice guy” was trying to do a criminal deal, and it’s gone awry.

6. It pays to have skills

Do you know how to hot wire a car? Yes? GOOD! If you find a broken down car on the side of the road, you’ll need this critical skill to escape the bad guys by the skin of your teeth! Bonus points if you can drive a stick shift in a torn party dress and heels.

7. And last, but not least…

If your party girl friend (remember her?) says that in order to get out of the mess you’re in, you’ll have to bring lots of illegal items into a foreign country, dude. Just don’t do it.

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. Flared pants or a flower crown?

Give me the flares any day! Flower crowns make my forehead itch.

2. One of your favorite paintings?

Van Gogh’s starry night. I love the movement in the night sky and all the shades of blue.

3. Scented body lotion – yes or no?

This used to be an all caps YES for me, but lately it’s a hard pass because of migraines. I know that certain scents trigger headaches, so I keep it unscented – for now, at least.

4. Something tricky you’re navigating right now?

Hmm, let me think. Something that’s challenged me lately has been figuring out all the different personalities I come into contact with at work. Can I just say, some people are really quite rude in their email exchanges? I don’t think everyone understands you get so many more bees with honey.

5. Some things on your to-do list this week?

Prep for Connor’s birthday on Saturday and her birthday party on Sunday! Figure out whether or not the ottoman I bought yesterday on a whim at Marshall’s is too small and if I need to eventually get a bigger one (all signs point to yes). Eat some salads, as my body needs veggies.

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. Flared pants or a flower crown?
2. One of your favorite paintings?
3. Scented body lotion – yes or no?
4. Something tricky you’re navigating right now?
5. Some things on your to-do list this week?