Karen

Happy Caturday, my friend! I’m happy to report that our orange tree, which had fallen over and cracked earlier this week because of all the crazy storms we’ve been having lately, is finally in her new home.

I’m hoping that the spill didn’t cause her too much trauma and that she’ll make it! I do love the pot that El Hub and Connor picked out, though, so perhaps the tumble was a blessing in disguise. Perhaps it was time for her to get a fresh new look in a bigger space.

Speaking of fresh new looks, I went back to World Market earlier this week to look at the teal chairs again. My co-worker, who is great with home staging and decor, suggested going there and moving furniture around the chairs to get a better feel of what they could look like styled with other pieces, so I did just that!

Honestly, it was kind of fun! I really enjoyed the visual exercise of putting items together to see if I thought they worked.

She also reminded me that in order to see if something works in your space, you really just need to get it in there, play with it, and see how you feel about it.

I ended up bringing two chairs home, along with a rug and a side table. Mind you, this is not the permanent set up, and I still need to get quite a few items to complete the space.

I showed these pics to my co-worker and she said that I should trust my instincts because this is on the right path, which was a big relief. It’s weird, I feel like I can put an outfit together or a makeup look together visually quite easily, but with home decorating, I always get so overwhelmed, and then I can’t make a decision. It was nice to hear that I have decent design instincts from someone else who loves the stuff.

This week’s reading

• 17 women share why they stopped wearing makeup.
• For my perfume friends who love a neroli note, allegedly these are the 12 best neroli perfumes.
• 5 spring nail color trends to try.
• More spring nail color inspiration!
• While we’re on the subject of nails, these are some long-lasting nail polishes to try for a chip-free at-home manicure.
• Beyonce launched a new line of hair products.
• Some experts believe that repeatedly popping pimples can amount to self-harm.

Oh my gosh, WANT!

I’m low-key obsessed with cat grooming videos

Note to self

Gorgeous

Microneedling!

Can’t wait to play this on a warm evening

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday. Today is supposed to be clear and nearly 70 degrees, so I’m going outside to soak up some sunshine.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This is definitely one of those subjects that is a deeper conversation for many of us about marketing and how women are targeted to feel “less than.” Sigh. But I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, mostly because Connor is going to be eight soon, and that’s when I first started feeling like I needed to change my appearance.

That summer, I was running through the sprinklers in the backyard with my best friend, Karrie, who was a skinny string bean. (Side note, do kids still run through the sprinklers? Hmmm.)

In retrospect, I was a thin child, too, but at the time I remember wondering if my tummy was sticking out; suddenly, the rainbow one-piece swimsuit that I spent days running around in felt like it wasn’t doing me any favors. It was the very first time I felt like something was wrong with my body, which is why it sticks out so vividly in my mind.

I wish I could go back in time and give that little eight-year-old Karen a hug! She really didn’t know any better, and she could’ve used a gentle talk about how all bodies are shaped differently and how hers was beautiful.

Anywho, how old were you when you first felt this way? And if you’d like to write that version of you a kind note, please feel free to do that, too.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF. I hope you have a great day!

The sun came out for five minutes yesterday afternoon, and for a brief moment, it felt like spring was on the horizon.

For sure I’m loving all the rain, but I can’t wait to wear cute spring clothes and fun spring colors, and yes, I have all the things on my wish list, LOL!

1. Donna Karan Cashmere Collection

I’m a fan of Donna Karan’s cult fave deodorant (!), Cashmere Mist, so when I heard that the line was releasing a few new versions of the classic scent, I immediately put one of the flankers in my cart.

I really want to sniff Cashmere & Tiare Flower, a solar floral with top notes of ashoka flower and bergamot, a tiare flower middle note and a vetiver base.

Cashmere & Tunisian Neroli sounds beautiful, too. It’s a bright citrus floral, which is so my jam, with a bergamot top note, a neroli middle note and a cedarwood base.

2. MAC Maximal Lipsticks

Well these look fun! MAC recently reformulated their matte lipsticks into their new Maixmal formula to make them feel comfy and silky; I’m really hoping that they didn’t muck up my go-to Velvet Teddy!

3. Nike Women’s Dunk Low Basketball Shoes

Aka the Dunk Low Pandas! I consider these shoes a classic staple because the black and white combo is neutral and goes with everything. I think these kicks would add a cute edge to jeans or a monochromatic black or tan outfit!

Side note, I’ve noticed Nike shoes typically run a little small on me, so I usually go a half size bigger with their shoes. However, I’ve read that that the Dunks have unisex sizing and are true to size. Hmmm. I might end up getting my usual size along with the slightly larger one too and keep what fits best.

4. Sam Edelman Loafers

While we’re on the subject of shoes, I’ve been eyeing the classic Sam Edleman bit loafers for so long! I would like to get both the black and tan colors to cover all my wardrobe bases.

5. No-show socks

So here’s something that’s been bugging me for a while — the quest for non-annoying no-show socks!

Which ones do you like?

I have yet to find a brand of no-show socks that stays put. If you know one that’s especially great for loafers, please drop this very valuable and important knowledge ASAP!

6. A swing trench

Years ago I bought a swing trench from J. Crew that I loved and wore all throughout spring and summer.

Alas, after having a baby, it no longer fits me the way it used to.

Oh yeah, I think it’s rude how nobody ever tells you at the baby shower how your ribs will shift, and how they’ll seemingly never go back to the way they used to be. Anywho!

This one by Steve Madden looks similar to it, and I have a feeling I’d wear it a ton.

7. Lady jacket from J. Crew

In theory I love J Crew style, but the last couple times I bought stuff from there, the quality left much to be desired. I do love the look of this lady jacket, though, and can see myself wearing it a lot.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My sweet MBB,

I don’t know how this happened, but I blinked and suddenly you turned 17.

My first baby is no longer quite my baby.

Remember when you were very young, and we didn’t quite know each other that well? Oh, those funny pictures we used to take in that old apartment years and years ago.

You’re officially a young adult now, and I’m so proud of you. I feel like I got to witness you blossom, and now I’m releasing you into the world so that you can take it on with your own set of beautiful, sparkly wings.

I’ll always cherish the adventures we’ve had and all the memories we’ve made together. You have profoundly shaped my life in so many ways. Being with you has made me into the person that I am today.

I don’t think I’ll ever have enough ways to thank you for everything you’ve given me.

I made a wish into the universe to make something great, and the stars sent me to you.

You will always be one of my great, true loves.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It’s been raining like crazy and I’ve lost track of how many consecutive storms we’ve had in a row!

So far we’ve made it through without any major incidents, except for yesterday, which was when our poor orange tree fell over.

Despite being happy in the same heavy pot for nearly 14 years, it toppled over after some seriously intense winds yesterday afternoon. The pot cracked into several pieces.

El Hub came home a little early from work to go to the hardware store to pick up another pot, and when I brought up the subject of perhaps using the opportunity to plant the tree in the ground, he asked, “Tell me, would YOU like to dig the hole? Because it’s gonna take a few hours digging in the rain to make it deep enough.” Um, no thanks, young man!

He and Connor went out to go buy another pot, and they ended up choosing one with a pretty teal gradient.

Anyway, earlier that afternoon, shortly after we discovered the tree had fallen, Connor said something that surprised me.

“Why do bad things like this always happen to us?”

Hearing her say something like this really surprised me. It felt like a punch to the gut.

I grew up in a somewhat pessimistic household, and the negativity colored how I felt about myself and the world around me as a young person. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started seeing the glass as half full and that was only after lots of hard work at retraining my brain.

It’s been a journey, but for me it’s been worth it. Viewing the world through this half-full lens has made my heart lighter and my life generally better, and I’ve tried to pass this onto Connor, starting from a very early age. My hope is that teaching her this will allow her to move through the world with a strength and confidence that I didn’t have until later in life.

I took her aside and explained the tree falling over wasn’t some sort of punishment. It was just an effect of the wind and the weather. When the wind is strong, sometimes a pot just tips over. Weather is just weather. It’s neither good nor bad. It just is.

I also tried to convey to her that our thoughts and our words are very powerful, and that when we say things like, “Bad stuff always happens to me,” it can reinforce the belief that bad things will happen — and that can be a dangerous thing for a person. I told her that we have to do everything we can to protect what our minds think and what words we choose to say out loud because what we believe becomes true for us.

Was it too deep of a conversation to have with a seven-year-old child? I don’t know. I do hope some of it sank in, though.

One thing I’ve found interesting about being a parent is that it can be very triggering at times. It usually happens in situations when I realize what kind of reaction I would’ve gotten from my main caregivers as a child. Sometimes I wish I could go back to little me and give her the care, guidance and support that Connor gets.

Anywho. We’re all like the orange tree in the pot, I guess. We’re snug in our pots doing our thing, but sometimes, a storm comes along, and for whatever reason, we topple over. But then our people come along, and they help us find another pot, replant us, and we keep on keeping on.

We just keep going and we keep growing.

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. Converse or cowboy boots?

Converse, but they’ve gotta be platform Converse!

2. A sweet treat that reminds you of elementary school?

I don’t know why, but pudding was all over the place when I was in elementary school. I remember eating a lot of pudding made from a box, pre-made pudding in plastic cups (tapioca was my favorite) and Jell-O pudding pops all the time. There was so much damn pudding, LOL! I barely eat it as an adult, but as a child, I remember it being a big thing.

3. Barrettes – yes or no?

I like the idea of them in theory, so yes. In practice, though, I rarely wear them. Maybe I need more barrettes in my life!

4. Something that surprised you about getting older?

That my hands and my forearms would sometimes hurt after doing physical work. It was kind of shocking! I’ve always had strong hands (I think playing piano seriously from when I was four until 17 years old helped develop a lot of finger dexterity and strength), but now, I have to purposefully do things for recovery, like stretching, otherwise they’re sore.

5. A scent that make you happy?

Lilacs. Violet notes in perfumes. A pie baking in the oven. The air in my lungs on a sunny day after it’s been raining for a long time. Sunscreen at the beach. The top of a baby’s head.

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. Converse or cowboy boots?
2. A sweet treat that reminds you of elementary school?
3. Barrettes – yes or no?
4. Something that surprised you about getting older?
5. A scent that makes you happy?

Happy Saturday, friend. Guess what? I was at Target yesterday, and when I saw this display for CeraVe at an endcap, I half expected Michael Cera to pop out and hand me a bottle of lotion.

Seriously, who made this? It’s so wacky and I wish I was on the creative team that dreamt it up. I laughed so hard when I saw this commercial!

Anywho, while I was perusing the beauty section, I noticed a bunch of Bliss skincare significantly marked down on sale.

Of course I grabbed a bottle of one of my favorite mineral sunscreens, Bliss Block Star. It’s usually around $24 but was on sale for about $12.

If you happen to see it on shelves, grab one! It’s really good.

I’m on day two of a four day weekend. I spent my first day cleaning, believe it or not. I had the whole house to myself and instead of chilling out, I used the time to deep clean my floors. I have luxury plank vinyl all over the house, so I spent the day vacuuming, Swiffering and mopping. I’m going to buy some chairs and other bits and bobs of furniture soon, and I like the idea of a fresh start with clean floors!

Just in case you’re looking for a mop that’s easy to use, here’s the one I have by O-Cedar. I like that the removable microfiber mop head flips over and is machine washable.

The cleaning solution I use is a mix of warm water, vinegar and the teeniest drop of Dawn dish washing soap.

In a gallon-size bucket, I mix warm water, a cup of vinegar and one to two drops of Dawn. After vacuuming and running a dry Swiffer over the floors, I mop the floor and wipe down the baseboards with a microfiber cloth soaked in the solution. Then, after a bit of time passes, I take another fresh Swiffer to dry everything down.

It might be OTT, but my floors feel so clean afterwards.

I find that the more things I have in my cleaning arsenal, the easier it is to keep things tidy!

Anywho, before I jet, the original reason why I went to Target was to buy a round mirror, coat hooks and a thin floating shelf for my entryway. 🙂

OK, I’m off to grab a birthday present for a friend, and then I plan to do some high intensity relaxing. If you’re in Nor Cal, stay dry and safe in the rain.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen