Karen

Hello from rainy Northern California, friend. Are you enjoying the last few bits of the holidays? I hope so.

Our beautiful Christmas lights and ornaments go back into storage soon, and so the trees in our front yard will look like they’re not wearing enough jewelry, ha ha ha. Maybe just for fun, I’ll hang some hearts or something from a few branches for Valentine’s Day.

It looks like there’s going to be a break from the rain today, so I’m heading out to go hiking to see my favorite waterfall.

What are your plans for the weekend? Doing anything for New Year’s Eve? We’re just staying home and taking it easy peasy this year.

This week’s reading

• Ah, how the times are a-changing! When I was 12, an amber-colored bar of Neutrogena soap seemed luxurious, but now tweens want $90 serums and anti-aging skincare.
• So, how exactly do light therapy devices work to clear up breakouts on your skin?
• Apparently these skin care products are a scam.
• Regarding the (mis)information that’s been floating around about refilling perfume bottles at Macy’s for $27.
• One person’s beauty trash is another’s treasure.

Minimal makeup is music to my ears

Seriously, I’m obsessed with her

I see my favorite Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo on this list, yay

I’ve been trying to eat more vegetables at breakfast

She calls her makeup bag her “Swagger Bag”

Note to self

A little obsessed with this show

Have a wonderful rest of your Caturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

More and more I’m realizing that I’m not bound by the past, and that I can actively choose to reinvent myself whenever the heck I want! Now is as good a time as ever.

On that note, these are some things I’m looking forward to embracing in the new year. 🙂

1. Starting a new job

It’s been a while since I’ve had one with a predictable pay period! I’m really looking forward to a steady paycheck and set hours.

That might sound boring, I know, but I’m at a place where job stability sounds really freakin’ amazing. It’s a relief to no longer carry that mental weight, and slowly but surely, I’m starting to feel a little stronger every day.

2. Changing my fitness routine

I’ve worked out by myself in my bedroom every day with a fitness video on YouTube for almost three years thanks to the pandemic.

Something happened last summer, though. It was like a switch flipped, and I just couldn’t find the motivation to do it anymore.

Yes, exercising alone by yourself at the crack of dawn is great for convenience and for saving money (no gym fees, yay), but now the last thing I want to do is work out in front of a screen by myself.

I’ve made the decision to find and join a gym in the new year, ideally one with childcare, so I can take Connor with me while I work out, and once I’ve got a better handle on my job schedule, I’m taking ALL THE CLASSES, especially ones that are new to me. Zumba, weight lifting, yoga, you name it. As long as it gets me moving, I’m there.

3. Embracing a new daily routine

Soon I’ll have to shift my daily schedule to accommodate the new routine, and even the seemingly small things, like making Connor’s lunch at night before we go to bed rather than doing it in the morning before she goes to school, will change.

Am I low-key freaking out about how and when I’m going to find time to write? And how am I going to handle caring for Connor when school’s out in the summer? Oh my gosh, YES.

But I know that families eventually figure it out, and we will too.

4. Building a new wardrobe

It’s going to be soooo different having to dress myself properly to go out in the world because honestly, after Connor was born, I got used to having dried baby food stains on everything and not being bothered at all by the occasional hole in my pants or shirt. LOL!

I used to love fun and outrageous fashion when I was in my teens, 20s and 30s, but now, rather than push boundaries or stand out, I just want to look polished and coordinated and have NO HOLES in anything, ha ha ha. Dare I say it’s been fun shopping for things like work pants again?

5. Evolving my writing goals

They’re going to be different now that I’m not following a copywriting path as closely as I have been for the past few years. Something in my writing feels like it’s evolving, for sure, and in good way. To be able to write just because I want to, not because my livelihood depends on it, is a big mental shift. In many ways it’s very freeing. I dunno how to explain it, but the shift has made me feel lighter. Happier.

What are you looking forward to in 2024?

Anyway, thinking of you today on this rainy Thursday in Nor Cal. Hope things are well and that you’re healthy; everyone around me seems to be getting something!

Today I’m going to take Connor ice skating at an indoor rink if she wants. Or, we might just stay in, read books, bake cookies and have a dance party in her room. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hiya, friend. It’s so nice to see you! Isn’t it kind of crazy that just like that, in the blink of an eye, the rush of the holiday season is finally over? Yeah, yeah. I know New Year’s Eve is around the corner, too, but at this point, I’m tapping out of any further festivities until next year.

In my mind I’ve been calling it “cocooning.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent the last couple of weeks in a quieter state than usual. I know life will be changing soon, in a good way, in a couple weeks because of the new job.

I also knew this Christmas was going to look a little different with just me, El Hub and Connor (it’s a long story). Anywho, I anticipated it being a more introspective and a quieter holiday with just the three of us, and Rosie of course, and with us sticking at home and not doing any traveling. But it was one of the best holidays ever because we got the ultimate gift from friends and neighbors in our lives — the gift of time, attention and thoughtfulness.

We gave and got impromptu invitations to lunches and hang out sessions. There were snacks and chats and time spent with human and animal friends – so many dogs and cats!

It’s funny how food brings people together, and how meals with friends can teach you new things about yourself, too. I found out that I don’t hate arugula pesto and that Connor absolutely *loves* pomelo fruit.

Connor and I found out we’re obsessed with our neighbor’s rice porridge, aka burbur ayam, aka Indonesian chicken congee.

Our neighbor, Linda, originally from Indonesia, is the cutest lady and one of the best home cooks I’ve ever known. She sent her husband over with a huge bowl of this porridge with all the fixings yesterday morning, and seriously, Connor and I inhaled it in record time.

It’s kinda funny to me because when I was growing up, I had to eat the Filipino version of rice porridge over the holidays, and it was never my favorite. All these years I just assumed all rice porridge dishes were bland and gummy, but my neighbor’s version was life changing. I dreamt of Linda’s porridge last night, no joke!

Anywho, the last few days have all been so quiet and lovely.

I’m looking forward to cocooning even more today on the couch with a book, blanket, a cup of coffee and my favorite people.

Oh, so that this post is remotely beauty related, please note in the top pic the weird bun my hair is in. Have you had yours in a weird bun for the last few days, too? Eventually I might wrestle mine out of it, ha ha ha.

I may or may not put on some makeup, eventually. I’m contemplating finally removing the last remnants of the Essie manicure that’s been holding onto dear life for the last few weeks, but maybe not. I might just let nature take its course.

Sending you virtual hugs and good thoughts and good vibes. I hope things on your end are excellent and that you’ve had a peaceful and happy holiday season so far.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning, sweet friend! You know what I realized yesterday? It’s kind of wild that during this time of year when you go into someone’s house, there’s a big ol’ tree in their living room. Any other time of year it would just be viewed as a little quirky, LOL! Anywho, the fam and I off to have lunch in the beautiful town of Sonoma with a dear friend (hi, Marisol) and then we might go ice skating. I think it’ll depend on how caffeinated I get beforehand. 😬

On that note, tis a short and sweet Saturday Surfing today.

• Is anybody else already so, so tired of being cold all the time? I know the California version of “cold” (air quotes) isn’t the real deal when it comes to chilly weather, but still. I’d rather be in shorts and a t-shirt. Anywho, this story about what scents to wear if you want to smell like summer by the sea has me already thinking of hot weather and long, leisurely days at the beach.
• Speaking of perfume, here are the best books on perfume according to author Denise Hamilton. She’s a novelist who used to write a perfume column for “The Los Angeles Times” called Uncommon Scents.
• “Tiramisu hair” is a thing.
• Unilever just bought K18.
• How a beauty entrepreneur built her nail business.
• These will be the biggest skin-care trends of 2024.

Go science

Currently listening to this

I love a one and done shadow

Have a wonderful rest of your day. I hope things are great on your end!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are down below.

This or That: The Holiday Edition, 2023, Part II!

• Do you celebrate the night before (24th) or on Christmas day (25th)?
• Hot cocoa or hot apple cider?
• Ice skating – yes or no?
• Choose your advent calendar – one for skin, hair, perfume or nails?
• Pick a holiday candle scent – pine, cinnamon, peppermint or cranberry?
• Make a wreath or build a snowman?

Do you celebrate the night before (24th) or on Christmas day (25th)?

A little bit of both. I used to be able to feast and stay up until midnight to open presents, but since I turn into a pumpkin at 9 that’s not happening, ha ha ha! We’ll do a festive meal and fall asleep at our unusual time on the 24th, and then we’ll open presents and have a yummy breakfast on Christmas morning.

Hot cocoa or hot apple cider?

I like both, but I’ll take hot cocoa because I’m less likely to taste the scoop of collagen protein I sneak into it.

Ice skating – yes or no?

Yes! Race ya around the rink. 🙂

Choose your advent calendar – one for skin, hair, perfume or nails

Perfume please.

Pick a holiday candle scent – pine, cinnamon, peppermint or cranberry

Cinnamon sounds cozy.

Make a wreath or build a snowman?

Let’s build a snowman. Don’t forget the carrot for the nose!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are down below.

This or That: The Holiday Edition, 2023!

• Pick a holiday movie – “Elf” or “A Christmas Story”?
• Fruit cake or egg nog?
• Twinkling lights – yes or no?
• Pick one beauty gift – a trio of twist-up cream eyeshadows or a mini brush set?
• Bake a batch of homemade cookies from scratch or buy cupcakes from a bakery?
• Festive red nails or festive red lipstick?

Pick a holiday movie – “Elf” or “A Christmas Story”?

“Elf” because I’m guaranteed to laugh!

Fruit cake or egg nog?

Hmm. I haven’t had either in years. Let’s do the fruit cake, so I can have coffee with it.

Twinkling lights — yes or no?

Yes! Slow twinkle, though. The lights that blink too fast make my eyes twitch.

Pick a beauty gift — a trio of twist-up cream eyeshadows or a mini brush set?

Let’s go with the cream shadows.

Bake a batch of homemade cookies from scratch or buy cupcakes from a bakery?

At this point in the holiday season, I’m buying the cupcakes from the bakery and saving myself the effort.

Festive red nails or festive red lipstick?

Festive red nails. I could use a mani right meow!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen