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. Are you cooking or baking anything special for the holidays?

Every year I try to make a sweet treat for our friends and neighbors; this year I’m baking brownies from scratch. As for our Christmas meal, I still don’t have ours planned out yet, but if I can’t think of anything, we’ll probably do crab again.

2. Are you on Santa’s naughty or nice list?

I hope I’m on the nice list, LOL!

3. A holiday treat you enjoy?

Peppermint ice cream from Baskin Robbins, ideally in a sugar cone. Yummy!

4. What nicknames do you have for your pets?

Rosie has so many! She also goes by Posie, Pose, Rosie-Pose, Chonks, Chonk-a-donk and Mama.

5. Something makeup related that you’d like to buy for yourself?

I really need to update my lipstick collection. I’d especially love a fancy, go-to lipstick that’s moisturizing and pairs with most looks.

Happy Monday, beautiful girl. It’s a beautifully rainy day here in Marin county, and I just got back from an onboarding meeting for my new job. The countdown before my first day starts right meow, woo hoo!

Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner? I’m not quite panicking yet, but I do have a good amount of wrapping to get done before the week is over. I also have some last-minute gifts to take care of — stocking stuffers and whatnot.

How’s your holiday task list going?

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. Are you cooking or baking anything special for the holidays?
2. Are you on Santa’s naughty or nice list?
3. A holiday treat you enjoy?
4. What nicknames do you have for your pets?
5. Something makeup related that you’d like to buy for yourself?

Good morning, my friend. Happy Saturday to ya!

It’s the first weekend in a while where our family has no dance-related activities, and I almost don’t know what to do with the down time. Dance fam life is fun and exciting, for sure, but keeping track of scheduling, costumes, hair styles, meal planning and everything else in between requires a lot of mental bandwidth. I’m glad to have the chance today to veg out and let my brain and body rest.

Today I have no plans other than getting over this lingering cold. There will be lots of hot tea drinking, book reading and binge watching, because the second half of the latest season of “The Crown” is now on Netflix. YES!

This week’s reading

• What do you think of Pantone’s 2024 color of the year? I’m getting ’80s vibes!
• I think Jennifer Garner’s beauty routine is really pretty. I’m going to try her trick of doing mascara first and liquid liner second.
• This makeup artist works on celebrity clients in the NFL.
• Meet Carol Rasheed, the head makeup artist for “The Color Purple.”
• In case you didn’t know, “off-world DNA storage” is a thing, and now hair samples of three U.S. presidents are set to launch into deep space later this month.

Yes please

Very pretty

This is a lot of blush, wow

Talk to me

Have a great rest of your weekend, and please do your best to stay healthy! I feel like I’m getting a cold every five seconds these days, LOL!

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. Are you naturally athletic?

Eh, I’d say I kinda am, but I’m no sports superstar. It really depends on what the assignment is! With endurance things that are solo (like running, walking or swimming) I do ok. I’m also alright at things that involve a lot of balance, like surfing. If there are fast moving objects flying through the air though, forget about it. Let’s just say you don’t want me on your volleyball team!

2. Something on your Christmas list?

I’d really like a rug for my living room.

3. If you have a pet, where’s your pet at this very moment?

Wait, let me check! Aww, Rosie-Pose is sleeping amongst Connor’s stuffies. Too cute.

4. Your current favorite easy snack?

The salted frozen edamame in pods from Trader Joe’s is easy, delicious and has protein. I’m also loving the Boom Chicka Pop Butter Popcorn in a bag. I fill up a bowl with the popcorn, add a small handful of cashews and dried fruit, and I’m so, so happy.

5. How’s your hair today?

It’s so cray! I washed it last night and haven’t had a chance to deal with it. Connor coughed all night long and so she’s home today. I thankfully was able to get her into an early morning appointment with her pediatrician, and I’m only just now sitting down at my desk to do some writing. Maybe I’ll wrestle with my hair after I finish the poll. Or maybe not, ha ha!

6. Something you need to get done?

I really need to sign a stack of paperwork that’s due soon. I should also wrap some Christmas presents! Oh, and comb my hair and brush my teeth and get out of my pajamas. LOL. Did I mention we got no sleep last night and had a bananas morning? Sigh.

7. Something you’re lovin’ these days?

Eating a breakfast that’s high in protein, and low in sugar and carbs. I started doing this a few weeks ago and now feel like a completely different person, in a good way, in the morning.

Have a wonderful rest of your day, sweet friend. I hope you’re healthy and happy and that you’re feeling the holiday spirit.

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. Are you naturally athletic?
2. Something on your Christmas list?
3. If you have a pet, where’s your pet at this very moment?
4. Your current favorite easy snack?
5. How’s your hair today?
6. Something you need to get done?
7. Something you’re lovin’ these days?

Happy Caturday, sweet girl!

Is anyone putting up their tree today? I’ve always admired people who can do a specific theme or color scheme with their trees; I’ve tried it before and I just can’t do it; ours is always a beautifully chaotic mash up of ornaments we’ve collected through the years.

That doesn’t stop me from admiring trees with a strong theme, like this cat-themed tree, which I saw at the West End Nursery Christmas Store in San Rafael a few weeks ago.

So cute, right? Although if Tabs ever saw this tree, I’m pretty sure he’d find a way to topple it over, ha ha ha!

Anywho, it’s yet another big dance weekend for our not-so-tiny dancer. She has dress rehearsal today and two performances tomorrow.

These pajamas are her costume for the lyrical dance the girls are doing today. Isn’t it cute? Her dance teacher had us order them from Amazon. Here they are in case you’re interested.

On that note, I’m off to do Dance Mom things. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

This week’s reading

• This might be a fun gift for the makeup lover in your life — the book “Eyeliner” examines liner’s role in global society.
• I thought this essay on why a college student doesn’t wear makeup was interesting. She says, “When I attend formal events or when I take important photos, I no longer concern myself with the need to cover up the features that make me human, or ‘enhance’ what is already perfectly adequate. I allow myself to show up as I am, in all contexts, just like men are socialized to do. And it is incredibly liberating.”
• Would you wear a perfume that smells like old books?
• The birth of the popular scent “Red Moscow,” aka the Chanel of the USSR.
• The tween skin-care market is now a thing, and it’s booming.

A different take on one of my favorite songs

Go science

Because I’ve been into bright lips lately

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen