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. Which would you rather have: an epic eyeshadow collection or an epic lipstick collection?

My eye makeup game has been super minimal for the past couple of years, so epic lipstick collection it is!

2. If you could only wear one type of pants for the rest of your life, which would you pick: yoga/workout leggings, jeans, chinos or overalls?

Although I like the idea of wearing pants with stretch, I do not love the idea of wearing leggings that hug my butt so closely for the rest of my life. UGH. But I guess I’d go with yoga/workout leggings, simply because I can’t imagine working out in jeans or chinos. And I guess one could dress leggings up for formal occasions?

3. What do you think would be cooler: having wings or having an impenetrable shell?

Wings, all the way. I can see why a shell would be great though, especially if one was unexpectedly under attack, or if people were getting on my nerves and/or I needed to take a nap! Just tuck into the shell and that’s it.

4. What’s for dinner?

Probably lemon pasta because we just picked off a ton of lemons from our lemon tree a few days ago, and I need to use them up. I use this recipe, by the way!

5. What’s easier to do, blending blush or blending eyeshadow?

Oh yeah, blush, for sure.

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. Which would you rather have: an epic eyeshadow collection or an epic lipstick collection?
2. If you could only wear one type of pants for the rest of your life, which would you pick: yoga/workout leggings, jeans, chinos or overalls?
3. What do you think would be cooler: having wings or having an impenetrable shell?
4. What’s for dinner?
5. What’s easier to do, blending blush or blending eyeshadow?

Finally! A sunny week. 🌞

This is such a great time of year in the Bay Area. It’s still a bit wintry, but we usually get a few weeks in late February that are ridiculously perfect. Sunny and crisp with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s.

We’ve gotten more rain than usual (the new usual) for three years in a row, including this one, which is weird because we had a drought that lasted a decade!

I know it’s temporary, but for three years the weather has been, like, retro normal. Trees are healthy again, the streams and rivers are flowing — it’s bizarre!

This is the time of year one of my tabby’s favorite flowers bloomed. Tulips! He loved almost everything about them. (“Almost” because he did not like the fact that they’re toxic.)

Rosie loves this time of year too.

Not quite spring, but not quite the dead of winter either. During unseasonably warm weeks like this one, the grass starts growing, oak trees start blooming, squirrels are…squirreling, and butterflies and birds are flying.

There’s a lot of activity!

Marnie doesn’t have a super strong opinion on it either way…

Sure, she likes going outside for long walkies, but really, she fine using her treadmill too.

She isn’t very picky about her workouts. 😆

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My sweet MBB,

Goodness gracious, you are 18 today. I can’t believe it, but yet I can. We’ve been together so long, haven’t we?

I know that this year was kind of a challenging one for us. Between me not feeling like my usual self and struggling with some health things, we haven’t been spending a lot of time together, not like we used to. I want you to know, though, that I am still here, and that I still love you very much.

I will always be so very proud of you and everything we’ve accomplished together.

What’s in store for us this next year? I don’t know, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be a year full of love, growth and adventure.

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. Muumuu or tutu?

Muumuu, babe. Mrs. Roper style all the way!

2. French braid or a messy bun?

Messy bun. It’s like the default state of my hair these days, hahaha.

3. Something that reminds you of home?

The smell of wet eucalyptus leaves (it’s a very Nor Cal scent, IMHO). Seeing green rolling hills in the distance. Bridges.

4. What’s the last book you finished that you’d like to recommend to a friend (aka me, hahaha)?

I just finished reading “One Italian Summer” by Rebecca Searle, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s sweet and thoughtful, and I felt like I was on an Italian vacation in Positano while I was reading it.

5. Your feelings about nail art?

Besides the fact that I’m terrible at it? LOL! I love it on others. On me, not so much. I’m pretty boring; I like one solid block of color on all my nails. I can’t even handle an accent nail, man. LOL!

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. Muumuu or tutu?
2. French braid or a messy bun?
3. Something that reminds you of home?
4. What’s the last book you finished that you’d like to recommend to a friend (aka me, hahaha)?
5. Your feelings about nail art?

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. Shrimp or crab?

Crab, but it can’t be imitation, and it has to be fresh.

2. Yoga or pilates?

Both are equally as challenging for this very out-of-shape lady at the moment. LOL! (Been a rough 12 months.) I’ll pick yoga; I could use a good stretch.

3. Something that makes you feel sentimental?

When my phone brings up baby photos of Connor or old photos of Tabs before he got sick. My heart swells up every single time.

4. What book are you reading at the moment?

Nothing at the moment, boo. I need a good one. Got anything to suggest? I would like something not too heavy or scary.

5. Something you wish you said no to sooner?

I wish I would’ve said no to almost everyone who asked me out when I was a teenager and in my early 20s. I realize now that when I was that age, I didn’t know how to say no to people when they asked me things which made me uncomfortable, so I often ended up in relationships which I didn’t want to be in. I was very much a people pleaser until recently. Better late than never, I guess.

6. What’s one of the first signs of spring where you live?

I know spring’s just around the corner when the white cherry blossoms in my neighborhood bloom. Can’t wait! I love spring much more than I used to when I was younger. I think it’s the sense of rebirth and the world coming to life again.

7. A gadget that you’d like?

An air fryer that doesn’t take up a lot of space on my kitchen counter that’s easy to use and not hideous to look at.

8. What liner are you wearing these days?

I bought a beautiful bronze pencil from MAC a couple weeks ago, Skip the Waitlist. It’s a twist-up gel liner, aka my favorite thing in the whole wide world.

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. Shrimp or crab?
2. Yoga or pilates?
3. Something that makes you feel sentimental?
4. What book are you reading at the moment?
5. Something you wish you said no to sooner?
6. What’s one of the first signs of spring where you live?
7. A gadget that you’d like?
8. What liner are you wearing these days?

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. What would you rather do on a rainy day: go to the movies with a friend, cozy up at home with a good book and a cup of tea, or go on an adventurous and fun (and very wet) hike?

Right now movies with a friend sounds like it would be fun! Of course we’d have to have all the snacks – popcorn, M&Ms and bubbly water.

2. What game show would you absolutely dominate: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy or The Price Is Right?

I’d have the best chances at The Price Is Right. Can’t say I’d dominate it, though. Hahaha!

3. Do you wear more makeup now or less makeup than you did a year ago?

I wear a little less these days, but that’s mostly because of time constraints. I miss having a good 15 or 20 minutes to paint my face. Now I just kinda slap it on and hope for the best.

4. How’s your mental health these days?

I feel steadier than I’ve felt in a while, and I think I’m finally reaching the point where I can push myself to do a little more. Last year really kicked my butt (long story short, I had a health scare, and now things are better), and it’s been taking a long time to recover from living with that fear for over a year.

5. ‘80s colorful mascara or ‘80s style bold blush?

Um, both? They’re both so fun. I obvs wouldn’t rock it to work. Well, maybe I would. 🙂

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. What would you rather do on a rainy day: go to the movies with a friend, cozy up at home with a good book and a cup of tea, or go on an adventurous and fun (and very wet) hike?
2. What game show would you absolutely dominate: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy or The Price Is Right?
3. Do you wear more makeup now or less makeup than you did a year ago?
4. How’s your mental health these days?
5. ‘80s colorful mascara or ‘80s style bold blush?