Just For Fun

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 Friday Fun Edition!

• Face mask or hair mask?
• Lip oil or lip mask?
• Flat iron or curling iron?
• Try a new beauty brand or stick with what you know?
• What’s more essential: eye cream or perfume?
• Silk pillowcase: yes or no?
• Pick one: eyelash extensions or a lash lift?
• Brow microblading: yes or no?
• Shiny metallic or sparkly glitter?
• Berry or burgundy lipstick?
• Wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush?
• Body wash: save or splurge?
• Long, pointy nails: yes or no?

Face mask or hair mask?

Hair mask, because my mane is dry!

Lip oil or lip mask?

Lip mask, please.

Flat iron or curling iron?

Curling iron! Flat irons are too much of a struggle.

Try a new beauty brand or stick with what you know?

Try something new, why not?

What’s more essential: eye cream or perfume?

Perfume does more for my soul. Also, I’m at the point where eye cream isn’t enough to do any actual heavy beauty lifting, ha ha ha! I’m going need something stronger than hope in a jar.

Silk pillowcase: yes or no?

Yes, ma’am!

Pick one: eyelash extensions or a lash lift?

Seriously, neither. The less I mess with my lashes, the better off I seem to be. If I had to pick one, though, then the lash lift.

Brow microblading: yes or no?

Nah!

Shiny metallic or sparkly glitter?

Sparkly glitter.

Berry or burgundy lipstick?

Berry, with a matte finish.

Wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush?

I’ll take the comb so I can use it to rake conditioner through my hair while I’m in the shower.

Body wash: save or splurge?

Save, babe. I’d rather use the funds for perfume, LOL!

Long, pointy nails: yes or no?

No thank you!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

1. All things Jane Iredale

Love the colors and textures! I’ve been into very wearable makeup lately, and this brand has been my jam (as have Ilia and Laura Mercier).

2. Pecan Pie

I swore I wouldn’t attempt to make a pie this year…but I’m a little obsessed with the idea of making a pecan pie from scratch.

3. Roses

I mean, I’ve always loved them…but I have been really fixated on roses lately, especially the big, blooming kind you see in gardens… Maybe that’s a sign I need a new perfume with rose notes? If you have one to recommend, I’m all ears. 🌽

4. The Jo Malone London Cologne Collection Set

Speaking of perfume, please talk me out of this holiday sampler set. I don’t need it, but REALLY want it.

5. Love Harder

A super cheesy and totally predictable holiday romcom, but you know what? I still enjoyed 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. What are your pieces of everyday jewelry?

My wedding and engagement rings, and a pair of dainty gold dangling earrings that El Hub gave me for Christmas eons ago. I like how the earring clasps feel super secure (so I’m less likely to lose them), and how lightweight they feel. I can’t do heavy jewelry anymore! If I feel any weight at all on my ears or around my neck or wrists, it’s just not happening.

2. Have you ever made a pie from scratch?

Oh my gosh, yes. I’ve tried several times and each and every outcome was disastrous. I’m a decently competent baker, so I don’t know why pie eludes me. Maybe I just haven’t found the right recipe yet?

3. Are you trying a new beauty products this week?

Yes! I’ve got an Ilia lipstick on deck, some hair products by dpHue, skin care from REN and a few bits and bobs from Jane Iredale (my newest obsession).

4. Have you ever painted someone else’s toes?

I have! Connor enjoys the occasional pedicure, and many moons ago, I painted El Hub’s toes in this post.

5. What’s one thing you love about where you live?

The abundance of wild animals. Everyday I see something interesting — birds, deer, turkeys!

6. Socks or no socks?

Socks, because my feet are always cold, but if I could get away with not wearing socks, I’d ditch them in a heartbeat because my sock drawer stresses me out.

7. What eyeliner colors do you wear the most?

Black and brown lately. I also go through phases where I’m into plum and gunmetal gray.

8. Did you ever collect stickers?

Heck, yeah! My sticker collection was my pride and joy in elementary school, especially my collection of scratch-and-sniff stickers.

9. Which one would you rather wear: a fancy dress or a fancy tuxedo?

Fancy dress, please. The most elaborate one you can find, ideally with pockets.

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 are your pieces of everyday jewelry?
2. Have you ever made a pie from scratch?
3. Are you trying a new beauty products this week?
4. Have you ever painted someone else’s toes?
5. What’s one thing you love about where you live?
6. Socks or no socks?
7. What eyeliner colors do you wear the most?
8. Did you ever collect stickers?
9. Which one would you rather wear: a fancy dress or a fancy tuxedo?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, sweet girl! 🤗 I hope your weekend was restful and relaxing. This week will bring us all great things, I just know it. Take extra good care of yourself today, OK?

Good morning, my beautiful friend. I hope you slept well. I woke up at the witching hour last night — 3 a.m. on the dot — because of a weird dream…

In the dream, I was back in my 20s and still single and dating. I was dating an up-and-coming chef, and a big group of us were out and about on a Friday night going to different restaurants and bars.

Sometime in the evening, a beautiful young woman joined us, and my spider senses started going off when I saw how she and the chef interacted with each other. I just knew there was something flirty happening between them but couldn’t put my finger on it.

My sixth sense confirmed something shady was happening when we were all at a restaurant where the chef was talking to his friends working in the back of the house, and he began introducing the young woman to everyone without bothering to introduce me.

My first thought was, “OH, HELL NO,” so I interjected loudly to the group, “Hi, I’m Karen, and I’m his girlfriend.” Then the chef said, “Um, this is Karen, and she’s, uh… Um, my, um.” So yeah, apparently at that point in the dream I’d had enough of his crap, so I started laughing, walked out of the restaurant, grabbed the first taxi I could find and went home.

Then, I woke up.

Now, normally I’d be able to fall back to sleep pretty easily after such a silly dream, but I started thinking about how someday Connor will be dating, and I couldn’t doze off.

I know, I know. It’s so far away, but I just kept thinking about how someday she could end up seeing someone like the chef in my dream — someone who leaves her feeling “less than.” It’s hard for me to accept that someday I will have no control over the people who come into her life. I just hope I can teach her enough so that she knows how strong she is and understands her worth.

Anywho, that’s what’s on my mind this morning… Well, along with these beauty products. Because it always somehow goes back to beauty, right?

I’ve been kinda “meh” about my current hair routine and have been feeling like I need something new, so I’m giving a couple things from dpHUE a try. They’re a line you can find at Ulta and Sephora, and they’re known for their ACV Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rise and ACV Hair Masque. I’ve heard from friends who’ve grown out their grays that it’s great for the dryness that so often comes with graying hair. I’m hoping it’ll do good things because my mane has been feeling extra crunchy lately!

It’s also that time of year when I feel like I can step up the exfoliating in some way, so I’ve got some glycolic items from REN (a toner and night cream) and a Vitamin C serum from Paula’s Choice on deck! I’m also trying a cleansing milk (also by REN), which I hope will offset any moisture loss from the exfoliators.

By the way, have you shopped the Sephora sale yet? If you have, you gotta let me know what you got, or what you plan on getting.

My, I’m feeling chatty this morning! I guess the coffee has kicked in. 😄

This week’s reading

• Some predictions for the best makeup and hairstyling for the Oscars 2022!
• ’60s makeup is having a moment.
• If you’re looking for a beauty subscription box, here are 21 to choose from.
• I can’t believe someone actually took the time to study this, but here are the best London underground tube lines to apply your makeup.
• Here’s how makeup artists create gory makeup effects.
• Why makeup matters for prisoners.
• Why didn’t this famous gamer’s blue-light skin-care line succeed?
• Allegedly, these are the 15 best peptide products.
• Expert tips on how to restore collagen in your face.
• For all you crafty gals, here’s how to open and refill your perfume bottles.
• In case you were looking for a big-@ss bottle of Chanel No. 5!
• What if you could make your cat hypoallergenic with biotechnology?

Mimi’s hand gestures = EPIC.

I love hearing the background story about songs I enjoy.

I’ve got no idea what’s going on here, but I’m into it.

Tell me more, tell me more.

Because public speaking is a perishable skill.

Talk to me, Stacy.

Still a fave, even after all these years.

It looks like it’s going to rain today, so I think I’m gonna work out at home, watch a movie and cuddle on the couch with the fam.

How’s your weekend looking? Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, mostly because at all the Halloween family events last week, I had so many awkward conversations with other parents. Is it just me, or are we all collectively out of practice with how to be social in groups? I’m especially out of practice in the art of small talk. I used to be really good at it, too, especially with strangers, but last week, man! I was super uncomfortable, ugh.

I keep telling myself this is just temporary, and soon I’ll be able to socialize like I used to when I get more practice. I know it’s going to take a while, though.

How are your small-talk/social skills these days? Good? Not so good? Great? Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh, and if you have any tips on how to make it easier, please share! I could use the help.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen