Just For Fun

Good morning, my friend! Rise and shine, morning glory! I see signs of spring around these parts! I know we’re still a ways away, but just think — pretty soon the trees will be filled with lush, green leaves and pink and white flowers. This year the Lady Sanctuary is gonna be LIT! LOL. ?

This weekend we’re celebrating Coywolf’s 5th birthday. It’s actually March 2, but we’re doing a few things this weekend to celebrate. The festivities kick off today with a small outdoor get-together with a couple of the children from the neighborhood with cupcakes and pizza. The two children are brothers (4 and 6) that Connor plays with all the time, and I’m hoping that even though it’ll just be a few socially distant kids and a low-key party, Connor will really enjoy it.

Truth be told, way back before 2019, I originally envisioned Connor’s fifth birthday would be a Disney princess blowout at Disneyland, but ya know, pandemic times. We gotta adapt.

After the party today, the fun continues tomorrow when we spend the day with her uncle outdoors at the San Francisco Zoo! ???

Anywho, that’s what’s going on here. What are you up to?

• BECCA is going out of business.
• Bright, dewy undereyes? Yes, please!
• These entrepreneurs show that science can be smart and stylish.
• My makeup spirit animal Sir John predicts these three beauty trends will be big.
• Fun fact for your next trivia night: hair embroidery used to be a thing.
• NOOOOOOO! Caroline Hirons says she’s leaving YouTube!
• Typology is a minimalist French brand to keep on your radar (side note: I just put a crap ton of stuff in my cart).
• Allegedly this is how to make your cat use a freaking litter mat. Um, good luck with that!
• This may be the world’s oldest pet cemetery.

Have a great weekend!

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. A city you love?

I love a lot of cities, but today? Honolulu, Hawaii. I love the weather, the beaches, the vibe.

MISS YOU, HAWAII! ?️?? Aloha nui loa!

2. Lemonade, lemon bars or lemon pasta?

Lemon bars, but only if I don’t have to make them. LOL!

3. Big brows or big hair?

Big hair for the win! — specifically ’90s supermodel hair.

4. Pick one — lash curler or tweezers?

Both are necessary objects, but I’ll go with the tweezers, because chin hair is no joke… I could get around the lash curler by using a curling mascara.

5. Have you ever had your tarot cards read?

I vaguely recollect someone reading my cards years ago…so yes?

6. Head to toe denim — yes or no?

I think if you break up the denim visually in some way, like by having darker pants and a lighter shirt, it can work. If you go too matchy-matchy though it’s a mess.

7. Something you have a love/hate relationship with?

UGH, Pilates (and all core exercises in general). I love how I feel when I’m done, but I hate really, really dislike how terrible I am at abdominal exercises now. I’m hoping I get better…someday.

8. Blazer or cardigan?

I would love a blazer because I feel like my closet needs one, but ya know…am I really going to wear a blazer to take Connor to a playdate? Or to sit around my house? I guess I’ll go with the cardigan then. One with pockets, please!

9. Would you like fries with that?

Yes, please, with the ketchup ON THE SIDE (I cannot stand having my fries doused in ketchup).

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. A city you love?
2. Lemonade, lemon bars or lemon pasta?
3. Big brows or big hair?
4. Pick one — lash curler, tweezers or nail file?
5. Have you ever had your tarot cards read?
6. Head to toe denim — yes or no?
7. Something you have a love/hate relationship with?
8. Blazer or cardigan?
9. Would you like fries with that?

P.P.S. It’s a new week, sweet friend, and I would like to remind you that you are loveable, and you have more to offer than you know. Be extra gentle with your soul this week, OK? ?

Good morning and happy Caturday, fellow feline-and-fabulosity aficionado! ??? Guess which lucky lady got treated to this delightful tray of breakfast treats this morning?! Chef Coco prepared this spread for me, and I gotta say…my family knows me pretty well because I love to start my Saturdays with a croissant.

How much do you wanna bet there’s a real café somewhere on this planet that serves French fries and bow-tie pasta for breakfast? I bet.

• —–> This week is MBB’s 14th anniversary. HOLY WOW! Yup, I started blogging in February of 2007. For a quick statistical analysis, that’s 14,064 blog posts and more than 3,516,000 words, NOT INCLUDING our comments, and here’s the very first thing I ever posted.
• Makeup looks inspired by book covers is VERY COOL!
• Yes please — 8 expert secrets for smoother, shinier hair.
• OK, I don’t know how accurate this guide to buying niche fragrances based on the perfume you wore as a teen is (LOL!), but I quite enjoyed the trip down memory lane with the shout-outs to CK One, Clinique Happy and Gucci Envy.
• You could buy this fancy fragrance with ginger notes to banish the kitchen smells in your home. Or…you could open a window! I’m just sayin’…
• How pros fix broken nails…
• The most aesthetically pleasing makeup palette looks like a work of art.
• Ice nails are a thing!
• Mystery of the day — is this farting robot a cat? It appears vaguely cat-like to me…
• Meet Gabe Adams, the 22-year-old TikTok star who doesn’t need hands to do glamorous, colorful makeup looks.

So, what’s for breakfast today? Whatever it is, I hope it’s tasty! Can I have some? ?

Have a wonderful weekend!

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 listed below. ?

This or That: The Eyeliner Edition

• Wing or no wing?
• Thin or thick lines?
• Tightline — yes or no?
• Black or brown?
• Liquid or pencil?
• Brights or neutrals?
• Cream or gel?
• Waterproof or non-waterproof?

Wing or no wing?

After being Team Wing FOREVER, I’ve been taking a sabbatical from wings as of late, and ya know what? It’s been fabulous! Mind you, wings don’t stress me out or anything…but not having to deal with matching the angle and the length of the wings has been one less thing to think about, and I’ve been really trying to keep things simple lately. I would even go so far as to say that skipping the wing has made me want to wear makeup again.

Thin or thick lines?

For everyday makeup, I’ll take thin please because I need all the mobile lid space I can get, and thick liner makes my hooded eyes look more hooded.

Tightline — yes or no?

TIGHTLINE ALL THE WAY!

Black or brown?

Brown. 100%.

Liquid or pencil?

Pencil. Super sharp!

Brights or neutrals?

Neutrals because I can do more with them (you know I’m all about the makeup basics). Plus, when I get antsy for color, I can just layer a bright on top of a black liner!

Cream or gel?

Gel because I like how they glide across my lids.

Waterproof or non-waterproof?

Right now, non-waterproof. Easier to remove, ya know?

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. High-rise, mid-rise or low-rise pants?

High-rise always and forever, mid-rise if I’m desperate, low-rise…NEVER. I rue the day low-rise pants came into my life, hahaha!

2. A drugstore skin care item you swear by?

CeraVe Healing Ointment is the stuff!

3. Would you rather have expensive hair care products or expensive skincare products?

While I would love both, right now I’ll go with expensive skincare please. ?

4. (Fill in the blank) is the key.

Communication is the key (because nobody can read your mind, obvs). Sleep is the key. Having comfortable underwear is the key. Coffee is the key. Patience is the key… Seriously, we could be here all day… There are so many key things!

5. Something you’d like to eat today?

I’ve had a request from my sous-chef to make her lemon tagliatelle pasta for dinner, and that sounds good to my tummy, so that’s happening later on today.

6. Which would you rather have — 1) an uninterrupted eight hours of sleep, 2) the laundry folded and put away, or 3) a clean house?

ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Ohhhh, but if I have to pick one (BOO), I’ll go with a clean house.

7. Something unusual that you keep in your purse?

I don’t know how unusual it is, but I always have some sort of snack food — a protein bar, juice pouch, applesauce, etc. — just in case someone around me gets hungry (I’m mostly referring to myself). Food is the fastest way to thwart crabbiness! You can quote me on that. LOL!

8. Avocado toast — so good or so gross?

So good when I’m in the mood for it, but I don’t normally crave it, ya know?

9. A makeup brand that you’ve been into lately?

Honest Beauty. I never feel like their makeup is trying too hard, if that makes any sense. It’s just enough to get the job done, which has been my style as of late.

This week I’m trying their Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette, which I’m excited about because of the very wearable neutrals. They also included a straight-up matte black and beige eyeshadows, which are always super handy to have around. I’m hoping the powders are easy to blend because my blending skills are SHOT!

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. High-rise, mid-rise or low-rise pants
2. A drugstore skin care item you swear by?
3. Would you rather have expensive hair care products or expensive skincare products?
4. (Fill in the blank) is the key.
5. Something you’d like to eat today?
6. What would you rather have — 1) an uninterrupted eight hours of sleep, 2) the laundry folded and put away, or 3) a clean house?
7. Something unusual that you keep in your purse?
8. Avocado toast — so good or so gross?
9. A makeup brand that you’ve been into lately?

P.P.S. Hello there, my friend, and happy Monday to ya. Just a friendly reminder that you’re capable, courageous and you can totally handle whatever needs to be done. You can and you will! ?

Hi and happy Saturday, friend! And happy Valentine’s Day weekend.

How are you doing today? I’m pretty good, just sitting here pondering what to paint on my paws this week. I’m leaning toward this fierce red from Chanel called Anthurium.

What do you think? Do you ever wear red nails? I did it for like two years straight in high school when I went through my 1940s phase. Red lips and nails were my thing there for a while, but I don’t wear red nail polish very often now… I still like them from time to time though, especially on short nails. I think it’s very chic.

What’s the plan for today? I hope there’s something on your agenda that makes you feel good. As for tomorrow, no plans for me. It’ll be a home-based pandemic Valentine’s Day, likely involving some chocolate and at least one rom-com on TV.

On that note…onto today’s reading! ?

• Favorite story of the week ——-> ‘I’m Not a Cat,’ Says Lawyer Having Zoom Difficulties
• I had a Zoom call with Connor’s kindergarten teacher and all of the other parents, and now I deeply regret not turning myself into a cat for that. Here’s how to transform yourself into a fabulous feline, for future reference.
• Allegedly, these 25 dog breeds get along well with the kittehs.
• Celebrate your gal pals this Galentine’s Day with these quarantine-approved party ideas.
• Meet the perfume expert who knows what Queen Victoria smelled like.
• 10 Black-owned beauty brands you can shop on Amazon.
• These peeps have quit social media.

Have an exceptional Saturday and Sunday! Sending virtual Valentine’s hugs… May there also be chocolate in your (and my) near future. ??

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen