Just For Fun

Hello and happy Saturday, beautiful girl! And just so we’re totally clear, I think you’re lovely inside and out.

We’re in full-on lockdown mode here again, as are many millions of my compatriots across the country, and the only place I’m going with this glittery makeup (via the Urban Decay Boogie palette) is the parking lot of a Walgreens for a curbside pickup to get some last-minute picture Christmas cards.

Seriously, when will I ever learn? Around September every year I say to myself, “Self, you’re going to order your Christmas cards early this year,” and yet here we are again… Le sigh!

Speaking of glitter, I just discovered the magic of makeup artist Hannah Martin. She’s very good at breaking down the “whys” and “hows” of her technique, and I’m deeply in love with this green glittery look I plan to try ASAP.

On that note, I hope you have a tasty morning beverage with you, because it’s time for some reading.

• A furtunate group of cats living in the basement of a Russian museum just inherited money from a French philanthropist…
• Somebody please adopt this beautiful one-eyed calico kitty! She’s a doll.
• Here, makeup artists walk you through what to do when your winged liner goes wonky.
• A look back at 2020’s biggest beauty trends…
• 13 Black-owned nail polish brands to shop ASAP!
• Things to think about when you’re shopping for moisturizer
• Dolly Parton is releasing her own fragrance line!

What are you up to today? Are you sticking close to home, too?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I do, mainly through slightly darker patches on my cheeks, and I also have freckles. My upper lip can also get dark, and when it’s in full force, I look like I have a mustache!

Overall, my hyperpigmentation has actually been a little better than usual. It’s been better since I got back on track with a skin care routine last month that includes a Vitamin C serum, retinol cream and sunscreen (YES).

For a while there I wasn’t doing much skin care for my face — just pimple cream and moisturizer. It was just, ya know…2020. The whole…all of it. I didn’t have enough energy left over to take care of myself. Seriously, there were a few weeks there when I had to set reminders to brush my hair! ?

I’m a little better about things now, like doing something about hyperpigmentation, and it sure feels good to be taking care of my skin again.

How about you? Do you have hyperpigmentation, or have you ever? Inquiring minds want to 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. Would you rather wear the same lipstick for a year or the same foundation?

Gah! This question is surprisingly difficult because I’m a foundation junkie. I like to switch up my base game a lot!

Hmm… I guess if I were using MAC Studio Fix Fluid for a year, I could stick it out, because at least I’d be able to sheer it out as much as I wanted to with Strobe Cream…

So, I’ll go with the foundation, because I CANNOT IMAGINE only being able to wear the same lipstick for an entire year!

2. Highlight of your weekend?

Getting our Christmas tree and decorating the house with ALL THE HOLIDAY SPARKLE. It was so much fun! Connor and Rosie were very helpful with hanging up the ornaments and whatnot, but this was the first year I left like Connor truly interacted with me and was excited about the process. To see her get so excited about lights and tinsel was such a treat!

3. Red lipstick or red eyeshadow?

Easy. Red lipstick!

4. Rain or snow?

Rain, and ideally a refreshing tropical rain in Hawaii!

5. Snowboarding or skiing?

Neither? I don’t really get excited about snow, but if I have to pick one…I’ll pick snowboarding because I think there’s less equipment to deal with.

6. A skin care product you like a lot?

Seriously, I wish CeraVe sold their Skin Renewing Night Cream in an industrial-sized tub!

7. The Sound of Music or A Charlie Brown Christmas?

“The hills are alive with the sound of music…”

8. Essie or OPI?

Essie! Gel Couture all the way.

9. Hot chocolate: with or without whipped cream?

With whipped cream *and* sprinkles because it’s 2020, and anything goes.

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. Would you rather wear the same lipstick for a year or the same foundation?
2. Highlight of your weekend?
3. Red lipstick or red eyeshadow?
4. Rain or snow?
5. Snowboarding or skiing?
6. A skin care product you like a lot?
7. The Sound of Music or A Charlie Brown Christmas?
8. Essie or OPI?
9. Hot chocolate: with or without whipped cream?

P.P.S. Happy Monday to you, sweet friend! ? I hope you’re feeling good and having a nice day so far. Remember, you’re strong, smart and capable. Whatever it is you have to conquer today, big or small, you’ve got this. Hang in there!

Hello and happy Caturday! Rosie sends her regards (along with a healthy dose of torbie-tude.) I am SO EXCITED to drink coffee today because I’ve recently discovered the joy of half-and-half. Seriously, what cave have I been living in? — because half-and-half is where it’s at!

I used to be a whole-milk-in-my-coffee girl, but lately I haven’t been liking how the milk takes over, so I can’t taste the coffee in the background. With half-and-half, I can still get the coffee flavor along with the cream. I’ve been doing a splash in my coffee in the morning (about two tablespoons), and my life is forever changed.

While I dive into this cup (SO GOOD), go ahead and grab your morning beverage o’ choice, because it’s time for this week’s reading.

• If you were looking for a few new words to use this weekend, here are some good ones to try: vamoose, crapulous and canoodle.
• There is a burgeoning field of research in the reconstruction and preservation of scent. Scientists, historians and cultural heritage specialists are working together to catalogue the smells of our times — particularly those that may disappear in a few decades.
• Speaking of scents…historians, scientists and perfumers are using AI to capture what Europe smelled like between the 16th and early 20th centuries. (Apparently, it was kinda stinky!)
• In case you’re just as obsessed with The Crown as I am, here are 14 fun facts about Princess Diana’s wedding.
• A cat may soon be moving into the White House. I wonder if it’s going to have stripes? I would love to see a “First Tabby.”
• Will somebody PLEASE buy this bed with a cat maze inside?

Whatcha got on deck today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Right now, nothing makeup-wise really scares me, and I’ll try any color — lip, cheek, eyeshadow, whatever. I’ll try it at least once… Black lipstick, red eyeshadow, you name it, I’ll give it a go, but I do have to say that red eyeshadow was absolutely terrifying when I first started using it. There were many, many failed attempts, and more than once I ended up looking like a I had been crying for weeks! It took me a while to figure out a few tricks to make it work (layering it with a bronze liner, or wearing a black pencil on the waterline really helps).

Now I’m more comfortable with it and feel like I can kinda-sorta pull it off.

That said, is red eyeshadow my first choice for colorful eyes? No. It is not. Gimme a jeweled purple or blue any day! But I do at least feel like I kinda-sorta know what to do with red.

How about you? What makeup colors currently scare (or used to scare) the living crap out of you?

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. Best thing about my day so far: ________.

Frankly, the best thing about my day so far has been the coffee! I bought a bag of Trader Joe’s Light Roast coffee for the first time in ages and forgot how good it is.

Mmm… It’s mellow, very little bite, which is perfect for me because I’m a coffee wimp. I don’t need to be challenged by my morning beverages, but I digress… I’m drinking it with a splash of half and half, and it’s absolutely delightful. ?

2. Pick one — I [LOVE/LOATHE] surprises.

LOVE

3. In my spare time, I ________.

…wonder why I don’t have more spare time. LOL!

4. I’m very picky about ________.

…eye makeup brushes, Thanksgiving side dishes (I can’t do stuffing or mashed potatoes out of a box, or gelatinous cranberry sauce out of a can), liquid foundation, oranges, underwear, socks, jeans, dental floss, pasta, hair ties, face lotion and writing utensils.

Seriously, this could go on FOR DAYS.

5. I’m not picky about ________.

…plastic sandwich bags, dryer sheets and canned beans.

6. The first three places I’d like to visit when all of this is over are ________.

1) My mom and dad’s house
2) Kauai
3) The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco for high tea (it’s temporarily closed, so hopefully they will eventually open up again)

7. Baggy sweat pants or the Reeboks with the straps?

Baggy sweat pants!

8. My current hair essentials include ________.

…scrunchies and anything by Odele!

9. My current makeup essentials include ________.

…ALL OF TEH EYE PRODUCTS, but especially brow pencil and mascara.

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. Best thing about my day so far: ________.
2. Pick one — I [LOVE/LOATHE] surprises.
3. In my spare time, I ________.
4. I’m very picky about ________.
5. I’m not picky about ________.
6. The first three places I’d like to visit when all this is over ________.
7. Baggy sweat pants or the Reeboks with the straps?
8. My current hair essentials include ________.
9. My current makeup essentials include ________.

P.P.S. Happy Monday to you, my friend! I hope your day got off to a calm and peaceful start. Give yourself a hug for me, and if you can, take a few minutes to play in the fallen leaves. It’s GREAT for the soul, I promise. ?