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Saturday Surfing, Sep. 19, 2020

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Rise and shine, morning glory. Good morning. If there’s one huge lesson I’ve learned from 2020 so far, it’s to not take the little things for granted, because those little things — like stepping outside your door and taking a few deep breaths of clean, fresh air — those are the big things, which is why you’re going to have to put up with me posting pictures of the sky for a bit…

It’s been three weeks since I’ve been able to enjoy simply going outside, taking a walk and breathing. Finally, the smoke has cleared over the Bay Area. The sky is no longer Martian orange, and we’ve had healthy air quality for three days in a row (!).

A couple days ago we even woke up to fog.

FOG! Wonderful, wet, glorious fog!

I’m loving the gray tones in this pic, by the way. I feel like somewhere in there is a nail polish shade we all need in our lives ASAP.

Overall, this has been that kind of year, hasn’t it? Challenging, and we have to take the good things wherever we can find them.

On that note, more gardening in the front yard today. We’re planting our Muskogee Crape Myrtle tree, and to quote Ri-Ri, I need to “work, work, work, work, work, work.”

While I go put some weed mesh down, here’s your Saturday reading…


I’ve been craving boba for months.


Who’s going to make this for me?!


I’m down for easy glam.


Love this look

Talk to you soon, my friend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 643

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take it easy mug

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. Last show you binged and loved?

    Ted Lasso on Apple TV. It stars Jason Sudeikis, who — fun fact — is a solid basketball player in his own right. The show is about an acclaimed collegiate American football coach who moves to England when he’s given the chance to coach a professional football (as in soccer!) team there. It’s got a lot of what we like to call in our house “potty talk,” a.k.a. “lazy language,” a.k.a. “four-letter words,” but I really like the characters, and I love the overall optimistic feel of the show. The main characters, shockingly (for a show in this day and age), continuously choose to be kind. It’s very refreshing.

    2. Last thing you drank?

    I just took a sip of Nestle Pure Life Protect in Blackberry, which I got as a sample with my usual monthly water bottle delivery. It has zinc and is supposed to maintain a normal functioning immune system? I dunno… It tastes alright. Actually, it tastes terrible. Like water with a semi-rotten blackberry in it. LOL! I’m not loving it, but it’s here, it’s open, it’s cold, and I’m drinking it.

    3. A snapshot of an ordinary moment in your life that brings you real joy?

    One was when Connor Claire was about two or three. I had just put her down for the night, and she was there in her crib underneath the covers, looking up at me very sweetly. She has lullabies that play in her room every night, and she started singing one of the lullabies while it was playing… She just lay there, looking up at me, singing. ?

    4. A concert you’ll never forget?

    Oh! — easily, Janet Jackson at the Shoreline Amphitheater in 1994 with my friend Jen. It was outdoors, and we had decent seats. We danced and screamed the whole time. SO. FUN.

    5. Something that people often get wrong about you?

    LOL… My age? I don’t know if it still happens as much as it used to, but back in the day people would always assume I was younger than I really am. When I worked as a legal secretary in my 20s, I would often be asked if I was one of the college interns, hahaha. If I’d only known how fleeting *that* season in my life would be, hahaha!

    6. A favorite movie?

    There are so many, but I really do love Clueless.

    7. What are you deeply grateful for right now?

    My education, because I was just telling Connor that there are countries where many girls aren’t even allowed to attend school, and I’m deeply grateful to have had the chance to finish high school and go on to college.

    8. Something happens, and you’re called upon to be brave, but all you feel is fear. What’s the first thing you do?

    Put my hand on my belly, and take a few big, deep breaths. Then I repeat to myself, either out loud or in my head, “I know I can do this.” And I say it over and over again.

    9. What shoes are you wearing today?

    My white Nikes, baby! El Hub calls them my “nursing shoes,” but whatever. I wear them all the time because they go with everything!

    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. Last show you binged and loved?
    2. Last thing you drank?
    3. A snapshot of an ordinary moment in your life that brings you real joy?
    4. A concert you’ll never forget?
    5. Something that people often get wrong about you?
    6. A favorite movie?
    7. What are you deeply grateful for right now?
    8. You’re called upon to be brave, but all you feel is fear. What’s the first thing you do?
    9. What shoes are you wearing today?

    P.P.S. Have a great Monday, my friend. I hope your heart and soul feel light today! ?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 624

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Even though our old front yard was a bit of a mess, overgrown and very “lived in,” Tabs loved it more than anyone. To him, it was a gateway to adventure. So many sassy birds, lively lizards, interesting insects and fragrant flowers to smell. It was also the tapestry of his feline fashion designs. It’s where he got many of his best ideas.

But with Tabs living his best afterlife now over the Rainbow Bridge, the time has come for a front yard revamp. It’s not quite done, but it’s getting there, and I feel like Tabs would approve of the design decisions. It’s sort of Mediterranean with a touch of Southern Belle…just like Tabs.

Rosie’s landscape influence

It also reflects Rosie’s more minimalist design aesthetic, with more negative space than there was before. She’s just beginning to get comfortable going for walks on her leash and exploring the neighborhood.

She’s learning fast!


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Saturday Surfing, Sep. 12, 2020

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Hi, friend, happy Caturday. Short and sweet “hello” this morning because I promised this tiny dancer we would paint our nails ASAP! ?

I’m thinking of wearing fall colors to coax some rainy vibes to my neck of the woods to aid the firefighting efforts.

It’s been a couple months since I painted my nails… I know, who am I? 2020 has certainly thrown my usual beauty habits for a loop.

On that note, your reading for the week…


Vintage beauty advice


Why do I want to try this now?


Just added to my bucket list: learn this dance


I kind of love this.


Girl, I had to.


Note to self…


Iconic

What do you have lined up today? If the air quality isn’t too bad, I also want to plant our new Sweet Bay tree in the front yard. ?

Whatever you’re up to, have a great day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Has the Pandemic Changed Your Beauty Shopping Habits?

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caraa mask
Smile with your eyes

Obvs, most people aren’t going to department stores to swatch things on their arms or the backs of their hands anymore!

Do you find that you’re spending more or less on makeup now than you were before March?

I’m still buying and wearing makeup, but I’m purchasing and wearing more drugstore products for sure — hair, body and makeup. I still have the itch to try new things, but it’s less of an itch to drop $$$ on high-end stuff by mail order, you know? So I’m spending less.

As stressful as it can be to go to Thunderdome Target sometimes, depending on how aggressive and dismissive some shoppers have been with masks and social distancing when I’ve been there, at least I know I can pop into Target to get something or process a quick return if need be (they even have a separate, usually shorter, line for returns).

I’ve also tried perfumes without smelling them…which I never would’ve thought to do before (I’m looking at you, Demeter Kitten Fur!).

How about you? How has the pandemic changed your beauty shopping habits?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ?

Checking In: A CRAZY Orange Sky, Maine Coon Cats and Kitten Fur Perfume

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orange sky september 2020
Welcome to the next level of Jumanji!

You guys. When I said that every day lately has been like a new level of Jumanji, I was not kidding. When I woke up yesterday morning, the sky was a terrifying shade of orange.

Yeah, and it was SO DARK outside that the street lights, which are light activated, stayed on till 10, despite the fact that sunrise allegedly occured at 6:40(!).

It was dark. I’m talking pitch black until almost 8, and then it only got dusky dark after that.

There are still a bunch of wildfires in California right now, and the sky over the Bay Area is currently this shade of orangey red.

Oh, yeah, and ash is also falling from the sky like post-apocalyptic snow… It’s all over the cars.

Next stop: vampires! ?‍♀️

Is this freaking me out? Totally. Because, of course, being the science fiction enthusiast that I am, I’m thinking, “This is how all post-apocalyptic novels start.” The sun goes away. Then all the plants die, and shortly thereafter, everything goes to sh*t. This is the beginning of the vampire uprising. By the end of next week, we’ll all be bloodsuckers. (See: 30 Days of Night. See also: the Van Helsing TV series.)

I really want to be wrong on this theory, and yes, I know I probably am, HAHAHA! Let’s face it, I do have a penchant for the dramatic. ? But, just in case we are on the verge of a vampiric uprising, we had a good run. It’s been a thrill.

Yeah…as if it hasn’t already been said enough, 2020 has been so freaking cray!

Agro exfoliation

Looking at the glass as half full in all this, I’m grateful that my house is currently — knock on wood — intact, and that I have a roof over my head. I’m also thankful that I still feel like laughing at myself (can’t take this for granted, for real). Also glad to have the mental space to contemplate not-so-serious things, like starting a skincare program for dealing with dark spots right MEOW, instead of waiting for the first rains like I had originally planned (because, seriously, I don’t even know when we’re going to see a sunny day again.)

So, yeah, I had this whole plan for aggressive exfoliation and was going to start with some products I’ve been wanting to try that target discoloration and uneven skin tone.

algenist blue algae

The first: Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel by Algenist. It’s pricey at $85, but it’s supposed to be good at resurfacing and exfoliating skin to reveal a smoother and more even-toned complexion. I dunno why, but I have this vision of it peeling away all the layers of dead skin on my face to reveal smooth skin on the face of a very crabby, cranky baby. LOL!

(I. WISH.)

I also have the Discoloration Correcting Serum from Good Molecules on deck. They’re kind of like The Ordinary because they have no-frills, stripped-down packaging, and everything is very affordable. This serum is $12, and the primary active ingredient is niacinamide.

Because kittehs make everything better

Since I’ve been low-key anxious over the past few days, I’ve been doing things to sooth the savage beast, and one of these things I’ve been doing lately is watching videos of a Maine Coon cat exploring the wilderness.

The channel is called The Explorer Cat, and it stars a very fluffy, round-faced Main Coon kitty with white, orange and black fur. I really love the video of kitty testing the waters and swimming! Yes, this cat swims. Kind of amazing.

Highly recommended if you need to calm-the-eff down!

Purr-fume!

On that cat-related note, out of sheer curiosity, I had to smell this perfume after reading about it a few weeks ago: Demeter Fragrance Library Kitten Fur.

rosie kitten fur

Of course, the million-dollar question is, “Does it actually smell like a kitten’s fur?” Well, I can tell you what my tubby Tabby’s fur smelled like — like a yeasty rustic bread loaf! — and this perfume smells nothing like that. Rosie’s fur smells like Temptations, and the last real, live kittens I actually smelled, Rosie’s babies, smelled like cat food, laundry and litter, HAHAHA!
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Practical Things I Like: Caraa Non-Medical Masks

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caraa mask review universal brights
These cheerful ? masks by Caraa are the most comfy masks I’ve found.

These masks by Caraa (a New York travel bag company) are THE BEST masks I’ve tried since March, and I’m not just saying that because the colors are conducive to matching with eyeshadow and eyeliner, hahaha!

I got these after a recommendation from a friend who, using “The Patented Mom Scientific Method” (LOL), ordered several masks from a ton of different brands and had her kids be guinea pigs try them out. Based on all of the masks they tested — and there were a lot of them, apparently! — the Caraas won. The kids *and* adults loved them particularly because of how comfy they are.

coco caraa kids mask

coco caraa kids mask

After wearing them for a couple weeks, I completely agree. These are fabulous! The best masks I’ve found…which is a sentence I’ll filing away in my “Sentences One Does Not Expect to Write, Ever” and “Things One Says During a Pandemic” folders.

Customizable to fit your face

The secret sauce is how adjustable they are!

Each mask has a lightweight, bendable wire tucked into the top seam that rests on the bridge of your nose, and it holds the masks firmly in place so they aren’t constantly slipping down your face.

That’s just the start of it though.

The loops that go around your ears also have these plastic pincher things that toggle up and down the loop so you can easily tighten or loosen them to fit.

caraa universal mask adult
Toggles!

The masks themselves are double layer 100% cotton and sufficiently breathable without being flimsy. The cotton on the inner portion feels slightly thinner than some of the more robust masks I’ve tried, and I’ve read that the inner layer wicks away moisture. I’ve definitely noticed that, compared to other masks I’ve worn, the Caraas feel less humid and damp after wearing them for a while, and my glasses don’t fog up as much as they do when I wear other masks.

caraa universal mask adult
The inner lining

I guess I have a weirdly shaped head or lopsided ears or something because this is the *only* mask I don’t feel the need to constantly adjust every few minutes. I pop it on, and it stays put for hours, so I’m free to go forth on my merry way spreading glittery sparkly joy. No, really though…I’ve used masks that’ve been too hot or too tight or rubbed up against my chin, or they caused my glasses to fog up and therefore left me extremely crabby, but that never happens with the Caraas!
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 642

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show up
Just keep showing up, my friend.

So…what is the Monday Poll?

First of all, it’s late! SO LATE TODAY! I got carried away gardening and trying to beat the heat this morning, and I only just now realized the poll hadn’t gone up. WHOOPS! Better late than never.

As for what the Monday Poll is, in technical terms? Well, it’s a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday 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. Your favorite type of taco?

    I love a battered fish taco with lots of veggies, crema sauce and lime wedges FOR DAYS. I could be left alone with a big platter, and I’d be a happy camper. I’m also a big fan of shrimp tacos…

    2. Light, medium or full-coverage base?

    I’m going with light today, but ideally something highly moisturizing because my skin has been so dry lately… I think it’s because of all the wildfire smoke! Like, my cheeks hurt when I smile. ? I’ve been drinking a ton of water and slathering Avene on my face, and it still hurts.

    3. Have you ever fixed a broken piece of makeup?

    I’ve stuck broken lipstick bullets back into their tubes, but that’s about it!

    4. When was the last time you went to a museum?

    Gosh, it’s been a minute… I believe the last time was 2018, and it was an exhibit at the Asian Art Museum.

    5. Gel pen or mechanical pencil?

    This is the Sophie’s choice of writing utensils for me, FOR REAL… Mechanical pencil, I guess, because they’re erasable, and I need all the flexibility that I can get in my life right now.

    6. Crab, lobster or shrimp?

    Mmmm… All of them. ?

    But if I have to pick one…crab please.

    7. Winged liner, smokey eyes or cut crease?

    Winged liner in a dark brown!

    8. What time did you get up this morning?

    I really wanted to sleep in a little, but my body (and my cat) demanded that I get up at 5 this morning. So rude!

    9. Hair spray, gel or mousse?

    I’ll take a soft hold gel, thanks!

    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. Your favorite type of taco?
    2. Light, medium or full-coverage base?
    3. Have you ever fixed a broken piece of makeup?
    4. When was the last time you went to a museum?
    5. Gel pen or mechanical pencil?
    6. Crab, lobster or shrimp?
    7. Winged liner, smokey eyes or cut crease?
    8. What time did you get up this morning?
    9. Hair spray, gel or mousse?

    P.P.S. Have a wonderful rest of your day, OK? Try to focus on the good, and smile if you can. I ABSOLUTELY recognize that it isn’t always possible to focus on the good OR to smile, as I can attest to firsthand, but they can make a world of difference when possible. ?

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