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Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 475

November 12th, 2017 by Karen 27 Comments

Tabs, as you know, has always been an affectionate cat. He’s not one of those standoffish kitties content to ignore you and never get on your lap for the entire duration of your relationship. He’s very loving, and when he sees a free lap, he’ll jump right on ya.

If you’re lying down, and he sees a stretch of tummy that could be potentially blanketed by his body, he’ll seek out that empty spot and chill for a spell. He’s very into his humans, and that’s one of the many reasons we fell in love with him.

But over the last year or so, Tabs has taken his affection to a whole new level. I don’t know if it’s just because he’s getting older and sleeps more during the day, so when he’s actually awake, he has to, like, squeeze in more lovies, but when he was younger, he’d sprinkle and parse out his affection throughout the day. You know, I’d wake up to a headbutt here or a nose tap there. Then I’d come down the stairs and get some kitty hugs.

Later, when I’d sit and drink my coffee, he’d come by and do a quick round of biscuits on my thighs. So, I’d get my Tabs sessions sprinkled throughout the day, a minute or two at a time. He’d stop by, then peace out for a bit.

[Continue reading…]

There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs

Saturday Surfing: November 11th, 2017

November 11th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

I know it’s a big trend now to trick out your house in holiday decor right after Halloween, and I totally get it. I get excited about Christmas, too, but I gotta force myself to slow my roll, because Thanksgiving also counts!

I also get the urge to fast forward to Christmas, but T-Day deserves its due. It’s one of the most meaningful holidays, and not just because of the pecan pie (well…). I usually also get to spend some extra time with El Hub, because he takes a couple extra days off from work when he can, and then I just love hanging out with friends and family, and feeling cozy and safe, and taking in the sights and smells of fall. It’s a reminder to be grateful.

And, of course, the food is awesome.

It is though. 🙂

Which leads me to Thanksgiving decor. Ever since getting the new couch, I’ve been wanting to add some color and de-neutralize the room, and I was tempted to jump right in with the Christmassy accessories, but I decided to take my own advice and slowed my roll. So, I did an autumnal/Thanksgiving theme with throw pillows and a wreath.

Dude! I don’t know why throw pillows are so stressful. I was chatting with a friend a couple weeks ago, and she said that it took her six trips to HomeGoods to work out the pillow situation in her living room.

It took me about the same amount of time, HAHA! I had a hard time deciding on like… I dunno, I always see pictures of sectional couches with pillows that look purposefully mismatched, but they still work together, and it was hard for me to figure out how to find things that weren’t too uniform looking (?).

I started out trying to do matchy pillows, but nothing looked quite right, so I googled pictures of sectionals with couches and noticed that, in almost all of the pictures, there are an uneven number of pillows. It’s almost always either five or seven.

The bigger sectionals typically have seven throw pillows — each of them different. Then I read a post on a decorating blog that talked about how, when you pull together a group pillows for a couch, think of the pillows as working within a color scheme. That totally helped me.

It finally came together when I found an autumnal wreath and the pillow with pumpkins and leaves. I liked the colors and ended up following their lead in choosing the other the pillows for the couch. I looked for rust, orange, wine, burgundy and gold, and for different textures, and eventually brought together a bunch of pillows that match (I think so) but aren’t identical.

LOL! I get that this has been a lot of pillow talk, but it was so much harder than I thought it would be!

Point is, if you’re looking for pillows to decorate your space with, start with one that you love, and use that color palette as a jumping-off point.

One of the things about these pillows, by the way, is that they make it so nice to get cozy in the corner and read. I love curling up on the couch with a book and a blanket and reading. 🙂

Speaking of getting cozy and reading, here are some stories that caught my eye this week…

  • Pretty soon we might have the ability to virtually try on our makeup with the help of AI (artificial intelligence) that was originally developed for security and defense purposes. This was by far the most interesting story I read this week, and all I have to say is GOOOOOOO SCIENCE!
  • For my Hawaii peeps: y’all are getting a new La Labo store at the Ala Moana shopping center.
  • If your dog’s Christmas wish list includes perfume (totally reasonable), you can now gift him or her this cologne made especially for canines. Fancy!
  • Scented lingerie is a thing now. This lingerie line sells underthings made with handcrafted French lace and woven from threads that have been scented with fragrant microcapsules of perfume.
  • MAC is doing a collaboration with Puma, and um…if they do some MAC-branded Pump sneakers, I WILL FREAKING LOSE MY SH*T.
  • There’s been a lot of talk here in the US lately about increased FDA regulations on cosmetics. Last May, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) reintroduced the Personal Care Products Safety Act (S1113), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) recently proposed the S2003 FDA Cosmetic Safety and Modernization Act as an alternative. Here are the differences between the two acts.
  • A woman is suing Sephora and claiming that she got herpes from their lipstick samplers.
  • Women of color are increasingly able to influence the cosmetics market through their purchases.
  • Look out for a new liquid lipstick from Fenty Beauty on November 23rd (!).
  • The Lipstick Lobby is part of a growing number of companies that are making activism trendy.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my friend! Let me know what you’re up to.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Veterans Day!

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately: The Nordstrom Fall Fashion Sale Edition

November 10th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

Nordstrom, also known as “the happiest place on earth!” — even though El Hub would disagree with me. 🙂

Whenever we go, I park him on the nearest tufted couch, hand him an iPhone charger and say, “I’ll be back in an hour! Or two!” He’s never too thrilled about it, LOL! But thank goodness for smartphones, amirite? Best husband-sitters EVER.

I’ve had my eye on a few things at Nordies lately. These have all been burning a hole in my shopping cart, and — WHOOP-WHOOP! — several of them have gone on sale. I’m thinking that if I think they’re cute, hey, you might think they’re cute, too.

Starting with…

1. BLANKNYC Faux Leather Jacket

So, I have this same exact jacket in black, and I’ve worn it pretty much every season for the last, oh, three or four (or maybe five) years! It’s a style that shows up annually at Nordstrom, and I recently noticed that they have it in a beautiful camel color and a dark brown now. And bonus! — right now it’s marked down to $64.90 (originally $98).

It’s faux leather, but it doesn’t look fake. And it feels real, too! The material is soft and buttery, not stiff and crunchy.

Oh, this jacket does run small, so I’d suggest sizing up…

Ugh, the more I think about it, the more I keep telling myself that I gotta get that camel-colored one, huh?

This is a great little jacket, you guys, and I can’t recommend it enough. I wear my black one all the time… Wore it just the other day to take Connor to story time. I dressed down with a long white tee, black high-waisted Zella leggings and my black and white Nike’s. I’ve also worn it dressed up with a black and gold Anthropologie dress in the fall and winter. I really like to wear it in the winter layered over a hoodie, but I wear it everywhere all year round.

2. Bobeau One-Button Fleece Wrap Cardigan

I realize this sweater looks like it might be potentially dowdy, but it’s one of those things that you have to try on to appreciate. Once it’s on, it’s really cute.

I have a red one that I got a few seasons ago made from the fleece material, and seriously, I wear it all the time.

Um, I may or may not have even worn it to bed last night, haha!

The fleece is super soft, and it looks luxurious (not cheesy or cheap). I like how it drapes in the front, too. It has this sort of ruffled effect when you have it open, and when you button it up, it’s also cute.

Bonus: if you’re petite, it also comes in petite sizes, and the length on the arms is perfect!

They’re usually $58 each but currently on sale for $39.90.

[Continue reading…]

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion, Just For Fun

Selfies: Love ’em or Loathe ’em?

November 10th, 2017 by Karen 13 Comments

Smile ? for the camera!

It’s hard for me to believe that there was actually a time pre-selfie, when the selfie ? didn’t exist. Even though it really wasn’t that long ago. (Think about it: was anybody selfie-ing back in 2002? NAW, DAWG!)

I like them for practical reasons, like checking to see if my eyebrows are relatively even, gauging just how tired I look on a scale of 1 to zombie at any given moment, figuring out if I have asparagus stuck in my teeth…

Of course, they’re also handy for capturing special moments with friends and family. Those are always fun. 🙂

I can’t say that I loathe them, but I have friends who do, and they’ll stop at nothing to avoid taking a selfie.

Believe it or not, the person in my life who loves them the most is my mom! She’s always angling for a selfie, no matter how routine or mundane whatever we’re doing is. Running to Target? Let’s take a selfie! Sitting on the couch watching Sesame Street with the baby? TIME FOR A SELFIE. It’s cute. She has a bunch on her phone with her and my dad, and half of them have a thumbprint in the frame.

Ahhh… Parents!

Which leads me to our very important question of the day. Selfies: love ’em or loathe ’em?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. T.G.I.Brat! ?

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Fun Fall Fare for Your Next Fab Feast: Try These Treats From Trader Joe’s

November 9th, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

trader joes fall treats
Delightful and delicious!

Dudes…Trader Joe’s is always awesome, but it’s awesome DELUXE during the holidays, which is when they reach the peak of their awesomeness because their shelves are packed with seasonal goodies and treats. MMM!

Here are three I’ve been loving lately…

1. Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal

This first one comes in a box with eight pumpkin-flavored packets of what’s essentially next-level upgraded instant oatmeal. It’s on the sweeter side, but it isn’t too sweet (to me), and I love the little bits of pecans.

trader joes pecan pumpkin oatmeal
Is it breakfast yet? It’s gotta be breakfast somewhere…

Sometimes I’ll make it on the stove, or sometimes in the microwave, and I usually use coconut milk (something called “Coconut Beverage,” which comes in a carton in the TJ’s dairy section) to thicken it and make it creamier than it is if if you make it with water.

When it’s ready, I put in a big honkin’ scoop of peanut butter and a quarter cup of whole milk, and it’s enough to keep me going till lunch.

I served it to some house guests a couple weeks ago for breakfast, and everyone was like, “WHAT?! This is the best oatmeal I’ve ever had!”

I have to agree. It’s the best oatmeal I’ve ever had.

2. Organic Pea Soup

Here’s another new fave I just recently tried. I started seeing it at the store about a month ago. It’s their Organic Pea Soup, and it’s next to the pre-made salads, sandwiches and wraps at my TJ’s.

It’s SO GOOD.

[Continue reading…]

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

How Often Do You Wear Full-On Glam Instagram-Style Makeup?

November 9th, 2017 by Karen 21 Comments

Back when I used to wear All. The. Things.

All the time? A few times a week? Once in a blue moon? Never?

I think full-on glam is a phase. I know I’ve gone through it…repeatedly. 🙂 I think almost everyone who likes makeup goes through a glam phase. It’s like wanting a pony…

Last time I went through it (which was probably 2015), the full-on glamn-ness was so hardcore that I was wearing A LOT of makeup. I was doing ALL. THE. STEPS. too.

I was even doing the brows, where I’d fill them in with two shades of brow powder, then use pencil, then carve them out with concealer, and I mean everything was extreme.

I hardly went out in the world without any makeup on. In fact, I remember going to a spa with my friends Jen and Cindy and getting a massage while wearing a full face of makeup through the entire thing. I was THAT serious about it the last time.

It doesn’t necessarily make a ton of sense…but who cares? It was a phase. It’s what I liked.

It’s fun! I love seeing girls and guys in full-on glam because I’m just in awe of the artistry and the creativity, but, you know, I just can’t do that all the time now… I’m currently not in that phase. I think at one point in time I was watching nonstop YouTube tutorials and got it into my head that everyone everywhere wears that much makeup. I felt like my makeup skills were at their best at that time, but at least for now, full-on glam is not happening around here.

It’s been a hot second since I wore full-on glam Instagram-style makeup. I rarely do it now, but there was a time… I definitely feel like I’ve lost a step in terms of my makeup game since I stopped pushing the envelope as much, so I need to practice a bit more, but I do the best I can with the time I have.

Without a doubt, though — doing all the contouring, the bronzing, the layering, everything — pushes your skills. It’s just very time consuming, and I’m not in the ideal place to do it very often right now.

How about you? How often do you wear full-on glam Instagram-style makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Accessorize Me! 13 Playfully Pink Shoes From DSW

November 8th, 2017 by Karen 38 Comments

adidas pink shoes
adidas pink shoes

Accessorize Me! is a new series featuring roundups and single product features of shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories that catch my eye.

Me: You don’t need another pair of shoes, Karen.
Also Me: OMG, that pale pink suede pair of Nikes is a totally good idea.
Me: Oh, no, those will totally get dirty, you know it, within 2.5 seconds.
Also Me: Who the heck cares?!

Girl… I strolled into DSW yesterday and was floored by all the cute tennis shoes. Yeah, I’ve finally become that person who wears tennis shoes all the time because, well, chasing after a high-energy child while wearing heels is a death wish for your ankles.

So, if you’ve read MBB for any length of time, you probably know that, once upon a time, I lived in heels. I loved them so much that I wore them everywhere, even to the airport, because I was that serious about having an extra three inches of height on me, LOL!

Ah, good times…

But now? Now I’m all about cute tennies. 🙂

It started when Connor (who’s officially a toddler now, wah!) became “that kid” (air quotes) — you know, the child shooting across Costco at the speed of light and screaming like a banshee. I swear, that girl has two speeds. She’s either standing still or sprinting for Olympic gold.

So I started wearing tennis shoes all the time because it’s easier to catch her in flats, but I’ve also realized — OH, SNAP! — that I actually LOVE wearing tennis shoes. My back, shoulders, feet and calves no longer ache as much as they did when I wore heels 24/7 (go figure!). Plus, there are so many cute styles and colors to choose from.

Which leads us here, to these 13 pairs of pink shoes from DSW…

1. Nike Court Royal Suede, $59.99

nike court royale suede
Major shoe lust!

My rational side keeps telling me that I’m cray for wanting a pale pink pair of suede Nikes, because I know they’ll be covered in dirt in less than a day, but I love how the shoe is monochromatic with the pale pink shoelaces and pale pink swoosh.

UGH! SOOOOO CUTE! Maybe if I coat the living heck out of them with a suede fabric protector spray? Or make them my “fancy occasion” tennies?

[Continue reading…]

There are 38 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion, Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 500 (Yes, 500!)

November 6th, 2017 by Karen 41 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

HOLY CRAP! 500 Monday Polls.

This is the 500th one… That is totally blowing my mind right now.

1. Assuming you “went there,” what mascara are you wearing today?

Diorshor Pump’N’Volume, which is, admittedly, kind of gimmicky, and I never really use the pumping aspect, but it’s an overall pretty great mascara for curl and length, notwithstanding said gimmick. I’ve been using it a lot lately, and I’m liking it more and more every time.

I feel like a couple coats perks up my eyes and makes me look like I just had a shot of espresso.

2. When was the last time you hosted a dinner party?

Oh, I remember it like it was yesterday! The last time was, um…never?

Honestly, I haven’t done the dinner party thing because, while I think I’m a decent cook (I mean, I can follow a recipe), I don’t think I’m a good enough at it to have my food be the centerpiece of a shindig or get-together.

Mind you, I have hosted Thanksgivings before at our house (with the help of a pre-made T-day meal from Nugget Market), and I’ve made dinner for my parents and friends, but I’ve never really done a coordinated dinner party.

3. Would you fare better in a dance battle or a rap battle?

Well, right now I would suck at both. 🙂 But when I was getting my sweat on in hip-hop dance classes three times a week back in the day, I would’ve been able to hang in a dance battle… But I’ve lost all my moves, man.

It all started a few years ago… For years I gently poked fun of El Hub’s favorite dance move (he does this one-two-step move), and after years of teasing him about it, that goofing-off move of his must have permeated into my real dancing, and so now all I can do is dance like him…

Serves me right, LOL!

Anyway, if I had to choose…at this point, I’d choose the rap battle.

Not by much, though!

4. Where are you in the world right now?

Like Carmen San Diego?? 🙂 Right now I’m 28.4 miles north of San Francisco in the rural, hilly town of Novato, California, along with about 56,000 other peeps.

5. If you had the chance to go into space as a tourist, would you go?

Ooh, this is tough… I love the idea of space exploration, but I have a minor case of claustrophobia, and I think I’d have a huge issue with being on a space ship for any amount of time.

BONUS QUESTION >> What’s your favorite kind of soup?

Clam chowder! But not the red kind… Ewww. I like the white clam chowder, and I like the clams to already be out of the shell and chopped up.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I just sent you a big hug, BTW, so keep your eyes out for it. Should be there soon. 🙂

P.P.S. Here are the poll questions to copy and paste:

1. Assuming you “went there,” what mascara are you wearing today?
2. When was the last time you hosted a dinner party?
3. Would you fare better in a dance battle or a rap battle?
4. Where are you in the world right now?
5. If you had the chance to go into space as a tourist, would you go?
BONUS QUESTION >> What’s your favorite kind of soup?

There are 41 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

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