Just For Fun

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.

1. Is there any takeout place or coffee shop where folks usually/frequently mess up your name?

It’s Karen, spelled the conventional way, but I’ll be darned if I don’t get some very creative takes on my name at Starbucks.

I picked up a drink once that said “Cairn” on the side of the cup…like the terrier. LOL! Another time somebody wrote “Carrot,” and I gotta hand it to them for that one. 🙂 But do I look like somebody named after that vegetable??

2. Something you need to do today?

Just one of many things I need to do today, because the baby caught her first cold and it’s been…an adventure, but I need to wash the bedding in the guest room because We had company over, and I always like to keep fresh sheets in there, just in case somebody stops by unexpectedly and needs to stay the night.

Not that that ever happens… Last weekend was my in-laws, and we knew they were visiting ahead of time, but I still like to have that room ready just in case somebody ever does stop by completely out of the blue.

Weird, I know.

3. You’re out running errands one morning when you realize — OH, NO! — that you must have lost or forgotten your phone at home. What do you do?

If Connor were with me, I’d probably wouldn’t worry about it because, you know, if I really needed to get hold of someone, I’d find a way — ask someone to borrow their phone, find a payphone (do they still have those??) — but if Connor wasn’t with me, I’d probably jet back home to check, and if I still couldn’t find it, I’d use Apple’s Find my Phone and remotely wipe it if I saw it moving around on that little map.

4. Where are you right now?

In my office, which overlooks our little neighborhood circle, looking out my windows from my desk and waiting for Connor Claire and the sun to rise.

5. Finish the following sentence: I believe…

I believe that no matter what happens, you have to get back up, get back in there and try again. If you fall 99 times, you get back up and go for #100.

Happy Monday, amiga! I don’t know what it’s like out there, but we’re definitely starting to feel the effects of fall here, which means it’s almost full-time stretchy pants time, woot!

It’s getting chilly at night, and the oak trees all over our place are dropping leaves like crazy! It still warms up to about 80 in the daytime, but it’s weird. We’re on that summer-fall cusp.

About the stretchy pants, though, it’s not like stretchy pants ever go out of style (because every day can be a stretchy pants day), and I currently have my eye on a new pair of cuties with faux leather on the sides by Senita.

Speaking of stretchy pants, may each day this week be as good to you as your favorite pair of stretchy pants. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I love that picture at the top, but that was taken on Friday BEFORE Connor’s nose started running. She’s in full-on cold mode now and none too pleased about it. If you know of any good toddler cold remedies or tips, please share. There’s a very unhappy baby over here. 🙁

In addition to some of the requisite “adulting” things I have to do on Saturday mornings, like starting the laundry, watering the plants, getting breakfast started, administering lurvies to my feline overlord, etc., sometimes I actually get to sneak in some actual fun.

Like today, I played around a little with a new eye makeup trick I’ve been loving lately.

And, yes, I realize that I change favorites sometimes multiples times per day (haha), but as of meow it’s my new favorite eye makeup trick in the whole wide world!

I was inspired by this Instagram video from Alev Karsli, a MAC artist from Istanbul (not Constantinople), Turkey. She does a subdued bronzed glam look on a model that I don’t look anything like at all, but I REALLY liked the technique she used.

You take matte taupe MAC Groundwork Paint Pot cream shadow, add a few drops of Mac Essential Oil, mix them together with a brush, and apply that directly to your lids.

The MAC Paint Pots are dense cream shadows, and the oil thins them out a little, making them creamier and easier to blend. Plus, the oil adds a subtle glossy finish that just looks gloriously natural.

What a great idea! I wish I’d thought of it.

A post shared by ALEV KARSLI (@alevkarsli) on Jul 13, 2017 at 11:49pm PDT

And the fun doesn’t stop there. You can then layer something like sparkly golden champagne MAC Honey Lust shadow (permanent line) on top of Groundwork.

Also, if you want to smoke out your lower lash line, line it with good old bronzed MAC Teddy Eye Kohl. Smudge it out, then blend shimmery copper Amorous Alloy right on top.

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Girl, I realized last Monday night that it really, really helps to keep trash bags in your car.

Like, readily accessible trash bags that you can grab from the driver’s seat.

I came to this astonishingly mind-blowing revelation because, as I was driving home from the gym, I threw up in my mouth…and FYI, throwing up in your mouth is absolutely awful. I do not recommend it at all.

It was on the way home from HIIT class, and I think I know why it happened.

Right before I left the gym, I chugged a huge bottle of water.

Side note: I have a really hard time remembering to do all of the good-for-you post-workout things they say you’re supposed to do right after exercising, like drinking enough water right away and eating a healthy meal (or at least a snack) within 20 minutes, but I’m getting better about it, and since I’ve been more conscious of my post-workout routine, I’ve been recovering faster and feeling better the next day.

Anyway, I either worked out harder than I thought I did, or I chugged the water too quickly, because on the drive home I felt that all-to-familiar gross feeling of chunks coming up my throat.

It happened so quickly, too. One second I was singing Lil’ Kim’s first verse in Crush on You, and the next I was frantically looking for something to throw up into.

It was about to end up in my lap, so yeah…I held it in my mouth, pulled over and blechhh! — vomit city.

Needless to say, a garbage bag (or an empty Gatorade bottle) would’ve come in handy!

I don’t know why it never occurred to me to stash a trash bag in the car, because they’re so useful. Just finished eating a banana? Want your car to smell like eau de nasty old banana peel? Hell, no! Stick that thing in a bag. Need to change a dirty diaper? Throw that sh*t (haha, literally!) in a bag. Stepped in some dog poop? Don’t bring that crap in the car! Toss those shoes in a bag, and wash them off at home.

So, note to self, and note to you, keep a couple trash bags in the car.

I’m just sayin’… Right now if you can.

And may you never have to ever throw up in your mouth.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Officially, television rots your brain.

Unofficially, these are three things I’ve watched lately that I really enjoyed. 🙂

1. The Girl with All the Gifts

First, it’s a zombie movie…but before you roll your eyes at me (“Karen, I get it. YOU’RE INTO ZOMBIES!”), it’s a fresh take on the genre, which, I recognize, has gotten pretty tired.

This one takes place in post-apocalyptic England, and I think it’s the not-too-distant future because the technology looks like the stuff we have today.

The movie opens in a military bunker where a group of schoolkids, who look like normal kids but definitely aren’t, are all restrained and strapped into wheelchairs in a sterile military classroom with a teacher.

Basically, humanity has been overrun by a fungus that transforms human beings into brainless, flesh-eating monsters.

It’s the plants, man… They’re gonna take over the world.

Anyway, the kids were born to zombie moms, so they’re half-zombie, half-human hybrids who still crave flesh, but they’re also intelligent and capable of reasoning.

TWIST! 🙂

The movie follows one of the teachers and one of the zombie-hybrid kids, Melanie, who’s exceptionally bright, and there are moral dilemmas and conundrums about evolutionary biology.

It’s smarter than your average zombie movie but by no means slow. Highly recommended if you’re a sci-fi buff. I rented it on iTunes last weekend.

2. Vampire Academy

OK, so we go from zombies to vampires now (yes, I realize how this sounds). Vampire Academy is a few years old, but I don’t remember when it was in theaters (if it was in theaters). It’s based on a YA book series called — dun-dun-dun! — Vampire Academy.

It gets a shockingly bad score on rottentomatoes.com, but don’t let that deter you. It’s really fun! It’s like a vampire Harry Potter in the O.C.

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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.

1. Madonna or Prince? (Sorry! I know it’s cruel, but you have to pick one.)

I love them both. They’re the soundtrack of my adolescent years, but since I have to pick one…today I’ll go with Prince (I know, shocker, because I love Madge so much).

But I love dancing to Raspberry Beret, and I played it a lot last week.

2. Pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie?

El Hub will say this is sacrilege because he’s all about the pumpkin pie…but I could take it or leave it to be honest. I’m all about that #PSL life! 🙂 Especially when it’s made with coconut milk, YUM!

3. Pick one (only one) to wear today: tinted moisturizer, a cushion compact, liquid foundation, stick foundation or powder foundation.

Ooh! — liquid foundation today because I’m testing Rihanna’s new FENTY BEAUTY one (Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation). It looks way more natural than I expected.

Speaking of stick foundations, though, sometimes I’m amazed by the number of good flexible coverage ones out there that you can’t even feel on your skin, like Hourglass Vanish and Tarte Clay Stick Foundation, both of which I adore and would be wearing today if it weren’t for testing something new.

4. Have you ever shared a room with someone?

Yes, back in college. I had a roommate my freshman year in the dorms, and then for the first year when I moved off campus. And we haven’t kept in touch over the years.

I think I’m the kind of person who does better in her own space…although I have shared a room with El Hub for the last umpteen years, and we haven’t killed each other yet, ha!

Came preeeeety close a few times, though. 🙂

5. What was middle school like for you?

Dude, it was BEYOND awkward. I mean, did anybody have epic middle school years? Because I didn’t. Fifth and sixth grades were particularly awful.

I remember always being stressed out about who I was going to have lunch with and always being physically uncomfortable, too, because my body was changing quickly and suddenly. I also really hated wearing a bra, because I was a total tomboy. I just wasn’t into it.

If sports bras had been available, I would’ve been A LOT less ornery, for sure.

I also remember that none of my pants ever fit right because I started getting hips and a booty… When leggings became a thing (happened when I was in eighth grade), they seriously changed my life.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste. I can’t wait to read your answers! Happy Monday, my friend.

1. Madonna or Prince? (Sorry! I know it’s cruel, but you have to pick one.)
2. Pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie?
3. Pick one (only one) to wear today: tinted moisturizer, a cushion compact, liquid foundation, stick foundation or powder foundation.
4. Have you ever shared a room with someone?
5. What was middle school like for you?