Just For Fun

So, furniture shopping — specifically, shopping for couches.

It’s stressful, right?

I’ve been looking for a couch for so long that… Seriously, tectonic plates have shifted in the years I’ve been looking for a new couch. That’s how long it’s been. The continents are noticeably further apart.

The process has started and stopped multiple times, too, because a new couch is a big commitment. It’s like getting married.

And couches aren’t easy to get rid of. Once you buy one, you’re kinda locked in. I mean, that’s pressure! They have to tick off so many boxes, too — cute, functional, sturdy, but not so sturdy that your butt hurts when you sit in them. And then there’s the fabric. Is it stain-resistant, dark, light, smooth, rough, patterned, denim, leather? Will it stand up to cat barf? Will it fade in the sun? Will it last 10 years?

The last couch that I bought was a Pottery Barn Greenwich in 2002.

My, gosh, I’ve had that couch for 15 years!

I got it when I moved into my first “grown-up” apartment by myself, and how it would stand up to cats or kids never entered my mind. Consequently, I got a couch with the worst kind of fabric for cats (brushed twill), and it’s also upholstered, so it’s never been easy to wash or clean.

There are some stains on it… I probably should have gotten rid of it years ago. It’s pretty beat up, which is what happens when your husky tabby claims a couch as his personal playground, and the baby just takes it to another level (side note: you don’t even want to know how many times she has spit up on that couch.). I hate to say this, but my couch is one of the reasons I don’t have company over more often. I’m embarrassed, man. 🙁 The couch has to go.

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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. What’s something that’s an absolute treat for you?

Pecan pie! Girl, it’s my favorite! I only have it in the fall, and I look forward to it all year long.

Yes, I know that you can have pecan pie whenever, but it’s a November/December treat for me.

Also, another treat is having long stretches of free time, during which I don’t have to do anything in particular at all.

2. Do you think you have a destiny? If so, what is it?

I always thought I’d have a job where I got to help people in some way, and I feel like I get to do that sometimes with Makeup and Beauty Blog, even if it’s just by helping people forget their troubles for a short time.

3. Apple Jacks or Lucky Charms?

Lucky Charms! — because they’re magically delicious. 🙂 And I’m all about the marshmallows.

4. God only knows where I’d be without…

My naiveté. In a good way. Because seriously, though, if it hadn’t been for cluelessness, I wouldn’t have tried or seen half the things I’ve seen in my life.

5. Clowns: cool or scary?

Man, F*CK clowns! They messed me up when I was a kid. I had a red and white crocheted clown doll when I was four that used to hang from my doorknob, and I was convinced that he came to life at night while I was asleep.

6. Fill in the blank. “Today I feel like wearing _____ makeup.”

Today I feel like wearing all of my favorite neutral makeup!

But really, that’s every day. Haha!

Have a wonderful week, my friend. May good things happen for you. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste.

1. What’s something that’s an absolute treat for you?
2. Do you think you have a destiny? If so, what is it?
3. Apple Jacks or Lucky Charms?
4. God only knows where I’d be without…
5. Clowns: cool or scary?
6. Fill in the blank. “Today I feel like wearing _____ makeup.”

Why are humans so inconsistent? One week I feel motivated and organized and ready to go, and then I have a week like this one, where I never felt like I was firing on all cylinders.

I dunno… It’s just weird.

The past few weekends, I woke up on Saturday revved up and ready to kick @ss. Not today, though.

I still have to get a few things done, like, I need to do the bare minimum of cleaning (just to keep from completely losing my sh*t next week), but I’m gonna stop after I do a quick once-over of the bathroom, speed vacuuming and ONLY one or two loads of laundry.

But that’s it.

Man, I was feeling all over the place yesterday, so I did my thing with the timer. I set it for 20-minute blocks a few times during which I only worked on one task at a time. And after each 20-minute block, I took a 10-minute break.

It helps, but it wasn’t enough.

Yes, I know I’ve talked about this trick before and must sound like a broken record. I’m sorry. Please feel free to slip into that daydream about Viggo Mortensen while I babble…

I really need to refill my well this weekend, so I’m not going to push myself. After a little cleaning, I just want to read and rest. Ahh… That sounds nice. 🙂

Speaking of reading (and weak transitions), I found a few interesting things on the Interwebz this week…

• Allegedly, these leggings are like sports bras for your booty.
• SkinStore is having a Labor Day sale. Use code BEAUTY to take 20% off everything site-wide from Peter Thomas Roth, Sunday Riley, GlamGlow, Illamasqua and more.
• Next month Pat McGrath releases a permanent collection of makeup at Sephora, and it looks luxe, OMG!
• My friend Rae recently wrote an interesting op-ed for Teen Vogue — which, by the way, has been KILLING IT lately — called “Why the Trope of Rebellious Asian Women With Colorful Hair Is Problematic.”
• There’s actually something called “a bone lift,” and it’s for your face.
• Researchers at Harvard believe that they have found the next Einstein, and she’s 23.
• Whoop-whoop! If you’re an Amazon Prime member, look for special discounts at Whole Paycheck Foods.
• How Martha Stewart finishes all the stuff she needs to get done
• Got long locks? Here’s how to How to Bring Out the Wave in Long Hair bring out the wave in that magnificent mane.
• I’m trying to “chill out” and resist my makeup hoarder tendencies (really!), but Makeup Museum’s display of summer makeup — especially the vintage 1940s compact — is making it hard, man!
• For my fellow GoT fiends: wild theories about Daenerys’ new hair!
• Now that’s a real-deal, fancy-schmancy makeup organizer.

Have a good one, babe! 🙂 I’d love to hear from you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re anywhere near Hurricane Harvey right now, I’m sending warm, dry thoughts. I hope you’re OK.

P.P.S. If your urge to read hasn’t been quenched, here’s a look baaack at the MBB archives…

One year ago today on Makeup and Beauty Blog: Finding Great Cards for Great Grandparents This Grandparents Day

Two years ago: Come With Me on My Walk!, Super Blocky, Angular, Super Sharp Brows: A Do or a Don’t?, For More Precise Eyeshadow Placement, Try Applying Your Crease Color With a Flat Brush, For Better Blending, Try Holding Your Brush at the End

Three years ago: Makeup Tips for the Red Carpet and/or Black-Tie Events, The Nude ’90s Are Back With Rosy Brown Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color in Negligee, Do the Chop! This Easy Trick Could Solve Your False Lash Woes, The Sonia Kashuk Eye Palette in Sweet Nothings Is Sweet on Lids, Any Time Is a Good Time for Bronzer With Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 05 Sun Brunettes

Four years ago: Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 286, POPBeauty Plump Pout Liquid Lipstick Stain in Peony Petal Blooms With Major Cat Lady Potential, Today’s Purse and Shoes, Christmas Comes Early in California With the New NARS Loves Los Angeles Gift Set, Why Stop and Smell the Roses When the New Clarins Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder Palette Smells This Divine?

Five years ago: Rouge Bunny Rouge Glide Concealer, Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 206

Six years ago: Green Day, Ryan Gosling: His Best Hair?, Get Homework Help with the New LORAC Close Up: Real Life to Red Carpet Natural to Dramatic Face Tutorial, Who Gardens at Midnight? YSL, Of Course, with the YSL Midnight Garden Collection for Fall 2011, YSL Midnight Garden: Wintergreen La Laque Long Lasting Nail Laquer

Seven years ago: Lea Michele: Her Best Hair?, NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks, MAC Fabulous Felines Leopard Luxe Eyeshadow Quad, Wild Cats Couldn’t Keep Me Away from MAC Fabulous Felines, Could EZface Kiosks Change the Face of Drugstore Beauty?

Eight years ago: Lip Look: Plum Diggity with MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics, More Zoya Tastiness, Random Acts of Beauty: 7 Things (Beauty or Otherwise) Currently Rockin’ My World, Green Means Go: Tarte Green Siren Cheek Stain

Nine years ago: Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, August 26, MAC Cult of Cherry Face of the Day Using the Shadowy Lady Quad

Hi, friend! Happy Tuesday. I hope your coffee is pipin’ hot and your lashes are extra fanned and extra flirty today. I just wanted to say a quick hi and break the radio silence. Yesterday I needed a mental health day, or as I like to call it, a “meow time” day. Everything’s totally fine on this end; I was just really tired from the weekend and needed downtime. We had family visiting all weekend long so I didn’t really get any time to relax (you know how it is when you host).

Anyway, my body was craving rest so I took a bunch of naps, read on the couch for a few hours, made some Tollhouse cookies, and now I feel 100% better.

One thing that’s taken me a long time to learn is that knowing when to rest is important, just as important as knowing when to push yourself. To be able to recognize that need and to listen to your body cues… it’s an important skill. One that took me, oh, forty or so odd years to learn. But better late than never, right?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Did you catch the eclipse yesterday? The cloud cover was heavy here in the North Bay so this was my view of the sky at the eclipse peak at 10:15. I didn’t even get to use my homemade cereal box eclipse viewer! Oh, well. At least I’ll be prepared for the next one.

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. Describe your outfit!

Girl, OK. I feel like I’m on repeating Groundhog Day loop, because right now I’m in stinky, sweaty post-workout clothes…and it feels like I am ALWAYS in stinky, sweaty post-workout clothes, LOL!

This could be due to the fact that I just finished a short run on the treadmill. Before I sit down to write, especially in the mornings, I like to get my wiggles out, and the easiest way to do that is with a quick HIIT class on YouTube or a mile or two on the treadmill.

Sweating also helps me wake up and clears my head…

Anyway! That was my long-winded way of saying that I’m all Senita’d out today. Thank you, Abbey in the comments, for introducing me to the line. Their clothes are SO cute and affordable. I’m wearing the Sarah Bra in the Bahamas Print, the matching Bahamas Swift Shorts and the black Boyfriend Tank.

2. Do you know who you are?

WOW! — that’s a serious question for a Monday eclipse morning, but yes, I feel like I know who I am. But I also feel like I’m still growing and changing as a person.

I know the girl deep, down inside, and I love her, but sometimes she drives me crazy!

3. How long did it take you to truly figure out who you are?

I don’t think we’re ever done fully figuring ourselves out, because life and the things that happen along the way change things, but for me, really, I started to feel like I was finally becoming the person I was meant to be in my late 30s, so it took a while.

I admire those people who know themselves from the get-go. El Hub is like that. But it wasn’t that way for me. I’ve changed so much over the years, which reminds me — I’m so thankful that I didn’t grow up in the era of social media and online personas, because social media can be a perception trap.

I dunno… What are your thoughts on this?

4. What do you do when you don’t know what to do about something?

I freakin’ stall! Seriously, I stall as long as I can, and I use the time to calm down and clear my head.

When I react to something right away, I’m more likely to make unwise decisions… It took me a long time to figure that one out. Anyway, I stall for as long as I can, and in that process I take several deep breaths. If I have the time, I’ll also call El Hub and my parents, or one of my friends, and ask for advice.

5. Should you stay or should you go now?

So, of course I have to sing that song now. 🙂 “Should I stay or should I go now?”

While I think there’s value in sitting still, you should just GO! Go out and see the world. See everything.

I gotta get out of these clothes now, man! Although I do have to say that they dry pretty quickly. The sweat just wicks away into the ether.

Before I jump in the shower, can I just say that I think you’re great? 🙂 YOU ARE GREAT!

Be careful watching the eclipse today. Have a wonderful week.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. The questions to copy/paste.

1. Describe your outfit!
2. Do you know who you are?
3. How long did it take you to truly figure out who you are?
4. What do you do when you don’t know what to do about something?
5. Should you stay or should you go now?