Just For Fun

Is it doing your eyes makeup? Putting on your lips? Smoothing your skin? I used to looove ? doing my eyes when I had more time, and I could be extra picky about getting everything symmetrical, which I weirdly like doing, but now that I live my life by the timer on my iPhone and 15-minute blocks, I get my makeup kicks from blush.

I love how you can transform EVERYTHING with one sweep of blush. I’m all about that blush now, man!

How about you? What part of doing makeup is the most enjoyable for you?

Oh, and if you say brows, you’re gonna make me laugh, because only masochists have fun doing brows, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. What did you do for your makeup today (or what do you plan to do if you haven’t gotten ready yet)?

I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m product testing. I have some things from Milk makeup that I want to try — their Sunshine Skin Tint in Honey, a Lip + Cheek cream stick and one of their Eye Vinyls.

2. Low-rise or high-rise pants?

Um…how ’bout no pants!? LOL! 🙂

OK, I’ll go with high-rise pants because they suck in le tum oh, so well.

3. If you were a doughnut (just humor me), what doughnut would you be?

Lemon jelly, because they’re sweet and simple on the outside, but tart and sassy on the inside. 😉

4. What eye cream/serum are you currently using (if you’re using one at all, and if you aren’t, tell me why!)?

I’ve been using two of them together. I’m layering Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum underneath Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior Eye.

5. Did you ever want to be Wonder Woman as a kid?

Surprisingly, no! I feel like I should’ve wanted to be her, though, because I do love tiaras and bracelets, but I wanted to be Princess Allura more… She piloted the blue lion in Voltron.

OK…that may have been the nerdiest thing I’ve ever typed, haha.

Saturday in the City

Good morning! Happy Monday. If we worked together, this is the part in the morning when we’d ask each other what we did over the weekend, and maybe show each other pics of things we did on our phones.

I went to the City (aka San Francisco) on Saturday for dim sum and a musical with a couple friends.

You know when you’re not quite ready to face the week because you had so much fun over the weekend? That’s how I feel today. I’m gonna try to focus on the good stuff, though, so I can prance through this Monday on light kitty paws.

Have a good rest of your day, and I hope wherever you are, the sun is shining (and that you’re wearing SPF!).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

? Caturday…in the park…I think it was the third of June. ?

OK, that doesn’t really work. But good morning anyway! 🙂 It’s finally the weekend, thank goodness.

NO, SERIOUSLY, THANK GOODNESS. Even though it was a short week because of Memorial Day, I don’t know why, but it still felt long.

So I’m just about ready to leave the house and head into the city for an early birthday (my bday is next week) lady date with my friends Jen and Cindy. First, we’re going to dim sum, then to watch the musical version of Roman Holiday, which I’m really excited about. The movie is one of my favorites.

But before I zip across the Golden Gate Bridge, here are some stories that caught my eye this week…

• The relationship between Antarctic scientists and their makeup bags is complicated.
• How much you wanna bet there’s going to be glitter in the mix with Mariah Carey starting her own beauty company?
• I like that the new Tarte liner has a cat on it, but really, did they have to call it Sex Kitten? Why not Fierce Feline or Cool Kitty?
• SO much prettiness in this roundup of high-end spring neutrals and staples.
• So, what’s it like visiting the Creed store in NYC?
• Now on my Official Summer of Skin Care Wish List: Dr. Jart + Cermamindin Cream.
• 5 foolproof bronzers for fair skin
• My buddy Adia shares her thoughts on the Colourpop Pressed Powder Face Duos.
• Caroline has convinced me that if I don’t get Chanel Blue Jean in my life very, very soon, I’m going to lose my damn mind.
• Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of doughnut day!
• Like, totally rad! There’s a Saved By the Bell-themed pop-up restaurant opening in LA! P.S. I used to have a crush on Zack.
• 18 beauty product staples that makeup artists use and love
• I always enjoy learning about the people who start different companies. CEO Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics talks about building her billion-dollar brand.
• In case you were wondering what swimming in your makeup does to your skin.
• Rihanna’s makeup line, Fenty, is launching in the fall.
• Helvetica is not only a font. It’s also a coffee.

Tomorrow my plan is to speed-clean specific spots in my house, and I’m keeping it to just “specific spots,” because if I think of doing the whole house I get overwhelmed.

I really do have to face the music, though. I have a problem with clutter… I hold on to things longer than I should, so I’m going to force myself to de-clutter tomorrow (i.e. throw stuff away), and I’m going to start first thing in the morning while I’m still raring to go. I’m also going to take before and after pictures on my phone…just so that there’s photographic evidence that I did actually do something. And I’m going to work in 20 minute blocks with 10 minute breaks in between so I don’t burn myself out…

Yes, that’s a lot of mental preparation just for cleaning, but I REALLY don’t want to do it, so this is what it takes.

I keep thinking about something my HIIT instructor said the other day in class. “If you want to get something, you have to give something.” And I desperately want to de-clutter my house!

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you’re up to, and I hope you have some time to relax and even play with makeup. You deserve it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Or are you one of those annoying people like my friend Jen who can naturally streamline her makeup down to the bare essentials?

The last time I took a trip with her, her makeup bag was this teeny, tiny thing smaller than an envelope (!), and I brought a train case bursting at the seams (of course).

(Oh, and um…the trip was only two days.)

I think you can guess which camp I’m in. 🙂 Deciding what to bring, and what not to bring, is not my forte, because I can easily justify bringing…oh, just about anything.

NO, SERIOUSLY.

Anyway, I’m trying to do better on my trip to Hawaii, since the baby and I will be sharing a suitcase, and she’s a total clotheshorse. LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Just some snapshots of life right meow!

I’m weeks behind on brush washing. No, seriously. WEEKS. ?

My happy baby first thing in the morning.

The best big kitty brother a girl could ask for!

I bought these strawberries at TJ’s and DAYUM. They’re quite possibly the best strawberries I’ve ever eaten! ???

Speaking of fruit, I like it when you get a piece from the store and there’s a leaf still attached to the stem.

I spend 75% of my day with these weird clips in my hair.

The rest of the time is spent with this stuffed cat in a stroller. LOL!

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Last week I told myself, “Self, if you run at least three times this week, you can get yourself something from your Lust List, and ya know what? It totally worked! And now I get to treat myself to a pair of Senita shorts, woo-hoo! 🙂

Does this mean that I no longer have the itch to give any more cute things a happy home (a.k.a. SHOP TILL I DROP)? Nope!

Hence my latest Lust List…

1. Ann Taylor Stripe Puff-Sleeve Linen Sunday Tee ($39.50) — Why is it so hard to find a decent striped tee?? I think I may have finally found THE ONE, though. It’s from Ann Taylor. The stripes are the right width, and there aren’t too many of them. It’s black and white, which goes with everything, and I like the puffy sleeve action in the shoulders. Everything I’ve gotten from Ann Taylor also holds up well, so I’m hoping that it won’t spring holes after I wash and wear it a few times. Since Ann Taylor has 40-60% off sales every other second (no, seriously, they do a LOT), I’m going to wait until this one goes on sale.
2. Street Level Reversible Faux Leather Tote & Wristlet ($48) — I’ve been really into totes lately, because sometimes it’s nice to just reach in and grab what I need without having to dig through hella pockets. But it can’t just be any old tote. The size, shape and weight of said tote is a really big deal (at least it is for me), and this reversible faux leather tote by Street Level ticks off all the right boxes. It’s slim, lightweight and roomy, but not overtly big. It comes in a bunch of colors, too. I have the Black/Cognac one pictured above, but the Sage/Ivory also looks super pretty). This one is $48 and comes with a matching wristlet. WANT!
3. Viseart Sultry Muse Satin Eyeshadow Palette ($80) — I feel that the Viseart Neutral Matte Palette I got a few weeks ago needs a satiny sister to keep her company. If the satins are as fab as the mattes, then sh*t, girl. My wallet’s in trouble.
4. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39) — Please don’t tell Caroline Hirons that I’m stalking her. I totally am! Anyway, she did a post on BB creams a while back and recommended this one. I haven’t tried it yet, but I really want to now because I’ve been all about that BB cream life.
5. Gola Rainbow Stripe Sneakers ($68) — OK, I know I’m probably going to get these white tennies dirty in the first five minutes of wearing them, but the rainbows. THE RAINBOWS! I’ve never heard of this British brand, but apparently they’ve been around since 1905, so, technically, the Downton Abbey ladies could’ve worn them (yes, I know that probably didn’t happen because FICTION). I’m so curious! They sure look comfy…
6. Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow ($25) — Cream shadows! New ones! I don’t think they had these out when I went to Sephora a couple weeks ago. Must check next time, because, hi! — they aren’t all shimmery. There’s a handful of mattes and satins (and some shimmers, too, of course), which means that the browns and taupes will have to enter my life sometime very soon.
7. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense ($100) — I wore the original Light Blue on my wedding day, so I’m sentimental about this scent. I wonder how different this version is and if they boosted any particular notes.
8. Kate Spade Frames (Price TBD) — I’ve been putting off buying new glasses for…I don’t know, a ridiculous amount of time. I’m talking YEARS. I tried on some Kate Spade sunnies at Nordstrom Rack the other day, and I liked how they fit my face, so I’m thinking that the eyeglass frames might be a good fit too. I googled some pics and found this one. I think it’s the Catrina, but I’m not sure. I’m hoping to find a similar style soon (ideally at Costco, because I have a membership there, and the glasses are pretty affordable).

If you’ve tried the Smashbox BB cream, gimme the scoop. Did you like it? (I’m hoping you say yes.) Or, if you have another BB cream that you’re into, lemme know, because clearly I “need” another sheer-to-medium base in my life. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I forgot to talk about the baby shower last weekend! My sweet friend Mary Anne (she wrote a wonderful post on the blog some years ago) is having a girl!!! They did the gender reveal at the shower.

I’ve got a mild case of baby fever at the moment… Who am I kidding? I am full-on baby crazy, and I’m counting down the seconds till I can hold that newborn!