Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup
A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Tabs had no idea he was being watched/stalked this morning on his walk. As he was surveying his domain and taste-testing the foliage, the neighbor’s Shih Tzu was watching the watcher. Tabs had no idea that he was the one who was actually under surveillance.
It was kind of embarrassing.
Lots of interesting things in the circle this morning, notwithstanding the dog that caught Tabs totally unawares.
What do you think is going on here…? A Strawberry Shortcake lookalike contest? A deep conditioning session? An audition to play one of the little mushrooms in a live-action Super Mario Bros. film?
Honestly, one of the best things about babies is dressing them up, haha! — even when the “dressing up” part consists solely of a shower cap.
Hello and happy ? Caturday, friend! I had one of those mornings today where I groggily opened my eyes, slithered out of bed, ambled down the hall, stumbled down the stairs and made a beeline for the coffee machine.
I’ve had one huge cup already, so I almost feel human again… Almost.
What are you up to?
If you feel like browsing the web, here are some things that caught my eye this week.
Bougie bridal makeup (love the shirt, Andrew!)
Samantha’s favorite full-coverage foundations for oily skin.
Get a natural glow on mature skin with the new MAC Next to Nothing foundation.
Adia hauls some high-end highlighters, including one of my faves from Tom Ford.
Get a flawless finish without the cake face.
I gotta do a little spring cleaning today, so bluh on that. But after that there’s a skinny lemon bar recipe I’ve been dying to try.
What’s your plan for today? Please tell me it involves a cat (lie to me if you have to). 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I LOVE THEM! I like that they don’t hurt my hair OR my head, LOL! Because you know how sometimes when you put your ponytail up and you get a headache? That happens to me all the time, EXCEPT WHEN I WEAR SCRUNCHIES.
They also don’t leave that weird bend in my hair… You know what I’m talking about — that dent you get in the crown from a ponytail.
I’ve been thinking about them lately because I was looking around the Urban Outfitters website, and they’ve got a TON of scrunchies on there for sale.
Like, what the hell, dude? I need to crawl out from under my rock, because I had no idea it became socially acceptable for hip youngsters to don scrunchies again.
Free People even has sequin scrunchies!
Anywho, I’ve been wearing them for years, and it’s funny, but you know you’ve hit a certain point in your life when you’ve lived through trends that were totally in style, then fell out of style, and are now back in style again.
How do you feel about scrunchies? They seem to be one of those things that people either love or loathe.
#TEAMSCRUNCHIE! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Well, there was a time back in my hair-bear days, around 14 and 15, when I would take any old pair of scissors and just, like, trim my bangs willy-nilly.
I purposefully cut them choppy and at different lengths because I wanted “a layered look” (seriously, Karen?!), even though I really didn’t understand what that meant…
The front looked crazy, dude! But I didn’t care. As long as those bangs were high and lacquered such that not even a category 5 hurricane could fell them, I was happy. 🙂
But I’d never attempt it now. I think I’ve gotten progressively less coordinated over the years. I probably shouldn’t be manipulating scissors anywhere near my face.
I don’t know… I can see myself trimming off an eyebrow or a big chunk of my lashes by accident. Or poking an eyeball, OMG!
Bangs! Have you ever cut yours? (I’m hoping that your story ends on a positive note.)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Girl, I’m an equal opportunity lust-er.
Ha ha ha! I don’t even know if that makes sense… In addition to makeup and hair products and skin care and nail polish and everything else that you can shove into your basket at Sephora, I lust after clothes, and the urge is particularly strong at the beginning of a new season, because I’m thinking, “Oh, the weather’s changing! I need to update my wardrobe.” 🙂
I mean, “need” in this case is totally in air quotes, because I’m not walking around in my birthday suit or anything, but ya know, I’d like a few updates, because I’m kind of tired of wearing the same shirts over and over again. Ever since I KonMari’d my closet, which happened shortly before I got pregnant with Connor, the same five shirts and two pairs of pants that I’ve been able to shoehorn myself into have been in steady rotation, and I’m feeling the itch to switch things up ASAP.
And in your 40s, that’s not a good look.
The Madewell version looks a bit shorter, more streamlined, and I really like the zippered pocket in the front.
I want this as a replacement shirt… I like the black detailing around the neck and sleeves.
Do you have any Madewell tees in your closet? Are they, in fact, made well?
I’m crushing on this mint green tank top. It’s from their line of super soft clothing, and I’m into super soft. I like how it drapes (I don’t like tight workout tops), and THE KNOT ON THE FRONT IS SO CUTE.
I’d like this dress for actually wearing as a dress, but I can’t say that I’m averse to the idea of being able to jump into a body of water in it at a moment’s notice.
So glittery! So sparkly! I wouldn’t be crushed if one or two found their way into my life…
Naw, but this one from Urban Decay is clear! I don’t know why, but I find this endlessly fascinating.
What’s on your lust list, babe? Clothes, makeup, shoes, books, technology, accessories, pet accessories?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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. ?
I haven’t had one in years, but here it is: a butter and sugar sandwich!
Yes, I know. Terrible. But it was my favorite snack in the whole wide world.
You take an almost obscene amount of sugar, and book-end it between two pieces of soft Wonder Bread and a thick layer of butter. I’d have one every afternoon at the babysitters when I got home from elementary school (again, I know, I know).
I think I’m pretty good at writing lists, particularly lists that make me laugh.
And if they make other people laugh sometimes, then hey, bonus!
Well, crap, this is really hard. I’m feeling stage fright all of a sudden! So many choices… I’ve used some GREAT mascaras over the years from Chanel, Guerlain, MAC, Urban Decay…but I think I’ll go with something recent. I love Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Mascara. It separates, thickens, lengthens, holds the curl, and hello! — it has dinosaurs on the tube.
Honestly, I’m thinking short term today. I’d just like to feel satisfied with my creative work at the end of the day. I feel like I need to mix things up, but I haven’t figured out what that means yet.
I’ve gotten a few hours here and there, but I’m trying to remember the last time I had an entire day to veg out.
I think there was one day a few weeks ago. I hung out on the couch and watched a bunch of cheesy movies. The Craft is on Netflix now BTW (you’re welcome).
Since there’s no one above me, I’d like to say something nice to all of you.
I love your smile. 🙂
So, I’ve been doing this thing where I mix real coffee with decaf coffee in the mornings (mostly decaf), but the ratio of real to decaf has been steadily increasing, and now if I don’t have my decaf/coffee hybrid drink my head starts to throb.
BWHAAA! Oh, coffee…I love and loathe you at the same time.
Hello, friend! I’m going to take a page from my daughter’s book today, and smile in response to whatever happens. Baby throws a tantrum? Smile. Can’t get anyone on the phone? Smile. Late for exercise class? Smile.
We’ll see how it goes. I’m hoping it goes well.
I hope you have light heart today, and smile brightly. Sending you a big hug on this lovely Monday! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are this week’s questions to copy and paste:
1. A food that reminds you of your childhood?
2. What’s something you’re pretty good at?
3. What’s the best damned mascara you’ve ever tried?
4. What’s one of your dreams?
5. When was the last time you got to really veg out for an entire day, like do some serious, hardcore loafing?
6. BONUS: Say something nice to the person above you in the comments.
My darlings and divas,
Greetings and love to you all! I’m feeling exceptionally well rested and relaxed today, which is unusual considering my recent trip to Japan. I expected to still be jet-lagged.
I was there on a whirlwind week of work because my agent booked me on a speaking tour across Japan’s famed cat islands, so I shared my years of business experience with the local cats there, discussing personal branding, managing Internet fame, and forecasting upcoming fashion trends for summer/fall/winter 2017.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
– Robert Brault
This was one of those weeks where I blinked on Monday, and it was Friday when I opened my eyes. Like boom! — the week was over. What the what!?
I guess I was busier than I thought. Isn’t it weird how time really does seem to go by quicker when you’re busy? I wonder why that is…
I remember how a week seemed to stretch on forever when I was a kid. My, how things change.
I’ve had that quote up there at the top on my mind. I know that when I get busy doing day-to-day stuff, time flies, and you can’t get these moments back. Gotta always remember to cherish things because the only constant in life is that everything is temporary.
OK! On that note (LOL!), I still found time to surf the Interwebz a little this week, and here are some things that crossed my path.
And number 6.
And 13.
Don’t even pretend like you didn’t go there, too, because I know you did! 🙂
I swear, if Tabs learned how to do this, I’d be hearing bells ALL DAMN DAY.
One of my favorite people on YouTube, Dani from CoffeeBreakwithDani, shares her monthly faves from March.
MAC Senior Artist Keri Blair shows us how she uses the new MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour foundation.
In case you were wondering, glitter tears are a thing.
Hello, friend! Happy April 1st. 🙂 Today I’m doing some much-needed spring cleaning around the house (even though I REALLY don’t want to), and tomorrow I hope to take Connor to the park, if the weather’s nice, because there’s going to be a free Kindermusik class. And yes, I think I’m more excited than she is at the prospect of singing and dancing around outside.
What are you doing today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen