Just For Fun

I read somewhere recently that in 1932, Revlon made only one shade of nail polish.

ONE SHADE.

Can you imagine? You roll up to a display that has just one shade in it?? In this age of so many color choices, it’s mind-boggling!

Funny thing is, though, that even though I keep a good amount of nail polish around — 30 or so bottles in a rainbow of different colors and finishes, and that’s *after* a recent beauty purge — I mostly wear the same shade families all the time. I usually rotate between a shade of light blue (I’ve been all about Frieda Kahlo Premium Nail Lacquer in FKNL37), a light yellow and a green.

How many bottles of nail polish do you currently have, and how many do you actually wear all the time?

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. ?

1. Beauty products for which you always have backups/extras around in case you run out?

Two things.

Actually, three things. I always have an extra bottle of Kate Spade… Kate Spade, LOL! I meant Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion to keep the pimples away.

I also keep an extra bottle (or two) of Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray in Dark Brown/Black around because my roots are all about showing up at the most inopportune times.

Third thing is body lotion. I can’t fathom living in a house where one runs out of body lotion.

2. What are some things you like to buy in bulk?

Toilet paper. I like having obnoxious amounts of toilet paper at home, and I get freaked out by the thought of not having enough toilet paper around… Does anybody ever get one of those little packs with the four rolls and be OK with it? Not me.

3. What are some places, other than where you live now, that you could see yourself living in?

I could see myself living in Southern California, like in San Diego. Ooh! I love San Diego…

And Hawaii, of course.

But both sets of Connor’s grandparents live here in Northern California, so I think we’ll be staying here, but if Connor decides to go to college someday in Hawaii or San Diego or someplace else, maybe El Hub and I will pack up and move there!

4. I think it’s important to…

Get enough sleep! — otherwise, it’s Grumpy Goatville the next day. (I may or may not be referring to myself.)

I also think that it’s important to take the time to think before speaking, because some things can’t be taken back.

And it’s important to moisturize those hands, girl.

5. How often do you leave the house with wet hair?

Oh, like…never. I never do it, not even in the summertime, because my hair isn’t the type that air dries nicely. I end up looking like a rabid poodle.

6. What is your inner voice talking about today?

First, it’s saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MBB! 🙂 Because today is Makeup and Beauty Blog’s 10th birthday. I started the blog on February 20th, 2007.

Second, it’s telling me to “bring it” when I go to HIIT class tonight, because there are lots of, like, hardcore athletes in the night class who don’t mess around.

Happy birthday, MBB!!!!

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A photo posted by Janine Ker (@janine_ker_hair) on Jan 9, 2017 at 7:57pm PST

WOW! This is totally something I can see the stylish people from the Capitol in the first Hunger Games book would do.

Janine Ker, an AMAZING hairstylist I follow on Instagram, creates these fantastical hairstyles using stencils and temporary hair color sprays.

A photo posted by Janine Ker (@janine_ker_hair) on Dec 28, 2016 at 6:42am PST

These are giving me ideas! It would be fun to do for a birthday party, a festival or a concert (Mariah Carey is coming to Vegas in July… Maybe I can find some silk butterflies?!).

I wouldn’t be able to do it myself, though. I’d need a stylist’s help for sure.

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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 NINE (!) 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 food is your guiltiest pleasure?

Pasta! Ooh! Pasta with cream sauce. Like An alfredo.

Mmm, alfredo…

I’ll take a huge bowl of that topped with a mountain of grated Parmesan cheese, and you could just leave me in the corner with that and not talk to me for forever.

2. What is/will be your mantra today?

“I’m a motherf*cking champion!” ?

3. Carry-on or checked luggage?

GIRL, carry-on all the way. I’ve had way too many traumatic check-in incidents. Plus, when I get off a plane, the last thing I want to do is wait in the baggage claim area for a bag that may or may not arrive. I wanna grab my crap and go!

4. Do you ever go bra-less during the daytime?

I get distracted by just living life. I don’t need my bosom flapping around. Hell no. I never do it.

5. Did you ever go through a phase when you dressed like a particular celebrity?

When I was eight, I wanted to look like Madonna, but my parents weren’t about to let me go to elementary school wearing fingerless gloves, a lace crop top and a belt buckle that said, “Boy Toy.”

Also, in college, I desperately tried to channel Gwen Stefani (this was in the early No Doubt years), so I wore lots of plaid and red lipstick, and I parted my hair down the middle and twisted it into a low bun.

In retrospect, I’m sure I looked ridiculous and absolutely nothing like her, but that reminds me — thank ye gods that social media wasn’t around back then.

6. What really relaxes you?

I have to work at chillin’-the-eff-out. It’s a process, but I like long, hot showers before bed and just letting my mind wander under the water. I also like quiet time with actual books, physical books you can hold on to. Reading always relaxes me.

When I’m extra tense, and I can feel my shoulders creeping up toward my ears (that’s where I hold my stress), another thing that helps is deep breathing and visualizing the oxygen as it goes through my body.

Monday Funday

I was just thinking… If we can have something called Sunday Funday, why can’t we make a Monday Funday? — because I’m tired of dreading Mondays. I’m over it.

Let’s live life a little this week, and try something new. I’m gonna look for another exercise class to try.

Hope your booty shake is extra luscious this week and that someone’s lookin’ while you’re shakin’. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy early ? Valentine’s. If you need one this year, Tabs is free (hint hint).

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

1. What food is your guiltiest pleasure?
2. What is/will be your mantra today?
3. Carry-on or checked luggage?
4. Do you ever go bra-less during the daytime?
5. Did you ever go through a phase when you dressed like a particular celebrity?
6. What really relaxes you?