Just For Fun

Just a quick hello because we’re off to a dance competition. It’s going to be a day filled with leaps, turns and athleticism–along with plenty of hairspray, red lipstick and sparkles!

We’re supposed to put their hair up in a french braid into a high pony, and I’m officially a mom fail, LOL! What’s weird is I can french braid my own hair, but Connor’s hair is so different. It’s much more slippery and hard to get a grip on.

This is one of my 10 attempts, and one of the dance moms said it looks like one of those episodes of “Nailed It.” HA HA HA!

Anyway, wish us luck, with the braid and with the dancing. 🙂

Have a great Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. How fleeting it was to feel at ease in my body.

It happened early on, too, before I even had the language to describe what it was. All I know is one day I was a kid looking at myself in the mirror and feeling fine, and the next day all I could see were things that needed to be “fixed.”

2. Sometimes it’s just really, really, really uncomfortable.

Both physically and mentally. Lower back aches, cramps, migraines, extreme mood swings, bloating–I swear dudes could not handle it.

3. How these damn hair ties will always disappear no matter how hard I try.

I officially give up. I consider all my lost hair ties as offerings to the goddess of the universe! LOL.

4. How truly challenging it is to balance work, raising a child, keeping a house afloat and having a life of your own.

I struggle with it daily, sigh.

5. That the fear I had about being a “bad” mom is more common than I thought.

I delayed having a child because I worried that the hands-off style of parenting I received as a kid would echo through me. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to connect with a little one. Turns out I was wrong, as motherhood has been an unexpected source of joy.

One last bonus item…

…which is something that I’ve only learned within the last few years. It’s very helpful when I’m having a conversation with another woman to say, “Do you want me to listen, or would you like me to help you find a solution?” Sometimes you just want someone to lend an ear while you process, and it helps to set that expectation early on.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy International Women’s Day!

I think there may be a cat lady who’s running the show at Marshalls right meow because when I was there last weekend there were so many kitty related things!

Of course I had to pick up this hilarious orange tabby version of one of my favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh.

These kitty chair lips were awfully tempting.

Oh, in case you were looking for some cat-themed pillows, Marshshalls has got plenty of them to choose from, so take your pick.

I’m thinking I should bring this one to work, ha ha ha!

This one’s my favorite, though, because of the beading and the embroidery, although the cat mom in me can’t help but wonder if all of these plants are cat safe, hmm.

See anything you like?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy, happy Thursday! This is the point of the week whenI start to the rapid process of devolving into a ball of useless mush. HA HA HA! This is why I now front load my week to do errands on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. By Thursday I’m worn out… It’s going to be takeout tonight, for sure.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

“It’s time to spa!”

By far, this tag line I wrote for Connor’s spa-themed birthday party last weekend was the best thing I’ve ever written as a copywriter.

LOL! I’m glad Connor decided to add it to the welcome board she made for her birthday party.

How cool is this neon drawing board, though? Connor got it for her birthday from her nana and grandpa. I kinda want one for myself to have at work, so I can write things like, “Kindly please refrain from asking me questions today.” Or, “Shhhh, speak less.”

If you’ve got to buy a kid a present and they’re into art, I highly recommend it! It’s the Discovery Kids Neon Glow Drawing Easel.

It was a small but sweet party. The girls also ate pizza, cake and snacks, ran around, built a fort and watched a movie. I think they enjoyed it! I know I did.

The spa-themed part of the party was super cute, by the way. I was the “spa technician” for the day, so I painted nails and placed cucumbers and face masks on cute little faces. 🙂

While we’re on the subject of nail polish, for the longest time, the Target near my house had the gnarliest nail polish section.

The displays were always covered in polish, bottles were always in the wrong place, and I swear it seemed like every bottle had been previously opened by, um, enthusiastic testers. It was really gross, so I never bought any nail polish there.

Anyway, I was shocked when I stopped by recently and found clean displays and a relatively well-stocked nail polish section.

Let’s see how long it lasts!

Last week while I was shopping for party snacks at Trader Joe’s, I stumbled onto a new sorbet inspired by one of the distinct flavors of the Philippines, calamansi, which is a citrus fruit that tastes like a hybrid between a Meyer lemon and a mandarin orange.

Trader Joe’s Calamansi & Mango Sorbet is a citrusy treat that’s a little tart, a little sweet and a whole lotta refreshing. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it because the calamansi note is very distinct, so if it’s a little bit off it tastes weird, but the flavor is spot on and it tastes like the real thing! Try it if you get the chance.

One last thing before I head out to work. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I have a thing for cute dinnerware. A beautifully set table setting makes my heart sing. LOL! I stumbled onto this cute set by Lenox called French Perle Scallop, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ve had off-white farmhouse-style dishes from Crate & Barrel for a few years now, and while I like how sturdy they are and how their simplicity doesn’t compete with the food on your plate, I’m craving more color in my life.

I hope things on your end are going OK! What’ve you been up to lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. French braid or high pony?

Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe the style that’s least likely to annoy me when I get a migraine? I guess I’d go with a high pony, then.

2. What time did you get up this morning?

6 a.m. right on the dot, but I could’ve used another hour or two of sleep.

3. How do you like to wear your eyeliner?

Lately I’ve been lining only the upper part of my lids. Last year I started to feel like lower lash line liner looks a little harsh on me; actually, now that I think about it, I feel like a lot of techniques I used to do look that way. Anywho, liner. If I’m short on time, I’ll do just the upper waterline, but if I have a little extra time, then I’ll trace a thin cat eye with the tiniest flick along my upper lashes.

4. Something that made your heart sing recently?

We had a birthday party at our house yesterday for Connor. At one point in time the house was so loud with screaming, laughing and barking (the kids were pretending they were stray animals that needed to be rescued, ha)! It was absolutely fantastic.

5. Something you need to replace in your makeup bag?

Goodness, so many things. I really need to pop by the beauty counter ASAP! Anywho, I desperately need a new brow pencil, and now the Hourglass twist-up liner I use every day has worn down to the last bits. I could also use a new mascara. And lipstick! And blush.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. French braid or high pony?
2. What time did you get up this morning?
3. How do you like to wear your eyeliner?
4. Something that made your heart sing recently?
5. Something you need to replace in your makeup bag?

This not-so-little girl turned eight today! Hard to believe she was once a small peanut in the crook of my arm.

She currently loves Squishmallows (who doesn’t though), cats, watercolor painting, crafting, dancing, math and science.

She still loves spending time with mama and daddy, so I try to soak up all of the hangout time that I can get right meow! 🙂

It’s crazy to me that once upon a time she lived inside my body. Now she’s out and about in the world, sashaying her way across the stage and through life. She’s sweet, smart and sassy.

Thank you for being her cool internet Aunties. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Oh, and goddesses of the universe, if you’re listening, please shower her with love and light, watch over her and surround her with people who will bring out the best in her. And gift her with many, many more birthdays to come!

1. “Dance Life,” Amazon Prime

This reality show follows a group of talented young dancers who want to break into the competitive world of professional dance in Australia. I was impressed with their work ethic and the creative choreography!

The slow motion sequences are beautiful, by the way.

2. “Beecham House,” Amazon Prime

Do you love period piece dramas? Me too! Fire this up ASAP. Make sure you have on comfy pants and your favorite pillow and blanket nearby when you dive into this epic tale set in 1795 in Delhi.

3. “One Day,” Netflix

So, I enjoyed this TV series about an ill-fated pair of lovers, but daaaang it got slow in the middle. At that point I was so emotionally invested, though, and I couldn’t look away. If you want a condensed experience just watch the movie of the same name starring Anne Hathaway from 2011.

4. True Detective: Night Country, MAX

Scary! Don’t watch it when you’re alone at home at night. The leads, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, have so much acting game, which is why I kept coming back for more.

5. “Belgravia,” Amazon Prime

One more for my period piece friends. This one has drama for your mama! There is an almost shocking amount of shady behavior from all angles, which you’ll either love or loathe. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What’ve you been marathoning lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen