Just For Fun

Last weekend, in a fit of cleaning/organizational inspiration, I repurposed these old cake stands from Pier 1 by turning them into an improv perfume display for my dresser.

I placed the shorter perfume bottles on the bottom, and the taller ones on the top. Then, to make it a little more “me,” I added hula dancer Curious George and a piece of coral. 🙂

You could do this same cake stand idea with all kinds of things at home — hair products, body lotions, skin care products, makeup — whatever your sweet heart desires.

If you have any cute storage ideas, let me know! Also, please send pics (or links to pics). Inquiring storage-addicted minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

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 seven 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 do you think your makeup style says about you?
   I don’t know. Half the time when I’m out and about, it’s probably saying, “This girl’s in a rush! Maybe that’s why she’s wearing sparkly Chanel eyeshadow and bright lipstick,” because when you do those two things, you can totally cheat on everything else.

   But when I do have time, I think my makeup style says, “Ooh! This girl loves smokey eyes and looking chic but never overdone.”

2. Do you have any food allergies?
   No, my goat tum can handle anything and everything! 🙂

   Except for certain herbs. Maybe. I think I might be slightly allergic to cilantro and/or parsley, because sometimes I’ll get hives on my face after eating them.

   But it doesn’t happen all the time, which is weird, so I’m not sure. When it does, though, I get big-honkin’ welts and hives…which I know sounds totally gross, but they go away in 15 or 20 minutes.

   Now, if my eyes completely swell up one day, I’ll probably start taking it a little more seriously, but for now, I may or may not be slightly allergic to certain herbs.

3. What were you doing at 3 p.m. yesterday?
   I was putting on makeup and wasn’t even close to being ready. I was also telling El Hub, “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes.” LOL!

   Because we had a Sunday afternoon/early evening date for dinner and a movie, and the movie time was 4:10, so I thought, yeah, I’ll have enough time, blah, blah, blah…

   And you know what usually happens next. I didn’t estimate the time well, so I ended up throwing on some stuff at the last minute. El Hub was halfway out the door and yelling, “I’ll be in the car!” and I was like, “OK, I’ll be ready in 5 minutes!” but I hadn’t even changed yet.

4. What do you hope to be doing at 3 p.m. today?
   I’m hoping I’ll be doing the opposite thing today. I’m hoping I’ll be taking off my makeup at 3 (doubtful) so I can run on the treadmill a little later on, even though I don’t know if that’s the best idea because my legs are still super sore from spin class on Saturday.
5. What’s your goes-with-everything eyeshadow shade?
   By the look of the sad pan with the big empty circle in the middle, it’s matte brown MAC Cork.

   Not the most exciting answer, but it’s true because I can wear it with just about every single look, whether with warm or cool shades.

   Since it’s not too cool toned, it doesn’t look gray or ashy on me (I’m warm toned), and it’s not too warm either, so it doesn’t venture into orange territory.

   I mainly use it as a transition color and to carve out the crease, but I also just love how it blends.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What do you think your makeup style says about you?
2. Do you have any food allergies?
3. What were you doing at 3 p.m. yesterday?
4. What do you hope to be doing at 3 p.m. today?
5. What’s your goes-with-everything eyeshadow shade?

Oh, don’t be so sad. Turn that frown upside-down. 🙂 You’re gonna have a great week.

After work today I’m hoping to finish my employer’s new command center (gotta meet the Thursday target date!), so we’ll see how that goes.

Have a wonderful day, my friend. I hope yours is as bright and shiny as a yellow Gerbera daisy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It depends on the situation, like, if I’m doing one for straight-up comfort, like to go running, then I’ll go with the classic pony — pulled back, with the height in the middle of my head toward the back, roughly above my ears.

It’s the old efficient standby that gets the hair off my face and, when my hair extends past my shoulders, keeps it from whipping into my grill…which gets really annoying after a few miles.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about running it’s this: ponytail placement is EVERYTHING.

And when I’m not running, sometimes I’ll go with a more styled pony, like really high up on my head with a pouffy, messy tail and the hair on the front and sides of my head completely slicked down (fun fact: I’ve noticed that when I wear my hair like this it also works as an improv face lift, weird!).

I don’t wear that one a lot, though, because sometimes it gives me a headache…and it’s a pain to keep all the stray baby hairs around my forehead in place.

More often than not, I’ll wear an undone, messy low side pony pulled to the left where I let the stray hairs just fly out and do whatever they want.

Hooray for purposefully messy/boho-style hair! 🙂 I’ll pour a 40 of Vitamin Water on the sidewalk if it ever goes out of style.

What’s your preferred pony? High or low? Casually to the side or dead center? Half up, half down? Let’s talk ponytails this morning.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

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 seven 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. Most awkward moment you’ve ever had at work?
   To protect the innocent, I’m going to NOT say names, but at my last job…

   Even just thinking about it makes my skin crawl!

   My coworker — I think this was before I met El Hub — he walked up to my cube one day and kind of posted there, like he was gonna talk to me as usual, so he starts talking to me, and over the course of the conversation, he begins to unbutton his shirt to show off his manly chest. And his gold chains.

   It was so wrong! And I remember thinking, oh god, just avert your eyes! Just avert your eyes and try to change the subject! Turn toward your computer!!

   So I just started typing nonsense really fast on my computer. I opened my Outlook and just started typing, “asdf;lkjasdf;lkjasdf,” and eventually he got the hint and went away.

   Ugh! I can’t even think about it without feeling grossed out.

2. What were your favorite books to read when you were a teenager?
   Oh! Well, I was really into a lot of the popular series at the time. Sweet Valley High was one of my favorites. I also loved V.C. Andrews. Oh, my gosh. Flowers in The Attic and all of the other V.C. Andrews series.

   I read a lot of poppy, pulpy stuff in high school.

   Well, for my outside school reading time.

3. Just generally, which one would you rather wear: sharp or smudgy eyeliner?
   Smudgy, because it’s more casual and easier to do, and I love that it looks a little messy…’cause I’m kinda messy too.
4. What do you listen to while you work (if you listen to anything)?
   If I’m writing, I like to have it quiet, because for some reason that part of my brain doesn’t work when there are any distractions, but if I’m working on pictures or other things, then there’s this iTunes Radio station I recently found called Electronic Chill that’s very soothing and peppy at the same time.

   

5. When it comes to clothing, what colors do you wear well?
   I know that I don’t wear bright yellow well.

   I tried last weekend. I went to Nordstrom to return some things, and I tried on this bright yellow sweatshirt because it was super soft, but I looked absolutely terrible in it.

   I looked like I hadn’t seen the sun in six months.

   But I do like the way I look in jewel tones and purples and emerald and deep, rich teals. And also certain pastels, like light pink, light blue and mint green.

   Ironically, however, my entire wardrobe is gray right now…

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. Most awkward moment you’ve ever had at work?
2. What were your favorite books to read when you were a teenager?
3. Just generally, which one would you rather wear: sharp or smudgy eyeliner?
4. What do you listen to while you work (if you listen to anything)?
5. When it comes to clothing, what colors do you wear well?

Hello from sunny and rather cold and windy Northern California! Did you watch the Oscars last night?

Tabs was a nervous wreck, so I had to get out of the house. You’re going to laugh, but I ended up going to see Fifty Shades of Grey.

But it was fun! My friend snuck in a couple tiny bottles of Prosecco (shh), so we were having wine and eating popcorn while watching the movie.

And the girls I was with are girls from the salon, so they’re very rambunctious. Every single time Christian Grey would, like, get naked, somebody would go, “Meow!” or “RRRAARRW!” 🙂 It was fun.

I hope you’re having a very nice morning so far. My tea is beginning to kick in, so I’m gettin’ fired up.

Have a wonderful rest of your day and a great week. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen