Just For Fun

Current Wishlist | Athleta

February 1st, 2024 by Karen 10 Comments

I popped on over to the Athleta website the other day because they’ve got some pants and tops on sale that look like they’d be good for both work and casual outfits.

These are all the things currently on my wish list!

1. Endless High Rise Pant in Aspen Olive

I like how these pants have a tapered leg and a classic vibe. Ooh, and they’ve got pockets!

2. Renew Seamless Crewneck Tee in Aspen Olive

I’ve been loving the ease of monochromatic outfits lately, and this top looks like it would go perfectly with the Aspen pants! All you’d need to do then is to throw on a chic coat, like the…

3. Stellar Trench in Calcite Beige

So cute! I like the idea of a soft trench that flows with you when you move. This one seems like it would be comfortable to travel in and dressy enough for work.

4. Jetset Bomber Jacket in Abalone Grey

For a more casual vibe, I think this would bomber would be a fun option.

5. Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant in Navy

These navy Brooklyn pants look slightly more sporty compared to the Endless pant, but they still look like you can easily dress them up with a cute pair of chunky loafers.

6. Renew Seamless Racerback Tank in Navy

And of course you gotta have a matching top! This racerback tank looks like it would be a great option for the warm spring days ahead.

7. Renew Seamless Crewneck Top in Black

Until spring weather kicks in, though, I’d wear the pants with a black long sleeve top.

8. Retroplush Bomber Jacket

You know what? I think I’m turning into a girl who loves coats, blazers and jackets. I think this one would pair well with any of the outfits above!

Does anything here catch your eye? I’m seriously not kidding when I say I want all the things!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. The storm that’s currently over the Bay Area has been relatively OK so far in my neighborhood. A huge branch on one of the olive trees in our circle snapped off, and a bunch of outdoor patio furniture got knocked over, but nothing major was destroyed, knock on wood. Whew! How are things in your neck of the woods? Just think, soon enough, the days will be longer and it will be warm enough to walk around outside and enjoy the sunshine. I can’t wait for spring!

Outfit of the Day and Tips for Styling Wide-Leg Pants

January 31st, 2024 by Karen 7 Comments

There’s a big storm headed for Nor Cal today! The weather goddesses are saying that we’ll be seeing an atmospheric river. YOWZA.

Well, there’s no way I’d wear these wide-leg Madewell Harlow pants during a downpour (imagine how wet the bottom parts would get, yikes), so yeah, this is what I wore to work yesterday, when things were still dry.

Anywho, I’ve seen a lot of people wear this wide-leg style of pants, and you know, I never realized this until I tried on this particular cut, but pants this voluminous seem to go very wrong very quickly on me, and I definitely need to make very strategic choices when I wear them. Otherwise I look like I’m drowning in fabric or like a kid playing dress up with someone else’s grown up clothes.

These are some styling tips that really help me as a petite person! Maybe you’ll find them useful, too.

1. Pairing the pants with the same color top for a monochromatic look

I’ve found that these types of tailored, wide-leg pants tend to have a higher rise, and when I wear a contrasting color on the top, I look shorter because there’s a stark visual break between the top and the pants.

Wearing one continuous color creates a longer, unbroken line from top to bottom and seems to elongate my body, so that I look taller and less like I’m swimming in the pants.

2. Choosing a shoe with a platform or a chunky sole

For some reason, wearing wide-leg pants with shoes with a chunky sole looks balanced to my eye. I think when I wear pant legs that are very wide, a shoe with a daintier profile gets lost in the fabric.

You could do a loafer with a chunky sole or something similar to what I’m wearing here, which is the platform version of Chuck Taylor All Stars. I really like the pop of the white at the bottom there. I think it adds a little freshness to the overall look.

3. Wearing a fitted top and a slim-fitting blazer or jacket

I think these pants look really good with a bodysuit and slim-fitting blazer. I’m wearing an old body suit from J. Crew that I got a couple years ago and a chambray blazer I bought recently from J. Crew factory. Side note: I feel like J. Crew and J. Crew factory jackets and blazers tend to run a little small.

Just for funsies, I tried the same top and pants with an oversized boyfriend cut blazer from Madewell. I feel like this in itself is a very specific type of look, but for my petite size, it’s hard to pull off. I feel like I’m wearing my grandpa’s jacket or something. LOL!

Don’t get me wrong; I love this blazer and wear it all the time. I think it looks better with a tighter-fitting jean, though. I wore it a few weeks ago with the Madwell Vintage Jean and I think it looked very balanced.

If you’re in Nor Cal today, stay safe! It’s supposed to be crazy out there.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Outfit of the Day with a Pop of Color and New Red Chuck Taylor Y2K Heart Shoes

January 30th, 2024 by Karen 20 Comments

Yesterday’s work outfit was a nod to Valentine’s Day next month with a pop of red on my shoes and a cute shirt with red hearts.

At my new job, I’ve noticed that lots of my co-workers wear nice tennis shoes to work. I haven’t worn Chucks since college, but these were so cute and I knew they’d go with the shirt, so I snagged them the minute I saw them online.

I checked the Converse website this morning and apparently they’re already sold out, BOO!

If you’re looking for a pair for yourself and you find them, FYI, apparently this pair runs big, so you might want to go a half size down (unless you want the extra room for thick socks).

I usually wear a size women’s 7 and ordered a 6 1/2.

Oh, and if you still want a pair, these red platform high top Chucks look very similar.

As for the rest of the outfit, the patch pocket jeans are Madewell (I bought the petite length for the slightly cropped ankle look), the blue shirt with red hearts is J. Crew factory and the nails are Chanel Incendiaire.

Have a great Tuesday, my friend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 817

January 29th, 2024 by Karen 20 Comments

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. Tote bag or fanny pack?

Tote bag because I am compelled to bring all the things, all the time. Ha ha ha! Hey, I’d rather be prepared than not. It’s a blessing and a curse.

2. Something about the ’90s you loved?

I really enjoyed the fashion. The long floral dresses, the chunky boots, the nods to the ’70s. It was such a vibe! I also vividly remember jeans not being annoying during that era. But jeans have irritated me pretty much from 2000 until now.

3. Something about the ’90s you loathed?

It was a difficult decade for me. I was so young, and I had very little emotional support, and it was so hard for me to get through all the growing pains by myself. During the decade, I went from being a teenager to a 20-something, and it would’ve helped to have a mentor or someone who loved me without any ulterior motive who could direct me in a positive direction. I would often put on a false sense of bravado to hide the fear, and it did not always serve me well.

4. How much time does it take you to put on makeup these days?

Between five and 10 minutes? I think that it looks at least semi-decent when I leave the house, but I dunno. I saw myself on camera for a Zoom meeting last Friday and was like, whoa, so much bronzer!

5. What’s for dinner tonight?

Honestly I don’t know. This question plagues me daily, and it’s annoying me more now that my work schedule has shifted and I’m not at home for most of the day. Something has to change. I’m thinking that I’ll have to start ordering take out on a couple weekdays for the sake of my sanity, even though it’s the last thing I want to do. Anyway, back to the question. I think tonight we’re eating sandwiches. That’s all I got, LOL!

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. Tote bag or fanny pack?
2. Something about the ’90s you loved?
3. Something about the ’90s you loathed?
4. How much time does it take you to put on makeup these days?
5. What’s for dinner tonight?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 797

January 28th, 2024 by Karen Leave a Comment

Rosie spent this afternoon watching the Niners punch their ticket back to the Superbowl (YASSS!!!). Tabs obviously loved football too. 🏈 I mean, not only did he play it professionally before becoming a kitty supermodel, but he also just loved the competitive aspect. Here’s a look back at a typical Sunday for Tabs some years ago. P.S. GO NINERS!😆

You might be wondering, “What does an international cat of modeling and mystery do on his Sunday afternoon?”

Answer: kack at birds, that’s what, because it’s sunny bird weather here today, and the birds are out in force. There are way more birds than usual for this time of year, I guess because of the heavy rains, so more things are blooming and the grasses are going off. There must be lots of stuff for them to eat.

Tabs takes a very official approach when it comes to birds. He sees monitoring the bird situation outside as one of his primary job responsibilities, so he sits on the windowsill in the living room kacking, literally for hours, while El Hub and I watch TV, and the poor guy sounds so concerned… He’s like, “MOM! Do you SEE!? Do you see that bird out there on the hill??”

Yes, buddy, I see.

Poor guy…

This was a busy week for Tabs. After the holiday break, it’s back to business again. There’s a lot of work out there for kitty models right now, and here are some of the latest ad campaigns… 🙂

Those Vans tho! I would just die.

[Continue reading…]

Saturday Surfing, January 27, 2024!

January 27th, 2024 by Karen 4 Comments

Hiya, friend. We made it to Caturday, woo hoo!

This gal needs to *not* be inside and in front of a computer screen, so since we’re getting a break in the rain, I’m headed outside.

Do you ever get the urge to be amongst trees? Yeah, me too. I’m going hiking, and then afterwards, we’re getting BBQ provisions for the big game tomorrow.

Side note, GO NINERS!

This week’s reading

Vogue says these are the 15 best makeup removers, from micellar water to cleansing balms.
And these are the 13 best E.L.F. products, according to makeup artists.
Louis Vuitton’s master perfume spent almost three years on a new book about perfume plants.
This is how perfumers put vacation in a bottle.
Meet the Estée Lauder legacy collection.
What is ambergris?

This looks fun

I always appreciate the tips and tricks for hooded lids

Note to self

Fun

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Taylor Swift Week, Red Lip Drama and Work Things

January 26th, 2024 by Karen 11 Comments

On Sunday, Connor declared that it was going to be Taylor Swift week at our house, so we’ve been listening to Taylor Swift music all week long. My new favorite Taylor song is “Bejeweled.”

It’s one of those songs that took a while to grow on me. When I first heard it, I thought, “Eh, it’s okay,” but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

I also wore red lipstick every day to work as a homage to T-Swift! In the pic above I’m wearing MAC Retro Matte in Feels so Grand.

You know how sometimes when you put on red lipstick, one side looks a little wonky, so you try to correct it, and then next thing you know, the other side looks wonky, and you correct the other side, but then another part starts to look funny, and it goes on and on and on? That’s what happened here. Miraculously, it eventually worked out, and I made it to work on time.

Speaking of work, it’s been going great. I enjoy helping instructors and students, and every once in a while I get to flex my writing and editing skills.

The pace is very different compared to what I’m used to in marketing/creative in the private sector. People actually hang out, ya know, at the water cooler. It’s so wild to me, especially after years of solely interacting socially on Zoom. When you work online, there’s never really that time to just run into someone in the hallway or the break room and chat. It’s refreshing.

I do find, though, that even though I enjoy the social aspects of the job, that I need time to be by myself throughout the day. Occasionally I’ll go into my office and just retreat (I call it “hermit crabbing”) for a while so I can be alone.

Speaking of offices, I recently realized that there are things about shared office spaces that I haven’t had to think about in forever.

(TMI moment ahead, by the way.)

I used to eat whatever I wanted during lunch because it was just me and Rosie at home, but now that there’s other people in the mix — forget about it.

I realized that there are certain, ahem, gassy foods I now have to avoid at lunch if I’m going to be amongst other people. One cannot just eat lentil soup without suffering the consequences!

The other day I brought an eggroll in a bowl dish with tons of shredded cabbage, and it was so hard to, uh, keep things to myself, if you know what I mean.

Did I mention that I share an office with someone, and we have a window that can’t open? HA HA HA!

Anywho, overall work’s been fine. It’s such a big weight off my shoulders knowing that I have something steady that’s not going anywhere (knock on wood because you never know).

It’s allowed my mind to have lots more mental space to be creative.

Hope things are going well with you. Happy Friday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Stuff I Bought and Loved, Vol. 2

January 25th, 2024 by Karen 14 Comments

1. Mochi Cake Mix at Trader Joe’s

OH MY GOSH. This is so freakin’ delicious! I picked up a box on a whim, and after doing some investigating online on different ways people like to prepare it, I ended up making it with a modification (substituted water with a can of TJ’s Coconut Cream, which is what I had on hand). It was absolutely divine. Like, I went to sleep that night thinking about mochi cake and drooling, ha ha ha.

This cake has the chewy texture of mochi but the lift of a cake. I like the addition of the coconut cream; I think it adds a subtle coconut undertone that doesn’t overwhelm the flavor. It’s easy to make, too. You can do it in one bowl!

If you see it on the shelf, grab a box, and try it ASAP.

2. Bentgo Glass Salad Container

I bought this lunch container for work and I love it. The marketing on the box says it’s for salads, but really, you could use it for anything else you’d eat for lunch.

I like that I can put the glass into the microwave to warm up whatever leftovers I’m eating that day! And if I’m having a sandwich or a wrap, there’s plenty of room in the glass for all sorts of bread shapes and sizes.

The top part with the different compartments and the little container is great, too. It doesn’t leak and I like that the fork attaches to the cover.

FYI, it’s a little heavy because of the glass, but I don’t really mind because I’m just taking it for a short walk from my car to the office. If I had a long commute on a bus or train, though, and I had to carry this is a backpack, I’d opt for Bentgo’s plastic version, which is much lighter.

3. Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole Everly Bootie

I originally bought this shoe in black, and I loved it so much that I bought another pair in a dark chocolate shade. I have a standing desk at work, and I often have to walk across campus, so having a low heel helps me stay comfortable all day.

Fashion-wise, I also like that the boot fits snugly against my ankle; I think having that tight (but not too tight) fit is flattering for most of my pants, even those with a cropped or shorter inseam.

I bought mine at Nordstrom last month, but now the pickings are pretty slim. You might want to try the Ella, which looks similar.

4. Bernardo Hooded Water Resistant Puffer Jacket

This puffer is lightweight and warm! I like that it doesn’t overwhelm my petite height. The zippered pockets come in handy, and the hood is big enough to completely cover my head, even when I have my hair up in a bun.

It comes in lots of different colors, too. Oh! And you can dress it up or down pretty easily.

5. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelette Singles

Honestly, I was pretty crabby when I bought these at first as I originally was not fond of the idea of so much excess packaging, but now I love them because they’re lightweight and travel well. They’re really handy to have around, especially if you have a daughter who wears long-wearing matte red lipstick for dance competitions, LOL! I stick one in the to-go beauty bag I take to work, just in case I happen to be wearing a bright matte lippie and things go awry. (You never know.)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen