Just For Fun

1. Mood:
   Okay. Actually, not too bad at all. Slowly but surely, I’m starting to feel more like myself again.
2. What’s something you wish you could buy from a vending machine?
   Um, sleep? Dude! How awesome would it be if you could buy sleep in cans?! Like if you could chug a few hours whenever you needed the extra rest.

   I also wouldn’t mind vending machines that dispensed piping hot French fries, assuming they were good fries (I like my fries skinny, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside), emergency shoes (for those times when you notice how funky your shoes are only after you’ve already reached your destination, and by then it’s too late to change) and soft, fluffy blue-eyed kittens with rhinestone collars.

3. Is there someplace you go when you need some peace and quiet?
   There are a few, like my bed, my parents’ kitchen, sometimes the library (I love how books smell), and if it’s sunny outside, then I like to take walks around Indian Valley here in Novato.

   Oh, and sometimes I’ll stop by a church outside of mass hours, when they’re usually very quiet. I find it very comforting and peaceful.

4. Have you ever had a checked-in bag lost during a flight?
   YES, and it was awful. I usually do my darnedest to avoid having to check in any bags (don’t like letting them out of my sight), but a couple years ago, on my way back from a brief trip to Italy, I must have tried to bring back one too many boxes of Italian chocolate, because the airline made me check the bag.

   Of course, it went missing somewhere between my connecting flight in Germany and home here in California.

   Thank goodness the airline tracked it down and got it back to me the next day (and with all the precious chocolate intact, LOL!).

5. Speaking of traveling, have you ever taken a trip with friends?
   I have, and it can be a lot of fun, especially if they’re good friends. I’ve also taken a couple of trips with friends of a friend of a friend that ended up being a little…challenging, to say the least.

   Travel can bring out the best and worst in people, especially people who don’t know each other very well. It can be stressful being on the road with someone, people getting hungry at different times, wanting to see and do different things, being trapped in cramped spaces for long periods of time.

6. How would you describe your laugh?
   Ha! I have a few different versions, but I think my most interesting laugh is when I’m busting a gut, laughing hysterically, I do this silent thing with my mouth wide open, but where no sound comes out. 🙂 My eyes are often also closed, and tears may or may not be streaming down my cheeks.
7. I wish I were more _________.
   I wish I were more forgiving both of myself and others. I think I hold on to things for a long time. Probably longer than I should.
8. When was the last time you wrote someone a letter by hand?
   Wow, I can’t remember. I think it might’ve been 2001? Holy crap!
9. When was the last time you enjoyed the great outdoors?
   About 20 hours ago, yesterday afternoon when I took Tabs for a walk around the neighborhood.
10. Weekly goals:
    To try to run every day this week, because I think it really helps my mood, and to just keep on keepin’ on.

    I’m not going to try to bite off too much yet.

1. Mood:
2. What’s something you wish you could buy from a vending machine?
3. Is there someplace you go when you need some peace and quiet?
4. Have you ever had a checked-in bag lost during a flight?
5. Speaking of traveling, have you ever taken a trip with friends?
6. How would you describe your laugh?
7. I wish I were more _________.
8. When was the last time you wrote someone a letter by hand?
9. When was the last time you enjoyed the great outdoors?
10. Weekly goals:

Hang in there this week, and I’ll try to do the same.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hi, love. Someone out here needs a few days of meow time…

I’ve been feeling kinda blue lately and very overwhelmed, and I think I need a little time to reflect and “fill my well.”

It’s a combination of fatigue, partly due to insomnia, and getting older, and not being able to do all of the things I want to do, some of them life decisions, some related to blogging, some related to household things, like the fact that I still have an unfurnished dining room filled with cardboard boxes and cleaning supplies after having moved in more than three years ago.

The posts may be more picture driven for a little while — just until I can get my feet back under me. I hope that’s okay. It’s about all I can handle right now, but I can’t/don’t want to leave you in the beauty lurch.

I’m still here, though, still thinking about you and wishing you well.

Love you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. Mood:
   Super chill. I had a nice, relaxing weekend, ahhh…
2. Who makes your favorite hand cream?
   In my book, Caudalie. Their Hand and Nail Cream is hands down (haha) the best.

   I must wash my hands 10 times a day and always try to follow up with hand cream. Caudalie’s is lightweight, absorbs quickly, and I swear I can hear my hands sighing with relief when I use it.

   FYI, if you keep multiple tubes of hand cream in different parts of the house, in your purse, your car, on your desk, and on top of your nightstand, you’re officially obsessed!

3. What are your favorite slang words/phrases?
   That’s a hella good question, yo. “Hella” is definitely one of mine. I’m also fond of, “That’s hella bad,” with “bad” meaning “good.”

   I guess you can take the girl out of the East Bay…but you can’t take the East Bay out of the girl. 🙂

4. Are you able to do detailed desk work while listening to music?
   Depends on the work and the music. I love to think that I can, but truth be told, I have to pause the funky beats when I’m doing anything beyond filing, labeling, and taking pictures or notes. Most of the time I read and write in silence.
5. What’s guaranteed to make you roll your eyes?
   Individuals who refer to themselves as “we.” Dude, I know it’s just you. You’re not a “we” unless you have a secret android robot/identical twin I don’t know about.
6. What’s a makeup or beauty product that reminds you of someone?
   Christian Dior Poison perfume makes me think of my mom; she’s worn it as long as I can remember. And Revlon Orange Flip Lipstick reminds me of my glamorous granny.
7. Where do you go for good ice cream?
   San Francisco’s The Ice Cream Bar. Been there three weekends in a row, thanks to this stretch of warm weather in the city (SF can be foggy and chilly this time of year). I’ve never had a better homemade waffle cone, and they make a mean basil ice cream!
8. Would you rather see or be seen?
   Well, am I wearing stretchy pants? Because if I am, yeah, I think I’d rather just see. But if my hair is behaving and I look pretty well put together (and I’m not covered in 5 pounds of cat hair), I don’t mind being seen.
9. Time to style your raggedy mop. Where do you go?
   I got to see Alis over at A Line Salon in Corte Madera. She has a gift for styling wavy and curly hair, and she’s creative with color. I can also always count on her to talk me out of making rash hair decisions (which has happened many times). Love ya, Alis!
10. Weekly goals:
    Right now, the only thing I’m thinking about is hitting the neighborhood pool at least once this week. My to-do list is scary long, but those are just things that have to get done. Making it to the pool is something I want to do.

Happy Monday and good morning, friend. 🙂 I hope your neurons are fired up this morning! Do you have minute for the Monday Poll?

1. Mood:
2. Who makes your favorite hand cream?
3. What are your favorite slang words/phrases?
4. Are you able to do detailed desk work while listening to music?
5. What’s guaranteed to make you roll your eyes?
6. What’s a makeup or beauty product that reminds you of someone?
7. Where do you go for good ice cream?
8. Would you rather see or be seen?
9. Time to style your raggedy mop. Where do you go?
10. Weekly goals:

Have a good one today. On Mondays, I always tell myself to focus on one thing at a time. Just one thing. You get that first one finished, and things start getting easier from there. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Most of mine change every year (and sometimes multiple times each year), but as of right now, here are three things I’m totally hooked on…

1. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen/PA+++: The name sounds like something out of a science fiction novel (“We set down on LV426 to refuel the ship and restock our supplies of NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen/PA+++”), but this tinted moisturizer is currently one of my favorite products in this solar system, or any other, for that matter. It’s as light as a feather, and yet I can still build it up in layers for extra coverage on my trouble spots.
2. MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara: I fall more in love with this mascara every single day. I swear, it hates smudges even more than I do! No smudges or flakes, and it creates long, separated, super glossy lashes in just one coat. The slim brush makes it really easy to use, and like NARS Pro Radiant, it’s so lightweight that it feels like I’m barely wearing anything at all.
3. Benefit Dallas: Back in my life after a long, unexplainable hiatus (I just got distracted by other things), this bronzy peach blush is so blasted easy to blend…and dang if it doesn’t look fab with a tan.

How about you? What Are Your Favorite Warm Weather Makeup/Beauty Products Right Now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen