Just For Fun

Good morning and happy Caturday!

Did you catch the solar eclipse? It was cloudy and drizzly this morning in our neck of the Bay Area, so at first I didn’t think we’d be able to see it, but then the sun broke through the clouds about 10 minutes after it started — hooray!

We used a homemade DIY eclipse contraption using paper, tape and tin foil to view it.

It was a very exciting morning and we enjoyed nerd-ing out with our neighbors. 😀

This week’s reading

• There’s now a “Wheel of Fortune” makeup collection. Side note for the “Wheel” OGs, there really should be an eyeshadow named “R-S-T-L-N-E.”
• What it’s like to have Kate Moss do your makeup!
• 13 of the best holiday makeup advent calendars for the beauty lovers in your life.
• Meet a buddhist monk who loves to wear makeup.
• What’s inside a 2,000-year-old makeup shop?

Cream shadows? YES, PLEASE

Because I had to look it up, LOL

When the little one gets in the middle and starts dancing, awww

Seriously, I can’t wait

The cutest cat burglar you ever did see

Sunscreen love

What’s on your agenda today? I hope you’ve got something fun planned for the rest of the day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You know, I can’t wait to see your answers because I know I’ll have a few new things to add to my beauty wishlist! 😀

Anywho, this is the routine I’ve been doing for the last two weeks. I’ve had a couple of video calls, and I’m also trying to get back into the habit of wearing a little something during the day. I also can’t seem to handle anything too complicated, LOL!

1. Brows – MAC Concrete Eyeshadow (a cool, dark brown)
2. Base – Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation in 8 (so good), Dior Backstage Concealer in 4W (also so, so good), Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Sand, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
3. Cheeks – MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Give Me Sun, MAC Blush in Blushbaby (a sheer pinkish beige)
4. Lids – Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colors in Caramel (a neutral brown) in the crease with Cobblestone (a cool taupe) in the crease and inner lid, and MAC Eyeshadow in Brule (beige) on the brow bone
5. Liner – Hourglass Gel Liner in Cave with MAC Eyeshadows in Concrete and Carbon mixed together and buffed on top
6. Lashes – Tower 28 Mascara
7. Lips – MAC Lipstick Velvet Teddy

Hopefully we can all find some new makeup treasures.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

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. Jasmine or gardenia?

Gardenia. I like how the flowers look and the scent always makes me think of the tropics for some reason.

2. If you could have a podcast about anything, what would it be about?

As crazy as it might sound, I think interviewing cat ladies (and cat gentlemen) about the feline loves of their lives would be fun and interesting.

3. How sensitive is your skin on a scale of 1-10 (with one being not sensitive at all and 10 being off the charts sensitivity)?

I think I’m somewhere in the middle right now. My skin seems to like acids and exfoliators, so I can use most without incident. I can also still try and wear most makeup products (including foundations and powders) without worrying about breaking out.

4. What hair styling products do you use the most and the least?

I use a lot of flexible hold hair spray and spray gel. Both are great for taming frizz and calming crazy baby hairs. For items I use the least, let’s see – dry shampoo, stiff gels and sprays. Also, mousse. I rarely use it, but I know it’s supposed to be great for volume, so I might get on that train someday.

5. Something you love to eat but hate to cook?

Ooh, girl… I love any and all fried vegetable situations. There’s this Filipino snack made with fried squash that I love called okoy, but I detest making it because frying makes such a mess!

Hello my friend and happy Monday. I just finished a video meeting and as I type this I’m wearing a full face of makeup. Maybe just for fun I’ll put something colorful on top of the neutral situation on my lids to see where it goes? Or maybe I’ll just take a nap. LOL! Today I’m starting a purposeful “reset and rest” period, and I promised myself plenty of downtime.

Side note, I have my window open and I just heard a bunch of wild turkeys clucking in my front yard. You know you live in the ‘burbs when a gang of giant turkeys sashay through your walkway like it’s Fashion Week or something.

How have you been? I hope things are joyful on your end of the keyboard.

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. Jasmine or gardenia?
2. If you could have a podcast about anything, what would it be about?
3. How sensitive is your skin?
4. What hair styling products do you use the most and the least?
5. Something you love to eat but hate to cook?

Good morning and happy Saturday, friend.

I’m trying to channel fall vibes today despite the fact that it’s going to be a scorcher here in the Bay Area. It’s supposed to hit 93 today! Yikes!

We had plans originally to take Connor to the pumpkin patch, but I think it’s just going to be too darn hot. Might be a pool day instead.

Hey, I’ll take this heat wave as a chance for one last hurrah!

So, remember how earlier this week we were talking about crochet? I found these premade kits online by a brand called The Woobles that are supposed to be good for beginners. Have you heard of this line? I’m tempted to try one, but they seem expensive for what you get.

Am I crazy to think that 30 bucks seems like a lot for a little bit of yarn, a hook, stuffing, an intro video and various small accoutrements? I suppose one could say learning the skill might be worth the initial cost. That said, the bunny is pretty cute.

Before I head out to grab my second cup of coffee (living on the edge!), I just have to share one more thing, because I’m so happy that I did it. Everything that happened last month made me realize I need to do a better job of taking care of myself, so yesterday afternoon, I did a whole lotta nothing. I just rested.

I sat on the couch, painted my nails with a dark, moody fall shade (Chaenl 141 Oiseau De Nuit), and I watched a thriller on Netflix with Benecio Del Toro called “Reptile.”

Anyway, just a little reminder, that rest is a good thing.

This week’s reading

• I used to love the Scholastic book fair when I was kid. This fall, I’m volunteering at Connor’s school book fair, so this piece on “The Fleeting Magic of Scholastic Book Fairs” totally speaks to me.
• If you’re looking for a glow in the dark polish to go with your Halloween costume, FYI, Sally Hansen’s got you covered.
• Most of these nail shapes are way too long and impractical for me, but I’m feeling the oxblood, dark chocolate and mauve shades!
• Don’t forget to wash behind your ears and between your toes.
• Are essential oils bad for your skin?
• Watery scents are having a moment.
• Apparently cats have attained evolutionary perfection.

Pretty

A tribute to grannies

Fascinating

I love a smokey eye

What are you doing today? If you’re in up in Nor Cal, please try to stay hydrated and cool.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. The day of the dead cats and dogs at Trader Joe’s

The purr-fect spooky gift for your favorite cat (or dog) lady exists!

Each ceramic planter is $7.99 and includes a cute little succulent.

If you’re at a loss for a name for your new planter pet, you can always borrow the one I gave mine – Gigi, which was one of my grandma’s nicknames.

2. Pamela Anderson going makeup-free at Fashion Week

Out of all the gangsta moves one could make at a high profile fashion and beauty event, this is the most iconic of them all. Pam, I totally get it. Sometimes all I wanna do is get dressed, run a brush through my hair and be on my way.

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A post shared by TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@hodaandjenna)

3. Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” album

Every song is fantastic — each a clear snapshot of what it feels to be 19 and on the verge of young adulthood. Listen to the entire thing all the way through at least twice, and then let me know which songs are your favorites.

Here are mine!

4. Crocheted sweaters

Especially the ones with flowers on them! I really like this one.

Quick question for my friends out there who know a thing about sewing and knitting. Is crocheting something I can learn from a book or watching YouTube tutorials? Or do I have to find a class? I would love to learn how to crochet cute flowers and plants like these ones I saw at the farmers’ market a while back.

5. That gross but satisfying feeling you get when…

…you wax your upper lip hair off and see all the stubby little hairs all up in the wax. Please tell me you do this because if you don’t, you’re missing out on one of life’s most underrated joys, LOL! So gross, yet so satisfying.

What’ve you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen