Just For Fun

I painted my nails red in this shade a couple days ago because I’ve been thinking of my granny. Red is her favorite color.

I saw her last Sunday, probably for the last time. She’s 95 and currently in hospice care, so any day now, she’ll be headed to wherever we all go once we leave our bodies.

I want to think that she’ll soon become my angel and will visit me on occasion by popping by as a joyful, fluttery butterfly. It might sound silly to some, but it’s how I like to think of it.

We went to visit her last Sunday and to see her there, so small in her bed, was very humbling.

How do you even say goodbye to someone? Nothing ever prepares you for the hardest stuff, ever. Grief is so brutal that way, I guess.

I talked to her for a long time, and one thing that came up was a memory from when I was teeny tiny — 4 or maybe 5. Granny took me to the Sears photo studio to get my picture taken. I had a Dorthy Hamill haircut, which I loved! She put me in a blue dress with a white bow, and she painted my tiny fingernails a bright, glossy red.

She painted my nails again when I was a tween, when she gave me my first full-on manicure while we sat at the kitchen table. I remember feeling so grown up when she used the nail file to shape my nails, and how I was in awe of her ability to control the nail brush without getting any excess polish on my fingers.

When I saw her last Sunday, I held her hand, and her nails, as usual, looked perfect. They were bare but so smooth and perfectly shaped into ovals. It’s a memory I’ll hold in my heart forever.

Before I jet, I’ve got some news to share. The big scary thing that I thought I might have — the tests I took say no, that’s not it. To a degree, I’m relieved, but I still don’t have a final diagnosis, which means I have to go back for more tests and will continue living in this “in-between” world for a while until everything gets sorted out.

Weirdly enough, through all this, the universe has made it very clear to me one big message. It’s truly a joy to be alive.

The simple things, like walking Connor to school, or drinking a cup of coffee, or even just waking up in a house filled with the sounds of people whom I love unconditionally, are the best gifts.

Thank you for sharing the simple joys in this life with me, and I swear that it won’t always be this heavy! I’m just trying my best to get through it all.

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. What’s the weirdest thing you like on your pizza?

Hmm, I guess potato and pesto? I had that combo on a pizza once, and even though it seemed weird to me at first to have potato slices on pizza, I didn’t mind it with the pesto sauce.

2. What are you in the mood to wear more lately — eye shadow or lipstick?

Eyeshadow! I’ve been into matte cream eyeshadow sticks. Laura Mercier has a gorgeous cool-toned taupe called Cobblestone that’s really pretty on lids with a swish of brown liner.

3. What does your favorite water bottle look like?

A coral Hydro Flask water bottle that I got from the Whole Foods in Hawaii a few years back. I like it because it keeps my water super cold and it’s also lighweight!

4. Vegetables that gross you out and why?

Ugh, I have so much vegetable trauma from my childhood. Too many mushy, slimy, soggy gray-green veggies will do that to you! My top grossest ones are okra and bitter melon. Occasionally I’ll have a gross moment with eggplant when it’s overcooked, soggy and gray. BLECH!

5. What’s your stance on wearing sneakers with dresses?

I’ve always liked wearing sneakers with dresses and have been rockin’ the combo since college. The sneakers do have to make visual sense with the dress in some way, though. I wouldn’t be wearing random tennis shoes with just any old dress, ya know?

Happy Monday, sweet pea. What a beautiful week we have ahead of us. I looked out my window this morning and the sun was shining — hooray! And, when I walked Connor to school, we ran into our favorite neighbor and saw a bunch of cool animals (a morning dove, a squirrel and a big flock of turkeys). I just got back from a quick stroll and while it’s warm outside the air has that cool touch of fall. It’s absolutely gorgeous and makes me feel happy to be alive.

I hope that you had a relaxing weekend and that love is surrounding you today. I’m about to put on some makeup with the hope that having it on will help me to *not* cry. It’s the little things!

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. What’s the weirdest thing you like on your pizza?
2. What are you in the mood to wear more lately — eye shadow or lipstick?
3. What does your favorite water bottle look like?
4. Vegetables that gross you out and why?
5. What’s your stance on wearing sneakers with dresses?

Hello and happy Saturday!

Thank you so much for your kindness, love and care in yesterday’s post. A few words of support seems like a such small gesture, but it truly means a lot. Thank you.

What are your plans for the weekend? One of my small goals is to try something new and to do something I’ve never done before. I told myself it could be as simple as trying a new dish, exploring a new neighborhood or listening to new music.

I hope you’re having a wonderful day so far.

This week’s reading

• The art of smelling good — a deep dive into perfume’s current state of the union.
• Hair ribbons and “balletcore” at New York Fashion Week.
• Nail slugging is now a thing.
• Why do cats love boxes so much?
• I’m low-key obsessed with singer Olivia Rodrigo. Here’s the inspiration behind her new “Rolling Stone” cover. Side note, it includes aesthetics from Japanese “Elle.”

Cute

I like how she mentions mindset

Something to think about

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addit,

Karen

I wanted to pop in to say hi and wish you a happy Friday.

I’ve been quiet lately because I haven’t really felt like writing. Truth be told, it’s been a weird week. Between the handful of doctor’s appointments and the in-between time waiting on test results, I’ve spent my days feeling frightened and unsure of the future.

It seems like the older I get, the less I seem to truly understand anything about everything. When I was younger, it was almost as if there was an invisible thread weaving its way through my life in a logical, linear way — and that pathway was something I thought I could control.

But now, it’s like nothing makes sense to me anymore, like everything is just a roll of the dice. I feel shaken. Unmoored.

In a way, though, it’s been liberating. It’s become clear to me what boundaries I need to draw so that I feel supported and cared for.

I’m glad to have made it to Friday.

When I sat down to write this, I didn’t really have a plan. So I guess this is your gentle Friday reminder to love your beautiful body for everything it gives you, to wear glitter because you’re sparkly and deserve to shine bright, and to love those people who you hold dearest with everything you’ve got.

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. Where were you on September 11?

I was living in San Francisco with a roommate. It was early in the morning, and we were getting ready to go to our jobs when we heard about the Twin Towers in New York. We had very little information other than what we saw on the news, so I decided to not go into the downtown office that day because I was too afraid of taking public transportation. I stayed home, called my mom, who was already at work in downtown SF, and had her come out to my place in the Outer Richmond because I didn’t want her getting onto BART until we knew more of what was going on.

2. One nice thing that happened to you this morning?

I walked Connor to school and we talked about crafts we could make as Halloween decorations.

3. What’s the oldest car you’ve ever ridden in?

My friend Alex in high school and I took a swing dance class together our senior year. He would pick me up for class in his Dodge Dart from 1972, LOL. I wonder if that car is still running!

4. Pick one — a sweet or savory treat?

I’ll go with the sweet treat, so I can balance it out with a cup of coffee!

5. What are some of your makeup heavy hitters?

Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil, Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, Laura Mercier Corsica Tinted Moisturizer Blush, Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid and Dior Backstage Concealer. When I find things I love, I tend to stick to them!

Good morning, sweet girl. How are you? I’m OK so far. This morning, I thought it might be a good time to explain what happened on September 11 to Connor in case she heard about it in school today. I used the simplest of terms and tried to focus mostly on how it felt the world as we knew it had shifted. Anyway, it feels so far away, yet there are so many details about that day that are so clear to me still.

I hope your day is has been peaceful so far and that you’re feeling safe and loved.

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. Where were you on September 11?
2. One nice thing that happened to you this morning?
3. What’s the oldest car you’ve ever ridden in?
4. Pick one — a sweet or savory treat?
5. What are some of your makeup heavy hitters?

Happy Caturday, friend!

A certain cat lady and a lil’ spunky feline had quite the adventure at the cat clinic recently.

Rosie went in for routine vaccinations, and I learned how just gangsta she truly is. Out of all the kitties in the waiting area that day, she was the only one actively trying to escape her cat carrier, LOL!

She rocked it back and forth with her bodyweight, shot her paw out of the front to claw me (and my purse), meowed loudly to let everyone know how annoyed she was about her current situation… I mean, seriously, it was CRAY.

It was if Rosie woke up that morning and chose violence.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on how she was with the vet. She hissed and growled at the doctor so aggressively, he had to get a second set of hands to help with the shots.

I would’ve never guessed that my sweet Rosie-Pose was so combat ready.

Don’t be fooled by this girl’s face! She will mess you up. LOL!

On that note, please enjoy the cat content in this week’s reading. Meow.

This week’s reading

• If you live in Kentucky and are looking for a cat companion, the Kentucky Humane Society is waving adoption fees for adult kitties.
• What it means when your cat loves making biscuits.
• Science says this is the reason why cats are so obsessed with tuna!
• It never hurts to brush up on your cat lady skills.
• Fragrance fun fact about J’Adore: Calice Becker, the perfumer behind J’Adore, also created Tommy Hilfiger’s Tommy Girl and Calvin Klein’s Secret Obsession.
• Cher is a bonafide legend.
• In case you were wondering who holds the world record for longest mullet.
• I would love to go to this lipstick-themed high tea!
• The time for blue eyeshadow is right meow.
• Deep beauty thoughts — what is snail mucin?

So cute

My new favorite channel

I’ve been a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish girl for years, but when Hung talks, I listen

This song is a classic, and I love Whitney’s makeup in this video so much

Pretty

Have a great rest of your Saturday, ‘k?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen