Just For Fun

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. Temporary hair dyes: yes or no?

Yes, please, but only the sprays that wash out with shampoo. When I was getting my hair colored, I loved temporary spray dyes for my roots. My favorite was Rita Hazan Root Concealer! It’s not stiff or sticky and washes out easily.

Side note: I’m seriously thinking about doing a demi-permanent color to cover my grays. I’ve been going back and forth for the last couple weeks.

2. Your favorite magazines from back in the day?

When I was a teenager, I loved reading “Sassy,” “Seventeen” and “YM.” Occasionally, I’d get my mitts on a teenybopper fan magazine with New Kids on the Block on the cover, but that was rare. I was more into beauty than boys at that time.

When I was in my 20s and 30s, my favorites were “In Style” and “Real Simple.”

3. How’s your tennis game?

Seriously, I’m the worst. You don’t want to play tennis with me. LOL!

4. Houndstooth or gingham?

Gingham, please!

5. A hair length that suits you?

I do pretty well with anything around shoulder length. If I go any longer my hair starts to get heavy.

6. Something you learned recently?

I listened to a podcast recently and found out the words quote and quotation aren’t technically interchangeable.

7. Something beauty related that you’re excited about?

I may or may not have just ordered some stuff from Bobbi Brown’s line, Jones Road. I’m really curious about the new foundation!

8. Something beauty related that you’re totally over?

Eyeshadow palettes upon eyeshadow palettes. I used to love collecting them, but now not so much. They just take up a lot of space and I only use one or two shadows at a time. The only palette I’ve consistently used in the last year has been my Honest Beauty palette. I still like it a lot!

9. Something you can do to take care of yourself this week?

More decluttering! It’s taking forever, but every time I say goodbye to something I really don’t need, I feel so good afterwards.

Oh, and I can go to bed early. 🙂 Rest is a good thing!

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. Temporary hair dyes: yes or no?
2. Your favorite magazines from back in the day?
3. How’s your tennis game?
4. Houndstooth or gingham?
5. A hair length that suits you?
6. Something you learned recently?
7. Something beauty related that you’re excited about?
8. Eyeliner today?
9. Something you can do to take care of yourself this week?

P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful girl. It’s Memorial Day weekend here; thank you to those in the military for your service. And thank you to your families, too, as military life asks a lot of partners and children. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

Today Coywolf and I have the day off, so I’ll be taking it easy with my not-so-tiny dancer! I’m going to take her to lunch and then we’ll be doing our nails. I’m really looking forward to it.

Anywho, have a great day. I hope sweet things happen to you this week and that people treat you with kindness. 🤗

Good morning, beautiful! Sending you calm and joyful vibes this morning. Are you just as relieved as I am to finally make it to the weekend? I can’t wait to have a second cup of coffee and then work out. That’s my plan, and I’m stickin’ to it.

This week’s reading

• Asian founders work to steer the narrative as beauty trends pull from their cultures.
• How to treat and prevent ingrown hair.
• In case you get the itch to dye your hair but don’t want to commit to anything permanent.
• Embrace your grays with herringbone highlights.
• Can you make perfume from kitchen cupboard vanilla?
• Some professional baseball players believe a heavy dose of cologne or women’s perfume is essential before they take the field.


I need this.


And I need this too!


MEOW.


Yes, please.


Needless to say, I’m intrigued.


Carbs are your friend!


Retinol recommendations, broken down by category.


This was soothing and lovely.


I really want to make this!

Have a great weekend, and take care of yourself.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hi, friend. Before we get into today’s Beauty Q&A, I just wanted to say happy Friday, and TGIF. I’ve been quiet because I’ve had to feel some feelings. The world is a scary place, and MBB is usually my safe haven, so when I sit down at my keyboard in the mornings, I try to do it with a warm heart. Some days are so much harder than others, though, especially when I realize how everything feels so much more fragile than it did when I was a child.

I hope that wherever you are today, you and your family are feeling steady, loved and safe. Those things aren’t guaranteed for any of us, it seems, so any day you have them in your life is a gift.

DEEP BREATH. I think I’m ready for a little lighthearted chat about beauty; how about you? I need a momentary distraction.

As you know, summer is just around the corner. We got a preview a couple days ago in the Bay Area with temperatures in the 90s. I’m so not ready to be covered in sweat every time I leave the house, ugh.

At least the heat is a dry heat, though! It does make a difference. Humidity takes the challenge to the next level, for sure.

So, some summer beauty concerns…

• Makeup melting off in the heat! Although I don’t wear as much as I used to, I don’t appreciate my liner smearing all over the place.
• Hair challenges. I’m a little self conscious of the spots on my hairline that’ve receded a bit, so I’ve been trying to figure out how to disguise them and still keep my hair off my neck. Instead of doing high buns and ponytails, lately I’ve been doing more low buns and french twists because I can swoop the front pieces over those spots.
• Sweating like a mofo. OH gosh, so hot, so sweaty, all the time! The worst spots for me are my armpits (they’ve been next level lately), the backs of my knees and between my thighs.
• Keeping up with sun protection. I’m trying to be diligent about protecting my skin from the sun! I’m forever reapplying sunscreen, it seems.

How about you? What are your biggest summer beauty concerns?

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. Coconut or lemon?

I like both, but today I’m going with lemon. I’m thinking lemonade, lemon bars, lemon print EVERYTHING, lemon in my tea with loads of honey… YUM!

2. What’s your hairstyle today?

I’m wearing it down today. It’s wavy and on the slightly messy side, which I did on purpose. I’m learning to embrace the chaos!

3. Can you do a backflip?

Oh, hell no. Then again, I’ve never actually tried to learn how to do one. I mean, maybe if I had lots of time to warm up and stretch, and I tenaciously trained for months? Maybe.

4. Would you like dessert?

Always! And I don’t plan on sharing mine with anyone else. 🙂

5. A color you like wearing?

Hmm, well, I recently discovered that I enjoy wearing yellow very much!

6. What’s your mantra?

Focus on one thing at a time. (Side note: multi-tasking is not my jam.)

7. What time did you go to bed last night?

Around 10-ish? I watched an episode of “Schitt’s Creek” (it was “Asbestos Fest”) and then passed out.

8. Eyeliner?

Yup! I’m wearing two shades today – a brown Ilia gel on my water lines and a bright matte blue by Urban Decay, Chaos, buffed and smudged on my lash lines. I’ve been really into using eyeliner as eyeshadow lately.

9. Something good you can do for yourself today?

I can make sure that I drink lots of liquids today (I’m still feeling a little under the weather).

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. Coconut or lemon?
2. What’s your hairstyle today?
3. Can you do a backflip?
4. Would you like dessert?
5. A color you like wearing?
6. What’s your mantra?
7. What time did you go to bed last night?
8. Eyeliner?
9. Something good you can do for yourself today?

P.P.S. Hello and happy Monday, my friend! Hope this day brings you so much joy. 🤗

1. OPI Bubble Bath

This understated opaque pastel is a staple! Bubble Bath goes on smooth, not streaky, and the pale pink shade hides chips well. It adds just a little something-something to your nails when you want your paws to look put together. I have Bubble Bath in the Infinite Shine formula, but it’s also in the regular OPI formula, too.

2. Wardrobe essentials

Speaking of staples, I watched this video on wardrobe essentials by Erin from Busbee Style the other morning while I was eating breakfast, and it was a good reminder of how having clothing basics around makes it so much easier to get dressed! Note to self: buy some new camisoles.

3. Striped pajamas

This pink and cream striped set is from Target, and it’s so soft!

4. Mugs upon mugs of TJ’s Blood Orange Rooibos Tea

So I’m usually a coffee kinda gal first thing in the morning, but as the day goes on, I switch to decaf tea to avoid the jitters. Lately all I’ve been wanting to drink is the Blood Orange Rooibos Tea from Trader Joe’s. It’s lovely, rich and just a touch sweet.

5. Pachinko

I found this series randomly on Apple TV, and it was so good!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

P.P.S. I’m still building those happiness muscles. For day seven, the two things I’m grateful for are 1) cold medicine (everyone in my house has the sniffles right now), and 2) having a flexible job that allows me to watch Connor at home when she’s not feeling well. Heck, even just having a job is so, so great! I’m very thankful.