Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 706

April 17th, 2022 by Karen 3 Comments

Here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, we pride ourselves in our ability to not only celebrate the Easter holiday with joy, but to patrol our vast territory for intruders while we do it. Unfortunately, today the ball was dropped.

Instead of doing our regular pre-dawn patrol, Rosie decided to sleep in a little bit. (She’s been reading a lot about the mind-body connection and how important rest is to maximizing brain power.)

Sadly, that extra two hours of sleep allowed the local hooligans, a.k.a. the squirrels, crows, turkeys and perhaps other small children or rude adults, to bust into several candy-filled eggs before today’s Easter hunt even began.

Several prize eggs were raided for their Cadbury chocolate treasures. Needless to say, I think Tabs would have been shocked.

Speaking of Tabs, he loved Easter, and not just because he envisioned himself as a hunter amongst the bunny and chick prey. He also loved wearing pastels and felt that they popped on his fur. Pink was his color, for sure.

Rosie

Rosie did eventually do some patrolling outside this morning. When I asked her about how she felt about the egg fiasco, she just mumbled something about statistics and random chance, and then started scratching a formula into the dirt while ignoring me completely.

She’s a cat of science; what can I say? I couldn’t be mad at her.

I hope you had a happy Easter and got plenty of Easter candy. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, April 16, 2022!

April 16th, 2022 by Karen 3 Comments

Happy Caturday, my friend. WE MADE IT. I’ve got a billion boxes to unpack this morning, but I wanted to pop in and say a quick hi. I hope your weekend is off to a great start.

This week’s reading

“Vogue” editors share their hero makeup products. Note to self: grab the NYX eyebrow glue next time I’m at Ulta.
A real life “Emily in Paris” walks you through how to get the French girl makeup look. Oui, oui!
Food notes in perfume are a thing.
The 100 greatest fragrances of all time, according to “WWD.” Do you see any of your favorites on the list?
Speaking of scents, the fragrance industry has a complicated relationship with climate change.

What’s the plan for today? I hope you’re doing something relaxing.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Just a Quick Hello

April 14th, 2022 by Karen 12 Comments

Hi, friend. Today’s the last day of the home renovation, and I’m hanging on by a thread. Granted it’s a very thin, very worn thread, but I’m still hanging on. 🙂

I’m so happy to finally say goodbye to the carpet and paint Tabs and Rosie so gleefully destroyed, and hello to brighter floors and walls. I’m also looking forward to making lots of new memories with my family in a fresh space.

Anywho, I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello. I hope things on your side of the keyboard are well and that you are hydrated, moisturized and unbothered!

By the way, the pic at the top is one Connor and I took last night, right before she sang with her classmates in her school’s Easter chapel performance. The sun was in our eyes and so we were squinting; I didn’t realize we had such similar expressions until I saw this photo.

Have a great rest of your day, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Do You Feel About Caboodles?

April 13th, 2022 by Karen 13 Comments

Remember the makeup organizers from the late ’80s? I have a vintage OG peach and mint green one from eighth grade, and I still love it. Funny thing… I’ve never used it for makeup storage. I’ve always kept costume jewelry in mine!

Caboodles are still around, believe it or not; I’ve seen them at Ulta and at Target. Whenever we walk by them, Connor stares at them longingly and comments on how she’d love one of her own. Side note: I’ve totally dropped the ball with Easter this year because of all the house stuff that’s been happening, so she might be getting a Caboodle filled with chocolate from the Easter bunny.

I guess Caboodles still have that special appeal, that magic something-something that makes girls want them!

How do you feel about Caboodles? Did you have one back in the day? Do you still have one now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What’s the Newest Ingredient in Your Skin Care Routine?

April 12th, 2022 by Karen 15 Comments

biossance copper peptide serum — Hoping for a little skin care magic!

For me, it’s copper peptide. I just started using Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum, which I’m excited about because it’s supposed to work as an antioxidant and with collagen building.

How about you? What’s the newest ingredient in your skin care routine?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 724

April 11th, 2022 by Karen 28 Comments

monday poll jan 8 2018 — We’ve got this!

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. A simple thing that makes you happy?

Starting a new notebook… THE BEST FEELING.

2. Do you enjoy doing crafts?

I do, but I’m less likely to craft on my own. I like going to a class where the materials are all there and someone walks you through the process of painting a picture or making a wreath or whatever the craft entails.

3. Salt on your fruit?

Nah! I’ll do a sprinkle of chili lime seasoning, though, on watermelon.

4. Flip-flops or Birkenstocks?

Flip-flops, but only the ones by Reef because they mold to the shape of your feet.

5. How good are you at setting boundaries?

I’m OK, I guess. I could be better about it in a handful of relationships in my life.

6. Coffee today?

YES, PLEASE. It’s not even noon, and I already need a second cup.

7. What’s your hairstyle today?

I’m wearing it down today because I need a break from the funbun I’ve been rocking for the last couple of weeks. My mane is in a wavy mood, so I decided to go with the flow and added a few loose waves with my curling iron.

8. Have you watched any good TV shows lately?

Yes! “The Dropout” on Hulu, which is about the rise and fall of Theranos, the blood testing company. I also enjoyed “The Gilded Age” on HBO because you know I’m all about period pieces!

9. Something you have to do this week?

I need to go to the DMV to renew my license and get my picture taken.

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. A simple thing that makes you happy?
2. Do you enjoy doing crafts?
3. Salt on your fruit?
4. Flip-flops or Birkenstocks?
5. How good are you at setting boundaries?
6. Coffee today?
7. What’s your hairstyle today?
8. Have you watched any good TV shows lately?
9. Something you have to do this week?

P.P.S. Hello, sweet friend. I hope your Monday is treating you well and that something great happens to you this week! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 705

April 10th, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

Let’s talk about cats and snacks.

You ever notice how fickle cats are when it comes to snacks? In my experience, cats are very particular about their snacks. One day they’ll be all about the crunchies. The next day they won’t have anything to do with said crunchies.

Tabs was a diva with respect to many things, but he was extra diva-licious about his snacks. He’d get on these kicks where he’d only eat a certain snack in a certain flavor at a certain time of day, and of course there was a specific quantity of treats that had to be met; otherwise he’d make me run laps.

I remember a time when he was all about flaky treats in a pouch that were in some kind of gravy consommé, and he wanted it served on his favorite bone white china plate. Sometimes he even demanded a tiny little spoon. (He never used the spoon, of course. He just liked having it there.) 😊

Then there was this other type of treat, which was mostly gravy, and like…I was gonna say that there were other things in it, but no, it was all gravy… He insisted on pouring it into his mouth while he lounged languorously on his side like a feline Greek god. (My other hand was busy fanning him.)

Rosie

Rosie has never demanded that I fan her while I feed her, but she is particular about her treats.

Whenever it’s treat time, we like to joke around that it’s ladies’ night, and yes, there’s a song involved. Yes, it’s ladies’ night, and the feeling’s right. Oh, yes, it’s ladies’ night. Oh, what a night (oh, what a niiiight!).

Her chattering gets next level, too, when the treats come out. She’s a talkative cat, but when the treats come out, she’s like an auctioneer! She talks a mile a minute about who knows what.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, April 9, 2022!

April 9th, 2022 by Karen 10 Comments

good morning saturday surfing 022220 — Welcome to the weekend!

Well, hey there. How are ya doing? Welcome to Caturday and the weekend. WE MADE IT!

I’m about to embark upon another couple days of packing and moving. To say that I’ve been getting my squats in for the last couple weekends is an understatement, ha! Almost there, though. Hopefully the construction will be done mid-next week, either by Wednesday or Thursday.

After the work is done comes the really hard part — organizing all the stuff that’s currently into boxes! I’m on a mission to declutter everything before summer starts, so I’ve been researching different methods. I’m very interested in this strategy called “quieting,” which involves emptying everything out of a room (which I’ve already done, yay), and then only moving back items that you want, miss or need.

If you’ve had any success with decluttering or organizing a jam-packed space, I’d love to hear your thoughts.