Good morning, friend! I’m still on my liquid eyeshadow kick. I’m wearing Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Liquid Eyeshadow in Nearly Neutral and Clinique Pretty Easy Liner in Brown. This is my new favorite way of getting of lots of bang for my makeup buck — a liquid eyeshadow and liquid liner combo. It’s not too fussy and at the end of it, I feel very put together, especially when I do a monochromatic makeup look like the one pictured above.
Makeup worn in this look
- Eyes: Rare Beauty Liquid Eyeshadow in Nearly Natural, Clinique Pretty Easy Liner in Brown, Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara (side note: I’m not loving this as much as I used to), Chanel Boy Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown
- Base: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Wheat, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden, Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Sand and Rare Beauty Blush in Nearly Apricot
- Lip: MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in A Little Tamed
Remember a few weeks ago when we talked about hobbies? I’ve been thinking a lot about the conversations we had in the comments, and I’ve decided to start slow and take it easy. My natural inclination is to jump into a challenging hobby, like rock climbing or learning a new language, but since this is the year I’m going to treat myself with extra gentleness and TLC (that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it!), I’ve decided to do something different.
All the hobbies I explore have to be simple, easy and fun. Here’s what I got so far:
Reading fiction purely for pleasure.
I’ve always loved to read, but then somehow along the way I got the idea that if I read a book, I had to review it here on MBB or on social media to make it worth my time. I’m going to let that go. If I really love something and want to talk about, sure, I’ll do that. No pressure, though.
Listening to podcasts.
I mean, is this even considered a hobby? I don’t know, but I like doing it, and I can listen while I’m walking, doing my hair or washing dishes. My current favorite podcast is NPR Life Kit. I like that the shows are 20 minutes or less and how I always learn something interesting or new. I recently just listened to one on what to do if your car ever gets caught in a flash flood!
Walking.
Sometimes I listen to a podcast, sometimes I just enjoy the sounds around me outside.
I’ve also recently bought an adult coloring book! I set an alarm to remind myself to do it every couple days, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
I think eventually I’ll have more time and more energy to open myself up to hobbies that push me more. For now, I think this is a good start.
Have you picked up any new hobbies recently? Or would you like to talk about a hobby that you do and love? Please let me know in the comments. I think it’s interesting and also very important that we do things solely just for us, and I’m going to make that a priority this year.
I hope you’re having a super Wednesday!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen, I recently decided to purchase some bird feeders, because we had a rare snow and ice day in the Atlanta area, and the poor birds need food during the winter and I realized I could help in some small way. I eventually want to get some bird houses and a bird bath and maybe turn the backyard into a bird sanctuary. I could keep track of all the different species, which I guess would be considered a hobby. I love that you like to walk and listen to podcasts. that is what I have been doing on my lunch hour the last two years that I have been working from home. There are so many out there!
Yes, bird watching is definitely a hobby! Maybe get yourself a book on local birds?
The most visible birds we have around are neighborhood are wild turkeys.
Oh my gosh, yes! Podcasts are a hobby and one of my favorites. Tell me if you need a list because I have a long one, lol. They make the chores go so much faster.
I love your “TLC in 2022” plan. Sounds like what we all need.
Suzanne, I would LOVE your list!
So, every year I pick a handful of words to set the tone for the year. Last year’s words were patience, focus and grace. This year’s words are gentle, generous, joyful, curiosity and kindness.
That is a great list of focus words! 💖
Here is my list of favorite podcasts. (Some are weekly, some are by season or topic, a couple are one-and-done.)
True Crime:
– Serial** (The OG of true crime podcasts, for a reason)
– Up and Vanished (Season 1 is the best and happened about an hour and a half from where I live)
– Over My Dead Body (Season 1 is also about a case that happened in my area; I didn’t listen to season 2, I wasn’t into the whole Joe Exotic thing; Season 3 is good)
– Slow Burn
– Dr. Death
– The MLK Tapes
– Firebug
– Atlanta Monster and Monster: DC Sniper
History:
– American History Tellers**
– American Scandal**
_ 1865 (Season 1 was great, Season 2 was ‘meh’)
– British Scandal
– The History Chicks
Pop Culture:
– The Popcast with Knox and Jamie**
– Even the Rich**
– You Must Remember This
– The Plot Thickens (a Turner Classic Movies podcast)
Books and Reading:
– What Should I Read Next**
– The Currently Reading Podcast**
– From the Front Porch (a podcast from one of my favorite indie bookstores, near-ish to where I live)
**My absolute favorites!
I’ve gone back to playing the piano and doing jigsaws. Jigsaws are really satisfying and I do it at my own pace and only do ones where I absolutely LOVE the picture!
Obviously, my time is limited because of my Siamese cat maid duties…
I love doing puzzles, too! I gave one to Connor with a beautiful illustrated chickens. Hmm, maybe that will be my new hobby!
When I was growing up, long before adult coloring books existed, my Mom would buy a coloring book for me and one for her. Since I never liked afternoon naps, we took time in the afternoon to color together. It was one of my favorite times so maybe you and Connor can color together.
Do you consider makeup application a hobby? You mention the importance of doing something just for yourself (so true) so maybe makeup is already a hobby that you haven’t classified it as a hobby.
Hobby discovery can take time to figure out and it evolves too.
It’s interesting to hear your take on hobbies. I have never looked at hobbies as something I needed to do or as another item to check off my list. They are always just totally for fun! I think maybe that’s why I have never had to search them out. I guess in looking at it, I have tons of hobbies. I like artistic and crafty things, and there’s always something like that I want to do next. If you like creative pursuits, maybe look for a craft kit or beginner art kit that makes it easy and has everything you need in one go?? If you like it expand, and if not, move on to the next thing.
Also, try audio books! Most public libraries have some sort of digital version. My library has Libby and Hoopla, but check with your local one to see what they offer. I am almost always listening to an audiobook. I listen all day long while I do my laundry or cleaning or making dinner, or driving on the way to the gym, or just doing whatever.
Very occasionally I’ll read a “worthwhile” book, but most often now it’s mysteries or romance or really just anything I want, and it’s so much more fun. I have a masters in comparative literature, so I totally get that putting pressure on yourself to review it or talk about it sucks the enjoyment. I have read tons of “important” books, but once I graduated, I really have had a hard time going back to anything that I’m just not reading for fun, and it’s been 12 years. 😬 It really burnt me out! I do still sometimes read self-help type books if I find them interesting. Audiobooks have helped so much because there’s always something I want to read, but there’s no way I could get to them all if I had to sit and read instead of getting chores, etc., accomplished while I’m getting to “read.”
Keep us posted on your hobbies! I find this so interesting.
I recently saw an adult ‘dot-to-dot’ book in a shop, and it went straight in my basket. I love redoing all those activities we did as kids, but this time I can make sure that the lines are perfectly straight, and all the colours are in the lines 🙂 I think I’ll buy a watercolour book next!
Reading just for fun is so good. And I love the picture you chose to go with it – for me a reminder to do it more often was seeing my daughter being completely lost in a book now that she can read, and it made me so happy.