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Citrusy, Springy Chanel Paris-Riviera (and Easter Egg Hunts and Noms)

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chanel paris riviera
Smells like spring!

Spring is here, and despite the fact that I don’t have the spring skirt situation worked out…I do have my spring fragrance situation worked out, because, HELLO! — a change of weather means change of scent, am I right? 🙂

Side note: the black midi skirt I ordered from Gap arrived yesterday, and it 100% made me look like I was part of a cult. Honestly, I think I was blinded by the thought of having pockets… Pockets will do that to ya!

I’m returning it ASAP.

Back to the perfume… It’s called Chanel Paris Riviera Eau du Toilette, and OOOH! — it smells so good. If you’re a fiend for fresh citrus scents, I think you’d love it. It starts off bright and borderline sharp with bold, orange notes. Like, if you were walking through a sun-dappled grove of orange trees and picked one off a branch and peeled it right then and there, that’s what a spritz first smells like.

Then, it transforms into a floral with orange blossom and jasmine notes before drying down into warm, sandalwood and vanilla notes. It’s light, fresh and clean, which I wanted because in the spring I don’t really like to wear anything too heavy, you know what I mean?

I love it and have been wearing it nonstop.

In other news…is it just me, or did Easter sneak up on us?! I usually like to plan my Easter menu way in advance, but this year I think I’m going to keep it simple with a premade honey ham, biscuits (I might just buy the premade kind) and roasted vegetables (asparagus, broccoli and baby potatoes). Or, I may just buy a couple of Whole Foods Frozen Cheese Pizzas and call it a day, ha ha ha! We’ll see.

I’m prepping some Easter eggs for the egg hunt at Connor’s preschool, and this got me thinking about Easter egg hunts when I was a kid. El Hub and I were chatting a while back and he was absolutely shocked when I told him that, when my brother and I were young, we always had Easter egg hunts inside our tiny little house. You could also pretty much guarantee that the eggs would always be hidden in the same places year after year, like, there were always some tucked away in the piano and behind my mom’s knick-knacks in the living room.

Because of this, I always just assumed that every family held their egg hunts the same way. I had NO IDEA some families went outside on Easter morning to hunt for eggs.

I don’t know… Did anybody else’s family do the indoor egg hunt?!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This or That: The Colorful Makeup Edition

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nyx vivid brights
Because sometimes it’s fun to take a break from neutrals.

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. ?

This or That: The Colorful Makeup Edition

  • Orange cat eyes or violet cat eyes?
  • Sunshine yellow eyeshadow or baby blue eyeshadow?
  • Frosty pink eyeshadow or vampy burgundy lips?
  • Blue mascara or purple mascara?
  • Dark navy blue liquid lipstick or black liquid lipstick?

Orange cat eyes or violet cat eyes?

Violet! I like how purple looks with my brown eyes.

Sunshine yellow eyeshadow or baby blue eyeshadow?

Hmm… Sunshine yellow worn as a single color on the top lid with lots and lots of lengthening mascara (and maybe a strip of false lashes, if I’m in the mood). I think that could look almost wearable?!

I do love me some baby blue eyeshadow…but only when it’s strategically placed as part of a blue smokey eye. That’s where I am in life right now, ha!

Frosty pink eyeshadow or vampy burgundy lips?

Vampy burgundy lips in a budge-proof liquid lipstick formula, so I don’t have to deal with taking it off before I put my mask on. ?

Blue mascara or purple mascara?

Blue! It shows up more readily on my dark lashes.

Dark navy blue liquid lipstick or black liquid lipstick?

Black liquid lipstick. I think it looks edgy and cool! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Toner Collections Should Be a Thing | A Quick and Easy Meal | Midi Skirts!

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toners march 2021
I heart toners!

I suppose one could collect stamps or coins or Fabergé eggs or Banksy paintings…but why, when you could just collect toners?! HA HA HA!

Remember all the toner commercials in the ’90s and how you always had to apply toners with a cotton ball? I used to do that, but now? Forget about it. I pour a little in my palms and press and rub the liquid right into my skin. I think the liquid absorbs quicker that way and, bonus, I don’t feel like I’m wasting any of the product on the cotton ball!

There are currently five toners gracing my bathroom shelf. They’re mostly for exfoliation because I’m forever dealing with hyperpigmentation and acne, so I rotate among them, depending on how my skin’s doing. I usually apply them in the morning right after washing my face and before any serums. Sometimes, I’ll use just one; other days, I’ll layer two.

Lately, my skin’s been in the mood for extra moisture, so I’ve been using Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence or Paula’s Choice BHA. Sometimes both.

I’ve also been using and liking REN Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic, which is a triple threat with three exfoliating ingredients — willow bark, lactic acid and azelaic acid. Side note: DUDE, azelaic acid! If you’re not on that train yet, get on it already.

Occasionally, I’ll dip into the Niacinamide Brightening Toner by Good Molecules (niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin and licorice root extract) or Kate Somerville Liquid Exfolikate (glycolic, malic, and lactic acids), if I’m craving something different.

On a side note, you know what I miss? Clinique’s old-school BHA toner, Mild Clarifying Lotion. They reformulated it a while back, and it just isn’t the same now. I should’ve stockpiled the O.G. version while I could… Le sigh! #BeautyRegrets

Are toners a “thing” for you too? Maybe we can start a toner enthusiasts club, ha ha ha! ?

A quick-and-easy meal

Not related to toner at all, but this is my new favorite quick meal: a rice and edamame bowl. (Yes, you gotta have it in a bowl!)

I usually add a few shakes of Nori Komi Furikake Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning, but Coywolf prefers it plain.

edamame rice no furikake
Connor likes hers plain.
edamame rice furikake
I like mine with furikake (seaweed).

Speaking of TJs, you can get this meal in your belly in less than five minutes with a couple of Trader Joe’s-assisted shortcuts! First, we usually have leftover white rice in a tupperware in the fridge, but when we don’t, I reach for the microwavable white rice from the TJ’s frozen food section, which takes all but three minutes to make. Trader Joe’s also has shelled, salted edamame in the freezer section too. Just defrost in the microwave.

edamame rice tjs
TJ’s to the rescue

I think this could also be delish with a sunny-side-up egg on top, but I haven’t tried it yet.

Midi skirts!

I’m still slowly but surely chipping away at the wardrobe checklist recommendations (I’m on a mission to look and feel put-together) I found about a month ago and wanted to tell you about these pull-on midi skirts from Gap.

Both the black and white skirt have pockets (SAY WHAT!) and come in regular, tall and petite lengths.

black white midi skirts

FYI, it looks like they’re still on sale, in case you’re interested (I’m totally my mother’s daughter and hate to pay full price).

I haven’t seen either of these skirts in person yet, and I can see how they could potentially be 1) super cute and casual, or 2) make me look like I’m in a cult…so we shall see! I suppose that’s a major downside to not visiting a fitting room in months.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rainbow Nails and Bright Lips, Funfetti Cake, and the MAC Makeup in “Promising Young Woman”

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skittles mani mac all fired up
It’s a rainbow of color

For the record, it’s very, very awkward to take a picture of yourself that has your hands in it and have it look natural! Why do I feel like my paws look bigger than my head here? ?

I haven’t worn rainbow nails in a minute, but I absolutely HAD TO after we rented Promising Young Woman last weekend. It’s a thriller starring Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a young 30-something woman who experiences something traumatic that leads her to drop out of medical school, move back in with her parent and…pursue other ends. I don’t want to give away too much, but it involves some revenge.

Cassie wears a pastel rainbow manicure throughout the movie, and it’s front and center at a few key moments.

I’ve been reading about the styling for the film, and it turns out that the manicure was writer/director Emerald Fennell’s idea, and fun fact for ya — she’s the lady who plays Camilla Parker-Bowles in The Crown!

Symbolically, Cassie’s nails and makeup represent both her armor and a weapon. Her sweet girlishness at times conceals her anger.

I just wanted to wear rainbows on my hands to have a little fun, but I definitely appreciate using makeup as armor.

skittles mani mac all fired up

Near the end of the film, there’s a scene with Cassie in a candy-colored wig putting on a bright lipstick, and dagnabbit, even without my glasses on, and consequently being half-blind, I knew it was MAC. The movie’s makeup artist, Angie Wells, used MAC All Fired Up Retro Matte Lipstick.

I’m wearing it here with MAC Beet Lip Pencil.

skittles mani mac all fired up
MAC attack!

Speaking of bright and colorful things…I got a gluten-free sprinkle boxed cake mix and a matching sprinkle cake frosting (both by Pillsbury) at Target a few weeks ago to make a cake, and you know what? It was pretty darned delicious. Both the boxed Funfetti cake and the frosting were surprisingly tasty and flavorful (I could really taste the vanilla). The cake was also light and fluffy, and the frosting spread easily.

Everything was so good that I went back to the store and got more for the next time I have to bake something last-minute!

You know that I’m totally 100% down to bake a cake and make frosting from scratch, but sometimes it’s sooooo nice to have something easy around for when you get a hankerin’ for cake.

While we’re on the topic of baking, look what I found at Michaels…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 670

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Happy Monday!

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

    1. Have you ever been stuck in an elevator?

    Thank god, no! The closest I’ve ever come to being stuck in one was about 15 years ago when my friend and I were on an elevator going up to the Nordstrom store in San Francisco. The elevators were slow and took a while, so when we got to our floor, there was a moment when the elevator seemed to be stuck. The doors just sat there, closed, a few beats too long.

    I started to borderline panic and hyperventilate…which is when my friend calmly hit the “open” button and I ran out. ?

    2. The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “perm”?

    “Oh, hell no!”

    3. What is the best type of pasta shape and why?

    I’m having a hard time choosing between bow tie and linguine. I like bow tie because they’re cute…and they fill with sauce well. Plus, they’re easy to eat.

    Linguine, however, is so much fun to twirl…

    Tough decision…

    Bow tie, I guess. ?

    4. How are you in a crisis?

    I’m probably not the first person you want to call, hahaha! If push came to shove and I were the only person around, I’d be able to handle it eventually.

    5. Would you rather be tiny like a fairy or massive like a T-rex?

    I wanna be a T-rex! ?

    6. Would you rather wear leg warmers or lace fingerless gloves?

    Leg warmers, preferably rainbow striped ones like my friend Karrie had in elementary school. I was always terribly jealous of hers.

    7. Carved out brows or faux freckles?

    Faux freckles, why not?

    8. Blazer or a trench coat?

    Blazer, because trench coats remind me of flashers, haha.

    9. Candy?

    Yeah, man!

    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. Have you ever been stuck in an elevator?
    2. The first thing that come to mind when you hear the word “perm”?
    3. What is the best type of pasta shape and why?
    4. How are you in a crisis?
    5. Would you rather be tiny like a fairy or massive like a T-rex?
    6. Would you rather wear leg warmers or lace fingerless gloves?
    7. Carved out brows or faux freckles?
    8. Blazer or a trench coat?
    9. Candy?

    P.P.S. Hi there, beautiful girl! Chin up, it’s spring, and there’s a lot to be grateful for today. Just wanted to let you know that I think you’re wonderful. ?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 651

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Tabs used to say, “Meow,” in this case meaning, “It’s a spring thing.”

He used to treat the vernal equinox like a holiday. The office closed, potlucks, picnics, sleeping in (later than usual). It was grand. When the clocks sprung forward, Tabs sprang into action with party planning.

The kitty modeling business also got extra busy.

And, as you know, Tabs was a firm believer in striking while the feline fashion iron is hot.

Springtime Rosie

Rosie, while not a professional kitty supermodel, has also upped her personal springtime rigmarole with a borderline Tabs-caliber floral ensemble. She wore it on her walk today and during her tree climbing workout.

I’m telling you, it was something else. Tabs would have been proud. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, March 20, 2021 ?

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This is Connor’s favorite tree.

Rise and shine, morning glory! Happy Caturday, and happy first day of spring! I hope you have something warm and delicious in your mug and a cat purring in your lap.

So…I went to Cost Plus World Market last weekend on a mission to find a British version of a Cadbury Fruit & Nut Bar (long story , but I prefer the taste of the ones made across the pond to the ones made here in the U.S.), and while I was there I spotted this tin of butter cookies…

danish cookie tin
Take me back to my childhood!

We had one in our house growing up, but it never actually had any cookies in it (weird, I know). Instead it was filled with sewing supplies, and now whenever I see one at a store, I crack up because memories.

By the way, I didn’t find my Cadbury Bar, boo! Cost Plus didn’t have ’em. If you happen to know someplace that sells the British version, holla at your girl.

Onto this week’s reading…


I cannot wait to watch this.


Hooray for embracing the gray.


Feeling this makeup vibe, for sure


I may have spent the entire video watching her bangs, LOL.


I love that Drew sees not using injectables as being rebellious.


The music in this is good!


I will take all the tips, thanks.


Dupes!


Kinda catchy


This looks fun.


Let’s do this.


Connor wanted to watch this because HORSES.


Aww!


The little girl in the pink velvet is too cute.


An interesting point of view in this age of oversharing.


I would love to read more books. Drop that knowledge on me, man!

It’s been drizzling all week so I bet today will be a good day to visit the Fairway Waterfall. What are you up to?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

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1. My So Called Life on Hulu

Oh, Angela Chase and all her teenage drama!

I used to love this show back in the day, and what’s interesting to me now, watching it as a full-blown adult, is the parents… DANG. They look *really* young! I remember watching this show as a teen/young adult and the parents looking, like, you know, regular parents — the people who would send you to your room and ground you if you got too sassy.

And oh, the ’90s fashion. All the high-waisted jeans and the floral dresses! It makes me wish I would’ve saved more of my ’90s wardrobe.

I like to imagine where Angela, Rickie and Rayanne ended up in life… Perhaps they Zoomed together during quarantine? LOL!

2. Chanel Ultra Le Teint Ultrawear All-Day Comfort Flawless Finish Foundation

Well, this foundation from Chanel is just lovely! It’s a full-coverage, soft matte foundation that feels comfy and lasts all day. I like how natural it looks on my skin, how it doesn’t feel heavy and how easily it blends. It’s also available in 30 shades.

chanel ultra le teint bd51
A full-coverage matte foundation that lasts all day

3. The soundtrack to Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts

So, I’ve actually never watched a full episode of this animated show, only bits and pieces because it’s always on at our house. El hub and Connor are obsessed with it! The parts I’ve seen are hilarious and very clever, so eventually I’ll watch it, but for now I’m all about the music. The soundtrack is really good. Catchy and totally dance-able, and full of songs I wish were on the radio, but for unknown reasons are not.

4. Universal Thread Sleeveless Knit Dress

I just got this $20 dress from Target in black, and I’m excited to wear it to the pool and the beach when the weather gets warmer. First of all, 20 bucks! Second, it’s 100% cotton, and the cotton feels good, too. It’s soft, relatively thick, and it skims the body nicely.

5. The front tuck and the half tuck

While we’re on the subject of clothes, I’ve been wearing my button-up (button-down?) shirts like this lately, and all I have to say is why didn’t I discover this sooner?

I feel like I definitely look taller and leaner when I wear my shirts this way. Let the front tuck and half tuck change your life, babe!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

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