Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Isn’t the juicy orange color of these New Balance shoes so fun? I wear a lot of neutral clothes (grays, blues, beiges and taupes, so boring but totally practical for me right now), but when it comes to accessories like shoes or bags, I love a pop of color.

My feet have been mad as hell at me lately (sore arches in the morning, ugh), which is their usual signal that it’s time to get some new footwear, which is why these New Balance 574s are my newest shoe love! I bought them on the recommendation of a stylish podiatrist I follow on Instagram.

I’ve never owned a pair of New Balances, so I was pleasantly surprised when they were super comfy right out of the box. These shoes required no break-in time whatsoever, which is where I’m at in life. 🙂

I’m hoping that they last a while, although the same podiatrist who recommended them also recommends swapping out your shoes every six months, which is kinda crazy to me! My inner cranky Asian mom insists I wear them for at least two years, while the other side of me that wants happy feet (and loves to shop for shoes) is like, “YES, GIRL!”

Anyway, if you’re looking for a cute casual shoe that’s super comfy to walk in, these are great!

They also come in neutral colors, too, if bright orange isn’t your thing. I do think that orange and red combo sets a lovely fall vibe, though!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Saturday! What are you up to on this long holiday weekend?

• Summer tomatoes picked straight off the vine.
• Summer plums, especially when they’re soft, sweet and extra juicy.
• “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” movie on Hulu – excellent character development!
• Letting people be wrong while they’re driving because it’s not my job to teach them how to have good manners (side note, school’s back in session, so the traffic is crazy in the mornings again).
• Reminding myself that how this time last year I was so scared and uncertain about my health and the future, and I would’ve given anything to have what I have now — a healthy body, a steady work gig and people who I know will show up for me.
• Mildliner Markers. Seriously, the best! They make my day-to-day lists so colorful and fun.
• Walking Marnie in the evening just before the sun sets.
• Yummy things to eat: Trader Joe’s Miso Crunch Salad Kit, TJ’s Tortilla Española and Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter.
• The sound of my neighborhood early in the morning and at dusk.
• Taking it easy on myself with writing and not forcing myself to do it when I feel overwhelmed with the other things in my life.
• Walking Connor to school and leaving early so she has time to play on her swing and look for ladybugs.



• Practicing cursive writing. Has yours gotten a little sloppy because you’re in front of the computer all the time? Mine certainly has!
• Seeing all the students back on campus (I work at a college) and feeling the back to school energy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How have you been? I hope you had a wonderful week! 🙂

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. Have you ever traveled by yourself?

Yes, for work. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever taken a trip by myself for fun. Hmm, I just might have to rectify that.

2. Would you rather get a tattoo or get something pierced?

Oh my goodness, get something pierced, 100%. I only have one piercing per ear, so I’d do a second set with something classic, like diamond studs, LOL.

3. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

Nah, not really my jam. With my luck, I’d run into someone from high school who I never wanted to see again.

4. What’s scarier: heights or large crowds?

Large crowds! This is a relatively new thing for me that started sometime during the pandemic.

5. How’s your hair today?

Actually pretty cute! I styled it today with a flat iron to create loose waves. I do so much better mentally when my hair is done, I’ve noticed.

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 traveled by yourself?
2. Would you rather get a tattoo or get something pierced?
3. Have you ever been skinny dipping?
4. What’s scarier: heights or large crowds?
5. How’s your hair today?

Big news around these parts—your niece aka my little Coywolf started third grade. Her first day was on Thursday, and I’m happy to report that she came home all smiles and excited about class and her new teacher. She’s already made a new friend and had an “epic playdate” that involved not one, not two, not three, but four cats. FOUR CATS! Side note, there’s no way that Tabs would’ve let that fly. LOL. I miss that fool cat every day.

Fingers and toes crossed that this will be a good year for her. I’m hoping for lots of positive interactions with classmates and for less girl drama.

Yup, there’s cliques and alliances already, sigh. Crazy to think that this is happening in the third grade, but perhaps it’s normal and I had no idea?

I’m curious to know what it was like for you, or for your kids if you have them, in elementary school.

In my class I remember there were the girls who were considered “the pretty girls,” but I was very unaware of social standings and wasn’t too interested in whatever was going on. I guess I was too busy trying to fade into the background and stay under the radar. Perhaps that cluelessness was one of the unknown perks of being severely under-parented and left to my own devices, ha ha ha!

Oh! When I left Connor in her classroom, I was very surprised to not be hit by that wave of emotion that usually drops after I say goodbye to her and walk away. This time, I felt pretty good, like I knew she was going to be OK and that she’d be steady enough to handle whatever would come her way

Perhaps I’m learning, slowly but surely, the inevitable task of letting her go into the world. Maybe we’re both growing up.

Now that she’s back in school and the chaos of summer camp scheduling is in my rear view mirror, I’m hoping to get back on a steady writing schedule again. I don’t know when this happened, but I desperately crave consistency, especially when it comes to everyday scheduling. The uncertainty impacts everything else, including writing. I’m hoping next month will be easier to sit down at the keyboard to babble on about lord knows what, LOL! It’s just fun to have the time to write, you know?

Happy Saturday to you!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. Buying the same lipstick color over and over again but in different finishes because yes, I need the same pinkish nude in matte lipstick *and* lipgloss forms.
2. Spending a seemingly exorbitant time contemplating bangs. Hey, it’s a major lifestyle change and not to be taken lightly.
3. Having an army of shampoos and conditioners in the tub/shower. Sometimes your roots need clarifying and sometimes they don’t.
4. Using 2-3 mascaras just to leave the house! When I was a makeup maximalist, I had a tube specifically for curl and length, another for volume, and another tube just for my lower lashes. There’s something kinda magical about mascara with a very specialized purpose.
5. Never, ever finishing a bottle of perfume, ever.
6. Going through a phase when you don’t want to wear a lot of makeup.
7. Going through a phase when you do want to wear all the makeup and then some.
8. Carrying around multiple sunscreens. Side note, right now in my purse I have two, both by Shiseido – the liquid one in the blue bottle and the solid form in the stick (I like it for my hands and my arms when I’m in a hurry).
9. Unabashedly staring at a stranger who’s clearly spent a lot of time and care painting their face and then complimenting them on a job well done. Makeup is an art, and I love seeing people wear their art in everyday life!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Wednesday!

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 would you rather be great at: finding good deals, arriving on time, navigating or mental math?

I could use a little help with all of these things, ha! Let’s go with finding good deals.

2. Who is your biggest supporter?

El hub. He’s seen me through many dreams chased!

3. Claw clip or hair tie?

Hair tie, black, stretchy.

4. I am too old to [FILL IN THE BLANK]?

Deal with nonsense. Do any physical activity without a warmup, lol. *Not* draw boundaries.

5. Your ice cream truck treat of choice from back in the day?

I always like the popsicles that were red, white and blue. Drumsticks were a fave, too!

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 would you rather be great at: finding good deals, arriving on time, navigating or mental math?
2. Who is your biggest supporter?
3. Claw clip or hair tie?
4. I am too old to [FILL IN THE BLANK]?
5. Your ice cream truck treat of choice from back in the day?