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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 898

October 27th, 2025 by Karen 4 Comments

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. Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?

All signs point to no at this point (haven’t really thought about it), but sometimes I manage to rally at the last minute to put something together, so you never know. I might default to my go-to, which is a makeup artist, if I’m feeling spunky!

2. A makeup look that you come back to over and over again?

Red matte lips and skinny black cat eyeliner, for sure. Never gets old!

3. When was a period in your life when you spent a lot of time on your hair?

The late ‘90s and early 2000s. Stick straight hair was the thing, so I was fighting my natural texture every day. Now that I think about it, I can’t believe I had that much patience to wrangle my hair into place!

4. Pumpkin carving: lots of fun or unnecessarily messy?

How about a little bit of both? Mostly lots of fun, though. I don’t mind the mess!

5. Best/worst Halloween candy?

Best are Albanese Gummy Bears (so good). Worst? Swedish Fish.

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. Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?
2. A makeup look that you come back to over and over again?
3. When was a period in your life when you spent a lot of time on your hair?
4. Pumpkin carving: lots of fun or unnecessarily messy?
5. Best/worst Halloween candy?

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 876

October 26th, 2025 by Karen Leave a Comment

Rosie and Marnie already have their Halloween costumes picked out, but it’s funny — compared to Tabs, both of them are low-key basic.

Tabs just had that je ne sais quoi.

Every year on Halloween night, before he got dressed up for the annual party, he would do his rounds patrolling the neighborhood to make sure the paparazzi weren’t around.

Most of the time they weren’t…

But sometimes they were!

It was never anything he couldn’t handle because he was fierce, but it was still annoying.

Some cats just don’t understand boundaries. 😹

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Leave the first comment on this post.

Categories: Just For Fun, Marnie, Rosie, Tabs

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 897

October 13th, 2025 by Karen 5 Comments

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. Something you do to help make your makeup routine a little easier when you’re getting ready?

I keep a small bag within my regular makeup bag filled with the barest of the bare essentials. Now that I see that in writing it seems a little crazy, LOL! But yeah, having a super pared down mini bag helps a ton. Inside it I have brow pencil, mascara, undereye concealer and a cream blush that doubles as a lipstick.

2. When it’s rainy outside, how do you typically do your hair?

I don’t even bother, really. I run a brush through it and throw it in a bun or a ponytail.

3. What’s your favorite fall lip color?

Matte red, baby!

4. What’s the newest thing in your makeup bag?

I bought a waterproof mascara by Maybelline that’s $5 on the recommendation of a tv/red carpet makeup artist who said she’d been using it for years. We’ll see if it’s any good!

5. Something you love about fall beauty?

Dark, short, shiny nails. I think they look chic!

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. Something you do to help make your makeup routine a little easier when you’re getting ready?
2. When it’s rainy outside, how do you typically do your hair?
3. What’s your favorite fall lip color?
4. What’s the newest thing in your makeup bag?
5. Something you love about fall beauty?

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 875

October 12th, 2025 by Karen Leave a Comment

Tabs loved Halloween, as you know. We would get RSVPs to his annual Halloween party six months out, and I kept all of his Halloween treat and beverage recipes, like the following…

Shrimp Catnip Cocktails

Catnip Jello Parfait

Gravy Shooters

Rosie upping her modeling game

While Rosie’s really found her lane as a cat scientist, she’s definitely learned a thing or two about a thing or two, which includes kitty modeling.

I guess that should come as no surprise, considering the company she now heads.

As an academic, that girl sure can study. She watched thousands of hours of footage featuring Tabs at the height of his runway career, picking up pointers and the nuances of kitty supermodeling.

One of Rosie’s PhDs is in biomechanics, which is probably why her muscle control is out of this world. Basically, when you understand the science behind the poses, you can really “next level it.” Or rather, that’s what she tells me when she slow blinks.

As a pet assistant, I normally have to work on Halloween, but I told Rosie I would leave the house/office if she wanted to throw a small get-together this year.

I’ve yet to get an answer.

She goes back and forth. She isn’t the social butterfly Tabs was, but I think she wants to spread her wings… We’ll see.

To be safe, I’m stocking up on fresh catnip anyway. You never know when your cat will pull a last-minute diva move and say, “Meow!” (translation: Let’s throw a party!)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Leave the first comment on this post.

Categories: Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 896

October 6th, 2025 by Karen 6 Comments

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 are the chances of you wearing a bright lip this week?

Very high! I’d actually say 100%. I’ve been doing bright reds and pinks lately and have been totally into it.

2. A makeup trend that you were very invested in back in the day?

Whatever eyebrow trend that was happening at the moment was my jam! I used to love a skinny brow with a frosty highlight on the brow bone back in the day.

3. How often do you buy foundation?

These days, rarely. I bought a tinted moisturizer, like, a year ago.

4. If you had the time and the energy to do a full-on “everything and the kitchen sink” makeup look every day, would you?

I love the way full-on makeup looks in pictures, but even if I did have the time to do it, I probably wouldn’t in this season in my life. I’m just not used to the feeling of wearing that much makeup on my face anymore.

5. What type of eyeliner is the easiest for you to do?

Hmmm, well, the easiest for me these days is doing a soft line on the upper lashes done with powder eyeshadow and an angled brush.

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 are the chances of you wearing a bright lip this week?
2. A makeup trend that you were very invested in back in the day?
3. How often do you buy foundation?
4. If you had the time and the energy to do a full-on “everything and the kitchen sink” makeup look every day, would you?
5. What type of eyeliner is the easiest for you to do?

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 874

September 28th, 2025 by Karen 1 Comment

We had an exciting weekend!

Yup, Marnie entered her first race. She was vying for the title of “World’s Fastest Dog of Novato.”

Unfortunately, there was a greyhound in it. Fastest dog I’ve ever seen. But Marnie came in a close second.

She was very disappointed that she didn’t get the win…

Rosie felt bad for her, so she put on her tiara and her favorite tutu and went over to her workshop…

She wanted to make something to help cheer Marnie up.

Rosie worked really hard at it…

Eventually, she came up with this!

A participation medal for Marnie.

It instantly cheered her up. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There's 1 comment on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Marnie, Rosie, Tabs

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 895

September 22nd, 2025 by Karen 6 Comments

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. Do you enjoy thrifting?

Mostly, yes, if we’re just window shopping and I’m not expecting to find something. If I’m on the hunt for a specific item, then it’s not as fun for me because then I’m just overwhelmed, LOL!

2. One thing you plan to cook this week?

Air fryer chicken parmesan. I’m trying a new recipe!

3. Did fall sneak up on you this year?

Oh, totally. I’m going to try my best to make it a smooth one though. I’m aiming for minimal chaos as we lead up to the holidays, please.

4. How much time does it take to do your hair?

Anywhere between five minutes (side part and low bun) and 20 minutes (loose waves).

5. Do you ever buy beauty products for other people?

Definitely! If it’s something that I love that I think my friends and family will love too, then I hook them up. Yesterday I bought some makeup for Connor, as a matter of fact. She needs some non-irritating eye makeup to wear to dance performances, so I grabbed some Clinique on sale online at Nordstrom.

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. Do you enjoy thrifting?
2. One thing you plan to cook this week?
3. Did fall sneak up on you this year?
4. How much time does it take to do your hair?
5. Do you ever buy beauty products for other people?

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

September 15th, 2025 by Karen 4 Comments

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. Did you wear lipstick today?

Nope, today was Laneige Lip Balm in Vanilla. I had grand plans to wear a bright lip but at the last minute went super low key.

2. One beauty-related task you’d like to get better about?

I haven’t been doing a great job at keeping up with upper lip and chin hair removal. In my defense, my near vision is crap these days, so half the time I can’t see those pokey things growing out the side of my face, haha!

3. Your thoughts on ramen?

Love it but so much of it depends on two main things for me: 1) the broth and 2) the texture of the noodles. If either of those are off, then I’m out.

4. One nice thing you’ve done for yourself today?

I watched the sun rise while treating myself to an early morning walk. It was glorious!

5. Can you roller skate?

Sure! I learned back in the ‘80s way before knee pads, helmets and parental supervision, hahaha. It was you versus the pavement. Admittingly, I learned REAL quick!

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. Did you wear lipstick today?
2. One beauty-related task you’d like to get better about?
3. Your thoughts on ramen?
4. One nice thing you’ve done for yourself today?
5. Can you roller skate?

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

Recent Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 893

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 892

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 891

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