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

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. Bronze or taupe?

GIRL, BOTH! If I had to pick one, I’d go with bronze…but only after part of me died a little.

Love me some taupe, ’cause taupe is dope.

Yes, I went there. ???

2. Can you run a mile?

It depends… Are monsters chasing me in this hypothetical? But seriously, I can, even though I’m currently not in love with running (we have a love/hate relationship). If I’m warmed up, and the timing of my food/coffee is right, I could bang out that mile out pretty quickly too.

3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

OK, so I only actually wear, like, three pairs now, but I own a sh*t ton.

Probably too many for one person who only rotates between three pairs of Nikes, LOL! Back in the day, before I had to be ready at a moment’s notice to chase Coywolf, Tabs or PGR, they were my thing… I think I must have had at least 20.

4. Do you stick to one tube of mascara, or do you have different ones around?

Variety is the spice of life. Multiple mascaras for me!

5. What’s something you would love to do but are too scared to do it at the moment?

I would really love to have a baking show on Youtube.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Sending you good vibes today. Have a wonderful week. ?❤️?

P.P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Bronze or taupe?
2. Can you run a mile?
3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
4. Do you stick to one tube of mascara, or do you have different ones around?
5. What’s something you would love to do but you’re too scared to do it at the moment?

Happy Caturday from this ball of lurvies, also known as PGR, also known as Pretty Girl Rosie, although, let’s get real… This lap cat isn’t just about laps. If there’s any space available on any of your body parts, she’ll hold you hostage snuggle with you for as long as your bladder will allow.

In fact, if she had her way, she would have a human available 24/7 for the sole purpose of cuddling.

I don’t mind playing the part of her cat bed this weekend because I’m still recovering from last weekend’s birthday festivities. It’s funny; I was chatting with one of the moms in the comments about how wiped out we feel after birthdays for kids, and we both agreed that our dudes don’t realize how much work goes into them. I mean, yeah, I could’ve ordered a lasagna from a restaurant or bought cupcakes from the bakery, and El Hub and Connor Claire would have probably been totally fine with that, but ya know…when someone makes you a lasagna, that’s love ❤️ right there. That’s time and energy. That’s a belly full of home-cooked food and leftovers for days.

Anywho, there will be a whole lot of recovery happening this weekend, and I intend to spend some of it with Rosie-Pose on this couch.

Now, onto this week’s reading! — which I recommend that you do with a cat on your lap. ?

• This couple’s kitty loves laps so much that they made her a “fake lap” to cuddle with when they’re not around.
• Maybe she’s born with it, or maybe it’s semi-permanent makeup.
• Is DevaCurl the reason why thousands of women are losing their hair?
• What’s the difference between gel extensions and acrylic nails, and how do you decide which one’s for you?
• The new Hermès makeup line, La Beauté Hermès, consists of a line of $68 (!) lipsticks available in 24 shades.
• Looks like Barbie is making her way back to MAC, this time in a tube of bubblegum pink lipstick.
• Teens have discovered anti-aging skin care…and all I have to say to that is 1) *sigh* and 2) it was only a matter of time.
• Speaking of skin care, Reddit has a lot to say about skin care for the over-30 set.
• I can’t handle shows that have anything to do with true crime (don’t have the stomach for it), but if you love ’em AND you happen to love home design, there’s a new show coming out in April about flipping houses where murders have taken place. It’s called Murder House Flip, and no, I’m not making this sh*t up.
• One of my favorite books as a tween was Judy Blume’s Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, and it’s finally being made into a movie.
• Next stop: Mars! Meet the world’s youngest astronaut-in-training, Alyssa Carson.

Somebody please make this for me ASAP.

Cute! This looks easy enough (famous last words).

Seriously, Charlotte is everything. Do you want to try this look with me this weekend?

What’s the plan for the rest of your Caturday, my friend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My friend, if you wear glasses, please save yourself a few decades of misery/constant squinting and just spring for a pair of prescription sunglasses, like, RIGHT MEOW.

I finally sprung for a pair (Costco was having a sale on frames), and now my life is forever changed. I can actually see stuff…OUTSIDE! And without contacts!

I can’t deal with getting sand in my contacts. Plus, I loathe swimming with contacts on, so I’m blind at the beach.

Once, while we were visiting our family in Hawaii and El Hub swam up to me at the beach and said, “Hey,” I thought he was a cute guy I didn’t know. 🙂 So I quickly dove back into the water and swam away.

HA HA HA!

Yeah, I’m that person, the one yelling, “I can’t read that sign! Somebody tell me what it says!” during most outdoor situations.

A pair of prescription sunnies has changed that. It’s a whole new world!

Like I said, I got mine at Costco Optical on sale during a frames promotion (I know I’ve been talking about them a lot, but I had such a good experience, and this is totally #notsponsored), and although I was tempted to get a second pair of regular glasses for fashion/variety, I figured that prescription sunglasses would be a nice splurge.

Now that I have a pair, I cannot go back to life without them!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ?

Raise your hand if you live in a town where you can see cows.

*raises hand* ??

Mt. Burdell in Novato is a relaxing way to spend a couple hours outdoors, and —bonus! — you get to see cows and beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay.

Should you ever find yourself in the sleepy town of Novato, California (because you never know), and you happen to love traipsing around the great outdoors, plan a pit stop to Mt. Burdell. It’s an open space preserve with a network of trails and incredible views of the Bay.

First things first: It’s totally free (YOU KNOW I LOVE FREE), totally doable for small children and seniors, and easy to find. (Take San Marin Drive up the hill all the way to the top; you can’t miss it.) Best of all, there are cows. ???

Lots and lots of cows…

They hang out on the hillside along the trail, just chillin’ and doing what cows do. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. I think they’re super cool.

We went for a short family hike there last weekend and enjoyed the views, the animals, and the wildflowers. ?

It isn’t hot here yet, but it isn’t cold either (upper-60s, low-70s), so it’s pleasant outside, but if you happen to stop by in the summer, it would be better to hit the trail early in the morning, since there’s almost *no* shade along the trails.

You don’t have to be an avid backpacker or outdoorsy person to enjoy the trails, either. We walked along the wide fire roads, which aren’t too steep, and they’re easily traversable. It’s a very family friendly hike.

Fun facts about Mt. Burdell, from marincountyparks.org:

• Eagle Rim Trail is now open for hiking and cycling. For spectacular views take Cobblestone Fire Road (part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail) up to Eagle Rim, and enjoy vistas of Big Rock Ridge, Mount Tam, San Francisco Bay, Mount Diablo, and more.
• At the summit, a four foot stone wall, hand laid without mortar in the 1870s by Chinese laborers, marks the boundary into Olompali Historic State Park.
• Gently graded Deer Camp Fire Road passes through classic California oakland and stands of massive old bay trees. Take a rest in the shade at Pierre Joske Grove.
• The west slope of Burdell holds the remnants of a quarry that supplied cobblestones for San Francisco streets in the late 1880s. Fieldstone Trail leads to another old quarry, which provided andesite for the widening of Highway 101 in the 1950s.
• Old Quarry Trail is the steepest designated trail in the open space district. The grueling climb is not for the faint of heart.
• Cattle have grazed Burdell since the arrival of European settlers. Holstein dairy cows continue to graze here seasonally, helping to manage invasive plants and reduce fire fuel.
• Dogs are welcome. Dogs must be leashed on trail, and under voice command on fire roads, with leash readily available.

Be aware of two important animal-related items, though: 1) It’s tick country, so be mindful, and do a thorough tick inspection when you get home. 2) Mountain lions and rattlesnakes are occasionally spotted in the area, so if you have very small children, don’t let them wander too far away from you.

Also, since there aren’t any restrooms or water fountains at the trailhead, you might want to take care of all that before you head on up.

Happy hiking! ?????

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Connor Claire turned four years old today! — and I’m feeling *all* the feels. The best way I can describe it is bittersweet… I’m so beyond grateful and joyful, but I can’t help but feel a little melancholy at the same time. She’s doing what people do — growing up — but I’m also reminded that she’ll spread her beautiful rainbow wings someday and fly out of our nest, leaving a trail of glitter behind her. ??✨

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve cried today. ? How do our moms find the strength to let us go? I honestly don’t know if I have it in me.

My roller coaster of emotions aside, it’s been a fun-filled birthday weekend for the Coywolf. We marveled at a magical performance of Disney on Ice, baked confetti birthday cupcakes together, and went for a hike and lunch with her uncle. Tonight, we’ll celebrate with her annual birthday lasagna and a trip to Baskin-Robbins for a birthday ice cream cone.

Thank you for being a friend and walking with me along the way. It seems like just yesterday you were giving me advice about burp cloths and teething. (Remember her very first day on earth?)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen