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

Novato is a sleepy little town. There’s Napa north of us, Oakland to the east across the Bay, and San Francisco to the south, but Novato itself isn’t a hotbed of excitement and activity (unless you count the huge raging celebrity parties thrown by Tabs).

Sometimes, though, exciting things do happen here…like we just got a Nordstrom Rack.

It’s only been open a couple weeks, but I’ve already gone twice, and I’ve learned a valuable. Basically, if you walk there looking for something specific, like a white scoop-neck tee, good luck to you. May the gods be with you! Because the store must be a quarter of a mile long. It’s HUGE, and you absolutely have to be in the mood for a treasure hunt.

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I stumbled into the craziest cat lady store last weekend. It’s a spunky, sparky, creative clothing, shoes and accessories store called Hot Polka Dot, and it’s right in the middle of bustling downtown Petaluma.

It’s like discovering a dragon’s treasure trove of kooky ? cat lady flats, tanks, tees, dresses, purses, earrings — you name it. If you can put a cat on it, it’s probably for sale right meow at Hot Polka Dot.

I did see some things for the non-feline-loving population, but the inventory is predominantly cat, cats and more cats.

CATS!

I aaalmost got this black-and-white sleeveless dress, but it was on the sheer side and didn’t have a lining…

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So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.?

1. Whatcha wearing on your lips?

Oh, not much. Just Urban Decay Rehab Makeup Prep Lip Love balm for the time being. I’ll put on lipstick later (haven’t decided what color I want to go with yet), but my lips have been drier than usual, ever since I started upping up my glycolic acid game.

Lip Love is so bomb, BTW. It’s pretty thick and very moisturizing, and it actually lasts on my lips for hours. It’s not a typical disappearing lip balm that you have to reapply 50 times per day, although you can do that also if you want.

2. The fictional character you’d most want to have on your side in a zombie/alien/killer virus/government takeover apocalypse?

Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead, and maybe — just maybe — I’d make it through the first day without being turned into a zombie or transported up to the alien mother ship.

And if Rick were unavailable, then Brienne of Tarth, because homegirl does not f*ck around.

3. In your estimation, what’s a beauty brand that doesn’t get its due?

Pai Shau.

I discovered their shampoo (hair cleanser) and conditioner a few months ago and since got distracted by other hair products, but that’s mostly because of my beauty product ADD. The more I think about it, the more I’m realizing how much I loved the way they made my hair look and feel, so I need to revisit Pai Shau again very soon.

4. How do you feel about the Dirty Dancing remake?

Frankly…I’m pissed about it. Seriously, what crazy person decided that the first movie, which is PERFECTION, needed to be remade?

Of course, I still plan to watch it anyway…even though I’m hating on it at the moment. 🙂

5. How do you think you’d look with a beard?

Quite dashing! I’d keep it closely trimmed and neat. It would probably be salt and pepper, which would make me looked very distinguished, LOL!

I’d ROCK a beard.

6. Chili or mac & cheese?

Shoot, girl, why can’t I have both at the same time!?

OK, well, if I have to choose, then I choose mac & cheese (haha, I almost just typed MAC & cheese). With truffle oil.

7. What’s something kinda weird you like doing?

Sometimes when I get home from the gym I’ll sit in my car in the garage and listen to music for 15 minutes.

Because there are no little humans or animals up on me, and nobody asking me questions, and I can just rock out by myself.

Happy Memorial Day to you

I think I’m gonna take it easy today, which sounds perfectly alright to me. Yesterday I went to my friend’s baby shower in the city, and then in the afternoon I went and got my roots done, so right now I’m basking in the glory of freshly dyed roots, ah…

Are you doing anything holiday related?

It just occurred to me that today would be a great day for burgers, fries and/or chips, so we may do that later for lunch. This seems like good snacking weather. LOL!

Have a great Memorial Day and a splendid week. Sending sweet hugs and kisses to ya, and I hope something important goes your way. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Among many other things I’ve been doing this morning (endless laundry; chillin’ with Connor, Tabs, El Hub and Sesame Street; and getting ready to plant half a dozen basil and tomato plants), I’ve been ooh-ing and ah-ing over that beautiful picture up above of model Ruby Rose on the Urban Decay website. She’s wearing a monochromatic pink makeup look with pink lids, pink cheeks and pink lips.

I’ve never tried a top-to-bottom pink look before, but now I want to… I’m a little afraid I’ll end up looking cray, but whatevs. Now I just have to choose the right lip color…

What about deep, creamy fuchsia UD Firebrid??

Weekend plans

What are you up to this weekend? I’m gettin’ fired up because I’m heading to meet my cat-and-makeup-loving bud Stephanie (she has six cats!) for Lunch at Cafe Zazzle in Petaluma. I’ve never been there before, and I was just looking at the menu, because when I go out to eat, homegirl likes to be prepared, because I’m the WORST at ordering food at the last minute. Invariably, feeling the pressure to make a decision, I’ll pick something I don’t want, and then when the server walks away, I’m like, “Shoot… Why did I order that?”

So it’s a thing, and I don’t want to have food envy this time…

I’m also looking forward to getting my roots done after that (YAY!), and then tomorrow I have a baby shower to go to. My friend Mary Anne is going to be a mommy soon, and all I can think about is holding that newborn in my arms! Aaah!!! 🙂

Oh, yeah, in beauty news, here’s some stuff that caught my eye this week…

• The #makeuphoarder in me wants to get all up on these Clé de Peau Beauté cream blushes. GORGISSIMO!
• Jouer’s Skinny Dip collection is all about the mad sparkle.
• How to easily wash your clothes when traveling
• Speaking of skincare, here are 5 things to try from Kate Somerville
• Beauty secrets from Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie skincare
• Seriously, I could spend ALL DAY looking at people’s handwriting.
• All you wanna-be unicorns ? out there (and I know you’re out there) may enjoy Jessica’s massive roundup of unicorn- AND mermaid-themed beauty tools.
• I’m always looking for ways to keep my pics fresh, and one of the easiest ways is through props. Here are 48 places to find them (and many of them are affordable!).
• There are some great Memorial Day sales at Ulta this weekend… I’m just sayin’.
• Wait — what? Someone’s trying to make sunscreen in the shape of pearls? And by golly, they look super cool!
• Latest on the list of mascaras I want to hoard — Trish McEvoy’s High Volume Mascara.
• I’ve been reading and scouring the Interwebs for cutting edge info about skin care lately, and this brand (Derma E) looks great!

AHAs versus BHAs

In my mind, Caroline Hirons and I are BFFS. OBSESSED WITH HER!

Samantha is the cutest. I wanna hang with her and her cat Roux.

Lorde’s brows look INCREDIBLE in this video. Been listening to this song on repeat…

I like this Sam Smith song too.

Hope you have a hella fab Memorial Day weekend. Let me know what you’re up to. Hopefully you get some meow time to relax.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen