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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Where were you on September 11?

I was living in San Francisco with a roommate. It was early in the morning, and we were getting ready to go to our jobs when we heard about the Twin Towers in New York. We had very little information other than what we saw on the news, so I decided to not go into the downtown office that day because I was too afraid of taking public transportation. I stayed home, called my mom, who was already at work in downtown SF, and had her come out to my place in the Outer Richmond because I didn’t want her getting onto BART until we knew more of what was going on.

2. One nice thing that happened to you this morning?

I walked Connor to school and we talked about crafts we could make as Halloween decorations.

3. What’s the oldest car you’ve ever ridden in?

My friend Alex in high school and I took a swing dance class together our senior year. He would pick me up for class in his Dodge Dart from 1972, LOL. I wonder if that car is still running!

4. Pick one — a sweet or savory treat?

I’ll go with the sweet treat, so I can balance it out with a cup of coffee!

5. What are some of your makeup heavy hitters?

Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil, Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, Laura Mercier Corsica Tinted Moisturizer Blush, Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid and Dior Backstage Concealer. When I find things I love, I tend to stick to them!

Good morning, sweet girl. How are you? I’m OK so far. This morning, I thought it might be a good time to explain what happened on September 11 to Connor in case she heard about it in school today. I used the simplest of terms and tried to focus mostly on how it felt the world as we knew it had shifted. Anyway, it feels so far away, yet there are so many details about that day that are so clear to me still.

I hope your day is has been peaceful so far and that you’re feeling safe and loved.

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. Where were you on September 11?
2. One nice thing that happened to you this morning?
3. What’s the oldest car you’ve ever ridden in?
4. Pick one — a sweet or savory treat?
5. What are some of your makeup heavy hitters?

Happy Caturday, friend!

A certain cat lady and a lil’ spunky feline had quite the adventure at the cat clinic recently.

Rosie went in for routine vaccinations, and I learned how just gangsta she truly is. Out of all the kitties in the waiting area that day, she was the only one actively trying to escape her cat carrier, LOL!

She rocked it back and forth with her bodyweight, shot her paw out of the front to claw me (and my purse), meowed loudly to let everyone know how annoyed she was about her current situation… I mean, seriously, it was CRAY.

It was if Rosie woke up that morning and chose violence.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on how she was with the vet. She hissed and growled at the doctor so aggressively, he had to get a second set of hands to help with the shots.

I would’ve never guessed that my sweet Rosie-Pose was so combat ready.

Don’t be fooled by this girl’s face! She will mess you up. LOL!

On that note, please enjoy the cat content in this week’s reading. Meow.

This week’s reading

• If you live in Kentucky and are looking for a cat companion, the Kentucky Humane Society is waving adoption fees for adult kitties.
• What it means when your cat loves making biscuits.
• Science says this is the reason why cats are so obsessed with tuna!
• It never hurts to brush up on your cat lady skills.
• Fragrance fun fact about J’Adore: Calice Becker, the perfumer behind J’Adore, also created Tommy Hilfiger’s Tommy Girl and Calvin Klein’s Secret Obsession.
• Cher is a bonafide legend.
• In case you were wondering who holds the world record for longest mullet.
• I would love to go to this lipstick-themed high tea!
• The time for blue eyeshadow is right meow.
• Deep beauty thoughts — what is snail mucin?

So cute

My new favorite channel

I’ve been a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish girl for years, but when Hung talks, I listen

This song is a classic, and I love Whitney’s makeup in this video so much

Pretty

Have a great rest of your Saturday, ‘k?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you were a teenage girl in the late ’80s and early ’90s living in the East Bay Area, everyone you knew either had or wanted a spiral perm. I can still remember the scent of that distinct perm smell lingering in the salon whenever I got a hair cut!

As the resident friend with naturally wavy hair, I never wanted a perm because I didn’t really need one. When all the girls were getting them, I was happy to be the person who introduced the power of Studio Line by L’Oreal (Pumping Curls!) and crunchy gel (LA Looks and Dep gel were especially popular). Oh, and mousse. There was so much mousse!

Anywho, what’s old is new again because now teen boys are getting perms. I KNOW!

I found this out through a local online group of moms. This morning, a few moms were asking where to go in town to get a perm for their teenage sons. Apparently perms for boys are a thing around these parts now because several of the ladies chimed in to say that either their son wanted a perm or currently had a perm, which is so interesting to me.

Why do all these teen boys want perms? And why now? I wonder what famous curly haired person brought this trend on. LOL!

Have you ever wanted a perm? Did you end up getting one, and how did it turn out? I hope it was good.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

Hiya, friend! Happy Friday. I had a happy mom moment this morning when I ran into Connor’s science teacher at her school. She said Connor was quite the little scientist, and that she’s got a curious and scientific mind. I guess this makes sense seeing how Connor does things like saving her baby teeth (instead of giving them to the tooth fairy) for the sake of “research,” and is always building things out of any and everything.

Is it just me, or has this technically short week has felt so very long? Thank goodness the weekend is just around the corner.

I hope things on your end are great and that you and your family are happy and healthy.

1. Why do I feel like my skin can’t breathe and like I’m wearing 500 layers of products? I guess that happens when you spend your summer wearing barely there Rose Inc serum foundation and tinted mineral sunscreen.
2. Girl, it’s wild! In real life this base looks hella crazy, but it looks nice in pictures, go figure.
3. Really, though, I need to buff these layers down with a buffing brush, ASAP.
4. I can’t believe I used to wear full coverage every day.
5. If only I could go back in time and tell baby Karen during that phase that she could’ve gotten away with a lot less base, LOL!
6. Maybe next time I’ll blend a few drops of Chanel Soft Pink Skin Enhancer or MAC Strobe Cream into this; I bet that would be super pretty!
7. I wonder if I’ll ever wear heavy base again just for fun. Maybe? It could happen…
8. Eh, my pores probably wouldn’t play along, though, unless I was very purposeful and careful with technique. I know it can be done, but dang, it’s so much work!
9. I bet Hung Vango would know all the tricks and save me from myself, ha ha ha!
10. I gotta remember that makeup is fun! Trying different things, new techniques and having an open mind about products is a great thing!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I can’t begin to tell you how fun it was to visit a Hallmark store!

We went to one in the town next to ours, Petaluma, which is about 20 minutes away. I haven’t been to a Hallmark store in years, and I swear, being there made me so happy. There’s something very sweet and comforting about all the thoughtful gifts to give to others and to yourself.

There are all the fun things that you totally don’t need but want anyway, like the “Gilmore Girls” cookbook and the talking ornaments from “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Golden Girls.”

Don’t even get me started on all the colorful, cute mugs and tchotchkes.

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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. On average, how much time do you spend getting ready in the morning?

Anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes. It really depends on if I have to fuss with my hair. Second day hair significantly saves so much time! It’s kind of amazing.

2. Something that soothes you?

A shower right before bed and a hot cup of camomile tea.

3. A place you’ve visited that you’d like to return to someday?

I would love to go back to Italy someday so I could be there longer than 72 hours!

4. Which would you rather have for a pet: a snake, a tarantula, lizard or a tortoise?

While I have love in my heart for all animals, all these pets are my nightmare scenario for several irrational reasons, LOL! I guess I’d go with the lizard if it was an iguana, mostly because I remember reading somewhere that they eat vegetables and not other live animals.

5. Something fun you did over the weekend?

I watched a cute romantic comedy on Netflix called “Love Again” while I painted my nails. I’m all about simple pleasures these days. 🙂

Hello, my friend! You know what? I totally forgot it was Monday until about 30 minutes ago. I guess I got caught up in the spirit of the long weekend.

Hope yours has been full of family and fun, and lots or relaxation!

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. On average, how much time do you spend getting ready in the morning?
2. Something that soothes you?
3. A place you’ve visited that you’d like to return to someday?
4. Which would you rather have for a pet: a snake, a tarantula, lizard or a tortoise?
5. Something fun you did over the weekend?