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A Little Bit of Sunshine

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keep your face toward the sunshine

I’ve been listening to songs with the word sunshine in the title all morning. No particular reason other than it’s sunny outside today in my neck of the woods (Marin County), and the temperature is at that sweet spot where it’s warm enough to go outside in jeans and a t-shirt. It’s so nice!

If only it could always be just a little bit warm but not too hot – maybe I have to move to Hawaii for this? I’m still manifesting that one-story house in Kailua with a white picket fence and pink roses. LOL!

Anywho, if you have a pick-me-up playlist, add these three sunshiny songs stat.


Sunshine on me


A little bit of sunshine


I’ve got a pocketful of sunshine

While we’re on the topic of sunshine, I recently discovered the wonderful world of Korean sunscreen. They get so much hype amongst derms and skincare enthusiasts online, and now I see why they have such a devoted fanbase.

I’ve got three in my arsenal right meow: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36, Laneige Hydro UV Defense SPF 50+ and Etude House Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF 50+.

Side note, all of these brands are owned by Amore Pacific, and I write for Innisfree and Laneige.

Some quick thoughts…

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36

The tube is decently sized and you get a good amount for $16. While all three sunscreens have a lotion-y and light texture compared to American sunscreens, this one is relatively thick compared to the other two and not as moisturizing. It doesn’t feel as weightless as the others, for sure. I wish the SPF was higher, but if I’m working from home, it does the trick. Oh, and this one smells the most sunscreen-y. I like it enough, but I probably won’t buy another bottle.

Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+

Oh my gosh, SO GOOD that I just put a jumbo-size tube in my cart! Absolutely lovely, and very much like the Shiseido sunscreen that I used and loved for years, but even better because it’s more moisturizing and feels even lighter on my skin. I love that I can reapply it throughout the day, and it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. Layers well underneath makeup, too. I don’t mind the light, floral scent either. A pretty, dewy finish that’s not too shiny. My dry skin loves it. It’s currently on sale now on the Laneige website, by the way.

Etude Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF 50+

Believe it or not, this was a Mother’s Day gift from El Hub and Connor! I love it, too. It’s the lightest and thinnest in texture of all three, almost like a gel, and it just melts right into my skin. Like Laneige, it’s a joy to reapply. Now, it’s not as intensely moisturizing as Laneige, but it should be enough if your skin isn’t excessively dry. The scent is kinda lemony and fresh. Very light. A perfect summer sunscreen for very hot days! You can find it on Amazon.

One last sunshiny-related bit. Cookbooks make my heart sing, and here is the latest edition to my library.

So, I’ve actually never made Korean food before, and I’m kind of intimidated by all of the elements involved in a Korean meal. Apparently there’s a lot of side dish action! While I live for a bevy of side dishes, especially ones involving veggies or various fried dumplings and whatnot, I don’t know if I could handle cooking an entire Korean meal with all the fixings by myself. It seems like a lot to juggle!

Have you cooked Korean food before? Where should I start?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Cat Lady Things and Thoughts

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  1. Rosie has a mysterious benefactor! Someone slipped a can of Fancy Feast in my mailbox yesterday. Does this mean that I’ve officially reached iconic cat lady status? Maybe?
  2. Rosie’s new favorite place to fall asleep at night is right next to my head. She presses her tiny little body right up against my hair, so her purring practically enters my brain, ha ha ha!

  3. I found a new-to-me artist called Snakes and Roses on Instagram who creates beautiful, old timey style art that combines cats with mystical elements. A few of my favorites:

  4. I read a story recently about a mom with a young child who’s daughter had a hard time getting ready for school in the morning. Her daughter would fight her every step of the way, from getting out of bed, to changing, eating breakfast, etc. One day, out of the blue, the mom decided to turn herself into a cat, LOL!
    Kitty cat costume
    Here kitty kitty…

    As “Meow-Meow the cat,” she would offer to help her daughter make her bed, pick out her clothes for the day, etc., and for some reason, the small act of turning into cat made her daughter willing and receptive! I’m going to try this the next time Connor is having a tough time.

    Moral of this story: when things get tough, go feline.

  5. It’s been so long since I’ve rocked a proper cat eye. A big part of it is because my lids have changed shape so much in the last few years; they’re really hooded now, and finding a cat eye look that suits this recent evolution of my face has been very challenging.
    2 blue cat eyeliner
    Meow

    I was looking in the mirror last night and making funny faces just for the heck of it (please tell me I’m not the only person who does this).

    I noticed that my skin moves and pulls in ways that it didn’t used to. I always try to remind myself that today is the youngest I’ll ever be for the rest of my life, but still… It’s weird getting older.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 781

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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. What did you do over the weekend?

Oh my goodness, so many dance team things for Connor – rehearsal Friday night, and then performances on Saturday and Sunday. There was a lot of matte, long-wearing red lipstick in the mix.

2. Cheese or butter?

This is a legit tough decision. Cheese, I guess, because it’s an easy way for me to get some protein. Today I’d love a burrata.

3. Something that makes you memorable?

Between my voice and my face, I’m a pretty animated person, LOL. And when I’m really comfortable with people, I’d like to think that I’m pretty funny, too.

4. A foundation that works for you?

I haven’t worn a proper foundation in ages, so does a tinted moisturizer count? I really like Urban Decay Hydromaniac.

5. A foundation that doesn’t work for you?

A while back I got a sample for the Ilia Skin Tint and it just didn’t work for me. The color was off and it felt heavy on my cheeks.

6. Small town or big city?

Somewhere in between.

7. Small things that make your day better?

Listening to whatever song I’m in the mood for on Spotify, having a car that I know isn’t going to break down at any given moment, working out first thing in the morning, having the birds chirping in the early morning hours as my alarm clock.

8. A piece of clothing you wish you still had?

GIRL. If I could only turn back time and keep all the fabulous ’90s clothes I had back in college! If I could only pick just one thing, though, I’d bring back the black, wide leg pinstripe overalls from the Gap that I wore to death circa my sophomore and junior year.

9. A chance encounter that changed your life forever?

When I was in my early 20s, I was in a Las Vegas bathroom in the wee hours of the morning. There was a lady washing her hands who kept staring at me. She then pulled me aside and said that she read auras, and proceeded to tell me how mine was orange and one of the brightest she’d ever seen. She also said that I had a strong presence of protective angels around me. I don’t know if she was for real, but from that point forward I carried the belief that my watchful angels are always with me. It’s comforting to me and has allowed me to move throughout the world with a degree of confidence that’s been helpful.

I hope that this week is full of fabulous lipstick colors and that your hair is doing what you want it to!

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 did you do over the weekend?
2. Cheese or butter?
3. Something that makes you memorable?
4. A foundation that works for you?
5. A foundation that doesn’t work for you?
6. Small town or big city?
7. Small things that make your day better?
8. A piece of clothing you wish you still had?
9. A chance encounter that changed your life forever?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 761

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It’s almost dusk here at Casa de MBB, and we’re getting cleaned up and ready for bed, but I still wanted to wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.

There’s so much to say about Mother’s Day, isn’t there? It can be an emotional day in many ways for many reasons, different for everyone. People have such different relationships with their parents and their children and all of the creatures they care for, and life is fleeting. We all lose our care givers and loved ones someday, and days like today mean different things to all of us at different times in our lives.

I pray and hope your day was good to you.

Every Mother’s Day, just like every other day, I also think about Tabs.

Oh! — sometimes when I see an old picture like this one below, I tear up, especially on Mother’s Day.

I sure miss my special boy!

Rosie

As you may or may not know, Rosie the Magnificent has her own connection to Mother’s Day because she is…

A mother!

Happy Mother’s Day, Rosie.

This is one of her brood. These were pictures I took when she still lived with my friend, who was Rosie’s foster family in 2019. It was a few months after Tabs crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I missed being around cats. Visiting Rosie and getting to know her helped me with my grief.

These pics were taken shortly after Rosie had kittens, and I really got to see how caring and sweet she was.

Rosie did a great job, and all of her kittens were adopted.

Over those months in 2019, Rosie’s loving nature guided me to open up my heart to a feline friend again, and now she’s a member of our family.

Happy Mother’s Day, Rosie, and to you as well. ❤️

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, May 13, 2023!

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Have a colorful Saturday, friend!


Talk to me


I really want to see this


Someone please make this for me


Wow, she’s beautiful


Go science

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Things I’m Excited About: Laneige Skin Care and New Chanel Nail Polish

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You know when you’re so stoked about skin care that the first thing you do is open everything up and apply everything to every readily available inch of skin?

Yup, that’s what I did with all these lotions and potions from K-beauty brand Laneige! I write for them, by the way. 🙂

I’m wearing the Cream Skin Toner and the sunscreen today, and both are chef’s kiss next level. I suspect I’ll find more holy grails very soon.

I haven’t done a skittles multi-colored mani in years, but I thought about it briefly with the new Chanel nail polishes. Pretty, yah?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Something to Watch Next Time You’re Netflixin’: “The Diplomat” | Some Beauty Things I Bought Recently From CVS

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She’s kinda grumpy, and I love it.

I recently binged watched “The Diplomat,” a fast-paced political thriller on Netflix starring Keri Russell as Katherine Wyler, an American ambassador handling an international crisis.

Right after I finished the first season, I watched it again – partly because the story’s really that good, and partly because the dialogue comes at you so quickly the first time around it’s hard to wrap your head around all the details.

I also find it refreshing to see characters who are ladies with big jobs who don’t appear overly polished. Katherine’s character regularly looks like she’s too busy with work to bother running a brush through her hair, and I can appreciate that.

Put it on your list if you’re into dramas!

Not related to Netflixing at all, but I finally used my 30% off coupon at CVS to buy a couple beauty-related things I’ve been wanting to try.

The first is this massive bottle of Cleansing Oil by Bioderma for dry, sensitive skin.

Latest treasure from CVS!

I use it as a first cleanse on my body to remove waterproof sunscreen by rubbing it onto dry skin before getting in the shower. The bottle says that you can also use it on your face, too, which I’m kinda stoked about because I’m all for not having to buy a separate cleansing oil to remove makeup. It has a delicate scent that’s vaguely floral which I don’t hate.

I also purchased an Unflavored Collagen Protein Powder by Vital Proteins. It’s supposed to “help support” (whatever that means) hair, skin, nails, bones and joints, but I mainly bought it because I figured I could use it to sneak more protein into my day.

I use two tablespoons, which has about 9g, in my morning coffee to boost my protein intake at breakfast. I like that it doesn’t mess with the texture or flavor of my drink and that it’s one less egg I need to eat in the morning, LOL! Jury’s out on whether it makes a difference with anything else, though. If helps me with my hair (I feel like it’s so much thinner now that I’m in my 40s), I’ll take it.

Hope your Wednesday is going well!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Follow Up to Yesterday’s Post AKA New Car Stuff

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Yesterday a few people asked what kind of car I ended up buying — it’s a Kia Sorento SUV. I’ll get into the why behind that choice, but before that, a couple of quick things.

Anybody else married to someone who takes terrible pictures? El Hub cannot take a decent picture of me to save his life, and I no longer trust the man to take important shots. The one up top of me and Connor saying goodbye to my 4Runner was the only salvageable photo in a stream of awful ones. Sigh.

Secondly, I wasn’t kidding when I said I was caught off guard with the flood of emotion I felt when saying goodbye to this car, as I’m not a car person at all!

But as we were cleaning out the interior, so many memories came flooding back. Like, how I used to drive her into San Francisco with my surfboard shoved into the back, so I could surf in Pacifica with my friends after work.

Or how I used to bump dance music and drive with the windows down at 2 a.m. after dancing all night long.

Seriously, I can’t believe there was a time when I wasn’t tired 24/7. LOL!

Anywho, the Kia Sorento (still haven’t named her yet) is a mid-size SUV. I wanted to stick with a similar size to the 4Runner because I’ve always liked being a lady who doesn’t have to rely on dudes with trucks to move her sh*t.

I also wanted the V6 engine because you just never know if you’re gonna get stuck in the mud and you need the extra kick.

The Sorento has lots of room in the back, including a third row, which I really wanted because I anticipate driving Connor and her dance team friends in the next few years.

There are a bunch of models of the Sorento to choose from. I got the SXL V6 AWD. After driving a barebones vehicle for such a long time, I wanted some nice-to-have extras – heated seats, backup camera assist, navigation, retractable rear door sunshades, extra large sunroof, etc.

It’s quiet and comfy with a peppy engine and good amount of power, and it’s easy to forget I’m going fast. I had to tell myself to chill a couple times while I was driving yesterday. Whoops!

Oh, I also contemplated the Kia Telluride and another Toyota 4Runner, too. They both sit up higher compared to the Sorento, and I wanted something a little lower so that the elders in our family could more easily get in and out.

If you have any more questions about it, let me know! I’ll say again that I’m not a car person, but I’ll try to help as best as I can.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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