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MAC Creme in Your Coffee Lipstick and Thoughts on Coffee

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I’m wearing MAC Creme in Your Coffee Lipstick!

Neutral lip lovers who also happen to adore coffee, you have to get MAC Creme in Your Coffee into your life, ASAP. It’s a mid-tone pinkish brown with a semi-glossy finish which I’ve been wearing since (GULP) 2011.

It goes great with all shades of brown, plum, taupe and bronze. If you wear and love MAC Satin Taupe (which I’m wearing lightly dusted on my lids in the pic above), you have to try it with this lippie. They work so well together.

Speaking of coffee-related things, it appears as though MAC Half ‘n’ Half lipstick, a shade I’ve loved for years, is discontinued. RIP to this neutral beauty!

Thoughts on Coffee

  • I wonder if anyone else has a coffee cut-off time? I generally don’t have any after 3 p.m. because if I have a cup any later than that, I have a hard time falling asleep at night.
  • On that note, I’m in awe of people who can drink strong coffee after dinner and still sleep normally at night. There’s NO WAY I could do that.
  • I can’t remember when I started drinking coffee regularly, can you? I think I was in college? I may have been in my early 20s.
  • Best coffee ice cream is Haagen Daaz, for sure.
  • I haven’t had drip coffee in a while (Nespresso-4-life), but when I was drinking it every day, I used to love Dunkin’ Doughnuts coffee.
    • lipstick swatch a thon mug coffee
    GET IN MY BELLY!
  • Anyone else reach that point where coffee that’s too sweet is undrinkable? I don’t know how I got there, but here I am.
  • I have never Door Dashed a cup of coffee. I’ve seen my neighbors do it, and I just don’t get it. Maybe I’m too old school, but it really doesn’t take much to get in my car and pop over to the drive through coffee place down the street.
  • Black coffee tastes like punishment — gotta have the milk and creamer.
  • Re: creamer. I can’t deal with oat, almond or soy milk creamer. Give me half and half or whole milk. There’s something about how dairy feels when it coats my tongue that I absolutely need. The plant milks don’t have the same sensation, and that’s a big thing for me.
  • I get on these kicks when I need to have coffee in a certain mug in the morning. Lately it’s been a blue and beige “cat person” mug I got as gift.
  • So many core memories in my mind of elementary school teachers leaning over my shoulder to explain something and smelling coffee on their breath!
  • Weird, but I don’t think I’ve ever brought coffee anywhere in a thermos that has an attached cup.
  • I’ve weaned myself off of coffee a few times throughout my life just for fun (and to see if I could do it), but at this point I don’t know if I could without 1) falling apart or 2) turning into a monster or 3) some combination of both 1 and 2.
  • Weak coffee that tastes like lukewarm sad brown water is the worst.
  • I wonder if something such as Chanel-branded coffee maker exists? I mean, if there can be a Chanel surfboard, why not a Chanel coffee maker?
  • Last but certainly not least, what’s your favorite coffee?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Current Beauty Wish List, Spa Day Shenanigans, Thoughts on Back to School

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make a wish

Current Beauty Wish list

Lots of skin care and hair stuff on this list, I know. They’re both what I’ve been into for a while now, so I’m going with it!

Speaking of hair products, do you like higher end or drugstore? I usually do a mix of both, so please note the items I plan on grabbing at Target and Ulta soon!

Another thing I’ve been into lately — makeup you can draw on your face with, particularly lipsticks and eyeshadows in crayon packaging. If you have any ideas to add to my list, please drop your recommendations in the comments.

Where did the summer go?

It’s Connor’s last full week of summer before she goes back to school next week. First grade already!

I didn’t schedule any camp for this week because I wanted time with her to just “be,” and I also wanted the flexibility to do things like get her haircut, or pop on over to the park, etc., on a whim.

Yesterday, she wanted to a spa day at home, so we made that happen.

MEOW!
Spa day to-do list
Allegedly these masks were for hydration, but I think they were mostly for cuteness.

It’s a little crazy to me how school starts in August now. When I was a kid/teenager, school didn’t start until the first or second week of September.

When I was in high school, August was devoted to band camp. Yup, I was a band geek back in the day!

Funny how I didn’t realize just how geeky it was until my mid-30s. I think I must’ve been 32 or 33 when I called my friend Jen up one morning and said, “We used to walk around a field. With instruments. IN UNISON. And we were super serious about it. That’s so dorky!” LOL. We had fun, though.

I didn’t play sports or do any organized team activities growing up because when you were a first generation Filipino child in the ’80s, the only acceptable non-scholastic activity was banging on a piano keyboard against your will while a stern, humorless piano teacher glared at you.

Band was my first fun experience where I felt part of a team. It was geeky, but I have lots of good memories.

All this to say, Connor will be doing her first team activity this year. She’ll be joining the junior competitive dance team at her studio this year. They have a program called the “prep” team where younger kids like her can get a sense of what it’s like; the prep team gets the experience of weekly rehearsal and the chance to perform at community events, but the schedule’s not as intense. If she likes it, she’ll have the option to go all in next year. We’ll see how it goes!

Anywho. I’m off to go write some stuff (so many deadlines this month). Have a great Tuesday, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 741

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My Monday scent.

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 scent/perfume are you wearing today?

    One of my favorites, Eau de Jane. I love a fresh green vibe on a Monday.

    2. If you could get a manicure today, which one would you choose — neutral or colorful fingernails?

    My practical side says a soft, creamy pink won’t show chips as much, but the part of me that loves color says a dark burgundy would be very chic. Let’s go with the dark burgundy. 🙂

    3. Something that helps you get through your day with a smile on your face?

    Honestly, having a plan — even a really rough one — helps keep me sane. I’m a person who likes knowing the next steps.

    4. Do you like it when your body lotion has a strong scent?

    As long as I like the scent, I’m cool with it.

    5. Best thing you ate over the weekend?

    Oh my gosh, I had tempura for the first time in ages last Friday at dinner, and it was heavenly. And even though nobody asked, here’s the order in which I eat my tempura — shrimp, sweet potato (LOVE), broccoli, carrot, potato, zucchini, mushroom (YUCK).

    6. Cleansing balm or cleansing oil?

    Cleansing oil.

    7. Lip and cheek stains — love ’em or leave ’em?

    Leave ’em. If you asked me when I was 24, though, it would be another story.

    8. Products with sheer color payoff — love ’em or leave ’em?

    LOVE ‘EM.

    9. Write a nice note to someone reading the comments today.

    You’re doing better than you think, so keep at it. You’ll get there. Also, please remember that you are cherished and so, so 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. What scent/perfume are you wearing today?
    2. If you could get a manicure today, which one would you choose — neutral or colorful fingernails?
    3. Something that helps you get through your day with a smile on your face?
    4. Do you like it when your body lotion has a strong scent?
    5. Best thing you ate over the weekend?
    6. Cleansing balm or cleansing oil?
    7. Lip and cheek stains — love ’em or leave ’em?
    8. Products with sheer color payoff — love ’em or leave ’em?
    9. Write a nice note to someone reading the comments today.

    P.P.S. Hey, friend. Happy, happy Monday! Take a deep breath, and remember, you are a rock star! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 722

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Tabs had a special connection to flowers, and I’m not just referring to how he nibbled on my snapdragons and gerbera daisies.

He loved the colors, the fragrances — oh, the fragrances! You know, just before he headed over the Rainbow Bridge, we redid his 10-year business plan, and it included developing the fragrance notes from his favorite flowers into a line of candles for the home. That was then going to translate into an entire home decor line, which would then allow him to springboard into becoming the Martha Stewart of cats.

I gotta hand it to my little buddy; he always dreamt big. 🙂

He would never admit this, because he always wanted to be his own cat, but his favorite floral scent was the same as mine — violets.

Rosie

I’ve asked Rosie if roses are indeed her favorite flowers, but I generally get a noncommittal answer. She goes on and on about the different hybrid varieties of roses and the technical aspects of growing them, but she’s never actually sat down and said, “mrow,” which translated means “I like how roses smell.”

I found her pawing through Tabs’ old business notes today and perusing his plans to launch a fragrance/home empire, and I think that got her wheels a’turning. I’ve been finding books about perfumery and the science behind scent, so she might be cooking up something new.

I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed that it’s related to beauty. 😉

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, August 6, 2022!

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Why is drawing with lipstick on watercolor paper so entertaining? LOL! Happy Saturday, friend. El Hub and Connor left early this morning to go fishing, so I have a rare Saturday morning to myself. I made French toast and coffee and watched a cheesy “woman in peril” thriller on Apple TV (“Surface,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and you know what? It’s like I barely even know how to relax anymore. I managed to successfully force myself to sit on the couch and do nothing for a bit, though, and it was kinda glorious.

Have you heard about this show? It’s set in San Francisco, and it’s about a woman who loses her memory in a traumatic way. She doesn’t know if her husband tried to kill her, and with the help of an undercover police officer, she searches for the truth.

I lived in San Francisco for a few years, and my big issue with the show so far is how the main character rarely wears layers. She’s always out and about with bare shoulders. Someone please give this woman a lightweight sweater and a blazer at the bare minimum! It’s a travesty. Side note: my guess is the husband is the bad guy.

What’ve you been watching lately?

This week’s reading


This looks like fun!


I wish I was dancing in this video.


I’m listening!


What’s your morning routine?


A great cover or my favorite New Order song.

Have a great rest of your weekend. I will now attempt to tackle a mountain of laundry. It never ends!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Loving the Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lip Crayons

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Beauties by Laura Mercier!

As someone perpetually dealing with a time crunch EVERY MORNING (sigh), makeup in crayon form is now my beauty BFF. Drawing on your face is just that much easier when you don’t have to contend with a brush, ya know?

My latest loves are these twist up matte crayon lippies by Laura Mercier. The new Petal Soft Lipstick Crayons offer sheer, easy-to-apply color, so I don’t have to worry about precisely drawing a crisp edge. (Side note: you can easily build up the opacity if you want more intensity, FYI.)

10 shades from the collection

I’ve been doing a layer or two for a casual, effortless summery lip look, but I can see these working year round.

The formula feels lightweight and smooth on my lips, and I like that its unscented and unflavored. Comfy!

I’ve been rollin’ with Augustine, the coral shade, all week, and when I wear it on video calls, I look brighter, and dare I say, less cranky? LOL!

There are 20 shades to choose from, and each is $28 for a 0.06-oz tube.

The Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lip Crayons

  • 300 Lea – Warm brown nude
  • 301 Augustine – Deep coral nude
  • 302 Ella – Warm mid-tone nude
  • 303 Jeanne – Rich warm nude
  • 320 Amelie – Coral pink
  • 321 Ophelie – Bright bluish pink
  • 322 Camille – Neutral pink
  • 323 Maia – Peachy pink
  • 324 Louise – Bright yellowish pink
  • 340 Elodie – Dusty mauve
  • 341 Simone – Rosy berry
  • 342 Zoe – Bright berry
  • 343 Noemie – Mid-tone plum
  • 360 Agnes – Pinkish coral
  • 361 Alma – Reddish coral
  • 362 Leonie – Orangey coral
  • 363 Adele – Bright warm coral
  • 380 Sienna – Orangey red
  • 382 Laura – Plummy red

You can find the Petal Soft Lip Crayons on the Laura Mercier website, Sephora and Ulta.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

15 Things I’ve Learned (and Relearned) Recently, and a Tuesday FOTD with Chanel and Laura Mercier

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  1. Learn new communication skills. It’s always a good thing.
  2. You don’t have to respond right away. It’s fine to pause and take a few deep breaths while you think about your next step.
  3. As much as you want and wish for other people in your life to change, if they’re not ready or if they’re unwilling, then you have to let it go.
  4. Speaking of changes, personal change doesn’t always have to always be big, sweeping and dramatic. It can mean small tweaks along the way. Any progress is forward progress.
  5. It’s OK if your interests evolve. You’re growing, so what you find interesting will evolve, too.
  6. Fashion-related item: A puffed shoulder is cute, but sometimes, if the puff is even just a touch too puffy, it can veer into pirate territory.

  7. You don’t have to have all the answers.
  8. Even though it might feel like it was your fault, chances are it wasn’t, and you had no real control in how things played out.
  9. A poker face comes in REALLY handy at work.
  10. Side note to my inner child: You don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can and should ask for help from others.
  11. If you’re feeling stuck, flip the script in some way. Try something different. It might just spark something.
  12. If things are pretty good, then cherish those times. Each season is so fleeting, and there will be a time when you look back at that time with awe and wonder.
  13. Even though I always feel like I have so much to learn about writing, sharing what I know about it with other people is fun.
  14. Lists are also fun! Oh, and they don’t have to be too complicated or wordy.
  15. It’s a good thing to sit down and write a list about things you’ve learned recently. It’s surprisingly eye opening.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 740

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I hope this week is calm and peaceful for you.

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 picky about the fabric your clothes are made out of?

    Yeah. I used to not be particular about it at all, but after I had Connor, my body changed in so many ways. My skin became more sensitive, and I couldn’t tolerate how certain materials felt. I only like stuff that’s extremely soft now. I also prefer to wear cotton because I like how it breathes. Apparently, I can no longer be challenged by my clothing.

    2. Would you rather watch a live musical or go hiking?

    As much as I love musicals, if I sit in a dark room right meow, all I’ll do is fall asleep. I’ll take the hike — ideally one with lots of shade and that’s not too strenuous. LOL!

    3. Body splash: love it or leave it?

    Even though it’s a little cheesy, I love me some body splash. Reminds me of days spent feeling carefree!

    4. How do you release stress?

    Exercise really helps. Oh, and checking in with myself and doing deep breathing exercise throughout the day works for me, too.

    5. Scalp scrub: your thoughts?

    It seems to be trendy, yeah? If it works for you, great! I’m not really a fan, though. Too messy.

    6. Are doing your own highlights good idea?

    LOL, if I was in high school, I’d say yes. Now, unless you’re a professional stylist, I’d say so!

    7. What’s for dinner tonight?

    Honestly, I don’t have a lot in me today to devote to cooking. It’s going to be a bagged salad and spaghetti with red sauce kinda night.

    8. What’s your hairstyle today?

    I’m wearing it down today, with big, loose curls (thank you T3 Bodywaver). I’ve had it up all weekend long, and my fun bun needs a break.

    9. What’s one nice thing you can do for yourself this week?

    Go to bed early and catch up on sleep!

    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 picky about the fabric your clothes are made out of?
    2. Would you rather watch a live musical or go hiking?
    3. Body splash: love it or leave it?
    4. How do you release stress?
    5. Scalp scrub: your thoughts?
    6. Are doing your own highlights good idea?
    7. What’s for dinner tonight?
    8. What’s your hairstyle today?
    9. What’s one nice thing you can do for yourself this week?

    P.P.S. Happy Monday, friend. New day, new week, new chance to fresh start. Enjoy this beautiful day, OK? 🤗

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