You guys. When I said that every day lately has been like a new level of Jumanji, I was not kidding. When I woke up yesterday morning, the sky was a terrifying shade of orange.
Yeah, and it was SO DARK outside that the street lights, which are light activated, stayed on till 10, despite the fact that sunrise allegedly occured at 6:40(!).
It was dark. I’m talking pitch black until almost 8, and then it only got dusky dark after that.
There are still a bunch of wildfires in California right now, and the sky over the Bay Area is currently this shade of orangey red.
Oh, yeah, and ash is also falling from the sky like post-apocalyptic snow… It’s all over the cars.
Next stop: vampires! ?♀️
Is this freaking me out? Totally. Because, of course, being the science fiction enthusiast that I am, I’m thinking, “This is how all post-apocalyptic novels start.” The sun goes away. Then all the plants die, and shortly thereafter, everything goes to sh*t. This is the beginning of the vampire uprising. By the end of next week, we’ll all be bloodsuckers. (See: 30 Days of Night. See also: the Van Helsing TV series.)
I really want to be wrong on this theory, and yes, I know I probably am, HAHAHA! Let’s face it, I do have a penchant for the dramatic. ? But, just in case we are on the verge of a vampiric uprising, we had a good run. It’s been a thrill.
Yeah…as if it hasn’t already been said enough, 2020 has been so freaking cray!
Agro exfoliation
Looking at the glass as half full in all this, I’m grateful that my house is currently — knock on wood — intact, and that I have a roof over my head. I’m also thankful that I still feel like laughing at myself (can’t take this for granted, for real). Also glad to have the mental space to contemplate not-so-serious things, like starting a skincare program for dealing with dark spots right MEOW, instead of waiting for the first rains like I had originally planned (because, seriously, I don’t even know when we’re going to see a sunny day again.)
So, yeah, I had this whole plan for aggressive exfoliation and was going to start with some products I’ve been wanting to try that target discoloration and uneven skin tone.
The first: Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel by Algenist. It’s pricey at $85, but it’s supposed to be good at resurfacing and exfoliating skin to reveal a smoother and more even-toned complexion. I dunno why, but I have this vision of it peeling away all the layers of dead skin on my face to reveal smooth skin on the face of a very crabby, cranky baby. LOL!
(I. WISH.)
I also have the Discoloration Correcting Serum from Good Molecules on deck. They’re kind of like The Ordinary because they have no-frills, stripped-down packaging, and everything is very affordable. This serum is $12, and the primary active ingredient is niacinamide.
Because kittehs make everything better
Since I’ve been low-key anxious over the past few days, I’ve been doing things to sooth the savage beast, and one of these things I’ve been doing lately is watching videos of a Maine Coon cat exploring the wilderness.
The channel is called The Explorer Cat, and it stars a very fluffy, round-faced Main Coon kitty with white, orange and black fur. I really love the video of kitty testing the waters and swimming! Yes, this cat swims. Kind of amazing.
Highly recommended if you need to calm-the-eff down!
Purr-fume!
On that cat-related note, out of sheer curiosity, I had to smell this perfume after reading about it a few weeks ago: Demeter Fragrance Library Kitten Fur.
Of course, the million-dollar question is, “Does it actually smell like a kitten’s fur?” Well, I can tell you what my tubby Tabby’s fur smelled like — like a yeasty rustic bread loaf! — and this perfume smells nothing like that. Rosie’s fur smells like Temptations, and the last real, live kittens I actually smelled, Rosie’s babies, smelled like cat food, laundry and litter, HAHAHA!
With Kitten Fur, I get notes of baby powder, white musk and vanilla brown sugar. It’s very youthful and sweet, but not so sweet that you lose your lunch. If you like dainty, baby powder scents, this scent could be purr-fect for you. The 1-oz. bottle of cologne spray is $13.99.
Anyway, that’s it for now.
If you’re someplace where you can see the big, blue sky, please go outside, look up, then close your eyes and take in a big breath of air for me, OK? ? I really miss that. I miss being able to go outside without getting ash on my face and in my hair.
Yeah… Have a great day, my friend. Talk soon.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Oh my goodness! My cousin who lives in Belmont said the photos don’t even begin to tell the full story. ?
Watch all the animal vids you need to self-soothe! In fact, I’ve got several on regular rotation between cape fur seals being rescued from entanglements (not the Jada Pinkett-Smith kind), koala-cam, Chunk the Groundhog, and Takis Shelter. And I’ll check in with panda Mei Xiang and her newborn at the Smithsonian Zoo. ALL THE SOOTHING DISTRACTIONS.
What a time for the children, huh? How is Connor Claire taking it all in?
Aloha, friend!
Thank you for asking about her, Christine. You know… She’s handling it in the best way she can. She’s definitely regressed a little socially being home with mom and dad for months on end. She was more independent and happier overall when she was in preschool. At night she cries and tells me that she misses her grandparents, teachers and friends. The things she says repeatedly break my heart into a billion pieces! I know kids find ways to adapt, but still.
The dance classes that we’ve enrolled her in have made *such* a difference, though. She looks forward to them so much! I’m so glad to have the studio in our community.
How are you doing on your end?!
Oh girl, I can sympathize with you on the apocalyptic orange sky; I experienced it a couple times when I lived in Boulder, CO. The smell of smoke drifted into the house and there was no escaping it, but it passed, thank God. One often gets the raw end of the deal when living amongst great beauty. But now, what REALLY got me was some of the ancient redwoods burning; seeing them was a highlight of one of my CA trips . . simply awesome, they are.
Keep up with positive thoughts; it’s sad dealing with two nasties at once!
Bless you all,
L
❤️
SPI, TX
Thank you for the blessings, L. I will take them. I hope things are going well for you on your beautiful island!
I’ve been thinking of you and my other west coast pals. I can’t imagine. I’ll go inhale some fresh Michigan air and be thankful – it rained last night.
Someone in my neighborhood has a big catio (patio for cats) and a bunch of Maine Coon cats, I get so excited when they’re out!
Oh my goodness. I’m waiting on pins and needles for the day it rains here! It will be a welcome relief.
That is SO COOL that the Maine Coon kittehs have a big space to play in. Do you know any of their names?
Stay safe, Karen! Orange skies here in the Portland area, too. Scary stuff. The closest wildfire is about 20 miles away. Thankfully, it’s being contained.
That sky is terrifying! STAY SAFE, Karen!
Hi Karen,
Oh my goodness that’s pretty unnerving! It happened here last summer ( Southern Hemisphere) in Auckland. It was the eeriest thing especially as it went like that at 3pm. We got it here thanks to some freak winds blowing smoke all the way over from those terrible bushfires they were having in Australia ! For Pete’s sake! Who’d have thought it’d have that effect all the way over here?! Thinking of you guys in the states at present. Stay safe and stay well and Thank you for your posts which I love reading everyday xx
Today out here in So Cal, we have orange skies and white ash all over. It is an eerie sight! Stay safe.
I don’t know if you are in the vicinity of one of those wildfires, but if you are please get prepared for evacuation now and not later. If you are near one and already have, then ignore me. But if you are and haven’t, please do so today. Document everything in your home. Take pics of everything in your house (appliances and electronics with serial numbers). Put those on the cloud and a usb drive and email it to a trusted relative or friend. Gather all your important documents (birth certificates, passports, deed to house, deed to car, etc.) in one spot. Anything portable and irreplaceable in one spot (think wedding pictures, the teapot from your great grandmother, etc.) Make a bag that has clothes for everyone in your family, a med kit, snacks/water, some paper money. Gather things for your sweet kitty: her carrier, food, pet meds, kitty litter. Have it in one place. If you get an evacuation order and only have 5-15 minutes, this can save your lives.
I hope it never happens, but I want you to be safe and ready. Sending you all the vibes and love from a longtime lurker.
I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this mess. Like 2020 isn’t bad enough – gah! It’s finally cooled of somewhat here in Tejas, although it will be temporary. It usually doesn’t cool down (& stay that way) to decent temps until November. But we are all loving the 80’s now!
Love the Maine Coon video! Silly kitty. And I’m putting Kitten Fur on my Christmas wish list right now. 😉
This weekend will be kitteh-filled for me! A dear friend rescued 2 newborn kitties at her condo complex 8 weeks ago, bottle fed them and we are delivering them to another dear friend of mine who just lost her 20+ year old kitty a month ago! Yaaaay I’m going to be a Godparent! 😀 Wish you could see them; they are 2 girls and soooooo cute. <3
Hi this is Lynda from hermiston OR. I love your video of your cat my son got a Maine coon from the shelter and she is already as big as yours. She is a calico and at least 2 feet long, from head to end of tail. Her name is Callie. She is so sweet. We all love her she is about 4 months old. I can’t believe they can get to 4 ft long and 2 to 3 ft talk. I’m only 4’ 4” and 63 yrs old. Thanks for the video I really enjoyed it! Yes our skies are a brownish orange and ashy. Be safe everyone and God bless you Lynda H
Please stay safe; I am in Connecticut so have never experienced wildfires and their effects. But as a Californian, do you think the increased frequency of fires can be dealt with? (I’m assuming they’re worse than when you were growing up?) Thanks for the Maine Coon video – I lost my Static, a Maine Coon mix, just before the pandemic hit at 18.5 years old, and would love another mixed breed longhair kitty when it’s the right time. But I hear they’re not often found at rescues.
Living through the fires sounds crazy apocalyptic for sure. Here in Germany it is sunny and green and I will make sure to appreciate that and send you some blue skied thoughts.