Happy Caturday, my friend! I hope you have a sweet treat on your breakfast plate this morning (sprinkle cake perhaps?). I have grand designs on a slice of lemon meringue pie (sans meringue), my second one ever, because the gluten-free one I made last night did NOT turn out hella wackadoo (unlike the first one). If I may say so myself, it’s actually pretty good! ?
Now, this does not apply to the one I made before the one last night.
That one was downright terrible…
It was my first crack at lemon meringue, so I’m not stressing it, but it was borderline comical how bad it turned out.
The custard was runny. The meringue was overbeaten. And I somehow missed adding the half cup of butter the recipe called for (whoops!).
When Connor and I took the first bite and I said, “Oh, dear. We have to throw this out,” Connor said, “It’s OK, mama. This was just a practice pie. You just have to keep practicing so you can get better and better.”
AWWW!
In addition to further “practicing pie” this weekend, I intend to reunite with Tom Ford African Violet (pictured at the top), otherwise known as “my favorite fall purple.” I looked it up today to see if it was still available, and — le sigh! — it appears to have been discontinued.
If you’re looking for something similar, FYI, Essie Flowerista is a good option.
Onto today’s beauty reading!
- Dear Astronauts on the International Space Station who will be doing beauty blogger stuff with Estée Lauder products in zero gravity…do any of you need some tips from a 10+ year beauty blogging veteran? Because if you do, I’m here for you, and I can be ready to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy faster than you can say, “skin care serum in the stars.” ???
- RIP Lillian Brown. She was the makeup artist who covered the dark circles, matted down the shiny spots and concealed blemishes on nine US presidents. She also painted the faces of many first ladies as well.
- Speaking of beauty and politics colliding…
- Meet Pakistani American Kirin Bhatty, a Hollywood makeup artist who’s worked with a diverse lineup of on-screen talent, including Awkwafina in Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell, and Frieda Pinto on Slumdog Millionaire.
- How to avoid common mistakes when doing your makeup if you have dark skin, according to makeup artist Scott Osbourne.
- Stuff on sale up to 50% off at Ulta…
- A full makeup breakdown of J. Lo’s latest look via Mary Philips.
- I am low-key obsessed with Frédéric Malle.
- Is high-tech skin care worth the price?
- For your fun fact file: the Air Force is allowing servicemen to grow out their hair a little bit more.
Love this!
Vibing with this today.
This is my favorite Kate Bush song.
What the heck is going on here?
Fascinating!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love Kate Bush! Haven’t listened to her in years! Thanks for the refresh.
Lemon Meringue pie is my drop dead favorite dessert and I haven’t made it in years because it is so tricky.
I have great memories of making them with my mom because it’s really a pie you need an assistant for.
I need to make one before my teenager leaves the nest!
Also that Tom Ford nail color made my heart beat a little faster! Thanks for the alternative recommendation.
My nails are a hot mess. They’re recovering from a summer of gel manicures. It’s great to garden all summer and also have great nails but good golly that gel is bad for them. I need to do them tomorrow.
I haven’t had lemon meringue pie in ages. And never a homemade one either. Such is life when Dear Husband does not like lemon anything.
I love the earrings and bracelet you’re wearing along with the TF African Violet. I bought this color after you first posted about it. I’ve worn it once. I’m on the fence whether I’m going to put it in my de-stash sale or keep it.
Other colors that have a similar vibe are Dior Vernis 338 Mirage (a little bluer and a little deeper) and YSL 75 Fuchsia Over Noir.
That was so sweet of Conner to say it was a practice pie.
Hi Karen,
Happy Saturday! That was cute that Connor gave you encouragement. You sure make fancy desserts! The best I could do for sweets today was order the pumpkin and cream cheese pie from McDonald’s which I didn’t get because they forgot to put it in the bag! Argh! Oh well, I have other sweets at home. That Tom Ford nail polish is pretty!
Ok girl, I’m going to drop a recipe on you. It’s ridiculously easy, and tastes like something between a lemon curd pie & a lemon cheesecake. It’s just a biscuit (cookie) crumb crust (this recipe uses 175g crushed biscuits & 75g melted butter, but use whatever recipe you like.
Chill the crust.
Then you mix 1 tin sweetened condensed milk with the zest & juice of 2 large lemons. Mix it until it thickens. Then fold in 300mls whipped cream. That’s it! Put it onto the chilled crust, then back in the fridge to set.
It’s very rich & decadent, but delicious. And obv pretty easy to make gluten free ?
That color is gorgeous on you!
I must know- where did you get those earrings?!?!
Gorgeous, sexy nail color. Bah! That was soooo fun to watch Daddyfatsax make the synthesized sounds and sing to Kate Bush. Badass he appreciates her music. He’s so cool.
Aww, Connor! I love when the little ones have the best advice/life lessons. 🙂 OMG on the Space Station. I’m not kidding when I say the Hubs goes out to see it EVERY. SINGLE. TIME it passes our house. He did it again last night. I was just like “dude.. it’s getting to be time for an intervention”. He’s like a cat following a laser pen, apparently. HAHA!