
Happy Caturday, sweet girl!
Is anyone putting up their tree today? I’ve always admired people who can do a specific theme or color scheme with their trees; I’ve tried it before and I just can’t do it; ours is always a beautifully chaotic mash up of ornaments we’ve collected through the years.
That doesn’t stop me from admiring trees with a strong theme, like this cat-themed tree, which I saw at the West End Nursery Christmas Store in San Rafael a few weeks ago.




So cute, right? Although if Tabs ever saw this tree, I’m pretty sure he’d find a way to topple it over, ha ha ha!
Anywho, it’s yet another big dance weekend for our not-so-tiny dancer. She has dress rehearsal today and two performances tomorrow.

These pajamas are her costume for the lyrical dance the girls are doing today. Isn’t it cute? Her dance teacher had us order them from Amazon. Here they are in case you’re interested.
On that note, I’m off to do Dance Mom things. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
This week’s reading
- This might be a fun gift for the makeup lover in your life — the book “Eyeliner” examines liner’s role in global society.
- I thought this essay on why a college student doesn’t wear makeup was interesting. She says, “When I attend formal events or when I take important photos, I no longer concern myself with the need to cover up the features that make me human, or ‘enhance’ what is already perfectly adequate. I allow myself to show up as I am, in all contexts, just like men are socialized to do. And it is incredibly liberating.”
- Would you wear a perfume that smells like old books?
- The birth of the popular scent “Red Moscow,” aka the Chanel of the USSR.
- The tween skin-care market is now a thing, and it’s booming.
A different take on one of my favorite songs
Go science
Because I’ve been into bright lips lately
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen

I have a lot of bird ornaments, dog ornaments, the Hallmark “A Pony for Christmas” ornaments (most of them), and some horse racing ornaments, like Seabiscuit, War Admiral, Man o’ War, and others. I might have enough to do a dog or bird theme if the tree isn’t bigger than about 5 feet tall. My family (parents) didn’t put up the tree again after my older brother died in 2009 (I was the one who did all the labor in putting it up and decorating it). I might put it up this year for old time’s sake if I have the time, as this will be the last Christmas season I’ll be in this house (has to be sold due to my mother’s death). It’s a weird, sad Christmas time for me as I have no spouse, boyfriend, or child to be with. I’m having to deal with wrenching life issues such as grief, moving, and possibly retiring within the next 6 -7 months. Also, I’m a cancer patient in remission, always with the cancer cloud over my head.