Karen

1. OPI Bubble Bath

This understated opaque pastel is a staple! Bubble Bath goes on smooth, not streaky, and the pale pink shade hides chips well. It adds just a little something-something to your nails when you want your paws to look put together. I have Bubble Bath in the Infinite Shine formula, but it’s also in the regular OPI formula, too.

2. Wardrobe essentials

Speaking of staples, I watched this video on wardrobe essentials by Erin from Busbee Style the other morning while I was eating breakfast, and it was a good reminder of how having clothing basics around makes it so much easier to get dressed! Note to self: buy some new camisoles.

3. Striped pajamas

This pink and cream striped set is from Target, and it’s so soft!

4. Mugs upon mugs of TJ’s Blood Orange Rooibos Tea

So I’m usually a coffee kinda gal first thing in the morning, but as the day goes on, I switch to decaf tea to avoid the jitters. Lately all I’ve been wanting to drink is the Blood Orange Rooibos Tea from Trader Joe’s. It’s lovely, rich and just a touch sweet.

5. Pachinko

I found this series randomly on Apple TV, and it was so good!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

P.P.S. I’m still building those happiness muscles. For day seven, the two things I’m grateful for are 1) cold medicine (everyone in my house has the sniffles right now), and 2) having a flexible job that allows me to watch Connor at home when she’s not feeling well. Heck, even just having a job is so, so great! I’m very thankful.

Hi, friend! Hello from the land of the (somewhat) sane. It’s amazing how chopping off all the excess weight from your hair can make you feel like a totally different person. I feel considerably less crazy now that I don’t have five extra pounds of mane on me!

I saw someone new this time, a stylist in my town named Heather. She has her own salon-slash-beauty-studio in downtown Novato called Sheer Beauty. If you’re ever in northern Marin and want your hair done by someone down to earth and easy to talk to, give her a shout!

I told Heather I needed some length and weight removed, and that I am, deep down in my core, a person who loves having long hair. I swear, every single time I get my hair cut anywhere above my shoulders, it always feels too short, and I immediately regret it. I also mentioned how my hair doesn’t like razor cuts, and how I’m very self conscious of the recession on my temples.

She suggested going conservative first with some long layers, and then if I felt like I could go shorter, we could adjust and take off more of the length. She then cut in some long bangs that would frame my face and would help to cover up the recession a bit.

While she cut my hair, we had a long, thoughtful conversation on naturally gray hair. I told her that I currently have mixed feelings about mine. Some days, I love it, but other days, not so much.

I definitely have those moments when I look in the mirror, and I feel like the grays make my face look stark and harsh, like a mean piano teacher. On those days, I don’t feel like what’s on the outside matches how I feel on the inside.

She mentioned almost all the women in her chair who have naturally gray hair have the same mixed feelings, and how it’s perfectly normal to love them and hate them at the same time.

Funny thing is, it never occurred to me other women would feel the same way. When you see people celebrating gray hair online, it’s almost always so joyful and spirited. An ebullient rebellion against impossible beauty standards raging against the machine, one gray strand at a time.

Sure, I have those days when I feel great about it, too, but there are also days when I get sick of people calling me “ma’am” and I. JUST. CANNOT. DEAL.

Anyway, it was insightful to hear that others felt similarly.

Heather advised keeping my hair as it is (“Don’t do it!”), and said the grays looked like perfectly placed highlights, but if I ever wanted to do a demi-permanent color, she’d help me out — but only if I twisted her arm. LOL!

We’ll see. For now, I’ll keep it.

Building those happiness muscles, day six

Since we’re on the subject of hair, for today’s happiness exercise, the two things I’m grateful for are hair related: 1) flat hair clips (so great for taming wild baby hairs), and 2) scrunchies.

What’s on your list?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning and happy Tuesday! Check this view out…

Gorgeous, right? It was my office for the day yesterday. We had an in-person meeting for work, and it was held at a beautiful spot in Mill Valley in southern Marin county.

I had to give a presentation in the afternoon, and gasp! I actually did my hair and put on makeup, but because I was doing last-minute prep all morning long, I forgot to take pictures of myself. *shrugs*

The presentation went OK, by the way. It was interactive and my co-worker and I used candy to bribe people into participating! Worked like a charm, so yay for Starbursts and Hershey’s Kisses.

I have to admit, it was weird as hell to be in the same room with all the people I’ve been chatting with on video calls for the last few months. The camera doesn’t really show you how tall or short people are, or how they move and walk and sit. Even though it’s been so long since the lockdown of 2020, I think I’m still experiencing the effects of not really being around people for the last couple years.

Anywho, thanks for listening to me prattle on about work.

On another note, El Hub dragged me and Connor to a sporting goods store last weekend, and while he spent an inordinate time looking at fishing gear, I took pics of all the things on the shelves that I’ve never seen before, like these individual pickles in a bag.

Um, am I the only person who didn’t know such a thing existed? What a time to be alive!

Other interesting items…

A powder made specifically for preventing sweat and friction on your bum.

I kind of love how the cartoon monkey is wearing a single strand of pearls, LOL!

There were unusual things for guys, too, like beer soap.

Oh, and do you know what horehound hard candy tastes like? I have no idea.

I have to admit that I was intrigued by this portable potty system for ladies. As a woman who always needs to use the bathroom at the most inopportune times, this gadget appeals to me.

If you’ve actually tried this and liked it, let me know! I would buy it if a friend vouched for it.

This afternoon, I’m going to get a haircut. My last one was in August, and this mane is heavy, man! I’m still not exactly sure what I’m going to do, but I’m going to get some length removed, and maybe some long bangs… I still don’t know. I’ll probably end up with something shoulder length with layers. Long hair works for me, but when it’s as long as it is right now, I feel like I look witchy, but not in a cool Stevie Nicks kind of way, ha ha.

Building those happiness muscles, day five

It’s been a couple days since my last happiness check in. For day five, the two things I’m grateful for are 1) the sweet sounds of birds singing outside my window in the morning (it’s a lovely alarm clock), and 2) homemade avocado sushi after a long day.

Please feel free to share yours in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Karen

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. Red or pink?

Pink! Warm pink, with a coral vibe.

2. Something you’re looking forward to this week?

Getting a haircut tomorrow afternoon. I still don’t know what I’m going to ask for, but a few inches off the bottom are definitely in the mix.

3. Are you wearing eye makeup today?

Yes! NARS Kalahari eyeshadow (the darker taupe side), Eyeko Cocoa Edit Liquid Eyeliner and MAC Extended Play Gigablack Mascara.

4. Last thing you bought yourself?

A Rose Apothecary tee from Target. If ya know, you know.

5. Last thing you ate?

A toasted Trader Joe’s Pretzel bagel with plain cream cheese on top.

6. Would you rather have a new foundation or a new lipstick?

Hmm, a new lipstick would be great! I’ll take a Chantecaille Lip Chic, please.

7. What time did you wake up this morning?

I think around 4:30 or 4:45. It was pretty early.

8. How good are you at parallel parking?

Because I lived in San Francisco for a few years, I can do it pretty well, however I’ve lost a little bit of my edge since I moved out to the suburbs, LOL! It would take me longer to parallel park on a hill than it used to, but I could still do it.

9. A piece of jewelry you’re wearing today?

My wedding and engagement rings.

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. Red or pink?
2. Something you’re looking forward to this week?
3. Are you wearing eye makeup today?
4. Last thing you bought yourself?
5. Last thing you ate?
6. Would you rather have a new foundation or a new lipstick?
7. What time did you wake up this morning?
8. How good are you at parallel parking?
9. A piece of jewelry you’re wearing today?

P.P.S. Have a stunning and a successful Monday, sweet friend! May this week bring you all the good things you deserve. 🤗

Hi, my friend! Happy Saturday to ya. It’s a big dance weekend here at Casa MBB. Connor has a recital, which means sparkles, costumes, makeup and lots of driving around to rehearsals, so short but sweet Saturday Surfing today.

Today’s reading

• It’s possible to overcomplicate your skin care routine.
• Products that can help you if you can’t stop picking your hair, nails or skin.
• For those obsessed with makeup AND Cup Noodles.
• Now I’m wondering if I’m the only person who still calls it Cup O’ Noodles.
• I really want to try the Bumble & Bumble Surf Styling Leave In!

Sunscreen!

Save or splurge?

Turn it up!

Love it.

Building those happiness muscles, day four

I’m now into day four of 14 days of building my happiness muscles. On today’s gratefulness list:

1. Modern dentistry. Last Monday I went to the dentist and got three fillings replaced! It was, as usual for me, a little uncomfortable, but I can’t even imagine how much worse it would be if we didn’t have the comforts of modern dentistry. Thank goodness for our great dentists.
2. Lash curlers. I use mine every single day. Shout out to the Surratt curler!

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and a restful, peaceful weekend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Your favorite clear brow gel also tames stubby stray hairs and flyaways!

You know the wild hairs that love to point in every single direction except the one you want? Mine are usually right at the edge of my hairline, or somewhere in my part. Anywho, when you’re finished putting the final touches on your brows with your favorite clear brow gel, take the wand, and then comb those crazy hairs down.

I’ve been doing this lately with my Anastasia Clear Brow Gel, and my flyaways are considerably less crazy. Try it the next time you’ve got stray hairs that need some taming.

Building those happiness muscles, day three

OK, so on today’s gratefulness list, I gotta give a shout-out to my washer and dryer. LOL! Since I’m forever doing laundry, it’s very helpful to have a washer and dryer inside my house. When El Hub and I lived in our apartment, I had to drag my laundry up and down a flight of stairs, and I had to always make sure that we had quarters around to feed the machine. I don’t miss that at all!

Also, thank goodness for Post-its. I’m the type of person who needs to physically write something down with a pen or pencil on paper in order for it to sink in, and so I’m constantly scribbling on Post-its. I really like the colorful ones, and the ones with fun shapes and prints.

If you feel like adding to the happiness list, I’ll see ya in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

These were the first two songs I heard this morning.

Move on up!

If you have Apple TV, this show is great, by the way.