Karen

MAC Is Taking Us Waaaay Back With the MAC Throwback Lipsticks

March 23rd, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

mac throwback collection lipsticks — From the new MAC Throwback collection: Shrimpton (Satin), Bronx (Matte), Icon (Frost), Skew (Frost), Marrakesh (Matte), Spanish Fly (Frost) and Rocker (Matte) Lipsticks

AHHHH! Allow me to fly my MAC freak flag for a second, because I can remember with shocking clarity the night I wore MAC Skew Lipstick, one of the seven lipsticks in the MAC Throwback collection, to my friend Cindy’s birthday party in 2002.

I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but I remember wearing Skew 16 years ago with a blackened gray smoky eye (complete with glitter). I also remember touching it up beneath blue lights in a Castro dance club (and I may or may not have been a little tipsy) and thinking, “This is the best lipstick ever! This is the best night ever! I’m gonna dance like this forever!”

LOL. Ah, the good times I had with Skew. 🙂

I love this pink duochrome coral so much, and I went through several tubes. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it had been discontinued.

That’s MAC for ya. So many colors, so little time…

Like the other six lipsticks in MAC Throwback, Skew was cast aside!

OK, maybe that’s a little dramatic. It was “quietly retired.”

Well, now they’re back, at least temporarily.

mac throwback lipstick swatches — MAC Shrimpton (Satin), Bronx (Matte), Icon (Frost), Skew (Frost), Marrakesh (Matte), Spanish Fly (Frost) and Rocker (Matte)

[Continue reading…]

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

March 23rd, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

1. Zebra Sarasa 0.7 Gel Pens

I stole a couple of these ?️ off El Hub’s desk. Now I’m ? obsessed. The ink is darker than dark, and they absolutely will not skip, ever — to paraphrase Kyle Reese in The Terminator.

The ink also dries quickly, so you don’t get ink on your palm or your fingers while you’re writing (I hate that). Here’s a box of 12 for $13 on Amazon.

2. MAC Face & Body

Every once in a while I whip out this classic, which you can build from sheer to medium coverage, and fall in love with it again. I keep coming back to it over and over, year after year. It looks like skin, doesn’t feel heavy, and it doesn’t budge once it’s on.

I hadn’t used it for a year (no good reason, really) but grabbed it on a whim last Saturday before brunch at Wishbone. I wore it with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, and I liked it so much that I’ve been wearing it every day this week.

3. Breaks

This is a “Duh, Karen!” kind of thing, but it’s so damn annoying how I forget the most painfully obvious life lessons and always have to re-learn things I should already know. (!)

You know this because I’ve said it about a million times, but I’m bad about building breaks into my workday.

There, I said it. Again. I’m the type of person who, if I’m doing something and I get on a roll, will do it for hours until I burn myself out.

This is a bad thing.

But when I take breaks throughout my day (please, Karen, remember this time!), even when I don’t feel like I need them, I’m much happier overall.

When I have a long stretch of time, like when the baby’s napping or when my parents are watching her, and I work for 50 minutes, or some other good chunk of time that’s less than an hour, then take a 10-minute break, I’m less frazzled and more productive.

And I’m not allowed to do anything productive during these breaks. That’s crucial. I can go for a walk in my front yard, or dance around for a song or two, or drink some water, or have a cup of tea, but I don’t allow myself to “think.”

Yay for breaks!

[Continue reading…]

18 Adorable Spring Sandals

March 22nd, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

I stepped in five puddles on my way to DSW today. It’s been pouring! Before the past two hours, during which we’ve had a brief sunny respite, I’d seen the sun twice all week long. But that’s OK! Because spring is here! — she said, rocking herself back and forth. The sun will be here any time.

All we have to do is hang in there, and to pass the time we can talk about cute sandals. 🙂

I went to DSW today with Novato’s littlest shoe fanatic, who was very opinionated, by the way. She had no qualms about telling me which shoes passed muster.

I saw a bunch of cute sandals while we were there…

1. B.O.C. Adney Flat Sandal in Blush ($39.99)

Like these B.O.C. blush flats. The foot bed was squishy and comfortable, and I love the little petals.

2. Dr. Scholl’s Wander On Flat Sandal ($49.99)

The rubber bottom makes these Dr. Scholl’s Wander On Flats look a little like hospital shoes, but I like how the fabric twists on the top.

3. Sam Edelman Gates Sandal ($39.99)

I like these mostly because they remind me of Snuffleupagus.

4. Kelly & Katie Bania Flat Sandal ($39.99)

They’re faux leather, but they look more expensive than $40 to me. And there’s something very Jackie O. about them.

5. Sam Edelman Grace Sandal ($39.99)

The cutest beaded detail! I like the mixed metal action happening, too. I think these would go with lots of different outfits.

[Continue reading…]

The MAC Liquidlast Liners Are Back (Remember These?)

March 22nd, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

Pretty sure I mentioned this the other day, but yeah, my lids are getting progressively more hooded every day. I think it’s just a getting older thing, but now I appreciate long-lasting liners like the MAC Liquidlasts THAT MUCH MORE, because if you’ve got a hooded lid situation, finding a liner that doesn’t transfer up into your crease can be harder than finding a chupacabra unicorn.

Enter the MAC Liquidlast Liners. They’re long-lasting and water-resistant.

mac liquidlast swatches — MAC Naked Bond, Late Night, Coco Bar, Keep It Currant, Rich & Robust, Blue Me Over, Wet Road, and Misty Me

A bunch of them that just landed on MAC counters and the MAC website ($21 each), but you might remember them from back in the day. The Liquidlast Liners used to be part of the permanent collection. Then they went away, but now they’re back in nine shades, most of which are permanent.

The only LE colors are matte purple Rich & Robust, which I friggin’ love (GAH!) and shiny teal Blue Me Over.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner lash lines — Rich & Robust

To someone just passing by a MAC counter, they look a little like lip glosses, at least until you open them up and see the skinny, fine-tipped brush.

That brush, though? T-r-i-c-k-y to use.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner brush — It helps to unload almost all of the liner from the brush first.

The first time I used these years and years ago, I wan’t crazy about ’em because of the brush, but now I think I just didn’t know how to use it. I think I might know how now.

What I wasn’t doing then was unloading the brush enough before bringing it to my lids. Now I run the brush against the inside of the lip of the tube a bunch of times to get rid of the excess.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner — Rich & Robust on my upper lash lines. I’m also wearing MAC Kid and Uninterrupted Eye Shadows on my lids, and Powersurge liner on my lower lash line. The blush is Melon Pink from the MAC Padma collection, and my lipstick is Mittai Pink (worn as a stain), also from MAC Padma.

[Continue reading…]

How Old Were You When You Got Your Ears Pierced (If They’re Pierced at All)?

March 22nd, 2018 by Karen 49 Comments

maile leaf ear climbers — Maile Leaf Ear Climbers, connorclaire.com

Obvs, this may or may not apply to you, depending on your ears, but if yours are pierced, how old were you when it happened?

Mine were pierced the day I was born. Yup, at the actual hospital, because it’s a cultural thing for a lot of Filipinos, and I was born out there. I joke with my mom about it all the time and say that she mainly wanted a baby girl so she could put jewelry on a her, a.k.a. me. 🙂 And my mom LOVES jewelry. I think she’s a little disappointed that I’m not as crazy about it as she is.

So, yeah, I was less than 24 hours old.

Connor Claire doesn’t have hers pierced yet, though. El Hub and I had to compromise on that. He would rather wait until she has more an opinion on it herself, just in case she wants to be a tomboy (hey, I had my ears pierced, and I was still a tomboy, but I get it), and I’m fine with that for now… But I’ll probably take her to get hers pierced one of these days in the next two years. I dunno… We’ll play it by ear (haha). 🙂

Speaking of this, where does one get baby ears pierced anyway? I mean, I think I could take her to someplace at the mall, like Claire’s, but I gotta admit I’m a little nervous about letting a 15-year-old near Connor’s head with something sharp.

I guess I’m a worrywart that way!

So how old were you when you got your ears pierced?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Throwback Eye Shadows in Kid, Uninterrupted, Tete-A-Tint and Goldbit Are Available Meow

March 21st, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

There are four pans of MAC Kid Eye Shadow sitting in my shopping cart, and I would normally consider this to be an excessive number of backups, buuuuut…lemme tell you why I think it’s a good idea in this case.

This shade… It’s one of the four shadows in the MAC Throwback collection. See, MAC released a collection of formerly discontinued eyeshadows and lipsticks that they brought out of retirement, and it’s available on counters now.

Kid is GREAT.

Actually, all four of these shadows are so good that it leads me to wonder why the heck MAC ever nixed them?

My friend Fern told me about this one a while ago. She was pretty crabby when it got discontinued, and I can see why. It’s a light matte golden tan, and it’s and one of those browns that you can carve out the crease with and not be left with something that looks heavy or gray or weird. It’s the perfect transition shade. You can just sloosh it on your lids with a MAC 224 and end up with the perfect amount of definition.

mac kid eyeshadow — I’m wearing Kid and Tete-A-Tint in my crease, and Goldbit on my lids. The lipstick is a mix of Skew and Shrimpton (two of the lippies from the #Throwback collection; review coming soon). And the blush is Melon Pink from the MAC Padma collection.

Unfortunately, the Throwback shadows (Kid, Uninterrupted, Tete-A-Tint and Goldbit) are all LE, so this is like their big comeback tour. It’s also why there are currently four pans of Kid in my cart…

The three matte shades — Kid (technically, it’s a Veluxe Pearl, but it looks matte on my skin), Tete-a-Tint and Uninterrupted — blend like it’s what they were put on this earth to do. They’re pigmented, smooth, soft, and don’t even know the meaning of the word “skipping.” Any of them could easily become your go-to transition crease color.

Goldbit, the solitary shimmer shade, is also a beaut. She’s a golden beam of light on your lids. All you have to do is lightly press your finger into the pan to pick up so much gorgeous shine that you’ll practically glow in the dark (but not really). It’s like pure pigment pressed into a pan, but it isn’t messy or obnoxiously glittery.

mac goldbit tete a tint kid uniterrupted eyeshadow swatches — Goldbit, Tete-a-Tint, Kid and Uninterrupted

[Continue reading…]

Best Brunch in the North Bay: Wishbone in Petaluma

March 21st, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

wisbone petaluma beekeeper latte — One latte to rule them all!

If you’re heading out yonder way, cruisin’ out to Napa, you might want to take a quick detour to Petaluma, and I say “might” trying to be all casual, LOL. What I mean to say is that you better take a detour to Petaluma. You have to! — because that’s where I had the best damn latte of my life. And I’ve had a lot of lattes!

This one will go down in the book of my life as “Karen’s favorite latte of all time.”

It even has a cool name: The Beekeeper Lavender Honey Latte. And I had it at Wishbone in Petaluma.

Actually, everything there was delish. The latte was just the rich and creamy icing on the cake.

I went on Saturday with El Hub and Connor Claire (Tabs had to work) for brunch, which they serve (along with regular breakfast, and I think they’re also open for lunch and have a happy hour on Thursday through Sunday) seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. But from what I’ve heard, brunch is mostly what they’re all about.

I’m already plotting my return…

When you walk in, you enter a magical hipster fairy tale land, and for a second you think you’re about to dine at a good witch’s house. There are oak tree branches hanging from the ceiling, woven baskets and homey cross-stitch pictures on the walls, colorful World Market mugs on the tables, and plants and flowers all over the place, as if the proprietors took a walk through an enchanted forest and used what they found to decorate the place.

wisbone petaluma brunch spring benny — The smashed potatoes had a touch of curry in them, methinks.

But it doesn’t just look cool. The food is also pretty great. And colorful. A nearby table ordered Bloody Mary’s that came out with skewered fruit and veggie and edible flower kebobs (I had major drink envy). People watching while you eat there is a visual feast.

wisbone petaluma food menu — I wanna eat errrrthang!

wisbone petaluma interior — Comfy and cozy

[Continue reading…]

The MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils

March 20th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

Ya know, I revel in being the quirky neighbor who smiles like a maniac while taking pictures of the MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils by some freesia on the side of the road.

freesia in the rain spring 2018 — Spring is (at least officially) here!

I don’t even care if people look at me weird. I just smile ? and wave ? like I’m supposed to be there… And, I mean, I’m not not supposed to be there. After all, who wouldn’t want to stop and admire lovely freesia? They’re beautiful, and when the freesia appear, winter is saying “Peace out!” Warmer days are comin’.

Like freesia, the MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils, which are LE and available now for $17, are also cool. They look like they should be intensely pigmented, right? Like liquid nirvana? But they aren’t. They’re shockingly sheer, just like the name goes. They leave a hint of color, and I think that’s a good thing for lip moisturizers, because when my lips need moisture, I don’t want to deal with a mirror. I just want something easy, and an extra hint of color is also nice.

mac hint of colour lip oil swatches — Pale Princess, Dole to Diva, La La Love You, Candy Drop

These are basically super sheer, lightly tinted vanilla-scented glossy lip balms that feel exactly like the MAC Cremesheen Glasses to me. They aren’t sticky, and they only last an hour or two at the most, but they’re lip oils (more accurately, a mélange of five moisturizing oils with a gel formula), so I can’t spite them for that.

They aren’t complicated to use either. It’s not rocket ? science. Just slick ’em on when your lips are thirsty, then let them do their shiny, moisturizing thing. They’ll fade away to a matte tint, and the intensity of the tint slightly varies among the colors.

[Continue reading…]