Daily Photo

A Peek Inside the Office of Carisa Janes, CEO and Founder of Hourglass Cosmetics

August 3rd, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated by the things that people surround themselves with in their daily lives, especially in the spaces where they get sh*t done, like their offices.

I like to see what’s on the walls, the books on their shelves, the view outside, whether there’s a jar of candy on the desk — that kind of thing. I dunno why, but I think it’s interesting to catch a glimpse into someone else’s day and imagine them doing their thing.

While I was in Venice Beach earlier this week, I got the chance to check out the office of Hourglass Cosmetics CEO and Founder Carisa Janes…

Carisa Janes and me! — That’s Carisa Janes, CEO and Founder of Hourglass Cosmetics on the left and moi on the right

Isn’t it neat to think that whenever we walk into a Sephora and see an Hourglass Cosmetics display, all of that makeup we see on the shelf and swatch on the back of our hand passed through this office?

Kind of cool, yeah?

Venice Beach Street Art

August 2nd, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

I only had about 15 minutes to walk down to Venice Beach this morning before leaving for the airport, but I passed some really cool street art in that time.

If I ever make it back down there, I’d love to spend a whole day just snapping pics of painted sidewalks and buildings.

There was so much of it, and it’s so beautiful!

My Cheeks Just Had a Revelation! Chanel Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

I had an a-ha! moment the first time I swept Chanel’s Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Revelation ($38) on my cheeks.

A revelation, if you will. 🙂

It was almost as great as the first time I had blueberries in a salad. Gurrrl, blueberries in a salad. You gotta try it.

Revelation is a soft, shimmery pink that creates a natural-looking cheek flush.

I built it up in layers here so it would show up in these pics, but for everyday looks, I’d probably wear it sheer.

Either way, I think it’s tops. It lasts all day long (as long as I keep my hands away from my face) and looks fab on top of bare skin, foundation and/or powder.

Chanel really did a great job on these cream blushes. I’m impressed!

Revelation is part of the Chanel permanent line, and you can find it now on counters and online.

Chanel Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38 — Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38

Sheer, Shiny Burgundy Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick Reminds Me of Weird Clothing

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Random MBB Fun Fact: From sixth to ninth grade (circa the late ’80s, early ’90s) my idea of high fashion was Esprit clothing, and I loved it so much that I covered my walls in Esprit ads.

I lived for the rare times when my mom would drive me out to the Esprit outlet in South San Francisco.

Looking back, I ended up wearing some pretty weird clothes (don’t even get me started on the full body black-and-white giraffe print ensemble), but eh — at least my tweens were interesting. 🙂

Anywho, I think of those days whenever I wear the new Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Esprit ($34), a sheer and shiny burgundy lip shine from the Fall 2013 Superstition collection.

What should you know about Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine?

It has a lightweight, non-sticky formula.
It’s fairly moisturizing, but not as moisturizing as something like a Clarins Natural Light Lip Perfector.
Lasts from 3-4 hours for me and fades to a pretty berry-colored stain.
Has a yummy rose flavor and scent.

Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine, $34 — Esprit Rouge Coco Shine, $34

Chanel Icone Rouge Coco Lipstick (left) and Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick (right) — Icone Rouge Coco Lipstick (left) and Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick (right)

Plate o’ Yum

July 27th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Look what my mum-in-law made me for breakfast yesterday. A fancy fruit plate with strawberries, peaches and cantaloupe.

Pretty!

And yummage to the extreme.

It looked like something from a fancy restaurant, so of course I couldn’t resist snapping a couple of pics before scarfing the entire thing down like a hungry bunny.

Seriously, I barely took a breath between bites.

At Least It’s a Dry Heat

July 26th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

Check out this cray cat lady sun visor I found at Raley’s supermarket in Redding today

Um…it’s really hot up here in Redding. Like, today the high was about 106 degrees, and everyone kept saying, “At least it wasn’t too hot today.”

Because it seems that way when the forecast for tomorrow calls for 113.

At least it’s a dry heat. 🙂

I went for a run outside around the neighborhood this morning at around 10 a.m., and it felt like I was being microwaved (it was already 90-something by 10).

Even the wind — not helpful — like being blasted by a giant dryer.

I’m trying to take advantage/make the most of the dry air to test a few moisturizing products, like a bottle of Clark’s Botanical Cellular Lifting Moisture Mist ($45 for a 3.4-ounce spray bottle), which I’ve been carrying around all day.

It’s a moisturizing mist made with Swiss apple stems and algae (also good for soothing sunburns). You can spray it on bare skin or atop makeup, and it dries to a matte finish.

I love the light apple scent, and it really does seem to add some much-needed moisture to my thirsty cheeks.

Also, after my shower this morning I used Orico London’s Superico Omega Rich Body Oil ($40 for a 3.4-ounce bottle), a hydrating body oil with a blend of sunflower seed, rosehip, flaxseed and bergamot oils, and Vitamin E. It has a light, relaxing sandalwood scent, and the formula doesn’t feel sticky or heavy.

Oh, yeah — about the heat again, I noticed this morning on my run that the sun seems REALLY bright out here, like the earth is closer to the sun or something than it is in the Bay Area.

I don’t know…

I feel like I’ve been squinting all day long, and the skin around my eyes needs some TLC.

Hopefully these Rejuvenal-C Orange Eye Pads ($5 for 5 pairs of pads, so 10 pads total) help. They contain chamomile, green tea, orange and Vitamen C.

Sounds soothing…

I’m gonna give ’em a try tomorrow. The directions say to just set one pad on each eye, lay back and relax for 10-30 minutes.

Dude, I can get behind that! 🙂

You can also use them on your cheeks, chin and other parts of your face. For maximum relaxation, store them in the fridge to keep ’em nice and cold.

One Week Ago…

July 25th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

…I was just starting my trip to La Jolla with Cindy. *big sigh* Do you ever say stuff like that to yourself after you get back from a vacation?

I do…wistfully. “A week ago today I was sitting by the pool,” or “a week ago I had my toes in the sand at the beach.”

Yep, still got a case of the post-vacay blues.

Howdy from Redding, by the way. El Hub and I are up here visiting family for a few days, while Tabs is at home probably having the time of his life with his pet sitter.

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t miss me at all…

Lazy Girl Lunch: A Toasted Avocado, Brie, Tomato and Basil Sandwich

July 24th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

Ok, so I had a ripe avocado that I “needed” to eat before leaving for Redding today, so I whipped up this improv sandwich yesterday for lunch.

I cut it in half, then put one half in the fridge to have with dinner (I just cut away the couple brown spots). The other half, I sliced up and placed on a piece of wheat bread.

Then I added bits of brie cheese, cherry tomatoes cut in halves, and sliced basil, stuck another piece of bread on top, and toasted it in my panini press (LOVE THAT THING).

Oh, so yummy… Quick and easy, too. A simple veggie meal. Highly recommended for Meatless Mondays, Wednesdays or Fundays. 🙂