Just For Fun

SO MANY CHANGES. Big ones too. The nearest Ulta store in San Rafael is/was a few miles south of me, and we were just driving down Highway 101 last weekend when I saw that the store was shut down, looks like permanently. There were big “closed” signs in the windows. Cue glittery tears. ?

I’m so bummed because I used to spend hours wandering around that place pre-COVID. They had a great variety of hair conditioners and styling products from higher end to budget. One of my favorite things to do was read the labels on the hair products…

Oh, and the other day I got an email from SpaceNK saying that my nearby store in Larkspur is closing as well.

I did an event with them a few years back, and I have a soft spot for that store and the endlessly kind and knowledgeable makeup artists who work there. Really sad to see them go!

My favorite thing to do there was to play with their Byredo perfume display. I’d go in and spray every scent they had on each and every available square inch of skin on my body, hoping I’d discover a new perfume to love more than Gypsy Water (but, in the end, I’ve always loved Gypsy Water the most; go figure).

As for Sephora, the closest one to me at Vintage Oaks here in Novato has been shut down for months. Like, literally boarded up so you can’t even peek through the windows. I think the last time I was in that store was either January or February. I have ordered a few things from Sephora since then, but I haven’t stepped into a physical Sephora store in a long while… I wonder what they look like now without the testers. Would I be afraid to touch anything? It’s crazy to me to think of all the times I sat in a chair in Sephora while a makeup artist showed me a new product or taught me a new technique.

Like I said, lots of big beauty (and other) store changes out this way.

How about in your neck of the woods? How has beauty (and non-beauty) retail store shopping changed so far this year where you are?

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. How do you usually exfoliate?

It’s nothing fancy. I’m pretty low-tech when it comes to exfoliating. Basically, it’s all about the washcloths. First, I use one in the morning to wash my face, usually with a gentle, moisturizing cleanser or plain water. Then I grab a different, clean washcloth in the evening to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin.

I also use another one in the shower for my body, although sometimes I just re-use one of the ones I use for my face.

Yes, we go through a lot of washcloths in our house…

2. Do you have any stretch marks?

Yes! — on my booty and my upper thighs. I’ve had them since I was in high school, and I call ’em my tiger stripes! ?

3. How’d you sleep last night?

It took me a long time to fall asleep because I was freaked out about a post I read on social media about a woman being targeted for a kidnapping while waiting in line to use a gas station restroom… I started thinking about grownup Connor going to public restrooms at gas stations or at clubs (!), and then I started thinking about all the sketchy places I went to in my teens and 20s without telling my parents. This, of course, led to me picturing Connor in those places and, needless to say, I was full-blown FREAKING OUT.

So then I woke up El Hub and went into a long and rambling speech about how, even when she’s older and he goes anyplace with her and she goes to the bathroom, how they have to find a family restroom or a single stall restroom, and he has to wait outside for her and NOT be looking at his phone…and then I started thinking of all the ways I could subtly go to the bathroom with her when she’s a tween and hatin’ on me.

Seriously, it turned into a thing. I fell asleep eventually though!

Anyway, here’s the post. READ IT!



4. Most used item in your makeup bag right now?

My Surratt lash curler.

5. If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you get?

If I had to? I would get the smallest, tiniest dot possible, and I’d stick it somewhere I couldn’t see easily — perhaps the back of my neck, tucked away in my hair line.

This is because I know myself waaaaay too well, and I know that if I did get a legit tattoo (it would probably be a quote that I like, in a font that I like), I would think it was cool for about a day, and then I’d want it removed like RIGHT NOW.

6. If you could get your hair done right now, what would you do?

I would ask the stylist to please cut off about six inches and clean up my layers!

7. How do you usually look during Zoom/Facetime calls?

Hella tired, but cheerful, because I’ve found that the best way to look nice on video is to smile. ?

8. Is the weather currently crazy out your way?

Yeah, totally cray. We’ve had multiple lightning storms (which rarely happen here) and very thick smoke from the fires all over the Bay Area.

9. Can you remember the last time you used a beauty tester?

Nope, not exactly, but I think it was probably while I was Christmas shopping sometime last December… I repeatedly popped into Sephora for stocking stuffers.

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. How do you usually exfoliate?
2. Do you have any stretch marks?
3. How’d you sleep last night?
4. Most used item in your makeup bag right now?
5. If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you get?
6. If you could get your hair done right now, what would you do?
7. How do you usually look during Zoom/Facetime calls?
8. Is the weather currently crazy out your way?
9. Can you remember the last time you used a beauty tester?

P.P.S. Have a wonderful day, OK? Focus on the good things you have, and try to keep a smile on your face. I ABSOLUTELY recognize that it isn’t always possible, but it makes a world of difference, I promise. ?

Welcome to the weekend, yay! ? I hope your caturday got off to a good start. Mine has been adequately relaxing so far. ?

Can we start by talking a little bit about makeup? Pretty please? — because I’ve been thinking about a comment Heather left on a post the other day about viewing makeup as an all-or-nothing thing…

What she said about being all-or-nothing when it comes to makeup *really* resonates with me! I’ve totally felt this way in the past. A few years ago, if I hadn’t been able to bang out an elaborate smokey eye containing fewer than five shades, I wouldn’t have even touched my brushes. I thought, why even go there unless you CAN GO ALL THE WAY THERE, ya know?

Oh, how the times have changed!

I’ve taken a more relaxed approach to makeup over the past few years, and ESPECIALLY since the pandemic started. I’ve gone days — in a couple cases, weeks! — without wearing any makeup at all.

Lately, though, I have been trying to motivate myself to wear a little more and go a little further with my makeup, because I really do feel better when I try a little, even if it’s just mascara and brow gel.

When I do, I get the same feeling I get when I make my bed in the morning. Like, when I don’t do my bed and it’s a disheveled mess, I feel a little…off balanced? Technically, I remain functional, but every time I walk by that unmade bed I grumble… ?

Mind you, I realize that I don’t “need” (airquotes) makeup to be functional, but wearing a little does seem to take the edge off, which is just to say that I did this look with four products in the span of time it takes to listen to Islands in the Stream, which was playing in the background, LOL! ?️

I used a red liquid lipstick called Stila Beso, a combo brow pen/pencil called Urban Decay Brow Blade, a mascara called Urban Decay Cannonball, and MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte sheer stick foundation around my mouth and my nose.

I would’ve totally skipped foundation, but I’ve been hyper-aware of my upper lip area lately. I have some pigmentation there that makes me look like I have what I affectionately refer to as a “mustache shadow,” and it’s there even after I wax. It’s so weird! Does anyone else have this? It’s kind of annoying, but hey, with a mask on, nobody knows what’s going on except me…and my mustache, HAHAHA!

This weekend’s Saturday surfing…

• Keep your paws crossed for Mittens the cat, a Turkish Angora who’s been nominated as New Zealander of the Year. He’s going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. Good luck, Mittens! I hope you win.
• Speaking of cats, do you know any cat ladies who would like a perfume called Kitten Fur? Or perhaps one of these cat carriers, which are supposed to be the best of the best for scared kitties?
• “There’s this really false idea that if you care about makeup ? or if your interests are in beauty and fashion, that that’s somehow frivolous. But I actually think these are some of the most substantive decisions that we make, and we make them every morning,” says AOC.
• The pandemic has supposedly ushered out the Instagram baddie trend and ushered in a more natural beauty aesthetic.
• Beauty brands are evolving! Many are trying to shed makeup’s gendered history as more men embrace wearing cosmetics.
• This Black beauty entrepreneur started her business in her dorm room as a junior at UCLA, and now her products are carried at Urban Outfitters.
• In order to survive the restrictions put on their craft because of the pandemic, many makeup artists are pivoting to position their businesses in creative ways.

Even if you can’t/don’t feel like wearing a full face this weekend, why not try a little bit of makeup just for fun? It could make the good day you’re having even better. You just never know!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This is the crunchy corn salad, also known as the “Summer Party in Your Mouth!” I mentioned a few days ago.

It’s just a few simple ingredients. As you might expect, there’s corn…and there’s also tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

I’ve been making it at least once a week for a month, and every time the fam-bam gobbles it all up. It’s good! Of course you can tweak it to your liking. The way I describe it here, it comes together in about 15 minutes.

So far, I’ve served it with hot dogs, with parmesan chicken, with basil parmesan salmon, with caprese salad, and lemon pasta, and…well, it rocks with just about any protein and side. I also HIGHLY recommend it on its own with a side of crusty, fresh bread. YUM!

Fresh corn is preferred, but I’m not above using frozen or canned corn if that’s all I have in the house.

If you’re using fresh corn, you’ll have to remove the kernels from the cobs first… So that’s something to consider. It probably takes the most time.

I do it by taking two bowls — one big, one small — and start by inverting the smaller bowl inside the bigger one so that the edge of the smaller bowl sits flat inside the bigger bowl. If possible, you don’t want it to wiggle at all.

Now, take your shucked corn cob, and set the bottom of the cob on top of the smaller bowl. Next, hold the pointy tip of the cob with one hand, and, with your other hand, take a knife and slowly and carefully run it down the sides to remove the kernels.

Um…be very careful as you do this, OK? I know, I know, you’re always careful, but I feel like whenever knives are involved, it’s worth repeating.

Go slowly until you get the hang of it. Be careful because YOU NEED YOUR FINGERS!

Anywho, that’s the hardest part. The salad comes together quickly after that, so have the rest of your ingredients items prepped and ready to go!
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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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Brush or Beauty Blender?

Hmm… Beauty Blenders are quite handy…but I’ll take the brush because I could do more with it.

2. Apples or oranges?

I like them both a lot, but I’ll go with apples BECAUSE APPLE PASTRY. And apple turnovers. And apple fritters! Plus, there are so many varieties of apples. (I’m a honeycrisp girl, myself.) This week at our house we’re enjoying the Granny Smith.

3. An old-school makeup product you’ve used for-ev-er?

MAC Powersurge eyeliner. Been using it for well over a decade!

4. A fancy beauty product you love?

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is magic (albeit expensive magic, hahaha).

5. River, lake or ocean?

Frankly, any of the above. I wouldn’t mind a tranquil, warm lake right now, but I’m a beach baby at heart.

6. Do you wear makeup to the pool or beach?

There was a time when I would’ve answered this with an enthusiastic “YASSS,” but it’s a no now. My current idea of lookin’ fly when I’m in a body of water is wearing sunscreen.

7. Something on your to-do list today?

I promised to take Connor to the pool because we’ve been having Hawaii-Florida heat and humidity for the past week or so, but we’ve been having crazy intense lightning storms since Friday afternoon, which I can only remember happening once or twice since forever. I’m serious, the flashes will happen every couple seconds in bunches. And that’s supposed to last until noon-ish, supposedly, so pool time will be replaced by something else… Maybe we’ll find some puddles to splash in.

8. Do you trim your nose hairs?

Oh, totally. But it’s been a relatively recent development. I think I started two or three years ago? The way I found out that I had to do it was kinda funny though… I was brushing my teeth in front of the mirror and oh-so-excitedly observed that when I smiled, some nose hairs in my left nostril would poke out!

I use small safety scissors with rounded tips to trim those bits whenever they get too long.

9. You’ve got this!

I know it’s not a question, but I just wanted to remind you that you’ve got someone in your corner cheering you on. ? You’ve totally got this, lady!

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. Brush or Beauty Blender?
2. Apples or oranges?
3. An old-school makeup product you’ve used for-ev-er?
4. A fancy beauty product you love?
5. River, lake or ocean?
6. Do you wear makeup to the pool or beach?
7. Something on your to-do list today?
8. Do you trim your nose hairs?
9. You’ve got this!

P.P.S. Have a most spectacular day, friend. Things are tough, I know, but this won’t be forever, so hang in there. We’ve got this! ?