Just For Fun

1. Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes

I’ve been crabby lately.

I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I’m frustrated, and I’ve cried on more than one occasion.

I also haven’t really been totally jazzed about wearing tons o’ makeup, particularly over the past few days, but I have felt the urge one or two times, and this has been the only eyeshadow I can handle.

The Chubby Sticks are semi-sheer creams you can blend with your fingers (or a brush), and they’re precious gems when it comes to 10-minute makeup. I have them in a number of shades, but I definitely wear Portly Plum and Ample Amber the most.

2. Modern Love, on Amazon Prime Video

The biggest downside to this series is that there’s only one season! I think it’s so ridiculously well-written, authentic and poignant. I can’t even explain… It’s one of the best-written shows I’ve ever seen. The stories are based on the Modern Love column from The New York Times. Each self-contained episode thoughtfully explores many kinds and facets of love, from what it means to love, and to be loved.

Each episode is touching, but totally not in a corny and predictable rom-com sense, and the entire season is a work of art! If you’re a wimp like me and can’t currently handle shows with violent story lines, please give it a watch. Highly recommended.

3. Banza Pasta

Of all the gluten-free pastas I’ve tried (can’t believe I just typed that), the vast majority of which taste like stinky feet, Banza is among the best. It’s made from chickpeas (very high in protein!), but I can’t really taste any background chickpea “flavor.” The texture’s also very close to traditional glutinous pasta. I’ve served it to people without them knowing it was gluten-free, and no one has even noticed before.

I like the spirals, shells and linguine the best because they don’t fall apart, even a little. I’m not a big fan of the spaghetti, however, because it breaks apart too easily after it’s cooked.

Most of the pasta shapes recommend an 8-10 minute cook time, but I usually do 7 minutes, because anything more than that and it’s way too squishy. (I like my pasta al dente.)

4. The reporter who went live on air with no pants

For real, though, he only did what the rest of us are doing. #teamnopants all day, every day.

5. This trick to measuring out ingredients on the scale

I will do anything to avoid washing YET ANOTHER DISH, so this little trick has me shook. Say you want to measure out a tablespoon of peanut butter (16g) for a snack. All you do is pop your jar of peanut butter on the scale, hit “tare” to zero it out, and then remove however much peanut butter you want to use directly from the jar. The scale will show you how much you used. (See the negative sign in front of number 16?)

Mind blown!

This saves me from putting a clean plate or bowl on the scale just to measure out ingredients.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Someday, folks will tell tales of a time when going to Target was, like…fun. They’ll gather around campfires, and I’ll tell the story of how the newborn cowolf and I would go to Target every day to stretch our legs, get out in the world and see people. There were so many “hellos!” from smiling strangers ? on those trips. So many kisses blown to the baby. ?

Yeah…none of that happened on my last visit.

I left the store shaking. I saw so much rudeness and uncool behavior inside, like people pulling off their masks while shopping, others darting in front of people to grab products from shelves, and people barking at employees for trying to enforce the 6-foot radius. Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever go back to life as we knew it, and how different will the next new normal be? Will we need annual vaccines? Will children on playgrounds two years from now still be wearing masks?

I find myself wondering why, back in the day (two months ago), I never realized how sweet and carefree it was to just wander around a store…

A few good things did result from my last Target “adventure,” like, I was finally able to pick up some staples we’ve been out of (hello, Banza gluten-free pasta! Have we talked about this delicious stuff yet?), and I was also able to browse beauty products in person for the first time in a looooong time.

First thing I grabbed was a bottle of Aveeno Stress Relief Lotion to go with my Stress Relief Body Wash…

Although, at this point in the quarantine, you’ll probably need to dip me in a vat of this stuff and leave me there for a few weeks to even marginally decrease my stress level, ha ha ha!

Also, on a whim I grabbed Pantene Miracle Moisture Boost with Rose Water Shampoo and Conditioner, partly because I liked the rosy scent, and partly because I’ve been wanting a dedicated shampoo-and-conditioner set for frizzy hair. More and more of my grays are coming through every day, and they look like rebellious ramen noodles! Anywho, there’s a boxed set that comes with both the shampoo and conditioner for $12.99, which saves a buck over buying them separately.

I’ve used them twice and so and totally love ’em. My hair looks smoother, and it doesn’t feel weighed down. And I like these enough to want to try some other things from the line, like the silicone-free shampoo and conditioner.

Let’s see, what else? Oh, yeah, the last industrial-sized bottle of nail polish remover on the shelf made its way into my cart, as did this package of rainbow glitter clips by Scunci…

I got it as a surprise for Coycoy. We’ve been experimenting with different hairstyles, and she loves wearing lots of clips neatly in a row.

That’s all the Target haulin’ I’ve done lately, and it may be all the Target haulin’ I do for the next month. We’ll see… Marin County just extended our shelter-in-place order until June 1st.

Hope you’re hanging in there, my friend. Sending virtual hugs. ?

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. ?

Welcome to the Quarantine Edition of the Monday Poll!

1. Are you an essential worker?

In the larger scheme of the pandemic, no. But here at home I’m essential, since someone needs to remember to feed all the coworkers! I’m also the main person preventing the youngest human child from going totally and completely feral.

2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?

I’ve had a couple of hard apple ciders with dinner, but I may or may not be *this close* to day-drinking on the daily now.

3. If you have pets/children/other dependents, are they driving you bonkers?

Not quite yet (but close!). Rosie has taken to shredding the painted kitchen doorjamb with her claws, but that’s about it. Connor has been pretty easygoing as long as we stick to our daily schedule. If we deviate from it, though, all bets are off!

4. Have you picked up any new hobbies?

Does trying to contact a real live human being at the unemployment office count?

5. Any special occasions you’ve missed (or will miss) during the quarantine?

A couple trips and events have been postponed. My dad also turned 70 this past weekend, so we packed up the 4Runner with our camping chairs, camp table, snacks and drinks, and a portable 5-gallon toilet bucket, and celebrated by driving out to their house in the East Bay for a social distancing backyard birthday party. There were no hugs exchanged, unfortunately, but we got to chat, sing Happy Birthday, and explore their beautiful backyard (they have so many fruit trees!).

6. What’s your quarantine meal?

All the baked things… It’s funny, I bake more now than I did when I was working at the bakery.

Sunday funday

We’ve been going a little stir crazy lately, so we took to the great outdoors yesterday to get some of our wiggles out at one of our favorite hiking spots in Novato, Mt. Burdell. It borders miles and miles of open space, and it’s pretty remote as far as local hiking goes.

We came across a handful of other people, and when we did, everyone was good about staying at least six feet apart, unlike at Target the other day, which was basically a sh*t-show. When I left the store, I was shaking from the stress and shock at the rudeness I saw in the store. Another pandemic adventure in the books!

Needless to say, I really needed to clear my head and get out of the house for a while, so we hiked, sat in some trees and watched some local wildlife, which included watching a group of cows shading themselves near a creek, passing a couple of horses on the trail, watching a jackrabbit dashing down the hillside and a pair of deer bounding across a field of tall grass. Also a turkey vulture took flight almost directly over our heads, and IT WAS HUGE.

And the colors! The wildflowers are blooming right now, and the grass is still green from the winter and spring rains, so the hills are dotted with bright orange, yellow and purple. It looks like a scene from the opening credits of The Sound of Music.

If it weren’t for my allergies (achoo!) and ticks and snakes, I’d spin around the hillside every morning.

Have a nice Monday, friend. I hope something good happens to you soon.

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. Are you an essential worker?
2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?
3. If you have pets/children/other dependents, are they driving you bonkers?
4. Have you picked up any new hobbies?
5. Any special occasions you’ve missed (or will miss) during the quarantine?
6. What’s your quarantine meal?

Hiya and greetings on this quarantine Caturday. What’s going on?! ?

I just had a major MacGyver moment involving these semi-empty body lotion bottles…

Soooooo, usually I’m not super proud that I hold on to beauty products longer than I should. It’s because I think I might need them someday, but really, most of what I keep just ends up gathering dust. I do weird things like hold on to one too many nearly empty bottles of body lotion. Plus, there’s the fact that all of these things take up physical space and add mental clutter to my mind…but that’s a Konmari conversation for another day.

ANYWAYS! It’s very rare when beauty hoarding actually works in my favor, but it did this morning.

I’d just stepped out of the shower and was getting ready to put on lotion when I realized that I couldn’t get to the very last drops of lotion at the bottom of an Aveeno bottle. I had already stored it upside down, so I got most of it out that way (like 95%), so I guess I could’ve left it at that and set the bottle free, but I could tell there was still enough lotion there at the bottom for at least one leg and an arm.

It plagued me.

First, I thought about using a disposable chopstick as a primitive tool, but then I realized — AHA! — there was something better nearby. I have an almost empty Neutrogena lotion bottle, which is taller than the Aveeno bottle and therefore has a longer tube attached to the pump.

I opened it up and used the longer tube to scrape out every last bit of magic from the bottom of the Aveeno bottle, AND DANG IF IT WASN’T THE MOST SATISFYING THING EVER.

• Mark my words — someday in the not-too-distant future a team of brilliant minds will figure out how to project augmented face filters (like the kind that are popular on Instagram) on to our faces, bodies and, heck, maybe even on to our cats as we’re all walking around doing everyday things. It could be like Jem and the Holograms, but, ya know, in real life.
• Kevyn Aucoin’s iconic beauty bible, Making Faces, has been getting a lot of love from makeup artists on social media lately.
• For $18, you can own a pen dedicated solely to drawing faux freckles on yo’ face.
• I just assumed everyone knew this (back in my high school, it was the step you took after experimenting with Sun-In), but apparently there are people out there who had no idea that you could dye your hair with Kool-Aid. Here’s how to do it step-by-step, in case you’re curious.
• Speaking of step-by-steps…here’s how to shave your lady bits.
• Buzz cuts are the new shelter-in-place hairstyle.

Somebody, do this with me.

Recently added to the Isolation Playlist

This one, too!

Just because…

What Yosemite looks like without people

What’s on your agenda today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Somebody play with me! ? There’s a list of the questions down at the bottom of this post. Just copy and paste them into a comment with your answers.

Inquiring minds want to know: Which person are you?

1. The person whose messy bun is legitimately messy because she can barely be bothered to brush her hair, OR, the person who takes five tries to achieve a perfectly messy bun?

Me: Legit messy, homie. I did NOT purposefully design the stray hairs on my head to shoot out at crazy-@ss angles… I call the look “struck by lightning” chic.

2. The person who paints her toenails and then smudges the paint on her big toe after taking one step (!), OR, the person who paints her fingernails right before bed and ends up with dents and creases all over her manicure?

Me: Uh…both people? I’ve done the big toe smudge sooooo many more times, though, so I’ll go with that.

3. The person who accidentally burns off a chunk of hair with a flat iron or hair curler, OR, the person who accidentally rips off a chunk of upper lip skin while waxing?

Me: I don’t mess with heat stylers that reach temperatures capable of baking cookies, so no to that; however, I am definitely the person who rips off a chunk of skin while waxing! Been there, done that.

4. The person with a massively chipped gel mani, OR, the person with a massive collection of split ends?

Me: I’ll take split ends for $1,000, Alex.

5. The person who cuts off lopsided bangs in the middle of the night, OR, the person who waxes off half an eyebrow in the middle of the night?

Me: Ha ha ha, BOTH! ?

6. The person who changes out of the previous night’s pajamas first thing in the morning before donning another pair of fresh “daytime pajamas” for the day ahead, OR, the person who has completely given up on wearing pants altogether?

Me: I’m currently in the “one pair of pajamas into the next” phase, but I see a complete lack of pants in my near future… I give it another week.

COPY AND PASTE
1. Legit messy bun, or five tries to achieve it?
2. Big toe nail smudge, or dents on manicure?
3. Burn off a chunk of hair, or rip off a chunk of upper lip?
4. Massively chipped gel mani, or massive split ends?
5. Lopsided bangs, or half an eyebrow?
6. Never ending pajamas, or #teamnopants?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day! ??

If you feel just “meh” about oatmeal raisin cookies, I feel you. Up until I had this particular cookie I’m about to expound upon in this post, I wasn’t super enthused about them either. I felt that if I was going to eat something indulgent and sweet, the last thing I wanted was oatmeal, because, well…it seems so healthy.

BUT THEN I MADE THIS COOKIE. ?????❤️?

Yes, it has oatmeal, and yes, it has raisins, but it also has *chocolate chips*, which, apparently, are the missing link in the universal cookie puzzle.

Why?

Because chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet) transform the otherwise humble, healthy-sounding oatmeal raisin cookie into a decadent dessert.

You will not be able to stop after just one.

OATMEAL RAISIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

DESCRIPTION

You’ll lose your damn mind over these, and/or pass out from sheer ecstasy, while eating this oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookie. Trust me — that’s a good thing.

• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Bake time: 8-10 minutes
• Total-ish time: Including time to chill in the the fridge and then cool, about 2 hours (but if you’re letting them chill overnight, then add a day!)
• Yield: 28 ridiculously delicious cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup (115g) butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/3 cup (71g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (85g) brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup (142g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (142g) raisins
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)
• 1/3 cup (85g) rolled oats

DIRECTIONS

1. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, or with a handheld mixer, prepare your wet ingredients by creaming the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar together in a bowl for 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
2. Add in the egg, vanilla and honey, and mix on high for 7-8 minutes. The mixture will appear pale and fluffy.
3. In a large bowl, prepare your dry ingredients by whisking the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. With a scoop or a spoon, draw three lines into the flour mixture to separate your dry ingredients into thirds. Add each third, one at a time, into the wet ingredients on low speed until the flour is just barely incorporated. It should take no longer than 15-30 seconds for each portion of flour; you definitely *don’t* want to over mix.
4. Add oats, raisins and chocolate chips, and mix on low.
5. Scoop the dough into a bowl or an airtight container, and chill it in the fridge for at least an hour (ideally, you’ll want it in there overnight though!).
6. Remove chilled dough from the fridge. Place parchment paper on top of a scale, and weight out 30g (or about 2 tablespoons) of dough for each cookie. After you’re done weighing out the portions, roll them into the balls. You should have about 28 cookies. At this point, you can stick ’em back in the fridge (where they’ll keep for 5 days) or freezer (where they’ll keep for 3 months).
7. When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and do a “test cookie” by placing one on the sheet, and cooking it for 8 minutes (flip the cookie sheet 180 degrees after 4 minutes for an even bake), until lightly golden brown. If you’re happy with the cookie after 8 minutes, then feel free to bake off the rest of your dough. If at the 8-minute mark your test cookie seems underdone to you, then pop it back in for 2 more minutes, for a total bake time of 10 minutes. Side note: I usually do 8 minutes.
8. Once your cookies are baked, remove them from the oven, and leave them on the baking sheets for another 10-15 minutes, during which time they’ll continue cooking a bit longer before cooling down.
9. Dig in! Oh, and if by chance you have any leftovers, you can keep them at room temperature in an airtight container for 3 days.

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. Four places you’ve visited?

Hawaii, Milan, Toronto and Vancouver

2. Four things you love to eat?

Soup and salad totally counts as one thing, doesn’t it? “Salad” just by itself sounds kinda lame, but a good one with grilled shrimp or chicken and lots of veggies hits the spot for me! Another three: crab, spaghetti with meatballs, and chocolate chip cookies.

3. Four names you go by?

Mama, sweetie, Katie, Karonie

4. Four places you can see yourself living?

San Luis Obispo (Cambria, perhaps), San Diego/La Jolla, Kauai, Vancouver

5. Four random things you love to watch on TV?

Black Mirror, The Great British Baking Show, Kim’s Convenience and, as much as I hate to admit it, the old episodes of The Hills.

6. Four of your favorite makeup items at the moment?

Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara (LOVE), MAC Coffee eyeliner, MAC Teddy eyeliner and MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow

7. Four pieces of clothing you wear all the time?

Black high-waisted Zella leggings, a seamless Champion sports bra that I got on clearance last fall for like FIVE BUCKS (the best!), the Cat Ladies tee and a burgundy tank top I got last Christmas from Athleta.

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. Four places you’ve visited?
2. Four things you love to eat?
3. Four names you go by?
4. Four places you can see yourself living?
5. Four places you love to watch on TV?
6. Four of your favorite makeup items at the moment?
7. Four pieces of clothing you wear all the time?