Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 621

April 6th, 2020 by Karen 36 Comments

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. Lipstick or lipgloss?

Lipstick. ? Because I can also use it as cream blush in a pinch.

2. Mascara or brow pencil?

Mascara please.

ALL THE MASCARA.

3. Blush or bronzer?

Blush! It makes a bigger difference for me.

4. Foundation or BB cream?

Foundation. Because I can sheer it out with MAC Strobe Cream if I want to.

5. Matte or dewy?

Dewy.

6. A bright color palette or a neutral palette?

Neturals-4-life, homie!

7. Glam or natural?

Natural glam. LOL. ?

Have a great day today, and this time I won’t add the ubiquitous “all things considered.” I just really, really hope you have a great day. ? Talk 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. Lipstick or lipgloss?
2. Mascara or brow pencil?
3. Blush or bronzer?
4. Foundation or BB cream?
5. Matte or dewy?
6. A bright color palette or a neutral palette?
7. Glam or natural?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 601

April 5th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

You hear a lot about that “it” factor when people describe Hollywood celebrities and entertainers. Like, “Brad Pitt has ‘it,'” a casting agent might say. The superstars all have “it,” whatever it is, and you either have “it” or you don’t.

Tabs had it. In spades. For instance, he never just walked into a room. He sauntered. And he never simply ran places. He pranced, sprang or dashed.

He exuded 24/7 confidence. He had swagger, and it bloomed from his majestic fur like sparkly supermodel magic.

Something about this time of year brought out the best in Tabs, and his “it” factor was at peak power in spring.

I sure miss my guy… I hope he’s doing well up there.

I wonder if he has a nice field of green grass to frolic in. He sure loved to frolic.

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Saturday Surfing, April 4, 2020

April 4th, 2020 by Karen 10 Comments

When was the last time you played hopscotch? — because for the life of me I don’t remember it being this cardiovascularly taxing. Yesterday I introduced Connor Claire to this classic playground game, and after I demonstrated a few rounds, I had to stop to take a breather and contemplate my life choices. LOL!

Was it always this hard? ?

Now that I think about it, I should figure out a way to turn hopscotch into the latest and greatest fitness craze. Hmm…

On to today’s reading. Short and sweet Saturday Surfing today because, apparently, I need to work on my cardio, so I’m off to run a couple miles on the treadmill!

“During a global crisis, it might even feel a bit trivial to pull out your makeup bag and go to town on bronzer. But experts say it can actually make a huge difference in navigating these unpredictable and overwhelming circumstances.” <------ THIS. People are still wearing makeup while social distancing, and I’m all for it.
Like many people around the world right now, freelance makeup artists and hairstylists are feeling the long-term effects of COVID-19 on their finances and business.
El Hub asked me the other day if I could cut his hair, and I was like, “WHA?” I sashayed out the room like I didn’t hear him because I’ve never cut anybody’s hair except my own, which only happened under extreme duress once in the middle of the night with a blunt pair of scissors (needless to say, the situation and outcome weren’t ideal).
Anywho! If he asks again, I might forward him these tips from barbers on how to cut your own hair at home, and these pics of dudes doing it themselves.
Speaking of hair, here’s how to give yours a little extra TLC, in case it needs it right now.
And here’s how to stylishly keep your mane out of your face, according to restaurant workers (all of which I hope will have jobs when this crisis is over).
If I had a gel manicure that needed to be removed right now, I’d be tearing my hair out FOR REALS. If you’re in a bind and need to remove a gel-mani, here’s some expert advice on how to do it at home without totally ruining your nails.
Can cats have nightmares? ? Short answer is yes they can.
According to an animal behavior expert, this is why cats shove their butts in your face. ?
The person behind what is regarded as one of the world’s best-smelling lotions shares her favorite scents.

What are you up to today? Did you know it was Saturday when you got up this morning? All of my days are blurring together…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Mystery of the MAC 217 Brush…

April 3rd, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

You know you’re a MAC girl for life when, while casually strolling around the neighborhood (six feet away from any neighbors, of course), you spy with your little eye a MAC eyeshadow brush from afar.

See that!?

Yeah, we were just taking a walk and, kid you not, I saw what looked like a makeup brush in the middle of the common area in our circle.

My gut told me it was a MAC brush (note the black handle and the shape of the ferrule). Turns out my gut was right.

I screamed, “Hey! It’s a MAC 217!” (As if El Hub or Connor would know what I was talking about).

El Hub yelled back, “DON’T TOUCH IT!”

Of course, I wondered if it was mine, although I have no idea how this would have been possible. I’ve never done my makeup out there before.

It also crossed my mind whether I could have sleep walked in the middle of the night. Maybe to do a brown smoky eye? First of all, it’s an old-school 217 (the one with natural bristles, which is THE BEST one!), and not the newer 217S (synthetic) version. I’ve got a few of the old 217s in my collection (I’m that dedicated).

Also, this one had bristles of a particular shade of brown, like it had been swished and swirled inside brown pans like the MAC staples I usually wear (Saddle and Soft Brown), so IT TOTALLY LOOKED LIKE ONE OF MY BRUSHES.

Pretty sure it wasn’t one of mine, though… I wonder whose it was and how it got there. Who did it belong to? Whomever it was, he or she must be missing it something terrible.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Getting to Know Rosie

April 2nd, 2020 by Karen 48 Comments

What’s it like to be a cat lady who loses a beloved feline friend, then falls in love with another cat again? It’s weird. And wonderful. I lost my kitty BFF last year and wasn’t sure I’d ever find another cat to love and share my life with, but I eventually did, and it happened when I least expected it.

I wondered if I’d ever have room in my heart ❤️ for another feline friend after Tabs passed away last year (it’ll be a year ago this Sunday), and it turns out there was. Getting to know our new Rosie girl has been both weird and wonderful.

When she came to live with us last fall, the logical part of my brain understood that she was a completely different cat than Tabs was and would logically have a different personality. I knew that was the case, but I didn’t really know it for a few months.

A cat lady and her bestie. Side note: Rosie loves to be hugged like a little fur baby!

I get to know her a little more each day, and each day I fall a little more in love with her.

For starters, she’s the most talkative cat I’ve ever known. Hands down. From the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep at night, if Rosie’s nearby, she’s talking about something.

It’s a constant stream of chatty kitty meows. Clearly, she has a lot of strong ideas, and she likes to share them with others.

She also has a preternatural knack for getting underfoot.

It’s her superpower.

She knows exactly where to position her nine-pound body precisely where your next footstep is going to land. IT’S THE WEIRDEST THING, and it has made going up and down the stairs a somewhat perilous activity. I feel like I’m in a real life Super Mario Brothers game (don’t fall in the lava!). Tabs never did that. Even though he was larger than life at nearly 20 pounds, he always found a way to prance elegantly from one place to the next, but Rosie on the other hand is always exactly in a spot that forces you to teeter on the edge of near death! I don’t think she’s trying to purposefully take me out…but the jury is still out. LOL.

cocobaby rosie napping on couch — Just the girls taking a nap (please note the sparkly heart ring on her finger)

She’s much less of a thug than Tabs, that’s for sure. She has a sweet, tender girl energy and doesn’t do any of the @sshole cat things Tabs used to do (like taking a nap in a high traffic doorway to show you who’s boss). Instead, she’ll daintily press a “test paw” into your lap when she wants lurvies or wait for an invitational “here-kitty-kitty” before she gets up in your space.

One of her nicknames is “baby” because she lets us hold her and hug her in the crook of our arms like a little infant. And before we go to bed every night she lets El Hub carry her up the stairs in his arms… Tabs only let me do that once or twice the entire time we lived with each other.

Speaking of the bed, she’s there when I fall asleep and there first thing in the morning, but only if she hasn’t settled down on Connor’s bed first. That, too, is different than Tabs. He would usually do a drive-by for 10 minutes right before we went to sleep, and then he’d leave to pursue whatever other activities cats do in a dark house in the middle of the night.

pretty girl rosie — Already ignoring me, le sigh…

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Easy, Elegant Ways to Step Up Your Makeup for Your Next Zoom Virtual Meeting

April 1st, 2020 by Karen 32 Comments

You’re just a few swipes away from stepping up your Zoom meeting makeup game.

Now that we’re cocooned in our homes for the next few weeks (months?), chances are you’ve already participated, or will be soon, in plenty of virtual meetings.

The good news? You can easily skip wearing pants that day and nobody will be the wiser. ?

(Side note: I may or may not be wearing pants right now.)

The bad news? It’s sooooo not the same for makeup.

As anyone who’s ever stood in a self-checkout line at Target and looked at themselves on those terrible tiny security monitors knows, video is completely and unabashedly unforgiving. The Zoom video meeting is here, and it’s NOT playing, folks!

But that doesn’t mean you have to think, HOLY EFFING CRAP! IS THAT MY FACE FOR REALS!? every time you see yourself on camera.

There are simple things you can do with your makeup to perk up for your next meeting.

Here are my favorite ways to cheat the camera and look fresh and profesh on virtual visits!

1. Play with light by adding dimension to your cheekbones

One of the easiest ways to enhance your skin on screen is by adding dimension to it, and the easiest and quickest way to do that is with highlighter on the high points of your face. To catch the best light, dust a shimmery highlighter on your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose in a tone that suits your skin.

2. Boost your blush

You can go heavier on the blush when you’re meeting virtually with colleagues, as the camera tends to wash out color, so turn it up a touch more than usual by applying an extra layer or two of your favorite peachy pink satin or matte blush to the apples of your cheeks.

3. Bold brows are your friend

There are times to skip filling in your brows… This isn’t one of them. When you’re on camera, brows, like blush, can easily fade into the background, so take the time to fill them in.

Pro tip: Use upward strokes with your brow pen or pencil to mimic the appearance of real brow hairs.

4. Make a statement

Last, but not least, incorporate one big statement element into your look, like by using a colorful lipstick or liner. I’m a fan of purple pencil myself.

The final look

Now you’re ready to handle anything that comes your way on your next virtual meeting. ??

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 620

March 30th, 2020 by Karen 32 Comments

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 comfortable are you eating by yourself in a restaurant?

I can’t remember the last time I did it, but I’m totally, TOTALLY comfortable. Sometimes I prefer eating by myself and being able to sit quietly with my thoughts, which I don’t get to do very often. Sometimes I just want to eat a meal in peace. Oh, DARE TO DREAM!

2. Have you ever ridden in a police car?

Nope, and I have no plans to do so in the future, thank you very much.

3. How late did you stay up last night?

“Late,” in quotes, because late for me is anything after 9:15, and I was up till 10:30 watching All American and trying to unwind.

Such is life right now!

4. What does your makeup bag look like?

Well, I have quite a few makeup bags (big surprise!), but my favorite one right now is a clear bag I got from Wander Beauty. It’s plastic and rectangular and has burgundy trim on the sides, and it opens from the top, so it’s great for travel…but the only place it travels these days is from my desk to a drawer. Should I ever go someplace else in the future, I’ll be taking this bag with me because I can see everything in it, and I like that it opens from the top, so I don’t have to go digging around to find what I need.

5. How many blankets are on your bed?

Hmm… OK. This is an ambiguous question, I realize. Does one count a sheet as a blanket? Or a comforter? So, I’m just gonna count everything that rests on top of my body as a blanket, which means a sheet, a blanket and a quilt. So three!

Have a good day today, all things considered. Talk 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. How comfortable are you eating by yourself in a restaurant?
2. Have you ever ridden in a police car?
3. How late did you stay up last night?
4. What does your makeup bag look like?
5. How many blankets are on your bed?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 600

March 29th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

Jeez, it’s almost April already… I can’t believe it. Tabs would have been so sad to miss March Madness this year. ? He was a huge basketball fan and a baller.

In fact, he was Draymond Green’s son’s godcat and a basketball consultant, among other things. Basically, he was one of those multi-hyphenate sports stars. He played football, of course, but he also played basketball in cat college, and he was good, too!

He didn’t make it into the pro league, but fortunately for Tabs, he had a good cattitude about it. He took his knowledge and started a successful basketball consulting agency.

He was the Jerry Maguire of cat agents. ?

His legacy still lives on, and not just through the kitten basketball camps that his foundation funds, but also through Sundays With Tabs (this is the 600th installment!), which continues to inspire kittens and cats around the globe. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen