Just For Fun

Hello and happy Saturday, my friend! ? Before we get goin’ and do this, I just want to say thank you for visiting me this morning. It’s still early, but I already have a list *this long* of things I’d like to do before the weekend ends. At the very top, paint my nails!

I NEED PAW PAINT. DESPERATELY. We have to have bare nails when we work at the bakery to eliminate the chance of nail polish getting into the food (makes sense, right?), and although I’m completely cool with naked nails, I miss having some color on my fingertips. I just feel more like “me” when my nails are painted, ya know?

I think it’s an Essie Angora Cardi day. ? It’s one of my go-tos.

While I go bring my nails back to life, here’s your weekly dose of surfing…

• #hashtag relatable. The founder of Kosas Cosmetics, Sheena Yaitanes says, “I’m not a bold glam girl, but I love makeup.”
• The residents of a remote island in Ireland ☘️ are searching for two people to manage a coffee shop. Who’s going with me?!
• IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS: Britney Spears loves shopping at Target (but really, who doesn’t love shopping at Tar-ghay?).
• Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass travels the globe with her camera to capture every skin tone in Pantone.
• Under the right circumstances, your cat would eat your corpse, says science.
• Gucci Westman’s new $85 Lip Suede compact looks like a blush palette, but it’s for lips. The four ribbons of “Les Rouges” inside (fuchsia, dark red, classic red and a neutral rose) are vegan and made without silicones, parabens or phthalates.
• The beauty resale market — where previously used items like lipstick, skin makeup and perfumes are resold on platforms like Glambot, Poshmark and Ebay — is growing.

I love, love, LOVE this workout, and I’m not normally a Pilates person, but this workout is simultaneously challenging (I’m dripping in sweat by the end of it) and yet easy on ye olde joints. It’s great for days when you want to exercise but don’t feel like doing tons of jumping.

Try this sometime. I promise you’ll feel a little better about everything afterwards.

I’m all ears, Alexa Chung.

Trying this ASAP…although I think it’s gonna take me more than 5 minutes! LOL.

I hope the rest of your weekend is just as wonderful as you are! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Thanks, gals, for recommending Dansko work clogs. I found a basic brown leather pair (nothing fancy) at DSW in their sale section on deeeeeeep discount — fifty bucks! They’re usually $109 at DSW and online, but for some reason this pair was the only pair I could find in the store at that price. Weird!

Anyway, I wasn’t sure about them at first because when I tried them on in the store, they looked a little high, the arch support felt almost uncomfortably stiff, and because the section that hugs the heel doesn’t come up as high as my tennis shoes do, I was afraid I’d fall out of them, but since they were over half off, I just went for it.

I’ve been wearing them for almost two weeks now, and my goodness, I love ’em! Every day my feet, back and my hips just feel better and better.

From the side, they look pretty high, but when you slip them on, they feel like flats. I was nervous about this at first, but I guess that substantial arch area is there for a reason, because my arches feel *extremely* secure and supported. I don’t feel like I’m being tipped forward like I do in heels.

The girls at the bakery recommended breaking them in for a few hours at a time, and then ramping up to a full day’s wear. They told me to bring my tennis shoes in and switch into them when my feet need a break, which I’ve been doing.

One last added bonus: The clogs are much easier to clean than mesh/fabric tennies. When flour or frosting ends up on my toes (which inevitably always happens), all I have to do is wipe it right off!

I can see why people who are on their feet all day long recommend these with such passion. They really do work!

My feet (and whole body, really) thank you again for suggesting them.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I saw this at work yesterday, and it cracked me up! Just in case you were looking for spare parts for your unicorn…

P.P.S.

OK, fam. Need your input on these *very pink*, very cat lady-esque frames by Kate Spade, which I tried on at Costco last weekend.

Normally, I’d be totally down for fun frames, especially fun pink ones, but I feel like going this bold would be a significant commitment, since there’s really nothing subtle about them AT ALL. If I get these, whenever I walk into a room, my glasses would walk in first. Know what I mean? (Does that make any sense at all?) Plus, what does one do when one’s outfits clash with their glasses? My last pair (also by Kate Spade) are neutral enough to go with most things, but these pink frames? Well…they aren’t neutral at all. LOL!

Let me know what you think. Too much? Or are they juuuuuust enough crazy cat lady?

By the way, in case you were unaware, trying on glasses at Costco is my definition of an exciting Friday night. #momlife

I also looked at air fryers (so exciting…), but I hesitated to pull the trigger because dang! — those things are big. I need to figure out how to squeeze one into my kitchen, which is already too crowded as it is. I’ve reached maximum gadget levels, and an air fryer would tip me into hoarder status.

I really want one, though, because everyone I know who has one raves about it.

One last Costco-related note: Get thee a loaf of cranberry walnut bread from the bakery ASAP.
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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. Right now I’m craving…

A Southwestern salad with avocado and grilled shrimp from Blue Barn, YUM.

2. I can’t leave the house without…

At least one black hair tie around my wrist, in my pocket or in my purse. This is a NEED.

3. My go-to coffee/tea order is…

For coffee, right at this particular time (subject to change), I like a 16-oz. latte with almond or oat milk, and no foam.

For tea, if it’s cold outside, then Earl Grey with lots of room for milk, and a touch of sugar. If it’s hot, then plain unsweetened iced tea.

4. I can’t get enough of …

Keanu Reeves eating Baskin Robbins ice cream in Alameda, of all places. MY FUTURE HUSBAND IS CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ME TO STALK.

5. The last time I was on a train was…

July 2018, when El Hub, Connor and I took the SMART train from Novato up to Santa Rosa to do some exploring.

Dance your feet off

Hello! Happy Monday to ya. Who needs an extra cup of coffee this morning? Because I certainly do. This weekend was spent doing dance things with the Coywolf, who had her winter recital this weekend with her dance buddies.

Sometimes I can’t believe that she was once this little peanut in a tiny tutu…

Anywho, you have a great rest of your Monday, ‘k?

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. Right now I’m craving…
2. I can’t leave the house without…
3. My go-to coffee/tea order is…
4. I can’t get enough of …
5. The last time I was on a train was…

Hi, and happy Caturday, sweet girl! I read somewhere recently that you should spend at least one day a month outside. In nature. And you know what? Today is that day for me. There’s a trail here in Novato that leads to a small waterfall, and despite TLC’s fervent admonitions, I’m going to chase it. ?

Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.

It’s time for Saturday Surfing… ?

• If you’d like to level-up your CCL status, may I suggest crafting your favorite feline’s very own GoT throne? ?
• Go ahead, adopt that third cat (otherwise known as “the gateway cat”), because science says that being a cat lady is good for your health!
• The best rendition of Van Gough’s Starry Night I’ve ever seen. (Side note: It may or may not involve multiple curvaceous orange tabbies.)
• Be on the lookout for the Opte, a handheld inkjet printer for your face, which prints tiny amounts of pigment on your face to cover every dark spot — freckles, scars and hyperpigmentation, and even the ones you can’t see (Blue LED lights help the camera locate tiny dark spots the human eye might miss). It launches this summer for a cool $600.
• Speaking of gadgets, L’Oréal has a smart device that creates custom formulas for lipstick, foundation and skin care.

Sara Blakely, founder and CEO of Spanx, on learning to redefine what failure means

You cannot look away.

Years ago Marc did my makeup, and he’s still one of my fave artists!

Pretty sure this is what went down when Tabs rolled up into kitty heaven.

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope yours is off to a great start. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ll be the first to admit that part of the reason I’m asking this today is because I wanted to take a picture of my empty jar of By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Care ($60), which I’ve had forever and only just finished. ?

I was hoping Santa would drop off another jar, but I guess he didn’t get the memo.

Last few empties…

1. By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Care
2. Joico Moisture Co+Wash (Side note: I just finished the last of the three bottles I’ve been hoarding since this got discontinued, and yes, I’m a sad panda. ?)
3. Chanel Dimensions de Chanel Mascara

How ’bout you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. T.G.I.EFFFFF.