Just For Fun

OK, get up right now.

That’s it. Get out of your chair. Stand up and wiggle that booty a little, because once you press play on any of these Jess Glynne songs — take your pick, any one! — you’ll be swaying and moving and booty-shaking in less than five seconds.

I am of the school of thought that music has the power to set the tone of your day, and if you want to be energized, inspired and ready to have a fabulous day, pick any one of these songs.

I’m ready for this.

I stumbled upon Jess Glynne and immediately fell in love…

Admittedly, my reaction may have been influenced by an endorphin rush, as I was driving back from the gym a few nights ago and listening to the radio when I heard my first Jess song: Hold My Hand. I was feeling SO GOOD after cranking through a great workout on a rowing machine in a back-breaking amount of time, so I was loopy, and when I heard it, I started chair-dancing like a maniac.

If you saw someone waving her arms like she was in da club while driving down South Novato Boulevard the other night in a gray Mazda 3, FYI, Jess Glynne was happening in that car.

I don’t know a lot about her, but I do know that she’s got a fabulous curly mane (I kinda want to embrace my inner curly girl) and a penchant for wearing beautiful, bold winged liner (of which you know I’m a fan).

Let me point you in the direction of a few of my favorites songs so far…

First off, THIS SONG. If I could gift wrap my spirit, my deepest inner core, in a pop song, this would be the song. This is how I feel when I feel my best.

My spirit animal, in a pop song
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With the Fenty effect happening all over beauty right now — high end, mid range, budget — you can literally walk into any beauty department and find a plethora of foundation shades.

It’s incredible! We’re living in amazing times, people. Revolutionary even! Still, I can’t help but wonder how often people actually find shades that exactly match their skin tone.

Do you still mix and match multiple shades? Have you actually found anything lately that perfectly matches your skin tone? If so, does it make you wiggle and giggle ’cause you’re so blown away!? ?

(Sorry, I hang out with a toddler so I say things like that.)

Has the Fenty effect personally affected you? Have the broader ranges of foundation and concealer shades changed your world? Is it easier for you to walk into a Sephora or Ulta and find a perfect match? I would really like to know, because I still end up mixing, matching and tweaking.

Let me know in the comments! I’m really, REALLY curious.

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. What’s something in your closet that makes you feel good when you wear it?

I have this robe I got from Macy’s a while back. It’s by Charter Club, and every single time I put it on, I feel like I’m being enveloped in a cocoon of love… It’s so soft and so cozy, and once I’m in it, there’s always chance I may never take it off, ever again.

2. Coffee or tea?

To quote Lorelei Gilmore, “Coffee, coffee, coffee!” ☕☕☕

(Although tea does have its time and place.)

3. What’s scarier: clowns or spiders?

DUDE. I’m not afraid of spiders at all. I’m cool with spiders, and I think that’s because I read Charlotte’s Web at a young age, so they never really freaked me out… But clowns? that’s another story. I want to know who it was in my life that deemed it appropriate for a small child to watch Poltergeist, because whoever it was, they basically ruined clowns for me.


Oh, hell no

4. Planner or spontaneous?

Naturally spontaneous, but my life is less chaotic and more peaceful when I plan, so these days I try to plan the sh*t out of everything, LOL!

5. What’s something you’re wearing today, makeup-wise, that you absolutely love?

I’m really into the MAC Love Me Lipsticks right now! I’m wearing pinkish brown Bated Breath today.

Speaking of spooky things…

Gentle reminder from the person who’s trying to get better about planning ahead (me!): five weeks till Halloween!

I’m already excited about the mini-Snickers I’m going to eat. ?

If you haven’t yet, you might want to work out your costume situation meow. I might revisit the Pink Sweeties costume I did last year, but I’m also thinking about dressing up as a flapper. Or perhaps Rosie the Riveter… Really, I just want an excuse to do some fun makeup and hair.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon!

1. What’s something in your closet that makes you feel good when you wear it?
2. Coffee or tea?
3. What’s scarier: clowns or spiders?
4. Planner or spontaneous?
5. What’s something you’re wearing today, makeup-wise, that you absolutely love?

P.P.S. Sending you some extra positivity and good vibes today and all week long. ?

Reasons why Caturday is the best day of the week:

1. Sleeping in (hopefully). For me, this means staying in bed till 6 or (GASP) 6:30, LOL! I like to sneak in a workout before Coy-Coy wakes up, and the best time for me to work out is the early morning; otherwise, it just doesn’t get done. That extra hour or half an hour of catching Zs, though? Priceless.
2. You can catch up on your reading. (See the links below!) This weekend I’m reading that cookbook up above that I checked out from the library.

Yup, that’s Snoop Dogg… ? See, this is why I frickin’ love the library! You can find the most random things to read, and then you can take them home. FOR FREE.

It’s such a weird pivot for the Doggfather (“Is this guy really gonna teach me how to cook lobster?”), but I like weird, so I’m going to go with it!

And for some more reading…

• In this piece, Lady Gaga’s makeup artist, Sarah Tanno, talks about creating Gaga’s red carpet beauty looks, the influence of drag on her art, and what it was like launching Gaga’s new Haus Laboratories line.
• The makeup on HBO’s Euphoria is influencing beauty trends and red carpet makeup. Doniella Davy, the series’ makeup head, found most of her inspiration from a combination of Gen Z Instagram accounts, supermodel Twiggy, Nina Simone and ’70s glam rock.

  Note to self: I need to put some of the things she used on set into my shopping cart ASAP, like ColourPop eyeshadow palettes, Lemonhead glitter gels, Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow, Suva Beauty Hydra Liners, and rhinestones (seen ’em on Amazon).

• How war and women influenced makeup
• Mandarin orange is the new bright color du jour, and here are a few ways to wear it this fall.
• 12 essential skin care questions, answered by dermatologists.
• Frédéric Fekkai, the godfather of the modern hair salon, walks you through properly shampooing your hair.

A lovely way to start your morning

One of my favorite makeup artists! It’s refreshing to see makeup being used on *real,* non-filtered skin.

Super chill

What are you up to today? Whatever it is, I hope it involves some makeup exploration! I’m going to try (“try” being the key word here) an Euphoria-inspired look with this colorful palette.

I know… Not my usual scene, but I’m just gonna go for it and see where it takes me.

And hopefully Snoop offers an interesting perspective on cooking in his book. If nothing else, I’m gonna guess it won’t be boring!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. Talk to you soon. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen