Just For Fun

Deep Thoughts/Braid Talk: Do You Have a Hard Time Braiding Your Hair When You’re Looking in a Mirror?

March 14th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

Messy reverse french braid — All about that braid life!

Uh…I’ve been doing a lot of braids lately because I’m growing my bangs out, and they’re driving me bananas, and for the life of me I cannot braid my hair while looking at myself in the mirror.

Is that just a me thing? Is anyone else having this issue??

Like, sometimes I’ll be sitting there NOT looking in the mirror, and I’ll bust out all sorts of cray-cray braids that don’t turn out half bad, but the minute I try to do it looking in the mirror (like if I go into the bathroom and braid my hair in there), I get lopsided, uneven braids.

What’s up with that?

Shouldn’t it be easier if you can see yourself in the mirror? Am I just a weirdo? Does this happen to you too?

Deep thoughts today, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

SO GOOD! The Tom Ford 2017 Summer Soleil Cream and Powder Eye Colors in Young Adonis and Sun Worship

March 13th, 2017 by Karen 23 Comments

tom ford sun worship young adonis — Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Sun Worship (left) and Young Adonis (right), $62 each

Will life go on if you pass on these outrageously expensive stackable Tom Ford potted shadow duos (OMG! They’re $62!)?

Of course it will. You’ll survive… To paraphrase Celine Dion, life will go on. Your heart will continue to beat, your lungs will continue to function, but on a makeup level? Honestly, I don’t know. I can’t say for sure.

You’ll live, but chances are good that your eye makeup won’t be as sassy or sparkly as it would be if had one of Tom’s new Cream and Powder Eye Colors in your life.

Girl, I’m freaking out over these! ?

Tom did something similar back in 2015. They combine a cream shadow and a glitter into a stackable duo, to which I have to say, YES.

There are four of them in the 2017 Summer Soleil Collection, and here are pics of two of the four in Young Adonis and Sun Worship. I’ve seen the other two, which are called Naked Bronze and Golden Peach, in previous TF summer collections. I have an older version of them, and I love ’em, but I haven’t seen the new ones in person yet.

tom ford young adonis — Wearing Young Adonis on my lids

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 466

March 13th, 2017 by Karen 30 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine. ?

1. If you could get a phone call from anyone today, who would it be?

Future me. Like, me in about 10 years, and I would ask her if there’s anything she’d do differently in life, work, with raising Connor…

Geez, why am I getting teary right now? Karen, get a grip, LOL!

OK, if we’re only talking about non sci-fi reality, then I would like to talk to brother, because he always makes me laugh.

2. What’s something you have in your makeup collection that you absolutely LOVE and think EVERYONE needs to have in their life ASAP?

Let’s see… I’m looking at my Mia Moretti makeup bag right now, which is a mess, by the way. It was only supposed to be for my makeup necessities, but I just keep throwing stuff in there, and now I can’t even zip it shut, LOL!

Anyway, I think that everyone needs NARS Translucent Crystal setting powder. Granted, it’s not very sexy, but it’s BEYOND great for setting under-eye concealer, especially if you don’t want your concealer to look heavy or powdery or cake-y. I have three of them because I’m freaked out by the thought of them going away someday.

3. What was the last book you read?

Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos. She’s the lady who wrote and starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and the book is about her journey through the process of adopting her daughter. I thought it was very interesting.

Before I got pregnant with Connor, El Hub and I had been trying for a long time (years), but we just couldn’t get pregnant, so we were like, “You know what? We’re going to adopt,” and right when we started seriously looking into it and weighing our options, lo and behold, I got pregnant.

4. Eyeshadow is…

Unnecessarily complicated sometimes, especially on YouTube. It’s lovely, though, and it’s my makeup weakness.

5. What’s one big life lesson you’ve learned?

That learning new things can be difficult at the beginning, and you might suck at them, but you just have to get through that phase and over those horrible feelings of self-doubt. Then, as you start to figure things out, they get easier. The beginning is always the hardest part.

It took me a while to learn that one.

Good morning and happy Monday!

See that cute hot pink stroller in the top pic? Yeah, it isn’t Connor’s. It’s a pet stroller for cats! Dogs can go in it too, but you know… #crazycatlady. I saw it at HomeGoods last weekend.

I would’ve loved it for Tabs, but something tells me he would *not* be into it at all… But I’m still going to keep holding on to my hot pink kitty stroller dreams.

OK, I’m off to take a quick walk. It’s amazing how a walk can just totally make me feel so much better. Lately I’ve been taking walks around the circle throughout the day; I go out, hold the baby, we do a turn or two and then come back inside. It’s just so nice to get some fresh air, change my view, listen to birds and look out for the neighborhood kitty cats. It’s such a small thing, but it’s a nice thing, and I think it’s extra nice to have those nice things on a Monday.

Maybe try taking one or two today if you can. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 440

March 12th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

Mmm, Tabs did not wanna go back in the house after his walk today. No, sir, he was feelin’ the outdoors, because this is that sweet spot time between the rains we had and when the neighborhood landscapers mow the grass on the hill. Plus, it’s been sunny for a week, so the grass is growing, and it’s primo time for tabby skulking.

He totally gets into it, too, like he’s hunting a gazelle, but it’s really a lizard or a grasshopper or something else.

And he ate so. Much. Grass. I’m still expecting him to barf, which is usually what he does when he eats that much salad.

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Saturday Surfing: March 11, 2017

March 11th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

Oh, snap! MAC at Ulta!? Yup, pretty soon you’ll be able to stroll into an Ulta store and snag a stick of Costa Riche. MAC is going to be carried on the Ulta website and in 25 Ulta stores starting in June.
Dear Ulta: now please add a restaurant so I can grab a grilled cheese and a latte while I’m there. Thx.
In this piece about why women need their girlfriends even more as we get older, author Kari Kampakis gets some great advice from a group of older gals, and I’m taking it to heart. “Don’t ever lose touch with your girlfriends, sweetheart. The older you get, the more you’ll need them.”
Did you ever wear Love’s Baby Soft? Here’s the fascinating (and sometimes full-on creepy) backstory of one of our most iconic fragrances.
Two words: magnetic lashes. Who’s the glorious genius who invented these potentially life-changing doohickeys, and can I shake her hand?!
I REALLY want to try these ASAP, and I’m desperately hoping they won’t weigh down my lids.
Some makeup-minded thieves recently stole $4.5 million in eyeshadow palettes… Holy cosmetics criminality, Batman!
Apparently, foundation is really gross. I wanted to look away when I saw the title of this post (“Here’s How Much Bacteria Is Actually On Your Makeup Products”), but you know how it is… Curious kitty and all.
I printed out this article and put it into a file I have of tips on raising Connor Claire (I’m nerdy that way, and I like to be prepared): “Want to Raise Empowered Women? Start in Middle School.”
The best places to do a little retail therapy in NYC.
The brilliant, bad-@ss and beautiful Rae from the Notice explores a budget beauty line that looks totally on point.
What’s it really like to get a custom makeup makeover at Sephora?
POP goes the Easel! 🙂 These new NARS Nordstrom exclusives look like a lot of fun.
Will your skin lurve new It Cosmetics Confidence in a Compact Foundation?
5 ways to save, even if you occasionally splurge.
Ever heard of a skincare brand called Scaf?Whoever did their packaging gets a high-five from me!
If you follow the beauty biz, you might find this roundup of 2017 Beauty & Social Trends interesting.
And from earlier this week on MBB…here’s a little look at a neat indie luxury brand called Kosas Cosmetics.
I also played with a few new things from Too Faced, namely the Natural Love Palette, the Love Light Prismatic Highlighters and the Peanut Butter & Honey Palette.

In other news, Benefit has some new contouring products and a spiffy pink highlighter, and here’s what it’s like to wear Urban Decay’s HBIC lash trios.

Wow… THIS IS BREATHTAKING! One of these days — I swear — I’m going to learn how to ride a horse!

The most realistic makeup tutorial to EVER hit YouTube! My favorite part? “My everyday makeup routine generally starts with a primer. I use this MAC primer that a lady sold me against my will. She was really attractive, and I was threatened by her, so I was just like, ‘I’ll just buy it because I’m intimidated by you.'”

Ooh, I’m going to try this combo with MAC Swiss Chocolate and Heroine Lipstick!

I keep trying to convince my body that’s it’s OK to sleep in a little on Caturdays, but it’s like, “Nope! Not gonna do it. WAKE THE EFF UP ALREADY.”

So I’m up early…but on the #glasshalffull side, maybe I can get my chores done early. 🙂 That way I can finish marathon-ing the second season of Love on Netflix. I’ve got a box of Pop Secret and a couch ready for my butt, LOL!

I may or may not also run a few miles on the treadmill…but we’ll see about that.

I hope your coffee is already on its way to your tum, my friend. May adventure find you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 465

March 6th, 2017 by Karen 25 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine. ?

1. Texting: love it or leave it?

Love it…sort of. It’s fun, and I think I’m funnier in print than I am in person.

I also love being able to take and send pictures instantly… Remember when you had to call people up and describe things?? I remember my mom calling me from a Victoria’s Secret years ago and trying to describe a pair of green pajamas that she wanted to buy for me. I wanted to know what kind of green they were, so I asked if they were green like grass, green like a Christmas tree or green like Jell-O, and she just kept saying, “They’re yellow green. THEY’RE YELLOW GREEN!”

So pictures make things like that easier. 🙂

That said, sometimes I also hate texting and wish that people would pick up the damn phone. Plus, like in the case of my parents, who aren’t native English speakers, some things get lost in texting translation that I think are easier to explain on the phone. But I do get a kick out of seeing my mom go emoji happy ???? over text.

2. An event that permanently changed your life?

I mean, it wasn’t deep or metaphysical…but when I was 12 and my hair suddenly turned from straight, shiny wash-and-wear hair to wavy, it pretty much set me up for many, many terrible haircuts.

And on a less superficial note, leaving home at 18 to go to college was a big one. Up until then, I lived a pretty sheltered life, and being on my own for the first time, I felt very alone, and I didn’t have the vocabulary to describe how I was feeling. It opened the door for depression to enter my life, and I’ve dealt with it off and on every since.

3. Can you now, or have you ever been able to, do the splits?

Girl, no. I would be the worst gymnast ever. I can barely touch my toes when I bend my knees, LOL! I can’t even fathom doing the splits.

4. What does sisterhood mean to you?

Ya know…it’s just me and my younger brother, so everything I learned about sisterhood, I learned through my friends. To me, it means being there for your girls, and not just for the big things like graduations, engagements and weddings, but for the little things, too, like bringing soup to a friend who isn’t feeling well, or sending a quick email to a new mom to ask how she’s holding up, or offering a shoulder to cry on.

5. Converse shoes: high-tops or low-tops?

I like the look of high-tops but the comfort of low-tops, because every pair of Converse high-tops I’ve ever worn has dug into my ankles.

So, low-tops then. Pink low-tops, to get technical.

Happy Monday, my friend

Indulge me for a second, my friend. Take a deep breath in… Hold it. Now exhale…

Good. Relax those shoulders. They shouldn’t be scrunched up to your ears…

Ah… OK. Let’s take it easy until the coffee kicks in, shall we? Then all bets are off. 🙂

Good morning! I hope there’s a smile on your face. If there isn’t yet, then hey, here’s some hand lotion. *hands you a tube* For some reason, I always feel better when my hands are properly moisturized. Don’t ask me why.

Also, here’s a cup of coffee in a cat mug, because that ALSO always makes everything better.

If it’s raining there today, don’t forget that we’re inching toward spring! Pretty soon we’ll feel warm sunlight ☀️️ on our shoulders and our neck. It’s going to be glorious.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the poll questions to copy/paste:

1. Texting: love it or leave it?
2. An event that permanently changed your life?
3. Can you now, or have you ever been able to, do the splits?
4. What does sisterhood mean to you?
5. Converse shoes: high-tops or low-tops?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 439

March 5th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

Poor Tabs… He was slightly confused about the overall gist of the festivities yesterday.

I think he thought it was a get-together to celebrate him.

We didn’t want to burst his bubble, so we took a brief interlude to sing him the birthday song. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear tabby… Happy birthday to you!” 🙂

Connor Claire didn’t mind, and there was more than enough food, fun and love for everyone.

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Have You Ever Burned Your Hair With a Curling Iron, Flat Iron or Other Heating Tool?

March 4th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

Nothing too serious, but I came close to disaster once. I was using a new T3 for the first time, back before I knew how hot that sucker could get, and while curling a chunk of hair on the back of my head, I got distracted by my phone…

I got sucked down a Facebook black hole and must have zoned out. Then I smelled something burning…

Crap! Oh, no! Thankfully, my hair was still intact, but the texture definitely felt fried and rough. On my next salon visit, my friend Alis immediately chopped off that chunk because it was basically about to shatter anyway.

How about you? Have you ever burned your hair with a curling iron or other heat-styling tool?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Rise and shine, morning glory!!! We made it! I hope you have a terrific caturday and a wonderful weekend. 🙂 Right now I’m in full-on Connor Claire b-day prep mode because the party starts at noon.

Tabs is responsible for the entertainment, of course, and setting up the photo booth… And he’s also the official party mixologist. Between now and noon, I need to finish the birthday lasagna (the sauce is ready, but I still need to actually make the lasagna, which I’ll start soon), have El Hub pick up some balloons from Party City, do an easy salad and some garlic bread, and my parents are bringing over lumpia and pancit, a Filipino noodle dish with long noodles that symbolize long life, which is why we always have it at birthdays.

My main concern now is that Tabs shows up to work on time, because, as you know, he can be a diva.