Just For Fun

Bookstore Babe

April 22nd, 2016 by Karen 47 Comments

Baby's first visit to the bookstore — Baby’s first visit to a bookstore!

So, where do two book-loving parents take a little explorer on her very first “out-in-the-world” excursion?

A bookstore, of course!

Now that Connor Claire has passed the six-week mark, she’s eager to get out there and start exploring the outside world, beginning with literature.

Checking out Mom's favorite area -- the YA books! — Checking out the YA section (Mom’s favorite)…

El Hub and I headed to the brand new Novato branch of Copperfield’s Books, an independent bookseller here in the Bay Area.

I slipped Connor into her Moby baby carrier, and we browsed for books for about 30 minutes. Granted, she was sleeping most of the time, but I still think she enjoyed being surrounded by so many books.

Why yes, I'd love some temporary cattoos — Why yes! — I’d love a temporary “cattoo”

We ended up getting her a souvenir to commemorate the occasion, her very own copy of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh to add to her growing book collection.

Another addition to Connor Claire's book collection — Another addition to Connor Claire’s book collection

Yesterday was a day of firsts for Connor Claire. Other than her first visit to a bookstore, it was also the day she listened to her very first Prince song…

This song was always one of my favorites, but now with Connor Claire, it’s taken on new meaning.

RIP, Prince… I’m still in shock about his passing. His creativity has always inspired me, and it makes my heart heavy to think that the world has lost such a rare gift.

Oh, and did you know that Prince also wrote songs for other musicians? I found this story, “15 Great Prince Songs That Were Hits for Other Artists,” in Rolling Stone really interesting.

chanel summer 2016 — Here comes the sun…and Chanel Summer 2016

Today I plan to have my favorite Prince songs on heavy rotation while I play with Chanel’s Summer 2016 collection (I’m wearing it in these pics, by the way) — Raspberry Beret, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Little Red Corvette and I Would Die 4 U.

What’s your favorite Prince song? I think it’s impossible to pick just one.

In other, less sad news, today is also Earth Day, so happy Earth Day to you, my friend. I think Connor and I will celebrate by taking out the recycling.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mona Lisa Smile

April 21st, 2016 by Karen 35 Comments

Connor Claire is seven weeks old now, and she’s doing more and more cute baby things as the days go by.

Now when she wakes up and sees me, she smiles, and it melts my heart into a pile of warm, sticky goo. She also coos and gurgles and makes all sorts of adorable baby sounds that’ll make your ovaries flutter.

And she’s growing! A few of her clothes no longer fit anymore. She has these snap-up shirts that fit now like scandalous crop tops from Urban Outfitters.

Would you believe that my 6-pound teacup baby is almost 10 pounds now? It’s only a matter of time until she hits double digits.

Seeing her get bigger is bittersweet, too… Part of me wishes I could press “pause” and have her stay this age a little longer.

But the other part of me can’t wait to see her personality blossom and bloom, because from what I know of her so far, she’s a sweet, gentle and happy baby. I fall deeper and deeper in love with her every day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Here’s My “Light Bright” Busy Mom Makeup — How Do You Get Ready in a Flash?

April 21st, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 27 Comments

Hurry fast rushing 10-minute makeup — Me getting ready, every day that ends in Y!

I’m pretty sure it’s no secret that I’m a working mom. I’ve mentioned this aspect of who I am in several posts because it is a CONSTANT struggle that I’m forced to confront on a daily basis. I would do anything to be home full time, but that’s not our reality, and as a result I find myself regularly coming up with ways to look awake! alert! peppy! — you name it. It’s something I think about.

I also think it’s no secret that your world gets turned upside down when children bless your life. Fellow mommies know that things change in both anticipated and unanticipated ways. I knew, for instance, that the morning struggle to get ready would be far different after my maternity leave, but what I couldn’t have guessed was that I’d find teeth marks on my YSL lipstick tubes (my son thinks they’re great for teething!), or that I’d look up from cleaning to find my daughter attempting to sneak into my makeup collection to play because she was “looking for something [she] lost in [our] bedroom.”

Suuuuuure…

Before I had children, I promised myself that makeup would still be “my thing” as a mom. Everyone needs an escape, and a “me time,” and this would be mine.

Unfortunately, “my thing” is also a hobby that happens to overlap with the hectic morning rush, so I’ve started to gravitate toward products that I refer to as my “light bright” favorites.

Why, do you ask? Because they’re light and bright and make me look awake! alert! peppy! (I think I’m trying to convince myself that I’m all of those things by typing it more than once… *drinks more coffee*)

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 419

April 18th, 2016 by Karen 39 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

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 eight (!) 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.

What’s the next beauty product you’d like to try?
I’m counting down the minutes (nay, the seconds!) until I shower this morning, just so I can try Laura Mercier’s new Tea Menthe Citron Gel Body Moisture body moisturizer.

Remember Laura’s Gel Moisturizer from last year? The lemon verbena one?

Ahhh! Beyond good. My heart broke a little when I finished the big 8-ounce jar…

Anyway, she has this new one out (it just arrived on counters), and it smells like citrusy, minty black tea.

Yum!

I’m hoping it’ll be just as moisturizing and absorb just as quickly (none of that icky, sticky skin you get with some gels) as the O.G. version.

Is there anything missing in your life?
You mean other than sleep? Well, yeah…for sure. Nothing material, although some new living room furniture (and hardwood floors) would be nice.

But right now what I’m missing most are steady emotions — my emotions being not so up and down. More “even.”

I know it’s because of post-baby hormones and that “this too shall pass,” but I’m just over it, you know? One day things will be easy and even, and the next day I’ll be crying at the drop of a hat because of something completely dumb. Man!

Like the other day I cried watching Gilmore Girls (I’m re-watching the first season). It was the episode where Rory has two sixteenth birthday parties, in the scene where Lorelei wakes Rory up early in the morning on her birthday and talks about the day she was born, and I totally burst into tears because one day my baby will turn 16, waaah!

See? Totally can’t handle it right meow.

When was the last time you had pizza? What kind?
Caturday night. El Hub made his famous (well, famous in our house!) ultra thin crust pizza. 🙂

He gets the pre-made thin crusts from Target, then adds pizza sauce, mozarella, pepperoni, brocolli, tomato, fresh garlic, chopped olives and drizzles it all with olive oil. NOM!

Moderation or excess?
I know myself waaaay too well. When I do things to excess (food, exercise, shopping, what have you), it always, ALWAYS comes back to bite me in the @ss.

So, moderation FTW.

What’s the next book you want to read?
Ah! So many. There are two in the number one spot — Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter and Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Both have been on my reading list forever!

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s the next beauty product you’d like to try?
2. Is there anything missing in your life?
3. When was the last time you had pizza? What kind?
4. Moderation or excess?
5. What’s the next book you want to read?

Kinda, sorta related to the last question, but I’m thinking about signing up for a speed reading class through the Novato adult learning program.

It’s supposed to teach you how to read challenging material faster, like textbooks (twice as fast) and magazines (three times faster!).

Are you thinking about taking any classes this summer? If you could, what would you take?

Happy Monday, babe!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 394

April 17th, 2016 by Karen 10 Comments

Dear Diary,

A cat’s gotta do what a cat’s gotta do. As you know, I’m a lifeling Golden State Warriors fan, and when your team needs you, even if you’re a senior tabby and you’re only at the game because you’re supposed to be performing live with Beyoncé at the halftime show — if your team needs you, you bring it! *snaps*

It’s a good thing I take my weekly agility training sessions seriously. It’s the reason Coach Kerr asked me to fill in for Steph Curry last night, because he knew I’d be able to make the game-winning shot if it came down to that.

It’s like I always say: “Preparation is everything.”

I’m just glad we won.

Today I pretty much just rested. The game, coupled with my performance with Beyoncé, wore me out.

After napping, I did spend a couple hours working on my personal kitty modeling projects…

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What’s in My (Very Streamlined) Travel Makeup Bag

April 12th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 24 Comments

Picture a 19th-century noblewoman waiting to board a steamer bound for faraway lands.

Can you see her? Standing there on the dock surrounded by wardrobe trunks and chest cases containing all of her earthly possessions?

You can?

Awesome. Because she looks exactly like I did up until a few years ago whenever I traveled anywhere. 🙂

Yep! I used to pack sooo much stuff, “just in case,” but those “cases” rarely happened, and I’d usually come home with half of the things I brought still untouched.

Thankfully, possibly because I discovered the joy of traveling with only my carry-on bag, I’ve finally learnt how to streamline and pack the bare minimum.

Travel Makeup Bag — The things in my (very streamlined) travel makeup bag

Case in point: I just spent a few days in Edinburgh, Scotland, and only brought along a minimal makeup stash (at least by a beauty lover’s standard).

I knew I wouldn’t want to waste the little time I’d have to explore the city on my weekend away doing my makeup, so I streamlined my beauty arsenal.

Edinburgh Castle Scotland — Hello from Edinburgh Castle! 🙂

Would you like to have a look inside my travel makeup bag?

Foundation: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet

With its matte yet luminous finish, I ❤ Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet foundation every day of the year, but its plastic packaging makes it especially convenient for traveling.

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Let’s Chat! What’s Your Makeup Comfort Zone?

April 12th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 46 Comments

Call me crazy, but I have a habit of thinking about habits.

Is that weird? Like, I notice things about myself, and then I spend a fair amount of time pondering whether it’s just me, or whether everyone else has the same quirks, and because I have a job that involves a lot of long-term quiet focus, my mind inevitably wanders…

“Am I the only one who does [INSERT QUIRK HERE]?” Or, “I wonder how she feels about [INSERT PONDERABLE TOPIC HERE]?” Or, “Why would the writers of The Walking Dead play with my emotions like that?!”

Of course, because I totally adore makeup, I most often find myself thinking about what’s hot now, or how we wear what we wear, or why we wear what we wear. For instance, where do the trends come from?? It’s sort of a chicken/egg situation, right? Because I think you could argue that sometimes the trends come directly from cosmetics companies (color correcting), and sometimes they come from us (strobing).

Anyway…now that I’m here helping Karen (and Tabs, who’s a real taskmaster, BTW!) on Makeup and Beauty Blog, I want to chat with you about something that’s been rolling around in my noggin.

Here’s my question: What’s your “beauty comfort zone,” so to speak, when it comes to lipstick colors?

My makeup comfort zone is pretty big where lipstick is concerned!

And I don’t just mean traditional lipstick. I’m also talking gloss, glitter, liquid lipstick (because it seems like errbody is talking about liquid lipstick right now) — you name it.

MAC x Halsey, that masterpiece of a grey lipstick, got me on this subject, because as wearable as it is for a grey lipstick, my brain automatically said, “Nope, that is not something you can wear everyday.”

Later after I thought about it some more, I wondered…why? Where was the girl who at 15 decided “I’m going to wear bright red lipstick to high school!” and did it fearlessly (despite the whispers in the hallway)?

Where was the girl who decided that bright purple lipstick was totally okay in the office on a Tuesday, just because?

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