Just For Fun

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

October 19th, 2015 by Karen 52 Comments

1. La Croix Blackberry Cucumber Sparkling Water

Ah, the elusive La Croix Blackberry Cucumber flavor…

FINALLY! My latest expedition to Target was a success. It’s never been in stock when I’ve checked before, but this last time, miracle of all miracles, it was! I spotted four boxes on the shelf at the Novato Target yesterday, but actually, by the time I’d left, there were only two, because right after I rolled up, a hipster-looking dude grabbed one.

If you ever come across a case, grab it. They’re in high demand, and they’re so, SO good. They aren’t really sweet at all. Just refreshing and light with nice notes of blackberry and cucumber.

2. NARS Madly Blush

When in doubt, NARS Madly Blush.

Yes, you can quote me on that, and it’s 100% true. I’ve been wearing this peachy beige blush all week long because the dang thing goes with everything. Seriously! Doesn’t matter what I’m doing with eye shadow or lip color; whatever it is, NARS Madly Blush works.

3. Try this clever lip combo (with Clever): MAC Patentpolish in Clever with MAC In Control Pro Longwear Lip Pencil

This was one of those happy accidents I accidentally stumbled upon. MAC In Control Pro Longwear Lip Pencil + MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Clever = a deep rosy coral combo that looks faboo with neutral eyes and winged liner (it’s what I’m wearing in the pics in this post).
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 345

October 19th, 2015 by Karen 46 Comments

The cucumber lemonade from The Cheesecake Factory, nom! — The cucumber lemonade at The Cheesecake Factory is 100% pure nom.

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 seven 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.

Four things every makeup lover must have?
A trusty lash curler; a fearless lipstick that makes her (or him!) feel like she’s triumphantly stomp-walking down a runway when she’s just strolling down the sidewalk; a competent, confidence-boosting concealer that’s like getting eight hours of sleep in a tube; and a very good sense of humor, because something will inevitably go wrong when she tries that new smoky eye/winged liner/contouring technique for the first time (but it’s no big deal).

A section of your house that you’d really like to straighten up and organize?
Ugh, my kitchen pantry!

My pantry is turning me into a crazy person.

Actually, all of the cabinets in my kitchen are driving me insane. I have big pasta sauce bottles stacked on top of small raspberry preserves, big boxes of cereal stacked on top of smaller boxes of mac ‘n’ cheese, and everything looks about one sneeze away from Jenga disaster. There’s no rhyme or reason either, and it’s really dark and deep in there…so whenever I reach in for something, it’s like spelunking without a light and having no idea what awaits me at the end.

I’ve read about this pregnancy phase thing called “nesting,” and I don’t know if this is that, but I’ve started to feel very, VERY compelled to organize everything within my immediate space.

When do you do your best thinking?
These days, usually in the morning before I hop on the Internet, because the second I check my email and social media? — man, it’s over. Concentration goes poof!
How are you about making smalltalk at parties?
I think I’m OK at it. I’m pretty outgoing, so I can usually strike up a conversation about something random with a stranger (as long as they’re nice), but if I’m really just not in the mood, or if I’m very hungry or tired and don’t want to be there, it’s definitely tough. I’ll get really quiet and retreat into a corner with my growling tum. Sometimes I’ll pretend to scan the books on a shelf or the art on the walls, or I’ll play with my phone (honestly, thank goodness for Bejeweled, because that game has saved me at so many family parties). Or, if there’s a pet around, we’ll make friends.

Last person you kissed?
Tabs just gave me a tap on my nose a few minutes ago. I think that counts.

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

1. Four things every makeup lover must have?
2. A section of your house that you’d really like to straighten up and organize?
3. When do you do your best thinking?
4. How are you about making smalltalk at parties?
5. Last person you kissed?

Good morning, babe! Got two important tidbits for ya, both of them valuable insights I acquired yesterday on a #ladydate with my friend Marisol.

First, the cucumber lemonade at The Cheesecake Factory (the pic at the top) will change your life! I was in the mood for something sour yesterday and ordered it at brunch. Dang thing was so good that I felt like jumping up on my chair and declaring my undying love for it. Try it sometime (either the lemonade or the jumping on your chair). 🙂

Second, bras. Pregnancy has taken my boobs to the next level, and those suckers are majorly huge at the moment. I can’t fit into any of my bras anymore, despite those handy bra extenders, so now I have to break down and get some new bras.

When I hit up the lingerie section at Nordie’s yesterday to get sized, I found out that if you buy a regular, non-maternity bra from them, they’ll convert it to a maternity bra for $16 more (it has a hook so you can pull down the cup to nurse).

Just an FYI for any new mommies out there.

OK, my friend, it’s onward to Monday! I hope you have a wonderful day today. I’ll do my best if you do.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 368

October 18th, 2015 by Karen Monterichard 12 Comments

What’s the secret to success? According to Tabs the cat, world-renowned plus-size kitty supermodel, diva extraordinaire and full-time feline beauty blogger, it involves three things in LARGE amounts: 1) gravy, 2) lovies and 3) outside.

And Tabs wanted to discuss them all in depth in today’s insightful, exciting video installment of Sundays with Tabs. 🙂

May your fur be fluffy, and your cat liner flicks be fabulous.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Tabs

Comment to Win a $50 eGift Card From MAC! (Ends Monday)

October 17th, 2015 by Karen 366 Comments

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Just when you think things can’t get any more complciated, they throw something new at you on Jane the Virgin! Is anyone else watching that show?? I just started marathoning season 1 on Netflix, and sometimes the melodrama is just TOO MUCH. It’s very addictive…

In other news, happy Caturday! 🙂 How’s it going, my friend? What are you up to? I’m on my way to another one of those Sephora classes this morning, the one called Contour & Highlight, so hopefully I pick up a trick or two. I’ll let you know.

Other than that, I’m just hanging out. I hope you have something fun planned. Good luck in the giveaway. I’ll talk to you soon.

One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter by leaving a comment below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- Worst packaging for a product you purchased this year?
- Who is one of the most talented or gifted people in your field?
- Have you ever lost a cellphone?
- Have you ever had a couples massage?
- Do you floss?
- When was the last time you treated yourself to something special?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, October 19, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Makeup Looks and Styles Can You See Still Being Popular in 50 Years?

October 16th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

Dear MAC Lady Danger Lipstick… I look forward to wearing you in 50 years, ’cause fierceness never goes outta style!

Oh, wow. In 50 years, if I actually make it that far, I’ll be 90, holy $h*t!!! Baby Girl will be the age I am right now, and not so much a baby anymore, aww. Shoot, if I’m still blogging at that time, I hope Baby Girl won’t mind if her mom borrows her MAC Lady Danger every once in a while. 🙂

So, popular makeup looks and styles in 50 years? Hmm… I’m thinking that people will still be wearing the things that are considered classics now — red lips, winged liner, smoky eyes. Those three comprise a timeless makeup trifecta right there!

How about you? What makeup looks and styles can you see still being popular in 50 years?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

Are You Particular When It Comes to Hair Brushes?

October 15th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

karen singing brush — Because good hair brushes should also double as microphones…

Ya know…for someone who can be surprisingly picky about the shape of a nail polish brush or the density of makeup brush bristles, I’m not super picky when it comes to hair brushes.

I do keep different ones for different tasks, though, like paddle brushes with wide-set teeth for detangling (like the Sam Villa Paddle Brush in the pic at the top) and boar’s hair brushes for those rare occasions when I feel like doing a blowout, but I’m not about to hunt down “The World’s Best Brush” if it costs an arm and a leg. Generally, as long as I can rake it through my mop without it getting tangled, it’s all good, whether it’s a drugstore brush or something fancier from a salon.

Except for the time I was gifted a $205 (!) Mason Pearson Brush, because as far as brushes go, that thing is pretty dang good. It’s like the bristles aren’t even there! They glide through my hair like Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory, and when I’m done using it, my hair looks considerably less unruly.

I don’t think I’d ever actually throw down that much moolah for any brush, though, because even the Mason Pearson isn’t that much better than the $10 brushes at Target. Well…

So, yeah. I guess you could say that I’m mildly particular about my hair brushes. 🙂

How about you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Active Are You on Social Media?

October 14th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

I could easily spend all day on Instagram, for real! I dunno… I just like seeing what people are up to, what noms they’re eating, and what has the whole Instagram cat community buzzing. It’s my favorite social network right meow partly because it’s so dang easy to use from my phone, and I love it for inspiration. Food, makeup, photography, travel, home decor — you can pretty much find inspiration for anything on Instagram.

And TEH KITTEHS!? There are SO many Instagram cats!

Buuut, since Tabs keeps me on a pretty short leash throughout the workday, I don’t get to check it as much as I want.

After Instagram, there’s Facebook, but I’ve never been totally crazy about the layout (it’s always seemed cluttered to my eye). I do like keeping up with people in the Facebook comments, though, because it’s easy to follow a conversation. Plus, everyone I chat with on Facebook is super nice.

I also try to jump on Pinterest (which is also a great source of cat inspiration when you need it) and Twitter a couple times a day to skim for news and funny tweets.

All in all, I guess you could say that I’m moderately active on social media. I wonder what the next big one will be like. 🙂

How about you? How active are you on social media?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Assuming You Don’t Already, Do You Think You Could Cut Someone Else’s Hair?

October 13th, 2015 by Karen 38 Comments

Oh, hell no, girl! That would be the worst idea EVER, because I can’t even trust myself to trim my own side-swept bangs, LOL! If I were to give somebody else a full-on haircut, that poor person would most likely end up with the most terrible bowl cut the world has ever seen. It would be about as visually pleasing as zombie road kill.

But that’s just me. 🙂 Assuming you don’t do it already, do you think you could cut someone else’s hair?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Speaking of zombies #thewalkingdead, anybody else catch the season premiere of The Walking Dead the other night?