Just For Fun

GURRRRL, you don’t even know. I try to keep my mouth shut — I really do — because, seriously, who wants advice from a rand-o stranger covered in cat hair wearing a scrunchie? I look like a crazy person standing there with a big smile on my face. 🙂

But sometimes I can’t help it, especially when I eavesdrop on a conversation and hear the word, “concealer.” That’s usually when I interrupt.

Sometimes I end up making friends with the people I have these conversations with. Usually (sometimes I think they think I’m just weird).

One time I helped a very nice guy and his boyfriend choose a tinted moisturizer at a MAC counter. “Try both shades,” I suggested, “one on each cheek, and then go outside with a mirror to see them in daylight. Then, choose the color you like best.” Afterward, they took me to coffee (I had a soy latte) and we chatted for a couple hours at Starbucks.

Sometimes, because I get excited when I’m talking about makeup, people assume I work at the counter. We’ll get to talking, having a good time, and then suddenly they’ll say, “Great! Well, that settles it,” and they’ll hand me a credit card.

Ummm…I don’t work here. I’m sorry. I was just passing by… This has actually happened quite a few times at Nordstrom and a Sephora.

Ah, makeup. It brings people together. 🙂

Do you ever give unsolicited advice to people you bump into at a beauty counter?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Ouch! Tough question.

I went back and forth on this one for a while, but my answer: groomed brows. That’s my final answer.

My whole natural lash situation isn’t particularly exciting. I have naturally straight, middling lashes — they’re not particularly exciting at all — so I do like to curl them and use mascara. I think I look brighter and more chipper when they’re done.

Buuut…if push comes to shove, I’m still choosing groomed brows.

Mine are the fullest they’ve been in years! — and when they’re filled in nicely, I think they draw more attention to my eyes. More than lush lashes do, anyway.

So, yeah. Team Groomed Brows. 🙂

How about you? What’s more important to you — groomed brows or lush lashes? (For the purposes of discussion, let’s pretend you can’t have both.)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hey, girl (I can hear my mom saying, “Hay is for horses”). Long time no talk.

Well, since yesterday.

I wasn’t feeling too well yesterday morning (I think I’m fighting a cold), so I took most of the day off. Tabs, of course, was THE BEST kitty nurse. He set aside time in his busy supermodel schedule to nap on my chest and keep me company.

Sometimes your nephew can be so sweet. 🙂

I’m feeling a little better today, so I’m back at it, babe. Hope you’re having a fruitful and fabulous Wednesday so far. How are things out there? Are you working hard or hardly working?

About today’s question, are you an impulse beauty buyer or a pernicious planner? I think I’m a bit of both.

I like to head to a counter or Sephora with a list on my phone of things I’m running low on or want to try, but whether I stick to my list depends on my stress level at any given moment. If I feel even mildly anxious at all, there’s a good chance that something unplanned will find its way into my basket (usually an extra lipstick or gloss).

That’s if I’m feeling only slightly out of sorts…

Now, if I feel worse than that for any reason, well, then IT’S ON. Something skincare related will almost certainly fall into my cart, because, I dunno — new skincare always seems like getting a fresh, new start. And makeup, of course — usually something from a permanent line that I’ve had my eye on for a while. I tend to impulse buy permanent products over limited edition stuff, I’ve noticed. No idea why.

How about you, babe? Are you an impulse beauty buyer, or do you carefully plan out your purchases?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day. 🙂

Ya know, I’m the gal who’ll fill in her brows and apply under-eye concealer just to walk outside to get the mail, but I’ve become (a little) more comfortable lately leaving the house sans makeup.

Granted, it’s not something I do often, LOL! (I dunno if I’ll ever get there, to be honest.)

But, yeah, for a quick errand or stroll around the neighborhood, I can deal with Raul and my ghost brows for a half an hour. 🙂

How about you? Are you comfortable leaving the house not wearing any makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

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

1. When was the last time you pulled an all-nighter?
   Hmm… It’s been a while. I think it might’ve been 2007, during SF Fashion week.

   I was a brand new beauty blogger at the time, and I’d just gotten my first DSLR camera. I remember coming home after the shows and staying up all night long writing and futzing with the pics, and then slamming a pot of coffee the next morning so that I could make it through my day job at the literary agency.

   Ah, good times… Good times.

2. Are you currently trying any new skincare products?
   Why, yes! I’m trying a couple new things this week — Kate Somerville’s Replenishing Toner (supposed to be good for dry skin) and Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Eye and Lip Cream (for my dark circles and fine lines).
3. What do you like to listen to while you’re driving?
   Pretty much anything. As long as I can sing along to it, we coo’. Usually, it’s the radio. Ideally, upbeat pop, or if I’m feeling agitated or need to be soothed, then something easy listening (“Light rock…less talk. 96.5, KOIT”), because the last thing I want when I’m feeling stressed is Pitbull yelling at me about how he’s having fun at the club.

   I get it, dude. You’re having a great time at the club. I get it. 🙂

4. Flip-flops or Converse?
   
   Even though I have a soft spot for low-top Converse, I’ll go with Reef flip-flops, please.
5. What’s one activity you tried to get into but couldn’t/chose not to?
   In middle school, my friend Nancy played basketball, and she tried to get interested in it, but I’m fairly terrible at all sports involving projectiles.

   My natural reaction is always to duck, and not catch, whatever’s being thrown at me.

   Anyway, it didn’t take long for me to figure out that this brown girl can’t jump, LOL! I was terrible at it, so I put all my hoop dreams aside…

6. Have you ever ended a relationship with someone you were still in love with?
   Yes, and it was absolutely awful and traumatic. I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. It took me a long time to put it behind me. Ten years, give or take.
7. Three random things you like?
   1. Seeing Tabs’ tum sway back and forth when he runs down the stairs
   2. Drinking a really cold Vitamin Water Zero with my lunch
   3. Having a whole day to myself where I can see and do new things
8. Three random things you dislike?
   1. Eating wet grapes (I can only eat them when they’re dry)
   2. Seeing people act disrespectfully and without patience toward the elderly (GRRR)
   3. Having a sticky, sweaty neck
9. Do you ever use your phone in the bathroom?
   Totally guilty of this! I should stop…seeing as how my nightmare would be to accidentally drop the phone in the toilet.
10. Would you rather make coffee at home, or grab a cup from someplace else?
    While I love a good cafe-made soy latte, nine of 10 times I’d rather just make my coffee at home. It’s cheaper, quicker, and I’m not a big fan of waiting in lines.

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

1. When was the last time you pulled an all-nighter?
2. Are you currently trying any new skincare products?
3. What do you like to listen to while you’re driving?
4. Flip-flops or Converse?
5. What’s one activity you tried to get into but couldn’t/chose not to?
6. Have you ever ended a relationship with someone you were still in love with?
7. Three random things you like?
8. Three random things you dislike?
9. Do you ever use your phone in the bathroom?
10. Would you rather make coffee at home, or grab a cup from someplace else?

Speaking of coffee…I spit mine all over myself this morning, LOL!

Yup, PPFFFFT! I guess I was drinking it too eagerly, because a big sip went down the wrong pipe, and I spit up all over my shirt, my chin and neck, the kitchen counter, and even got some up in my hair.

Ah… There’s nothing quite getting coffee in your hair first thing on a Monday morning.

On the plus side, now my mane smells like chocolate-flavored coffee from Kauai. #glasshalffull 🙂

Have a good one today. Tabs says, “mrow.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen