1. Early springs
On my walk today I saw — get this — early cherry blossom blooms!
We get that out here in Northern California some years, and I guess it’s happening now.
It’s been sunny for a week or so since the heavy rains, and everything is growing like crazy now. This tree here is right down the hill behind my house where Else the Tortie hangs out. I looked for her today, but she was nowhere to be found (sad face).
On the bright side, I did see…
2. This neighborhood kitty
He’s very skittish and never lets me get too close, but he’s just unaware of how this little game of ours is going to play out.
Soon… Soon we will be BFFs.
3. Scarves
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to have Tabs draped across your neck, just wrap yourself up in your coziest scarf. 🙂
I wear scarves pretty much 24/7 throughout January because dude! — they feel so wonderful. I like it when the back of my neck and the bottoms of my ears are all cozy and warm.
4. Moisturizing face masks
I’ve been putting one on every night after I wash my face.
So not kidding! My skin gets dreadfully dry this time of year, so I give my favorite moisturizing face masks a mega workout. Current faves in rotation include Glamglow Thirsty Mud, Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask and Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.
Side note: I’m looking for a HELLA moisturizing drugstore mask, so if you have any recs, let me know in the comments. 🙂
5. These Walkers Scottie Dog Shortbread Cookies
Totally a January thing for me because I always seem to get them for Christmas.
I have a very specific method to eating them, too. First, I line all of them up on a plate. Then I bite their heads off.
I let the guilt course through my veins…
And then I wash everything down with a big gulp of tea or coffee.
6. The early spring makeup releases
Let’s not even go there about the new Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes.
All I have to say is that when I put a couple of them in my Sephora cart this afternoon, I watched myself float up and away from my body and realized that I was lusting over yet another neutral brown eyeshadow palette, erhmahgawd!
7. Boots
They’re made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.
They also keep my shins warm and provide me with a perfect excuse to NOT shave my legs.
What’s not to love? 🙂
8. It’s a fresh, new start
January is like pushing the reset button on the projects that I need to make progress on, like decorating my condo and organizing my office (yes, I am ALWAYS working on this one).
9. The old-school MAC Eye Kohls
So, when my skin gets hella dry every winter, my water and lash lines become totally intolerant of everything except for the old-school MAC Eye Kohls.
Don’t ask me why, but it happens every year.
Smolder becomes pretty much the only black pencil I can wear, and Costa Riche sees a lot of action, too.
10. My orange tree!
It is going off! There are tons — maybe even an actual metric ton — of tiny ripe oranges on it right now.
Sadly, they’re all very tart, so my face puckers up when I eat one, LOL!
I plan to use them to flavor a pitcher 100 gallons of water.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask… love it! You can find it at Target or ULTA. Those shortbread cookies look so yummy.
Gurl I’m right there with ya. I might pick up some GlamGlo Thirsty Mud because my skin is just not havin’ it this winter.
Biting the heads off isn’t mean! It’s humane 😛
Love this post although I hate January. And February and March lol. My skin has been extremely dry too. To such an extent that I can’t even take pictures for the blog. I hope someone recommends a good drugstore mask!
And yay for scarves. I love wearing them too.
Spring I think will be a bit early here too. Even though it is normally still cold and even snowy here this time of year tomorrow will be 50. I haven’t seen a ton on the makeup front but one of the Hourglass palettes did catch my eye along with Chanel Spring. That’s where I’ll probably invest my money!
Not a drugstore mask but Clayspray is one I use. The red clay & cacao one. It’s pricey and the delivery system is not great. The stuff really does look like chocolate pudding! I got it all over my bathroom wall once so I have Hubby put the stuff into a small dish for me.
And then I use paper towels to wipe it off cause the stuff stains washcloths. So far I’m not convincing anyone!! But my skin is soft and lovely afterward. Just glows.
Here’s the link:
http://www.pharmaclay.com/products
I got mine at dermstore.
Love Scottie dog anythings!
Not drugstore, but way cheaper and really good is Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Mask.
Biting the heads off first is very kind, taking the limbs first would me cruel! I am the same with the chocolate santas you get for Christmas.
For hydration I have been using Kiehl´s Overnight Bological Peel a lot lately. Says it is a peeling on the bottle, but works as a hydration booster on my skin.
I love your scarf.
I don’t know drugstore masks but mine is The ERBORIAN Sleeping BB Mask and i just love it.
It’s like a cream, not oily.
You put it on your face, sleep and in the morning your skin is like a baby butt !
I love that Brand.
I love all the winter fashion in January – scarves, boots, hats/warm caps and coats! I don’t like the cold itself though and Tokyo gets really cold in the nights!
‘Early spring’… that made me giggle. I’m pretty sure we’ll need a few more months before early spring kicks in here, haha 🙂 Not that I mind. I’m still totally in a winter mood.
P.S.: I’d feel a bit bad, biting the head off those shortbread cookies… like I was doing something really horrible.
I really love such kind of posts, Karen! very inspiring. I love January because if the fresh start, anything seems possible. And it is also my baby bro’s Birthday.
Oh, I love your orange tree and am so glad to hear how it’s thriving!! You could also use them to flavor some iced tea (throw in a couple of cinnamon sticks and whole cloves?). 🙂 That’s sweet about the cherry blossoms, too! They’re so beautiful and fragrant. It’s minus 8 F here right now, in case you were wondering. HAHA! Enjoy your January weather!
California sounds so lovely! It’s amazing to me that there would be any flowers blossoming this time of year. We’re still under a layer of snow an ice here in Ohio. I do love boots and scarves though!
That kitty is so handsome! Does Tabs ever see other cats when he’s outside? There used to be some strays in our old neighborhood and Mingy would always want to chase after them. Happy (tabby) Tuesday! 🙂
I love scarves too and my aunt just knitted a grey infinity for me that matches the winter coat I bought this year! I got a moisturizing mask at a Mary Kay party I had to go to (groan) that works pretty good. That neighborhood cat is gorgeous!
I’m jealous you live somewhere where January is a nice month 😀 Here in the midwest, January means the start of three months of endless snow!
Where do you find those Walker cookies? Is it sad that I want them solely because they are so darn cute? LOL!
January does sound quite lovely in your neck of the woods. Unfortunately, today is overcast, damp, and cold. I don’t like being in the cold but I do love boots, scarves, beanies, & cute winter coats. I recently picked up a small bottle of PTR Oilless Oil. Yeah, that one confuses me too but I apply it morning & night and I really like it. I don’t know if it’s doing all that it claims but it leaves me skin feeling like a bsby’s bum. I got mine from Sephora on a whim. Plus, the small bottle was only $10. The small bottle may not be available in all the stores & isn’t sold online in that size. I love anything from PTR & haven’t regretted this purchase. Here’s the link I’m case you wanna read about it. The reviews seem mixed & I’ve only used it for 3 weeks but it is wonderfull for adding moisture back into my dry skin (which is typically combo throughput the rest of the year). Hopefully, you can find a small bottle to play with before investing in the bigger size, if you’re interested.
Hit the post button without the links. Here you go! 🙂
http://m.sephora.com/product/P381032
Lovely post dear.. it totally cheered me up.. I love January because its a new start to year and with everyone cuddled up in warm pullovers .. I love boots and yes more reason not shave those arms and legs 😉 .. But early springs… am I dreaming 😉
Wish you a wonderful january!! 🙂
seems everyone is excited about the new eyeshadow launch from hourglass. What color did you get? Please please please do a full swatches and look post after playing with it, would you?
btw, I was watching your old youtube videos, you seemed to talk too fast and couldn’t catch your breath. lol. but i really like the FAB 5 idea. kinda sad you didn’t keep doing youtube. any plan to keep FAB 5 here in your blog??
What a gorgeous cat! He has the most stunning eyes. I’d be trying to play with him too lol. This was a really cute list though. I actually hate January lol. The only good thing that comes of it is my birthday which is still a bust because it’s also when Michigan gets the most snow. I think once I move somewhere warmer I’ll grow to appreciate the colder months more
Love the kitty – looks like Maine Coon – is he a stray? Kiehls has an overnight Hydrating Mask that is excellent – have also used the overnight peel – the Mask is very reasonable and they have some great products – I have been using alot of Kiehls vs Orlane and Chanel – check them out. I also used the Origins overnight hydrating mask – smells fabulous but not as hydrating as the Kiehls. Love the cookies too!
You have a great list! I think number 2 is my favorite 🙂
I’m sure Tabs is very proud of you for biting off the heads of those Scottie Dogs, even if they’re not real. But seriously, YUM! Walkers shortbread is the best.
That’s the fluffiest cat ever. Hope you’re friends soon.
P.S. As much as I’m loving this early spring, I really want more rain. Don’t hate me for wanting more rain.
I can so agree about the masks! I need to get one. The only two I have are more for summer when my face is more like an oil slick! The only hydrating mask I know is Lioele Waterdrop Sleeping Pack and you can get it from Pretty & Cute’s online store (they’re in the US yay). I have a sample, it’s pretty cool.
The instructions are in Korean but basically, you put it on before bed after washing your face and it absorbs so it won’t leave a mess on your pillow. When you wake up in the morning, just wash off the film and BAM! Hydrated skin! 😀 Pretty cool, right?
January is a rough month for me so it’s a real pleasure to see your list & it’s an inspiration to look for the good things around me instead of dwelling on the losses.
As for my skincare, I have quite oily skin so I use a green clay mask & then apply Burt’s Bees Night Radiance cream, which I adore!
It was -7 degrees here this morning! My parents live 3 hours north though, and they had -22! There’s nothing good about January in Michigan.
I like the kitty cat!
It was -40 C with windchill here the other day. Bleh. No point in trying to look cute when it’s that cold ha ha. And I have to carry my poor little pups when they go outside, because they barely last a minute out there and then they freeze up. January overall is bleh for me. I can’t wait till it warms up again 🙂 and I loved your fab 5 posts and videos as well.
Loving the Thirsty Mud right now too but I gotta say I had a real LOL when I read how you eat your cookies. Bite the heads off and immediate guilt, too funny :). Love love this blog.
I got a deluxe sample of Thirsty Mud with my last Sephora order and now I’m jonesing hard for more, but can’t seem the pull the trigger. My skin is drier this winter than it’s ever been (maybe now that I’m officially in my 30s?), but I still break out and am super sensitive, so it’s been hard to find just the right thing. For daytime I’ll add a few extra drops of Aveda’s Beautifying oil or Balancing Infusion to my moisturizer, but it’s not quite enough for nighttime. Would love to see what other ladies use!
Scarves and boots are my favorites too!
I love scarves too. They’re a touch thing to have in the cold weather here.
So, The Body Shop isn’t quite drugstore, but their products are moderately priced and they usually have crazy deals going on! Anyway, their Vitamin E mask is a good hydrating one, but I love all of their masks. They have surprisingly good skincare!