And here’s Karen with your public service announcement of the day: “Smile, and your Guerlain Spring Glow Blush smiles with you.” 🙂
This tantalizing two-tone head-turner is part of Guerlain’s Spring Glow 2016 collection, and how could you not smile while looking at it?
SO FREAKIN’ CUTE.
There’s a reddish pink on one side and a lighter baby pink on the other. Plus, a funky 8-bit font, which is kinda unexpectedly cool, I think.
And, hello! — because it’s Guerlain, it’s expensive (well, duh, Karen!). I believe it’s $62.
Yeah…62 big ones for a Guerlain blush, but I do have to say that when it comes to the overall user experience, for fancy-schmancy makeup, Guerlain’s got that sh*t on lock. Everything from the packaging (amaze!) to the formulas are almost always top notch, and I love the luxe touches like the smile imprint on the pan and, although this depends on your personal point of view, the scented powders.
“Ah…” she sighed, as she practically stuck her nose in the pan.
Their stuff smells so darned good to me! This one, like a lot of Guerlain powders, smells like freesia, and if you can, please try to be that weirdo who rolls up to a Guerlain counter, sticks her nose into all of the compacts and takes a deep breath.
And I’m not just saying that because I haven’t had my nap yet. 🙂 I really do think you owe it to yourself to smell Guerlain’s makeup. I really mean that!
Speaking of naps and tired people, gosh, I sure am getting tired (there I go again!) of saying that: “I’m tired!” Seriously, how many times am I going to say “tired” in this sentence?
Nevertheless, I woke up at the witching hour last night — right at 3 a.m. — which always freaks me out. If, instead, I get up at 4 or 2, I’m fine, because I guess I know I’ll be able to fall back to sleep eventually without worrying about being an unwilling star in a scary movie. (“Slowly, as if gently pushed from behind, the door opened a crack…”)
But yeah, there’s something about waking up at exactly 3 a.m. that scares the living crap outta me…
Anyways, I had a really hard time going back to sleep. I did eventually, but it took a while… I just lay there listening to Red Queen on my phone until I nodded off.
So if I say anything a little cuckoo-crazy in this post, that’s why (the witching hour).
Oh! — one of the things I want to do this afternoon is try this $5 It Radiant Lace Hydrogel Mask.
I think I’m on the cusp of a burgeoning Korean skin care kick, partly because of that book I mentioned yesterday, and this sheet mask is by a Korean brand called Banila Co.
Allegedly, the lace design is supposed to be cuter than a Jason Voorhees mask… Let’s try it on and see!
Yeah, I dunno…
I’m liking how it feels though. Kinda like a wet, cold gummy worm…only better, LOL!
I’m using the Moisturizing one because my skin’s been very dry lately, and this one’s enhanced with “White Flower Complex” and “revitalizing active ingredients,” which sounds pretty good to me.
I can’t read the ingredients on the back of the package (because my Korean is a little rusty), but I found them listed on the website…
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Lactobacillus Ferment, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract,Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexandiol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Gylcol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lilum Candidum Flower Extract, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance
In other, totally unrelated news, I had pea soup from Trader Joe’s for lunch today, and it was really good! I didn’t want to take a picture of it initially because, you know, it’s pea soup, and pea soup usually looks really gross in pics, but I figured what the hey…
It was in the section by the produce with all of the pre-made salads and wraps. I like this particular pea soup because it only has 13 grams of carbs per serving (yay!), and it tastes fresh. I’ve had canned pea soups before that taste a little metallic, but this tastes homemade.
Random question for you: what’s your favorite kind of soup? Do you have a favorite soup? I know that some people don’t like soups at all (El Hub is one of them), but if you do, what’s your favorite? Mine is tomato, and I like to have it with grilled cheese.
OK! Talk to you soon. Bye. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I grew up on Campbells Tomato and with grilled cheese sandwiches. I still love them. My favorite soup is my husband’s minestone which he made this past weekend during the “big storm”. I also love Panera!s broccoli cheddar soup. That mask looks goofy and I refuse to spend $62 on a blush no matter what it smells like. Sounds like your body is preparing you for the 3 am feeding. Since menopause, my sleep habits are all over the place. It’s 8:30 pm here in NJ and I am showered and in my robe. Life is good! Rest up my friend!
Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a classic combo. 🙂
I don’t know what my body’s doing but it’s definitely NOT involving sleep in the wee hours of the morning, LOL! I miss sleeping through the entire night. *sheds nostalgic tear*
Hope you are having a nice, relaxing evening.
While I can’t get past that price myself, I must admit that I spent a good minute staring at Guerlain’s packaging for that blush. That font they chose is super cool!
Yeah, I think so too! So different and unexpected. 🙂
My favorite soup is Caldo de pollo with many vegetables:
-Carrots
-Chickpeas
-Potatoes
-Zucchinis
-Chard
-Spinach
-Green beans
-Chayote
With white rice and tortillas is like heaven when not feeling good.
Is it Red queen good? I wanted to buy it but stepped back.
Guerlain I keep meaning to buy the Meteorites but they are expensive, however Doré is my face but better.
Hi Efrain!
Your soup sounds delicious. Do you make the stock yourself?
So far Red Queen is just OK. I’m about 3 chapters in and am waiting for it to pick up.
What are you reading these days?
Yes we always make the stock, in fact there are only like two brands pre-made stock in supermarkets here. Most of the times mom uses the pressure cooker and she adds water, chicken pieces (breasts, thighs and drumsticks), onion, garlic, salt and pepper. When chicken is almost cooked she adds the vegetables and let them cook.
I’m trying to read the Great Gatsby and Sailor Moon manga but I haven’t really made a dent on them.
Yaaay, tomato soup sisters!!! I love tomato soup. It was my favorite for YEARS when I was growing up. It’s definitely still in the top 5… Though there is this soup my MIL makes, I think it’s called Italian wedding soup, or Italian wedding meatball soup? Something like that. It’s hella delish. It *might* just beat out tomato… Maybe I’ll need to do a side-by-side comparison, just to make sure! 🙂
Tomato soup is the best! I need to figure out how to make a homemade version of it. If I find a good recipe (or maybe you have one for me?), I’ll let ya know.
Hi! You’re not stressing about something, are you? Stress triggers the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. At 3 am, the liver regenerates and glycogen is essential in the regeneration process. When we’re stressed out, the additional adrenaline makes our cells use up more glycogen. If the liver doesn’t have enough glycogen in the body to regenerate, the compensation mechanism is that more adrenaline is released causing the body to be pumped up and alert for action instead of being ready for bed. It could also be due to blood sugar level. Its just what I learned in my elective course in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 🙂
I wish you and BG well.
My fave soup is sinigang! ?
Hi HeraKitty!
How interesting. I’m kinda stressed out about a few things — the baby coming, going on maternity leave, company coming this weekend, the big changes coming soon and just the general sense that I’m not going to have everything ready when BG comes. I also have gestational diabetes, and I’m really hormonal moment, so my blood sugar levels are wonky.
P.S. I love sinigang, too.
Oh Korean sheet masks! That’s what I wrote my last blog post on. I’ll have to track down that lace one, it’s so pretty! I’ve also seen online sheet masks with animal faces printed on them and other cute stuff. I got some of those new Sephora undereye sheet masks in my latest Play box, I can’t to try them out this weekend.
Anyway, I love soup! Creamy tomato with grilled cheese is definitely my favorite, but I also love squash and pumpkin soups, split pea (especially with ham and bacon!) and French onion with sherry. Did you ever try turtle soup in New Orleans? It usually only has a tiny bit of minced turtle meat that you can’t even taste, but it’s a tomato based soup and it’s served with a shot of sherry that you pour in right before you eat. I like the one at Palace cafe, it’s so good!
Oh yeah! Forgot to add this… Whenever I can’t fall asleep, I listen to the Sleep With Me podcast. You can find it on the iTunes Podcast store. It’s this guy named Scooter and he tells this really rambling bedtime stories that are supposed to bore you to sleep and they work! He’s got kind of a soothing, boring voice and I’m usually out before the intro is over. I usually set the sleep timer to turn off after about an hour or at the end of one episode.
Not the witching hour, but I was wide awake at 4:30 today, which is annoying because I am so tired throughout the day. But back pain did prevent me from falling asleep again, so I got up and started reading blog posts 🙂
My favorite soup has to be lentil soup, and if I want to go all out I´ll add “Spätzle”, a special kind of German pasta. SO delicious, but not exactly low on carbs that way.
Woah… $62 for a blush is insane!!! But, again its Guerlain and you know what I also love fresh fragrance of Guerlain Products 😀
Btw, I love tomatoe soup too but I add lotta other veggies’ pieces also like carrot, beans, cauliflower, broccoli and I really like the crunchy veggies with soup..
I didn’t know Guerlain products all smelled so nice… Next time I visit a counter I am TOTALLY going to stick my nose in the compacts, lol. That mask looks kinda silly though, not sure what look they were going for there, lol.
My favorite kind of soup is pumpkin soup by the way! But I pretty much like all soups, except for cream-based ones.
That sheet mask looks really cute! Wasn’t it scratchy on the face though?
I love tomato soup too. I also like cabbage soup- it’s supposed to burn fat too!
Nope, it was surprisingly comfy! The lace is a design and not real lace. Now that would be super itchy!
Great post…that arching hour has been killing me lately!
Once again, I’m late to the party. My fave is broccoli & cheese soup from Panera Bread in a bread bowl. Total comfort food. And speaking of Guerlain- yours truly just received her FIRST EVER Guerlain Terracota Bronzer in Ebony yesterday. And today, I’ll play with it! The bronzer got rave reviews all over the interwebs & I’m really excited about it. It’s my reward to myself for getting up at 6AM to go to the gym with one of my friends- THREE DAYS A WEEK!! The smell kinda reminds me of my great-great aunt but the packaging feels so luxe. Bring on the beach babe bronzer vibes 🙂
That’s a very popular soup, it seems! I’ve had it only once and I think I might’ve had a wonky batch… must go back to try it again. 🙂
I hope you like your Guerlain bronzer! I wear Terracotta all the time and it’s one of my faves. Very natural looking and such a dream to blend.
Good for you for getting to the gym, by the way. What type of exercise are you doing?
Awww, man. Sorry yours wasn’t yummy. I’d try it again (in a bread bowl) and let them know if it’s not good. Panera usually has great customer service so they should exchange it for something better. As for the gym, I try to run/walk 3-4 miles on the treadmill & I follow that up with a one hour yoga class. Yesterday I did a Piyo class & it kicked my butt. I’m still feeling it today. Ouch! I’m trying to become a runner like one of my besties. So I’m hoping I get good at it by training myself on the treadmill first. As for that bronzer, gah! I lurves it! It blends like a dream & looks so natural on me. I also bought two Real Techniques brushes from Ulta yesterday (they were BOGO50%off). Amazed at how well the brush picks up & deposits color. Definitely see a never ending love affair in my future with this bronzer!
You’re so stinkin’ cute with that mask one I can’t stand it!
I love cosmetics that smell of flowers.
I don’t like pea soup. In fact, my favorite kind of soup would have to be fish chowder followed closely by southwestern chicken or turkey soup. However, I’m a bit of soup snob and if it’s not homemade, I’m generally not interested. Unless I’m at a fairly nice restaurant then I might have a cup of gazpacho or something as an app.
The next time you’re up again at the witching hour, check out the Lore podcast. I think you’d like it and it’s fun to listen to either late at night or in the wee small hours of the morning. His tagline is “Sometimes the Truth is More Frightening than Fiction.” http://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes
I think that podcast would keep me up, eek! I need something to help me sleep… zzzzz…
P.S. I kind of love that you’re a soup snob. 🙂
My favorite soup is the potato and leek soup from Mark Bittman’s ‘How to Cook Everything’. Our local food co-op makes home-made veg stock that’s perfect for the base. It’s so quick and easy to make and tastes as good cold and leftover as it does hot and fresh! Just make sure to use really good quality cream or sour cream when you make it.
I hope your sleep improves. Lying awake at night when you’re unable to sleep is no fun.
Hi Fran,
I’ve heard great things about that book. Must pick it up one of these days! I love potato ANYTHING but can’t really have it until after BG arrives. It’s considered a starchy vegetable so I have to eat it in small amounts (if I eat it at all). That soup is one of the things on my list though, yummy!
We’ve enjoyed quite a few great recipes from that book — most of them pretty easy to make, too! Potatoes are *so* glycemic, I only eat them once or twice a week myself — rather odd for someone with German/Irish ancestry on my mother’s side, so grew up eating them at least once a day! When I do eat potatoes, this is one of my favorite ways to eat them. This could be a good recipe for after baby girl is born because it’s quick and easy to make as well as delicious. Great with toasted cheese sandwiches (toast a slice of bread — spread with a bit of your favorite mustard — add a slice or two of Muenster cheese — run under the broiler for a couple of minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly) and a salad. A good ‘comfort food’ dinner. Or serve with burgers or meatloaf or roasted chicken pieces and a salad if feeding meat-eaters.
I loved the Red Queen! I hope you’re enjoying it! 😀
Hi Jasmine,
I’m about four chapters in so far. It’s pretty good!
What other books have you enjoyed lately?
If you want to keep the same vein of Red Queen, I would highly highly suggest Pierce Brown’s Red Rising. It is similar to Red Queen, but I think much better. It is pretty bloody, so dunno if you wanna jump into that with BG in your belly. 🙂
I love trying different face masks. That lace one looks so fancy! 🙂
There’s a local Chinese restaurant that has a really great hot and sour soup. I also like Panera’s tomato soup. Although my favorite part is the yummy croutons they serve with it.
There’s a south Indian dish called sambar, which is like a soup although I usually eat it with rice. My mom makes a killer version with tons of veggies. I’m going to spend some time with her soon to learn all the family recipes. Sometimes mom’s just have the secret touch when it comes to cooking! 🙂
It’s unfortunately common to have some insomnia especially in the third trimester, all those aches and pains and not to mention the slight terror of the baby soon arriving! Good you’re getting some naps to help compensate!! My favorite soup is a veggie one I there together on a whim 10+years ago and loved since. 😉 Chicken stock, chopped onion, zucchini, yellow squash, canned diced tomatoes and any peppers I might have. Then topped with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese like Monterey Jack if I’m having at as a dinner. Drool. If I’m out, Chicken Tortilla because it has a similar feel and the bonus of avocado garnish. 😀 I must be the outlier but I feel like that smile font is weirdly off brand for Guerlain. Would expect that from somewhere more “edgy”.
Red Queen is great, although I didn’t love the lady who did the audiobook. But I’m excited for the next one in the series, I pre-ordered a hard copy. If you like this one, I think you’ll really love the Lunar Chronicles. SO GOOD. Just give it a try with the free sample of Cinder (well, at least Google Play lets you read the first few chapters). 🙂
I’ve been meaning to try sheet masks, but yeah I don’t think lace really makes a difference when you’re probably doing it at home anyway? 😉
Hope you’re doing well, almost-mama!
Totally second Lunar Chronicles!
omg I LOVE your facial expression with that lace thing on your face!!!
First off that mask is silly looking even for a sheet mask. Second the ingredients are great, I’m going to have to try that. Did you order it from them or buy somewhere else?
As for soup, I make quite a few. I often make chicken soup, but I put the yiddish twist on it with lots of lemon, parsley, and a little spice. I also use bone broth. This soup will boost you when you are sick.
I also make a Tuscan White Bean with Kale, Bean and Bacon, Minestrone, and my most loved Smoky Corn Chowder. I have TJ’s tomato and red pepper a few times in the fall and winter. I prefer making my soup from scratch so I can control the sodium. Also, you make soup, a whole lot of it and then eat it for a few days so you don’t have to cook again. It’s a good way to make sure you have healthy food.
I also usually get soup if I’m too sick to make my own or I don’t have the ingredients on hand. The soups I get are the Won Ton Soup from the Thai place I like which is full of healing ingredients (ginger, garlic, bok choi) with homemade bone broth or the Chicken Tortilla Soup from the Mexican place by me, also made with homemade bone broth. It’s spicy (cumin, oregano, black pepper, tomato paste, chili powder) without being hot and has a good ratio of chicken, avocado, and tortillas with just a bit of cheese and green chilies.
“Girls, what’s my weakness? SOUP!” Thanks JT!
She Crab Soup at 82 Queen in Charleston SC with french bread. Yuuummmm!! I love your choice too – tomato soup with grilled cheese.
The ingredients in that mask actually sound pretty moisturizing and good for your skin. I think I’m the only person on the planet who does not like the scent of Guerlain cosmetics. Weird, since I really like a lot of Guerlain’s perfumes. I love the look the Meteorites impart to your skin, but hate the smell. I once bought a container and left them on my dresser with the lid off for an entire year and I still couldn’t stand the smell. Sigh.
Soup! OMG! Yes! All kinds. Soup and salad is one of my favorite dinners. This week I made Egyptian Chickpea soup. Dear Husband’s favorite is when I make Indian curried lentil soup with sweet potatoes and either kale or chard in it. I like a nice gingered carrot soup. One of the local small grocery stores in the area sometimes makes a spiced 5 mushroom soup with chunks of mushrooms. I usually load up on extra containers of that one.
I went to the Guerlain spa inside the Waldorf Astoria in NYC and the entire place smelled amazing! (Also I highly recommend the spa if you are interested!) Also, my favorite soup is the panera creamy tomato with croutons. It’s so so so good. It also has crunchy cheesy croutons that pair so perfectly!
I’m one of “those” people that doesn’t like soup. My husband always asks me “What did innocent soup ever do to you?” LOL. The only I like is Won Ton soup from Jennie Low and if I have a bad cold I like hot and sour soup, also from Jennie Low. I made my husband some homemade split pea soup after Christmas with the leftover ham bone. It made a huge pot of soup and since I don’t eat that, he took a bunch of it to work. His co-workers gobbled it up and several asked for my recipe, so I must have done something right.
The boys love tomato soup with grilled cheese, too. 🙂 I think I’d have to go with French Onion as my fave. I don’t consider myself to be particularly soupy but I do make a lot of chicken noodle, turkey rice and pea soup. There’s something nice about not wasting anything after a “roast” and the house always smells nice (plus, there’s not a lot of active prep/watching required). I guess I enjoy making it even more than eating it. HAHA!