The workweek is looming before us (NOO!), but we’ve still got plenty of time left for fun. Put on your stretchy pants, twist open a fresh jar of Nutella (I’ll bring the spoons), and grab a seat — the Open Thread starts now!
If you’re new to the open thread, here it is in a nutshell:
During the week we mostly talked about makeup and beauty, but today anything goes. The open thread’s kinda like we’re grabbing coffee and catching up, except that we’re behind our keyboards instead of a table at Starbucks. 🙂
It takes place in the comments section at the bottom of this post, and it can be about anything and everything — what’s new in your life, things on your mind and, of course, makeup and beauty are obvs fair game. Got a new skin care product you’re loving? — do tell (don’t make me beg!). Planning a vacation? — share the deets. Trying to figure out whether you should date that cute vampire or the werewolf? — Haha! I’m way too excited about True Blood tonight!
If you’re shy, you can always talk to me, but feel free to reach out to one another, too (everyone here is cool!).
The open thread goes on all day (and night), so stop by and chill if/when you can, and feel free to pop back in and out as you’d like.
A few possible conversation starters…
- What drugstore beauty products do you find yourself repeatedly recommending to friends?
- Where did you grow up?
- What music have you been listening to lately?
And for no particular reason at all (beyond the fact that he’s gorgeous), here are a few random pics of Tabs…
Have a fantastic Sunday, and I’ll talk to you soon!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hey Karen! Do you know of any good drugstore teal or coral nail polishes? Thanks!
I know you asked Karen but I would like to make a suggestion too; Rimmel’s 60 Second polish in Coralicious is a really pretty coral color and it’s really quick drying and long lasting. I’ve purchased it many times. Plus it’s affordable too.
Hi Firefly,
I’ve been wearing a shimmery teal by Rimmel Lasting Pro that I’ve been liking a lot (you can get a glimpse of it in the Tresemme post). How’s your Sunday going so far?
I totally vouch for the Rimmel 60 Second nail polishes – they have great trendy colors, solid finish and long lasting. Just my 2 cents 🙂
Agreed, but does anyone find the brush a bit difficult to use?
Yes!!! I bought it to give my 3 girls (6,5, and 2) quick pedis, I don’t think the brush is bizarre, its the formula. I have Rimmel’s regular polishes and they work great!
First off I Love Tabs… he’s sooooo cute!!! He kind of reminds me of my cat… and second off I can’t believe he lets you tie bows around his neck…
The one thing i always recomend to friends is Dove soap, it’s amazing!!!
Hi Hana,
Tabs has a bunch of different accessories (including a tie). How long has your kitteh lived with you?
As for Dove, I like their deodorants!
We found him abandoned in a box when he was a day old, so he was hand raised (and hand feed)… he thinks he’s a dog cuz he had no momma but hung out with the dog when he was a lil guy… he’s a year old now and acts like a cat-dog combo… he hates anything around his neck… but all in all he’s an awesome cat… <3
I will never understand how anyone could abandon an one-day-old kitten. 🙁 Thank goodness you found him… it sounds like you guys have a very special relationship!
Sometimes I think Tabs is convinced that he’s human, btw. 🙂
He was really little… but super cute. It’s okay now, he’s good and healthy!!! =)
Happy Sunday Karen! How have you been?
I am in between loads of laundry & trying to get my things organized from my trip. Had so much fun! If you’ve never been on a cruise, I highly recommend it.
Welcome back! Are you still jet lagged?
I’d love to go on a cruise. I’m afraid of getting sea sick though…
Yup I am. Woke up so early today. I thought I would get sea sick but I didn’t. There are always meds you can take. 🙂
Any news your way?
Things have been same-o, same-o on this end. I can’t believe it’s already August! I’m not ready for the summer to end. 🙁
Girl, what summer? It’s freaking freezing in SF right now. It was even raining a bit this morning. But it’s still shocking that it’s August.
I am so jealous that you’re freezing! Today was 92 here but they said it “feels like” 101. I went outside and immediately felt like I couldn’t breathe!
You guys have that killer humidity in Atlanta, huh? I so couldn’t hang…
ugh no way! im moving to SF in about 2 weeks & that is NOT what i want to hear lol
Jocey, it doesn’t get warm in SF until September/October.
Well, when you come up to Novato you can get your warm weather on. It’s been nice here — upper 70s and perfect!
I feel the way Tabs looks in the last picture. Can it really be Sunday afternoon already?
One drugstore product I’d recommend to anyone is good old-fashioned Pond’s cold cream. I was afraid to use it because I was so oily and it seemed counterintuitive, but I decided to try it for a month (several years ago) and haven’t stopped. It seriously cut the oil slick on my face down to a negligible amount.
My husband was not happy about the greasy slick it left behind in our shower and sinks, so I only use it in my gym’s showers. At home I use either Purity Made Simple or Nude cleansing oil.
I’ve heard that Pond’s works great as a makeup remover. I wonder if it would work well with sensitive skin..
Anywho, how’s your Sunday going?
My skin is pretty sensitive and I find Pond’s very mild. If mineral oil doesn’t cause you any problems, you should be good to go.
Sunday is good so far — a long shower, some laundry, and some baking. Think we may go for burgers when Mark gets home from work! How about you?
Just a ton of chillin’ out and eating! It hasn’t been the most productive day. I’ve got a billion things to do before my in-laws come to stay with us for a few weeks and none of it has gotten done.
What did you end up baking?
Doughnut muffins! They are just simple muffins that taste similar to a plain cake doughnut. I sampled one…and then I sampled another. Just to make sure they were okay. 😉
Preparing for family is stressful. Are you going to cook much, or take them out? We always take family on what we call the Houston Eating Tour.
That is one of the many things I’m stressing about. We live about five minutes from Costco, so I figure I can just swing by there, by some pre-made stuff I can toss in a pan or the oven and then just call it a day. They’re going to be staying with us from the 12-28, and I work from home and have no idea how I’m gonna get anything done…
Um, can I come over and have some doughnut muffins? NOM!
BTW, please tell me while you were in Hawaii you had Portuguese malasadas!
If you have a chance, you could make a couple lasagnas ahead of time and freeze them. One thing we like to do for a crowd is heat up an assortment of fixins for breakfast tacos (chorizo, eggs, beans, etc) and buy fresh tortillas. We usually get a couple meals out of it and it’s a big hit because everyone gets exactly what they like. I’d also recommend some crockpot meals! Throw a 4-5 lb pork shoulder in with a sliced onion and some bbq sauce and you can easily feed 4-6 people.
Of course you can have some muffins, but hurry because there are only 10 left. 😀
We had malasadas at Azure at the Royal Hawaiian. They came with amazing sauces!
That’s a great idea, as breakfast is not my strong point. This is the first time we’re hosting guests at our place in our nine-year relationship so it should be a learning experience!
Thanks for sharing the donut muffin joy, LOL! I’ll bring the dessert tea. Tabs will bring the entertainment. 🙂
And yay, I’m glad to hear you got to try them. They’re one of my favorite Hawaiian snacks.
I am planning a vacay – to San Diego on the 11th! If anyone has ideas for things I need to do , please lemme know! We are staying in the gaslamp district.
I always recommend olay micro- sculpting cream to my friends!
I grew up in Atlanta and I’m stll here, lol.
I love San Diego! That’s where I learned to surf. 🙂 How long will you be there?
I can’t wait! We arrive the 11th and are taking a red eye back home that leaves the evening of the 17th.
At some point during your trip you’ve gotta go to Extraordinary Desserts:
http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/locations.htm
NOM!
I added it to my list! What are your fave things to get there?!
Get a little dressed up and go over to the Hotel del Coronado for drinks and a stroll! La Valencia in La Jolla is a fun one, too. If you’re a nature girl, check out the tide pools in La Jolla.
Awesome – thanks so much for the recommendations!!!
I can recommend the Neutrogena Wave. love that thing! after the first use, i saw all of my existing pimples (granted, only a couple) completely disappear 🙂
I dont like Nutella :O, so im sitting here with pasta salad ;P rebel, i know..
Hi Aubrey,
I’ve heard about that product but haven’t tried it. It’s like a drugstore version of the Clarisonic, right?
Yes it is. the wave is a nice product, but i still have the urge to try the Clarisonic! lol. Have you used the Clarisonic before?
I have. I’ve been using it for the last 7 months and like it a lot. I stopped using it for a while and definitely noticed a difference in the texture of my skin.
It’s pricey, but if you get something like the Mia during Sephora friends/family sale it’s not too bad.
Aw! Look at Tabby! He’s so cute!
Where did I grow up?
Um, everywhere. I
wasam a military kid. I spent my first 2 1/2 years of my life in West Germany. When I came to the states, I lived (in order) in Fort Huachuca, AZ; Copper’s Cove, TX (near Fort Hood); Fort Fitsimmons, CO; Sheboygan, WI; Great Lakes, IL and where I live now. Don’t ask me what I consider my hometown because I have no idea.In terms of open thread discussion, I got put back on anti-seizure medicine and I’m not amused considering I haven’t been on them for years. I’ll tell you know, there is nothing worse than a medicine I have to take twice a day yet makes me super drowsy. I’ve only been awake for an hour yet I feel like I need a nap. No naps make me cranky like Grumpy.
Oh yea, I also signed up for fall classes which I start in 22 days. Ugh. School. I never look forward to the first day of school.
Sorry to hear about the new meds. Hopefully you won’t have to be on them for too long.
Taking any interesting classes this fall?
No, as far as I know, I have to be on the meds for the rest of my life. My new neurologist gave my mom the lecture of the year when she found out I had gone off Tegretol when I was 10 when I had an abnormal MRI scan when I was 4. Basically, because I had a MRI scan of my brain that revealed a lesion on my right side that causes my seizures (I apparently have a benign cyst as well), I shouldn’t have gone off my meds even though I was seizure free for about three years at the time. Since I have a lesion, I can have a seizure at any time whether I’ve been seizure-free for as little has 24 hours or 6 years. My state prohibits an Epileptic for driving for six months if they have a seizure (how they find out about this, I have no idea).
I have to go in for a slew of tests since my neurologists wants new data since all my stuff is old. I’m not looking forward to the MRI. That’s a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally tiny space.
Classes wise, I’m taking Women in History (a history class that sounds interesting for once), Sex Gender & Power, Basic Algebra (ewwwwww) and French Civ. I hate math!
Well, then hopefully you’ll find some in the future that will work better with your body chemistry.
Algebra = not my fave. 🙁
My body just needs to adjust to the medicine. My mom was laughing at me yesterday because I was starting to the whole “I feel like a zombie” routine (i.e. super slow walking, yawning everywhere, very floppy wrists et cetera) and said I was the same way when I started Tegretol.
I must say, at least this is better than my one time experience with Depakote. I slept for three days from one pill! I’m up and about with this one although I’m a bit drowsy.
Would it surprise you if I said I haven’t taken algebra since I was a junior in high school? I’ve been purposely avoiding math since I have to start very low (as in MTH 102 low). Math and me don’t get along very well. It took me three years to understand fractions!
Aw, Kate & Zena. My heart goes out to you, girl. One of my closest friends is on anti-seizure meds. And yes, it does take a while to get used to, but I’m sure that you will. Good luck with that!
I feel you things with numbers taking a while to sink in. I really struggled with algebra and calculus. It took a few tries…
Need help guys…we’re having a hometown party, and I’m from Jersey. Dressing up as Snooki. I need the most orange, obscene bronzer in existence. For ref, I’m a little darker than Halle Berry’s color…
Also, if anyone happens to have a spare Swedish masseur, I’ll adopt!
Hi Aparnaa,
I’m not sure about the bronzer, but I did find you a kick-@ss Snooki wig:
http://www.costumeexpress.com/Jersey-Shore-Nicole-Snooki-Adult-Wig/70899/ProductDetail.aspx?REF=AFC-cedatafeed&AID=10645522&PID=2100672&SID=NAT4595600-sc31328622
LOLOL
OH. MY. GOD. PERFECT. I was afraid I was going to have to torture my hair into oblivion with a bumpit and hair spray and backcombing… AWESOME! Thank you!
The hubs is off all week, im off from Thurs til Monday of the ff week. Were just going to do a staycation for his birthday week … we might pop over to his parents for a quick visit.
Today we made Pernil which I actually marinated last night – its pork shoulder marinated in some sofrito, garlic, jalapenos, onions etc. I cut slits on the pork shoulder and filled it with the marinade and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The Hubs grilled it today and we had it for lunch … turned out pretty well. Im so full right now.
We are both on a hat kick – we visited a cool hat store yesterday and got one hat a piece. When I made a Target run this morning, I copped a Eugenia Kim newsboy cap for 3bucks!
I might head out in a bit to go thrifting … but its just so hot here today! Maybe, maybe not!
Drugstore product wise, id say im a huge Biore and St. Ives fan and ive given / recommended those products to a lot of people – my sister, my bestie and even the Hubs. I specifically love the Biore Ice Facial Wash and almost all of St. Ives’ body washes. Im probably gonna get the St. Ives Green Tea Facial Cleanser to alternate w/ my Biore Ice soon. 🙂
There’s a Puerto Rican restaurant that El Hub and I occasionally go to that often has Pernil on their specials list. I’ve never had it before but I might have to try it… sounds yum!
You’re always cooking the most yummy-sounding things. Have you always liked being in the kitchen?
I think I picked that up from my mom who was one of the awesome-st cooks ever. We were always “helping” her out.
Im lucky that the Hubs is adventurous when it comes to food too – weve experimented so much on various recipes since we got together which is a lot of fun!
The Pernil turned out well …. in fact its almost all gone! 🙂
How was your weekend?
You’re so lucky! My mom wasn’t the most enthusiastic of cooks so we weren’t really allowed to hang out in the kitchen. I was always fascinated by baking though. If I had more time I’d make cakes all day long. 🙂
My weekend wasn’t nearly as productive as it should’ve been. El Hub’s parents are coming in t-minus 11 days and the house is still a HOT MESS. I have no idea where we’re going to sleep (we’ll be giving them our room, but we don’t have an extra bed) so I may well be in a sleeping bag in the living room for the entire month of August.
Living room w/ Tabs and El Hub sounds purrfect doncha think?
My mom was an awesome cook but a hard taskmaster … ive experienced having to slice stuff over and over again because it wasnt to her satisfaction. Both a good and a bad thing – good because I learned the hard way, bad because when the Hubs tries to help me he says I stress him out!
Heres to another week, have fun and hang in there! 🙂
I bought a queen size air mattress a few years ago and it has been fantastic for guests. I’ve used it a few weeks at a time when moving and it is quite comfortable.
Hello Karen!
A tabby visited my Mingming in our backyard yesterday, and I totally wished it was Tabs! My kitteh wasn’t very happy about his visit though, hissing and growling the entire time. You might want to check out pics on the Comment Luv. 🙂 Tabs is so shameless, always flaunting that belleh. I want to eat his belly!
Scherbatsky visited the vet yesterday, and is apparently maturing really fast. The vet says she might be 5 months and not the 4 months that we were told. Her belly is getting quite full too LOL. Oh and she likes to play fetch — we throw her favourite ball in any direction, she picks it up with her mouth and brings it back to you. She is so smart! 🙂 I’m a proud cat mom.
I always recommend CoverGirl LashBlast waterproof for long, fat, and curled lashes! Nothing else gives me badder lashes than my LashBlast.
Hi Arianne,
I wish our cats could have play dates. 🙂 How fun would that be?
That’s so cute that Sherbert plays catch! Is her ball her favorite toy?
She likes this multi-coloured ball with foil in it. I think it’s the sound that drives her crazy! Her second favourite is a crumpled up paper ball. Gotta love the cheap thrills. 😛
I think Sherbie would love to come play with Tabs! She needs a playmate.
Tabs LOVES the crumpled up paper ball too! He bats it around and chases it. 🙂
Have you taken her outside on her harness yet?
We are total crazy cat ladies, LOLOL…
okay, first of all, how do you get tabs into a leash?!?!?!?!?! i tried.. and failed… anyway the foster kittens are great! they love to eat cream 🙂
He’s a pretty easy going cat, but it did take some bribery. When he first started wearing it, I would rub the harness with fresh catnip, then give him catnip leaves and Pounce to eat while I was putting it on him. Occasionally I’d feed him a little bit of wet food with gravy while he had it on, too. Soon he just got used to it. Now he looks forward to wearing it! He knows it’s time for him to go outside and explore.
awww thats so cute!! ll our kittens are so hyper theyd probably go insane over catnip!! 🙂
I’ve always recommended Rimmel mascaras and lippies, and Nivea Classic Cream in blue tin to my friends, I swear by them. Did you know I never ever had cracked or rough heels? I owe it to Nivea, because it really works and I don’t even need to put it on every night, two times in a week is enough. So, these are my drugstore gems. Oh, and can I please clone Tabs? That would be so cool 😀
Nivea’s pretty good stuff. I love the look of the old school blue tins — so classic. 🙂
Funny you should mention cloning Tabs, because I’ve often wondered the same thing. I don’t know if I’m every going to ever have a cat in my life as special as him ever again.
i have a grey stripey kitty, and just like tabs, she has the most amazing stripey legs! i keep telling her i’m going to get some matching leggings…
Tabs’ striped legs remind me of pantaloons. 🙂
What’s your kitty’s name?
well, her name is simka, but i just call her kitty, bad kitty, piglet..i couldn’t for the life of me figure out what her name was (she was 7 mos when i adopted her) and i happened to be watching the julia childs movie with meryl streep when i heard that character say her name, i said simka! that’s it! ps every girl needs a pair of stripey pantaloons imo…pps i’m trying to stay away from guerlain’s new palettes, the Champs-Élysées Palette is screaming my name…
Ha ha, Tabs has a slew of names too, including Coco Tabby, Lovebug, Sphinx, Twitchy Tail, Purrz…
I just saw that palette the other day on and it looks GOOD. I’ve never used the Guerlain shadows before — do you like them?
i have one, which honestly i’ve never used because i didn’t want to mess it up it’s so beautiful (!!) (the princess volga or something like that) but i’ve tried them on my hand at the counters and they’re so smooth, check out instant d’une emotion swatches online…so beautiful like a green sparkly amazing thing…$35 for one though…ouch..
Had to post a comment to recommend maybelline the colossal volum’ express waterproof. Gives GREAT volume and is so waterproof I wear it to bikram yoga and it’s never once smudged or ran! Including every single day of my 60 day bikram challenge!
Thanks for the rec, Kris!
How did your 60-day challenge go? Good, I hope. 🙂
It was hard, I put soy sauce on EVERYTHING but it was before I had discovered the life changing fluid: Coconut Water. I think I would be able to handle it better with Coconut Water. But I finished it and my feet were so soft! 🙂
Oh my goodness, that kitty has some jellie in his bellie! In addition to my version on Tabs, I have a very fat black cat named Rascal; she’s ever so fond of lying on her back like that because she knows that any family member passing by will instantly drop to their knees and blow farty noises on her tummy. She’s the bomb! OK, on to the topics at hand:
Drugstore stuff I love right now: my NYC Creme Blush Stick (hella good product), my L’Oreal Infallible Plumping Lipgloss in Tawny and most of all (drumroll, pls)…my Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins!!! OMG, you can make a cute messy bun in 30 seconds with these puppies that will stay in place all day, even through a 30-minute session on the elliptical. Best thing EVAH!
Music I’m liking right now: a song from the “Eclipse” soundtrack by Beck & Bat For Lashes called “Let’s Get Lost”. Love, love, love. I’ve been in the mood for kind of slower, hypnotic tunes lately, so I’ve been listening to Mazzy Star, Roxy Music and the Verve.
I was born in Dallas. Hence the name “mkdallas”. That is all.
Aww, I want to give Rascal belly kisses! 🙂
Those Goody pins sound cool. Do you think they’ll work on very thick hair?
I’m not sure about using the Spin Pins on very thick hair, Karen. You get 2 to a box for about $5; if I were you, I’d plan to use 4 pins total (I only require 2). If you go over to Makeup Alley and look under the Hair Tools category, you can find the reviews, which are very positive. Alot of ladies with thick, wavy hair have posted their opinions and I seem to recall that it was overwhelmingly positive. I honestly think they’re the greatest time-saver ever and the bun they make is unstructured, messy and a little bit like the kind you see on the Fashion Week runways. Good luck! Maybe you’ll love them and do a review on here. I will warn you that they sell out alot; I went to 2 Targets and then finally got ’em at Walgreens.
Drugstore products: Neutrogena sunblock stick. It’s the greatest for when you have to reapply sunblock on your face during a long day in the sun (because you’ve exhausted the time limit on your regular spf moisturizer!). No mess, no stink, no greasy hands afterward, no white splotch sitting there on the side of your face that you missed rubbing in. Even the kids don’t complain about it, which is definitely an accomplishment. And the hubs won’t roll his eyes at you when you hand it to him and tell him to spf the back of his neck (did you know that men have some kind of crazy likelihood of developing skin cancer there?? eek! ladies, take care of your man!!).
Anyway, I can’t believe it’s August already. Where did the summer go?
I had no idea about that skincare issue with men. I need to get El Hub to start consistently wearing sunscreen. For some reason he just hates anything related to moisturizer!
I’m in total denial that it’s August. I’m 100% not ready to let go of summer!
I grew up in NY and even though I’m pretty sure I’ll never live there again, it’ll always be where I call home.
I always recommend Cerave cleanser. It is gentle, but still removes makeup. It is an unscented, no-nonsense cleanser. And your guy won’t mind using it. 😉
Made a big batch of gazpacho earlier today. Will be having that and some shrimp for the kickoff of Shark Week tonight. Love me some Shark Week.
Is it Shark Week already? Remember how a few years ago they did these clever promos where they showed all the beach go-ers running toward the ocean while Jaws music played in the background?
Speaking of sharks, I read an interesting article a while back during a flight to Hawaii about shark conservation activist Mike Coots. Have you heard of him? Here it is in case you want to read it:
http://www.hanahou.com/pages/Magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=833&MagazineID=30&Page=1
I do know of Mike. I worked on the first shark finning bill so I keep track of that topic. I saw his testimony to Congress. A moving story. There is usually an episode or two during Shark Week that focuses on the research group out in HI where I used to work.
The Discovery Channel building just north of DC gets decked out each year with a big inflatible shark — so awesome. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-discovery-channel-building-gets-ready-for-shar
Happy Sunday! That Tabs knows how to work the camera, I love the pics you post lol.
I’m sitting on my boyfriend’s bed in a tube top because I spent all day at the beach and I’m sunburned. My ears, my scalp, my chest, shoulders, knees (what?!), and tops of my feet. The sad thing is, I applied spf 50 over and over again throughout the day. Now I’m applying aloe gel every 20 minutes, hopefully I won’t peel lol.
Any ideas to heal the burn faster?
for my face i’ve always applied cucumber slices and that really helps the sunburn cool down
trying that now, thanks Susie!
Had cucumbers on my eyes and the bf ate one. He’s so helpful lol
Sorry to hear about the burn! Sounds like you need a new sunscreen. You might like a post I did a little while back about choosing a good one:
http://eatdinkbemerry.com/2010/06/06/choosing-sunscreen/
(I brought the organic sunblock in the post with me to Hawaii for 10 days and it did really well.)
Thank you so much! I’ll have to check all of those out, i’m so pale, 1 hour in the sun burns :-(.
Use a super soft washcloth or steal a undershirt from your boy and wet it with milk then let it rest on the burns. Or if you want even bathe in it using powdered milk. I had to do this when I got back from the Bahamas with the worst sunburn of my life. You’ll feel better soon, just wear loose clothes and stay out of the sun for a few days.
I asked the boy for a T to do this and he said, “You’re going to drench my shirt in milk? Do I get you cookies with it?” lol! Thank you for the suggestion, I think i’ll have to do this for my face, my nose is just about purple!
Hey Vanessa,
So sorry to hear about your burn. 🙁 I usually douse myself with aloe very gel after I’ve been out in the sun for too long.
Are you feeling any better?
I do the aloe vera gel too!
Have you tried taking an oat bath? Oat baths are great for soothing burnt, itchy, and/or irritated skin and healing dry, cracked and/or inflamed skin. My mom used to make me take baths with an Aveeno oat packet whenever my skin got inflamed; there was that one time when I got close to third degree sunburns too. As much as I hated those darn baths, they worked better than calamine lotion, aloe vera gel or just Benedryl, especially when I got the chicken pox at age four. A word of caution though, your skin will hurt for a minute or two, and you need to use cool water.
Don’t use any lotions on your burns as they can cause infections and DON’T pop any blisters that may appear. If they hurt a lot or you have blisters, wrap sterile gauze bandages (no cotton padding or material that may leave lint) loosely around your burns to keep air off, reduce pain and protect your blistered skin.
If you start feeling weak, the pain gets worse, have burns that are bigger than the palm of your hand and are located on the face, hands, feet or groin, widespread second degree burns, get any new and unexplained symptoms, or your second-degree burns don’t heal in a two-four weeks, you need to see a doctor. Go to the ER if you start swelling at or around burn sites, run a fever, become chilled and can’t get warm, you have widespread second degree burns, have pus leaking out of any burn sites or you have third and fourth degree burns. My dad’s an EMT at his office and I’m Red Cross Certified; burn education is really drilled into our brains, hence the, uh, rant above.
a little better, thank you!
Hey Karen!
I was always more of a dog person because I’ve just had more contact with them, but now that I’m in Greece, a stray cat has adopted us (there are many strays here). She doesn’t leave from outside our house and tends to sleep on our chairs, and I’m absolutely in love with her! I’m so glad I got to get to know and understand cats :] They each have their own personalities and mine tends to talk alot and rub herself on us, but that’s ok. I’m just sad that I’ll have to leave her in a week! She’s going to be so lonely..
I finally tried my sour cherry drink and it does taste a bit weird, but I think I could get used to the taste 😛
Have a good Monday!
Hi Yiota,
Cats can have a lot of personality! Truth be told I was more of a dog person before I met Tabs (he’s very interactive and affectionate). I really hope somebody will adopt your stray when you leave. She sounds like a wonderful kitty!
The sour cherry soda can be a little odd at first but it grows on ya… hey, at least now you can say you tried one. 🙂
What are your plans for your last week in Greece?
Hey Yiota,
Where bouts in Greece r u?
I was there last yr 4 3months it was the best 🙂 but yeh i couldnt get over how many cats r around!!! i thought it was all about donkeys there lol
I’m from an Ionian island :] donkeys are actually pretty rare here where I am actually!
My cat seems so human at times lol! She had actually given birth to 2 kittens in the backyard of my house about 2 months ago and that’s how she’s so attached to us. I would feed her and ever since, she hasn’t left from the house. That’s why I feel so bad leaving her 🙁
I keep taking little sips of it and it’s not too bad lol. I’m determined to finish it though!
My plans for the last week.. hmm. I might go to the waterslides and I need to shop for everyone back home. I also plan on working on my tan a bit more now that it’s my last week! I think that’s about it 🙂
Indie never lets me tie stuff on her, I’m jealous.
I always recommend Cetaphil products to everyone. I have the driest, most sensitive skin and my brother has very oily skin with no allergies and we both have used it in the past and had excellent results. I also recently found dove’s body wash with the nutrium moisture helps my eczema on the back of my arms, and my mum’s and granma’s eczema too.
Enjoy your Sunday ladies
I agree — Cetaphil is the bomb. When my skin is extra dry I like to rub some on my face and then tissue off the excess. Afterward my face feels so comfy!
It also works great as a shave cream!
Does anyone find that UD 24/7 eyeliner smudges on them?
I know it gets rave reviews from all the bloggers and gurus on youtube but it’s just not working for me :/
Are you using on your upper or lower lid? I find that pretty much everything transfers/creases/smudges on my eyes eventually because of my oily lids and deep set folds/wrinkles. A trick that helps my liner last longer on my upper lid (I never line my lower lids – lost cause!) is to use a matching eyeshadow over my pencil liner to help set it. Hope this helps! 🙂
I second Shannon’s trick. You might also want to try laying down a primer onto your lid first like Urban Decay Eden.
Are you using a primer underneath or a base shadow? It helps to give the eyeliner something to grab onto. UD 24/7 smudges on me too, I have super oily eyelids.
I actually prefer Prestige’s Total Intensity Liners more. I feel like they last better, and are just as pigmented, dark, and creamy. And they’re only $5! Give them a try =)
1. What drugstore beauty products do you find yourself repeatedly recommending to friends?
Neutrogena’s Makeup Remover.. Works just as well as Lancome Bi-Facil, IMO.
2. Where did you grow up?
In the small, comfortable town of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada.
3. What music have you been listening to lately?
N.E.R.D.. I heard their next album is coming out in August, I’m excited!
Does anyone have any recommendations for must-have products from Chanel? So far I think I am definitely going to buy their Teint Innocence foundation and bronzing base. I’m looking for Glossimer or lipstick shade recommendations, specifically.. But am open for anything! Thanks
I think N.E.R.D. is great, they should be a lot more popular than they are! I just downloaded their “hot n fun” with Nelly Furtado and it’s my favorite cardio song right now.
I loooove Chanel Glossimer my favorite color is Spark – it looks great on for folks with fair skin!
I gotta share my favorite N.E.R.D. song with you — it’s the Rockstar Remix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQKIOsQrGI
I looooove running to this song!
1. I live and die by Ponds Cold Cream and Dove soap. Give me some sunblock, and I’m good to go. I like classic beauty products the best.
2. I am absolutely obsessed with Mumford & Sons “Little Lion Man.” SUCH A GOOD SONG.
I need to get some of this Ponds! Amber (a few comments up) was just raving about it. Have you been using it for long?
Yep. I have been using Ponds for years to remove makeup (I also sub it for one of those makeup removing wipes on late nights. One step, and my face is clean and moisturized).
All of the women in my family use it from my great grandmother onward. It just works, and it certainly lasts forever.
Hello there!
I love Neutrogena sunscreen, which I guess is a little weird. I always tell my friends to use sunscreen everyday, but at our age (juniors in high school) not too many are willing to listen, even though I swear to them that they’ll thank me in 20 years. Ohhhhh well 🙂
I’m trying to get some of my summer school work done, but my attention span has diminished to the point where I can’t seem to concentrate for more than five minutes. Sigh. Total fail.
I don’t usually listen to that much k-pop, but I love this band called CN Blue. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcf-Bx92Onk& ) Perfect music for when I’m trying to remember all the Spanish I’ve forgotten!
Hi Mai-Hong,
Thanks for sharing that song! It’s very catchy.
Ahhh… to be a junior in high school. Have you thought about college yet and where you want to go?
GUUUUYS! hurry to biglots and grab the sunsilk waves of envy sea mist for 2 bucks! best beachy waves spray EVER. only 2 frikking bucks. its getting DISCONTINUED!
Thanks for the heads up!
I was going to get some of that the other day and didn’t see any Sunsilk products. Now I know why.
Hey Karen and beauties 🙂
Ive been waiting 4 this 2 tell u all bout the cleansing oil ive been using 🙂
Its really effective and its really cheap hehe 😛
Steam ur pores open with a hot washcloth or head over bowl is great if u have time 🙂
Mix some Caster oil and Extra virgin olive oil ( i use half n half 4 oily skin, the dryer ur skin the less caster oil )
Massage on ur face for about 5 mins or longer if you want 🙂
Wash off with warm water or if theres 2 much residue left just lightly cleanse 🙂
Then just follow with ur usual toner and moisturiser 🙂
The Caster oil works by melting the dirty oil plugs in ur pores and the Olive oil works 2 keep ur skin moisturised so it doesnt strip and make u overproduce and breakout 🙂
And trust me if i didnt break out then not many will hehe 😛
Ive been doing this 4 a wk and a bit now and i looovvveee it 🙂 after the first time i saw my nose was almost perfectly clear, and after a few more goes i noticed a big difference on the blocked pores in my chin which seem to be the hard ones 2 get rid of, but its working 🙂
And if u google olive oil u will see how fantastic it is 4 ur skin 🙂 i dunno if i was just over excited lol but i think i noticed the fine lines under my eyes r less since ive been using it aswell BONUS lol
So if anyone tries it let me know how u go 🙂
Sounds interesting, Lee! If anybody else tries this I want to know how it goes, too.
Speaking of Nutella! I made my daughter a strawberry layer cake with Nutella inbetween each layer! YUM!
Oh yuuummm 🙂
Whats ur recipe if u dont mind me asking? i wouldnt mind making that hehe
I second this request! I would love the recipe.
Actually, I didn’t have time to make a homemade cake so……. It was all boxed! Strawberry cake mix with starberries and cream icing. I just put Nutella inbetween each layer. I’m on the look out for a really good strawberry cake recipe!
Hi Karen! This weekend I worked on potty training my 3 year old and I think I need a patience refill, lol. I feel like that we’ve made a little bit of progress but it’s going to take a LOT more work! Hardest task I’ve had as a parent, so far.
One of my all time favorite drug store purchases is Olay Gentle Foaming Face Wash Sensitive Skin. I probably have 2-3 tubes at all times because it’s that great and I worry that it’ll be discontinued or something, lol. It leaves your skin feeling clean & soft and is excellent at removing stubborn makeup too. I don’t even need makeup remover for my eyes before I wash my face.
I’m originally from St. Louis but only lived there until I was 10. I spent 6 years in Saudi Arabia with my family and then have floated around the US (Vegas/Arizona mostly) until finally winding up in Chi-town with my hubby. 🙂
Hi Snoopysteph,
I’ve heard potty training can be very trying. Hang in there! You both will be there in due time.
So this Olay Gentle Foaming stuff sounds totally up my ally. I’ve been wanting to find a cheaper alternative to PMS (Purity Made Simple) so this might be it! I love anything that allows me to skip the eye makeup remover. Is it very drying?
That’s cool that you lived in Saudi Arabia. How was it growing up there?
It’s not drying at all, even around the eyes. When you squeeze it from the tube it almost looks like a cream cleanser but it’s actually very sudsy and foamy. Watch out if you go to buy it – there’s 2 versions, sensitive skin (with aloe) and another one for oily skin. Hubby uses that one but it’s a harsher on the skin and it’s not really like the sensitive skin version. The best part is that there’s always a $1 off coupon in the paper so you can grab it for less than $3!
Growing up in Saudi was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I moved there when I was 11 and left when I was 16 and I really attribute my experiences there to making me the person I am today. I’m way more cultured and open-minded than had I stayed in my small suburb of STL. I got to do a LOT of traveling (went to Russia when I was 13, for example) and I have friends around the world. It was pretty cool as a kid but I don’t think I could ever live there as an adult woman. 🙂
Tabs, little dude, you’re a hawt mess in the corner, you been slummin’ it little man !!!!!!!!!!!! You rock my world Tabs, huge kisses for your rather plump gutular region xoxoxox
I’m still stuck on the second or third episode where Bill and his “maker” or whatever have sex and he twists her head around . That’s one of the most unbelievably stupid scenes i have ever, ever seen on television. Ever . I have officially given up on that show. I first began to read the books maybe my Sophomore years in high school and i don’t remember all of this crazy stuff. But i digress. Books and movies/ television don’t get along.
I always recommend N.Y.C Black liquid liner ($2) and just your basic brown, grey, black eyeliners from the drugstore. I find it unnecessary to play $10+ on your basic eyeliners. For the crazier colors, definitely Sephora. Otherwise, no.
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Still stuck here til August when i go back to College. One day I’ll move to Alaska or somewhere cold.. I Loathe the perpetual heat. i’m a little backwards i think. most people that grow up or live in a warmer climate hate the cold but i hate, hate the heat and love the cold. Sigh. One day.
I actually haven’t had any time to really listen to music lately, sadly. i’ve been helping someone get settled into their new place and it’s been a real pain. I’ve only really been listening to two songs: Revep by Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto and Memories of Places We’ve Been by Faunts. But i love these two songs so it’s all good!
My little Lola got spayed yesterday. She never ever whines or barks but she whines in pain sometimes and it makes my heart hurt. But it is soooo hilarious to watch her walk in her Cone of Shame aka the e collar. Oh man…she’ll get stuck against a pillow or a sofa or wall and she’ll just stand there, motionless, until you go to her and move her cone.. i feel so awful but not awful enough, i guess. It’s so funny!
I am LOVING Revlon Color Surge lipstick. The texture, colors, packaging… all of it! I have $30 lipsticks that aren’t this nice. I also like Milani Liquif’eye Liners. They’re lovely, very Urban Decay-like, at a much better price point. (I do still love UD for my colorful liners, but the basic black and silver Liquif’eyes are wonderful.)
Tabs = Rockstar.
I know I’m a day late on posting to the thread but I looooovvvvveee good drugstore makeup so I had to write some of my common recs! I absolutely love the L’oreal Lineur Intense felt tip liquid liner, Rimmel’s Lasting Finish foundation, and Wet and Wild’s brow pencil 🙂
P.S. Tabs is sooooo cute! I used to have a kitty that looked a lot like him and who was the sweetest cat ever! His name was Quincy.
This has nothing to do with makeup, but I was reminded with the picture of Tabs. My puppy lays down exactly like that. She’ll be on my bed sleeping and she’ll be in the exact same pose. It’s funny because I’ve never had a dog that like lying like that.
Tabs is gorgeous and judging from his poses, he was probably some sort of supermodel in a past life!!! Love your blog:)
Hi Karen, I love the pic of Tabs laying on his back so much, it’s now my desktop background! I hope you don’t mind!
Aww! ur Tabby is so cute! I just love him! Hey am from India and cant live without Neutrogena suncreen keep recommending it to all my pals ! 🙂
Tabs rocks!!