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Happy Caturday, my friend. You know that all is well in the world when you walk into a HomeGoods and see a plethora of cat lady mugs 🤗😸☕ on the shelves near the cash registers.

(This is an important signal.)

One could build an entire collection of kitty-themed mugs based solely on quick jaunts to HomeGoods. (Ha ha ha, is there even such a thing? I’m lucky if I get out of there in half an hour.)

I love the chonky kittehs on the “Catfinated” mug and the sweet Siamese posing betwixt the flowers, especially.

Today, I’m enjoying my morning brew from my trusty XXL kitty teacup, which was also a HomeGoods find, and catching up on my reading.

I’m smack-dab in the middle of reading Maida Heatter’s Brand New Book of Great Cookies (FEELING THIS SO HARD) and The Modern Cook’s Year, by Anna Jones (eh, kinda boring). I’m also listening to an audiobook of Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming.

So many books, so little time.

By the way, for all my fellow chocolate-chip cookie fanatics, according to Maida Heatter, the key to making the perfect chocolate-chip cookie is doubling the vanilla, and using chocolate bars cut into pieces, instead of chips.

Continue reading "Saturday Surfing, September 28, 2019" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Saturday Surfing, September 28, 2019 Happy Caturday, my friend. You know that all is well in the world when you walk into a HomeGoods and see a plethora of cat lady mugs 🤗😸☕ on the shelves near the cash registers. (This is an important signal.) One could build an entire collection of kitty-themed mugs based solely on quick jaun...

Fall-inspired look, TAKE TWO.

I think this one’s a little closer in terms of vibe to the Thanksgiving baking accouterments I found at Michael’s the other day… More fall, and less summer, with shimmery reddish copper lids, bronze cheeks and nude-beige lips.

I wore it to the bakery the other day… The bakery in my kitchen, THAT IS! Had this on while trying to work out the pumpkin/pecan cupcake situation (yes, this is a thing I’m working on). In a nutshell, I think I found a good balance between a spicy pumpkin cupcake, and brown sugar pecans, but that’s a story for another time…

As for this look, here are some things you may find helpful when wearing reddish copper eyeshadow, or really any shadows with red tones:

1. Full-coverage foundations make a HUGE difference

You know me; I like to wear as little as possible in terms of base products, but whenever I try to do minimal foundation/concealer that incorporates any sort of copper, coppery red or red eyeshadow, I look tired, messy and juuuuust not right. Babe, if you’ve got anything remotely red happening on your lids, then go for full-coverage foundation.

Continue reading "3 Tips for Wearing Red Eyeshadow (and a 20-Minute Makeup Look)" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

3 Tips for Wearing Red Eyeshadow (and a 20-Minute Makeup Look) Fall-inspired look, TAKE TWO. I think this one’s a little closer in terms of vibe to the Thanksgiving baking accouterments I found at Michael’s the other day… More fall, and less summer, with shimmery reddish copper lids, bronze cheeks and nude-beige lips. I wore it to the bakery the other day...

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. 👍

1. What are you like when you’re really, really tired?

An absolute joy to be around! 😺🌈🌺 People can’t get enough of my sunny demeanor, and my cup runneth over with patience. (Yes, that was sarcasm.)

2. Which eyebrow is your “good” eyebrow?

My left. It’s the one that bothers me the least, even with Raul (a.k.a. “the bald spot”)! My left brow is longer than my right, and I like where the arch is positioned, so it’s easier to fill in. My right brow is significantly shorter and straighter than the left one, and the arch isn’t as defined, so it takes more work to fill in.

3. What makes your skin 😊 happy?

When I get enough sleep, drink obnoxious amounts of water, and use Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion.

Continue reading "Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 551" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 551 So…what is the Monday Poll? Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love read...

Yes and no. There’s an outdoor mall five minutes away from me that I like… I like that it’s five minutes away from me, and it has some great practical stores like Target, Costco, DSW (commonly referred to as “Shoe Valhalla”), Sephora (right!?), LOFT and Old Navy. They also just got a Nordstrom Rack, a Carter’s and a Banana Republic Factory Store.

So lots of everyday useful stores, but I still wish I lived closer to a proper indoor mall with more variety, like the huge three-story malls in San Francisco and the East Bay where you could walk in while it’s daylight, totally lose yourself for hours, and walk out when it’s night.

I am glad, though that I live so close to a Sephora and a Target and to places where I can get an affordable dress in a pinch, then grab a Starbucks on the way out.

Right after I gave birth to Connor, man…that mall was my safe place! When I was in my postpartum no-sleep haze, El Hub would make me go to that mall every couple days just to see people and get out of the house.

Continue reading "Do You Live Near a Good Mall?" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Do You Live Near a Good Mall? Yes and no. There’s an outdoor mall five minutes away from me that I like… I like that it’s five minutes away from me, and it has some great practical stores like Target, Costco, DSW (commonly referred to as “Shoe Valhalla”), Sephora (right!?), LOFT and Old Navy. They also just got a Nords...

I’ve talked about the misery inflicted by my makeup pencil sharpener before, but I’m no longer livin’ that messy life, because I recently figured out how to make it perform better by — novel idea here — cleaning it!

The solution I stumbled on has two parts. First, I ditched my Make Up For Ever, and UD Grindhouse, sharpeners for the no-frills Sephora sharpener shown at the top. It doesn’t have a built-in enclosure to catch the shavings, but that actually forces me to toss the shavings in the trash after every use.

Those enclosures never seem to stay affixed very well anyway, and they burst open no matter how many rubber bands I wrap around them.

Second, and this part is key, I swipe the blades clean after every use. To facilitate this, I keep baby wipes from Costco around and usually end up using one of those, but makeup wipes, a clean Q-Tip, tissue or a cotton pad (either soaked with a little makeup remover, or just dry on its own) work too.

Doing this ensures that there aren’t any errant makeup particles floating around, and consequently no transfer of color between eyeliners and lip pencils.

Continue reading "A Small But Life-Changing Makeup Tip (Hint: It Has to Do With Your Sharpener)" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

A Small But Life-Changing Makeup Tip (Hint: It Has to Do With Your Sharpener) I’ve talked about the misery inflicted by my makeup pencil sharpener before, but I’m no longer livin’ that messy life, because I recently figured out how to make it perform better by — novel idea here — cleaning it! The solution I stumbled on has two parts. First, I ditched my Make Up For ...

More with the ideas! —-If you haven’t heard, there’s a Sephora VIB sale in November, so I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup that you can find at Sephora this week.

I’m hell-and-gone addicted to this deep-repair shampoo and conditioner (they’re $25 each) from IGK Bad & Bougie.

The first day I took my hair out into the world after using Bad & Bougie…which, I’m sorry. Every time I see that name I feel like I’m talking about a poodle that needs to be walked.

Anyway! I ran into my HIIT instructor while running errands, and she said the nicest thing you can say to someone obsessed with maintaining a shiny mane. “Wow! Your hair looks like a really expensive drag queen’s wig!”

At that point, guuuurl, I knew it was true love.

Botany moment! — a plant oil called “amla” powers this power couple. It’s normally made by soaking dried amla fruit (otherwise known as Indian gooseberry) in oils, and it’s commonly used as an Ayurvedic hair treatment.

From sephora.com:

Types of hair it’s good for

Straight

Wavy

Curly

Coiled

Tightly coiled

What it is
A deeply nourishing shampoo and conditioner to nourish, strengthen and protect — immediately and over time.

Continue reading "Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: IGK Bad & Bougie Amla Oil Deep Repair Shampoo and Deep Repair Conditioner" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: IGK Bad & Bougie Amla Oil Deep Repair Shampoo and Deep Repair Conditioner More with the ideas! —-If you haven’t heard, there’s a Sephora VIB sale in November, so I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup that you can find at Sephora this week. I’m hell-and-gone addicted to this deep-repair shampoo and conditioner (they’re $25 each) from IGK Bad & Bougie. The...

There’s a new superheroine in town (THIS girl) thanks to this mascara’s crazy insane curl hold. I’ve been wearing It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara for the better part of the past two months because the curl hold is simply out of this world, and even though the formula isn’t technically waterproof, it might as well be in at least one way because the hold is just as good as any waterproof mascara I’ve tried.

I’m talking long, luscious black lashes with wide-eyed, locked-down CURLS. FOR. DAYS. Boom! — instantaneously dramatic lashes.

I wore it to coffee with a girlfriend a couple weeks ago (hey, Fern!) and cried about, oh…five times during the conversation. (It was one of those emo visits. You know how it goes sometimes.) When I looked in a mirror afterward, I expected to see something completely different, but this mascara hadn’t budged or smudged at all.

In Hawaii I also wore it to the pool and beach a few times, and it lasted surprisingly well there, too, despite it not being classified as waterproof, which is something I’ve been trying to avoid lately, because I’m convinced that wearing full-on waterproof makes my lashes fall out more easily.

Continue reading "Product Spotlight: It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Product Spotlight: It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara There’s a new superheroine in town (THIS girl) thanks to this mascara’s crazy insane curl hold. I’ve been wearing It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara for the better part of the past two months because the curl hold is simply out of this world, and even though the formula isn’t technically waterpr...

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Good question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past gazillion years (more than 10!). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a great start. 👍

1. Do you fur babies sleep with you in bed?

No, not really. Once in a while he’ll grace us with his presence for an hour if he’s got nothing else going on, but otherwise he’d rather kick it on the couch or on top of a pile of freshly folded clothes (cats!).

2. Dainty, tiny jewelery or big, bold pieces?

Tiny jewelry please, and please let there be some method of securing whatever it is fully it can’t fall off my body.

3. Would you rather walk around with a sharp, uncomfortable and painful rock in your left shoe for three years OR have to live with Kanye West for six months?

Both sound equally unbearable, but I’d pick living with Kanye with six months, since it’ll be over sooner than later.

Continue reading "Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 549" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 549 So…what is the Monday Poll? Good question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past gazillion years (more than 10!). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get...

I’ve been spending most of the precious little time I get to sit on the couch and let my mind wander watching the new season of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix…

Is it just me, or do the challenges this season seem overly complicated and kind of crazy? Because one of the reasons I used to love watching the show is that it gave me ideas for things I could make, like cakes and cookies I’d never seen before, but they were usually things I felt I could conceivably tackle.

Now, though, some of the challenges are crazy, like where they have to make baked hanging bread chandeliers and melting chocolate globes with layered cake tarts INSIDE THEM.

This season is also the first one ever with a vegan week, which, from a technical standpoint, is fascinating to me, because I never realized you could get that kind of lift without eggs and butter, but still…when am I gonna actually make a vegan celebration cake?

There are so many things on the show now that I can’t see myself ever baking because everything’s just so complicated.

Continue reading "The Great British Baking Show Is So Complicated Now" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

The Great British Baking Show Is So Complicated Now I’ve been spending most of the precious little time I get to sit on the couch and let my mind wander watching the new season of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix… Is it just me, or do the challenges this season seem overly complicated and kind of crazy? Because one of the reasons I used t...

As you know, cats have been strong supporters of the U.S. Armed Forces since before the American Revolution, providing logistical “lurvy” support to service members, veterans and their families, as well as providing volunteer pest control on bases and naval vessels.

This year, to show his support, Tabs designed and commissioned a special commemorative Memorial Day cat collar, which he wanted to model… 🐱

As far as Memorial Day holiday festivities tomorrow, Tabs wanted to keep it low key, so he invited a few of the neighborhood cats over for a barbecue of trout and turkey tenders baked in catnip leaves.

Mmm…

Tabs was also kind enough to give me the day off (whee!), so we’re heading to the East Bay to meet my fam for lunch. Hope you’re doing something fun. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Continue reading "Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 503" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 503 As you know, cats have been strong supporters of the U.S. Armed Forces since before the American Revolution, providing logistical “lurvy” support to service members, veterans and their families, as well as providing volunteer pest control on bases and naval vessels. This year, to show his suppor...

It’s not exactly a scandal… Get it? Haha… But I’m definitely getting Olivia Pope vibes from the poised, polished browns in Kerry’s chic new Neutrogena eye palette.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only seen a few episodes from the first season of Scandal (tried but didn’t really get into it), but I remember loving the clothes, like the all-white ensembles! The stiletto pumps! The bags!

Oh, THE BAGS. Olivia Pope’s character dresses like she eats nails for breakfast, and I LIKE IT. No matter what she wears, though, her makeup always looks sophisticated, so yeah, definitely see her wearing this palette.

It has five powder eyeshadows, all in surprisingly cool neutral tones, which is so refreshing betwixt all of the orange and reddish neutral palettes all over the place these days.

I mean, I like fun warm tones, too, but when you have a slightly hooded lid situation like I do, cool-toned browns are just so handy. They’re perfect for contouring a crease that isn’t very deep, but that really only works with shadows that have a semi-matte or matte finish, because when you’re using them this way, you don’t want them to reflect a lot of light.

Continue reading "The Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette Is on the Cusp of Greatness" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

The Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette Is on the Cusp of Greatness It’s not exactly a scandal… Get it? Haha… But I’m definitely getting Olivia Pope vibes from the poised, polished browns in Kerry’s chic new Neutrogena eye palette. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only seen a few episodes from the first season of Scandal (tried but didn’t ...

First of all, happy International Women’s Day from me and the Coywolf! Here are a few inspiring stories of women making a difference in our world today.

Much less interestingly, all of the awesome Revlon black hair elastics I started using a while back have disappeared into the mysterious black hole located inside my house, so I went to Target to replace them and found these…

SERIOUSLY! They’re huge. I don’t know if they’ll be able to handle my mane, but we shall see. Side note: I wonder what Jason Momoa thinks of them, ha ha ha!

Lastly, I desperately need to paint my nails! Having my nails done always makes me feel like I’ve got my sh*t together and makes the world around me seem less chaotic. (Am I the only one?) Gonna try out this new brand by Sally Hansen called Mega Strength.

How are you (and your nails) doing on this beautiful Friday? What’s new?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 😄

Continue reading "A Few Quick Things…" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

A Few Quick Things… First of all, happy International Women’s Day from me and the Coywolf! Here are a few inspiring stories of women making a difference in our world today. Much less interestingly, all of the awesome Revlon black hair elastics I started using a while back have disappeared into the mysterious black ho...