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So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s a lot more of a regularly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 11 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always took pleasure in reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you take pleasure in reading mine.

1. Something in your pocket?

A stick of string cheese, which I’m about to go to town on, LOL. I normally wake up starving in the morning, but my stomach feels a little wonky today, so I’m going to warm it up first by eating something small that I know my tum can handle…which happens to be string cheese.

And then hopefully in a couple hours my tum will feel ready for my normal breakfast meal of “everything and the kitchen sink.”

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No, seriously, I’m the pal that you’re embarrassed to take to the breakfast buffet because I will eat errrrrrthing in sight, including what’s on your plate — kidding!

Maybe…

2. Which of these three jobs do you think you could do best: magician, musician, or obstetrician?

I’d be a horrible magician (“So, the queen of hearts isn’t your card? Are you sure? It was meant to be your card…”), an ok musician, and an amazing obstetrician.

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It’s weird, but I used to be really freaked out by blood and needles, but they don’t really bother me anymore after having Connor.

3. Dollywood or Graceland?

Dollywood 4 life, homie!

4. One day, while shopping for foundation, you try on two of them that look terrific on you, and both of them cost the same. how do you figure out which one to get?

I’d think about which one feels lighter on my face (because I don’t like feeling like I’m wearing heavy face makeup), and I’d go with that one.

If they both felt equally light, then I’d opt for the one that layers better, so I’d have the option to build it up if I wanted to.

I like having options!

5. Which is worse — wet socks or wet tee shirt cuffs?

Both are the devil’s work, but walking around in wet, squishy socks is sooo much worse than the cuffs.

Happy Monday

G’morning! delighted Monday, babe. I’m eating my cheese stick now and enjoying the sky change from pink to purple to blue over the hills…

Ah…

Right now I’m trying to think of a couple small things I can do today to help this be a good week. Do you ever do that? Not talking about things like eating cheese and enjoying the sunrise (although those are perfectly fine ways to start a Monday morning)… a lot more like taking a five-minute break every hour to stretch and do some deep breathing. I’m going to set alarms to remind myself to do it, too.

Anyone want to stretch with me? We can keep tabs ? on each other in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

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Karen

P.S. here are the poll questions. You can copy and paste these with your answers in the comments.

1. Something in your pocket?
2. Which of these three jobs do you think you could do best: magician, musician, or obstetrician?
3. Dollywood or Graceland?
4. One day, while shopping for foundation, you try on two of them that look terrific on you, and both of them cost the same. how do you figure out which one to get?
5. Which is worse — wet socks or wet tee shirt cuffs?

I have a feeling someone would nap…
What would you do with your 26-hour Tuesday? because I’m a glutton for punishment…I’d probably be lured to do something productive. There are so many things I want to do around the house, but I’d also like to coordinate a block of time with El Hub so he could take Connor on a daddy/daughter date. and then maybe I’d just rest and recharge on the couch with a book or Netflix.

Or, I’d take a nap. ?

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I know, such lofty goals. ?

Or maybe I’d go to the movies and get a big tub of popcorn (kettle corn sandwich-4-life!). I still want to see crazy rich Asians.

Of course, I’d probably fall asleep at the movies, too, because I’m *that* person now, ha ha ha!

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Your turn. You have a 26-hour Tuesday today. What do you do? GO!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Old institution icon, MAC Twig!
Meet a few of my preferred MAC nude shades this week from the MAC strip Down collection.

I’m a bonafide twig expert! — self proclaimed, of course. I have twigs in every pocket of every jacket. Literally.

And there are two reasons for this:

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Because I like to wear MAC Twig lipstick

And since Connor has to pick up all of the twigs she discovers whenever we leave the home as well as adds them to her collection of “treasures that we keep by the front door.”

So, yeah, with the power vested in me by the specify of California, I state myself a twig expert. ?

MAC Twig is such an old-school favorite. possibly unsurprisingly, it is not the color of many small branches. Really, I don’t understand why it’s even called “Twig,” unless somebody somewhere had a dream about a pinkish brown tree…?

Yeah, it’s in the realm of brown, however I believe it’s much more pink than brown, so if you like the concept of a nude lip color that splits the difference between a Barbie pink as well as a true brown, a la MAC Paramount, take a look at Twig.

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Like other MAC nude lip greats, it’s subtlety different from other nude lip colors in methods that a laid-back bystanders would have absolutely NO hint about. like my hubby — he would never be able to tell the difference between velvet Teddy as well as Twig, however you as well as I? We would.

The supreme trifecta of MAC rosy brown nude lippies!

I believe Twig is closest to MAC Mehr, however it’s less pink as well as much more brown. It’s likewise similar to MAC Whirl, however Whirl is browner than Twig. So, it’s certainly in the pinkish brown family. I’d state that it’s about halfway between Mehr as well as Whirl.

Definitely NOT the exact same as velvet Teddy, though, since it doesn’t have as much beige.

The Satin Lipstick formula is spectacular, too. There’s a light essence of shine, however it reads on my NC42 skin as a matte. I believe Twig has all of things many people crave from a lipstick with a flat finish. It’s creamy as well as buttery…

(Ugh, exactly how numerous times am I gonna state “creamy as well as buttery” in a blog post?)

But it is, though. It likewise hugs your lips like fitted sheets on a firmly made bed, so it smooths any type of lip creases as well as wrinkles.

If you’re a hard-core matte person, you’ll most likely be okay with this on your lips, however if your lips are even the smallest bit dry, Twig, for whatever reason, might make it worse if you aren’t careful. When I wear it as well as laundry my deal with at the end of the day, I have to apply lip balm before I go to bed, as well as then I’m fine the complying with morning.

If I don’t do that, my lips will feel a bit dry (but they won’t peel or anything like that).

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Twig is from the long-term line as well as likewise part of MAC’s strip Down collection. try it! It’s gorgeous, as well as you understand what? It goes well with all of the MAC classics. Satin Taupe, WoodwinkedTexture, Soft brown — you name it. any type of of the old-school MAC greats that will withstand up until the next millennia (seriously, Connor’s grandchildren’s grandchildren will most likely be using those colors). provide them a choose Twig.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

using the metropolitan Decay Aphrodisiac collection
Like any type of great like ? potion, the new metropolitan Decay Aphrodisiac collection is mysterious as well as difficult to find…

No, literally. It is. The collection doesn’t appear to have officially introduced yet, as well as details are scarce, however what I do understand is this: it’s new for autumn 2018, as well as the palette as well as three glosses are new (the two liners, Rockstar as well as Zero, are re-promotes).

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Urban Decay Aphrodisiac

Release date: TBD

Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow palette (estimated price, $29, because it’s the exact same size/shape as naked petite Heat)

Hi Fi-Shine Ultra cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted as well as Tongue tied ($20 each)

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero as well as Rockstar ($21 each)

New for autumn 2018: metropolitan Decay Aphrodisiac
Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow Palette
Hi Fi-Shine Ultra cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted as well as Tongue Tied

Yup, still an NC42

Watcha believe (about the makeup or aphrodisiacs in general)? Titillated? Stimulated? bored stiff? ?

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Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

P.S.

The new MAC Art Library: nude design combination ($48)
There’s a long listing of beautiful neutral eyeshadow palettes available in the makeup multiverse, however when it concerns the very best of the best, maaaaaaan, MAC? *snaps* When they get it right, they get it right. They compose the freaking book.

Cases in point: Brooke Shields. (I still drool a bit each time I believe about it.); the Nordstrom Naturals palette; as well as the warm Neutral as well as awesome Neutral Palettes.

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BOMB.

And now, the new MAC Art Library: nude design palette.

It’s $48 as well as one of three eye palettes offered now in the new MAC Art library collection. I believe it’s the most wearable of the lot with its 12 neutral shades, however that’s just one of numerous reasons I’m lovin’ on it.

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With it, you get a mix of old faves (hi, Shroom as well as Espresso!) as well as new ones, however the genuine charm is that there are so, SO. MANY. MATTES.

Seven of them! When does that ever happen?! Um, never?

The rest are shimmers, none of which are as well obnoxious, with different levels of radiate as well as glitter.

I’m an NC42, by the way.
All the Art library palettes were pieced together by MAC artists, as well as you can completely tell the these gals/guys had wearability as well as versatility in mind.

Making matters even much more profoundly fantastic is exactly how simple all 12 are to blend. Plus, there aren’t any type of orange-y or reddish brown shift colors, which is rather unusual. many of the MAC neutral palettes I discussed at the top have at least one warm, mid-toned orange brown shift shade like Saddle or Soft Brown, as well as don’t get me wrong — I like those shades, however they can be a tad repetitive, especially in neutral palettes.

Bucking that trend, nude Model’s mid-toned matte shifts are yellowish browns as well as cool-toned beige grays, which you don’t see often, as well as it modifications the palette’s general vibe. It can’t be characterized as a easy warm-toned combination or a awesome one. It’s smack dab in the middle. A neutral’s neutral, so to speak.

Oh, hey! Eyes: MAC Art library nude design Eyeshadows in Sandstone, Shroom, Tete-A-Tint, Espresso as well as decrease the Robe. Lips: MAC Art library Lipstick in down to An Art. Cheeks: MAC Melba Blush

Nude design likewise has beautiful touches of awesome pink as well as plum — yet one more thing that sets it aside from previous MAC neutral palettes (or, the biggest hits, as I like to believe of them).

The shadows wear fantastically well without primer, by the way. let me tell ya, I’ve been skipping primer lately (SERIOUSLY, who AM I?), as well as it has altered my life. fantastic what skipping one step can do for you. I just don’t requirement it (most of the time). however yeah, I plop a few nude design shades on my bare lids, blend a little, line a little, as well as I’m always kinda shocked exactly how much is still on my lids when I go to eliminate my makeup at the end of the day.

Like, all of it. These shadows just stay.

So artsy!
Really, this is a library I wanna online in. All the time. just me as well as my sleeping bag.

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Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

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. Velcro or buttons?

Buttons.

That is all. I don’t have anything else to add.

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2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?

Hmm… If we’re only talking about music I’m most likely to listen to on the treadmill, then Taylor Swift. but if I were picking one of them to draw strength from as a lifeforce, then Joan Jett for sure.

3. how much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?

I check ’em. Mostly, I skin through them to see if I can detect any themes that keep popping up over and over again, and I’ll keep them in mind when I’m thinking about purchasing a product, but I don’t comb through each and every single one because I know that some people leave 5-star reviews because a product is new and they think it’s cool.

It’s like anything. You have to take them with a grain of salt.

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4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?

All sorts of gluten-free nonsense, none of which I want to eat. We’ve got some pad Thai (wasn’t very good; there was only one potato, which to me is a travesty), yellow chicken curry and some leftover cold, soggy French fries.

Except for the tacos El Hub made last night, it was not a weekend of culinary delights.

5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?

I really like Smith and Cult above It All. It keeps my mani shiny for longer than other top coats.

I also like Seche Vite, which I’ve been using off and on since the Triassic period (apparently, I’m not the only one who likes it either).

The only thing I don’t like about Seche Vite is that it gets really goopy, really fast, so the bottles never last too long.

Deep thoughts on a Monday morning… how do you feel about frosting?

So we’ve gone to a couple of festive parties lately, and I’ve noticed something interesting to me that I would like to get your opinion on.

Frosting.

Kids will do anything for frosting. They lose their damn mind, and from what I’ve gathered, for kids, frosting is the main event. It’s more important than the actual cake or cupcake.

Like at a recent 3-year-old’s birthday party we went to, the second one boy’s mom wasn’t looking, he leaned over the table with his spoon and scraped off a huge chunk of frosting from the birthday girl’s cake, and even when Connor eats cupcakes, she’s all about the frosting. She eats the frosting first, and then may or may not eat the cupcake or the cake as a secondary afterthought.

For me, frosting is an accompaniment to the main event, but I don’t know if I’m in the majority. What about you? What’s your take on frosting?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

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Karen

P.S. question time! here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. talk to you soon.

1. Velcro or buttons?
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
3. how much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
5.1 how do you feel about frosting?

found treasure
See, this is why one must tidy up their desk multiple times a week, rather than only doing it before Mercury goes into retrograde, because they just might find a treasure trove of random gift cards!

Over the years, I’ve learned that there are three types of gift card people in this world.

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The people that spend their gift cards decisively and ideal away without any hesitation.

The people who hoard their gift cards, allegedly for a rainy day, but end up holding on to them for months or years. (Ahem! yours truly.)

The people who absolutely forget about or lose their gift cards and end up frittering away what was essentially complimentary money. (I hate to admit it, but I’ve been this person, too.)

Why do I hoard gift cards for so long? — because honestly it makes no sense. I like to shop.

No, I loooove to shop. I could get an honorary Ivy league PhD in the shopping arts, LOL! and I especially love that I get to pick exactly what I want when I use a gift card, because I’m incredibly picky about…well, nearly everything.

(And this is why it took me a lot more than 10 years to finally decide on a new couch.)

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But with great power comes great responsibility. Do you spend the gift card on something you need, or do you spend it on something you want? and if you opt for something you need, do you play it safe, or do you get the thing you’ve been lusting after forever but never would have gotten yourself in a million years?

For example, say you unexpectedly get a $400 gift card to spend solely (ha ha) on shoes. Do you get a single pair of Jimmy Choo glitter heels (SWOON), or do you go the functional route and get the four pairs of Nike running shoes that you know you love and wear all the time (and that you know you’ll eventually go through over several years)?

As you can probably guess, those “Choose Your own Adventure” books were a great source of vexation for little Karen when she was a kid.

All of this is to say that I’ve been sitting on a Nordstrom gift card for months.

I know I must probably use it to replace my favorite blank nyc artificial leather jacket, which I’ve worn and loved for years. It held up well, but the pseudo-leather is falling off in huge flakes on the back of the collar, and I don’t think there’s a good way to fix it. Thankfully, I found out that Nordstrom still sells the exact same jacket.

I’ve hesitated to pull the trigger, though, because part of me thinks that even though I’ll wear it all the time…why not look around for something new and different?

Beyond that, must I even use the gift card get a jacket? I could use it instead on that Chantecaille foundation I’ve wanted for a while…

I think that maybe because gift cards feel like getting complimentary money it ups the ante on the final decision. There’s a lot more pressure.

Another funny thing I’ve observed about gift cards — and I know I can’t be the only person who does this — once I finally get around to spending one, I still keep the physical card, instead of throwing it away.

Why I do this, I don’t know, but it results in a whole mess of confusion.

[I guess it’s kind of like going to the Chanel counter and leaving with your purchases in a Chanel bag? That is, you know the bag is disposable, but you keep it around anyway because it says Chanel? I may OR may NOT keep THIS, decide LATER.]

I think it may be time to turn over a new leaf and transform into one of those decisive gift card people — or so she says after adding and removing the same black jacket to her cart multiple times over the past hour…

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How do you typically manage your gift cards? If you’re the type who always knows how much is left on them, or if you can readily and swiftly make a decision, show me your ways!

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

B-A-N-A-N-A-S
In the interest of full disclosure, the only place I went wearing this glittery makeup (Urban Decay, obvs!) was downstairs…and then upstairs…and then downstairs at home because I felt absolutely bonkers wearing it, so perhaps the title of this post should be “Suburban Adventures”?

But you know how it is… Sometimes, you gotta just play with glitter, even if it takes you to crazytown.

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There are some big-@ss flecks of glitter in this look, and yes, they’re HUGE. I used two UD glitter gels, including Distortion, which has iridescent hexagonal glitter pieces (they look white in pics taken with a flash, but more purple and pink in real life); and soul Love, the dark, dainty teal. Both are safe to use on eyes.

By the way, I stumbled upon a tip while I was working out this look! If you’re layering tons of glitter on your lids (because you never know when the occasion will arise), wait for each layer to completely dry before applying the next one, because if you pat more glitter on your lids while they’re still wet, you might disrupt the previous layer.

Which is just…not good.

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I also stumbled upon a lovely, easy way to do a natural-looking base: full-coverage liquid matte concealer (dotted wherever you want coverage) sheered out with a face brush and dampened with a makeup setting spray.

Ideally, use a face brush with synthetic fibers because synthetic bristles won’t absorb as much liquid product as natural bristles will, which leaves more on your face.

All about that (sheer) base

I used urban Decay naked Skin Concealer in medium Dark warm with a real techniques Multi-Face Brush, which I dampened with the new urban Decay summer Solstice All Nighter setting Spray.

It’s an LE scented version of All Nighter… It’s supposed to smell “summery” (coconuts, pineapple, sea salt), but all I smell is a vague sunscreen scent…

Eh. I’m bummed out about the scent, but the setting spray itself is wonderful!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

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Karen

P.S. TGIF!

P.P.S. What did you do for the Fourth? We went to this place called McNears beach Park for a picnic, and it was nice. Coywolf got to build a castle in the sand, I got to do some reading, and El Hub did some fishing off the pier. He used a piece of cooked hot dog for bait…then wondered curiously why he didn’t catch anything. LOL.

You are looking at these lovely tulips ? since every time I walk by them at Trader Joe’s, they just make me smile. ? as well as I hope they bring a smile to your deal with today, too.

Good morning, friends! happy Caturday weekend. We’re heading to the east Bay soon to see my people as well as have a barbeque since it’s my dad’s birthday.

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Speaking of that…it’s weird to me now to go to household functions where I’m not in fee of the cooking. Over the past few years, more as well as more of the huge holidays/life events have occurred at our house, so now whenever there’s something including a event with food, I have a difficult time relinquishing manage to other people… I’m already thinking, “OK, exactly how can I convince my dad to not overcook the ribs so they don’t turn into a leather shoe?” And, “What can I do to add more fiber to the salad?”

I know, I should just be grateful that we have anything to eat, as well as I am.

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On that note, this week’s beauty reading…

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Find the fragrance that matches your literary taste!

If I’m lucky sufficient to make it to an advanced age, I hope that three nice young nice guy like these guys ask me to have a meal with them.

Hey, if somebody wishes to rock armpits that are au naturale as well as they aren’t hurting anyone, I’m all for it.

I’ve always been a fan of Jackie Aina, ever since the beginning, as well as I was thrilled to see her featured right here in the Washington Post.

Everything you requirement to understand about recycling makeup

In a move that difficulties exactly how “professionalism” is defined in the workplace, California might ended up being one of the very first specifies to outlaw racial discrimination since of hairstyles (such as braids as well as dreadlocks).

This adorable senior kitty likes to take her toys on short excursions.

These are supposedly the eight finest feline breeds for first-time pet assistants.

I can’t believe we online in a world like this, however this bracelet is supposed to be able to tell you if your drink is spiked with date rape drugs.

In situation you were wondering what the difference between gel nail extensions as well as acrylics is…

This young lady’s mom gifted her with a business for her wonderful 16 (for my 16th birthday party, I got a cake as well as a celebration at the Olive Garden).

Honestly, if I had been on this train, I would have wanted this was real.

I’ve been binge-watching Nikol’s videos all week long…

The backstory behind Lizzo’s song, Juice.

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

Sometimes, you can’t beat drive-through coffee!
Every time I roll up to Marin Coffee Roasters — no, seriously, I literally roll up because it’s a drive-through — I like to enjoy the other motorists in line, because a lot of are white-knuckling their steering wheel and rocking back and forth in their seat with a crazed look in their eye, and I don’t blame ’em, because this place sells the best coffee in the county, hands down, and when you need your coffee…you really need your coffee. lucky for me, I live five minutes away from ’em, mwahahahahaaa!

My go-to drink of late has been their iced latte.

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Now, a lot of iced lattes taste like punishment to me — burnt, and nearly sour — but MCR’s is buttery, smooth, creamy, and precariously easy to drink. best amount of buzz juice, too, because they leave me peppy but not shaky, and, a lot of importantly, they never give me a tummy ache, which has been happening a lot more and a lot more lately when I get something from Starbucks.

Last time at MCR, when I saw the barista walking out to my automobile with my drink, I felt the sudden urge to leap over the hood of my automobile like an American Ninja Warrior! Seriously, best dang coffee in Novato, IMO. highly recommended.

Who makes the best coffee where you live? Hopefully, you have a cup to sip while you read this week’s Saturday Surfing!

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Are the intense multi-step skin care regimens that have been all the rage for the past few years starting to fall out of fashion?

On that note, say “Greetings!” to the current skin care trend: “Skip Care” , something I’ve evidently been sort of doing considering that I realized that the less I mess with my skin, the better it normally is.

BRO, I thought these people were a comedy act at first, but apparently they’re legit interested in skin care. meet the Dewy Dudes!

Meet the new ambassador of SK-II skin care: Yumi. She isn’t an actress or an influencer, or even human for that matter. Yumi is an AI collaboration between SK-II and soul Machines, a new Zealand startup that creates digital humans that (who?) look and step like we do. (Side note: SKYNET, here WE COME.)

The best over-the-counter retinol creams, according to shape magazine

A L’Oréal and Karl Lagerfeld collaboration will be hitting shelves in the fall.

Analyzing hair is a discouraging task for forensic scientists.

Nail ideas and trends from Beyoncé’s nail artist

If you have thin hair and are longing for curls, you might want to check out these hair curlers.

Veterinarians and rescuers love these litter boxes for cats.

My future second spouse (sorry, El Hub) is having a cultural moment.

Wait–are you telling me that other people also believe that Keanu Reeves as their Internet boyfriend?

And just in case you really can’t get enough Keanu…!

What goes down when you get a lash perm (Side note: now I want ONE).

One of my favorites, and part of the reason I named my daughter Claire.

I’m kind of a creeper and love seeing what appeal products people actually finish all way down to the last drop.

One of the greats

I may have lost my damn mind when SWV came out.

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You have a good day, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen