Category: Category

Mmm… All the yums…
Happy Caturday, my friend!

One of the perks of adulting 24/7 is that you can actively pursue unapproved, unsanctioned frivolous endeavors, like purchasing yourself an introduction calendar from Trader Joe’s and opening everything at once WEEKS before the actual holiday officially starts!

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Having the freedom to do things like this practically — practically — makes up for having to deal with people stealing your vehicle parking spot. Or, for having to pay the bills. Forever.

(Kinda sorta. Not really.)

Quick TJ’s introduction calendar update

I’ve been using a few of the things from my new 12 Days of charm calendar this week, and all I have to say is, “HELLO, YUM-YUMS,” because everything I’ve tried so far smells like food!

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Delicious-smelling delights are to be found in the…

Blueberry & Acai Facial Scrub: This smells exactly like a fresh blueberry smoothie, and the grains are the ideal level of “scrubiness,” in that they aren’t too aggressively gritty or too unhelpfully gentle.

Warm Vanilla Body Butter: The scent of hella bougie vanilla extract will follow you around for hours when you slather this thick, moisturizing butter on your bod.
I need an XXL size tub of this ASAP.

Brown Sugar Scrub: how numerous people are singing D’angelo to themselves when they use this in the shower I wonder? Hmm… It’s very moisturizing (watch out, though, because it makes the bottom of the bathtub slippery after you rinse off), and the sugar grains are substantial. It smells like freshly baked sugar cookies.

Rose Facial Oil: This scent of this light, yet hydrating, face oil takes me back to my childhood, when my pals and I would roll up to the Asian store and purchase French rose pastille hard candies!

If you live near a TJ’s, I recommend grabbing one for yourself (and the ladies in your life) ASAP. It’s sooooo good, you guys.

Anywho…since it’s Caturday and all, Rosie Posie wanted to say a quick “meow” from her own personal fainting couch, which is also known as “Connor’s big girl bed.”

These girls have the cutest bedtime ritual. Every night, best before bed, Rosie hangs around and listens while I sing Connor her goodnight lullabies and read her a book. Then, when I turn off the light and leave the room, Rosie hops on the bed and stays with Connor till she falls asleep.

Every day I learn a little much more about Rosie and fall much more in love.

On that note, here’s this week’s reading…

This reusable $7 charm spatula is developed to scrape out every last morsel of goodness from your charm products. WANT!

The best drugstore primers, according to makeup artists

16 under-the-radar skincare products beloved by dermatologists

*The* must-have charm item that active members of the military always pack when they’re deployed might surprise you.

What to do when you try a new product and your skin freaks-the-eff out

Red lipstick superstars under $10

Allegedly, these half-sized Christmas trees avoid curious kitties from attacking ornaments, but I’m pretty sure Tabs would’ve still found a way to destroy one…

How to use charm products that you probably have sitting around your house to remover stickers from books!

Who, exactly, is Estée Laundry?

I’m so ready.

Pecan or pumpkin pie?

YES!

Note to self

Don’t believe me, just watch.

Step by step

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What’s on your plate for today? I hope you’re doing at least a little something for yourself, and I hope it feeds your soul.

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

Tabs may have crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge last May, however he still states hi to me, as well as he does it often.

Sometimes he leaves his whiskers for me to find like buried treasure. Connor phone calls them “Kuya’s whispers.” Kuya implies “big brother” in Tagalog. “Look, I discovered one of Kuya’s whispers!”

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His other preferred method to state hi is with a vibrant sunset, as well as there have been some incredible ones this summer.

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Whenever I see those golds, reds, pinks as well as purples, I understand he’s believing of me as well as likes me as well as wants me to keep my heart open.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

YES!
Happy Caturday, my friend. You understand that all is well in the world when you walk into a HomeGoods as well as see a plethora of feline woman mugs ?? on the shelves near the money registers.

(This is an important signal.)

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One might develop 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 like the chonky kittehs on the “Catfinated” mug as well as the wonderful Siamese posing betwixt the flowers, especially.

Today, I’m enjoying my morning brew from my reliable XXL kitty teacup, which was likewise a HomeGoods find, as well as catching up on my reading.

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Dear coffee, I like you.
I’m smack-dab in the middle of reading Maida Heatter’s brand new book of excellent Cookies (FEELING THIS SO HARD) as well as The contemporary Cook’s Year, by Anna Jones (eh, kinda boring). I’m likewise listening to an audiobook of Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming.

So many books, so bit 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, as well as utilizing chocolate bars cut into pieces, instead of chips. Then, pop the batter in the fridge.

Who wishes to make these cookies with me??

Before we start, here’s this weekend’s reading, as well as yay! — there were great deals of feline stories in the news!

Good news! Your feline may not totally dislike you. A new research study by animal habits researchers suggests that cats may bond to their people, just like dogs as well as infants do.

You understand you’re a crazy feline woman dude when your feline is the very best “man” at your wedding.

Meet Dr. Leon, an attorney who likewise just so occurs to be a cat! His duties include welcoming guests to the office, and, being cute. Oh, as well as you understand he’s official since he has a name badge. ?‍?

Estimates suggest that more than half of the indoor cats in the U.S. are overweight. While some kitties can self-regulate their food, most indoor cats requirement assist keeping the pounds off.

Kitties always discover their method house — even luxurious toy kitties! satisfy Plurna the cat, who went missing for 14 years however was just recently found.

The finest makeup, hair as well as nails from Paris fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020, according to Allure.

Artificial skin is a thing.

Apparently, infant pink nail polish is back. (Um…am I the only one available who didn’t understand it left?)

Will somebody please explain to me why these Barbies look like Kardashians…

Happy fall, y’all!

Doing this ASAP.

I’ve been watching time administration vids all week long.

Note to self…

I’m all about the 10-minute makeup life.

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Have a wonderful weekend! ?

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

Chop!
Not yet! however El Hub just got some Wahl clippers from Costco as well as has been going on as well as on about exactly how they’re allegedly goof-proof, as well as exactly how I should totally trim his hair for him, as well as I’ll do just fine…

To that I state “ruh-roh!” ? There are many hair-associated tasks I do relatively well… Hello, I’ve waxed my own woman bits (too much info?!). however none of my at-home barbering attempts have gone anyplace good.

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I’ll let you understand if I inadvertently (or perhaps subconsciously) carve a feline deal with on the side of his head. ?

How about you? have you cut any type of hair in quarantine yet?

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Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

#throwbackthursday to this ’90s lip look
A photo popped up in my feed a few days ago of a pal wearing a classic ’90s lip with an unblended dark outer edge, a light lipstick, and lots and lots of gloss in the center.

I was moved!

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I wore the heck out of this lip look when I was in college, and apparently you can depend on muscle memory to kick in when you attempt to do old favorite makeup looks, because it all came back to me like *that*.

What you’ll need

To do this type of ’90s lip look, get hold of the following…

A dark matte lip liner (I’m wearing two shades of brown).

An opaque matte lipstick substantially lighter than your lip liner, because you’re going for contrast here. I chose a matte beige.

A very shiny gloss, either clear, or in a shade that compliments your lipstick.

Step-by-step: the ’90s girl unblended lip look!

Apply a layer or two of your lipstick first. I just did it directly from the tube.

Line the outermost portion of your lips with the liner. Be sure to sharpen the idea beforehand for a crisp edge.

Dot the gloss on the center of your bottom lip. I like to swipe a little first on the back of my hand, and then I dab the gloss on with a finger to avoid touching the doe-foot applicator directly to the lipstick. That way I can keep the lipstick from mixing into the gloss and changing the color.

DO NOT rub your lips together or blend the liner with a lip brush, or do anything that will minimize the definition of the edge. This is totes key!

If you do a beige-brown lip like the one I’m wearing here, peachy golden brown colors work well on the cheeks and eyes.

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Makeup worn in this look

Lips: MAC Cork and Hover lip liners (Cork on the outermost edge with Hover on the inner portion), MAC Honey love Lipstick, MAC C-Thru Lipglass

Base: MAC Strobe cream in Peachlite, MAC next to nothing in medium Dark, MAC Matchmaster Concealer in 5

Eyes: MAC Teddy liner (buffed all over lids as base and worn as liner on lash and waterlines), MAC Amber Lights eyeshadow, MAC Beaming blush extra dimension Skinfinish (inner corner), MAC give Me sun bronzer, Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara

Cheeks: MAC give Me sun bronzer, MAC Hushed Tone blush, MAC Beaming blush extra dimension Skinfinish

Social media is weird, man.

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Have you seen the thing going ’round social media where people post their senior high school photo to support the seniors graduating in 2020? Now, how is posting one’s own senior portrait meant to cheer up a senior in high school who’s missing prom and graduation? I dunno. That said, I’ve been enjoying seeing everyone’s throwbacks, especially all the makeup and hair. It’s terrific for inspiration!

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

pleased Caturday, my friend! I hope you have a sweet treat on your breakfast plate this morning (sprinkle cake perhaps?). I have grand designs on a slice of lemon meringue pie (sans meringue), my second one ever, because the gluten-free one I made last night did NOT turn out hella wackadoo (unlike the first one). If I may say so myself, it’s actually pretty good! ?

Now, this does not apply to the one I made before the one last night.

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That one was downright terrible…

It was my first crack at lemon meringue, so I’m not stressing it, but it was borderline comical how bad it turned out.

The custard was runny. The meringue was overbeaten. and I somehow missed adding the half cup of butter the recipe called for (whoops!).

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When Connor and I took the first bite and I said, “Oh, dear. We have to throw this out,” Connor said, “It’s OK, mama. This was just a practice pie. You just have to keep practicing so you can get better and better.”

AWWW!

In addition to even more “practicing pie” this weekend, I intend to reunite with Tom Ford African Violet (pictured at the top), otherwise known as “my favorite fall purple.” I looked it up today to see if it was still available, and — le sigh! — it appears to have been discontinued.

If you’re searching for something similar, FYI, Essie Flowerista is a good option.

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Onto today’s charm reading!

Dear Astronauts on the international space station who will be doing charm blogger stuff with Estée Lauder products in zero gravity…do any of you need some suggestions from a 10+ year charm blogging veteran? because if you do, I’m here for you, and I can be ready to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon heavy faster than you can say, “skin care serum in the stars.” ?‍??

RIP Lillian Brown. She was the makeup artist who covered the dark circles, matted down the shiny spots and concealed blemishes on nine us presidents. She also painted the faces of numerous first ladies as well.

Speaking of charm and politics colliding…

Meet Pakistani American Kirin Bhatty, a Hollywood makeup artist who’s worked with a diverse lineup of on-screen talent, including Awkwafina in crazy rich Asians and The Farewell, and Frieda Pinto on Slumdog Millionaire.

How to avoid common mistakes when doing your makeup if you have dark skin, according to makeup artist Scott Osbourne.

Stuff on sale up to 50% off at Ulta…

A full makeup breakdown of J. Lo’s newest look through Mary Philips.

I am low-key obsessed with Frédéric Malle.

Is modern skin care worth the price?

For your fun fact file: the Air force is allowing servicemen to grow out their hair a little bit more.

Love this!

Vibing with this today.

This is my favorite Kate Bush song.

What the heck is going on here?

Fascinating!

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen