Tabs likes his catnip plants.
He nibbles on them, pounces in as well as around them, swats at them and, on occasion, likes to design with them.
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Makeup and charm blog Monday Poll, Vol. 363
The makeup and charm blog Monday Poll for March 9, 2015
You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s much more of a continuously evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always delighted in reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you delight in reading mine.
How do you feel about black lipstick?
I think it can look really freaking cool if it’s done in a certain way. I mean, it’s makeup, so you can do anything you want and wear black lipstick however you feel, you know, but for me, I like it when it’s just that strong black lip, and everything else is kept minimal. maybe lots of lashes, a filled in brow and just very minimal skin.
I think it can be very chic, but it has to have the best elements to choose it, and you kind of have to be dressed to suit the black lip, too, because if you’re wearing a black lip and a pink polo shirt, it can be pretty jarring.
Clothing-wise, I’d probably mirror the same aesthetic as the makeup, with very clean lines, something like a black easy shift, or like a black tank top and skinny black jeans.
Do you know any men who wear makeup?
I know a few makeup artists who wear tinted moisturizer and concealer and brow gel and stuff, but in my everyday life, I can’t say that… Oh! — of course I know men who wear makeup! Yes, I follow a few of them on Instagram. They do their thing, and I like that.
Crimped hair: yes or no?
Having leftover visions of bad crimped hair from the late ’80s and early ’90s, buuut I think if you do it in moderation, like a little bit of crimping here and there, it can add some textural interest to the hair.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
Let’s see…I open the door, and Tabs is typically at the door, and I say, “What up, play-uh!?” and then I give him pets, because if I don’t pet him best away, he throws a fit. then I take off my shoes, set my purse down and take off my jacket. then I sit at the base of the stairs and pet Tabs some more, because he’s kind of a diva that way.
Are people amazed when they find out you’re into makeup?
Sometimes they are. It really depends on what makeup I’m wearing. If I’m wearing full-on ba-bam! eyes, lips, cheeks, highlight and bronzer that day, then people aren’t surprised, but when I’m typically out and about, like at the grocery store or the dentist, many of the time I’m wearing a toned down version of full makeup.
I guess many of the time when I do meet strangers and they don’t know what I do, they’re kind of like, “Oh, that’s interesting…” and then they ask for recommendations. Usually.
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Your turn. just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!
1. how do you feel about black lipstick?
2. Do you know any men who wear makeup?
3. crimped hair: yes or no?
4. What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
5. Are people amazed when they find out you’re into makeup?
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Today might be a three-cup-of-tea day for me… I’m so sleepy best now!
Daylight savings Time and all…
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Hopefully it’s been a good Monday for you so far. What did you do this weekend?
Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,
Karen
9 Out of 10 Reindeer Agree: The $39 benefit quite Parfait holiday set Is adorable
assumption who’s already started holiday shopping?
No, not Tabs… He always waits till the last minute.
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This girl! This woman has already started. since I absolutely decline to be running around at the last minute a la the proverbial headless poultry this year, so I’m trying to get as much as I can done before Thanksgiving.
I started by going to Costco last night as well as choosing up some adorable gift labels as well as wrapping paper, however I’m type of regretting not likewise grabbing a set of holiday gift bags, since exactly how the heck am I expected to wrap this quite Parfait makeup set by Benefit?
It’s so cute! — however likewise type of awkwardly shaped.
Hmm… now that I believe about it, the recyclable tin is most likely adorable sufficient to stand on its own sans gift wrapping. perhaps I’ll just stick a bow on it as well as phone call it a day. Ho-ho-ho, yo!
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Every year, I like to get one or two “just in case” charm gifts such as this one, which I keep under the tree, just in situation I requirement to get somebody a last-minute present.
The $39 restricted edition set, which is offered now on the internet as well as at benefit counters as well as stores, includes a full-size tube of They’re genuine Mascara, a full-size stay Don’t stray Eyeshadow primer in Light/Medium, a full-size Gimme Brow in Light/Medium as well as a deluxe sample-size (bigger than a common sampler, however smaller than a routine full size) POREfessional deal with primer.
Cute, yah?
Open Thread: The Pink Power Smoothie edition
hello as well as happy Friday, my friend! Here, have a Pink Power Smoothie.
It’s a great day — no, a fantastic day — for an open thread, where we’ll talk about anything — makeup, cats, skincare, food (although I don’t understand exactly how much assist I’ll be in that department), blogging, photography, pineapples, what have you… It’s like coffee talk, except we’ll have smoothies.
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Warm up those fingers, as well as I’ll satisfy you in the comments! The open thread starts right meow…
How to Make a Pink Power Smoothie
Adapted from Oh She Glows
Incidentally, I feel prepared to handle the freakin’ world when I have one of these poor boys for breakfast, as well as it holds me over till lunch. My version leaves out the coconut oil…because that was just a bit as well rich for my tum, however even without it, it’s still filling.
Ingredients:
1 cup water or coconut water
1/2 medium avocado (pit removed)
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 small/medium lightly steamed beet, ends trimmed as well as diced
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp of honey (or to taste)
Directions:
Wash as well as lightly heavy steam the beet (you might leave the beet raw, however my blender can’t handle that ish), then chop, chop, chop it!
Place in a blender as well as blend on high up until smooooove.
Add more honey if you like.
Slurp everything up, YUM!
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Your friendly community beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
Answer This: If I could just find a ______, My greatest makeup problem would Be Solved.
among the contenders for makeup problems that have plagued me off and on throughout the years, but for which I currently have viable options — finding a best full-coverage under-eye concealer that looks natural, doesn’t call out my fine lines, and doesn’t have a difficult pump or come in a vulnerable glass bottle; finding a best foundation match so that I didn’t have to mix two shades (not even my favorites from MAC, NARS and BECCA have a single best match for my skin); or finding a best pimple-covering concealer that doesn’t intensify my acne — this time around I’m going to opt for storage.
If I could just find a better way to store my makeup — one that was cute, efficient, kinda different, not too expensive, and didn’t involve a million little screws from Ikea — my greatest (current) makeup problem would be solved.
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Being a packrat makeup lover, I feel the need to hoard every coral lipstick and gloss on the planet.
This has been a problem for me.
Right now I use a bunch of clear stacking drawers from the Container Store, and it gets the job done, but I would love a cuter, a lot more functional option that made me smile instead of flinch when I saw it…maybe like a vintage hutch with tons of drawers and personality.
Answer this: If I could just find a ______, my greatest makeup problem would be solved.
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Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,
Karen
P.S. delighted hump day.
The make up For ever give In To Me makeup Kit: inspired by the Movie, Fifty shades of Grey
wearing the new $79 make up For ever give In To Me makeup Kit: inspired by the movie Fifty shades of Grey
With the new make up For ever 50 shades of Grey set, one does not need to have read the Fifty shades of Grey trilogy to get the gist of the story.
I haven’t read the books, but this set is like the Cliff’s notes version. There’s a little how-to booklet in it that walks you through a progression of Ana’s looks, starting young and fresh-faced with barely-there makeup, then moving into a sultrier look with black liner and glossy lips, before going full-on fierce with intense smokey eyes.
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OK, I think I get it… Homegirl goes into, like, the mansion’s naughty secret room and discovers that she’s totally into it. A good time was had by all.
I am so far behind on my reading (have you heard that Harper Lee is releasing a second novel?), but I’m tempted to move Fifty shades up to the front of the line.
My pal Jen read the books, and I asked her what she thought. She said, “I could feel the mind-numbing getting progressively worse…but I couldn’t stop.”
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I have to ask, do I really need to read these books?? What say you?
Either way, there’s always the movie, and the makeup in this set, which comes with five pieces for eyes and lips (no cheek love?), all built around three different looks.
The eyeshadow quad…
The centerpiece? The eyeshadow quad. It houses a shimmery beige (shade I-514), a warm shimmery copper (ME-612), a cool-toned matte taupe (S-556) and a neutral, shimmery golden brownish taupe (I-628).
The quad is joined by a tube of Smoky extravagant Mascara in black, a black graphic liner liquid pen; pinkish beige Rouge artist natural Lipstick in N4; and warm, shimmering golden pink lab shine Gloss in D14.
Rouge artist natural Lipstick in N4
Lab shine Lip Gloss in D14
The how-to booklet
Everything comes in a cute keepsake box with little catchphrases on the lid (I’m guessing they’re from the books/movie).
Swatches from the left: graphic Eye Liner, Eyeshadows in I-514, ME-612, S-556 and I-628
If you run the numbers, even at $79, the set’s a terrific deal. The only piece that isn’t full size is the mascara, and it’s just a little smaller than usual. The eyeshadow pans are also slightly larger than the regular individual MUFE singles you find at their counters.
Rouge artist natural Lipstick in N4 (left) and lab shine Gloss in D14 (right)
For me the standouts are the quad, the lipstick and the gloss.
With the eyeshadows, ya know the drill with MUFE. just plain gorgeous with nuanced finishes and a formula that’s a dream to blend.
Perhaps wear a primer with these particular shades, though, as they fade after around six or seven hours on my combination dry/oily lids. as for the lipstick and gloss, both are perfect pinkish nudes. comfy and very moisturizing, too, but they don’t last very long. I get 2-3 hours, tops.
The liner and mascara are a tad tricky to work with, but at least the liner lasts a while (like nine hours). It dries to an uber-dark, bad-@ss, whips-and-chains vinyl finish (very much like MAC’s Superslicks), but drawing sharp edges with it takes a little longer than I’d like. I usually end up smoothing out the edges with a gel liner.
With the mascara, be sure to remove the excess product from the brush before using it to coat your lashes; otherwise, your curl may droop. starting with a primer like Estée Lauder’s little Black primer helps to hold up the curl and keep the lashes separated and fully fanned.
If this set could talk, and it asked me to put on a blindfold and go into the secret back room…I’d have to think about it. For a second. “Alright, Mr. Grey! I’ll be right there!”
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Not a perfect set, but overall, a good value.
PRICE: $79 (listed as a $179 value)
AVAILABILITY: limited edition, available now at Sephora
MAKEUP and beauty blog RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
New summertime 2016 metropolitan Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil in walk of pity as well as 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Heartless
using metropolitan Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in walk of pity on my waterline, layered with Heartless below the waterline as well as in the inner corner of my eye
From day one, I have been in like with the metropolitan Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.
The outrageous color choice (last time I counted, there were upwards of 40 shades!), the “glide-on” texture, the creamy as well as blendable formula as well as that long lasting surface have consistently made the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils my #1 go-to’s where liner is concerned.
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And since metropolitan Decay is metropolitan Decay as well as remarkable when it pertains to keepin’ things fresh as well as releasing new as well as interesting products, they’ve introduced some absolutely incredible eye pencils with their summertime 2016 collection. A new formula created with your waterline in mind — rather logically named 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil — as well as a fierce shade in the traditional range, Heartless, both of which are offered for $20 each.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils in walk of pity as well as Heartless
The 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil mirrors the traditional formula in that it’s additional smooth, simple to apply as well as lasts…well 24/7. however these infants are waterproof, which is a function that isn’t only magnificent on the waterline, however likewise during the hot summertime months when my makeup has a tendency to melt a bit.
The formula is offered in a number of brand-spankin’ new shades — legend (a traditional black), mood (a deep slate grey), Rail (a rich espresso brown), push (a sensational true navy), street (a peacock teal) as well as walk of pity (a nude; shown here).
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Brightening nudes are maybe what I partner a lot of with waterline eye pencils, as these are the shades I tend to favor myself. I’m a working mommy who doesn’t get sufficient sleep (!), so I’m all about anything that brightens my eyes.
You may be wondering if the water resistant insurance claim is legit. Well, your response is YES. It’s allergy season for me, as well as walk of pity hangs around even during my so absolutely NOT glam sneezing attacks as well as runny eyes.
As for Heartless 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, what can I state however *insert heart eye emoji here!*
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If as well dealt with La Crème color Drenched Lipstick in Unicorn Tears had a sassy eyeliner cousin, then Heartless would absolutely be that cousin. Although metropolitan Decay explains the shade as “a light frosted pink,” there are guaranteed yet subtle lavender as well as blue undertones to the shimmer. They don’t show up as much as I’d like them to for a winged liner color, so I’ve been enjoying this a lot more as a brightening alternate to walk of pity along my waterline as well as lower lash line. since it’s a pinkish lavender, it truly wakes me up as well as makes my eyes pop!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils (Left to Right): walk of pity Waterline Eye Pencil as well as Heartless
So, you’re that stating you’ve never tried any type of of metropolitan Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils?? I’m going to have to ask you to look me in the eyeliner as well as state that, since the summertime 2016 releases are as extraordinary as the others. metropolitan Decay understands what they’re doing when it pertains to your feline flicks, thick wings as well as waterlines!
What’s your preferred shade in the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil range?
The Kristin Perry Dainty Crystal Spike Ear Cuffs Are Warrior Princess-Approved
You know what they say: “Ear cuffs are the new studs!”
Wait — is that what they say? Maybe? I hope so.
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I’m going through a non-dangly earrings phase, and these extra sparkly Dainty Crystal Spike Ear Cuffs ($28) by Kristin Perry have been a perfect alternative to everyday studs.
This one is just a single cuff for the left ear only, which I like. Makes me feel like a warrior princess or something, and I think a pair of them might be a little too matchy-matchy.
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I usually wear it with one of my cat studs on my other ear because…well, I’m a crazy cat lady like that.
P.S. Oh, my gosh. I’m viewing beaches for the first time, and I may or may not be a little teary at the moment.
I don’t know what took me so long to watch it. It’s really good!
Use a nude Lip Pencil first for much more Symmetrical Lip looks
I can haz symmetry?? because I don’t haz it naturally.
I’ve read somewhere that it’s actually very common to have asymmetrical features, like in my case, one side of my lips is slightly thinner than the other, so when I do my lips, I cheat a little to make that side look just as full as the other.
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I notice asymmetry a little much more when I wear darker colors than when I wear nudes and neutrals, and I think it’s much more apparent in pics than it is in real life.
For example, when I wear darker lip looks, with like dark wines, reds, browns and purples, I’ll start by lining my lips first with a nude lip pencil. I’ll sort of sketch out the shape, following my natural lip line on the fuller side of my lips, and then I’ll slightly overdraw the other side, the side that’s not as full, to make both sides match.
Then, I’ll trace over that nude lip line with a darker lip pencil that matches the dark color that I plan to wear.
It’s like starting with a light sketch when you’re doing a drawing. The nude lip pencil makes it simpler to see where I’m planning to choose the darker liner, which I then layer on top — like tracing over a light sketch with a darker pen.
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I think it also helps to smile when I do my lip liner, even though it feels a little silly sometimes, especially when I see myself smiling like a goofball in the mirror, but I’m serious! — I think it stretches the skin and makes it simpler to follow the natural lip lines.
Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,
Karen
The Day in appeal Vol. 22: A Sofa browse as well as a satisfying With prince Char-Mint
great morning, gorgeous! delighted Saturday to ya. I hope you woke up with a huge smile on your face.
I’m smiling at the moment since I’m checking out freshly painted nails.
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YEAH!
I just did my paws with Sally Hansen’s miracle gel in prince Char-mint because, obviously, I needed one more mint polish in my life. LOL! I’m all about those mint shades.
Prince Char-mint is from the seven-piece Sally Hansen miracle Gel summertime 2016 collection. There are some pinks in the collection, a peach, a couple of reds, as well as this bright as well as pleasant creamy mint, which I’m all about.
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I talk about the Sally Hansen miracle Gels all the time (sorry) since you understand I like them. They’re a fantastically great offer for $10 each, so if you’re ever, like, just kickin’ it at the drugstore, checking out candy, emergency ice cream or greeting cards, as well as you choose that you want to treat yourself to something in the appeal aisle, however you don’t want to spend all of your lunch money on a single nail polish, they’re great. They dry quick, as well (about 10 minutes), as well as last about a week before chips (which is great for me).
Honestly, I don’t understand if I might go back to routine nail polish now since of exactly how swiftly these gels dry. I don’t have the patience anymore to sit for 40 minutes while I wait on several coats of my nail polish to dry. I just can’t… I can’t anymore.
Oh, one thing about the Sally Hansen miracle Gels, though — you can’t just stick any type of old topcoat on top of them. They’re formulated to work finest with Sally Hansen’s own miracle Gel top Coat.
So fuh?
Question for you. There’s something I’ve been indicating to ask you… What’s your stance on Ikea sofas?
I’ve been saving up for a new sofa, as well as the costs on Ikea’s couches are looking truly great to me. I mean…I do believe that you get what you pay for with some things, however I have a feeling that Connor Claire is going to be an active kid, as well as the type of youngster who turns couches into her own personal jungle gym, so I don’t want to spend a ton of money on something that she (and Tabs) will just end up destroying.
I looked around as well as got a few suggestions for the Ikea Karlstad as well as Kivik.
Anywho, if you have any type of sofa advice, I’m all ears. house decoration isn’t my forte, however I’m trying, man, I’m trying!
OK, I’m off for a run. Gotta get back into the groove of exercising again. It’s time to put those feet to the pavement.
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Have a spectacular rest of your Saturday, my friend. I’ll speak to you soon.
Your friendly community appeal addict,
Karen