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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). 1. How closely do you follow trends? Not very closely, at least according to my makeup bag and my wardrobe at the moment, ha ha ha! I’m finding that classic style on all fronts tends to suit my life at this point in time. I do love to read about trends, though, and was kinda thrilled to find out that skinny jeans are allegedly back in style. 2. Something about the early 2000s that you loved? I was in my 20s and living in San Francisco, and it felt like there was so much possibility in front of me. It was a fun time to be young in the city! 3. Something about the early 2000s that you loathed? I had a really hard time with all the[Continue reading...]

The post Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 848 appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

Striking poses like he was striking fear into his competitors…as if he actually had any. Domination — that’s the word that springs to mind when I think of Tabs. Model. Genius. Boss. Majestic maestro of magnificence. He was…Mr. Perfect. For Connor Claire, he was there from the beginning. He was her first best friend. Guarding the neighborhood… Then Rosie came along, and she was…different. She’s always had a lot on her mind, like particle physics… And picnics. Also brunch. Of course, she also does a little modeling on the side, mostly to fundraise for her scientific endeavors… And her music career… Marnie, our newest employee, is still kinda-sorta learning the ropes. Let’s just say it’s a work in progress… 😂 Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, Karen

The post Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 830 appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

Putting your socks on in the morning without any effort. Getting into your car and making it to your destination in one piece. Saying I love you to someone and hearing it said back. Drinking a delicious glass of water with ice. Writing or creating something just for the fun of it and not because your paycheck depends on it. Sharing a bag of cherry hard candies with your co-workers. Leaving your house and safely returning back. Standing at the water’s edge of a lake, river or ocean, and feeling the sand between your toes. The unconditional trust of an animal companion. Reflecting upon your actions, big and small, and learning and growing from them. A hot shower after a long, hard day. Friendships found far and wide, especially the ones you’ve found online. 🙂 The time and space to enjoy being silly (see pic at top, ha ha ha). Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, Karen

The post 13 Underrated Blessings appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

When you start a good book and become engrossed in it (see above) and desperately need to find out what happens next When you find a wayward chin hair When you get food stuck in your teeth, especially blueberries, carrots and garlic When you miss your cat or dog (or other pet BFF) When your underwear or bra feels itchy or uncomfortable When you get the sudden urge to watch the “Little Women” movie (the ‘90s version with Winona Ryder, of course) When you find a white hair in your brows When you see yourself smile in the mirror and realize that a handful of rogue nose hairs shoot out of your nostrils when you grin When your socks slip down your feet whenever you take a step (a true tragedy) When it’s the upper 70s outside and there isn’t a cloud in the sky When people on the phone cross the line with their tone (ugh) When you need a comforting hug from your hubs or your kid When your jeans are annoying you[Continue reading...]

The post 27 Things You Should Be Able to Leave Work For appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). 1. Which foreign language would you like to speak fluently: French, Spanish or Chinese? Spanish because it would be useful for where I live in Northern California. So many times people looking for help have come up to me in stores or walking down the street to me if I speak it, and I always wish I could say yes. I only know a handful of words, though. 2. Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast? Oh my goodness, breakfast for dinner for sure! I once had dinner for breakfast once out of desperation, and I had a terrible stomach ache all day. 3. Pick a job: bookshop owner, makeup artist or a dog walker? Dog walker, but I’d specialize in small-to-medium sized dogs because hello, big dogs[Continue reading...]

The post Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 847 appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

I can’t get over how much Tabs liked carbs! It was crazy. It didn’t make any sense to me. He was a carnivore! — so why did he get more excited about a zinnia flower, a croissant or a piece of toast than a piece of cooked chicken? The only thing I can think of is that his old dry food (Hill’s Science Diet) contained whole grain wheat and other veggie fillers, which I didn’t think twice about at the time, but then a few years later Tabs was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and his vet said he should lay off the carbs. After a while, he progressed to low glycemic grain-free Nutrisca crunchies and grain-free wet food, which he ate…reluctantly. Well, he loved his nightly wet food (mostly Sheba Paté, but sometimes he got $$$ ZiwiPeak), but I don’t think he loved it as much as he used to love regular Fancy Feast, which has wheat in it to make that delicious gravy. Over the years, I asked a couple different vets why some cats[Continue reading...]

The post Select Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 829 appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). 1. Paint a pumpkin or carve a pumpkin? Carve it! 2. Candy corn or candy apple? Hmm, not sure. I guess the candy apple. At least I’d get fiber! 3. Cozy sweater or comfy boots? Comfy boots! 4. Fall movie or fall football? I’ll go with the movie. Something sweet and fun and not too scary. 5. Visit a pumpkin patch or a haunted house? I’ll take the pumpkin patch, ideally on a cool day when it’s not too hot. Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, Karen P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon. 1. Paint a pumpkin or carve a pumpkin? 2. Candy corn or candy apple? 3. Cozy sweater or comfy boots? 4. Fall movie or fall[Continue reading...]

The post Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 846 appeared first on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.