The new NARS subjected collection, coming February 17 to the Ulta website
Exposed! — a new collection from NARS — is NOT (I hope) named after flashers, since I was flashed a number of times when I resided in San Francisco, as well as let me tell ya…it ain’t pretty, folks.

This collection, on the other hand, is gorge. ? There’s a new $59 six-pan blush combination (a.k.a. the Explicit Cheek Palette) with an allegedly new NARS formula as well as three mini lip kits (called the Explicit Lip Duos), with a matte pencil as well as a shiny gloss as well as $22 each, all coming to the Ulta website, as well as extremely likely other locations on/after, February 17.

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Swatches of the Cheek combination as well as the Lip Duos
Exposed Cheek Palette
Clockwise from the lower left: Explicit color Lip Duo in Intimate, Explicit color Lip Duo in Sex Machine, subjected Cheek combination as well as Explicit color Lip Duo in Dragon Girl
In other news…

Chapter 27 in the never-ending saga that is my teeth…

Yay! I have to go to the dentist again! ?

My bite has been cool since my last filling, as well as it hurts when I chomp down on my right side, which is not at all entertaining when you’re mildly addicted to ? eating carrots (especially infant carrots).

I wishes to eat them all…

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Speaking of carrots, what’s up, doc? ? exactly how are you doing today?

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Good question! It isn’t, as opposed to its name, an actual poll. It’s just a listing of five much more or less random concerns I’ve been publishing on this blog every Monday morning for the past gazillion years (more than 10!). I like reading your answers, as well as it assists me get my week off to a fantastic start. ?

1. The three lip colors you wear many often?

Ooh! — this one’s easy. Pink, coral as well as blue…

(Yes, j/k about that last one, LOL. It’s not blue. It’s brown.)

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2. have you ever had a lemonade stand?

Not formally, no, however I vaguely recollect lining up Dixie cups on the walkway outside my house, filling them with water from the hose, as well as selling pretend lemonade to my buddy Karrie who lived next door for the low, low cost of three leaves. ?

3. What’s one thing you’re looking ahead to this summer?

The long days. I like that it stays light so long as well as late into the evening. I swear, I get a great deal much more done (the only issue is trying to go to bed early in some cases when it’s still broad daylight at 9).

It’s already staying light later than it was. like tonight I understand it’ll still be light when I get house from HIIT class, so I plan to plant the herbs I got for the woman Sanctuary (dill, cilantro as well as thyme)!

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4. Your signature dish?

Hmm… That’s a great question! I don’t truly have one. I desire I did, since who doesn’t like taking special requests for something you’re well-known for?

I do get requests in some cases for my brownies, as well as I make a imply frozen waffle with peanut butter as well as raisins…

5. Your signature makeup look?

Bronzed/plummy lids with coral cheeks as well as lips.

Soft glam all day, every day, my friend.

Missing may entirely!

Is it just me, or does may feel like it’s moving quicker than usual? This very first week went by in the blink of an eye! everybody utilized to tell me that time passes quicker when you get older, as well as I’ll be damned if they weren’t right. Why is that? spring is zipping by at breakneck speed.

I hope that occurs to our Monday, as well as it passes in the blink of an eye…except for the great parts. To whom it may concern, please sluggish it down for the great parts, like lunch!

See ya later.

Your friendly community charm addict,

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Karen

P.S. If you’re game, right here are the concerns to copy as well as paste into a comment with your answers:

1. The three lip colors you wear many often?
2. have you ever had a lemonade stand?
3. What’s one thing you’re looking ahead to this summer?
4. Your signature dish?
5. Your signature makeup look?

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, as opposed to its name, an actual poll, like with bit clicky buttons. It’s just a listing of five much more or less random concerns I’ve been publishing on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I like reading your answers, as well as it assists me get my week off to a great start. ?

1. Do you simplicity into it, or rip off the Band-Aid?

Rip that Band-Aid off, as well as do it rapidly before I modification my mind!

2. What mascara are you wearing?

I’m taking a new one out for a spin. It’s called Mile High Club, by roam Beauty, as well as it’s making my lashes look stretched out as well as looooong.

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Fingers crossed that the curl hold lasts.

3. Are you good friends with your neighbors?

I’d like to believe so. We’re friendly, however it’s much more like laid-back acquaintances than “homie” status… Mostly, it’s a time thing. I believe everyone’s so hectic out right here in the Bay area (and everywhere, really) that it’s difficult to make time for socializing, particularly when you’re of a specific age as well as working full time.

4. Last thing you bought for somebody else?

I got Connor an attire at Target for her birthday on March 3. (She’s turning 3. Can you believe it?) got her a pair of rainbow unicorn ? jeans, a rainbow ? tee as well as a pink zip-up sweatshirt.

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5. nude nail polish or vibrant nail polish?

Colorful please! nude shades are beautiful (I’m a huge fan in my eye makeup), however seriously…I don’t requirement any type of much more beige in my life.

Small things to make the day sweet

Happy Monday, babe! It’s a rainy day right here in Marin County…which implies it’ll be a ideal day to get a treat ? from Creekside Bakery. ? It has these significant windows that look out on a lot of old oaks as well as a creek. When it’s rainy, you can sit at a table as well as view the leaves as well as branches sway in the breeze.

It’s extremely cozy! Connor’s a fan of the sprinkle cookies, BTW, whereas I’m much more into the almond biscotti. It’s heaven ON earth dipped into a foamy latte.

Mmm… Biscotti as well as coffee has been my go-to afternoon snack as of late.

How are things on your end? desire we might have cookies as well as coffee together.

Your friendly community charm addict,

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Karen

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

1. Do you simplicity into it or rip off the Band-Aid?
2. What mascara are you using today?
3. Are you good friends with your neighbors?
4. Last thing you bought for somebody else?
5. nude nail polish or vibrant nail polish?

Kinda springy, yeah?

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 do you love about your hair?

Frankly, not much at the moment. It’s been driving me CRAY since I started growing out my natural color… It’s those rebellious silvers at along my hairline, man!

I do appreciate how fast my hair grows, though, because it’s made all of the terrible haircuts I’ve gotten throughout the years easier to endure.

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2. Fruity or spicy? ??️

Fruity, please.

3. When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter?

Geez… Honestly, I can’t remember. I think the last time I actually wrote a handwritten letter to someone, and not just filled out a greeting card, might’ve been in the ’90s?

I suspect that it could have been a love letter to some lame boy who didn’t deserve my awesomeness. ?

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4. who do you resemble in your family?

I look a lot like my dad, who in turn looks like my glam granny.

5. I think it’s really important to _____.

Get enough sleep, and yes I know I sound like a broken record and it’s trite and cliche to say, but seriously, sleep makes everything so much better!

I’m a firm believer in going to bed at 8 sometimes.

I also think it’s important to remind yourself daily that you are enough, just as you are.

Heck, we gotta tell ourselves that multiple times a day, even. Do it every time you have a meal, or walk up and down a flight of stairs, or catch a glimpse of your bad self in the mirror.

Whatever the catalyst, just say it!

BONUS QUESTION: Cheesecake or ice cream?

The golden girl in me is saying “cheesecake” today, but I’d say yes to both in a heartbeat right now if I could. NO SHAME.

Spring shades

About those nail polishes at the top…I’m more of a green/blue/purple kinda girl when it comes to nail polish on my fingers, but those dainty bridal pastels at the top are totally doing it for me today. I like the idea of short nails in a pale semi-transparent cherry blossom petal pink or peach with a shiny top coat.

The cherry blossoms ? are springing up all over my neighborhood right now (it’s that time of year!), so yeah.

A pastel pedicure is another story, though. I love pale shades like these on my toes, especially during sandal season, WHICH IS COMING UP SOON! I seriously can’t wait to free ‘ze feet. They’ve been oppressed by socks for way too long, LOL!

Random side note: Do you remember how some dudes wore Tevas or flip-flops or Adidas slides year round in the ’90s? even when it rained? When I was in high school and college, there was always that one guy in class who would roll up to lecture wearing sandals in the middle of a deluge.

As you can tell, I’m totally over the rain ?️ and the cold. Are you antsy for spring, too?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

1. What do you love about your hair?
2. Fruity or spicy?
3. When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter?
4. who do you resemble in your family?
5. I think it’s really important to be _____

BONUS QUESTION: Cheesecake or ice cream?

Life hack right here!
So…guess what?

For the first time in forever, I put on heels and a dress to leave my house.

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Yup, BOTH.

I know! I can’t even remember the last time I did that when it didn’t involve some kind of event, but I did it yesterday before going to the dentist, because I was actually feeling kinda feisty and, well…kinda cute, which never happens to me prior to leaving for the dentist.

To make a long story even longer, I did some yoga (a 10-minute flow; that’s the routine down below) before leaving for the appointment, and that just made me feel a little better and less anxious than usual — actually, almost enthusiastic (!) about seeing the dentist.

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Anyway, feeling really good about myself, I put on my dress, my heels, got in the car, got on the freeway, and that’s when I realized that my knees and shins were hella dry.

(Don’t ask me why I realized this on the freeway.)

I totally forgot to put on lotion before leaving the house…

I know! When you don’t wear a dress in forever and you’re out of practice, you forget these things.

Then I remembered that I recently tossed the “emergency” lotion I usually keep in my car because it expired, so I didn’t have anything to moisturize myself with other than nude lipsticks and a Clinique Superbalm Lip Balm.

I thought, “Hmm… The Superbalm would be shiny, but it might work,” so when I got to the dentist’s office, I squeezed out a generous amount, and slathered it all over my knees and shins.

(I tried to warm it up first, though, by rubbing it between my fingers and palms.)

Lo and behold, it totally worked! So there’s a beauty hack for ya. try your lip balm if you’re ever stuck somewhere with dry skin and don’t have any lotion.

On that note, today’s beauty (and otherwise) reading…

Multicolored rainbow/Skittles manicures have been around forever, but since Instagram apparently just discovered them, they’re now a “thing.” LOL!

Sephora and fashion line Moschino are doing a fun collection where the liquid highlighters look like highlighter markers, and the makeup removers look like erasers. There’s also a nail polish in a Wite-Out bottle! — which is what I used to do with *real* Wite-Out when I was a kid.

25 secrets your nail tech wishes you already knew

The Black Opal Aksanti collection helps girls in the Congo.

This woman found a lock of Charlotte Brontë’s braided hair encased in a ring in her attic… All I have in my attic are ghosts ? and dust mites!

Because El Hub, Connor Claire and Tabs are all part Irish, here are 10 Irish good Friday traditions you’ve never heard of.

And because my first-born cat son ? is also hardcore got ? enthusiast, here are some awesome homemade games of Thrones-inspired pet beds.

Fun fact about game of Thrones: Jon Snow wears high heels.

Speaking of felines, have you heard about the mysterious wild cats of Britain?

Cats get acne, too.

I adore Hindash’s work and can’t wait to try this!

You know how much I love her, but I love her even more because she says the words, “flute backstory,” in this video.

How to look more outstanding up-close and in person

Best Ted Talk I watched this week

I did this workout just the other day! super challenging, but I felt great at the end of it.

I’ve been doing this 10-minute yoga flow after workouts for my upper back, and it has helped with the wonkiness a lot.

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Now I’m off to go take the coywolf to a local Easter egg hunt. have a great Saturday and a ? happy (early) ? Easter.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

L.O.V.E.
Good day, sunshine! ?

Did that make you believe of the opening lines to this song?

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’tis a great day to celebrate love, so right here are a few of the things I’ve been loving lately…

1. This Serena & Lily French bistro-inspired kitchen

Now that’s a phrase I did not expect to ever see in print…because when have I ever believed that deeply about kitchens?

For the record, Serena & Lily is not a hip 20-something singer-songwriter duet. They’re a high-end furniture line kinda like a much more streamlined, bougie-er Pottery Barn (as if that were possible). believe Crate & Barrel satisfies minimalist French country.

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As I was flipping with their newest catalog, searching for style ideas, these adorable kitchen area scenes caught my eye…

THOSE BLACK as well as WHITE BISTRO CHAIRS!

Now, I’m not typically a huge wicker person (hard to clean, feline claws get caught in it, squeaks when you sit down), however I like the look of these chairs. They restore so numerous memories of strolling the streets of Paris with El Hub (who was El sweetheart at the time) as well as sipping strong cups of coffee at cute, comfortable walkway cafes.

I like the feminine curves as well as exactly how the chairs look like they’d be comfortable to sit in for hours. They’re crazy expensive, though, so I don’t plan to get ’em, however I sure do like exactly how they look in this room!

2. Chantecaille everything

Speaking of French style, I have a low-key Chantecaille addiction brewing. I’ve been using their gel bronzer as well as blush on bare skin (apparently, I can’t be bothered with foundation anymore), as well as man! — SO GOOD. You can’t see the edges of either the blush or the bronzer, as well as neither one moves an inch.

I capture a small bit of the bronzer on the back of my hand, swirl a little blush clean around in it, then buff that on my upper cheekbones. then I do the exact same thing with the blush (same brush), applying it only on the apples.

I like that you truly can’t tell where the blush as well as bronzer begin as well as end (like something you’d see on Megan Markle on her wedding event day), as well as it’s the type of makeup that looks especially great in full sunlight, like at a BBQ or a beach wedding.

Cheek Gelle blush in pleased (cute name, yeah?) as well as glow Gel Bronzer… I’m 100% sure you’re gonna ask me about the polish now, so it’s Chanel Purple Ray.
Blush as well as Bronzer on my cheeks. loft sweatshirt from winter season 2018. The gloss is hourglass Unreal Gloss in Horizon.
3. “Say You Will” by Fleetwood MAC

Um…did I truly just immediately capitalize the word “MAC” when I typed “Fleetwood Mac”? Yes, yes, I believe I did.

My three-year-old likes this song, which in my mind likewise implies that she likes Stevie Nicks…

OK, my work right here is done.

4. Low-tech, old-school handwritten everything

Lately, I’ve been dumping my computer keyboard for ye olde paper as well as pencil. I’ve been composing whatever — lists, notes, blog drafts — longhand, as well as while it’s much s-l-o-w-e-r than sprinting across the keyboard with my fingertips, there’s something therapeutic as well as practically meditative about seeing each letter emerge from the suggestion of my pencil.

I’m persuaded that physically composing words down on paper unlocks different parts of my brain — those quiet, dirty corners where all the strange (and fun) stuff hides.

Side note: Do they still instruct cursive handwriting in school?! I hope so.

5. The Nudestix eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Gel

FYI: Not only is applying mascara a perishable skill. filling out one’s brows is, too, as well as yes, I understand this from personal experience. If you’re currently suffering from brow-filling amnesia (brow-nesia?), get one of these dual-ended pencils. There’s a goof-proof, long-wearing semi-transparent angled brow pencil on one end (so there’s no possibility of overdoing those fuzzy bit caterpillars) as well as a stiff, remove brow gel on the other.

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It’ll get your brows best as rain.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen