The last one for 2017!

1. wintertime sunrises

They’ve been epic here in NorCal lately. Red, pink, orange and violet-tinged clouds nearly every morning. The other day I ran outside at 6:30 in pajamas, a down coat, wool socks and flip-flops to take this photo because 1) #noshame, and 2) the sky looked like a sci-fi Van Gogh painting.

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One of my neighbors drove by on her way to work, and I could see she was laughing at me.

I hope it was laughing in a good way, LOL!

2. This “Fleetwood Cat” tee

ERHMAHGOODNESS. Cat-themed band tees are a thing! Did you know this…? I did not know this.

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बिरालाहरू र मेकअप स्वेटशर्ट ??

$ 42

शप अब

My world is forever changed.

This one is from Etsy seller JackalopeClothing.

3. The real techniques Contour brush ($8.59 in a four-brush set at Target)

It’s b.o.m.b. for blending under-eye concealer.

I’m normally a “blend with your fingers” gal when it pertains to under-eye concealer because of the whole body heat thing making it a lot more pliable, but I recently found this brush at the bottom of a drawer I was cleaning out (long story, but I lost it a while ago), and now I remember why I was all about it for so long.

Here it is with some bottles of MAC Fix+.

The incredibly soft tapered brush head fabulously feathers out the edges when you use it with under-eye concealer, so it looks like real skin. It’s part of a four-piece set of face brushes for $8.59 at Target ideal now.

4. Homemedics total comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier warm & amazing mist ($79.99)

For years and years I heard that sleeping with (next to, LOL) a humidifier is meant to make it so you catch fewer colds. I poo-poo’d it, but then I got one, and man! — the difference is night and day.

Well…I got sick first, and then I starting using it, but I used it every night when I was sick this week, and my nose and throat didn’t get sore or dry out, and and I coughed way less than usual, so I slept better and got over my cold quicker.

This is the one I have from Costco.

5. Doing core exercises in the morning

I’d been doing them in my HIIT class for a while (but I generally cheated and half-@ssed them), but now I do them for real in the morning.

If you don’t have any core strength (ME), these feel like torture for the first week — I’m talking absolutely dreadful — but now I’m addicted to how good they make me feel. My back feels so much better than it used to and my hips and hamstrings don’t feel as tight. Also, weirdly enough, I’m a lot more flexible, especially when I rotate my spine and turn left and right.

I’ve only been doing them legit for a few weeks, and even my pants fit a little better. It takes me about 10-15 minutes in the morning.

Here’s one of the videos I use. It’s a 10-minute Pilates core workout with a different core step every minute.

It’s BRUTAL, but it’s over quick, and before you know it, you’re drenched in sweat and done for the day.

When I first did this one I couldn’t do half the moves, and I’m still nowhere near being able to do any of them perfectly yet, but it’s a process…

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तिम्रो पालो। What have you been loving lately? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

करेन

new favorite way to delight in a refreshing drink
1. Drinkin’ fruit-flavored water from my Fressko Water bottle

I have about 1,354 water bottles in my cupboard. ?‍

This one from Australian brand Fressko is probably the coolest. It can be used for hot or cold drinks, comes with a tea infuser, and is made from double-insulated glass. I use it to make my favorite beverage at the moment: green tea infused with sliced lemon and lime!

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The bottles come in 10-, 13- and 16-oz. sizes. I have the 16-oz. bottle, which is $39.95. I think it’s a well-designed, helpful something special to have around, and the possibilities for beverages to make with it are endless.

2. Pared down makeup using a brow pen/pencil combo, mascara and liquid liner (and in some cases a liquid lipstick)

Lately I’ve been getting back in the practice of wearing a little makeup a little much more frequently than I had been earlier in the pandemic because it boosts my mood, like a daily workout (but without the sweat!). and in some cases when I don’t feel like working out, I’ll just do my makeup, so that way I’m still doing a little something to help my mood.

Three loves of my makeup life best now…
I like to start with this three-piece pared down combo using a brow pencil, mascara and liquid liner: urban Decay Brow Blade (seriously, SO GOOD), urban Decay Cannon ball or Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara (or a combo of both), and truthful charm liquid liner (easy to use and dries quickly).

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बिरालाहरू र मेकअप स्वेटशर्ट ??

$ 42

शप अब

If, when I’m finished with those three, I still want to wear more, I’ll wear more. If I don’t, I’ll just stop there!

3. Victoria’s secret Amber Sunset

It’s a little funny to me that I now consider this my “late summer scent” because I originally purchased it as a mosquito repellant. नि? LOL!

But you know what? It I think it actually smells really good. Please give it a try.

Smells like late summer (and not like mosquito repellant)
Amber romance has notes of warm vanilla, sandalwood and amber, with a pinch of tart cherry, and it’s not strong. It’s juuuust right. added bonus: it does keep mosquitos away!

4. This giant, overstuffed anatomically-shaped heart stuffed toy

I don’t know who needs this huge stuffed heart in their life best now, but apparently I think I do.

I love how big it is, and I especially love that it has valves, LOL!

LUB-DUB!
5. how people are creatively adapting to life in the pandemic

I admire how people have adapted to “the new normal.” It’s been a lot to handle, but people will do what they have to do. numerous small companies are also coming up with some remarkable ideas to keep their places going, like Connor’s dance studio. They couldn’t hold their annual spring dance recital in a big theater like they used to, so a few weeks ago the instructors taped the routines outside in a vehicle parking lot in the back of the studio. They added a hand washing station, tents for shade, and then built individual small “stages” spaced six feet apart for the dancers to carry out their routines on while the performances were recorded on iPhones.

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We’re seeing a very distinct time in history, aren’t we? It was certainly a dance recital I’ll never forget. नि?

Tiny dancer!
तपाईंको मैत्री छिमेकी आकर्षण लॉकेट,

करेन