Archives 2023

Novato is a sleepy bit town. There’s Napa north of us, Oakland to the east across the Bay, as well as San Francisco to the south, however Novato itself isn’t a hotbed of enjoyment as well as activity (unless you count the big raging star celebrations thrown by Tabs).

Sometimes, though, interesting things do occur here…like we just got a Nordstrom Rack.

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It’s only been open a couple weeks, however I’ve already gone twice, as well as I’ve discovered a valuable. Basically, if you walk there trying to find something specific, like a white scoop-neck tee, great luck to you. may the gods be with you! since the store need to be a quarter of a mile long. It’s HUGE, as well as you absolutely have to be in the mood for a treasure hunt.

They likewise have quite great appeal section, which, thankfully, is a lot more contained than the garments as well as shoe areas, as well as you can go browse the shelves in a affordable amount of time. It’s all extremely neat as well as tidy.

They bring a mix of drugstore (weird!) as well as high-end products, too, which I’m presuming will modification often, however when I was there last Friday, I saw some body care from Neutrogena as well as Burt’s Bees, as well as I likewise saw a makeup screen for NYX.

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In general, they don’t bring whatever from a line, however it seemed like a great amount of stuff as well as much better than normal prices. Like, I saw a bottle of Neutrogena Ultra gentle everyday Cleanser for $7.97, as well as I believe it’s usually $10 at Ulta.

I freaked out a bit when I saw this Bliss screen (I looove Bliss lotions). I discovered this massive tube of Grapefruit+ Aloe Body Butter marked down to $16.97 from $49! What a steal.

And I likewise identified some Sephora makeup regulars from metropolitan Decay, as well Faced, Lancôme, YSL, Caudalie, Smashbox as well as Bobbi Brown, among others, as well as whatever was discounted between $5-10 off the routine price.

Some of the products from older collections were marked down even more, like metropolitan Decay’s Alice with the Looking Glass Collection, which was on sale for $29.97 instead of the original $60.

They likewise bring fragrances, too!

It’s absolutely gonna be a location I regular for makeup as well as appeal discounts, however I don’t understand about going in there for clothes… There were as well lots of racks. It was waaay as well much stimulus for me.

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Have you ever been to a Nordstrom Rack? exactly how do you feel about huge outlet stores like that? Do you get into buying treasure hunt-style, or do you like going to stores that are hyper organized?

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

Hello, sweet friend…
Hello, sweet friend. happy Thursday to ya. I hope things are going well on your end of the keyboard.

I know that I’ve been kind of MIA this week, but it’s just… I’m going through some things.

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I wish I could say that I’ve been playing hooky and having exciting adventures, but truth be told, it hasn’t been like that. It’s just that I’m turning 40 in June, and I’m going through… I don’t think it’s a crisis, but it’s definitely something.

I woke up yesterday morning and realized — holy crap! — my 30s are over. Like, totally and officially over.

It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my thirtieth. (We went to a drag queen karaoke bar! You know how I roll. *snaps*). now it’s 10 years later, just like that. I’m emotionally very tender right now…

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It’s a bunch of different things, like not having children, and babe, seriously…I don’t know what’s going on with me. It’s like, I can’t even look at babies right now without getting teary.

For the longest time, I wasn’t sure if I was meant to be a mom, and I didn’t really think about it much. I just kept myself busy working on different projects like people do, but now I really, really, really want to have a child.

But I waited so long…

I feel like such a fool. I let my prime childbearing years pass me by, and now whenever El Hub and I even start to talk about it, I get super emotional. It’s deep, intense and real.

Aaaand, that’s just part of it. I’m also tired of living in disarray. My office is a cluttered mess, and my house needs attention.

If you saw my office — and I don’t want to share a picture of it because there’s nothing cute about it — you’d be amazed that I actually manage to get anything done.

I’m also tired of hearing myself talk about decorating my space and making our condo a home but not actually doing anything about it, you know? It’s like I wake up, start working, and the next thing you know, it’s evening and I’m exhausted, and the last thing I want to do is clean the bathroom or contemplate an end table. I throw myself into whatever I’m doing and the hours pass.

Anyway, if you made it this far down, thank you for lending me your ear and letting me ramble. sometimes just talking about it makes me feel better.

Even though I’ve written millions of words on this blog, I still hold a lot in, even from my husband (and my cat). I’m the kind of person who tries to work things out on her own, even when she shouldn’t/can’t, but I’m trying to get better about being more open and allowing others to help. It’s not a bad thing to need help.

I think I need to take a few days to get my sh*t together. I still plan to post, because I also need to talk, but the posts will probably be a little different. Shorter, and maybe more random…

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Thank you again for listening, my friend. I hope you’re having a good week so far. talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte in Commanding
I was having a tough morning today, and by the time I sat down to get ready for the day, I needed a serious pick-me-up.

I remembered that one of my favorite professors in school shared her secret to getting over her nerves and insecurities.

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Lipstick.

She says that everyone has a power color, and hers is pink. Whenever she has to speak in front of large crowds or finds herself in a situation where she may be nervous, she wears hot pink lipstick.

She says it gives her an edge, a decent dose of sass, and reminds her to be herself, because you can’t cower down when you’re wearing a bold lip. You have to own it.

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So, today I wore a fur coat and a bold lip, because I can.

My power color changes, but today I went with the Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick in Commanding ($30), because on these particularly rough days, I need a bullet.

Like, a lipstick bullet.

Liquid lipstick and glosses don’t hold the same figurative power for me as a classic bullet.

Also, the packaging. how can you feel down when you’re holding lipstick made from actual goddess magic in your hands? It’s simple yet substantial with an engraved lid and navy casing with gold accents.

They also close magnetically, which is so satisfying.

Putting this lipstick on even feels like a power move.

Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte packaging
Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte in Neon Azalea, Volatile, Commanding, and Shameless Violet
My lips are always moderately dry, so prepping them is crucial for me. When adequately conditioned, these lipsticks glide on evenly and last between 3-4 hours (with no lipliner!), even through light eating and drinking. 

The formula is smooth and richly pigmented. It’s hard to mess up application with these guys. They have a subtle vanilla scent, too, which doesn’t last, and therefore doesn’t bother me.

Left to right: Commanding, Shameless Violet, Neon Azalea, and Volatile. In hand: Neon Azalea and Shameless Violet

Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick in Commanding

Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick in Shameless Violet
Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick in Neon Azalea
Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick in Volatile

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Aside from loving these lipsticks for lifting my spirits, which they do, I also love the shape of the bullet. They have the typical slant, but not the point, so they really are quite lovely for lip sculpting. The shape fits the contours of my Cupid’s bow perfectly without making the peaks too sharp. 

Sometimes I like to buff out the edges with a lip brush or a cotton bud for a softer, lived-in look.

Estée Lauder Pure color Envy Matte sculpting Lipstick (L) bullet comparison
When you’re having “one of those days,” do you ever turn to beauty products? What are your go-to’s?

You’re coming on vacay with me, Milk Makeup!
How awesome would it be if when you went to Sephora to inspect out Milk makeup Sunshine Skin Tint, they handed you a milkshake just for showing up?

I would discover that extremely motivating, LOL! As if I requirement additional motivation to inspect out makeup…

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Anyway, I’ve been believing about this trip I took once. I brought a tube of tinted moisturizer with me, however it exploded around whatever in my bag since the top came loose.

That most likely wouldn’t have occurred with Milk makeup Sunshine Skin Tint.

Milk makeup Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30 in Honey ($42 as well as offered in eight shades)
It has a pen clicker at the bottom. When you click it, the foundation comes up with the tube as well as out the roller sphere applicator on the other end.

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You utilize the roller sphere to spread the tint around your face, then blend it in with your fingers.

It’s fun as well as cool. Plus, it’s extremely unlikely to leak foundation around your stuff.

Milk makeup is an American cruelty-free brand that’s been on the makeup scene about a year or two. As far as I know, their products don’t include any type of actual milk, though. Unless you count coconut milk. The “milk” in the name refers to the elegant Milk picture studios, which they’re affiliated with.

Wearing Honey as well as medium Tan mixed together

Their advertising skews quite young — teens as well as millennials — if you go by the designs on the website, however even if you’re a woman or gent of a specific age, don’t let that stop you from trying Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30. I’m in my 40s as well as like it!

The brilliant thing about Sunshine Skin Tint to me is exactly how it looks on my skin. I put it on, blend it out, as well as I promise — I can’t see it at all. overall no-makeup makeup. The surface is somewhat shiny, however it doesn’t look oily, as well as I like the method my skin looks, fine lines, pores as well as all.

Because it’s a skin tint, yes, it isn’t full coverage, so don’t expect it to hide everything. however it hides just sufficient to appease me on many days. I’d state the protection is similar to Neutrogena’s Skin Tint (which I likewise love, by the way), however it has a dewier finish.

Sunshine Skin Tint makes for ideal “vacation skin” — dewy, even-toned skin that doesn’t look like it’s using a makeup mask.

This shade, Honey, is a tad as well light for me at the moment (for ref, I’m typically an NC42 in MAC)
Sephora currently brings the line in all eight shades — fair (fair with pink undertones), Light (light with yellow undertones), Sand (light to medium with peach undertones), medium (medium with neutral undertones), Honey (medium with warm undertones), medium Tan (medium to tan with golden undertones), Tan (tan with golden undertones) as well as Deep (deep with warm undertones).

I’m a MAC NC42. My skin is quite tan with golden undertones, as well as I’m somewhere between the shades Honey as well as medium Tan. Honey by itself is a bit as well light, as well as the medium Tan shade is a touch as well dark, so I’m mixing the two…which I understand is excessively high-maintenance, however that’s exactly how I roll when it concerns deal with products. permanently cocktail-ing my own colors!

FYI, I’ve heard that these foundations can oxidize on some peeps, however I haven’t had that issue. Both Honey as well as medium Tan stay quite true on my combo skin, which, by the way, is oily on my forehead as well as nose, however dry all over else.

Mental preparation

The flight to Oahu next week will be the Coywolf’s very first time flying, as well as I’m truly hoping that the altitude won’t bother her bit infant ears (El Hub had quite major ear issues when he was a kid). I’m planning to provide her a bottle during takeoff as well as landing, as well as to bring some new toys. I’m likewise packing my phone with a few episodes of Sesame Street, which she loves, to ideally provide her something to distract herself with if she gets uncomfortable.

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Have you ever flown with a young child before? any type of suggestions? What was it like?

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

“Why, yes! I am using a sequined shell bra top… You like?”
In Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which I extremely suggest for anybody, however particularly tweens as well as teens, the primary character is an daily woman navigating her method with adolescence as well as puberty. In one part of the story she contemplates stuffing her bra with cotton spheres before going to a party.

Even though I checked out the book about a bazillion times in my early teens, it never occurred to me method back then to really stuff my bra. I just believed it was something they only did in books, as well as not in, like, genuine life.

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That’s exactly how clueless I was as a kid. We didn’t have the Interwebs or the Googles back then!

And now that I believe back about it, I hated having to wear my very first bra. It wasn’t one of those things about growing up that I looked ahead to, since I was a bit of a tomboy back then, as well as my mother as well as I never had that “your body is going with ch-ch-changes” conversation.

The only reason I started using that very first bra was since my finest friend’s mother discussed something to my mother about me/it. I believe my mother was in overall denial about the truth that I was visibly going with puberty, however she still dug deep as well as ultimately took me to go bra buying at the mall.

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So we got one, as well as it felt annoyingly oppressive. I hated using it, as well as the believed of stuffing it never crossed my mind…

Until I hit my 20s as well as 30s, when I did utilize those poultry cutlets bra inserts from time to time with tops as well as gowns that I felt might benefit from a bit of a boost.

So yes, I have stuffed my bra.

I understand that for numerous women, this subject is a sensitive one that takes on a different implying since of breast cancer. My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor, as well as we’ve talked numerous times about specialty bras.

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In whatever methods as well as nevertheless it applies to you, have you ever stuffed your bra before? The comments right here are a risk-free location (I strictly enforce that).

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

Vegas, baby!

Famous last words. but we’re not actually gonna get in the automobile and drive nine hours to Vegas, no! We’re gonna teleport and get there instantaneously with the new $45 Stardust by vegas Nay kit from too faced and glam Instagram makeup artist mega star @vegas_nay, also known as Naomi Giannopoulos.

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I don’t know if you follow her yet on Instagram, but you should! She does stunning makeup, and I learn a lot from her feed in terms of getting ideas for doing big glamorous makeup. and that theme — big glamorous makeup — and the makeup she likes to do and feature, translates into the Stardust by vegas Nay kit.

You get a ton of stuff with it for $45, including a palette of 12 powder eyeshadows in shimmer and matte shades.

You also get a deluxe-sized better Than Sex Mascara, a shadow insurance Primer, a cute, little loose glitter pigment AND, because it’s valuable to get roadmaps sometimes, there are also these little cards with valuable pictorials, so you get steps to follow for six different looks. They’re very handy.

Stardust by vegas Nay is a stunning kit for big glam looks, and I think it’s also a good value.

It’s available now online for $45 and coming September 6 to Ulta stores.

Check out the video at the top for more details and a closer look.

Products mentioned

Too faced Stardust by vegas Nay ($45)

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As always, thank you for watching!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

two pops o’ color!
One of the quickest, many colorful ways I know to dress up a standard-issue white tee ensemble is by incorporating twin pops o’ color like a bright lip and a colorful necklace.

When the two pops complement each other, like the hot pinks in the new MAC Giambattista Valli Lipstick in Tats and the Kristin Perry Showered in Neon Necklace, this trick is both quick and easy.

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But the complementary color thing isn’t an unbreakable rule, or any kind of guideline for that matter. The thing is just to have two focal points. As long as you have that down, you ought to be good.

I call this “The White Tee Trick” because, apparently, everything in my life needs an ONICL (Official name involving capital Letters).

MAC Giambattista Valli Lipstick in Tats

Kristin Perry Showered in Neon necklace ($38)

By the way, the MAC Giambattista Valli collection stomps down the catwalk into MAC stores, the MAC site and counters tomorrow, July 9 (available through August 6).

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I have a feeling this one might sell out rapidly because of the bright colors and beautiful packaging, so if you’re interested, you might want to ride that pony sooner than later.

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

everyone in our family takes turns watching Connor Claire, even her big brother Tabs!

Although, to be honest, sometimes he’s not too thrilled when I ask him to babysit…

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I guess he’s got places to go and people to see? Whatevs.

Because he’s all about multitasking, Tabs takes his responsibility as an opportunity to teach his protégé everything he knows about kitty super modeling. Currently, they’re working on a patented Tabs pose called “the distant disinterested stare.”

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She’s getting pretty good at it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m completed testing the 1-month Nuvesse worn out Eyes, Puffiness & Dark Circles Regimen Kit, as well as right here are my results!
As a participant in the Nuvesse worn out Eyes, Puffiness & Dark Circles One-Month Regimen set Test, I got product samples as well as payment for my time as well as effort. Although this publish is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. nuvesse.com #sponsored

You understand what?

I look like a whole new girl!

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OK, well, perhaps not totally new…but my greatest hope from the get-go in testing the 30 Day worn out Eyes, Puffiness & Dark Circles Regimen set by Nuvesse ($95) was that my dark circles would improve, as well as I’d be able to wear less makeup in that area. as well as with less makeup, my under-eye area would look a lot more natural as well as less cake-y.

I’ll be the very first to admit that I’ve boarded the train to Cake-ville with concealer lots of times over the past few years, as well as I just don’t want to do that anymore, considering that it makes me look older than my 41 years.

The $95 one-month regimen set includes four regular masks as well as a twice-daily serum roller.

What is Nuvesse?

“Nuvesse Skin Therapies, Inc. was established in 2004 as well as established a propriety wound-healing technology, HealSmart individualized Woundcare System (HealSmart™). The business realized that the application of its newest active shipment technology, Cellulation™ Technology, to skin care had the prospective to produce remarkable benefits as well as reach as well as introduced its very first skin therapy portfolio of products in mid-2014 into the aesthetic medical channel. After additionally refinement the business just introduced its new consumer brand, Nuvesse.”

— Nuvesse

Results & Conclusion: absolutely Better!

After utilizing all four mask sets as well as the serum roller religiously for 30 days, I’m delighted to state that my dark circles look much less intense than they did when I started.

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The before shot! This was the circumstance before I started the regimen.
Before starting the regimen on the left, as well as after 30 days on the right
They aren’t as intensely purple as they utilized to be, as well as they look general lighter. They likewise don’t, um…spread out as far as they utilized to, so I don’t have as much area to cover.

I’ve quite much stop utilizing color corrector on the daily. now I just utilize a bit concealer in the inner corners of my under-eye area as well as a bit of setting powder. just the tiniest bit! as well as that’s it.

What I don’t understand yet is exactly how long the modifications I’ve seen will last after I haven’t utilized the masks or the serum roller for a while.

Of course, ya know, it would’ve been terrific if my dark circles had totally disappeared back to when I was 21 years old as well as didn’t have to bother with them, however let’s be real. That was most likely never going to happen, however it makes me question if things would keep improving if I kept utilizing the regimen. If I’m already seeing a difference after the very first month, it seems like it’s possible.

Video Review

Using the Mask sets as well as the Serum Roller

Just like I did in the very first two weeks, I took photos as well as video to track my results over the rest of the month.

Whee! Mask time is meow time.
When I utilize the masks, there’s a terrific cooling sensation. This was the fourth as well as final mask… I was unfortunate when I completed them, however there’s still sufficient serum left in the roller to last a few a lot more weeks.
The peeling-off process is weirdly satisfying… This was ideal after utilizing the third mask (day #15).
Mask removal, ah…
Applying the serum roller
Pretty great for 1 Month

After completing the 1-month regimen
Final results once again after completing the regimen

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I truly took pleasure in doing this as well as seeing a visible modification at the end. I didn’t expect a miracle, however I’m type of addicted to the masks now. I believe I may keep utilizing them. even beyond what they did for my dark circles, it’s always fun to spend a bit meow time spoiling yourself, right?

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

PURPLE POWER! (Wearing urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in ZZ)
If I’d known what I was getting into yesterday before taking Connor to her first official outing involving a large group of babies, I would have done some deep breathing exercises or yoga beforehand.

We went to our first Kindermusik class, which is like a loosely organized music circle for babies. There’s a guitar-playing teacher who leads the troupe through songs and dances and baby sign language lessons and, basically, I lived a lifetime of emotions in the 40 minutes we were there. I got all the feels! Girl, I was a mess.

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What does this have to do with these new urban Decay Vice liquid Lipsticks? Well, I’m wearing them in this episodic representation of the emotional roller coaster ride I went on in Kindermusik class, LOL!

The urban Decay Vice liquid Lipsticks are a new line of lippies from UD. They’re $18 each, and these are the purple and pink shades. (I reviewed the orange and red shades and the nude and brown shades last week.)

These last about four hours on my lips, which is consistent with the other bright shades I’ve tried and ok for a liquid lipstick…although not exceptional. I was hoping they’d last longer, but I do have to say that they feel FABULOUS! The formula isn’t drying at all — another plus for a liquid lipstick — and I think they look great.

They’re available now online and at UD stores and counters.

The first emotion: nervousness, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Twitch

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Twitch
I was a little nervous when we walked into the class because, ya know, it was the first time Connor had hung out with a large group of babies. Was she going to scream? Was she going to be quiet and coy? would she be outgoing? would the other babies be nice to her? would she try to meow to everyone like she does to Tabs? I didn’t know!

Turns out she was fine. She was super cautious and reserved when we first sat down, but maybe she was picking up on my energy.

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The second emotion: pure joy, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in ZZ

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in ZZ
As the music started and everyone began singing and clapping and dancing together, she started to really enjoy herself. She was laughing, smiling and very interested in the teacher’s guitar.

The third emotion: togetherness, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Firebird

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Firebird

Pretty soon Connor and I got into the zone! I was lifting her up and twirling her around and bouncing her up and down. We rocked out, man. You don’t even know.

The fourth emotion: slightly grossed out, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Mad

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Mad
Then we did this one activity where we tossed a whole bunch of small inflatable balls across the room and, you know, babies being babies…some of them put them in their mouth.

I remember grabbing one of the balls, and it was completely soaking wet with spit. I thought, “Good lord, please don’t let Connor put this one in her mouth.”

I kept telling myself c’est la vie. It’s just what babies do, but still…I was slightly grossed out.

The fifth emotion: bittersweet, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Pandemonium

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in Pandemonium
There was a moment during the class — the strangest moment in the whole experience — when I felt overjoyed, but also a little sad. It was during quiet time. The teacher turned down the lights and turned on a quiet, soothing song. all of the parents quieted down and sat along one of the walls, and then the teacher started blowing bubbles into the air.

The babies emerged from the wall like awkward butterflies exploring the world for the first time. most of them stayed close to their moms and dads, but Connor just took off! She crawled as fast as she could to the center of the room all by herself like it was a stage, then stood up, did a little dance and waved both hands to everybody.

Then she crawled to the other side of the room and chased some bubbles. I kept trying to get her to come back to me, but she was too busy having a good time.

I started to tear up… It was a glimpse into the future. Someday she’s going to go out into the world, and I won’t be there to catch bubbles for her.

Makes me a little happy and sad at the same time.

The sixth emotion: relief, as told by urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in big Bang

Urban Decay Vice liquid Lipstick in big Bang
After seeing how happy and comfortable Connor was in the group, I felt relieved. She’s going to be OK. Me, on the other hand, I don’t know. If a Kindermusik class can drive me to tears, how am I gonna be when she graduates from high school??

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OMG! I’m getting ahead of myself.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen