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! Tiesitkö tämän…? I did not know this.

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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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Sinun vuorosi. What have you been loving lately? Inquiring minds want to know.

Ystävällinen naapuruston valittaa Addict,

Karen

The scent of summer
1. The smell of Coppertone Waterbabies

To quote master wordsmith Nelly, “It’s getting hot in hurr.”

Today was 89 degrees! last week it was 25 degrees cooler, but this week it’s starting to feel a lot like summer. I try to take Connor out good and early to wear her little booty out, but before we go, I slather this sunscreen all over her and myself. This stuff always makes me think of summer and long lazy days at the beach. Rakastan sitä.

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2. turn and learn

I discussed this Ted Talk in the last Saturday Surfing, but if you missed it, please view it now. Or whenever you can. I think it’s so helpful!

The gist of it is to think of the things in your life that you’d like to change as opportunities to learn. Like, for example, if you’re bad at time management (LIKE ME!!!), instead of thinking, “I should be broken. I’m so bad at time management. There’s for sure something wrong with me,” think of it instead as a chance for you to learn some of the myriad of valuable time management suggestions and skills that are out there. (And no, you are not broken.) Eventually, you’ll hit on a suggestion or technique that works for you and helps you get better.

3. MAC studio fix mixed with MAC Strobe Cream

Why do I always try to reinvent the wheel when this combo is such an oldie but a goodie?

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MAC studio fix fluid — old-school effective!
I’ve been sheering it out, so it’s much more Strobe cream and less studio fix Foundation, but it’s still just enough to give me a little bit of even-ness and a lot of glow.

4. Ayesha’s home kitchen on Food Network

Don’t know if you’re viewing the basketball ? playoffs best now, but the Warriors are in it (yay, Bay Area!), and one of the players, Stephen Curry, is married to Ayesha Curry, the young lady who hosts this show.

She’s absolutely adorable, and so are her daughters. I haven’t tried any of her recipes yet, but I’m certainly going to, maybe as soon as this weekend.

I like that she takes shortcuts. Like, in some cases she’ll use boxed cake mix or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, and she’ll jooj them up.

5. Painting

Oh, my gosh! We’re starting our home remodellings soon, and I know that painting is typically one of the steps people do toward the end of whatever they’re doing, but I’ve been having a good time researching paint colors for our place.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to use this color palette I found on a design blog called Maison Pax.

For Connor’s room, I’m thinking of doing one of these blush shades. maybe Behr Stolen Kisses. Haven’t chose yet.

Anyway, I’m thrilled about ?️ paint! kuka olen?!

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What are some things you’ve been loving lately?

Ystävällinen naapuruston charmin addict,

Karen