Emily Johnson

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. Something you do to help make your makeup routine a little easier when you’re getting ready?

I keep a small bag within my regular makeup bag filled with the barest of the bare essentials. Now that I see that in writing it seems a little crazy, LOL! But yeah, having a super pared down mini bag helps a ton. Inside it I have brow pencil, mascara, undereye concealer and a cream blush that doubles as a lipstick.

2. When it’s rainy outside, how do you typically do your hair?

I don’t even bother, really. I run a brush through it and throw it in a bun or a ponytail.

3. What’s your favorite fall lip color?

Matte red, baby!

4. What’s the newest thing in your makeup bag?

I bought a waterproof mascara by Maybelline that’s $5 on the recommendation of a tv/red carpet makeup artist who said she’d been using it for years. We’ll see if it’s any good!

5. Something you love about fall beauty?

Dark, short, shiny nails. I think they look chic!

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. Something you do to help make your makeup routine a little easier when you’re getting ready?
2. When it’s rainy outside, how do you typically do your hair?
3. What’s your favorite fall lip color?
4. What’s the newest thing in your makeup bag?
5. Something you love about fall beauty?

Tabs loved Halloween, as you know. We would get RSVPs to his annual Halloween party six months out, and I kept all of his Halloween treat and beverage recipes, like the following…

Shrimp Catnip Cocktails

Catnip Jello Parfait

Gravy Shooters

Rosie upping her modeling game

While Rosie’s really found her lane as a cat scientist, she’s definitely learned a thing or two about a thing or two, which includes kitty modeling.

I guess that should come as no surprise, considering the company she now heads.

As an academic, that girl sure can study. She watched thousands of hours of footage featuring Tabs at the height of his runway career, picking up pointers and the nuances of kitty supermodeling.

One of Rosie’s PhDs is in biomechanics, which is probably why her muscle control is out of this world. Basically, when you understand the science behind the poses, you can really “next level it.” Or rather, that’s what she tells me when she slow blinks.

As a pet assistant, I normally have to work on Halloween, but I told Rosie I would leave the house/office if she wanted to throw a small get-together this year.

I’ve yet to get an answer.

She goes back and forth. She isn’t the social butterfly Tabs was, but I think she wants to spread her wings… We’ll see.

To be safe, I’m stocking up on fresh catnip anyway. You never know when your cat will pull a last-minute diva move and say, “Meow!” (translation: Let’s throw a party!)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. What are the chances of you wearing a bright lip this week?

Very high! I’d actually say 100%. I’ve been doing bright reds and pinks lately and have been totally into it.

2. A makeup trend that you were very invested in back in the day?

Whatever eyebrow trend that was happening at the moment was my jam! I used to love a skinny brow with a frosty highlight on the brow bone back in the day.

3. How often do you buy foundation?

These days, rarely. I bought a tinted moisturizer, like, a year ago.

4. If you had the time and the energy to do a full-on “everything and the kitchen sink” makeup look every day, would you?

I love the way full-on makeup looks in pictures, but even if I did have the time to do it, I probably wouldn’t in this season in my life. I’m just not used to the feeling of wearing that much makeup on my face anymore.

5. What type of eyeliner is the easiest for you to do?

Hmmm, well, the easiest for me these days is doing a soft line on the upper lashes done with powder eyeshadow and an angled brush.

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. What are the chances of you wearing a bright lip this week?
2. A makeup trend that you were very invested in back in the day?
3. How often do you buy foundation?
4. If you had the time and the energy to do a full-on “everything and the kitchen sink” makeup look every day, would you?
5. What type of eyeliner is the easiest for you to do?

We had an exciting weekend!

Yup, Marnie entered her first race. She was vying for the title of “World’s Fastest Dog of Novato.”

Unfortunately, there was a greyhound in it. Fastest dog I’ve ever seen. But Marnie came in a close second.

She was very disappointed that she didn’t get the win…

Rosie felt bad for her, so she put on her tiara and her favorite tutu and went over to her workshop…

She wanted to make something to help cheer Marnie up.

Rosie worked really hard at it…

Eventually, she came up with this!

A participation medal for Marnie.

It instantly cheered her up. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. Do you enjoy thrifting?

Mostly, yes, if we’re just window shopping and I’m not expecting to find something. If I’m on the hunt for a specific item, then it’s not as fun for me because then I’m just overwhelmed, LOL!

2. One thing you plan to cook this week?

Air fryer chicken parmesan. I’m trying a new recipe!

3. Did fall sneak up on you this year?

Oh, totally. I’m going to try my best to make it a smooth one though. I’m aiming for minimal chaos as we lead up to the holidays, please.

4. How much time does it take to do your hair?

Anywhere between five minutes (side part and low bun) and 20 minutes (loose waves).

5. Do you ever buy beauty products for other people?

Definitely! If it’s something that I love that I think my friends and family will love too, then I hook them up. Yesterday I bought some makeup for Connor, as a matter of fact. She needs some non-irritating eye makeup to wear to dance performances, so I grabbed some Clinique on sale online at Nordstrom.

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. Do you enjoy thrifting?
2. One thing you plan to cook this week?
3. Did fall sneak up on you this year?
4. How much time does it take to do your hair?
5. Do you ever buy beauty products for other people?

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. Did you wear lipstick today?

Nope, today was Laneige Lip Balm in Vanilla. I had grand plans to wear a bright lip but at the last minute went super low key.

2. One beauty-related task you’d like to get better about?

I haven’t been doing a great job at keeping up with upper lip and chin hair removal. In my defense, my near vision is crap these days, so half the time I can’t see those pokey things growing out the side of my face, haha!

3. Your thoughts on ramen?

Love it but so much of it depends on two main things for me: 1) the broth and 2) the texture of the noodles. If either of those are off, then I’m out.

4. One nice thing you’ve done for yourself today?

I watched the sun rise while treating myself to an early morning walk. It was glorious!

5. Can you roller skate?

Sure! I learned back in the ‘80s way before knee pads, helmets and parental supervision, hahaha. It was you versus the pavement. Admittingly, I learned REAL quick!

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. Did you wear lipstick today?
2. One beauty-related task you’d like to get better about?
3. Your thoughts on ramen?
4. One nice thing you’ve done for yourself today?
5. Can you roller skate?

So, Marnie Mae’s internship here at Tabs the Cat Industries is unpaid.

Luckily, she boards here on the corporate campus rent free, but there are a few things she likes to purchase from time to time…

Like the other ladies in the house, she buys some beauty products. She’s also saving for a Labubu and a trip to the dog spa (gotta get her nails done!).

To that end, she relies on her weekly allowance for her spending money, and this week she made bank!

She did double her normal chores and made an extra $5!

Yup, she barked at three dogs and spent an extra 10 minutes looking out the window.

The big question now is what’s she going to do with the money??

What do you think she should do with it?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. Are smokey eyes dated?

I feel like 10 years ago you could get away with wearing a full-on smokey eye in the middle of the day to go buy a loaf of bread and it was totally not a big deal, right? Because wearing ALL THE THINGS was very much the look of that era. Now? Eh, maybe not so much. That said, I still think that for certain events, a smokey eye still looks classic and chic, but it totally depnds on what you pair it with.

2. How early is too early?

Anything before 5:30! 5:30 is no problem, though.

3. Do you enjoy driving?

If I’m just scooting about town, then I don’t mind it. If it’s anything longer than two hours on the highway, then nope.

4. Are you a Swiftie?

I like a handful of Tay-Tay’s songs but I’m not a hard core Swiftie at all.

5. Something you would love to have for dinner?

Assuming I didn’t have to cook it? Garlic noodles with shrimp would be great!

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. Are smokey eyes dated?
2. How early is too early?
3. Do you enjoy driving?
4. Are you a Swiftie?
5. Something you would love to have for dinner?

Man, this inflation is crazy, isn’t it?

Rosie’s been doing everything she can to help. I can’t say I have much job security, though, because Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC isn’t quite the plus-size kitty modeling powerhouse it once was.

We’re getting by, but it’s tough.

At least Rosie’s trying new things and coming up with new ideas to keep the business relevant, like her collaboration with FASA, the Feline Aeronautics and Space Administration.

We got a lot of good sponsorships from that one.

Yup, that one paid for a lotta chicken, if you know what I mean. 🙂

I gotta say, though, things have been tense around the office. Poor Marnie gets the brunt of it, too. Being an intern, she isn’t used to Rosie’s intensity, and it bubbles over every once in a while…

Today Rosie spent five hours exploring the company garden, where she says she does a lot of her best brainstorming work.

That’s funny because Tabs used to say the same thing, except that he coupled gardening with deep-tissue kitty massage…

I mean whatever, right? Tabs was a boss’s boss. He was such a business genius that he could pretty much do whatever he wants.

I guess that’s the cross one bears for greatness. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen