OMG, it’s December 1st! Christmas is, like, basically here. I am so not prepared for it.

On the plus side, though, TJ’s snacks, amirite?

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Here are some things I’m currently loving at the moment. What have you been loving lately, my dear?

Trader Joe’s seasonal noms

Serving trays at Marshalls

MAC Brow Sculpt brown Pencil

MAC Mariah Carey Lash 05

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

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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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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Your turn. What have you been loving lately? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

1. Inflatable pools for adults

Cheers to the brilliant who dreamed up these adult-sized “kiddie pools,” although I don’t rather comprehend the point of sharing a small pool with someone. three people in one inflatable pool? NO say thanks to YOU! That’s just as well numerous limbs in my personal space.

I such as this pool with the banana leaf print, however count on me…I’m not sharing. Each one is $42.99, as well as you can discover them at Thunderdome Target.

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2. submit on Amazon Prime Video

Absolutely brilliant! I blazed with the entire season a few weekends ago. It’s set in the near future… 2033…and it’s about a 20-something programmer on the brink of a innovation breakthrough when his life is suddenly cut short.

No issue though since his consciousness is uploaded to the cloud into a digital slice of online “heaven” that people are able to purchase as a service before their demise. Of course, this neatness comes with a price, both monetary as well as otherwise, as well as the online “afterlife” turns out to be far less than ideal.

I laughed, I screamed (“DID THAT truly just HAPPEN?”), I saw the afterlife with a lens I’d never seen before (big surprise! — capitalism chooses to monetize heaven). All I have to state is that I understand myself all as well well, as well as if packing your consciousness into a server ever becomes a option in the near future, I will provide that a difficult pass.

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3. My strawberry plant

I’m growing a strawberry plant in the woman Sanctuary, as well as it already has a few eco-friendly berries, which I’m very thrilled ABOUT. It’s so great to see a plant thriving as well as doing its thing. I just hope the community squirrels as well as birds don’t discover it so I can really eat the fruit.

4. Improv ramen with gluten-free noodles from Costco

I’ve been craving all teh carbs lately, particularly ramen noodles, as well as have been making this gluten-free quickie version at home. From begin to finish, it takes about 30 minutes, so it’s a relatively quick meal, as well as the noodles stay great in the cupboard permanently (well, almost). Plus, you can personalize it with whatever you have on hand.

Lemme walk ya with it…

Warm about a tablespoon of olive oil in a deep, heavy pot on medium heat. add a handful of any type of aromatics you like — I utilized garlic, a bit of fresh ginger as well as the white parts of a eco-friendly onion for mine — as well as cook till everything’s wilted as well as fragrant.

Add one box of beef broth as well as a box of poultry broth to the pot. (Then, into each empty box, add a bit water as well as swish it around to get all that great flavoring out, as well as add that to the pot as well.) add two teaspoons of fish sauce as well as two teaspoons of soy sauce, however if you don’t have either of those, I’m believing you can substitute with any type of thin, salty sauce, like coconut aminos.
Bring to a boil, as well as simmer on low up until you’re prepared to add noodles.

Next, cook your ramen noodles according to the directions on the package, as well as set them aside. I utilized Costco’s Lotus Foods organic Millet & brown Rice Ramen, which is gluten totally free as well as vegan, as well as it’s prepared after about four minutes of cooking.

Cook or prep any type of other accouterments you want. Some ideas: eggs, bacon (which I utilized this time since I didn’t have pork belly), shrimp, fish cake, eco-friendly onion slices, corn, peas, dried seaweed… So numerous options.

Ladle your broth into a huge bowl, add your noodles, proteins as well as veggies, as well as delight in best away! ?

5. The concept of a tennis shoe collection

Back in the day when I was semi-fabulous, I lived in high heels. These days, not so much. It’s just so much simpler for me to sprint after Connor as well as Rosie when I’m *not* teetering above the ground in three-inch strappy sandals. Plus, my feet are happier now that I stay with comfy sneakers.

The thing is…I don’t feel like I ought to be doomed to a life of tiring footwear!

Sooooo, I’ve been toying with the concept of collecting Nikes…. They’re always coming out with adorable styles, as well as my feet have been pleased with every pair of Nikes I’ve owned. beyond that, my standard-issue uniform these days is black stretchy pants with a tee, or denim with a tee, as well as both go well with sassy tennis shoes.

Clearly, I’ve already done the math in my head. LOL!

Anyway, my birthday’s next month, so I’m believing about lastly springing for a pair of Air Jordan 1 High Zip Premiums in this quite red wine color.

I’ve been wanting these shoes for a couple years because they came out in black, as well as I’m still pining for them. They’re on sale now, so I may just bite the bullet.

I likewise like the Metcon 5s. The pink, white as well as black is so my style!ADVERTISEMENT

If you gather tennis shoes, please talk me into it! ?

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen