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Archives for December 2009

Get Fit Over the Holidays with 30 Day Shred

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 30 Comments

jillian michaels 30 day shred review

No joke, but last week I ate four pieces of pecan pie on Thanksgiving. FOUR PIECES!

What’s that, like 18 million calories!?

Curse you holiday temptation! It’s constant and everywhere I turn, like these blasted Trader Joe’s dark chocolate stars. I think they follow me, nom nom nom…

Throw in cold rain and shortened days — what’s a girl to do?

Yes, Virgina, you can still work out over the holidays

I thank my dark chocolate stars for fitness expert Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred ($10).

The DVD’s from 2007 (the one I have), so it’s a few years old, but the balanced workout really makes me sweat.

So, what’s this shredding business?

JM (the same one from TV’s The Biggest Loser) calls it the 3-2-1 Interval System, a 20-minute mixed workout emphasizing strength training, cardio and abs.

The idea is to work your way through the three levels of difficulty over the course of 30 days, at the end emerging leaner and “shredded” to the max.

Can you say sweat?

To say these workouts are challenging for me would be an understatement. No workout DVD has ever kicked my booty like this one has, but it’s still fun, doable, and I think the exercises themselves are interesting — things like skaters (a motion like speed skating), plank jacks (plank position/jumping jack hybrid on the floor), squat thrusts and high-knee kicks.
[Continue reading…]

There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Product Reviews

MAC Face of the Day: Utter Fun with a Bright Thursday Lip

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 56 Comments

mac-cosmetics-fotd-1

Hi, ladies. 🙂 I’ve been working my way through a neutrals makeup phase for the past couple of weeks — you know, light pinks, peaches, beiges, the whole nine yards — and brights have been decidedly MIA.

But today they’re back in a BIG way. My inspiration? These crazy Jonagold apples I got from Trader Joe’s.

Nuts, right? I could play volleyball with these things (not that I’m any good with projectile sports)!

mac uttter fun lipstick mineralize eyeshadow its a miracle fotd with apple

Aren’t they the most lovely shades of red? They made me want to bust out my tube of MAC Utter Fun Lipstick ($14), a similarly vibrant but creamy reddish pink.

mac-utter-fun
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There are 56 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup

Can You Guess the MAC Paint Pots?

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 24 Comments


Test your MAC Paint Pots prowess! Can you guess the names of these two?

Hint: they’re both from the permanent line.

There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

How Often Do You Make Big Changes To Your Hairstyle?

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 73 Comments

hair-before-and-after-1-1

I walked out of the salon yesterday with five inches of hair cut trimmed off, lighter highlights and a new set of bangs. I wouldn’t call it a big change because my hair is still long, but I definitely feel like a different girl with this cut. 🙂

My last dramatic haircut was a decage ago — I chopped off my uber-long locks into a chin-length bob. Although I haven’t made any big changes in the past three years, I don’t rule out going short again in the future.

How often do you make big changes to your hairstyle?

View Results

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 73 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun

Christmas Wreath

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 6 Comments


I picked this up for $10 at Trader Joe’s yesterday. It smells so good!

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Two Ways to Win the NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo

December 2nd, 2009 by Karen 371 Comments

The giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted. Please check the home page for current giveaways.

two ways to win the nars kalahari duo

How I love thee, mighty Kalahari, prince of NARS Eyeshadow Duos. I’d give up Nutella for you. Oh, yes, THAT’s how strong my feelings are for your eye brightening golden bronze and shimmery cocoa brown.

Girlfriend, are you ready to fall in love with Kalahari? Methinks it’s time for a giveaway. 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win her very own NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo (a $32 value), with its two shimmery powder shadows in golden bronze and cocoa brown.

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me what you do with your makeup when you look like you didn’t get enough sleep.

I brighten my lids with the NARS Kalahari duo and lighten my dark circles with a mix of concealer and an illuminating eye cream like Origins GinZing.

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo ($32 Value) http://bit.ly/8fjwwP

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo ($32 Value) http://bit.ly/8fjwwP

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, December 4.

İyi şanslar!!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My new hairP.S. How was your afternoon? We made it over the hump, so from here on out it should be smooth sailing until the weekend. Here’s a phone pic of my new ‘do. I went pretty short, taking off about six inches, and I got bangs!

What’s on the agenda for tonight? Right now I’m just playing around on Facebook and Twitter. Tabs and I are going to watch the latest episode of Glee.

The giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted. Please check the home page for current giveaways.

There are 371 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion Is Cutting Out the Middle Man

December 2nd, 2009 by Karen 37 Comments

olay-in-shower-body-lotion-1

Thank you, Olay In-Shower Age Defying Body Lotion ($7), for turning me into a well-oiled, lotion-applying machine.

A little beauty backstory

I have alligator skin. Consequently, I spend copious amounts of time applying body lotion. Once, I tried to figure out how much time I’ve spent at it over the course of my life, and it worked out to something like 52 days.

52 DAYS! That’s time I could’ve spent learning how to play the lute or drooling over Ry-Ry. 🙂

ryan-on-table-saying-haaay

Depending on how long I stick with creamy Olay In-Shower Body Lotion (I’m fickle when it comes to lotions), I could save hours over the rest of my life because it basically eliminates the five minutes I’d otherwise spend applying lotion after every shower.

Instead, after washing and rinsing off my regular body wash, I just rub it on (taking in the light apple-floral scent) while the water’s still running. The heat and humidity in the shower activate its moisturizing mojo.

Then, after all of my dry skin areas are sufficiently coated, I rinse and pat down with a towel.
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There are 37 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Product Reviews, Skin Care

Jake Gyllenhaal: His Best Hair?

December 2nd, 2009 by Karen 34 Comments

jake-gyllenhall-his-best-hair

Dear Jake,

Did you get the card I sent for turkey day (gobble gobble!)? I hope so. 🙂 Yours still hasn’t arrived, but I’m sure it’s on its way. The Post Office has been busy as of late…

I was surprised to read about you and Reese. Thank goodness the rumors were untrue, but I’m here if you ever need a shoulder.

Yours always,

Karen

In my frantic search to corroborate the breakup rumors, I couldn’t help but notice the breadth of Jake’s hairstyles over the years. He makes bangs look so very fetching!

If/when I earn that spot on Jeopardy! and “Jake Gyllenhaal’s hair” comes up as a topic, I think I’ll be prepared.

Jakeypoo factoids

  • Born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal in Los Angeles (December 19, 1980)
  • Family has deep Hollywood ties. Dad’s a director, Mom’s a screenwriter, and big sis Maggie’s a star.
  • Enjoys woodworking and cooking
  • Acting debut was in the 1991 film City Slickers
  • Graduated from high school in 1998 and then went on to attend Columbia University, studying Eastern religions and Philosophy; dropped out to pursue film career.
  • Feature films include Brokeback Mountain, The Day After Tomorrow, Donnie Darko (my JG fave!) and more

P.S. Jake, I know you’re busy, but before I go, may I ask a favor? I’ve noticed you’ve been growing out your hair for Prince of Persia (due out next spring). Please, please condition at least once/week. Split ends = not cute. 🙂

Which of Jake's hairstyles do you like best?

View Results

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 34 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun

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