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Archives for April 2010

MAC to the Glitter Chunks in New Superglass Lipgloss: Supersize Me!

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A lot of people don’t know this, but the lyrics to Parliament’s famous 1976 single, Give Up the Funk, originally went like this:

Ow, we want the chunk
Give up the chunk
Ow, we need the chunk
We gotta have that chunk [2x]

True story. 🙂

The bodacious bits of chunky glitter in the nine MAC Superglass shades ($18 each) are so big, eye-catching and IN YO FACE that they’re making me break into song (like so many things do!).

Why don’t you stick around?

I expected glitter chunks this big to make these glosses feel gritty, but the formula slides onto my lips. They’re sticky, though, despite how gracefully they glide. As a matter of fact, I think they may be a little stickier than MAC Lipglasses are, for what it’s worth.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Tag: Getting To Know You, Revisited

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I was rifling through the MBB archives yesterday when I came across this old game of blog tag.

Blog tag is where one blogger tags another blogger with a list of questions and conversation starters for a sort of “getting to know you” blog.

This morning I thought it might be fun do it again with more answers to the same questions, except this time I’m tagging YOU! 🙂

Things I’m passionate about

Sleep
Travel
Nutella
Running
Succinct writing
Low-fat cooking
Rescue animal adoption
Apples (as in Macintosh)
Excess body hair removal
Sales and beauty bargains

Things I’d like to do before I die

Live somewhere I can surf in warm water on a daily basis
Spend a full month traveling through Europe
Come to peace with all of my faults
Learn how to play the cello
Develop abs of steel!
Own a Chanel purse
See U2 in concert

Things I say often

You’re so strange
Show me your tum!
Crap, my 217 is dirty
Let’s do the dishes tomorrow
What time do you want me to set the alarm?
Please, no talking until I’ve had more caffeine


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Pieces of Home

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Just a few more random pics of where I grew up in Union City, California.

My dad likes to garden; above are some of his orchid plants.

A view of the front yard…

… and the front door. True story: One time I went on a date with this boy I had a massive crush on in high school. At the end of the evening he walked me to the door, and right as we were saying our goodbyes my mom threw open the door and stood there GIVING HIM THE STINK EYE FOR WHAT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY (without saying a word). I didn’t know what to do, so I just said “good night,” shook his hand (?!?) and ran mortified into the house. I never heard from the boy again… 🙂

Here’s the piano upon which I spent many hours practicing classical music against my will. God, I hated that thing with a passion! The door to my old room’s at the end of the hallway on the right.

The view from my old room into the living room…

Here’s the altar in the hallway (yes, you read that correctly). And there used to be an oversized picture of Jesus here that scared me as a kid, but my mom must have moved it somewhere else.

One last bit of weirdness: I looked into the shower in the bathroom and found this odd bottle of “Lemon Shimmer Body Wash” on my dad’s shelf. I’m kicking myself for not hiding it while I was there. 🙂

Hourglass Is Warming Up To Summer

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Girls who wear warm colors well may like this year’s summer collection from Hourglass Cosmetics. It’s a tiny collection (just two pieces), and they aren’t the least expensive kids on the block.

What do we mean by “warm” or “cool” colors?

  • Colors that lean toward red, orange or yellow, or contain their undertones (many browns, yellowish greens and orangey reds), are generally considered warm shades.
  • Colors that lean blue or green (or bluish pink, purple, blueish green, magenta or blueish red) are typically called cool.

These two siblings hover in Chanel price airspace…Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset will set you back $40, and Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Fortune clocks in at $28, but Hourglass makes sure you get good stuff for your money.


Fortune on the lips; Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo on cheeks

Creme-to-Powder-Bronzer Duo in Sunset houses a creamy, warm pink blush and a warm golden brown bronzer in a snazzy swivel-top compact. Both the blush and bronzer have all-day staying power, resist streaking and dry to a natural-looking matte finish.
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Wimpy Lashes, Meet MAC Opulash Mascara

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I just love thickening mascaras that plump threadbare lashes, boo. 🙂

Say “hi” to MAC’s Opulash Mascara in Bad, Bad, Black ($14). It’s exclusive to Nordstrom stores for now, but it’ll be rolling out to other MAC counters soon.

With Opulash, MAC is venturing into totally tubular Clinique Lash Power/DiorShow territory. I’m sure you remember DiorShow, but how about Clinique Lash Power? With its “tubes” of mascara that surround each lash? Opulash also coats with tubes of mascara, and despite how long lasting it is, it still washes right off with nothing but warm water; no extra eye makeup remover required.

To remove it, I wet a cotton pad with warm water, hold it against an eye for a few seconds, and then gently slide down the length of the lash. It takes about three swipes to do a good job, but it’s a lot easier than having to bust out another remover.

The way it’s removed is pretty cool, but by far I think Opulash’s strongest point is how well it plumps up the volume from root to tip — and not just near the base (I’m talking to you, Givenchy Phenom Eyes!).
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, April 26

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  1. Mood:

    2. I can’t believe I woke up BEFORE my alarm clock today but still feel like I got a full night’s sleep. 🙂 Things are off to a good start!

  2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?

    3. It’s one of Monet’s Water Lily paintings… I’ve always loved the Impressionists!

  3. Can you ride a bike?

    4. Yup. I learned when I was 8. My cousin taught me, and we didn’t even use training wheels! — which I remember thinking was a big deal at the time.

  4. Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookie?

    5. If there’s icing, then oatmeal raisin (but chocolate chip if the chips are semi-sweet)

  5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

    6. Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion, MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow, MAC Graphblack liner/Hourglass Fortune Extremesheen lipgloss/Hourglass Sunset Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo

  6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?

    7. El Hub got me a bouquet for Valentine’s Day in February.

  7. What’s on your desk?

    8. A small desk lamp, two huge Mead 5-Subject spiral-bound notebooks (one for planning/notes, and one for writing), NARS Sin blush, a bottle of Balenciaga Paris perfume, an external hard drive for computer backups, Clarins Sunscreen Wrinkle Control Eye Cream, Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder, a cup of (now) cold decaf coffee and miscellaneous MAC (Sable eyeshadow, Kraft lipstick and Opulash Mascara)

  8. I really wish I could _____.

    9. Focus on one thing at a time

  9. Outfit:

    10. My favorite pair of Lucky Jeans (the ones with the hole in the thigh), a pink Rip Curl t-shirt and silver chandelier earrings

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Be better about avoiding distractions while I work, exercise at least three times before Saturday, keep a positive attitude, track down some new music and read something for fun at least an hour each day

Haaay, baby girl! Here we go again (on our own!). It’s another Monday, which according to my inner optimist means yet another chance to start fresh. 🙂

I hope you had a good weekend. Before you enter the rat race today, let me know how you’re doin’ by filling out the Monday Poll. Just copy the list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?
3. Can you ride a bike?
4. Cookies: oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?
7. What’s on your desk?
8. I really wish I could _____.
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I’m up for having a great week if you are. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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