Would you rock the new Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in Nuit d’Amour ($35)?

by Karen 5 Comments


Would you rock the new Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in Nuit d’Amour ($35)?

by Karen 18 Comments

I am not a morning person. I usually take about two hours to “power up” after waking, and until I’m sufficiently charged, my linguistic capabilities are limited to a couple of halfhearted grunts, and perhaps a “hrmph!” or two.
But there are two things that do accelerate the power-up process: TV and coffee/tea. If I can spend about 10 minutes in the morning with a cup of tea while watching how other humans communicate, I’m usually good.
This morning I watched a few minutes of a movie called Joshua on SyFy (it’s been years since they changed the spelling from “SciFi,” but I still always want to say “See Fee” whenever I see the little logo in the corner of the screen), starring Sam Rockwell and the lovely Vera Farmiga.
It’s about a couple, their newborn baby girl, and their young son Joshua, who becomes jealous of the new addition to the family. Creepy things start to happen around the house, and by the time the couple realizes that their son Joshua is to blame, it’s too late for the family.
Jackpot! Can’t go wrong with zombie and vampire flicks, possession movies and films about precocious children who hatch evil plans. Instant win.
Watching the movie I realized that I didn’t know much about Vera Farmiga, its leading lady, although I have enjoyed many of her recent movies, like Source Code, The Departed and Up in the Air (for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination).
New Jersey’s own Vera Ann Farmiga, born August 6, 1973 and raised in a strict Ukrainian Catholic household, originally wanted to be an optometrist when she grew up, but she changed her mind and decided instead to study acting at the Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts.
She made her Broadway debut in 1996 as an understudy in the play Taking Sides, and after several stage roles, started getting cast in movies.
Now, when she isn’t lighting up the screen, she’s raising her two kids and pet angora goats. 🙂
I like how she’s willing to take chances with her hair, especially the color. She’s spent time as a blonde, a brunette and a redhead, too.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 6 Comments

There’s nothing you can’t do; now you’re in…
(Detail of the design on the MAC Street Art Eye Shadow pan, $38 U.S./$46 CDN, from the MAC Art of Powder collection.)
by Karen 80 Comments

At least there aren’t any crumbs in my bra.
At least I have my two front teeth.
At least when my husky tabby sits on my bladder at 3 in the morning he only weighs 18 pounds and not 28.
At least I still have my sanity.
At least I can still do the Running Man.
At least I’m not infected with an as-yet unidentified pig/bat hybrid super virus (still freaked out after watching Contagion!).
At least I’m getting four hours of sleep; that’s better than not getting any sleep at all.
At least my muffin top would sustain me for a while if I ever found myself stranded on a desert island without food.
At least I’m not wearing stretchy pants 24/7 (at least, not yet).
At least I don’t have a Comic Sans tattoo.
At least I’ve never been in a hot tub on a reality TV show.
At least I have super agile toes (great for pinching people and for picking up pencils off the floor).
At least I’ve seen a sunset in Spain.
At least I have an inside voice, unlike Fat Man Scoop.
At least I can still drop it like it’s tepid (and sometimes lukewarm).
At least I no longer live with a roommate who absolutely refuses to change the toilet paper.
At least the new limited edition Les Jeans de Chanel Nail Colours ($29 each, available now), unlike the Joe’s Jeans I bought in 2004, will always fit.

by Karen 24 Comments

MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Positively Dashing
Lovahs of long-wearing lipstick, prepare to park your pout in front of the new MAC Pro Longwear Lipcremes for a prolonged play session when the MAC Styledriven collection cruises onto counters in t-minus 10 days.
Available in 12 shades of long-wearing pink, plum, orange, red and purple, these pigmented pretties may cost a bit more than MAC’s regular lipsticks ($17 U.S./$20 CDN versus $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN), but if you like creamy, pigmented lipsticks that latch onto lips and won’t let go, they deliver that much and a whole lot more.

Four of the 12 shades, from left to right: Dress It Up, Positively Dashing, So Very Good and Soft Sell
From the four shades I’ve been getting acquainted with, I’m beginning to think of these Lipcremes as upgraded versions of the MAC Amplified lipsticks (one of my favorite lipstick finishes from MAC), with similarly rich, intense pigments in a softer, creamier, more moisturizing formula.

Swatches from left to right: Dress It Up, Positively Dashing, So Very Good and Soft Sell
[Continue reading…]
by Karen 6 Comments

The Les Jeans de Chanel Nail Polishes, $29 each.
Available now at Chanel counters and also online.
Are ya moved by any of these colors?
by Karen 56 Comments

Even Tabs stops to smell the flowers…
A little frazzled. I got a late start this morning, but I’m trying to make the most of having to play catch-up on a Monday morning. It’s all we can do, ya know?
It depends. I’m down with dots if they’re tiny, and the color palette’s neutral, like black and white, navy and white, or tan and white.
Honolulu! Perfect weather year round, great food and surfing without a wetsuit. Heaven.
My folks (still) call me anak ko (ah-nock-ko), which means “my child” in Tagalog, or sometimes Kate or Katie. My brother calls me ate (pronounced ah-tee), which means “older sister” in Tagalog.
Hmm… Probably my Shu Uemura Lash Curler or the MAC 226 Angled Brush (for filling in my brows).
I have a few (have fun no matter what, makeup isn’t permanent, etc.), but my favorite is probably “go drag or go home!” I think it sums up how I feel about mascara. I love big, bold in-your-face lash looks.
I love classic, elegant makeup with a twist — something like a strong cat eye or a bold lip.
Sometimes. It depends on how much time I have to get ready. When I’m running behind, I’ll skip it.
Actually, I have 10 of them. My toes! I have pretty great toe-eye coordination and can use them for good — things like picking up pennies and pencils from the floor — or for evil, like pinching people.
Gotta keep it simple this week, so I’m sticking to healthful daily goals like eating salads for lunch and exercising for at least 60 minutes every day.
Happy Monday, holmes! I hope your day got off to a good start.
If you have a moment, drop in and let me know how you’re doing. Have you ever done the Monday Poll?
1. Mood:
2. How do you feel about polka dots?
3. If you could live a life of luxury in any city in the world, which city would it be?
4. Your childhood nickname(s)?
5. What are the makeup/beauty products you use most often?
6. Your makeup motto?
7. Your personal makeup aesthetic?
8. Do you wear mascara on your lower lashes?
9. Do you have a secret weapon?
10. Weekly goals:
Are you looking for adventure this week, or would you rather play it safe? I’m sort of on the fence. I wouldn’t mind a little adventure as long as it ends by about 7 at night, haha! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 5 Comments

I’m hypnotized by this pan of MAC Optical Bronzer!
