Archives for December 2011

Okay, so I really enjoyed Friends with Benefits! Not a bad romantic comedy at all. Snappy dialogue, good chemistry between JT and Mila Kunis, a pretty believable-ish storyline and a great supporting cast.

JT has picked some interesting movie roles this year, hasn’t he? I thoroughly enjoyed this one and also liked In Time earlier this year, the sci-fi one where time is the currency, despite it getting kinda lukewarm reviews.

In other news, welcome to Sunday! 🙂

How’s it going this weekend? I hope you’ve had some time to unwind. Nothing exciting to report out here. It’s sunny this weekend but cold. We had some super strong hurricane-force winds earlier this week, but everything’s very still outside now.

I’m just chugging along, mostly doing little chores around the house. I just finished some gruel for breakfast (oatmeal) to get me fueled up for a quick run, but that’s about all I’ve got going on for today.

Oh, while you’re out and about this weekend, please watch out for makeup monsters, like this annoying bugger here…

THE MASCARA MANGLER

FREQUENCY: Common
SPEED: Fast
ARMOR CLASS: 4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Mascara Manglers have a minor form of makeup mind control. They’re able to make their victims touch, smudge and smear their own mascara (it’s soo annoying!).
SPECIAL DEFENSES: They’re waterproof
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Evil
SIZE: M (6′ tall)

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

• DIY Candy Lights — Oh Happy Day
• Your December Activity Guide — Galadarling
• Cleopatra, Brigitte Bardot and Angelina Jolie can’t be wrong: 10 tips to perfect your cat-eye lining technique. Meow! — Beauty Editor
• How to Buy What You’ll Wear and Wear What You Buy: Lessons Learned from Personal Style Blogging — Ruby Slipper Journeys
• The Beauty Department Presents the Holiday Gift Guide — The Beauty Department
• How to Tackle Holiday Shopping as a College Student — College Fashion
• 12 Days of Christmas Nails: Day 2 (Reindeer Nail Art) — The Nailasaurus
• How to Create a Pretty, Sexy Holiday Makeup Look — Bellasugar
• The Beauty Benefits of Smiling — You Beauty
• I love these Beauty Street Style Columns on the Stylist — Stylist

The Weekly Roundup: MBB Posts You Might Have Missed

YOU’RE SHEER TO FIND A SEASON’S WORTH OF PRETTY IN
CLINIQUE’S NEW HOLIDAY PALETTE FOR EYES, LIPS AND CHEEKS

How much pretty did Clinique squeeze into their new 13-piece holiday palette for eyes, lips and cheeks? Well, judging by the name they gave it, I’d say around “A Season’s Worth.”

The cool tones and neutral shades in the new $37 palette have a distinctly festive feel that reminds me of caroling and getting snuggles from Tabs. They’re the kinds of colors I can see myself wearing with scarves, boots and mittens wrapped around mugs of piping hot cocoa, yet they seem timeless enough to make the transition from winter to spring, and maybe even summer.

More than 20 years ago (egad!) I followed Clinique through a gateway that led to the World of Makeup! There, I found wonders like MAC and NARS, and yet even with such tantalizing temptations teasing my senses, I regularly return to my roots with Clinique. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
LADY DANGER LIPSTICK

“Lady Danger to Ruby Woo! Lady Danger to Ruby Woo! Come in, Ruby Woo! Do you copy? Over.”

“This is Ruby Woo. I read you loud and clear, Lady Danger. What’s your 20? Has Russian Red been neutralized? Over.”

“That’s affirmative, cap’n. Russian Red has been neutralized. I’m leaving the checkpoint now. Returning to base. Over.”

“Copy that, Lady Danger. Good work!”

Russian Red, Ruby Woo and Lady Danger may sound like secret agent code names, but they’re actually three of MAC’s most popular red lipsticks. Read more…

GET ONE MORE DAY FROM YOUR BLOWOUT WITH
THIS IMPROV BEAUTY TRICK

Last week was crazy busy, with two trips out of town and a big family visit, so on Wednesday, knowing that I wouldn’t have much time later in the week to tend to my hair, I blew it out and hoped I’d be able to get by for a few days using just a dry shampoo.

It was a decent enough plan, and it got me through a few days, but then I decided to sneak in a run…

BAM! Just like that, I had janky roots.

And a greasy scalp. Greasy, stinky, oily, and all kinds of gross.

I fully intended to wash my hair before heading to my BFF’s son’s baptism on Saturday, but as usual, time escaped me, and I ended up with only 20 minutes to dress and get out the door. Read more…

TODAY MOTHER NATURE DID MY MAKEUP, AND SHE USED PRODUCTS FROM
MAKE UP FOR EVER, MAC NARS, PACIFICA AND LAURA MERCIER

Today I found my makeup inspiration by looking down — down at the multi-colored leaves scattered on the sidewalk outside. Yup, I turned to Mother Nature this afternoon and reached for colors in copper, beige and khaki for my face of the day.

I’ve been meaning to try a look with Make Up For Ever’s new Wild & Chic Palette ($39) for, um, ever! MUFE fans, this palette does not disappoint. The rich colors are super easy to blend, and I think they look pretty great in pictures, too.

This look also features my new favorite lip combo — Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tint in Blood Orange topped with Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush. I wore it last week to Thanksgiving dinner and even got a few compliments from the makeup-loving cousins. Read more…

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTY HACKS
ALSO KNOWN AS YOUR SECRET BEAUTY SHORTCUTS?

Yesterday’s blowout hair trick got me fired up to find even more beauty hacks, also known as secret beauty shortcuts. As a gal who spends much of her time running behind, every minute counts, and I can always use a new time-saving tip.

Here are a few more that I regularly use…

The peep-toe pedicure

Sometimes, when I’m running ragged and totally pressed for time, I’ll look down at my feet and think, “There’s no way I’d make it through all 10 toes!”

When I don’t have enough time to paint all 10 piggies but still want a little color on my toes, I grab a bottle of polish and a pair of peep-toe shoes. Read more…

IT TAKES URBAN DECAY NAKED2 TO MAKE A THING TO RIGHT…
IT TAKES URBAN DECAY NAKED2 TO MAKE IT OUTTA SIGHT

I wanna rock right now.
I’m K-Dog and I came to get down.
My cat’s internationally known,
And he’s known to rock the microphone.

‘Cause I get stupid, I mean outrageous,
My love for UD Naked2 is contagious.
These shadows are winners, no, they’re not losers,
With 12 shades total for every neutral user.

Ladies love it, girls adore it,
I mean even the ones who never saw it like…
The way that the shades just flow.
The reason why, UD steals the show,
So let’s go, ’cause… Read more…

SKINCARE FOR THE CHANGING SEASONS
5 TIPS TO SOOTHE AND PROTECT DRY WINTER HANDS

I was tickling the ivories on my computer keyboard the other day (I l-o-v-e R-y-a-n G-o-s-l-i-n-g) when my eyes settled on a frightening sight.

My hands!

Something — probably a combination of biting winds, indoor heaters and obsessive hand washing — had turned them into two chapped chunks of leathery turkey jerky.

Not cute.

“Tabs!” I screamed, reaching out to him for emotional support, but as soon as he took one look at my wretched paws, he hissed and ran away.

Okay, well, maybe not, but I think he did sort of cringe. Read more…

AN URBAN DECAY NAKED2 FACE OF THE DAY
AND COMPARISON SWATCHES WITH THE ORIGINAL NAKED PALETTE

Here are some shots of the new Urban Decay Naked2 Palette ($50; available now online) in action, babe. I used the Naked2 tutorial on the Urban Decay website as a jumping off point.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering how Naked and Naked2 looked side-by-side…

What do ya think? Skinny dip time (the pool is heated)? Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen