Instagram-ish filter applied. It’s hard to believe it’s the exact same tree, isn’t it?
Another Shot of My Favorite Tree
Archives for March 2012
Makeup and Beauty Blog Introduces Rent-A-Tabby, a New Service That Delivers Tabs Directly to You
In the tradition of forward feline thinking here at Makeup and Beauty Blog, I am proud to announce a brand new service that brings the cat cafe experience directly to you.
Introducing: Rent-A-Tabby.
Why settle for mere pics and video when you can actually spend time interacting with the world’s first international plus-size kitty supermodel from the comfort of your own home?
Why Rent-A-Tabby?
Rent-A-Tabby, a new service here on Makeup and Beauty Blog, brings the Tabs experience right to your doorstep.
Feel Tabs making biscuits on your tum firsthand. Hear him sweetly beg for gravy in the middle of the night (“mrowww!”). Awaken to nearly 20 pounds of raw feline force catapulting off your bladder at 5 in the morning. Experience a kitty butt shoved in your face at all hours of the day (live and in 3D).
- Need a chest warmer or a furry chin to head-butt your face while you’re reading in bed?
- Looking for a lap warmer/TV companion?
- Interested in testing the waters for a career in full-time pet assisting?
If you said “Yes!” to any of the above, or if you’re just a cat fan and want to hang out with Tabs, Rent-A-Tabby is right for you.
Here’s how it works
- Click the big Sign Up button at the bottom of this post, and complete the eligibility form. Be sure to indicate the dates you would like to Rent-A-Tabby, and select your options. At the moment, I take Visa and Mastercard, but I’ll be rolling out a PayPal option soon.
- I ship Tabs to you. He’s guaranteed to arrive on your doorstep by your Rent-A-Tabby date (or your money back). I can ship to all U.S. and international addresses (overnight shipping available).
- When you’re done spending time with Tabs, just pack him up in the pre-paid return box, and drop the box off at your nearby FedEx (or DHL) office.
It’s Always Summer Somewhere With Tom Ford Beauty Spring 2012
Well, hello bronze. Things are certainly looking sun-kissed and smoldering over at Tom Ford Beauty this spring, and I, for one, am lurving it. 🙂
“I have always loved the look of tanned, glowing skin, whether it is achieved with bronzing powder or with a natural tan.”
— Tom Ford
A few noms…
Clockwise from the gold pot on the left: Cream Color for Eyes in Guilt ($35), Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Gold Dust ($45) and Cream Color for Eyes in Illicit ($35)
Cream Color for Eyes in Illicit
Cream Color for Eyes in Guilt
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I’m Pretty Wild About Fierce: Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Fierce
Purple lipgloss? So totally my thing, and it has been ever since at least my 27th birthday, when my BFF Jen gave me a tube of Benefit Kiss Me Gloss. I haven’t turned back since.
But to be honest, the first time I swatched Illamasqua’s latest lavender-ish lippie, the appropriately named Fierce, I gasped before I squeed!
It’s just so purple. And opaque. And…purple.
Part of Illamasqua’s new Human Fundamentalism collection, it’s probably not what I’d wear to Easter mass (imagine the look on the padre’s face during communion!), but I do think it’s more wearable than teal blue Apocalips, another loud lippie from the same launch.
The notables
- Packaging: I think I would have preferred a doe-foot applicator to the brush that comes with Fierce. The fibers are a little long and unruly; some of the ones at the edges tend to splay out.
- Texture: I love it. It’s somewhere between a MAC Cremesheen and a Lipglass — moderately thick and just slightly sticky.
- Flavor and scent: Pop Rocks? Remember those? That’s what the scent and taste remind me of. A little weird…but I like it. For what it’s worth, both of them fade pretty quickly.
- Application: Still pretty easy despite the brush. The gloss itself applies smoothly and lays down nice, even color.
- Finish: It has a subtle shine (much shinier probably would’ve taken it over the top).
- Wear time: About three hours on my lips. It doesn’t last through a meal, but it will tolerate a cup of tea.
Intense Lipgloss in Fierce, $20
Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Kristy! Congratulations, Kristy! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Wow! The rain is coming in sideways right now and it’s freakin’ me out! The big pine trees on the hill outside are whipping wildly around in the wind, and I can literally see the rain moving horizontally.
Scary!
I hope the power doesn’t go out…
And in non-weather-related news, happy Saturday! 🙂 Welcome to the weekend. Despite the angry skies outside, I feel pretty optimistic today, pretty good overall. I’ve got a warm cup of coffee by my side, electricity and Internet access (at least for the time being), an oftentimes affectionate cat (who’s asleep at the top of his cat tower right now, apparently unbothered by the storm), friends to keep me company (thank you, btw) and my man (who’s currently putting batteries in all the flashlights).
Everything I need.
And while I don’t particularly need an egg over easy right now, I really, really want one, so while I go get my breakfast on, why don’t you enter this weekend’s Sephora eGift card giveaway? I’ll be right back!
What folks are saying…
“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)“Hi Karen and Tabs. Wow! Thanks so much for this! It’s hard to believe I actually won something. I can’t wait to shop my little heart out! Thanks again. Love to Tabs! And I love your blog with the Tabs stories. ;+)”
-Sophie, St Petersburg, FL“Never before have I been so pleased to check my email right before bed!!! Thank you so, so much! I truly enjoy your blog and check it almost daily! Thanks again! This made my night!”
-Melissa, Edmond, OK“Hi Karen. Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I won! :O Thank you so much! You, Tabs, and your blog are amazing! Thank you for keeping me updated on all things beauty and more importantly, for keeping me entertained! Keep doing your thing! 🙂 Thank you again.”
-Jacqueline“Hi Karen. Thank you so much, I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything before. My name is Hana … I just turned 25 (today is my birthday!) Yay! Thank you.”
-Hana
- One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).
- There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, what’s your favorite blush under $20? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s your favorite way to waste time? How do you take your coffee? Have you ever been to a spa? — you get the idea.
- Second, you can enter by following me on
Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/H3LcXj
- The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
- Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
- A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
- Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
- Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
- Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
- The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Kristy! Congratulations, Kristy! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Lacquer Lust
Tom Ford Beauty spring 2012 Nail Lacquers, $30 each. Available now at Neiman Marcus stores and online.
I seriously can’t wait to paint my nails!
Be Right Back
“Be right back, babe. I’m just gonna go down the street with my camera to shoot the crap outta that tree.”
— Me to El Hub earlier today (my favorite tree in the neighborhood is in bloom!)
Sailing the Seven Seas of Illumination with Rouge Bunny Rouge: The Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers
Careful there, makeup lover. Beware the Rouge Bunny! She’ll hop into your life, steal your liquid highlighter-lovin’ 
heart, and then spring away with your entire makeup allowance (and then some).
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Shh! Do you hear it…? That voice on the wind? It’s saying, You’ll love my peachy golden highlighter, my love. It’s the siren song of RBR’s shimmery Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers, and it’s my favorite thing from the lavish line so far. It’s also — brace yourself — 72 bucks.
Cruel, cruel rabbit, why dost thou charge so much? Just a couple tiny drops of this multipurpose highlighter turn my upper cheekbones into incandescent light bulbs! Almost. The formula is surprisingly pigmented, shimmery and long-lasting. I’ve clocked it at 14 hours once already, and most of the time when I go to remove it at night, it hasn’t even begun to fade.
Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers; one of four shades, $72 each
I’ve also tried mixing Sea of Showers with different foundations, from full-coverage Laura Mercier Oil-Free Supreme to sheer NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, and my skin always seems fresher and more luminous when I’ve added a drop or two.
Wearing Sea of Showers on my upper cheek bones, brow bones, temples and down the bridge of my nose
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