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Archives for April 2012

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 216

April 23rd, 2012 by Karen 72 Comments

the makeup and beauty blog monday poll

  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:
    A little tired because I haven’t slept well in a couple days (pre-trip jitters), but other than that, I feel great.

    I’m so excited about Kauai! Hiking, snorkeling, surfing, swimming. Maybe we’ll get in a little kayaking, too.

  2. Breakfast for dinner: yay or nay?
    Yay! Sometimes I get weird cravings for scrambled eggs or french toast , and I just never know when they’re gonna strike.
  3. Can you salsa dance?
    Nope, but I can fake it if my partner knows what they’re doing. I went to a salsa club meeting years ago with my girlfriends and ended up dancing with some dude who knew how to do all those turns and lifts. What a blast!
  4. One of your favorite places for a makeup/beauty break?
    Sephora and Target are my usual haunts (because they’re both about 5 minutes away).
  5. Have you ever written/composed a piece of music?
    Once in high school band, and it was really hard for me. We had to write and then perform our own instrumentals in front of the class.

    Mine was on the piano, which I played for years, and I guess I did okay. After hearing the piece, my teacher (who was also very kind) suggested I look into doing movie scores, LOL!

    Yeah, okay.

  6. Do you play video games?
    Puzzle ones, absolutely, but I’m not a hardcore gamer like a couple of my friends are. I’ve played a lot of Bejeweled at long, boring family functions (seriously, how did people survive those things before smart phones?).
  7. A silly movie you love?
    Night at the Roxbury! So dumb. But that’s one I can (and have) watched dozens of times. “Roxbury. Roxbury. ROXBURY!” Haha! I’m way too easily amused…

    OOH! The The Wedding Singer is also right up there.

  8. If you could wear a t-shirt right now with the phrase of your choice printed on it, what would the phrase be?
    “Hold on for one more day!”

    (Guess who’s been listening to a lot of Wilson Phillips lately.)

  9. What’s one thing in your makeup bag right now?
    MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC42. Love it! I use it to cover dark spots from old blemishes along my chin. Stuff covers everything, and it’s so easy to apply.
  10. Weekly goals:
    To pack and get everything ready for the trip by tomorrow, so I won’t be scrambling at the last minute; to squeeze in a couple more runs; to load up on echinacea tea and Emergen-C (I always do it before and while I travel); lavish extra lurvies on Tabs before we leave (he’ll be holding down the fort here with a substitute assistant).

Hello and happy Monday, friend. 🙂 I hope you slept well last night, but if not, well, don’t worry! A little time spent doing something fun — like maybe today’s Monday Poll? — and you’ll be right as rain.

Grab your mug of tea, and let those fingers do the talking.

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. Breakfast for dinner: yay or nay?
3. Can you salsa dance?
4. One of your favorite places for a makeup/beauty break?
5. Have you ever written/composed a piece of music?
6. Do you play video games?
7. A silly movie you love?
8. If you could wear a t-shirt right now with the phrase of your choice printed on it, what would the phrase be?
9. What’s one thing in your makeup bag right now?
10. Weekly goals:

Don’t forget to treat yourself to something nice this week, even if it’s just a quick mid-day latte from the coffee shop around the corner. It’s important!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 72 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Keep Your Options Open

April 23rd, 2012 by Karen 2 Comments


Five of the 12 shades from the Duri Cosmetics Keep Your Options Open Spring/Summer 2012 collection, $5 each. From the left: Celebrate the Sunset, Keep Your Options Open, The Big Score, Lazy Days and Steal the Spotlight. From Available now at salons, specialty stores and online.

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Hourglass Oxygen Foundation Mineral Powder

April 22nd, 2012 by Karen 2 Comments


Hourglass Oxygen Foundation Mineral Powder, $46. Available now at Sephora.

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo Keywords: hourglass cosmetics

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 188

April 22nd, 2012 by Karen 20 Comments


Tabs, smiling with his eyes…

As you know, Tabs has long been considered a leader among fashion-forward felines in the plus-size kitty modeling industry, but now he’s set his sights on crazy cat ladies.

They’ve been his biggest bipedal supporters, both literally and figuratively, so he’s spearheading a global initiative to expand fashionable clothing options for CCLs.

It’s all about distribution and networking. Here are some of the pieces and designers Tabs likes for the project.

1. Cat print dress with black collar

Okay, so the rounded collar — is it too cutesy for a 36-year-old blogger (who shall remain nameless; it’s me)? If I was 19, though, I’d rock the hell out of this with black tights and motorcycle boots.

Price: $95
Availability: Available now online at the Vicious Threads Etsy shop.

2. Secretary cat sweatshirt

To the kitty featured on this sweatshirt, call me. My employer is looking for another assistant.

Seriously, the glasses, the note pad, the bow-tie blouse… Too perfect for words.

(Reminds me a little of what Miu Miu did a couple years back.)

Price: $38
Availability: Available now online at the Rosie Music Etsy shop.

3. Eco fashion cat sweatshirt

Both models in this picture look like they’re deep in thought.

Doesn’t the sweatshirt look comfy? Tabs suspects that the feline featured is a tabby (see the M on his forehead?).

Price: $30
Availability: Available now online at the Sealmaiden Etsy shop.
[Continue reading…]

There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

Mother’s Day Gorgeous Gift Ideas: Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Bath and Body Collection

April 22nd, 2012 by Karen 7 Comments

crabtree evelyn wisteria 1

Mark your calendars! Here in the States, May 13 is Mother’s Day (click here to find out when it falls in your country). Want to get Mom something special this year? Looking for gift ideas? Check back over the next few days for a different Mother’s Day gorgeous gift idea (a new special something with which to spoil Mom). 🙂

Many moons ago (aka the early ‘80s), my parents bought a big, burly brass vase at an antique store. We always just assumed it was, well, a vase for flowers, so every Mother’s Day, Mom’s bouquet would go into that vase, and she’d set it out in the living room for everyone to enjoy.

Imagine my surprise a few years ago when I learned that Mom’s brass vase is actually a spittoon! Yep. I was watching an old western on TV (can’t remember which one). There was a bar scene in it, and a cowboy spat his chewing tobacco into what looked exactly like Mom’s vase, and my brain registered, “Um…why is that guy spitting into Mom’s brass vase?”

One search of Google Images later, and the rest is history.

Mom’s brass vase/spittoon sits in their living room to this day…but to the best of my knowledge, it’s still reserved for flowers. 🙂

crabtree evelyn wisteria 2

Mom loves getting flowers for Mother’s Day, but when I can, I also like to get her a little something that I know she’ll be able to appreciate after the flowers have faded, like one of the bath and body products from the new Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Collection.

With notes of wisteria, gardenia, ylang ylang, mandarin, nashi pear and musk, the light, feminine scent seems elegant, and it lingers in the air for hours. I have a feeling that Mom will also like the soothing watercolor styling on the packaging.

crabtree evelyn wisteria 3
[Continue reading…]

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Skin Care

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

April 22nd, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments

NARS Liberte Blush from the Summer 2012 collection

In Cat Bought a Zoo, a single 6-year-old tabby is going through a difficult time in his life. His kitty modeling career hits a snag when he loses a big job to an up-and-coming younger kitty. Tired and stressed, he quits, cashes out his life savings and buys a piece of property on the outskirts of town, which he decides to turn into a petting zoo/spa.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a good family movie. It actually got an 85% on Rottentomatoes. 🙂

In other news, happy Sunday, friend. How’s it going over there? I’m sorry I’ve been so incommunicado in the comments lately. I’m trying to wrap up a couple of time-consuming projects, and I’m almost there. I have been reading everything, though, even when I haven’t had much time to reply.

No Makeup Monster sightings this week, so we’re safe for now, but you can bet they’re out there… Plotting… Waiting for their chance to strike.

It’s only a matter of time. It’s always only a matter of time.

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

  • A beautiful palette for beautiful eyes: the Josie Maran Argan Beautiful Eyes palette in Beautiful Purples — My Weekend Ramblings
  • Out of this world! This purple, silver and black glitter feast for the eyes looks like a nebula on these nails — The Nailasaurus
  • Croisette is a thoroughfare in Cannes. It’s also the name of this sunny, summery palette from Dior — Mostly Sunny
  • Gotta get my hands (and cheeks) on RMK’s 15th anniversary cheek palettes fairy-ly soon — My Women Stuff
  • Impromptu picnic time! — Oh Happy Day
  • Accessorize blush in Quiver makes me want to take up archery — Bellachique
  • Giorgio Armani Spring 2012: Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer Lipstick in 600 — Glitter Geek
  • Tabs needs an Adidas track suit just like this one, ideally in kelly green to match his eyes — Luxirare
  • For the typography and/or Star Wars fans — H-57 The Force of Typography
  • I think I need these simple reminder of happiness cards for my desk — The Happiness Cocktail

MAC Prep Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer A MAC UNSUNG HERO: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer

NARS Ramatuelle Trio Eyeshadow The NARS Ramatuelle Eyeshadow Trio

5 bridal beauty tips Glow in Your Gown With These Five Bridal Body Care Tips

NARS Liberte Blush With NARS Liberté Blush, Cheeks Have the Freedom to Rock

NARS Lips for Summer 2012 Lovin’ the Lips for NARS Summer 2012

Tom Ford Long-Lasting Cream Color for Eyes Tom Ford’s New Long-Lasting Cream Color for Eyes

Outfit of the day: romper room Outfit of the Day: Romper Room!

The NARS Marie Galante Duo The Sheer, Sparkly Blue and Purple NARS Marie Galante Duo

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: weeklyroundup

China Glaze Luminous Lavender

April 22nd, 2012 by Karen 2 Comments

China Glaze Crackle Glaze Nail Lacquer in Luminous Lavender, $9.

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty Keywords: china glaze

MAC Pink Poodle Lipglass

April 21st, 2012 by Karen 8 Comments



MAC Pink Poodle Lipglass, $14.50.

Anybody else love the name of this gloss? 🙂

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo Keywords: mac

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

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