A few pics from the weekend slumber party/spa day at the Claremont resort with my high school buddies, Jen and Cindy.
Slumber Party and Spa Day at the Claremont Resort
Archives for January 2013
Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora!
WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Aurora! Congratulations, Aurora! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
SLUMBER PARTY!
Today’s the day! I’ve had these plans for about three months now, and I’ve been counting down the days (and seconds). I’m heading with my friends, Jen and Cindy, who I haven’t seen in months, to the Claremont Hotel over in nearby Berkeley for a girls slumber party and spa day.
I picked the aroma therapy massage, which is supposed to de-stress you…
Perfect! — because Tabs has been working me to the bone.
Even though it was a short week, I feel like I got quite a few things done. I tried some new things in my writing process, like using different tech tools, like my phone, and trying to get out a bit more, out to the counters to hang out with the makeup artists and see some of the new stuff for spring.
I’m really excited about spring, both the makeup and the weather. I’m so over wearing thermals…
I hope your week went well and the year got off to a good start. Let’s see if we can’t make it a little better this weekend with a bangin’ Sephora giveaway for a $50 eGift card.
I love Sephora! I could get lost there for hours (and have on many occasions). Whenever I’m in the store, I always know it’s time to go when El Hub walks in, stands around me and just sort of hovers… Sometimes he breathes very loudly, too. That’s my non-verbal cue to hurry up. 🙂
What folks are saying…
“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne“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. 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, when was your last slumber party? What did you do at slumber parties when you were a kid? Do you shave/wax your legs in winter? Do you sleep on your back, side or tummy? Do you have any discolorations on your skin, and if so, do you have any tips to cover/conceal them? Have you ever had your bangs accidentally cut too short (I have!)? — 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/ZoWNM7
- The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 6, 2013 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 Aurora! Congratulations, Aurora! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Oscar de la Renta’s Something Blue Nail Lacquer
Here comes the bride!
Coming soon to Saks Fifth Avenue stores ($22 each). 🙂
Glitter Wings
Today, Crocheted Animal Hats, Glittery Butterfiles and Bobbi Brown’s New Spring Collections Stopped Me in My Tracks!
Novato never hustles and bustles like San Francisco does. It’s a sleepy village compared to the city.
In the city, everything moves so fast! Sometimes when I visit I feel like a fish fighting up stream, or like I’m a raft caught in a current, totally out of control.
And then, suddenly, something — sometimes it’s colorful crocheted animal hats — stops me in my tracks!
Other times, it’s a window display with sparkly butterflies that have glittery wings. 🙂
Today at Saks Fifth Avenue in the city, it was Bobbi Brown because — ohmigosh! — they have so many new things out for spring.
The Brighten, Sparkle & Glow Collection
Like the Brighten, Sparkle & Glow collection, with its mix of brand new and previously released products.
I’m particularly interested in these new Brightening Face Powders ($50 each), which come in all sorts of crazy colors! Like, one of them has pastels in it, with blue and yellow and green pans, and another one has purples and pinks and mauves.
My first thought? That these were eyeshadow palettes, but they’re actually products for your face.
Hello From Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco!
Per my contract with Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, I get every other Friday off.
Well, not necessarily “off,” because I’m still on call, but like, I’m forced to leave the office so that Tabs can have his “private time.”
As you can imagine, plotting world domination takes intense focus and concentration, so he kicks me out of the house.
Sigh…
Hi! From Saks Fifth Avenue here in San Francisco’s Union Square! 🙂
There’s a reason I’m standing in front of this building with big hair…but the reason has nothing to do with the hair (I just felt like having big hair today!).
I’m here to check out a new program Saks is running this month called Beauty Treat du Jour. Every day this month, Saks is holding a different beauty special or event, things like facial masks from SK-II, blowouts by a Frederic Fekkai stylist and hand massages from La Prairie.
There are also some fancy — FANCY! — gift-with-purchase deals, like a free cake liner from Laura Mercier.
Nationwide, 24 Saks stores are participating (call your local store for details). If you happen to be in the Bay Area and at any point this month find yourself near Union Square, stop by the beauty department at Saks to see what’s going on.
While I’m here looking for new spring stuff on counters, I plan to indulge in a Beauty Treat du Jour. At the SF store today, you can either learn to combine fragrances with Jo Malone London, or get a nail polish change from Dior.
Hmm… That nail polish change sounds pretty sweet to me. My claws are hella to’ up at the moment.
Is Urban Decay’s New Naked Flushed Palette Poised to Take the Throne?
Absolutely not! The new Urban Decay Naked Flushed face palette ($30) has nothing to do with the loo…or with sitting naked on the toilet and flushing, although dirtier minds than mine would probably put those things together. 🙂
Now that I think about it, in Naked Flushed, Urban Decay might have been trying to evoke that whole afterglow effect…ya know, where you’re… Nevermind.
Gees, I hope my mom isn’t reading this.
Just released, the new Naked Flushed face palette combines three products — a sheer, matte golden brown bronzer; a dark reddish pink blush with a matte finish (so super, SUPER dark that it takes some buffing to appear natural); and a shimmery, peachy beige highlighter (this one’s a tad grainy).
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MAC’s Veluxe Brow Liners in Deep Brunette and Strawberry Blonde
Highly pigmented brow pencils with a hard texture; available in Strawberry Blonde, Brunette, Deep Brunette, Deep Dark Brunette and Redhead ($19.50 each).
They last a long time (yay!) but are difficult to apply. I have to go slowly and carefully, and if I accidentally apply too much pressure on the tip, I end up with crazy @ss dark brows.
PRICE: $19.50 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B