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Archives for February 2013
Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 230
A RELAXING TIME: PART 6
by Tabs the Cat
They were at the mouth of the forest where a dirt road led deeper into the dark woods. The gray cat was fast and picked up the pace, pulling ahead of Tabs.
Tabs felt a twinge of panic as he tried to catch up alongside the gray cat but found that he couldn’t. Tabs was a few feet behind and running flat out like a startled rabbit.
Tall pines lined both sides of the road, blocking much of the moonlight from reaching the forest floor. It was dark and getting darker as they left the rocky beach further behind. Good thing Tabs had the night vision of a master mouser.
Barking. Coming from far behind them. Tabs wasn’t sure at first, but then he was. Like Rottweiler barking, low and full-throated, mixed with growls.
The wolves were talking, but Tabs couldn’t make out the words. Probably trading recipes for ways to prepare cat…whether roasted or grilled.
It pushed Tabs to run a little harder, which brought him up alongside the gray cat, who glanced over, then gestured up ahead with his snout.
“Meow!” We’re here!
The road turned to a circular dirt driveway. Up ahead, at the end of the loop, was a large wooden one-story building, about the size of a Sephora. A green truck was parked in front of what Tabs figured must be the main entrance.
“Mraw,” the gray cat said. It’s an old ranger’s station. They slowed to a trot, both of them panting, down low in stealth formation, and the gray cat guided them around the truck toward the left side of the building.
A boxy ground-level air conditioning unit, about three feet tall, sat flush against the wall. “Mrow?” the gray cat asked. See that plank up there?
Tabs did. It was a narrow wooden plank that rested at an angle from the top of the air conditioner up to a windowsill. The gray cat motioned toward it with his nose, directing Tabs to head that way. “Meow-ow.” You can get to the roof.
“Mrow?” Tabs asked, a little perplexed. Aren’t you coming?
“Mroh,” the gray cat answered, standing his ground. I’ll be right behind you.
Tabs thought about it for a second, wondering why the gray cat didn’t just lead the way.
“Meow!” the gray cat finally ordered, raising his gravely voice. Go on, get!
It jolted Tabs into action. There were some things his little kitty brain struggled with, like doors and can openers, but climbing was not one of them. In about half a second, or two beats of a terrified tabby’s heart, he processed the entire scene with mathematical precision, calculating the proper angle of approach to the plank, the appropriate speed-to-weight ratio and the amount of force he’d have to exert to leap from the windowsill up to the rain gutter, which led up to the roof.
In one fluid maneuver, he hopped up on the air conditioner, zipped up the plank to the windowsill, jumped to a crook where the rain gutter met the wall, and then carefully walked up along the gutter before pulling himself onto the roof.
Yes! He’d made it. It was a wooden roof, easy to walk on, with a shallow slant, and it was much brighter up here under the open sky than it was down in the forest.
Tabs peered over the edge at the gray cat, who looked relieved. Tabs was shocked that the gray cat was still standing on the ground. What was he waiting for? “Meow!” Tabs called down. Hurry!
The wolves would be upon them any moment now, and Tabs thought he even heard their footfalls on the dirt road.
The gray cat nodded once, leapt up on the air conditioner, and pushed the wooden plank off the unit with his paw. It tumbled and crashed to the ground.
“Mrrow!?” Tabs said. What are you doing!? Tabs couldn’t believe his eyes.
The gray cat looked up at Tabs with kindness in his eyes “Mrow,” he spoke softly. I recognized you back there on the lake. “Meow.” Tabs, you’re one of my heroes.
Tabs was speechless. Heroes? What did the gray cat mean?
The gray hopped down to the ground, and then looked back up to Tabs. “Meow-row,” he said, his eyes glistening in the moonlight. You’ll be safe here till morning. I’ll lead them away.
“Mroww,” Tabs mewled, as the gray cat turned back toward the woods. Wait.
But the gray took off like a falcon in the night, disappearing into a copse of thick trees. “Mew…” Tabs whimpered after him. No…
— TO BE CONTINUED —
To follow our story from the beginning…
Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora!
WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Kristina! Congratulations, Kristina! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Been a busy week here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC! Things kicked into overdrive when Friskies tapped Tabs to be their Global Gravy Ambassador.
What an honor. 🙂
But it’s been intense! The position involves a lot of PR, lots of travel, building buzz about gravy and the gravy-eating lifestyle to cats around the world. To prepare himself, Tabs has immersed himself in gravy…
Not literally, of course. I mean he’s been doing a lot of napping, purr-chirping and, yes, eating lots of gravy.
I’d say it’s grueling, but it’s really not.
Today is actually the first day off Tabs has had in weeks. I asked him this morning what his plans were, and he said, “Mrow!” He’s going to spend the day gaming and might stop by Sephora and Petco to stock up on essentials…
And speaking of stocking up on essentials, have you entered this weekend’s Sephora eGift card giveaway yet?
I try to host one every week to say “thank you” for visiting the blog. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, and I’m grateful that you include me and Tabs in your online travels.
Details to enter are just down below (only takes a comment at the bottom of this post). Have a great weekend, and I’ll catch up with you soon.
What folks are saying…
“Hi Karen!!! Wow, that news definitely gets a hoo ray ray and an elephant!!! (I’ve maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire.) Thank you so much!!!”
-Shana“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)
- 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 are your favorite video games? Do you ever play video games on your phone? Chocolate for breakfast: yes or no? What’s your favorite city? What under-eye concealer is your absolute favorite and why? What’s one makeup brush you absolutely can’t live without? What’s the craziest makeup look you’ve done over the past year? What are your biggest beauty concerns these days? — 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/Z0IKfU
- The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 10, 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 Kristina! Congratulations, Kristina! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
I Really Want to Try This Cat Eye
MAC’s Brash & Bold Pigment
MAC’s Brash & Bold Pigment from the Year of the Snake Collection ($21). Available now at maccosmetics.com.
MAC Unsung Heroes: Ravishing Lipstick
When I slip into MAC’s creamy coral Ravishing Lipstick, winter disappears, and I’m suddenly back at the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park on a sunny spring day, watching cherry blossom petals flutter in the breeze…
Ravishing is the kind of fresh and flirty full-coverage coral I like to start wearing around this time of year, right when the weather just barely starts to turn (freak storms notwithstanding), and the sun rises a little earlier in the day.
There’s something carefree, but still a little semi-formal, about the plush, velvety Cremesheen finish that feels so totally right to me.
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Glittery, Peachy and Prepared to Go the Distance, MAC’s Paint Pot in Vintage Selection Is a Top Pick for Dinners and Dates
Last night I met a friend of mine, Joanie, for dinner in the city (Delarosa restaurant). She’s also a makeup nerd makeup enthusiast, so I wanted to go buck wild with a coral and green eye look using the new Guerlain Coup de Foudre palette and some false lashes, because I knew she’d “get it,” if you know what I mean (LOL, do you ever do that with your makeup buds!?), but per usual, time got away from me, and I ended up having to bolt out of the house at the last minute with what I was already wearing — a simple eye look with liner, mascara and MAC’s shimmery, silvery peach Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Vintage Selection ($18.50).
Wouldn’t ya know it? Even in the dim lighting of the restaurant, halfway through a convo about red smokey eyes, Joanie asked me about the glitter glittering on me.
“Ooh, girl,” I replied between bites of polenta smothered in gooey cheese and tomato sauce. “That’s MAC’s new Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot! Lemme tell ya about it…”
It’s a cream eye shadow, comes in a pot, and it’s one of those Jekyll and Hyde shades that looks deceptively mellow when you open it, but get it on your lids, and it’s, “Wow! Sparkly glitter-o-rama!”
My favorite thing about it? — other than the shimmery specks and how well it layers? With or without a primer, it lasts on my lids for hours! I can put it on at 10 in the morning, and it’s still going strong, with no fading and only the faintest creasing, at 8 o’clock at night.
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Milani Spiked the Punch Bowl With Pigment! Introducing New Milani Color Statement Lipsticks
I can hardly believe that Milani’s new line of lightweight, creamy, pigmented Color Statement Lipsticks clock in at a cool $5.49 per tube. If you dressed these up a little, maybe gave ’em a packaging makeover, no joke — they could probably pass for Tom Ford lippies!
Oh, but we might want to do something about that fruit punch fragrance… Wow! Talk about strong.
If fruity fragrances in your lip products aren’t a big issue for you, climb in, because these are like the Lamborghinis of drugstore lipsticks.
Here’s a quick peek at the pink and coral shades from the line…
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