Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup
A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
It tasted really good. Like regular cauliflower, but milder and slightly sweeter. I threw it into a steamer along with some broccoli, then tossed the mix with capers, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
The purple color faded a little after I cooked it, but it still looked pretty darn purple.
Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the Cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.
DEAR TABBY: I’ll be staying at a cat hotel for the first time next weekend when my assistants go on vacation, and I’m very excited about it!
I insisted on five-star accommodations, and my humans did not let me down.
They reserved me a personal kitty condo at an exclusive resort with a view overlooking the Pacific Ocean and arranged for all of my meals to be prepared by an award-winning, Michelin star chef.
They even booked daily play sessions through the cat concierge and scheduled me for daily spa treatments.
My question is this: what’s an appropriate tip for a spa technician? Is it the same general rule of 15 percent, and should I leave cash (I don’t usually carry a wallet), or can I have the staff charge my assistants’ credit card? I don’t want to offend anyone.
— Kit-Kat from Kailua
DEAR KIT-KAT: Congratulations on finding such wonderful assistants! It sounds like you’re in for a fun weekend of pampering and purring.
Regarding your question, it’s completely up to you. If you’d prefer to leave the tip on your assistants’ credit card, you may do so. It’s perfectly acceptable. Very few kitties actually carry cash these days, even with all of the wonderful cat bags at our disposal.
Just be sure to review your bill, because sometimes the gratuity has already been included.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself! I hope this is the first of many such getaways.
DEAR TABBY: I’ve been assisting for a demanding persian cat named Peaches for almost 10 years.
Most of the time, Peaches is nice, and when she is, I love my job and the work environment.
But I recently had a really bad week. Everything went wrong, and no matter how hard I tried, I felt like I couldn’t get anything right.
It all came to a head last Friday when I received a furrious text from Peaches.
She was right. I was definitely in the wrong. I screwed up, and I apologized.
But then Peaches sent me a second angry text, and it ruined my entire weekend.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that text and how angry Peaches sounded. I dreaded returning to work on the following Monday knowing that I’d be in the doghouse.
Tabby, I took full responsibility for my mistake, but I also feel like it was inappropriate for Peaches to text me about it over the weekend. I don’t get a lot of time off, and I need some kind of work boundaries.
Should I let it go or bring it up to Peaches?
— Frustrated in Ferndale
DEAR FRUSTRATED: I’m definitely guilty of being a demanding diva with my assistant from time to time, but I do think it would have been more appropriate for your employer to address the situation with you face to face, in person, during regular business hours.
Hopefully by now, Peaches has calmed down. If you still feel strongly about it, wait for a good time when you’re both in a pleasant mood, and ask her how she feels about your performance. Tell her that you are always open to face-to-face discussions, and that you believe they are more productive than texts.
I can’t speak for Peaches, but I know that as a kitty employer, I always want to encourage my assistant to be the best she can be. Hopefully the both of you can find some common ground. Good luck.
Haaay, boo. DISCO!
(Sometimes I take crazy pics.)
Have a wonderful Sunday, my friend. 🙂
WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Mary! Congratulations, Mary! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Rise and shine, pal o’ mine. 🙂 It’s Caturday, which means! — well, I don’t what it means, but it sounds cool, doesn’t it?
Speaking of cats, your nephew had a thrilling night. While El Hub and I watched a surprisingly good French subtitled action movie on Netflix called Special Forces, Tabs went batsh*t cray attacking his own reflection in our sliding glass door.
I should have tried to get it on video, but maybe he’ll give me another shot and do it again tonight.
In other news, it’s Sephora giveaway time! You know how we roll. It only takes a comment and/or a Twitter tweet to enter. Full deets down below.
Good luck, and have a great weekend, friend.
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)
Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Mary! Congratulations, Mary! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Pacifica’s Radiant Shimmer Coconut Multiples Palette ($12), available now at Target stores and online. Here it is in action (step 13 from the Purple, Teal and Fuchsia look).
Mmm… Coconut. 🙂
Just a pic that didn’t make the cut for the Brighten Up post. I think I was bending over to pick something up off the floor when the camera accidentally fired… Don’t ask me why I’m making that face, LOL!
I like the movement and the slight blur.
Something about a super bright swoosh of color along my lower lash lines just says “summer” to me.
Have you ever lined your lower (or upper, for that matter) lash lines with a bright eyeliner or shadow and have it not turn out as bright or eye-catching as you expected it to be?
Um…me too.
One trick I use to wind up the wattage along my lash lines is to line them with a creamy white eye shadow stick first.
It intensifies colors and brings out more of the brightness of whatever you layer on top, making greens look greener, blues look bluer and teals…well, more teal. And it does the same thing for other colors.
Rimmel’s Whitness White Scandal Eyes Eyeshadow Stick kicks arse with this trick, and it costs less than $5! It’s so pigmented that it’s almost opaque, and once it sets, it’s not going anywhere (has a waterproof and smudge-proof formula).
Plus, it doesn’t tug at my skin. It glides… (And have I mentioned that it’s less than $5?) 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
