Archives for December 2014

Shoe Haul: The Sam Edelman Johanna Over-the-Knee Suede Boot

December 17th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

These boots were made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.

Seriously! These boots were REALLY made for walking. The heel is an entirely manageable 1 1/2″, which is perfectly acceptable should you need to run away from zombies (never know).

At least that’s what I told myself when I got them as a Christmas present. To Me, From Me. Merry Christmas! 🙂

They’re the Johanna Over-the-Knee Suede Boot by Sam Edelman, normally $299.95, but they’re on sale now for $149.98 (50% off) at Nordstrom stores and online.

The Current Makeup Storage Situation…

December 16th, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

I’m hoping that these pics of my main office closet someday serve as the “before” photos in a “before and after” makeup storage situation with a happy ending.

The clear bins all stacked up here are from The Container Store and purchased piecemeal over the past few years.

At least the bins are all stacked up now because they used to be literally strewn about, which was not the best use of space.

I finally consolidated them in the closet a couple weekends ago, but they’re still not totally organized.

They used to be though, sort of, when they were strewn about, before I stacked them in the closet. The improv Post-It labels used to correspond to the products in the drawers, but I got progressively more sloppy and moved some stuff around, so now I have to redo everything.

Thankfully, Post-Its are removable! (I like these Post-it Super Sticky Removable Label Pads.)

Now I just have to reorganize what’s in the drawers, and I’ll be set. The current system is sorted by brand first, then type of product, but that may change.

I’m thinking about sorting by color or formula, but I don’t know if that’ll work better. I haven’t figured it out yet…

DIY Makeup Storage Hacks: 3 Ways to Repurpose Your Packaging

December 16th, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

“I have way too much makeup!” said no woman, EVER.

If your figurative makeup storage cup currently runneth over, take a look at what you have around your apartment/house/condo/igloo/yacht. There’s a good chance you have at least one of the three items below, which you can repurpose for more makeup storage.

1. Shopping bag gets a haircut

Trim the top section from a shopping bag (I like using MAC bags for this), and then you can stash makeup in the bottom part.

One other nice thing about this hack is that you can trim the bags down to whatever height you need. 🙂

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A Winter Skin Care Tip: This Small Switch to Your Shower Game Could Turn You Into a Big Softie

December 16th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

When the bathroom floor is cold, and you’re literally freezing your butt off, bring your body moisturizer or body oil with you into the shower.

Stick it on a shelf, and do your shower thing. Then, when you’re done, towel off and moisturize before you even step out of the shower.

Then shake your fist at the horrible hobgoblin who decided not to install central heating in your apartment! 🙂

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27 New Technakohl Liners Join the MAC Fam

December 15th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

I’ve always liked the MAC Technakohls, with their twist-up tops and super skinny tips — perfect for drawing thin lines, and for getting right in there between those lashes.

As a bonus, my eyes have always liked the formula, even when I wear it on my water lines, and they stay put for a respectable 6-8 hours.

The brand recently reworked the Technakohl collection, updating the packaging, retiring the old shades, and replacing them with 27 new ones ($16 US/$19 CDN each), and they’re available now online in the MAC permanent collection, and at MAC stores and counters.

Soft black Superfly and brownish purple Raisinette have been in heavy rotation here at Casa de MBB lately.

Here are swatches of all 27 new Technakohls for your visual feasting (for reference, I’m an NC42). 🙂

MAC Technakohl Liner swatches from the left: Snowed In, Sterling Silver, Risque, Bare Asset, Twinked, Brass Band and $$$ — Swatches from the left: Snowed In, Sterling Silver, Risque, Twinked, Brass Band and $$$

MAC Technakohl Liner swatches from the left: Alpha-Grey, Counterfeit, Funfare, Sourpuss, Skyscape and Vent — Alpha-Grey, Counterfeit, Funfare, Sourpuss, Skyscape and Vent

MAC Technakohl Liner swatches from the left: Whirlpool, take the Plunge, Cast Iron, Bishop Blue, Image Conscious and Cool Jazz — Whirlpool, take the Plunge, Cast Iron, Bishop Blue, Image Conscious and Cool Jazz

MAC Technakohl Liner swatches from the left: Plank, Broque, Army Style, Clay, Raisinette, Steelpoint, Metalhead and Superply — Plank, Broque, Army Style, Clay, Raisinette, Steelpoint, Metalhead and Superfly

The 27 new MAC Technakohl Liners include…

Snowed In, a light peach off-white

Sterling Silver, a silver

Risque, a pale beige

Bare Asset, a medium beige

Twinked, a yellow gold with sparkles

Brass Band, a copper bronze metal

$$$, a mid-tone golden bronze

Alpha-Grey, a metal gray

Counterfeit, a silver gray

Funfare, a bright true pink

Sourpuss, an acid green

Skyscape, a metallic deep sky blue

Vent, a metallic lime

Whirlpool, a dark deep blue

Take the Plunge, a deep ocean blue

Cast Iron, an elephant gray

Bishop Blue, a bluish purple

Image Conscious, a purple

Cool Jazz, a navy blue

Plank, a deep bronzy brown

Broque, a deep brown

Army Style, a military deep breen

Clay, a deep gray

Raisinette, a brownish purple

Steelpoint, a deep smoky metallic gray

Metalhead, a grayish metal blue

Superfly, a soft black

Correction, Colors, and Blemishes, Be Gone! The New MAC Studio Conceal & Correct Collection Is Coming Soon to the Permanent Line

December 15th, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

The new MAC Studio Conceal & Correct Collection, coming to the permanent line on maccosmetics.com December 23, and in-stores and counters December 26 — The new MAC Studio Conceal & Correct collection, coming to the permanent line. Available online starting December 23, in-stores and counters December 26.

Under-eye concealing: it takes a village.

Honestly, though, it feels that way sometimes, with all the layering, blending, patting and tiny-little-circle-making going on beneath my lower lash lines, which I must do to disguise the fact that I roll out of bed every morning resembling Uncle Fester.

MAC is trying to make it easier with the snazzy new concealing tools in their Studio Conceal & Correct collection.

There are three new products available in multiple colors.

Studio Finish Concealer Duos ($25 each)
Studio Finish Conceal and Correct Duos ($30 each)
Chromagraphic Pencils ($16 each)

I’ve mostly been using them to keep my under-eye circles on the down-low, but they also offer enough coverage to disguise birthmarks, blemishes, moles and even tattoos.

Oh, and since all of them are bound for the MAC permanent line, whenever you do eventually get that picture of your chubby tabby cat tattooed on your shoulder, even if it’s a year down the road, you’ll be able to easily hide it from your husband.

I’m just sayin’. 🙂

The MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duos ($25 each)

MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duos from the left: NW10/NC20, NW20/NC25 and NW30/NC35 — The MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duos from the left in NW10/NC20, NW20/NC25 and NW30/NC35

Individually, these concealers have been available for years, but I’m glad to see them here as duos in convenient complementary colors.

With these, a little really does go a long way, and I get the best results when I buff the crap outta them with a 217, then pat the edges down with a clean finger, before setting them with a little loose powder.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duos from the left: NW30/NC35, NW40/NC45 and NW45/NC50 — The MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duos from the left in NW30/NC35, NW40/NC45 and NW45/NC50

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 351

December 15th, 2014 by Karen 30 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

What’s one thing every woman should do at least once?
Travel by herself (safely and smartly, of course). Even if it’s just an overnight jaunt.

I love traveling with other people, too, but there’s something liberating about doing exactly what you want to do, when you want to do it, without having to coordinate your plans with someone else.

Wanna eat carrot cake cupcakes for breakfast and then spend the entire afternoon at a museum dedicated to tabby cat-inspired art? Boom, done.

Bedazzled statement eyebrows: yes or no?
I guess if I were one of Gwen Stefani’s backup dancers, then maybe…but for 99.9% of the scenarios I typically encounter in real life, I’m gonna have to go with no.

What’s one of the tasks that always seems to be on your to-do list?
“Clean office.”

I feel like I’ve been committing to clean my office for about four years…

I am Sisyphus, and my office is my boulder.

Holiday gifts: what’s your strategy?
To reduce the likelihood of getting another plastic banana holder for Christmas, straight-up ask for a gift list.

If I don’t get a list, I’ll try to find something fun that reflects the person’s interests (their favorite band, hobby, that kind of thing).

Something in your closet that you love so much that you’d be happy to have in every available color?
My Zella Live-In Leggings. I have them in black, purple, gray and dark gray, but there’s also a light blue. Karl Lagerfeld himself would need the Jaws of Life to wrest these things from my clutches, mwahaha!

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s one thing every woman should do at least once?
2. Bedazzled statement eyebrows: yes or no?
3. What’s one of the tasks that always seems to be on your to-do list?
4. Holiday gifts: what’s your strategy?
5. Something in your closet that you love so much that you’d be happy to have in every available color?

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is open my curtains first thing in the morning to see the Christmas lights on all of the houses in the dawn’s early light.

Aaaaand, it’s raining here again. And it’s gloomy and misty, but that’s OK, because my heart is filled with sunshine and kittens! 🙂

Anywho, the Christmas lights. I don’t know why, but seeing them first thing in the morning always brings a smile to my face.

In other news…I did a little more Christmas decorating last weekend.

Nothing too fancy. Just one string of white lights around the inside of my office window, where it’s visible from the street; some ornaments on the orange tree in the front yard, so now it’s a Merry Citrus (haha); and I hung a pine wreath from Trader Joe’s on the front door, complete with plaid ribbon for flava.

Today, my plan is to do some swatchin’ first thing, then assist the tabby for a few hours, and then take El Hub to the doctor’s office for something called an endoscopy this afternoon, because he’s been having some tummy troubles lately… I’m always a little nervous about medical things (who isn’t?), but I’m just trying to focus on happy thoughts.

I hope your Monday got off to a good start. Your nephew says “mrow!” by the way.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 326

December 14th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Dear friends, fans and felines,

Christmas is coming, which means that cats everywhere (myself included), are on the prowl for gifts.

To save you the time of having to spend hours sifting through the various corners of the Interwebs to find presents with panache, I, Tabs the cat, style maven and professional personal shopper, have curated this cat lady gift guide of accessories, home decor, clothing and, of course, makeup for the makeup-lovin’ feline aficionado in your life.

I hope you find something terrific. 🙂

Each of these cat-themed treasures was lovingly picked by my own paws.

Happy holidays, and have fun shopping!

XOXO,

Tabs